Pros pectus

The educational aims of Cauldeen School are to provide a broad-based education appropriate to the individual needs, ability and talents of each child within the class situation.

Through Cauldeen School as a community we aim to encourage in every child a sense of security, participation, pride in and responsibility for themselves and their actions along with care and concern for others.

In partnership with our pupil’s we aim to encourage the children to foster flexible approaches and positive attitudes to learning, high standards of work, self discipline, and a sense of belonging to the local, national and wider community of mankind.

We aim to raise attainment through our carefully planned programmes of work, proven teaching methods and stimulating working environment. Cauldeen School aims to prepare all our pupils educationally, technologically and socially to take full advantage of the significant opportunities offered in secondary education

We aim to ensure high educational standards and quality of teaching and learning by the review of our policies and practices based on best practice, the 5-14 National Guidelines and Highland Council policies.

As a staff, we aim to improve teaching and learning through appropriate staff development.

FOREWORD

May I take this opportunity to welcome you as a parent of a new child in Cauldeen School.

Starting school life in Cauldeen School will be an exciting and challenging time for your child. New pupils soon settle down to the activities and work of the school. Please do not hesitate to come and discuss any queries you may have. The staff is sympathetic and will gladly assist you if any minor settling in difficulties arise.

Cauldeen School has a genuine policy of encouraging all parents to come and discuss how together we can best help your child to gain the maximum success and benefit from all the extensive educational opportunities, which Cauldeen School has to offer.

This online prospectus explains certain aspects of the education provided in Cauldeen School and contains important information about your child’s new school. I hope you will read and retain this prospectus for future information.

Ian Kyle, Acting Head Teacher

Cauldeen Primary School is a nondenominational primary school catering for both boys and girls from the ages of four to twelve years. Children come to Cauldeen School from parts of Drummond, Culduthel, Lochardil, Castle Heather and Hilton areas of Inverness.

Cauldeen School was opened in 1968 with an initial roll of 258. After a number of years with excessively high rolls the school’s present roll, combined with the excellent facilities, gives a pleasant and spacious environment for both pupils and staff. The building is of a modern design with spacious classrooms, a stage, large double court gymnasium, library resource area and a state of the art computer teaching base, all set in pleasant grounds giving an excellent environment for study.

The classes in Cauldeen School are organised in year groups Nursery to Primary 7. There are experienced staff members allocated to each class, with an excellent 1/15 adult to pupil ration in the early stages and additional expertise is provided by visiting part-time staff to assist with specialised aspects of the curriculum such as physical education, music, and art.

Parents are involved in their child’s education both at home and in school. The teaching staff will be able to advise on activities and involvement which could benefit your individual child. Many parents are involved in assisting with class visits, giving talks on specialist topics, running sports teams, etc. Parents have the opportunity to be involved in the Parents and Friends Group and on the School Board. All parents are entitled to vote in School Board elections. If you would like to be involved in any area of the school life please discuss your interest with the class teacher or promoted staff, you will be made most welcome.

Parents wishing to enrol their children in Cauldeen Primary School should telephone the school and make an appointment with the Head Teacher or the Deputy Head Teacher. It is necessary for all new Nursery and Primary One entrants that a birth certificate is seen on enrolment.

Parents wishing to discuss their child’s progress are very welcome, but to avoid interruption of the classwork, parents wishing to see members of staff or the Head Teacher are requested to make an appointment.

There are also parent consultation evenings when parents have time to discuss their child’s progress with the class teacher.

Other events take place during the year at which parents are encouraged to attend and participate, i.e. parent workshops, concerts, sports day, prize giving and closing services.

Please come along and participate in a joint effort to ensure your child gains the maximum benefit from the education Cauldeen School provides.

Those taking school meals regularly should pay the total amount on the Friday morning for the following week; tickets can be collected from the school canteen at playtime. On receipt of monies, children will be issued with ticket(s) and they become the child’s responsibility, although the teacher will store them for safekeeping. Emergencies may arise, and on these occasions a ticket can be purchased from the Cook during morning interval. Any parent/guardian paying by cheque must make the cheque payable to “The Highland Council”, NOT the school.

Children in the early stages are encouraged to develop an enjoyment of school life in all its aspects. We endeavour to make the transition from Nursery to the school day as pleasant and easy as possible. This encourages a positive attitude to school. New entrants feel secure and become willing to explore new activities and this encourages them to work with others. This leads to an awareness and co-operative attitude in the classroom.There is a broad-based curriculum in line with the 5-14 National Guidelines in the early stages.. The infant curriculum is developed and regularly reviewed in line with current national and council guidelines. The approach to much of the work tackled by the infant classes is of a practical nature using the best practice based on Early Intervention strategies.

