The next parent equalities forum will take place on 19th January at 7pm in Mearns Castle High School.

Please follow this link to read East Renfrewshire’s swimming lesson timetable: www.bit.ly/ERCLswimminglessons

Please click on the link below for all information regarding placing requests.  If you require more information, please phone 0141 577 3578.

http://www.eastrenfrewshire.gov.uk/placingrequest

Choosing a School for your Son or Daughter
School Admission Applications and Placing
Requests for Session 2017-18

A consultation on proposed new arrangements to school admissions,  the transfer of pupils from primary to secondary school and placing requests, has recently concluded. If the proposed new arrangements are approved by Education Committee in late December, school admission, pupil transfers from primary to secondary and placing requests will be administered in line with the new arrangements from January 2017 and beyond. Please note that any placing request applications for school places in academic session 2017-18 submitted before January 2017 will be processed in line with the new policy if adopted; there will be no need to submit another application using the new placing request application form, available from January.  An online facility for the submission of placing requests will be  available from 20 December 2016 via the Council’s website.

APPLYING FOR A PRIMARY SCHOOL PLACE FOR YOUR CHILD
East Renfrewshire Council has set up one week when you should
apply for a catchment place for your son or daughter at your local
East Renfrewshire primary school. You must apply for a place at your  catchment school, even if you intend to make a placing request to  another school or to defer your place and keep your son or daughter  at home for another year. If you intend to educate your child privately you should still inform your local catchment school of your intention.
You may choose to apply for a catchment place for your son or
daughter in either the local denominational or non-denominational
school.
If he or she is aged five between 1 March 2017 and the end of February 2018 you should go along to the primary school between 1.45 and 3.30 any day during the week of Monday 16 January to Friday 20 January 2017.
You should bring your child’s birth certificate, your child benefit
statement, the most recent copy of Council Tax Notice for your
residence and mortgage statement or signed and independently
witnessed residency/tenant agreement for at least 1 year. The school  can also accept a driving licence, utility bill or bank statement (with  transactions in the last 3 months) if you are no longer in receipt of child benefit.

PLACING REQUESTS
Most school children attend their local primary or secondary school, but parents can choose to apply for a place for their son or daughter in another school.  If you are interested in making a placing request for a school in East Renfrewshire and want to find out more, visit the council website at www.eastrenfrewshire.gov.uk/placingrequest where you can apply online from 20 December 2016 or alternatively download a placing request form and information on the criteria used for prioritising placing requests where there are more requests received than places available. If you require any advice regarding making a placing request please contact the Education Department on 0141 577 3578.
If you are interested in finding out specific information about a
particular school you should contact the school directly or visit the
school’s website. If you want to make a placing request for your child
for the school session beginning in August 2017 you should return
your completed placing request form to the Education Department
any time from 1 December 2016 and before 31 January 2017 by
post to: PLACING REQUESTS, East Renfrewshire Council Offices,
Education Department, 211 Main Street, Barrhead, East Renfrewshire, G78 1SY or by email to: admissions@eastrenfrewshire.gov.uk
Online applications will be available from 20 December 2016, via the  Council’s website.  Applications received after 31 January 2017 will be treated as late  applications.
East Renfrewshire Council will conduct checks to establish the
accuracy of information supplied which may include visits to premises  or surveillance in cases where it is necessary and proportionate to do so. Any attempts to obtain a place by deception may result in the rescinding of your application/placing request and the matter being passed to the Procurator Fiscal’s office for consideration of criminal proceedings.

From 5^th of December 2016, a person smoking in a car which is carrying passengers under 18 years of age will be breaking the law. Offenders could face a £100 fixed penalty fine.

The Smoking Prohibition (Children in Motor Vehicles) (Scotland) Act 2016, creates a new criminal offence, committed by any adult (aged 18 or over), where that adult smokes in a private motor vehicle in the presence of a child (under 18years of age), while that vehicle is in a public place. The aim of the legislation is to protect children and young people from the harmful effects of exposure to second-hand smoke (SHS) in a confined space.

Exposure to second-hand smoke in cars involves higher concentrations of health-threatening chemicals than in larger, open areas. Even if the windows are opened or air conditioning is used, harmful particles can remain in the atmosphere long after the visible smoke has disappeared. The restriction of a vehicle also means individuals are unable to move away from the smoke.

We all have an obligation to protect children and young people from the risks to their life and health, caused by the exposure to second hand smoke and ensure that every child in Scotland has the best start in life. Growing up in a smoke-free environment is an important part of that.

The Scottish Government hope that the introduction of this legislation will help their drive to cut the number of children exposed to second-hand smoke to 6 per cent by 2020. This is a momentous step in pulling Scotland on the path to becoming a tobacco-free generation.

For more information, visit the Healthier Scotland website.

Please click here to read the online version of the Spring Culture and Leisure Brochure.

ERA November Parent Support Meeting will be held, today, Tuesday 15th November at Carlibar Primary School in Barrhead from 7-8pm.

ERA meets Kaos club parents, and will feed back on the AGM consultation.

There is also an opportunity for a coffee and chat, a chance to meet other parents and families.

For ‘Scottish School Meal Week’ there are some slight changes to the menu this week:

Tuesday: Meat free day – Quorn Tikka with Malawi rice and coleslaw
Wednesday: Great British Bake Off – Blackberry and apple flapjack crumble
Thursday: Scot Pot
Friday: Helping Bite – 35p for a social bite biscuit