Welcome toSighthill Primary School

At Sighthill Primary we value growing together safely, happily and successfully.

Our school aims are We WELCOME everyone We are all EQUAL! We are a TEAM! We are RESPECTFUL We will be the BEST we can be!

As a staff we believe these aims are succinct and effective in reflecting the ethos of our school.

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Thank you for choosing Sighthill Primary School for your child. We look forward to fostering a long and happy partnership together. At Sighthill, everyone is valued and we encourage mutual respect. Pupils are encouraged and expected to do their best at all times and are rewarded for this. Good home/school links are encouraged.

We hope you find the following information useful. If there are any issues which have not been covered, please feel free to ask. Should you have any concerns at any time regarding your child, please do not hesitate to contact the school and speak to Mrs Gallagher, head teacher. You are also entitled to contact the director of the Department of Children and Families, Ms Gillian Tee, with any concerns you feel have not been resolved. The department can be contacted at:

Children and Families DepartmentThe City of Edinburgh CouncilLevel 1/9 Waverley Court4 East Market StreetEdinburghEH8 8BG0131 469 3000

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Sighthill Primary School

Address 1 Calder ParkEdinburghEH11 4NF

Tel No: 0131 453 2464Fax No: 0131 442 2842Email: admin@sighthill.edin.sch.uk

Head Teacher: Mrs GallagherActing Deputy Head Teacher: Mrs DunnBusiness Manager: Mrs McGonigle

Office Staff: Mrs HayMrs Green

SSO : Mr Stibbles

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Sighthill Primary: School hours for session 2016/2017

Start Break Lunch EndP1-2 M-Th 8.50 10.30-

10.5012.15-13.00 14.45

Fri 8.50 10.30-10.50

12.20

P3-7 M-Th 8.50 10.30-10.50

12.30-13.10 15.15

Fri 8.50 10.30-10.50

12.30

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Curriculum for Excellence

Bringing learning to life and life to learning

Curriculum for Excellence has now been introduced across Scotland for all 3-18 year olds – wherever they learn. It aims to raise standards, prepare our children for a future they do not yet know and equip them for jobs of tomorrow in a fast changing world.

Curriculum for Excellence enables professionals to teach subjects creatively, to work together across the school and with other schools, to share best practice and explore learning together. Glow, Scotland’s unique, world leading, online network supports learners and teachers in this and plans are already in place for parents across the country to have access to Glow.

Teachers and practitioners will share information to plan a child’s ‘learning journey’ from 3-18, helping their progression from nursery to primary, primary to secondary and beyond, ensuring the change is smooth. They’ll ensure children continue to work at a pace they can cope with and with challenge they can thrive on.

Curriculum for Excellence balances the importance of knowledge and skills.

Every child is entitled to a broad and deep general education, whatever their level and ability. Every single teacher and practitioner will be responsible for literacy and numeracy – the language and numbers skills that unlock other subjects and are vital to everyday life.

It develops skills for learning, life and work to help young people go on to further study, secure work and navigate life. It brings real life into the classroom, making learning relevant and helps young people apply lessons to their life beyond the classroom. It links knowledge in one subject area to another helping children understand the world and make connections. It develops skills so that children can think for themselves, make sound judgements, challenge, enquire and find solutions.

There are new ways of assessing progress and ensuring children achieve their potential. There are now new qualifications for literacy and numeracy, and new National 4 and 5 qualifications. Our well regarded Access, Highers and Advanced Highers have been updated to take account of and support the new approaches to learning and teaching.

There is personal support to help young people fulfil their potential and make the most of their opportunities with additional support wherever that is needed. There is now a greater emphasis on looking after our children’s health and wellbeing – to ensure that the school is a place where children feel safe and secure.

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Ultimately, Curriculum for Excellence aims to improve our children’s life chances, to nurture successful learners, confident individuals, effective contributors and responsible citizens, building on Scotland’s reputation for great education.

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OUR ETHOS

We at Sighthill Primary School are committed to encouraging the development of the whole child within the context of a successful school community where everyone has high expectations of their own and others’ behaviour. Our aim is to ensure everyone is:

Safe Healthy Active Nurtured Achieving Responsible Included

We adopt a zero tolerance approach to behaviours such as aggressions, racism/xenophobia, sexism, intolerance of others and bullying. We use a restorative approach with the children to deal with any of these concerns.

At Sighthill, we encourage good behaviour, manners and work habits at all times. We recognise that positive relationships foster best learning.Merit Awards are given to recognise good behaviour and performance.Pupils are awarded:

a BRONZE CERTIFICATE on achieving 25 Merit Awardsa SILVER CERTIFICATE on achieving 50 Merit Awards a GOLD CERTIFICATE and Gold Medal on achieving 100 Merit Awards.

SCOTTISH WIDOWS CITIZENSHIP AWARD

Scottish Widows Investment Partnership are one of our Community partners. They have donated a shield and medals to recognise exceptional citizenship in one of our pupils once a year. The shield remains in our display cabinet and the child receives a medal. This award can be won by any child from P1 to P7 and is nominated by the teacher.

It is important that home and school work together to ensure that any action taken is effective.

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ATTENDANCE AND PUNCTUALITY

At Sighthill Primary School we encourage good attendance and punctuality. They are crucial to your child’s education - your child will not learn if he/she is not here!

YOU CAN HELP US IN THE FOLLOWING WAYS:

Only allow your child to stay off school for a genuine reason. Phone the school on 0131 453 2464 or come in person before 8.50 on

the first and each day of your child’s absence to let us know why he/she is off - if this is not possible, give a note to another child to bring to school. If you are on email you can email us at admin@sighthill.edin.sch.uk. YOU MUST MAKE CONTACT WITH THE SCHOOL EVERY DAY OF ABSENCE.

