Child Protection

From time to time incidents can occur within the school setting which cause concern and could indicate that a pupil is suffering some form of abuse or neglect.  In terms of Highland Child Protection Committee Inter-agency Protection Guidelines, Education Service staff have to report such incidents to Social Work Services which can lead to a joint Social Work/Police investigation.  Please note that if such a referral is made, school staff cannot discuss this with parents/carers prior to the investigation.  All agencies involved in Child Protection regard the welfare of children as paramount and this will be their priority.

More information about Child Protection Procedures within Highland can be obtained from the Child Protection Development Officer, Mrs Susan MacLaren, Highland Child protection Committee, Kinmylies Building Leachkin Road, Inverness, IV3 8NN – Tel 01463 703483  Fax 01463 713237

Closely linked to the school’s health programme is our involvement with and regular visits from our health care specialists.  Some P1 pupils may have a medical examination during their first year in school – parents are informed of the dates and times of these so that they can be present if they wish.  Throughout the primary years, routine examinations of hearing, eyesight and general hygiene are carried out and parents are informed if there is need for further action.

Drugs Misuse

All incidents of drugs misuse or suspected drugs misuse will be dealt with in line with Highland Council Policy and Guidelines.  All such incidents will be reported to the Area Education Office and some may be reported to the Police.  Parents will be informed immediately if their child is involved in any incident of drugs misuse.

The school dentist visits the school regularly to carry out routine dental examinations.  Parents will be informed if any treatment is necessary.  No treatment will be carried out without parental permission and there is no obligation to have treatment at school if your child is already being seen regularly by a family dentist.  Any parent wishing to contact the school dentist can do so by first contacting the school office.

Support for Learning

Our school is fortunate in having the services, albeit on a part-time basis, of two Support for Learning Teachers.  These two along with our SEN auxiliaries form the Support team and this team works in a variety of ways: assisting/advising class teachers in providing an appropriate curriculum for all pupils in their class; working with pupils of all abilities; providing resources.  The team is available to work with children who may need extension work beyond the normal core work for the class.  Such children do not necessarily have any learning difficulties but do need work specially designed to develop their full potential.

 Pupils who are experiencing difficulties are usually identified first of all by the class teacher.  Consultation and discussion of these difficulties takes place between the promoted staff and the parents before an appropriate programme of support is started.  Depending on the type of difficulty, children may either be withdrawn from their classes for specific activities or more likely receive support within the classroom.  The Support for Learning team also offer advice to class teachers in providing suitable learning materials for their class.

Pupils with specific learning difficulties or special educational needs may be referred to Psychological Services for further assessment and assistance in tackling their difficulties.  Such referrals are only made after consultation with parents.

The deployment of our Support Team and our School Policy on Support reflect the current Guidelines as outlined in Highland Council Policy.   Anyone wishing to see this in more detail should contact the Head Teacher. 

The speech therapist liaises closely with the school in the identification and support of pupils with speech difficulties.  At present, the speech therapist attends the school for two blocks of time throughout the year.  In addition to this, home visits may be arranged to discuss programmes of activities which can be carried out both in school and at home.

Playground Supervision

The Janitor is on duty at morning interval and lunchtime to ensure the safety and wellbeing of the children in the playground.  In addition to this classroom assistants, auxiliaries and a member of the Senior Management Team are also on duty.  It should be noted however that the lunch break proves to be a very long time for our younger pupils especially in winter and if at all possible, we encourage parents to take their children home for lunch.  There is no playground supervision for children before 9.00 a.m. or after 3.15 p.m. but the Breakfast Club is open from 8.30 – 9.00 a.m.  Pupils are welcome to attend the Lunch Club in Room 7 from 1 - 1.30pm where they can relax in comfort and play games with their friends. 

Absence from School

Parents are asked to contact the school office by 10am to let us know if their child is going to be absent.  Frequent or regular unexplained absences have to be reported to the Authority.  All unexplained absences have to be recorded as truancy.  Parents are also reminded that the school should be informed by letter or telephone call when a child has an appointment outside school during the school day.  Under no circumstances will a child be released from school unless such a communication has been received.  Pupils in P1 – P3 who have to leave the school for any reason during the school day MUST be collected by a parent or a parent’s representative.  Nursery pupils MUST be escorted to and from school at all times.

In accordance with National and Highland Council advice, parents are asked to arrange family holidays during the school holidays.

We have very limited provision for children who become sick in school.  Every effort will be made to contact either parents or the child’s emergency contact to arrange for the child to be collected from school.  Parents are advised to keep their children at home if they are showing any signs of being unwell – there is nothing to be gained from sending your child to school feeling unwell – this only causes unnecessary distress.