Reducing the Cost of the School Day

Clothing

• Our "New To You" shop provides families with access to free school uniforms, boots, jackets, trainers, Christmas jumpers and other equipment.  The "shop" can be found at the front entrance - please help yourself.

• All families and staff are encouraged to recycle and reuse clothing to promote sustainability.  Families are asked to donate uniform and sports equipment to "New to You" when no longer needed.

• Clothing grants are available for families.  Office staff can advise parents.

• All P7s are provided with one Leavers' Hoodie free of charge.  These are distributed at the beginning of winter to maximise their use.

• All families are invited to notify SLT if they wish to apply for the Cash for Kids or Mission Christmas appeals.

• There is no formal uniform policy.  All learners are encouraged to wear a jumper or cardigan in the school colour of red, and trousers, leggings, tracksuit bottoms or pinafore in a dark colour.

• Please contact SLT if you wish to make a Kit For All application for sports kit and equipment.

Food

• Free school meals are available to eligible families.  Office staff can advise parents.

• Breakfast club is available at 8.20am from Tuesday to Friday.  The cost is £1.50, and this can be subsidised for some families.  Please contact the school office if you would like to access this.

• Learners without a snack can take an apple from the fruit bowl.

Trips

• All trips which have a cost attached will be donation only.  Parents may be asked to make a £2 donation, but all children will take part in the trip and donations will be gathered anonymously.

• Parents will be invited to apply to the Aberdeen Endowment Trust  for support in paying for the P7 residential trip.

• Pupil Equity Fund and Parent Voice Fundraising will be used to allow all children to take part in learning outwith the school environment.

• Use is made of our local community and environment to access outdoor learning experiences.

• All families are encouraged to apply for free bus passes to allow additional local trips to be made free of cost throughout the year.

Extra-Curricular Activities

• A wide range of clubs are offered free of charge thanks to staff and parent volunteers.

• We audit clubs on offer and work with Active Schools to try to ensure there is something for all ages and interests.

• Teachers track and celebrate wider achievement of learners to encourage engagement.  

• We subsidise experiences such as Run Balmoral and other cultural and sporting events to ensure equity.

• We do not charge for entry to School Fairs, and audit stalls to ensure the fairs are accessible to all.

• Parent Voice events (such as school disco) are free or affordable.  Staff monitor children to offer subsidised access to those who need it.

• Dress as you please days are optional, and timetabled no more than once per term.

Equipment and Resources

• We provide everything learners need to access learning including pencils, whiteboards and technology (including for use at home).

• Homework tasks are open ended to ensure challenge and accessibility.

• Learners must dress appropriately to participate safely in PE, but a specialised PE kit is not required.

• We subsidise book fair visits for families who cannot afford it, and promote book swaps and book bug.

Financial Support

• Best Start Grants Best Start Grants are three cash payments. Each can be made once per child. The first two grants are payable when children are below school age. The third grant is payable when children are starting primary school. 

• Pregnancy and Baby Payment can be made from 24 weeks into a pregnancy, up to the day the baby is 6 months old. This goes up to age 1 if, for instance, a carer has adopted a child or taken on responsibility for a child who is a family member. Payment for a first child is £642.35 and £321.20 for subsequent children. 

• Early Learning Payment of £267.65 is to help with the costs of early learning and is for children aged between 2 years old and 3 years 6 months old. 

• School Age Payment is a £267.65 grant available to families of children starting primary school. It can be claimed from the 1st of June in the year that the child is due to start school. For example, children born between the 1 March 2017 to 28 February 2018 start school in August 2021, so are eligible for this grant from the 1st of June 2022. The claim window stays open until 28 February of the following year. The School Age Payment has not replaced the School Clothing Grant. The School Age Payment does not affect payments of the School Clothing Grant in any way. Families can apply for both. 

• Scottish Child Payment The Scottish Child Payment is an extra £25 a week for each child under 16 years old. Families can apply, whether they’re in work or not, if they’re getting one or more of the following benefits: Universal credit, Child Tax Credit, Working Tax Credit, Pension Credit, Income Support, incomebased Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA), income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA).