February 2018/Motto

Orchard Brae School

Handbook

June 2018

Caroline Stirton

Executive Head Teacher

Welcome

I am proud to welcome you to Orchard Brae School and Nursery. We are extremely privileged to work with so many wonderful children and young people and we have a dedicated team of staff who support each one individually to achieve their potential.

We have a full range of specialist facilities here at Orchard Brae which enables us to provide an ex-tensive, varied, broad and personalised curricu-lum. We work closely with partners in health, so-cial work and the wider community to support our children, young people and their families.

We welcome you as partners in your child’s learn-

ing and actively encourage families to be fully in-

volved all aspects of school life.

Vision and

Aims

June 2018

Our motto:

Together we grow and blossom…..

Our values:

Equity Positivity Respect Honesty

Nurture Togetherness

Our shared vision:

We are passionate in our shared commitment to provide a learning en-

vironment where each pupil experiences a personalised pathway, ena-

bling them to be as functionally independent as possible, achieving

their potential as successful learners, effective contributors, responsible

citizens and confident individuals and therefore fully equipped to

achieve lifelong success in positive destinations, within communities

who respect diversity.

Vision and

Aims

June 2018

Our aims and objectives:

We will learn together

We aim to provide an inclusive, nurturing and appropriately stimulating

learning environment, in which people are valued and connected

through a strong sense of belonging, understanding the benefits of

learning together, enabling everyone to give of their best.

We will listen carefully to each other

We aim to seek and listen to our school community, particularly pupil

voice, by embracing total communication and technological advances,

to ensure opinions are encouraged, valued and used to influence

change, as a Rights Respecting school.

We will participate in our personalised curriculum

We aim to encourage each individual to fully participate and engage in

their learning journey by providing a personalised curriculum that is rel-

evant but challenging, which engages the benefits of family learning,

uses the knowledge of professional partners and actively seeks commu-

nity partnerships, to increase life chances for all our learners.

We will engage in learning that is fun and challenging

We aim to deliver high quality and enjoyable learning by gathering and

using our knowledge of learners and responding to their needs and mo-

tivations through innovative, evidence based practice, which respects

risk whilst focusing on appropriate challenge, empowering pupils to de-

velop their curiosity, to become as resilient and independent as possi-

ble.

Vision and

Aims

June 2018

Our aims and objectives:

We will work together: families, professionals, and partners

We aim to work very closely with parents and families using, when ap-

propriate, multi-agency approaches in line with GIRFEC, ensuring learn-

ers and adults are safe and protected, promoting positive behaviour

through nurturing approaches, encouraging optimum health and well-

being through professional guidance and using the Child’s Plan to guide

positive outcomes for learners.

We will challenge ourselves to improve

We aim to know ourselves well by effectively looking inward through ro-

bust monitoring, evaluation and tracking in order to use our ‘can do ap-

proach’ to seek improvements by looking outward, investing in sector

leading practice. Professional learning and leadership at all levels en-

sures our skilled team of reflective practitioners, improve and innovate

to meet the needs of our learning community and those learners who

require outreach support.

We will help our community to understand us

We aim to ensure our pupils are an integral part of our local and wider

community through active participation with a focus on ability and de-

veloping skills for work and leisure. We will support the community to

understand and embrace difference through the promotion of inclusion,

sharing best practice and innovative partnerships.

School

Information

June 2018

School Address: Howes Road,

Aberdeen

AB16 7RW

Telephone: 01224 788950

Email Address: orchardbraeschool@aberdeencity.gov.uk

Website: TBC

Head Teacher: Caroline Stirton

Head of Early Learning and Childcare: Niki Anderson

Head of Primary: Karen Gebbie-Smith

Head of Secondary: Elaine Thomson

School Status: Free Standing Special Non-Denominational 3-18yrs

School Roll: 40 - 3 to 5yrs/126 - 5 to 18yrs

Orchard Brae Connect: Rebecca Duncan

School Chaplain: Rev Scott Guy

School

Information

June 2018

Office Hours

The school office is open from 08.00 - 16.00. Please help us by making routine telephone calls within office hours. The answering machine is switched on for your convenience when the school office is unmanned. Please do leave a message and we will return your call as quickly as possible.

