Tong Primary School

School Handbook

Head Teacher's Introduction

Dear Parent

As the Head Teacher of Tong School I would like to warmly welcome you and your child to Tong Primary School.

When I became Head Teacher in August 2000, I inherited a beautifully refurbished school, a most pleasant environment in which to learn and teach.

It only seemed natural then, to look at the exterior of the school.  Shrub planting, playground games and garden furniture were bought to enhance the exterior environs of the school.  In spring of 2003 a School/Community Conservation Garden was developed and officially opened in June 2003.  This session 2005/06 we hope to install a small wind turbine at the rear of the school to power our polytunne. 

Education has undergone and is still undergoing many great changes.  Various initiatives are embarked on.  Free fruit in schools, Hungry for Success and the most recent introduction of milk in schools aims to improve the health of the nation.  Enterprise Education, Citizenship, Eco Schools all aim to ensure that the children are not merely educated academically but are given as wide an experience of issues relating to the ‘real world’.  In a world of educational change, we greatly value partnership with parents, School Board and the community.  We are pleased so say that the school enjoys the active support of parents and other members of the community in providing the best possible education for our pupils.

This handbook is intended to help towards keeping you informed of what is happening in Tong School and of what we are trying to achieve.  We as teachers can only benefit from your greater awareness of how the school operates.  The school is very pleased to have its own website.  The address is www.tongschool.gov.uk.

The Tong School Board forms a particular link between parents and the school and all parents are welcome to attend the regular School Board meeting.  If you wish to discuss any matter regarding the school, you can contact any of the School Board members listed below.

I would be happy to give you further details or discuss any concerns which you may have about your child's education.

The School Buildings

After a complete re-furbishment of the school, kitchen and canteen, we have a most attractive building.

The Infant Room for Primaries 1, 2 and 3 has its own en-suite toilet facilities.  There is also a lovely welcoming library area in this classroom which can be utilised by the whole school.

Primaries 4 and 5 and Primaries 6 and 7 are taught in modern, well-planned classrooms.

The Portacabin (which is to be known as the General Purpose Room) was added on to the school and is utilised by the Music and Art specialists.

Mrs White, the PE Specialist has been able to use the school hall, for gymnastics, as a result of its enhanced provision.

The school is a warm and welcoming environment and one which the children and staff feel delighted to be a part of, and which the community at large, can be proud to have in their midst.

The School's Aims

•           We aim to create a caring, secure and challenging environment conducive to
teaching and learning in which each individual can realise his/her potential.

•           We aim to offer a well planned and balanced curriculum appropriate to the
needs of our children and in line with 5-14 guidelines.

•           We aim to provide a variety of teaching and learning approaches suited to the individual
needs of our children in order to develop their knowledge to the full.

•           We aim to identify and develop the talents of our children so that they achieve their
maximum.  We continue to monitor progress by using appropriate assessment
techniques relevant to the children’s daily learning experiences at each stage of
development.

•           We aim to maintain a shared responsibility with parents in the education of their children enabling us to work together for the welfare of the children.

•           We aim to encourage strong links with the community at large by making effective use of the local environment.

Staffing and Roll

Our current school roll and a full list of our teaching and non-teaching staff are set out at

Appendix 1.

Enrolment

Infants join the School in August each year, but enrolment usually takes place in February on a date notified, by press advertisement, to parents of prospective pupils.  Children who will be five years old before the last day of the following February are eligible for infant enrolment.  At the time of enrolment, parents should bring their child's birth certificate with them to the school and should inform the school of any medical problems or special needs which their child may have.

Other children, whose families have just moved into our catchment area, should be accompanied by a parent or guardian on their first day of reporting to the School. 

Parents of children who live outside our official catchment area and who wish their child(ren) to attend Tong School must submit a placing request before their child can be accepted for enrolment to the School.  Parents who wish to make a placing request should contact:

The School Day

Pupils start school at 9.00am and continue until 3.20pm.

The school day for pupils is structured as follows:

Timetable

The Curriculum

Tong School offers a broad, balanced and progressive curriculum in line with 5-14 National Guidelines which ensures that continunity and coherence are intrinsic.  The main curriculum areas are:

            English

            Gaelic

            French

            Maths

Religious and Moral Education, with Health Education and Personal and Social Development

            Expressive Arts                     Physical Education

                                                            Art

                                                            Music

                                                            Drama

            Environmental Studies          Geography

                                                            History

                                                            Science

                                                            Modern Studies

                                                            Technology

Information and Computing Technology

The children have available a wide variety of materials and pursue their activities in a stimulating and challenging informal environment.  Every effort is made to cater for the individual needs of the child (social, emotional and physical) in addition to the academic development.  The pupils become literate and numerate using learning materials and methods which are now well known in primary schools.  Environmental Studies are generally taught as discrete subjects in this school.