We help the children’s imagination through expressive arts. To broaden their horizons we make educational visits to local places connected to the children’s class and project work. Parents are encouraged to become involved particularly with visits, but are also encouraged to come and talk to staff if there are any problems and to become involved in the life of the school.

There is a separate play area within the playground for the younger children and play monitors are on duty. New markings encourage the playing of traditional games. When it is wet the children have access to the cloakrooms or stay in the classroom supervised.

The uniform is as indicated in this brochure but an apron or old shirt for painting will protect clothing and slip-on gym shoes with names help. These items are retained in the classroom in your child’s personal tray.

The many areas of the curriculum offered include reading, written and oral language, mathematics, expressive arts and environmental studies (which includes science, history, geography, current affairs, nature study, health education and personal and social development. Embedded within all areas is information and communication technology.Integrating the curriculum is where many of the above subjects combine to lead to quality learning through realistic and meaningful study of a topic. By using many of the skills taught in language, mathematics, the expressive arts and environmental studies etc. in a combined way to study a topic, or reach an outcome, the pupils more readily see the interrelationship and meaning in their studies.

Textbooks and proven schemes of work are used for teaching aspects of reading, language and mathematics, including mental mathematics, in line with the best practice. However, much of the curriculum is constructed by the teaching staff to meet the needs of the individual pupils and groups in their class following national and council guidance.

The curriculum is structured to give quality learning experiences and a meaningful progression from Primary 1 to Primary 7.

The acquisition of a wide range of skills in the early years is developed and extended throughout the school, culminating in the preparation for a successful transfer to secondary school. Structured ongoing assessment is an integral part of the learning and teaching process and regular systematic National Testing take place.

The curriculum is regularly reviewed in line with 5-14 National Guidelines, and the areas presently under review are set out in the School Development Plan for the current year. This document is available on request from the school, and also on display on the Parent Information board outside the school office.

For more information about the specifics of our Curriculum please go to the Curriculum section of out website here or using the links above

Homework will be given at the discretion of the class teacher, based on the ongoing work in the class, the age, stage and the differentiated needs of the pupils in the class. Homework will be of a revisory nature, or will be connected with project based work. It should not exceed a maximum of ten to fifteen minutes for Infants, fifteen to twenty for middle stages and thirty minutes at the upper primary stages per night.Homework may be given nightly, but further up the school, weekly assignments will be given. This form of approach will encourage the older pupils to plan their home study and balance it with their outside evening activities, which are also very important to their personal and social development. Parents are encouraged to assist with their child’s planning and to supervise homework to ensure an adequate standard of work form the child.

To maintain a common standard between school and home, parents are asked to sign homework if they approve of the effort, time and neatness shown in the completed homework. Pupils throughout the school are issued with home/school packs which among other items will contain a book for reading for pleasure, or in the case of infants a book which can be read to the child by the parent. Senior pupils will be issued with a homework jotter, which should be covered and used by parents to sign their child’s homework and/or to make any comment on the assigned homework or the time taken to complete it.

Parents can check this jotter to ascertain if homework has been issued by the class teacher. Homework will be taught and the teacher will provide the books or materials necessary to complete the homework assignments issued. Where research or other materials are available at home, pupils should use them.

Detailed notes for parent are available from the school office and a copy is posted on the Parent Information board situated outside the school office. Parents are encouraged to consult with their child’s class teacher in the first instance, should any difficulties arise or advice be required.

Uniform

The general policy of Cauldeen School is to encourage pride in appearance, neat and tasteful dress habits, and the avoidance of expensive extremes of fashion. With this in mind, the following items are desirable and the school encourages the wearing of academic dress in preference to other clothing. A warm jacket or coat should be worn, preferably waterproof for bad weather.

Academic Dress

School Tie (obtainable from the school) Grey/Navy V-neck pullover/cardigan Grey/Navy Skirt/Trousers (not jeans) White or grey shirt/blouse/*Crested Polo Shirt (*order form obtainable from the school) Suitable outdoor and indoor footwear.

Physical Education

T-shirt, Shorts, Gym Shoes Long hair tied back. No hoop earrings. Articles of clothing in the colours of professional football clubs should be avoided. Denim clothing including jeans and fashion clothing are more expensive and less suitable than those listed above and should be avoided for school wear. Wellington boots should not be worn indoors during winter. Pupils in the upper primary classes are required to change from outdoor footwear in the classrooms. Articles of clothing which are easily lost, i.e. ties, jackets. Etc. should be clearly marked with the child’s name.