Attendance and Absence

Parents are asked to let the school know if their child is to be absent from school for any reason.

If a pupil is not coming to school, parents/carers must inform the escort and the transport company before 8am. This also applies when the child returns to school in order that they know the pupil has to be collected after being absent.

If your child is clearly unwell he/she should not be sent to school. If your child becomes unwell at school we shall phone you and ask you to come and collect him/her. If a parent/carer is unavailable we shall request that the emergency contact person comes to collect them.

There are some pupils in Orchard Brae who have an emergency protocol as a result of their condition and this would be followed at all times in consultation with the nursing team.

School

Information

June 2018

Severe Weather

In severe weather conditions the Head Teacher may decide that the school has to be closed. The closure will be announced on Northsound Radio, probably between 7am and 8.30am. Information is also available on the Schools Information Line and Aberdeen City Website.

Occasionally, school transport may be cancelled because the operator has decided that conditions are too dangerous. In the event of this happening parents/carers should NOT attempt to bring their children to school in their own transport.

If the weather deteriorates suddenly during the day while the pupils are in school, the buses and taxis will be asked to come and collect pupils early and the school will contact parents/carers directly. Should the school be unable to contact a parent/carer, the emergency contact numbers will be used. On days when there is an obvious worsening of weather conditions parents should try to make sure there is someone at home to receive their child.

More information can be accessed at

https://www.aberdeencity.gov.uk/school-closures

School Information Line 0870 054 1999.

Orchard Brae School Pin No. 011860.

School

Policies and

Practical

Information

June 2018

School Uniform

We have polo shirts, sweatshirts and fleeces in department colours with our school logo for parents to purchase for their child. These can be ordered in adult and child sizes at

https://www.tesco.com/direct/ues/

We would ask where at all possible, children who have regular pad changes or are being toilet trained wear clothing that can be easily ad-justed.

What to Bring

• Each pupil is asked to bring £2.50 per week towards snacks, outings and treats.

• An appropriate container for Home Economics.

• Toiletries – Toilet bag, wipes, tissues, sanitary products, towel, hair-brush/comb and bibs where appropriate.

• A complete change of clothes.

• Swimsuit, towel and appropriate toiletries.

• Minimum of 2 Pads per day and wipes as appropriate.

From time to time we may ask you to send in additional items as is nec-essary. Swim kit will be sent home for laundering weekly.

School

Policies and

Practical

Information

June 2018

School Clothing Grants

If parents are in receipt of Income Support, Income based Job Seekers

Allowance, Income Related Employment and Support Allowance,

support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999, Child

Tax Credit or Working Tax Credit and an annual income of less than

£16,105, the Authority will consider one application per year for a

grant towards the cost of purchasing essential clothing to enable their

children, up to the age of 18, to attend school. The school clothing

grant payment will be made through BACS transfer into a nominated

bank account or paid by cheque.

Forms are available from the school office or Aberdeen City Council.

School

Policies and

Practical

Information

June 2018

School Meals

Orchard Brae School has a fully equipped kitchen and all meals are pre-pared on site. School lunches cost £2.00 per day and all children are provided with a lunch menu. The school catering service follows the National and local guidelines and the school works closely with the school kitchen to help the pupils to make healthy choices.

The lunch menu includes a choice of two main dishes, one of which is vegetarian. Two courses include main course and dessert. Fruit, cheese and biscuits or yoghurt is always available as an alternative to pudding.

Children with special dietary requirements are catered for and parents are encouraged to discuss this with the cook.

Free School Meals

Free school meals are available to all pupils in Primary 1 – 3 from January 2015. For all other stages, free school meals are available to pupils whose parents are in receipt of Income Support, Income based Job Seekers Allowance, Income Related Employment and Support Allowance, Support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999, Guaranteed Pension Credit, or in receipt of Child Tax Credit only and have an annual income of less than £16,105 or Working Tax Credit and have an annual income of less than £6420.

Forms are available from the school office or from Aberdeen City Council.

