Frequently Asked Questions

School opening and closing times

Nursery

a.m 8:30am - 11.40am

p.m 12.15pm - 3.25pm

P1-P7

Breakfast Club 8.00am - 9.00am

Classes start 9.00am

Morning Interval 10.30am - 10.45am

Lunch Break 12.15pm - 1.15pm

School Closes 3.15pm

Pupils in Primary 1 finish at 12.15pm for the first 3 weeks of the session. We ask that children in P1 and P2, for reasons of safety, be collected promptly at the end of the school day. Please can we remind you that the car park is for the use of school staff and services only and should not be used to drop off and collect pupils.

INTERVAL TIMES

At morning interval the play areas are supervised by our auxiliaries and by our lunch time supervisors between 12.15pm and 1.15pm. In the event of bad weather, morning intervals and lunch breaks for pupils may be held indoors with the same staff supervising classes, supported by P7 pupils.

Children who go home at lunchtime on bad weather days should return to school as near to 1.15pm as possible. Should pupils return earlier than this then they should make use of the sheltered area in the playground. We only stay indoors when absolutely necessary

School Meals

School Dinners are free for P1-3 and cost £2.15 per day for P4-7. Please follow the link to Parent Pay if you do not already have an account.  Children make a choice of RED, BLUE or ORANGE  lunch in the morning, in order that they can have the dinner of their choice.  Menus are updated regularly by Tayside Contracts.

Here is a link to Tayside Contracts dinner menus.  Please note the nursery and school  have a different menus.  School Catering by Tayside Contracts (tayside-contracts.co.uk)

Claypotts Castle Uniform

We encourage our pupils to take pride in themselves and their school and to that end the wearing of school uniform is promoted, in the belief that it helps our children to feel that they belong and are part of the school community. Our pupils are encouraged to wear uniform at all times and we ask that parents support the school by encouraging your child to keep to the agreed code and the wearing of school uniform. We also ask parents to comply with our request not to permit pupils to attend school wearing inappropriate jewellery, nail polish, make up, football strips or colours.

School uniform is:-

Boys

• Grey blazer or royal blue fleece with dark grey shorts or trousers
• White shirt with school tie and royal blue sweatshirt
• White or royal blue polo shirt and royal blue sweatshirt

Girls

• Grey blazer or royal blue fleece with dark grey skirt/pinafore or trousers
• White blouse with school tie and royal blue sweatshirt/cardigan
• White or royal blue polo shirt and royal blue sweatshirt/cardigan

Shoes - Black hard wearing shoes (not trainers)

An old shirt or t-shirt is useful for wearing during art or other ‘messy activities’.

Polo shirts, sweatshirts, fleeces, bags and hats bearing the school emblem are available to order from the school office, please ask at the school office for an order form or order online at www.border-embroideries.co.uk. In winter, anoraks and coats are most suitable for our chilly days and these can be also ordered from the school.

It is extremely important that your child’s name is clearly marked on all articles of clothing, footwear school bag and packed lunch container – many items are often mislaid – a name helps so much.

PHYSICAL EDUCATION KIT (Boys and Girls)

• White t-shirt
• Black shorts
• Gym shoes

Trainers worn outside are not suitable for use in the gym. For safety reasons all jewellery must be removed during P.E. lessons.

Parental Involvement

Within Claypotts Castle Primary School we recognise the importance of parents as partners in the education of their child. Parents, carers and family members are by far the most important influences on children’s lives. Research shows that when parents are involved in their children’s learning children do better at school and throughout life. Parental involvement is about helping parents and schools work together as partners in children’ learning. Confidence in a school comes from knowing and understanding what is happening within it. Contact, dialogue and discussion all help to promote mutual understanding and trust, which is the basis of our shared responsibility.

We wish to give parents/carers every opportunity to become more involved in their child’s education. Opportunities for parents to participate more fully in the school

include:-

• Curriculum evenings

• Parents’ evenings

• Open days

• Invitations to Assemblies

• School Sports’ Day

• Educational, social and fund raising events with the Parent Council.

• Involvement with classes as a parent helper

• Helping on school trips

• Supporting learning at home

Parents are welcome in school at other times if they want to pass on information or discuss specific areas. Close co-operation between the home and school is important and parents are invited to contact the school to arrange an appointment whenever problems occur or advice is needed. This partnership is, of course, a two-way process. Parents are also kept informed by written communication, when appropriate, and through a newsletter which is distributed several times throughout the session.

If a meeting with a class teacher, the Principal Teacher, Depute Head Teacher or the Head Teacher is required an appointment can be made at a mutually convenient time. This is to avoid any interruption to teaching and to ensure that someone is available to speak to parents.

On arrival at school all visitors, including parents, should report to the school office where they will be welcomed by our office staff. No adult, including parents, should directly approach a child on school premises. This is in the interests of security and children’s safety.

I have moved house or changed my phone number. What do I do?

Contact the school office as soon as possible. This can be done on 01382 307770. You can also send a letter in with your child or hand it into the school office. It is important that details are kept up to date, especially for medical emergencies.