Oxgangs Primary School Handbook

Oxgangs Primary School

60 Oxgangs Road North

Edinburgh

EH13 9DS

Phone: 0131 441 3649

Fax: 0131 441 9838

Website: www.oxgangs.edin.sch.uk

Head Teacher: Liz Walshe

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Contents

Welcome to Oxgangs Primary and Our School Aims Page 3

Section 1: General Information about the School Page 4

Section 2: Curriculum and Assessment Page 7

Section 3: School Administration Page 11

Section 4: Health and Safety Page 14

Section 5: Parental Involvement Page 16

Appendices

Appendix 1: Staff List

Appendix 2: Term Dates 2010-11 and 2011-12

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Welcome to Oxgangs Primary School

A very warm Oxgangs welcome to all new parents and pupils; we are delighted that you will be joining our school community.

We aim to provide a caring environment where children feel happy, safe, respected and included. We recognise that every child is different and we aim to provide challenging and stimulating experiences which meet, as far as possible, the individual needs of each child.

We believe that the links between home and school should be strong and we welcome parents and members of the wider community into school at any time to help and support the children in a variety of ways.

This handbook will provide you with necessary information about our school but it is not intended to replace the personal contact we have with parents which we actively encourage.

We look forward to working in partnership with you over the coming years.

Our School Aims

To create a welcoming, caring and safe environment in which children, staff, parents and visitors feel respected and the uniqueness of each child is recognised and valued.

To provide broad and balanced learning experiences through which all children will develop their full potential as successful learners, confident individuals, responsible citizens and effective contributors.

To ensure that for all children there are equal opportunities which promote inclusion by recognising individual needs and promote cultural diversity

To encourage a high standard of behaviour based on self discipline.

To maintain effective partnerships between the staff, parents/carers, external support agencies and the wider community.

To ensure there is high quality leadership in order to promote investment in resources, professional development for staff and continued school improvement.

To encourage the improvement of health in the school community by promoting physical and emotional well being.

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Section 1: General Information about the school.

Oxgangs Primary School is non-denominational and caters for girls and boys. The current roll at August 2010 is 323 and there are 12 classes at Primary 1-7 including 2 composite classes. Composite classes are formed using the criteria of age as required by City of Edinburgh Council policy. There is also a nursery which caters for 40 pupils in the morning class and 40 in the afternoon class.

Oxgangs Primary School has been serving the South West of Edinburgh for over 50 years. We moved into our current home in a large site between Colinton Mains Drive and Oxgangs Road North in spring 2005 under the PPP scheme and the building has all the modern facilities of a new building.

The Grounds.We are fortunate to have large and varied outdoor facilities. The playground comprises grassed and hard play areas, an adventure playground, an all-weather sports pitch and an environmental garden containing a pavilion and a rich variety of planting. This unique space enriches the learning by providing plentiful opportunity for active play and promotes respect for and appreciation of the environment.

The Nursery.

The school has a purpose-built nursery with capacity for forty pupils. It is a modern, well equipped nursery with an enclosed outdoor play area. Children participate in a variety of activities including: art, music, construction, baking and outdoor play. We also have an interactive Smartboard. The nursery is staffed by a Nursery Teacher and 4 fully qualified Nursery Nurses. The nursery was last inspected by the Care Commission in June 2009 and was graded “Excellent” in all six of the areas inspected. A copy of that report is available on our website or from the school.

The School Building.

The school has modern, flexible learning spaces equipped with interactive Smartboard technology. Classrooms are arranged around large activity areas which enable children and teachers from different classes to work cooperatively together in an open and safe area. Our committed staff team work together to ensure high quality learning experiences for all children. We have a large and well-equipped PE Hall, a Computer Suite, a modern well-stocked library and a General Purpose Room for music and drama. We are also fortunate to have a large and sunny dining room with our own kitchen so that school meals are freshly prepared on the premises daily.

After School Care Club.

We have a very successful After School Club operating at Oxgangs. The club provides a happy, caring, secure and stimulating environment in which all the children can develop through informal activities and interaction with other children.