Qualifying income for Free School Meals

http://www.gov.scot/Topics/Education/Schools/HLivi/schoolmeals/

FreeSchoolMeals

School

Policies and

Practical

Information

June 2018

Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA)

EMA is part of the Scottish Executive’s agenda of encouraging access to, and participation in, further and higher education by young people from low-income families.

EMAs provide financial support for 16–19 year olds who stay on in full time non advanced education after their statutory school leaving date (i.e. those continuing in post-compulsory education).

To be eligible for an EMA the student must:

• Be aged 16 to 19 who have residency in Scotland.

• Live in households with one dependent child

• must be earning £24,421 per year or less, and

• households with more than one dependent child must be earning £26,884 or less, before tax

EMA is a weekly allowance of £30 payable to eligible young people who have achieved 100% attendance per week. It is payable in arrears, generally on a 2 weekly basis.

For more information please contact the main office or Aberdeen City Council.

School

Policies and

Practical

Information

June 2018

School Concerns and Complaints Procedures

If you have any concern, please do not hesitate to contact the school. Your initial contact should be made with the person who is the appropriate Head of Area or Principal Teacher . If you later require fur-ther assistance, please ask to speak to the Head Teacher.

Generally it is better to make an appointment if you have a concern as this ensures that the member of staff is available, that classes are not disturbed and that pupils’ lessons are not affected.

If you have made a complaint to the school and you are not satisfied with the outcome, you can have your complaint reviewed by a senior officer in the Education Department. More information can be found at

https://www.aberdeencity.gov.uk/index.php/services/have-your-say/make-complaint

Parental

Involvement

June 2018

It is important that school and home work together for the benefit of

all pupils, and it is particularly important that there is good

communication between school and home. We encourage

communication through formal and informal channels and operate an

‘open door’ policy where we are always happy to speak to parents/

carers either by phone or in person if they have any matters they wish

to discuss.

Orchard Brae have two ways for parents and families to get involved.

Friends of Orchard Brae is open to all parents/carers and members of

staff and meet once per term. The friends organise social functions and

also help the school by raising funds. It is chaired by Lisa Thomson

Orchard Brae Connect meets once per term and is open to all parent/

carers and members of staff. Dates and times of these meetings will be

circulated to all parents/carers via letters, Facebook and the website.

The agenda for Connect meetings will be circulated in advance so that

all members of the group have an opportunity to contribute to this.

The chair of Orchard Brae Connect is Rebecca Duncan.

The

Curriculum

June 2018

Delivering our Curriculum for Excellence

“All of us do not have equal talent, but all of us should have an equal opportunity to develop our talents”

John F Kennedy

Curriculum Vision and Values

In Orchard Brae School the purpose of our curriculum is to enhance our pupil’s life chances. Although our pupils have complex learning needs, we aspire that each individual is enabled to reach their fullest potential and become successful learners, confident individuals, effective con-tributors and responsible citizens. Pupils are at the centre of every-thing we do, we listen carefully and walk together, ‘bringing life to learning and learning to life’. In all we do, we aim to provide an educa-tional experience which is relevant, broad, coherent and tailored to each child. It is important that we are ambitious for our pupils; our hope is that this will bring them challenge and enjoyment as they pro-gress and deepen their understanding, raise their attainment, gain wid-er achievement and confidence. Personalisation is critical; all of our learning and teaching approaches begin in response to not only the needs, but the potentials of the individual young person. We begin with what we hope to achieve, ensuring our teaching offers lifelong learning opportunities that promote maximum participation and acces-sibility to community life, learning, leisure and where possible and ap-propriate, work.

The

Curriculum

June 2018

Our Curriculum

The purpose of our Curriculum for Excellence is to enable all learners at Orchard Brae School to become as appropriately independent as possible through their continuous development within the 4 capacities: Successful learners, Confident Individuals, Responsible Citizens and Effective Contributors

We are working toward all youngsters having a Child’s Plan where the key team will identify outcomes to ensure pupils health and wellbeing needs are being met. This includes targets to drive progress within literacy and numeracy. These plans are central to the life and work of the school, as together we strive to en-sure our youngsters are safe, healthy, achieving, nurtured, active, respected, re-sponsible and included.