Tong School is a bi-lingual school where some of the instruction and a good deal of the incidental conversation is conducted in Gaelic.  It is hoped that such an approach will increase

proficiency in the language and impart confidence in those learning Gaelic.

For Music, Art and Physical Education our class teachers are assisted by the visiting specialist teachers.

Assessment

Assessment is the means of obtaining information which allows teachers, pupils and parents to determine what a pupil is actually achieving in relation to expectations of achievement and drawing conclusions from that comparison.  Teachers report on pupils' progress and attainment across the whole curriculum, using their professional judgement and the evidence available to them from continuous assessment throughout the year.  National Assessments provide an additional and important source of evidence about pupils' attainment in Reading, Writing and Mathematics in relation to nationally agreed and understood standards and Teachers use the National Assessments to check their own findings.

Reports on pupils’ progress are an important form of communication between home and school.  Pupils receive a written report twice a year.  Parents' meetings are held twice a year in November and May when parents can discuss their child's progress with the class teacher.  In addition to these scheduled evenings, parents are welcome to telephone the Head Teacher and arrange an appointment to visit the school to discuss any matter which is causing them concern.

Formative Assessment

Formative Assessment is being undertaken this year as part of the School Development Plan.  An opportunity was given to parents to receive information on this at the Parent-Teacher meeting held in November.  Any parent who wishes further information can receive this by telephoning the school.

Transfer

When pupils complete P7 they will normally transfer to:

Back School

School Road

 Back

 Tel: 01851 820 230

Spiritual, Moral, Social and Cultural Values

Tong School aims to develop the spiritual, moral, social and cultural values of its pupils, having regard to the values of the community and guided by the recommendations contained in national and regional guidelines.

As a non-denominational school, we have pupils from different religions and backgrounds.  All pupils have Religious Education each week but parents who wish to exercise their right to withdraw their child from Religious Education should put their request in writing to the Head Teacher.

Rev ID Campbell, School Chaplain, conducts Assembly at the school on a fortnightly basis each Friday afternoon, and the Headteacher conducts the Assembly each alternative week.

 Additional Learning Needs

The Education Authority aims to educate pupils with Additional Learning Needs with their peer group, in a mainstream class in their local school.  Where necessary, extra help is provided in the form of learning support.  This help is delivered in a flexible manner and the pupils can be seen individually, in a group or in class.  In addition, the Learning Support teacher and the Authority's Psychological Service can advise teachers on teaching materials, methods and programmes of work which are appropriate to pupils’ additional learning needs.  In circumstances where a pupil requires help with mobility or toileting, the authority provides non-teaching auxiliaries.  Input from the Learning Support specialist is delivered on two afternoons a week.  The school does not have a special class or unit.

The Learning Support Teacher works closely with identified children who may have learning difficulties.  After the parents have been informed (that the child appears to have a learning difficulty), information is gathered and analysed for assessment and construction of a learning needs profile.  The area of needs would be highlighted and an individual programme of work planned in consultation with all concerned.  This then guides the class teacher and the Learning Support teacher to provide a structured learning programme well suited to the child’s needs.

 The Education Authority aims as far as is possible to educate pupils who have additional support needs alongside their peer group, in a mainstream class at their local school. Where necessary, extra help is provided in the form of learning or behaviour support. This help is delivered in a flexible manner and the pupils can be seen individually, in a group or in class. In addition, the Authority's Psychological Service advises teachers on teaching materials, methods and programmes of work which are appropriate to support pupils’ needs.  If a child’s needs are so severe or complex that they cannot be educated within a mainstream class, the Authority has made special dedicated provision available at four schools across the Western Isles.

Where a child has significant learning difficulties, the Psychological Service may establish a Co-ordinated Support Plan, in consultation with parents and other agencies involved with the child.  The Co-ordinated Support Plan (CSP) replaces Records/Statements of Need, and is used to ensure a co-ordinated approach to providing support for children.  The CSP will summarise assessments carried out for the child, explain the nature of the child's difficulties and outline the steps the Authority will take to support the pupil’s needs. An assessment service is also provided by the itinerant teacher of children with visual and hearing impairment.

Early Intervention

Tong School became part of the Early Intervention Literacy Project five years ago.  The aim of the project is to raise the level of achievement in reading, writing and number for all pupils at the early stages of Primary School.

