Howford Primary School

Howford Primary School

Handbook

2015

All authorities are required by law to issue a copy of the school handbook incorporating current policies and practices of both the council and the school to certain parents in December each year for their use as appropriate.

Contents

Introduction by Head of Establishment3

Vision, Values and Aims4

School information5

School staff6

School hours7

School holidays7

Enrolment7

Parental involvement/ Parent council8

Curriculum9

Assessment and reporting13

School and the Community14

School Improvement15

Attendance at school15

Promoting Positive Behaviour16

Clothing and uniform17

School meals 17

Transport18

Medical and Health Care18

Information in Emergencies18

Transfer from Primary to Secondary19

Privacy Statement and Data Protection 19

Comments and Complaints19

Useful addresses20

Dear Parent/Carer,

Welcome to Howford Primary School Handbook. This handbook should provide you with a comprehensive overview of our school; information about the organisation of our school and the content of our curriculum.

In Howford Primary we are very proud of the happy, secure, welcoming environment in which our pupils participate in high quality educational experiences. Our pupils are encouraged to be the best they can be in all that they do and to respect and care for each other at all times.

Obviously our school handbook can only give a flavour of our school therefore I would be delighted to meet with you in order to discuss the work of our school further and to show you around our school.

If you would like further information about our school or would like to arrange a visit please contact myself or a member of our senior leadership team.

Kindest regards,

Karen Keith

Head Teacher

Vision, Values, Aims

Our vision is of a school which ensures that all children achieve success through relevant, engaging and high quality educational experiences. We will strive to be the best we can be by continuing to reflect on our practice and to remain ambitious and creative in all that we do. We will work in partnership with others to ensure we meet children’s needs in a safe and nurturing environment and we will prepare children for lifelong learning and citizenship in a democratic, socially just and sustainable society.

Our shared values are embedded in everything that we do in HowfordPrimary School.

We are committed to:

• Ensuring everyone feels cared for, respected and included
• Promoting responsibility for our actions and tolerance of diversity
• Developing a sense of belonging to a community where trust and integrity are paramount
• Ensuring equality and fairness permeate throughout the life of our school
• Remaining ambitious and courageous in all that we do

All staff in HowfordPrimary School aim to provide a high quality service and are committed to improving outcomes for all of our children. We recognise the importance of having high expectations for the children,of ourselves and others in striving to be the best we can be and we are fully committed to working together in order to achieve our vision for Howford Primary School.

We aim to:

• Improve outcomes for all children by raising standards of educational attainment and achievement within all areas of the curriculum.
• Provide contextualised learning and teaching experiences which are relevant, meaningful and challenging for all children.
• Support the development of all of our staff to enable them to deliver a curriculum which best meets the needs of our children.
• Ensure that we meet the needs of all of our learners to enable them to become successful learners, effective contributors, responsible citizens and confident individuals.
• Enable all of our children to become responsible citizens by ensuring that our young people are involved in the decisions that affect them
• Equip all of our children with the necessary skills and attitudes to enable them to become effective contributors in an ever changing society

Everyone in HowfordPrimary School sets high expectations for the children and we firmly believe that every child has a right to be included, achieve and have their talents nurtured and shared. For more information on children’s rights please read Glasgow City Council’s leaflet ‘Children’s Rights’.

School Information

AddressHowford Primary School

487 Crookston Road

Glasgow

G53 7TX

Telephone0141 882 2605

Fax0141 883 2146

Website

Howford Primary is a non denominational, co-educational school which caters for children aged 5-12 who have additional learning needs and Autistic Spectrum Disorders.

Present School Roll71

Stages coveredPrimary 1 to Primary 7

Parents should note that the working capacity of the school may vary. It is dependent upon the number of pupils at each stage and the way in which the classes are organised.

Local community groups wishing to apply for a let of school premises should call: Letting Section on

0141 302 2814

School Staff

Teaching Staff

Head TeacherMrs K.Keith

DHTMrs K. Dempster (on maternity leave)

Acting DHT (PT)Mrs K. Campbell

Class ArranMrs P. McGee

Class SkyeMrs M. O’Donnell

Class ButeMrs F. McNab

Class BarraMrs M.McDonald

Class MullMrs S. Jackson

Class IonaMrs A. Gallacher

Class TireeMrs L. Jesner/ Mrs E. Livingstone

Class GighaMrs L. Wallace

Class HarrisMr S. Montgomery

Class LewisMrs E. Easton (Principal Teacher)