Do not allow your child out to play on a day he/she has been absent from school.

In the event of sickness or diarrhoea the council guidelines advise to keep your child at home for 48 hours.

Make all appointments for your child out with school hours. (If this is not possible, bring your child back to school after the appointment.)

Do not arrange holidays during school time. Unless this is the only time work permits a holiday (a supporting letter should be provided) absence for a holiday is always an unauthorised absence.

WHAT ARE NOT GENUINE REASONS FOR BEING ABSENT?

Sleeping in - better arriving late than not at all!ShoppingAt the dentist/doctor – if you must attend an appointment during school time return afterwardsNo Dress Code to wearA birthday or other celebration.Looking after someone.Parent unwell.Headlice – if your child has headlice everyone in the family must be treated, you should not keep your child off school as treatment is immediate

Our Education Welfare Officer works with the school to support families who may be experiencing difficulties with attendance or punctuality. Please contact us if you wish to discuss any issues which might affect your child’s attendance at school.

Medication & Allergies – If your child needs long-term or long-term medication while they are at school we can administer during lunch times BUT only completion of a signed medical form. Forms are obtained from the school office.

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Change of Emergency Contact Details

We at Sighthill Primary School are fully aware that a change of circumstances happens in everyday life. We would ask that if your address or emergency contact phone numbers change that you inform the school as soon as possible. This allows us to keep our records up-to-date and in the case of an emergency the ability to get hold of you if necessary.

DINNER/MILK MONEY & PLAYPIECESPupils can choose from the menu for their hot meal from Monday – Thursday and have a packed lunch on a Friday.All milk & dinner money must be paid on a MONDAY morning. Money should go with the child to her/his class – NOT TO RECEPTION.We suggest younger pupils bring money in a named purse with a note of what the money is for. Please help us by trying to give your child the correct money.

Milk for the 6 week block £4.35

Lunches 1 day £ 2.052 days £ 4.103 days £ 6.154 days £ 8.205 days £10.25

Some children bring a packed lunch from home. Very occasionally a child will go home for lunch but this can only happen by prior arrangement and a letter requesting permission must be sent. If a child goes home for lunch he/she should not return until their class resumes at either 1pm or 1.10pm. Children in P1 and P2 may not go home for lunch unless collected and returned by their parents. Pupils do not have permission to go to the shops for lunch. This is in the interest of safety.

As part of the council’s health promotion, all pupils in Primary 1, 2 & 3 receive a free school meal Monday to Thursday.We suggest you give your child a healthy playpiece - crisps, sweets and chocolate are not considered healthy options.Milk or water is on offer at playtime

We do not allow fizzy drinks in school at all (unless there is a medical reason and this has to be supported by a doctor’s letter)

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DRESS CODE

Sighthill is an ALL DRESS CODE school. We are committed to our Dress Code. Its success lies in the fact that parents and pupils support it. Visitors to the school comment on the very high numbers of pupils wearing Dress Code and on how smart they look.As many items are the same, we suggest you label everything, including gym shoes. Outlandish hairstyles, dyed hair and hair accessories are not appropriate for school. Piercings and tattoos – fake or genuine – are not appropriate for primary-age children. If ear-rings are worn they must be studs for health and safety reasons.

Our Dress Code is simple:black sweatshirt – not polo necked sweaterwhite polo shirtwhite school shirt with school tieblack school cardigan, long sleevedblack trousers/skirtchecked summer dress – May to September only

no designer/sports labels no football tops no fashionwear no joggers with stripes or logos no baseball caps no jeans indoor shoes – black plimsolls

Sweatshirts, poloshirts and waterproof jackets with school logo and black plimsolls are available direct from the school.A price list is available from reception.

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HOMEWORK & WHAT TO BRING TO SCHOOL

Homework is given by teachers Monday to Thursday. If this work is not done to the expected standard, your child may be required to redo it at break or asked to do it again at home. Please ensure that this work is brought to school daily, along with your child’s reading book, pencils, a rubber and sharpener in a schoolbag. Should any items belonging to the school get damaged or lost we would ask that you pay towards the cost of replacement.NO valuables or toys should be brought to school unless requested by the teacher as part of a project.

PARENT CONSULTATIONSParent consultations are held in October and February each year. On these dates you will be able to discuss your child’s progress with the class teacher.You will receive a written report in May/June. Parents are invited in regularly to view their child’s progress and learning journals through visiting classes to look at Big Book, PLPs and Learning Journals.Should you wish to discuss any issues at other times, please contact the school administrator who will arrange an appointment for you.

SPECIALIST SUBJECTS

PEPE is considered to be an important aspect of the curriculum at Sighthill.Class teachers teach PE lessons throughout the week. PE kit consists of gym shoes, shorts or joggers & T shirt (NO football strips) and is best kept in school as the children have gym on more than one day in the week. Gym Kit Bags are on sale in school as are gym shoes, prices are available from the office.In the interest of safety, jewellery should not be worn at gym.If your child is to be excused from a P.E. lesson for any reason, you must give him/her a note.

ARTWe are also lucky to have Mr Pearce in school who will continue to provide art lessons Wednesday to Friday. Again, we consider art to be a valuable curricular area.

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Additional Support Needs

An additional support need comes from anything which is a barrier to learning.  Most or all schools will have some children with additional support needs of some kind.  The education authority has many legal duties towards pupils with additional support needs.  Information about this is contained in a booklet called In On The Act : Information For The General Public which is published on the education authority website at  www.edinburgh.gov.uk/inontheact - or contact the additional support for learning team on telephone number 469 3444.

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