Many of our pupils require a Co-ordinated Support Plan (CSP) given the range and coordination requirements of the professionals supporting the child. Following assessment, this plan contains overarching objectives that ensure youngsters ac-cess and achievement within school.

Our curriculum is inclusive and ambitious; all children and young people are sup-ported through personalised pathways to experience personal achievement. We hold learners at the centre of our curriculum and listen carefully to pupil voice to bring the curriculum ‘alive’ for each and every one of them.

Our curriculum compromises both the formal and informal experiences found within our classes, school, community and homes. ‘Ethos and life of the school’ holds a vital part of our learning journey – we capitalise on every opportunity for learning across the whole school day, understanding the need to not only chal-lenge but support learning through familiar structured routines, enabling pupils to process and connect.

We understand that literacy and communication is central to what we do; em-phasis is placed on developing every pupil’s expressive and receptive capacity. Augmentative and Alternative Communication (ACC) such as eye gaze technology and PODD, are vital for many of our pupils. ACC is very particular to each child; we aim to make the best possible use of it to engage and support pupils particu-larly to claim their right to personalisation and choice.

The

Curriculum

June 2018

We expect our curriculum to be delivered in exciting, innovative and interactive ways. We want our pupils to be actively experiencing a broad range of environ-ments in the wider community; practicing and generalising skills in the real world, learning through play and enjoying learning experiences outdoors as well as with-in a classroom setting.

Learning must be relevant and functional for our pupils. We plan opportunities for pupils of different ages and developmental stages to come together and share learning regularly across the school week and celebrate together in activities such as our assemblies.

Creativity is in evidence across all areas of school life as children discover and de-velop their own creative thinking and problem solving skills.

Whilst Literacy, Numeracy, ICT and Health and Wellbeing opportunities are inte-grated across our learning and throughout the school day, we use our targets to ensure skills are developed through an ‘I can’ approach referencing the Early or First level Experiences and Outcomes from CfE. We firmly believe each and every young person has an ability to develop their own skills and whilst our pupils are presented with the opportunity to engage in a broad range of experiences, we

are also developing individual skill for their own lifelong learning (My Learning).

As we move through into senior stages our pupils have personalised pathways that identify National units and Awards that are relevant and helpful as they tran-sition to positive and successful post school destinations. Partnerships are vital to develop our pupils understanding of the world of work. This becomes even more important as they progress through senior phase where youngsters engage in work experience and take on community responsibilities.

Interdisciplinary learning is planned to offer learners the opportunity to make connections, to deepen learning, to understand relevance and to make meaning of it in respect of their own life. We work through whole school ‘Our …World’ contexts asking ‘big questions’ which are relevant and meaningful in life, learning, leisure and work. All learning activities are further personalised to ensure chal-lenge and enjoyment for each individual.

In Orchard Brae School we have a range of specialists who deliver areas of the curriculum and therapeutic interventions that underpin health and wellbeing e.g. music therapist, drumming instructor, specialist PE staff, Active School co-ordinator, yoga instructor.

The

Curriculum

June 2018

Having a sense of belonging and being included in community is vital for our pu-pils. We are committed to community learning where skills can be generalised and practiced. We are developing our partnerships in order we have a range of opportunities to offer our pupils at any stage in their education. Our Outdoor ed-ucation teacher engages every class in discovering our local community.

Wider achievement is encouraged through a wide range of activities and achieve-ments; Senior classes undertake the Duke of Edinburgh Award and those on the MOVE programme are rewarded for target achievement. Supported by our Ac-tive Schools co-ordinator, we have developed a substantial programme of lunchtime activities for all pupils to attend. In addition learning and having fun as a family has guided our evening programme of activities which include drum-ming, swimming and boccia. Family learning is an area we are committed to de-veloping through direct home learning activities, workshops and training.

Given our curriculum offer is developed with the child at the centre we therefore recognise it requires to be constantly reviewed in response to those needs as we commit to providing every child with an excellent curriculum