For further information about joining the club, costs etc, please contact Landess Robertson, Club Co-ordinator on 0131 441 9300 (during club hours)

Life at Oxgangs School.A wide variety of activities to enrich the curriculum are organised. Pupils benefit from educational excursions in and around the Edinburgh area, taking advantage of all this historic city has to offer. Pupils also participate in cultural activities such as visits to the theatre and art workshops. A residential camp is organised for P7 pupils.

A variety of sporting activities is provided including skiing and snowboarding in P6 and swimming in P4. Taster sessions are provided for a variety of sports; in recent years these have included rugby, hockey and karate. The school participates in competitive Inter-scholastic events which have included cross-

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country running and athletics. The school has an Active-Schools Coordinator who arranges a variety of sporting opportunities for pupils in Oxgangs and surrounding schools.

After school clubs are on offer for our pupils. These vary from year to year but have included chess, dance, gymnastics, badminton, mini-tennis and Scripture Union.

We are a Cycle-Friendly School, and Eco-School and a Health Promoting School.

At Oxgangs Primary we believe that we are partners in your child’s education and we welcome your involvement and expertise. There are many ways to get involved in the life of the school.

We have many groups supporting the work of the school including a very active and successful Parent Council and PTA committee. Other important developments have been well-supported by parents and members of the community. These vary but have included a Playground Development Group, a Safer Routes to School Group, an Eco-Group and a Health Group. We are fortunate that we have such strong and positive relationships with our parents and the wider community which benefit us enormously and allow us to improve continually.

Many parents get involved by volunteering to help out in class or by accompanying classes on excursions. We very much welcome your presence in the school and operate an open-door policy. The school holds an Open Day each November which is an opportunity to visit the school and observe a normal working day. Members of the community are warmly invited to visit classrooms and are given a guided tour by senior pupils.

Staff.

The management team comprises the Head Teacher, Depute Head Teacher, Principal Teacher and Business Manager.

Oxgangs Primary is staffed by a dedicated team of class teachers, specialist teachers and support staff.

Specialist teachers provide education in the fields of ICT and PE from which all pupils benefit. Some pupils can also benefit from the expertise of the EAL (English as an Additional Language) teacher and Instrumental tutors.

We have a Support for Learning teacher whose particular skills enable her to provide support to pupils with additional learning needs, which may be temporary or more prolonged.

The school has a number of Learning Assistants whose role is to help teaching staff enhance learning and teaching. Learning Assistants will usually work with groups of children, under the guidance of the class teacher, but some are assigned to individual pupils.

The school is also supported by a team of administrative staff, dining room and playground supervisors. Janitorial, catering and cleaning services are provided by Amey under the PPP agreement.

Details of current staffing can be found in Appendix 1

The School Session.

The school year is from mid-August till the end of June or the beginning of July the following year.

Term dates and holidays for this session can be found in Appendix 2

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The School Day.

Morning Afternoon

Nursery Mon-Fri 9.00 - 11.35 12.25 - 3.00

P1 and P2 Mon-Thurs 8.55 - 12.10 1.00 – 2.50 Friday 8.55 - 12.25

P3-7 Mon-Thurs 8.55 - 12.30 1.15 - 3.20 Friday 8.55 - 12.30

School and Community.

The all-weather pitch is available for lets through Firrhill High School. All other school facilities are let through Community Use of Premises, Business Centre 1/1, Waverley Court, 4 East Market Street, Edinburgh.

Enrolment.

Parents/carers wishing to enrol their child at Oxgangs should make an appointment to see the Head Teacher to discuss enrolment and take a tour of the school. In most cases, an appointment can be arranged at short notice.

Enrolment for P1 pupils takes place in November preceding starting school in August.

Your child can be placed on the waiting list for our nursery class after his/her second birthday. Application forms are available from the school office or may be downloaded from our website.

A place at Oxgangs Nursery does not guarantee a place in Primary 1.

