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What
did you do in school today?
Although we all ask this question of our children regularly, we seldom
receive a satisfactory answer. In order to give parents a better idea of
what your child is doing in school we include an outline of the main schemes
and programmes of work your child will follow in each curricular area and
details of which topics each class will study during the year.
Mathematics
All classes spend some time each day working on mental maths activities.
The school follows a structured programme drawn up by The Highland Council.
The core maths scheme used in all classes is Scottish Heinemann Maths. The
new scheme moves at a faster pace than the previous scheme and some children
will require reinforcement work before moving on to the next concept.
P6 and 7 are set for maths so that we can target groups and ensure that all
pupils are adequately challenged.
The core scheme is supplemented by materials from other textbooks, alongside
teacher-made materials.
Problem solving takes place within the maths scheme and as a stand-alone
activity.
Language
Listening and Talking
All class teachers spend a great deal of time
encouraging listening and talking skills. This ranges from together time, to
allow the children to listen to instructions and talk about themselves in
the infant classes, to formal class talks given by the children in the older
classes and debate type discussions.
All classes take part in weekly Circle Time sessions, when pupils learn to
discuss issues of importance to them and the school in a responsible and
reasonable manner.
Reading
Over the past 6 months we have changed the way that reading is taught in the
school. It is now taught in a much more direct and focussed way, using the
Highland Literacy Project approach.
The Oxford Reading Tree continues as the main reading scheme used in the
early years in Dingwall Primary School. This is supplemented by a variety of
other schemes, such as Rigby Rockets and non fiction materials, to ensure
that pupils have experience of a wide variety of texts. Other reading
materials continue to be used for those pupils who need extra reinforcement.
In P4-7 we no longer use Reading 2000. This has been replaced by Kingscourt
and by Oxford Reading Tree Treetops Books. Pupils also have short novels as
home readers.
Other reading skills such as Reading for Information and Writer’s Craft are
taught as stand alone lessons in a very structured way.
Information on the new methods and resources and workshops for parents on
the Highland Literacy Project will be available during the Parents’ Evenings
in November.
All
Gaelic Medium classes also use The Oxford Reading Tree in P1-3. This is
supplemented by a new Gaelic Reading Scheme – Storyworlds. All pupils will
work with materials from both schemes. In P3 most pupils also start to learn
to read in English. This is introduced through the Wellington Square scheme,
with pupils then moving onto the same materials as their counterparts in
English Medium Classes. Gaelic reading continues in P4-7 using novels and
other Gaelic texts.
In
tandem with starting the reading scheme, pupils learn basic phonic skills
through the Letterland Scheme. Our Gaelic Pupils use the new Gaelic Phonics
scheme – Facal agus Fuaim.
Towards the end of P3, when pupils are secure with our school bank of basic
words, most pupils move onto our main spelling scheme, Spelling Made Easy.
This gives a very structured approach to spelling using word families and
the simple formula – Look, Cover, Write, Check – to try to ensure spelling
is retained.
Writing
North Lanark Writing is now well established throughout the school. From the
start of P1 pupils are encouraged to write their own stories within a
framework of modelling and examples given by the teacher. Each week all
classes concentrate on a different aspect of writing, from story structures
to writing reports and other factual accounts.
Writing is further developed through topic work where children learn to
identify and write in different styles. At all stages planning, drafting and
redrafting is encouraged and an appreciation of different forms of writing
gained through reading different types of text.
In
order to write fluently, at all stages the importance of correct letter
formation, clear handwriting, correct punctuation and grammatical structure
is emphasised and formally taught through several core schemes such as
Nelson Handwriting, Getting Good at Grammar, Comprehension Success and
Junior English, as well as through topic work and from the pupils’ own
writing.
In
our Gaelic classes the early emphasis is very much on the spoken language.
Reading and writing in Gaelic is taught in the same way as English, with the
same basic scheme being used. Reading and writing in English is introduced
once the pupils are secure in Gaelic. At all times Gaelic is the main spoken
language of the classroom.
French
All
pupils from P5-7 follow an introductory programme in French. These lessons
cover everyday language and form a sound basis for what the pupils will
cover in their early years in secondary school. Oral language is the main
emphasis, with only a small amount of reading and writing activities carried
out.
Aesthetic Subjects
This
session specialist teachers in Music and PE will continue to visit the
school.
All
pupils will have input from specialist staff together with weekly input from
the class teacher.
All
art lessons are now delivered by the class teacher, following the school art
programme.
Input in drama also comes from the class teacher with additional input from
Eden Court outreach workers.
In
addition to input from our music specialist, classes also receive singing
tuition and visits from Feiss Ross in blocks during the year.
Religious and Moral Education
All
classes follow a core curriculum of Religious and Moral Education
activities. They look at various festivals, both Christian and from other
religions, study stories from the Bible and other Holy books and investigate
the lives of people from the Bible and important figures in other religions.
Classes also spend time discussing issues such as caring, tolerance and
consideration of others.
The
school has weekly assemblies, which are taken by members of staff, one of
our school chaplains, visitors from a variety of organisations or by one of
our P4-7 classes.