Partnership with Parents

In Tong School we greatly value partnership  with parents and staff.  We see the importance of ensuring that parents know how we teach and why we teach what we do.  We encourage parents to participate in extra-curricular activities eg swimming, sports, concerts and Mod.  Many parents and members of the community have expertise and knowledge which the teaching staff do not have.  We try and capitalise on this by inviting them to come into the class and talk to the children, thus enriching the children’s education

Health Promotion

Tong School is working towards becoming a health promoting school, committed to providing the environment and opportunity for pupils to :

- develop informed attitudes and values relating to health, enabling them to make choices which will be of value now, in their present lives and also in the future;

- achieve knowledge and understanding of human development and relationships;

- achieve their physical, mental and social potential and to improve their self awareness and self esteem;

- develop a range of skills to enable them to participate effectively and safely in society and to take positive control of their health.

Hungry for Success

Background

A Scottish Executive Government initiative providing guidelines that stipulate the Scottish Nutrient Standards that all schools have to adhere to when provididng a school meal service.

Main Aim

For pupils to eat healthier balanced meals.  We hope to educate children in order for them to be able to make their own informed choices, which could impact on their future well being.  We want to eliminate the choice of less healthy food items returning to school meals menu.

 Progress Briefly

v      Primary menu meeting Hungry for Success nutritional guidelines.

v      Healthy packed lunch option made available.

v      Removal of salt / no sauces on offer.

v      Free portion of bread / selection of salad items offered daily.

v      Removal of all canned and full sugar drinks.

v      Introduction of a pupils choice whereby pupils get to choose what is on the menu one day a month.

v      Improved presentation – new crockery, displays, etc.

v      Staff nutritional training.

v      Enhanced dining atmosphere – plants, music, furniture.

Secondary Targets

Healthy food to be increased on menu by December 2006.  We are looking to run taster sessions and liaise with school boards to get ideas and feedback.  We also welcome any suggestions / comments you may have

Contacts

Kitty MacCuish, Operations Manager………                     01851 709487

Janette Sutton, Assistant Operations Manager …            01851 709452

Esther Macdonald, Assistant Operations Manager …      01870 603567

Menu Planner – Appendix 11

School Meals

Meals are cooked on the premises and served in the school canteen.  At present the school meal is priced at £1.50.  Menus are prepared in advance and distributed to parents to allow them to make the meal choice for their child.  The menu is also displayed on the school notice board.  Facilities for eating packed lunches are provided in the school canteen.

Parents should let the School know in advance if their child has any special dietary requirements.

Children of parents in receipt of Income Support are entitled to a free midday meal.  Further information and application forms can be obtained from the School, or from:

Education and Leisure Services Department
Comhairle nan Eilean
Sandwick Road
Stornoway
Telephone 01851 703773 ext 546

Health Promoting School

Tong School is working towards becoming a health promoting school, committed to providing the environment and opportunity for pupils to :

develop informed attitudes and values relating to health, enabling them to make choices which will be of value now, in their present lives and also in the future; achieve knowledge and understanding of human development and relationships; achieve their physical, mental and social potential and to improve their self awareness and self esteem; develop a range of skills to enable them to participate effectively and safely in society and to take positive control of their health.

It is our aim to promote the health of the children, parents and the wider community by a combination of Health Education activities and curricular in-put.  There is a health promoting tuck shop in the school where the children are able to purchase a variety of snacks – low fat crisps, pure fruit juice and toast.  All pupils are given the opportunity of obtaining one-third of a pint of semi-skimmed milk on a daily basis.  Free fruit for all pupils is also available; P1 / 2 pupils receive free fruit three times a week and pupils in P3 – 7 receive fruit once a week.

Sports and Outdoor Activities

Children use the sports centre for swimming.  They are also encouraged to participate in all after school activities such as football, pivot ball, basketball, badminton netball, etc.  The local community centre is available to the school for PE activities if and when required.

Active Schools

Our Aims

The Active Schools team has recently been established across the Western Isles.  This is a national initiative funded by the Scottish Executive.  The main aim of Active Schools is to get young people across the Western Isles more active, more often.   Our aim is to have 80% of primary school children active for a minimum of one hour per day on at least five days of the week by 2007.   (sportscotland; Sport 21; 2003 - 2007)

To allow Active Schools to increase physical activity opportunities for your children we need you - parents, family, friends etc to get involved. This could be helping with an After School club, sports coaching or just assisting in any way that will increase young people's physical activity levels.  We will provide you with training, support and resources.  Go on volunteer today - don't wait for someone else to do it!