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Section 2: Curriculum and AssessmentAt Oxgangs Primary School we are committed to providing a “Curriculum for Excellence” in line with Scottish Executive guidelines. A wide range of learning experiences is offered to all children so they can acquire skills, concepts and attitudes as well as knowledge. Relevance and enjoyment for learning are developed through linking different areas of the curriculum together and using real life contexts where possible.

Group, individual and whole class methods form the basis of the teaching so that the curriculum can be tailored as far as possible to fit the needs of each child.

The curriculum followed in Oxgangs school follows the key principles of ‘Curriculum for Excellence’ which has been developed in response to the National Debate on Education. Teaching and learning through the new curriculum will provide opportunities to develop key capacities in pupils to become:

Successful learners Confident individuals Effective contributors Responsible citizens

The curriculum is a carefully planned programme designed to achieve the right balance of basic skills, essential knowledge and informed attitudes.

The curriculum includes:

languages & literacy mathematics & numeracy religious and moral education health and well being expressive arts science social subjects technology (including ICT)

Languages and literacy

This covers the skills necessary for communication: listening, talking, reading and writing. Children are encouraged to express their ideas and are given opportunities to develop this expression through speech and writing.

At the early level there is an emphasis on phonological awareness. A phonics programme is used as the starting point for reading and writing. We teach children the sounds and then build on this learning to help them read and write words based on the sounds taught. We aim to help your child progress from learning to read to reading to learn.

Reading is one of the most important skills required by children as they progress through education and life. The various skills of comprehension are developed to help your child to cope with reading across the curriculum. Children will also be encouraged to read for pleasure and enjoyment.Once a child can read well, the higher reading skills like skimming text, reading a reference book for information and reviewing books become more important. At all times we try to show children that books are great fun and encourage them to be critical and selective in the reading. Pupils have access to a well-stocked library and several Book Fairs take place during the school year at which suitable books may be purchased.

Children are encouraged to write freely and fluently to develop their language skills. From Primary 1 onwards, pupils are taught to develop skills in spelling, grammar and sentence construction.

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Throughout the school year, different styles of writing such as personal, functional and imaginative are introduced and developed.

French language learning takes place in Primary 6 and 7.

Mathematics and Numeracy

Children learn ‘mathematics’ concepts gradually and the pace of learning is determined by the ability of the individual child. In any one class children may be working at different levels.Mathematics includes work on mental arithmetic, number, money, measure, shape position and movement as well as information handling and problem solving.

There is an emphasis on active learning with concrete materials and working with peers. Throughout the school, pupils receive daily activities involving mental maths, learning different strategies and applying them to solve problems. Mathematics has strong links with other areas of the curriculum such as science, technology and geography and these links are developed where possible.

Religious and Moral Education.

The school has a statutory requirement to provide religious education and religious observance. Parents have the right to withdraw their child from religious education and religious observance and we respect their wishes. Any parent who wishes to exercise their right to withdraw their child from religious education/observance should contact the Head Teacher.

Opportunities are taken at appropriate times to discuss with the children issues which directly affect them in their relationships, beliefs and attitudes. They learn about values and standards of behaviour and links are made with Bible stories where appropriate. Pupils will undertake comparative studies of other beliefs, which may on occasion link with other topics being studied in the classroom.

Regular assemblies take place in which the children play a significant part.

Health and Wellbeing.

The wellbeing of our pupils is central to all we do. When children feel happy, safe, respected and included they will thrive and learn.

Programmes of study in health education encourage pupils to think about themselves and how they can maintain healthy lifestyles eg correct use of diet and exercise. They also study sex education and personal safety appropriate to their age. The whole school and nursery follow a programme which develops emotional well-being and self esteem.

We are required to provide two hours of quality physical education per week and benefit from the expertise of two specialist teachers. The varied experiences provided for physical activity and sport aim to establish the pattern of daily physical activity which, research has shown, is most likely to lead to sustained physical activity in adult life.

Our Active Schools Co-ordinator further contributes by organizing a wide variety of sporting experiences throughout the school year both within and out with the school day.