Support for Learning
All
children learn at different rates and from time to time will need some
support to help their understanding, reinforce some aspect of the curriculum
or extend their capabilities. Our Support for Learning Staff work with
pupils from all classes and of all abilities. Parents will be consulted
about their child receiving help, if the support required will be regular
and long term or we feel further investigation of a pupil’s need is
required.
Environmental Studies
This
area of the curriculum covers subjects such as History, Geography and
aspects of Health, Science and Technology.
Classes study three main topics each year. There is ongoing work on mapping,
weather and festivals, ensuring all areas of Environmental Studies are
adequately covered.
Grids showing the topics covered by each class are included in our
curriculum leaflets for parents.
Gaelic classes work a cyclical programme so no pupil repeats a topic due to
being in a composite class.
Science and Technology
All
pupils in the school follow the Highland Council Science and Technology
programme. Some science work is covered through our Environmental Studies
Programme, while other areas are covered by stand-alone activities.
Technology activities are usually linked to topic work and follow a planned
programme to cover the range of skills we are trying to develop.
Science and Technology is covered by the class teacher in P1-3 and by a
specialist teacher in P4-7.
Information Technology
All
classrooms have at least two computer terminals and are linked to a school
network and the internet. Pupils follow the school programme for IT, which
tries to introduce a range of skills through the normal school curriculum.
For example the pupils may use the internet to research information for
their topic or use a programme to reinforce a mathematics concept or
language skill.
Pupils also use computers to make class presentations using Powerpoint or to
bring work to published levels of presentation.
Mrs
Nesbitt and Dr Macdonald have worked with pupils to develop the school web
site and we also now have a Blog Spot to highlight the pupils’ work.
Health Promotion
Dingwall Primary has had Health Promoting School status since May 2005.
Pupils are made aware of a range of Health issues through topic, science and
stand alone activities. All pupils set Health Targets for themselves at the
start of each year and then assess how well they have met these targets. The
school runs several health promotion events throughout the year and
encourages all pupils to take part in a range of activities to promote
fitness.
There is a breakfast club, healthy tuck shop and a range of activities
available to all pupils. Lunch time and after school clubs normally start
during September.
Personal and Social Development
All
classes use Circle Time to discuss and debate social and moral issues.
Although there is a school programme which all classes follow, they may also
discuss issues which are only relevant to their own class.
At
the start of each year all classes agree a code of conduct and discuss
issues such as bullying and caring for others.
Homework
All
pupils will have regular homework set by their class teacher.
Pupils all have homework diaries, which show the work to be undertaken each
night/week. These should be checked and signed by parents each evening.
Classes usually have some homework each night Monday-Thursday. These
activities reinforce work already carried out in class and should not take
more than 30 minutes to complete.
Pupils may sometimes have classwork to finish, usually if they have not
completed it in the time allotted in class!
Standards of Work and Behaviour
We
expect pupils to do their best at all times. All classes have an agreed code
of conduct, which follows the school rules. Pupils are rewarded for good
behaviour and achievement through praise and reward systems in each class.
Well-done assemblies are held regularly for P1-3, with P4-7 having an
Achievement Assembly at the end of each term to celebrate successes.
Our
House System has been extended to reward good behaviour and each class has a
Quality Time Period to try to ensure all children follow the school rules.
For
those pupils who are unable to follow the school code of conduct there is a
simple and consistent discipline pathway, which includes loss of privileges,
time out from the playground, early contact with parents and can ultimately
lead to a period of exclusion from school.
Pupil Council
All
classes P4-7 elect a representative to serve on the Pupil Council. The
Council meets once a month to allow the pupils to bring up issues they feel
are important with school staff. Representatives from the Parents’
Association also attend council meetings so that ideas for events can be
discussed and passed on.
Parental Contact
Formal Parents’ Evenings are held twice a year, following the issue of Pupil
Reports in November and June.
Parents having concerns about pupil progress should make an appointment to
discuss the situation at any time.
Other less formal parent events are held throughout the school year – P1
Induction Meeting in June, P1 Curriculum Evening in October/November and a
variety of Support for Parents events for parents to get ideas to help their
children with reading, writing, maths and science.
Parent Council/ Parents’ Association( Friends of Dingwall Primary School)
As
you may already know the government has disbanded all School Boards. They
are to be replaced by Parent Councils. The first parents’ meeting to elect
the new Parent Council is to be held on Tuesday 25 September at 7.30pm in
the school. We hope as many parents as possible will attend so that we can
continue to have a supportive parent body working for the school.
The
Parents’ Association continue to fund many resources for the school and
provide a range of social activities for pupils and parents. The committee
are keen to recruit new members so if you can spare a couple of hours each
month you will be very welcome at the meetings, held on the first Wednesday
of each month at 7.30pm in the school. At present there is a very small band
of parents who are keeping the association going and unless more parents
come forward to help, social events such as the school discos will have to
stop.
Complaints Procedure
If
you have any concerns about any aspect of school life, please contact the
school as soon as possible.
Early contact with the school means that problems can be sorted out, before
becoming major issues.
Head
Teacher Mr R. F. Mackenzie
Dingwall Primary School
Ross Avenue
Dingwall
Ross Shire
IV15 9UU
Telephone 01349 862081
Email
dingwall.primary@highland.gov.uk
Web Site
www.dingwall-pri.highland.sch.uk
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