Sports

How to contact your Active Schools co-ordinator -

Fiona Brodie, Active Schools Co-ordinator, Greater Broadbay Area, 01851 707459, fiona.brodie@cne-siar.gov.uk

Homework

Pupils are expected to spend some time on homework in the evening.  The purpose of homework is to help pupils consolidate their class work, whether it be revision, completion of further examples or extension reading.

Homework also helps to develop self discipline and encourages independent learning.  It also enables the parents to become familiar with, and be actively involved, in the content of the curriculum.

At the infant stage the class teacher will write in the child’s homework diary the work for that evening.  By middle and upper primary stage the children are expected to note down for themselves, when told the homework for that evening.  The work for the week should be signed by a parent when they are satisfied that the work has been done to the child’s best ability.

Extra Curricular Activities

Pupils compete in the local Mod taking part in choral, solo and recitation events.  They entertain the senior citizens both in the Tong community and at a residential home for the elderly in Stornoway. 

They are given opportunity to compete in football and pivot ball tournaments, and many of them avail themselves of the football training given at the Back Development Centre.  Many of the pupils also participate in the community Youth Club, Brownies, Highland Dancing and Music Clubs. 

The school runs a Homework Club at different times of the year.  This session the club will give the children experience in Drama, Music, curriculum work and Basketball.

Attendance

School starts with morning registration in class.  Lateness is noted.  If a child has not arrived at school by 9.30 am and the school have not been contracted to indicate a pupil’s absence, then the school secretary will telephone the pupils home to ensure the well being and safety of the child.

If pupils cannot attend school because of illness or other circumstances parents should telephone the school with an explanation of the absence.  It is also useful if a note can be sent to the school explaining a long term absence in advance of the pupil's return to school.

Parents must put all requests for leave of absence to the Head Teacher in writing giving full information on the exact date, time and reason for the absence.  Where possible, requests for absence should be submitted at least one week in advance of the proposed date(s).

Together with having targets for Numeracy and Literacy, Schools are now required to have targets for pupil attendance.

Under guidelines issued by the Scottish Office Education Department, schools must now register absences as authorised or unauthorised.  In the light of this I would ask you as parents, as far as possible, to ensure that family holidays coincide with school holidays.

School Rules and Discipline

All schools must have rules if pupils are to learn and join in activities, effectively and safely.  School rules are primarily for the safety and well-being of pupils, staff and school property.  Pupils are expected at all times to exercise common sense and show respect for the safety and comfort of others.  Our school rules are set out in Appendix 3.

Unfortunately, there are times when some of these rules are broken and the school system of discipline has a gradually increasing scale of sanctions ranging from verbal admonition and/or punishment exercises, to loss of privileges, detention and parental involvement leading to exclusion from school in a few exceptional cases.  We would hope to give parents 'early warning' of any problems and we anticipate active cooperation from parents where necessary so that their child and all others in the school will benefit from the education provided.

Bullying

Parents should inform the School immediately if they become aware of any incidents of bullying. The child should be encouraged to discuss any worries or problems of this nature with the class teacher/Head Teacher as soon as possible.

Parents should keep a written record of any incidents including the date, the child(ren) involved, and what happened.  This will help the school to deal with the situation and agree the best way to support the child inside and outside the school.

We endeavour to create an anti-bullying ethos in the school through school assembly, RME class discussion, circle-time and through instilling caring values in our inter-actions with one another.

The children in Primaries 4, 5, 6 and 7 have all been issued with cards bearing the Council’s Bullying Helpline number on it.  It has been pointed out to them that this number is to be used only when all other avenues have failed to help e.g. parents, teachers and guardians.

School Uniform

Tong School uniform is blue and grey-blue V-necks with yellow logo, navy/black skirts/trousers.  The school sells jogging suits, T-shirts, V-necks and ties.  Prices of each item are available from the school.

All parents in receipt of Family Credit or Income Support are eligible for a clothing grant from the Education Authority to ensure that their children are able to make full use of educational provision.  Parents on low incomes may also make an application for a clothing grant. Application forms for clothing grants are available from the:

Education and Leisure Services Department
Comhairle nan Eilean Siar
Sandwick Road
Stornoway
Telephone 01851 - 703773 ext. 498

Travelling to School

All pupils living over one mile from the school are entitled to free transport to the school.  Bus passes are issued to these pupils by the Transportation Department of Comhairle nan Eilean Siar.  Pupils living nearer to the school may use transport where space is available on the vehicle provided for other pupils.

There is no official bus service to and from the school.  Some children use the local public bus service both in the morning and at the end of the school day.