Non-class contactMrs A. MacDonald /Mr K. MacDonald

Specialist Subjects

Art (1 day)Mr A Young

Music (2 days)Mrs G McGeown

Support for Learning WorkersClerical Assistant

Mrs K. ConachanMrs M. McDonald

Mrs S. Gallagher (also escort)Janitor

Mrs K. Cosgrove (also escort)Mr F. Docherty

Mrs C. Campbell (also escort)

Miss E. Muchan

Mrs B. Vickers (also escort) Escort

Mrs Y. AkhtarMrs C. Poole

Mrs A. Thornton (also escort)

Mr B. Kennedy

Kitchen Staff

Mrs M. Beaton

Mrs A. Wilson

Mrs D. McGonigle

School Hours

School Starts9.30a.m.

Morning Interval11.00 – 11.15a.m.

Lunch12.45 – 1.30p.m

School closes3.30p.m.

Enrolment

Before enrolment at HowfordPrimary School, it is usual for the parents/carers to visit the school. This visit will be arranged the Educational Psychologist recommending the placement. During the visit parents will be able to see the school and discuss any queries they may have regarding their child’s placement with the Head Teacher.

The catchment area of the school covers most of the South West area of Glasgow.

G41, G43, G46, G51, G52, G53 and G5 west of Eglinton Street

School Holiday Session 2015-16

School Holidays for 2015-2016

In-Service Days

Parental Involvement

In Howford Primary we view parents and carers as valuable partners and strive to involve parents in school life. We provide regular information on school events through our school newsletter, The Howford Herald, and on our school website. Every child has a home/school learning diary which can be used to communicate information between school and home. We encourage parents to support their child’s learning at home and provide a termly class newsletter along with a topic information leaflet which gives some suggestions for activities that can be undertaken at home.

Parents’ views are often sought on school matters as we recognise the value of their views in helping us to continually improve and to meet the needs of the children. Recently we asked for views on our proposed contexts for learning and received very positive feedback relating to the range of contexts being proposed. We also recognise that parents play a vital role during key transition times e.g. between nursery & primary and between primary & secondary and we fully involve parents in these transition programmes by providing visits and information on changes which their child will encounter.

Parent Council

We have an active Parent Council that represents the views of all parents. All parents are welcome to attend Parent Council meetings and can become members at the AGM. Parent Council minutes are available on the school website and on request from the school office. A list of current Parent Council members is also available on the school website.

The objectives of our Parent Council are:

• To work in partnership with the school to create a welcoming school which is inclusive for all parents
• To promote partnership between the school, its pupils and all its parents
• To develop and engage in activities which support the education and welfare of the pupils
• To identify and represent the views of parents on the education provided by the school and other matters affecting the education and welfare of the pupils
• To engage in raising funds for the benefit of the school

A copy of the Parent Council Constitution can be obtained from the school office.

Home School Links

In HowfordPrimary School we believe that close home school links ensure that our children make the most of their educational experiences. We have two Parents’ Evenings per session. Parents are encouraged to attend all information evenings as it is an opportunity for teachers and parents to discuss progress being made and next steps in learning.

We also operate less formal links in the form of learning diaries, newsletters and homework information pamphlets. Parents are asked to use these as a means of helping their child with school work. Our school website, facebook page and twitter are all very useful ways of keeping up to date with what is happening in school.

Howford Primary School

Howford Primary School

Parents/carers will be consulted on a variety of issues from time to time. This will usually be done in writing but there may be circumstances when we will invite parents/carers into school to ask for their views.

We operate an open door policy and as such parents are welcome to telephone or make an appointment to speak with a member of the senior leadership team if they have any concerns regarding their child.

Curriculum

Our aspiration is to enable all of our pupils to develop their capacities as successful learners, confident individuals, responsible citizens and effective contributors. By keeping our pupils at the centre and building the curriculum around the development of these capacities we aim to provide learning experiences which are motivating, stimulating and challenging for all of our pupils.

Curriculum for Excellence aims is 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. For more information about Curriculum for Excellence visit:

In HowfordPrimary School we offer a full primary curriculum which has been devised to take account of Curriculum for Excellence outcomes. We place a high emphasis on life experiences including those related to health and wellbeing and are committed to providing outdoor learning experiences on a weekly basis. We encourage children to be involved in the life of the school including participation in our Pupil Council, Eco Committee and Fairtrade Committee.