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As a school we take the health and safety of our pupils very seriously. We have been awarded The Road Safety Charter Gold Award and have an active ‘Safer Routes to School’ group.

Expressive Arts

The arts play a vital role in enabling our children and young people to enhance their creative talent and develop their artistic skills. Work planned in this area usually links with the current theme of study in any class.

In art and design we build on children’s natural desire to express themselves visually and provide opportunities to explore varied media, drawing, painting, collage, model making and clay work.

Music includes singing, making music, listening to music, moving to music and composing music.The Council provides an instructor for brass one morning per week. Interested children in P5 are assessed and if successful may be offered a place. Tuition is free of charge however the school is unable to provide instruments and parents are asked to hire or buy one.

Drama activities range from dramatising stories and historical events to the writing and performance of plays or sketches. School concerts and class assemblies also provide opportunities for children to show off their dramatic skills. Drama provides an opportunity for language development andemotional expression.

Science, Social Subjects and Technology

Science is an important part of our heritage and we use its applications every day in our lives at work, at leisure and in the home.

Through learning in the sciences, children and young people develop their interest in, and understanding of, the living, material and physical world. They engage in a wide range of collaborative investigative tasks, which allows them to develop important skills to become creative, inventive and enterprising adults in a world where the skills and knowledge of the sciences are needed across all sectors of the economy.

Through social studies, children develop their understanding of the world by learning about other people and their values, in different times, places and circumstances; they also develop their understanding of their environment and of how it has been shaped. As they mature, children and young peoples experiences will be broadened using Scottish, British, European and wider contexts for learning while maintaining a focus on the historical, social geographic, economic and political changes that have shaped Scotland. Children learn about human achievements and about how to make sense of changes in society, of conflicts and of environmental issues. With greater understanding comes the opportunity and ability to influence events by exercising informed and responsible citizenship.

The technologies curriculum area relates particularly to contexts that provide scope for developing technological skills, knowledge, understanding and attributes through creative, practical and work related activities. Interactive smartboards are installed in all classrooms and we have a computer suite with 22 computers. A specialist teacher supports learning and teaching in the suite one day per week.

The pupils’ work is activity-based where possible, springing from firsthand experience. The practical work includes collecting, mapping, visits and scientific investigations, and the children learn to make use of resources such as the internet, reference books, museums and computer data.

Outdoor education is included in the curriculum and pupils in the senior school will be offered the chance to have a residential experience at school camp.

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As part of their studies all classes make regular visits outside the school premises. These visits enhance the learning and teaching experiences provided in the classroom and parents are usually asked to contribute to the cost. Parents who feel they are unable to afford to pay for a particular visit should contact the school for assistance.

Assessment and Reporting

At Parental Consultations in November and March the teacher will discuss your child’s individual progress with you. Throughout the year there will be opportunities for you to visit the school so your child can share his/her learning with you. This may take the form of an assembly or an end-of-topic tour. Individual written reports are issued in June.

HomeworkHomework is issued at all stages from P1-P7. This will usually consist of language, maths or topic based work. Expectations regarding homework will be communicated to you at the start of the session by the class teacher.

Pupils with Additional Support Needs

Oxgangs has a Support for Learning teacher who works with individual or groups of pupils who may need additional support. She works closely with class teachers, learning assistants and parents.

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Section 3: School AdministrationSchool uniform.

The wearing of uniform is encouraged at Oxgangs Primary School. The uniform consists of:Black/grey trousers/skirt, white blouse/polo shirt, school sweatshirt (navy for P1-5 and grey for P6-7)

Nursery pupils have their own uniform; yellow polo shirt and green sweatshirt.

Uniform orders are handled by the PTA and order forms are available from the School Office.

Pupils also require a gym kit for PE; shorts, tee-shirt and gym shoes.

Please ensure that all items of uniform are named.

The wearing of football strips is not permitted. For Health and Safety reasons, jewellery should not be worn on P.E. days.