When entering and leaving buses, pupils are under the supervision of the driver.  Appropriate behaviour while travelling on the bus is expected from all pupils.  Any misconduct could lead to the child being excluded from transport

Healthcare

Health Promoting School

It is our aim to promote the health of the children, parents and the wider community by a combination of Health Education activities and curricular in-put.  There is a health promoting tuck shop in the school where the children are able to purchase a variety of snacks – low fat crisps, pure fruit juice and toast.  All pupils are given the opportunity of obtaining one-third of a pint of semi-skimmed milk on a daily basis.  Free fruit for all pupils is also available; P1 / 2 pupils receive free fruit three times a week and pupils in P3 – 7 receive fruit once a week.

Medical Services

Parents should inform the school without fail of any relevant medical history e.g. asthma, epilepsy, diabetes etc. of which teachers should be aware.

Any pupil who feels unwell in class should inform the class teacher who will make arrangements to seek medical advice if necessary.  In some cases it may be necessary to send your child home but this will only be done  after consultation with the Head Teacher and after contact has been made with the parent/guardian/emergency contact to make arrangements, including suitable transport.

The School is visited regularly by the  Medical Staff who carry out a programme of examinations and immunisation for all pupils.  Parents will be informed in advance of these inspections and asked for their consent.

Dental Services

Parents can choose to treat their children privately or avail themselves of the services of the school dentist who visits the school on a regular basis.

Safety

Fire Drill

Notices describing what to do in the event of a fire are displayed in every room in the school.  Teaching staff remind all pupils of fire procedures at regular intervals and the school holds a fire drill once a term.

Road Safety

Children are reminded regularly of the dangers of the busy main road outside the school.  The Police Service come and  visit the school to give talks to the children on road safety and to test the older children in cycling proficiency.  A crossing patrol is in operation outside the main school entrance.  The Crossing Patrol Attendant, guides the children safely across the road at the school’s opening and closing times.

Emergency Closure

It may be necessary, occasionally,  to close the school at short notice and send the pupils home - for example, in exceptionally bad weather or if the electricity or heating system fails.  In the event of the school closing early due to bad weather, a message will be transmitted on the local radio station, and parents will, as far as possible, be informed.  If parents are not regularly at home during school hours, they should always make arrangements to have someone available to receive their children should such an emergency occur.  The School will ask each parent to provide the address and/or telephone number of a person who can be contacted in these circumstances.

Parents should also feel free to contact the school if they are concerned about the safety of their children because of severe weather conditions and are at liberty to take them out of the school at any time during these conditions.

School Running Costs

Appendix 4 gives details of the school's running costs (on a per pupil basis) compared with other schools in the Western Isles and the Scottish national average.

School Attendance and Attainment

Appendix 5 gives details of rates of authorised and unauthorised absence for Tong School compared with other schools in the Western Isles and the Scottish national average.

APPENDIX 1

SCHOOL ROLL AND STAFFING

SCHOOL ROLL

TEACHING STAFF

RESIDENT TEACHING STAFF

HEAD TEACHER:  MRS D KENNEDY

NON-RESIDENT TEACHING STAFF

 NON-TEACHING STAFF

 APPENDIX 2

CALENDAR OF EVENTS FOR 2006 AND BEYOND

School Rules

Tong School Rules

These are linked to the safety and well-being of the children and generally apply to noise/movement within the school in wet/dry weather, to road safety and to areas where cycling and games are not allowed.

1.         We stay inside the playground during playtime.

2.         We play outside except when the weather is bad.

            P1 & 2 and P6 & 7 will play in the main hall when the weather is bad.

            P3, 4 & 5 will play with the wet weather toys in their own corridor under Mr Macdonald’s supervision.

                        3.         We leave our bicycles in the bicycle racks and use the playground area for playing only.

                                   4.         We do not run in the corridors.  We walk in the corridors.

5.         We never chew gum in school.

6.         We must always leave the toilet door unlocked after using the toilet.

7.                  We are proud of our new school and we like to always keep it neat and tidy – inside and outside.

8.                  We wipe our feet prior to entering the school foyer.

9.         Children must behave appropriately on school transport.  Any form of misbehaviour could lead to a child being excluded from transport.

                        10.       Bad language must never be used.

11.               Bullying must not take place.

12.               Pupils must show respect to teacher and pupil alike.

13.               Fighting must never take place

  APPENDIX 4

School running cost per pupil 2004-05

 Budgeted running costs:  2005-06 Financial Year

APPENDIX 5

Attendance Rates for School Year 2003/04