Being a parent is one of the most difficult jobs you can do, as well as one of the most rewarding! At Balmerino Primary School, we seek to work with parents as partners and support you in your parenting decisions and style.
In Scotland, children have the same protection under law as adults do when it comes to discipline. More information, should you feel you need it, is available by clicking here.
The parenting style which works for one child does not always work for another and there is no shame in seeking help if you feel things are not working as well as they could be at home. Sometimes one parent has a different style from the other and this can cause friction. In this situation, it can be helpful to talk through your parenting with a third party. In school, if we have difficulty with a child’s behaviour or learning, we seek help from parents and from partner agencies. When we do this, we are doing our job well. When parents seek help with their child’s behaviour, they are also doing their job well and we are always happy to help.
We can help by talking to you in school about your parenting, what works and what doesn’t and we can make suggestions for strategies to try. We can also refer you to join a parenting group, these include:
Mellow Babies – click here for more info
Incredible Years – click here for more info
Being in a group is a great way to meet other parents, to discuss your parenting and if things are difficult it can stop you feeling alone. If you would be interested in finding out more about one of these groups, please contact lucy.jess@fife.gov.uk. You can also contact Mrs Jess if you are worried about aspects of yours or your partners parenting or if you are worried about your child’s social or behavioural development. Sometimes parents go to their GP with these concerns but school is often the best starting point.
If you prefer to seek help independently from school, here are some resources you can access:
Parent Club: Coping with Being a Parent
Sleep Action for Children and Families
Fife Council’s Educational Psychology Service
Anxiety Workshops for children and parents to do together
As part of our child protection and safeguarding role, we work with Fife Council Social Workers when needed. It is very unusual that we would contact Social Work without informing a parent first but occasionally we do have to do this in line with child protection protocols, for example if there is a disclosure or concern that a child may be at risk at home. Under all other circumstances, we would only refer a child or family to a partner agency, including Social Work, following discussion with the parent.
Sometimes medical staff from NHS come into school to carry out checks or offer treatment e.g. dental checks, height/weight checks and flu vaccines. This NEVER happens without parents being informed. In the case of checks, you have the option to opt out. In the case of treatment (including tooth brushing in nursery) your child will only be included with your specific consent.
Click here to read our Child Protection, Safeguarding and Wellbeing Policy:
CP Safeguarding and Wellbeing Policy – MS Word
CP Safeguarding and Wellbeing Policy – PDF
Click to download a copy of the poster shown below:
Click here to read the National Guidance for Child Protection in Scotland 2021
Click here to read a summary of the National Guidance
Click here to read Fife Council’s Interagency Child Protection Guidance
updated Feb 2024