Assistance with School Wear

The Council operates a scheme of provision to ensure that a pupil is sufficiently and suitably clad to take full advantage of the education provided. Families in receipt of Income Based Job Seekers’ Allowance or Income Support will automatically qualify for such a scheme. Other cases may be considered in the event of exceptional personal circumstances. Parents who wish to apply for the scheme should complete an application form which is available from the school office or from Pupil Support Services, City of Edinburgh Children & Families, Waverley Court, East Market Street, Edinburgh EH8 8BG.

Standards of behaviour.

At Oxgangs we have very high standards of behaviour. Pupils are expected to follow the school rules and classroom rules. Our Behaviour policy is available on the school website or on request from the school. Racist and discriminatory incidents are recorded by the Head Teacher in line with City of Edinburgh Council policy.

The playground.

When pupils are at school the responsibility for their safety rests with the Authority. The Head Teacher and staff (including Learning Assistants and Playground Supervisors) undertake this responsibility as the Authority’s representatives. This means that reasonable steps are taken to prevent any pupils suffering injury and to ensure that accidents or difficulties are reported to a responsible adult and appropriate action taken. All playgrounds in primary schools have adult supervision during breaktime/lunchtime. Parents should note that no playground supervision is provided before 8.55 a.m. When it is raining we allow the children to enter school at 8.40 a.m. via the main entrance and they should make their way to their own classrooms. They will be supervised by Learning Assistants

School Lunches

At Oxgangs, school lunches are freshly made on the premises daily and are provided by Amey. The menu operates on a three-week cycle and copies of the menu are sent home to all parents at the start of the school year, may be downloaded from our website or obtained from the school office. The cost of a lunch is currently £1.75 per day.

Lunches must be ordered and paid for in advance on a Monday. Pupils should bring lunch money to school in an envelope marked with their name and the days on which lunch is to be taken. Cheques should be made payable to “Amey Business Services”.

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School Milk.

Milk is offered to all pupils in P1-7. The cost varies and is set by the Council. Milk must be ordered in advance either for a full or half year. All nursery pupils are entitled to free milk.

Free school meals/milk.

To qualify for free school meals/milk, you must be in receipt of at least one of the following benefits:

Child Tax Credit (and your annual income is less than £16,190) Child Tax Credit with Working Tax Credit with and Income below £6420 (for free school meals

ONLY)

Income Support

Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance

Support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999

Income-Related Employment and Support Allowance

Application forms are available from the school office, our website, or from

School Grants, Awards and PlacementsWaverley Court, Level 1/1, 4 East Market Street, Edinburgh EH8 8BGTel: 0131 469 3471Fax: 0131 529 6211

Fruit

A piece of free fruit is provided to P1 and 2 pupils on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays.

Attendance and Punctuality.

Parents are responsible for ensuring that their child attends school regularly. In cases of unsatisfactory attendance, the Head Teacher will call on the Child & Family Welfare Officer (Attendance) to visit the home and discuss the problem with the parents. If such unsatisfactory attendance persists the Head Teacher, following discussions with the Welfare Officer and other agencies, will decide whether the case should be referred to the local Area Attendance Advisory Group. This Group has been formed to make recommendations to the Director on the statutory responsibilities of the Authority with regard to defaulting parents.

Parents are requested to avoid taking holidays during term times. Holidays taken during term times are normally recorded as unauthorised except in particular circumstances.

The importance of punctuality should also be noted. We ask that parents ensure that children reach school in good time to enter when the bell rings at 8.55 a.m.

Absence

We ask that if your child is going to be absent from you inform the school on each day of absence. This can be done by telephoning the office on 441 3649, leaving a message on 441 9838 or by email to absences@oxgangs.edin.sch.uk . Parents/carers of pupils whose absence is unexplained will be phoned by the school office normally by 10.30 a.m.

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Complaints Procedure

If you have any concerns at all, please contact the school immediately and ask to speak to either the Head Teacher or Depute Head Teacher. If they are unavailable please leave your contact details and we will endeavour to get back to you before the end of the day.

If you wish to make a complaint please make an appointment to discuss the matter with the Head Teacher. An appointment can normally be made at very short notice.

