General Information

General Information

For Information on the school's curriculum click here

Extra Curricular Activities

Throughout the year children from Primary 4 to 7 are given the opportunity to take part in football, basketball, badminton, shinty, athletics, gymnastics and tennis after school. Many of these activities are provided with help from the Active Schools Co-ordinator. After school clubs in art and music are also provided.

The school would welcome any parents able to offer any extra curricular activities.

Emergency

The school requires the name of a neighbour or relative who is willing to look after a child should parents be unobtainable.

The following information is a guide to parents on how to gain information about the ‘open/closed’ status of the school during severe weather conditions

Due to severe weather conditions the school may not open. To gain information about the current situation parents can do the following:

1. Phone the Highland Council Snow Information Line. Each school will have a special pin number; this will give parents information about the situation regarding their school.

Telephone number: 0870 054 6999

Abernethy pin number: 041290

2. Listen to BBC Radio Highland or Moray Firth Radio who broadcast school

closures during their morning shows.

Local radio stations issue news and weather bulletins on traffic conditions and school closures. Transmissions may not cover all households and may be subject to re-scheduling but should be helpful. Parents are advised to remain “tuned in” to ongoing road weather, or school information updates.

Broadcast times

BBC Radio Highland

6.55am – 7.00am

12.55pm – 1.00pm

7.50pm –8.00pm

4.55pm –5.00pm

In extreme conditions Radio Highland will interrupt Radio Scotland transmissions, usually on the hour, to carry emergency bulletins.

Moray Firth Radio

Normally hourly news bulletins and half-hourly summaries will carry local information on weather, roads and conditions affecting schools. In severe conditions normal programs will be interrupted more frequently to carry emergency bulletins.

Please do not telephone local Radio for advice but listen to appropriate broadcasts.

3. If your child travels to school by taxi, you should contact your driver. The school will have informed them about closure due to snow.

If the school closes during the day parents or emergency contacts will be notified and asked to transport children home. No pupils will be sent home until contact has been made with parents or emergency numbers.

It is the responsibility of parents or carers to decide if a pupil should attempt to travel to school, by transport or on foot, in adverse weather conditions. The Education Authority encourages full attendance at school but in severe weather conditions the safety of pupils is much more important.

Health

The school has regular visits from the Doctor, Dentist and School Nurse. General health, eyesight, hearing, speech and teeth are checked and parents are entitled to attend such examinations if they wish. The speech therapist also visits the school regularly.

Administration of Medicines

Abernethy Primary School aims to meet the needs of, and provide equal opportunities for, all the pupils. In trying to fulfil this aim it is accepted that some children may require to take medication in order that they can continue to attend school.

In following the procedures set out below the school staff will take full account of the Highland Council policy on 'Administration of Medicines in School'.

· A child may only take medication (including non-prescription) if the parent/guardian has given written permission.#

· Only medication supplied by the parent/guardian should be administered to a child.

· No child should take any form of medication in school without the written permission of the parent/guardian. #

· Pupils should take the medication only when supervised by an adult. #

· Whenever a child takes medication it should be entered in the "Administration of Medication" Record Book which is kept in the staffroom. Pupils who require long term medication should have an individual record sheet.

· Staff should discuss the medical needs of pupils in the first instance with the headteacher. It is also likely that it will be necessary to liase with the school nurse, school doctor and the parents on specific issues.

· All medication will be stored securely in the school office. Arrangements are made so as to ensure that it is readily accessible at all times of the school day. Exceptions to this will include inhalers or any medication which needs to be administered quickly.

· Parents should deliver the medication to schools but where this is not possible the pupil should hand in the medication to the Head teacher upon arrival at the school. Where possible the pupil should only carry the amount for one day.

· Where a child has long term or complex medical needs all the teaching staff, including visiting and supply teachers, relevant classroom assistant/auxiliary and playground supervisor should be informed (staff will be reminded about the need for confidentiality). Following discussion with the parent/guardian and a representative of the health authority from the Department of Community Child Health of the Highland Primary Care Trust, a written set of procedures for the individual child will be drawn up. Where required, staff will be trained by Highland Health Authority staff in dealing with specific conditions.

· In an emergency situation the emergency services must be contacted immediately. A nominated adult will ensure that the emergency vehicle has ready access to the school .

PLEASE NOTE :_
# Health Service staff advise that exceptions to this include inhalers or an aspirin or equivalent product - contact your school doctor for further advice.

School Uniform

Blue sweatshirts and T-shirts with the school logo are available from Boyds, High Street Grantown-on-Spey. These worn with grey or navy skirts or trousers provide a smart and comfortable uniform. Jogging trousers and jeans are not acceptable. The school hopes parents will support us, in ensuring that school uniform is worn at all times.

School Meals

School meals are cooked on the premises and cost £1.65 per day. They are eaten in the dining hall, where tables are provided for children with packed lunches.

Pupils may be eligible for free meals under certain circumstances and application forms are available from the school office.

Dinner money is payable on Mondays for the full week.

Transport

Transport is provided according to statutory requirements. Pupils aged under eight living more than two miles from the school by the shortest route are entitled to transport. For pupils over eight the relevant distance is three miles. If there are spare seats on school transport these are usually made available to other children on the route according to age and distance.

Physical Education

It is important that pupils have the appropriate clothing for this activity, e.g. shorts, T-shirt and gym shoes / training shoes. Children have two sessions per week and should be encouraged to bring the correct equipment. In the winter term all classes attend swimming lessons at Abernethy Trust.

Transfer to Secondary School

At the end of Primary 7, pupils transfer to Grantown Grammar School. Before the end of the Summer Term, P7 pupils are taken on a visit to familiarise them with their new school and members of Grantown staff visit this school to talk to pupils about their courses.

Cycling

The school strongly recommends that only pupils in Primary 5 – 7 should be allowed to cycle to school unaccompanied. This recommendation was made after consultation with the School’s Police Liaison Officer. Children in Primary 1 to 4 should only cycle when accompanied by parents. The safety of pupils cycling to school unaccompanied is the responsibility of the parent or guardian.