The subject areas covered are:

• Literacy (reading, writing, talking and listening)
• Numeracy (Number, money, measurement; Problem solving; Information Handling; Shape, position, movement)
• Sciences; Technologies and Social Studies (People in the Past; People in Society; People and Place)
• Health and wellbeing, including physical education and personal and social development
• Religious and Moral Education (R.M.E.)
• Expressive Arts (Art and Design; Drama; Music)

Accessibility to the curriculum

All pupils within the school are given access to the curriculum at a level which is suitable to their needs, but that still offers challenge. Attainment outcomes are differentiated to suit the needs of the pupils in HowfordPrimary School regardless of their age. Emphasis is placed on real understanding through the learning process. In order to promote this we allow pupils to learn at a pace suitable to their individual needs.

Literacy

Talking, listening, reading and writing are recognised by all staff as a fundamental area of the curriculum. Staff work closely with our Speech and Language Therapist (where appropriate) to develop communication skills.

Talking and listening skills are developed throughout the school, as we believe that without attention skills children will not learn to the best of their ability. These skills are developed particularly through the use of specially designed games.

At the early stages of literacy, teaching methods are developed which build on the child’s own experiences.

The Oxford Reading Tree scheme is used throughout the school to develop reading skills. This scheme incorporates fact and fiction and has excellent computer software to consolidate learning. Children are encouraged to use their reading skills to tackle a variety of unfamiliar texts in all curricular areas.

Phonics are taught using the synthetic phonics system. We have developed our own phonics programme to teach our children at a pace which best meets their needs.

Imaginative, functional and personal writing skills are taught using a variety of resources. The skills of handwriting, spelling and grammar are taught using the Nelson scheme and consolidated through a variety of cross curricular activities. Children are encouraged and supported to produce writing within various contexts.

Numeracy/Mathematics

We aim to provide a challenging maths environment in which children are involved in their own learning. The programme of study has been informed by A Curriculum for Excellence outcomes and experiences and current local authority initiatives. Maths is taught through various mediums including games and ICT software programmes. Problem solving is developed through experiential learning and with the use of the Glasgow Problem Solving pack

Expressive Arts

Expressive Arts are valued as a strong part of the curriculum. Music, Art, Physical Education and Drama are taught throughout the school by specialist teachers.

All of our children benefit from swimming lessons. These are offered on a rotational basis and are delivered by our P.E. teacher who is a qualified swimming instructor.

In addition to our core expressive arts programme we offer horse riding lessons to our Class 7 pupils (all year). Our older children have opportunities to participate in competitions in a variety of sporting events.

We have, when possible, professional musicians, dancers and actors to the school to perform and deliver workshops. The children visit the theatre and museums when opportunities arise. Parents are invited regularly to the school to see their children perform in whole school productions.

Our school leavers are given the opportunity to attend a residential visit to The Calvert Trust, an outdoor adventure centre in the Lake District. While on the visit our pupils participate in activities ranging from rock climbing and abseiling to canoeing and hill walking.

All of the above activities are very popular with our pupils and help them to develop the skills necessary to become confident individuals and effective contributors.

Health and Wellbeing

Howford Primary School is a HealthPromotingSchool and as such we adhere to the guidelines set out in the Schools (Health Promotion and Nutrition)(Scotland) Act 2007. This act lays down guidelines for: nutritional standards for school lunches; drinks standards for schools and for all other food consumed while children are in the care of school staff.

Our Health Education programme promotes mental, emotional, social and physical wellbeing now and in the future. Learning through health and wellbeing enables children to:

• Make informed choices in order to improve their mental, emotional, social and physical wellbeing
• Experience challenge and enjoyment
• Experience positive aspects of healthy living and activity for themselves
• Apply their mental, emotional, social and physical skills to pursue a healthy lifestyle
• Make a successful move to the next stage of their education
• Establish a pattern of health and wellbeing which will be sustained into adult life

Sciences, Technologies and Social Studies

In line with A Curriculum for Excellence our children are given opportunities to study programmes of work within the areas of Social Studies, Sciences and Technologies. We plan and implement a variety of topics with differentiated learning outcomes to ensure they meet children’s needs. One term per year is dedicated to the implementation of an inter-disciplinary project. This is cross curricular in content and provides relevant and meaningful learning experiences for all children. These projects give children a real context in which to develop skills learned from all areas of the curriculum.

We have developed information pamphlets for parents to complement our topics. These allow parents to support their child’s learning at home by giving some information on what the unit covers, areas/places of interest to visit and web sites to visit.