If you remain dissatisfied, you can make a complaint to the Children and Families Department. The Advice and Conciliation Service provides a Helpline during office hours to advise you on how to take further action.

Helpline Number - 0131 469 3233

You may be asked to put your complaint in writing addressed to:-

Principal Officer Advice and Conciliation Service Children and Families Waverley Court 4 East Market Street Edinburgh EH8 8BG

A written acknowledgement will be sent promptly when your complaint has been received in writing.

Following the investigation of your complaint a full reply will be sent as soon as possible. This will tell you the outcome of your complaint.

The reply will explain the conclusion, the reason for it, any action taken or proposed, and any further action you may take if you remain dissatisfied.

Transfer to Secondary School

Firrhill High School is the secondary school for the pupils who live in the Oxgangs Primary School catchment area.

At the end of the autumn term of the P7 year parents are informed by the City of Edinburgh Council that a place has been reserved for their children in the high school which serves the area in which they live. At the same time parents are informed of their right to request a place at a high school of their choice, and the information about how to proceed with this request is also given.

During your child’s P7 year you will be invited to attend an Open Day at Firrhill High School where the Head Teacher will inform parents of the curriculum offered at Firrhill. There will also be an opportunity to tour the school and meet senior members of staff.

Close links exist between Firrhill High School and its six associated primary schools. To ensure that the pupils transferring from primary school benefit from a continual educational process primary and secondary teachers meet regularly to discuss the curriculum and, especially during P7, there are opportunities for secondary staff to visit our P7 classes to establish links before the transfer takes place.

Also, in the summer term, P7 pupils will spend three and a half days at Firrhill High School, following their first year timetable, meeting staff and familiarising themselves with their new surroundings.

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Section 4: Health and SafetyWithin the general policy laid down by The City of Edinburgh Council, the Children & Families Department has prepared and has continuing development of, safety policy statements for all areas of its responsibility in accordance with the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974. School staff are fully instructed in their responsibilities in this respect, and safety regulations apply to all aspects of school life, both on and off the premises. It is expected that pupils will behave responsibly and comply with all safety requirements. The support of parents in promoting good practice in health and safety matters is of great importance to the school.

Medical care

If a child feels unwell or is injured during the school day they will be attended to by a member of staff. In some cases, it may be necessary to contact parents/carers to discuss treatment or to arrange for a pupil to go home. It is vital that contact details held by the school are kept up-to-date. Parents/carers will always be informed if their child has suffered a bump to the head.

Medication

If your child requires medication at school, an appropriate form must be completed by the parent/carer. These are available from the school or may be downloaded from our website. In some cases, a Health Care Plan will be drawn up in conjunction with Medical Professionals.

School Health Service.

A team of specialist Health Service and Children and Families Department staff work together to provide a service throughout your child’s years at primary and secondary school. A planned programme is put into place to make sure that they benefit as much as possible from all that school has to offer, and to help prepare for life after leaving school. The School Health Service is part of the Community Child Health Service and has direct links with those who carry out health checks on children before they start school.

Many different services are provided. The staff involved make every effort to work closely with parents/carers and with others who are caring for your child, both at school and in other branches of the Health Service. Some of the services, eg testing for vision, hearing or speech, are provided to all children on a routine basis to discover which children may need further tests or treatment. Parents/carers are not necessarily notified at the time of these screening tests and any parent who does not want a child to be included should notify the school at the beginning of the session. Naturally, if treatment is thought to be required the child’s parents/carers will be informed and consent requested. The issue of maintaining confidentiality is taken seriously by the School Health Team at all times.

Some of the staff concerned and the parts they play are as follows:-

School Nurses are involved with health promotion and education, prevention of ill health, immunisation, health surveillance and screening.

The School Doctor is made aware of any possible problems, and parents/carers and the family doctor are informed if any further action is considered necessary.

The School Nurse may be helped by a Health Assistant. The School Nurse acts as an important link between home and school. She visits the school regularly and liaises with the teachers to find out whether any pupil has a health need that requires to be addressed. The School Nurse can link with other members of the health team, in the community or in hospital, concerned with a child’s health.

