Please find below details that relate to all our of schools in our Tri-Cluster
The school telephone information service gives up to date information on adverse weather.
Please see details for each individual page on their contact page.
In addition, general enquiries can be made by phoning or calling at the school offices.
Parents seeking a place for their child in the school are welcome to visit the school by appointment.
Parents are encouraged to contact the school about welfare issues and anything that is important for the well being of the pupils.
ATTENDANCE AND ABSENCE
Good attendance is vital if pupils are to achieve their full potential. But if a pupil is absent from school, a parent or guardian should phone the school on the first day of absence. There will always be someone in the office from 8.30 am to take calls. Please remember to phone the school if your child is ill.
Permission to leave during the school day: If a pupil needs to leave during the school day for an appointment etc, pupils need to bring with them a note from parent or guardian. Where at all possible, medical and dental appointments should be made out with school hours.
If pupils fall ill during the day, parents are contacted for them to collect their child, therefore it is essential that we have up to date daytime contact numbers and emergency contact numbers for all pupils.
SCHOOL MEALS AND PACKED LUNCHES
A two-course lunch is served daily. A menu is issued at the start of the term and will be served on a rotational basis. A school lunch costs £2.30 Lunches may be paid monthly or weekly in advance on Mondays. On Fridays, children can request a GRAB AND GO bag as we finish at lunchtime on a Friday.
Children of families receiving Income Support qualify for free meals. Application forms are available online from the Highland Council Website and should be submitted to: Care & Learning, Catering Service, Ruthven House, Drummond Road, Inverness, IV2 4NZ.
All P1 – P4 pupils receive free schools meals
PACKED LUNCHES IN SCHOOL
Children having a packed lunch sit with the children having a school lunch. The Highland Council has drawn up a set of guidelines in order that certain standards of health, hygiene and safety are maintained. 18
1. All food must be carried in a semi-rigid container with a secure lid. i.e. Tupperware, ice cream containers or similar, Containers should be clearly marked with the name of the pupil,
2. Glass bottles or containers are not permitted under the Health & Safety Regulations.
3. Vacuum flasks containing hot liquid are not permitted because of the danger of scalding.
4. Aerated drinks in cans or bottles are not permissible because of the obvious dangers these present.
5. Water beakers will be available in all dining areas.
ILLNESS OR ACCIDENT IN SCHOOL
If a child becomes unwell in school or is seriously hurt at break times, the parents are immediately contacted. It is, therefore, very important that parents keep the school informed of their emergency contact arrangements for such eventualities.
CHILD PROTECTION
From time to time incidents can arise when information about a child’s welfare causes concern and could indicate that a pupil is suffering some form of abuse.
Education Service staff through the Head Teacher, must report such incidents to Social Work Services which can lead to a joint Social Work/Police investigation. All agencies involved in Child Protection are obliged to make the welfare of children their paramount consideration and this will be the priority for Education Service staff.
All staff are trained yearly on child protection. Each member of staff knows the procedure. Any supply teachers, visiting teachers or volunteers are also made aware of this. They are given the procedure card to read and they then wear this on their lanyard.
Here is our Procedure:
Child Protection Officer: Fiona McKellar - Head Teacher
In absence – Donna Campbell PT @ Tomnacross 01463 741497 Sharon Gallacher PT @ Teanassie 01463 782581
IF YOU HAVE ANY CONCERNS: CONTACT Fiona McKellar ASAP – TX 741497, TN 782581, DG 861240
IF A CHILD DISCLOSES SOMETHING: 1. Listen carefully and calmly
2. Reassure the child
3. DO NOT AGREE TO KEEP A SECRET
4. DO NOT INVESTIGATE – JUST LISTEN
5. SPEAK TO Fiona ASAP. Donna or Sharon in Fiona’s absence
6. RECORD THE INCIDENT ASAP AFTER TALKING TO CHILD ** If you see or hear something that feels wrong, pass it on.
It is displayed around the school.
We follow Highland Council’s CP guidance which can be found here:
https://www.highland.gov.uk/downloads/file/162/child_protection_policy
You can also get lots of great information here:
http://www.forhighlandschildren.org/
https://www.highland.gov.uk/info/1361/childcare_and_family_care/438/child_protection
TECHNOLOGY IN SCHOOL
The use of modern technology can make a significant contribution to the teaching of the curriculum making learning more interesting and engaging. Pupils will therefore have access to different types of technology at appropriate times. Unfortunately the use of computers and modern technology can be abused.
Therefore the school has drawn up an Information Communication Technology Access Policy to protect all parties – the pupils, the staff and the school. The policy includes the following points: All ICT use should be appropriate to the pupil's education. Computers should not be personalised by changing desktop settings. Unauthorised software should not be loaded as it may not be compatible and may alter the operation of existing software.
Pupils’ access to the internet is carefully supervised by the school and is also filtered by the Council’s servers. E-mail will be under direct teacher supervision i.e. one computer with the teacher and relevant pupils.
Children will not have access to chat rooms at school. There have been very few instances of abuse of computers in the Tri Cluster. However, it is necessary to state that any pupil found maliciously abusing access to ICT, may lose the opportunity to use the school system.
Other items of modern technology (mobile phones etc.) are becoming increasingly attractive items for children to own. However, given the desirability, expense and potential loss of these items, as well as on-going safety concerns, we ask that pupils do not bring these items into school.
PHOTOGRAPHY IN SCHOOL
Photography in school has an important place to record events for sharing, and providing parents and the school with mementos and records of occasions. This photography should be discreet, not intrusive, respect the views of pupils, staff, and parents and comply with ‘child protection’ guidelines e.g. Faces of children would not appear on the school internet site. Photography of children participating in sports events, classroom activities and at public performances should be carried out by an approved school photographer, a member of staff, or pupils using school equipment under the supervision of school staff. This would be edited and, if appropriate and copy-write allowing, made available for parents to purchase, normally as hard copies. A professional school photographer would photograph the children each session (with parent permission). This would normally be for stage groups and family and individual pictures.
CATCHMENT AREAS AND SECONDARY SCHOOL
At the end of the primary stage of education, pupils from all of our Tri-Cluster catchment area transfer to Charleston Academy.
Contact details are:
Charleston Academy, Kinmylies, Inverness, IV3 8ET Telephone: 01463 234324 Fax: 01463 715 352 email: charleston.academy@highland.gov.uk
Parents of pupils who currently live outside the catchment area of the Academy are required to make a placing request to the Area Education Manager if they wish their child to transfer to any other secondary School. Placing request forms can be obtained from http://www.highland.gov.uk/info/878/schools/11/school_enrolment/2 Transportation to and from school, for placing request pupils, is a parental responsibility.
COMPLAINTS PROCEDURE
If a parent has any concerns they should contact their child’s Named Person in the first instance, Mrs Fiona McKellar , Head Teacher. Fiona is available at one of the Tri-Cluster schools. The school will always endeavour to resolve issues by listening to parents and seeking solutions in partnership. Should a situation not be resolved, parents can contact the Area Education Manager.