The School Nurse reviews the notes of all children in Primary 1, 4, 7 and Senior 3 as well as those of all new entrants.

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An information booklet about the School Health Service is issued to all Primary 1 pupils and any new pupils coming from outwith the Edinburgh area.

Parents/carers are also asked to complete a health questionnaire about their child at Primary 1, 7 and Senior 3 and asked if they would like their child to have a medical consultation with the School Doctor. The School Doctor is trained in community paediatrics and is part of a team of doctors, including a Consultant Community Paediatrician for your area. The School Doctor may ask for your consent to examine your child if his/her medical records are incomplete or if the doctor particularly wishes to check on his/her progress. You will be invited to be present at any medical examination and kept informed if the School Doctor wishes to see your child again, or thinks that he/she should be seen by the family doctor or a specialist in paediatrics. You can, if you wish, arrange for your family doctor to undertake the examinations instead of the School Doctor, but you may be charged a fee for this. In secondary schools the School Doctor may consider whether any special information should be provided for the Careers Service.

The School Doctor or Nurse will be pleased to see you and your child at a mutually convenient time if you are concerned about his/her health or general progress at school.

With your consent, the School Health Service Staff also carry out immunisations to protect against various diseases:

Age 12-14: Testing for resistance to tuberculosis and immunisation (BCG) where required.

Age 14-15: Booster immunisation against tetanus and polio.

The Audiometric Team normally checks children’s hearing on a number of occasions before the age of 13/14 years. The School Health Team will be told if your child seems to have a hearing problem and they will inform parents/carers and GPs as necessary.

The Speech and Language Therapist can provide assessment and, if necessary, treatment if you, a teacher or the School Doctor feels that your child may have a speech or language problem.

Parents/carers should be aware that the Standards in Scotland’s Schools etc Act (2000) states that the medical or dental examination or treatment of a child under 16, who has sufficient understanding, can only be carried out if the child consents.

Any enquiries concerning the provision of dental services should be made to:

The Director of the Community Dental Service, 16 Duncan Street, Edinburgh, EH9 1SR (Tel. 0131 667-7114).

We hope that the School Health Service can, together with yourselves, contribute to your child’s overall well-being and development. Please do not hesitate to arrange through the Head Teacher to see the School Doctor or School Nurse should you require any further information.

Car Parking.

The area around the school can become very congested at drop-off and pick-up times and we ask that you do not park on the zigzag lines outside the school on Oxgangs Road North. We also ask that you do not use the school car-park which is for staff and visitors only. The Manager of Tesco has indicated that parents may use the Tesco car park. The school has a Safer Routes to School Group which encourages safe and sustainable travel to school.

Cycling

Oxgangs is a Cycle Friendly school and we encourage pupils cycling to school. Cycle training is provided to P6 pupils. For safety reasons, cycles must not be ridden in the school playground.

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Section 5: Parental Involvement

At Oxgangs Primary we believe that we are partners in your child’s education and we welcome your involvement and expertise. There are many ways to get involved in the life of the school.

Parent Council

The Parent Council meets once or twice per term. The Head Teacher attends every meeting and minutes of each meeting are posted on the school website and on the Parent Council noticeboard. Any parent/carer can become a member of the Parent Council which exists to represent the views of parents/carers and work in partnership with the school for the benefit of pupils.

Parent Teacher Association

The Parent Teacher Association also meets once or twice per term. The PTA is involved in many activities which enhance the life of the school: organising the annual May Fair, the sale of school uniforms, tuck shop weeks etc. Any parent/carer is welcome to join the PTA committee and may attend any meeting. Minutes are posted on the school website and on the PTA noticeboard.

Other groups which may be of interest to parents are: the Playground Development Group, Safer Routes to School Group, Eco-Group and Health Group.

Communication

Termly newsletters are sent home to inform parents of what has been going on in the school and with information of upcoming events. At Oxgangs we have signed up for an electronic mail delivery service, called Parentmail, which allows parents to receive school letters via email. This reduces the amount of paper the school uses and we encourage as many parents as possible to sign up. Forms are available from the school office or may be downloaded from our website.

The school website is regularly updated and is a good source of information on upcoming events. The website also has examples of pupil work and photographs of what the pupils have been doing at school. Permission is sought from parents/carers before pupil photographs are used on the school website.

A “Meet the Teacher” Evening is held each year in September at which teachers explain their plans for the upcoming session. Individual Parental Consultation meetings are held in November and March.

An “Open Day” is held in November each year which provides an opportunity to see a normal working day in school. It is aimed at parents, prospective parents and interested members of the community.

There will undoubtedly be occasions when you wish to telephone or visit the school to discuss a variety of matters either affecting your own child or more general school policies. You should feel completely free to contact the school whenever the need arises. Where possible, it is usually in everyone’s interest if an appointment can be made with the school secretary beforehand. In most cases a time can be arranged at short notice.

Volunteering in School.

A number of parents volunteer to help in school in a variety of ways. These include accompanying children on outings, helping with teaching activities, cataloguing resources, working in the library etc. This assistance is invaluable, to enhance pupils’ learning and generally to help the school run smoothly. If you feel you can help in some way please let us know. Above all everyone at Oxgangs believes that you are an important part of school life and that you should feel completely at ease when visiting.

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Appendix 1 Staff List at November 2011

Head Teacher Liz Walshe

Depute Head Teacher Jacqui Mackenzie

Nursery Laura Jane Third

P1B Susan Banks

P1M Lynn McKie

P1D Lucy Dryburgh

P2M Karen Mitchell

P2P Jenny Peck

P3W Val Watt

P3M Trish Murray

P4H Ruth Hamilton

P4C Lynette Clark

P5M Louise Mercer

P5B Janet Buckle (Principal Teacher)

P6 Graeme Hunter

P6/7 Sharron Callachan

P7 Dominic Hines

Support for Learning Marjorie Fraser

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I.C.T Morag Cameron and Greg Sansom

P.E Campbell Foggo and John Mowbray

E.A.L Kamaljit Kaur

Business Manager Carol Munro

School Administrator Mary Hanson

Clerical Assistant Lorraine Johnstone

Learning Assistants Margot Falconer

Stacey McLeish

Janet Pinder

Elaine Clark

Carol Bennett

Sue Ballantyne

Kyle Henderson

Playground Supervisors Alison Pike and Jen Ambrose

Dining Room Supervisors Illi Rawalai and Carol Lawson

Service Support Officer Kirsty Curran

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Appendix 2: Term dates 2011-12

Autumn term

Monday 15 August 2011 - Staff resume (Five In-Service days for all schools)   Tuesday 16 August 2011 - Staff only (Five In-Service days for all schools) 

Wednesday 17 August 2011 - Pupils resume

Schools closed Monday 19 September 2011 - Autumn Holiday

Tuesday 20 September 2011 - All resume

Friday 14 October 2011 - Mid-term, All break

Monday 24 October 2011 -Staff resume (Five In-Service days for all schools) 

Tuesday 25 October 2011 - Pupils resume

Thursday 22 December 2011 - Term ends

Spring term

Monday 9 January 2012 - Staff Resume (Five In-Service days for all schools) Tuesday 10 January 2012 - Pupils resume

Friday 10 February 2012 - Mid-term, all break

Monday 20 February 2012 - All resume

Friday 30 March 2012 - Term ends

Friday 6 April 2012 - Good Friday, schools closed

Monday 9 April 2012 - Easter Monday, schools closed

Monday 16 April 2012 - Spring Holiday, schools closed

Summer term

Tuesday 17 April 2012 - All Resume Monday 7 May 2012 - May Day, schools closed

Tuesday 8 May 2012 - All resume

Monday 21May 2012 - Victoria Day, schools closed

Tuesday 22 May 2012 - Staff resume (Five In-Service days for all schools) 

Wednesday 23 May 2012 - Pupils resume

Friday 29 June 2012 - Term ends

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