Appendices

All children in Scotland have the right to be protected from harm.

Schools and nurseries play an important role in the prevention of abuse and neglect through creating and maintaining safe learning environments and teaching children and young people about staying safe from harm and how to speak up if they have worries or concerns.

Schools and nurseries have identified child protection coordinators with a remit to promote safeguarding and a responsibility to act when aware of a possible child protection concern.  

If you are concerned a child or young person is at risk of abuse or neglect, you can contact police on 101 or phone children’s services on 01786 471177. You can share your concern with your child protection co-ordinator.

Some families may be eligible for clothing grants. Applications can be made by visiting https://www.stirling.gov.uk/learning-education/schools/school-meals-uniforms/footwear-clothing-grant-school-meals/ and completing the online form.

Supporting documents can be uploaded, scanned to finservices@stirling.gov.uk or posted to Stirling Council, Teith House, Kerse Road, Stirling, FK7 7QA.

You can complain in person, by phone, email or by letter. We regard a complaint as any expression or dissatisfaction about our action or lack of action, or about the standard of service provided by us or on our behalf.

Who can complain?

Anyone can complain who is the parent or legal guardian of a child or a person authorised to complain on his/her behalf. For example, a child’s grandparent who is not the legal guardian needs authority from the child’s parent or guardian. This would normally mean a note to show that the person responsible for the child has agreed.

What can’t I complain about?

Here are some things we can’t deal with through our complaints procedure:

• A routine first time request for a service or action – e.g. informing the school that your child told you she is being bullied and asking them to resolve this.
• Requests for compensation from the Council.
• Things that are covered by a right of appeal, e.g. exclusion from school which has its own statutory process. In these cases we will give you information and advice to help you.

You have 6 months to make a complaint after the event that you want to complain about takes place. If you first learn of the issue about which you want to complain after this point, you have a further 6 months to complain. In exceptional circumstances the Service may investigate matters more than a year old, but it is not obliged to do so.

We have 2 stage complaints procedure.

Stage One – frontline resolution

In the first instance, please complain to your child’s school or nursery, telling them as much as you can about the complaint, what has gone wrong and what you want them to do to resolve the matter. A senior member of staff, either the headteacher or depute head, will be responsible for looking into complaints. Heads are senior managers with a high level of responsibility for your child’s learning and welfare and are able to look into most matters. However, the headteacher may refer the Stage One complaint to Schools, Learning and Education centrally, e.g. if it is about the conduct of the headteacher or too complex to be dealt with at front-line service level.

The school or nursery will give you our decision at Stage One within 5 working days or fewer unless there are exceptional circumstances. If we need further time, we will ask you to agree an extension of up to 5 further days. If the Stage One complaint has been referred to Schools, Learning and Education centrally your response will come from there.

Everyone deserves to be treated equally, fairly and without prejudice.

By signing the UNCRC, Scotland and the UK agree that the rights of children should be protected and promoted in all areas of their life, including their rights to:

• education,
• freedom from violence, abuse and neglect,
• be listened to and taken seriously,
• A proper house, food and clothing, and
• relax and play.

Educational establishments create inclusive cultures by working in partnership with the wider community to agree positive values, by promoting and celebrating diversity and through delivering appropriate learning opportunities within their curriculum.                          

Schools and nurseries operate within Stirling Council’s duty under the Equality Act (2010) to:

• Eliminate discrimination, harassment and victimisation.
• Advance equality of opportunity between people by removing or minimising disadvantage, meeting the needs of particular groups which are different from the needs of others and encouraging participation in public life.
• Foster good relations by tackling prejudice and promoting understanding.

The Equality Act 2010 identifies 9 protected characteristics from discrimination, harassment or victimisation:

• age
• disability
• gender reassignment
• marriage or civil partnership (in employment only)
• pregnancy and maternity
• race
• religion or belief
• sex
• sexual orientation.

Schools and nurseries have a duty to report prejudice based incidents.

Anti-bullying and Positive Relationships

Approaches to anti bullying reflect Getting it Right for Every Child and recognise that bullying impacts on wellbeing. In order to thrive and achieve their full potential, children and young people need learning environments which are safe, nurturing, respectful and free from fear, abuse and discrimination.

All education establishments operate within Stirling’s Approach to Respect for All: Preventing and Challenging Bullying Behaviours and will, in consultation with wider communities, create establishment specific anti bullying policy.

Additional Support Needs

All children get help with their learning.

A child is said to have ‘additional support needs’ if they need more, or different, support from what is normally provided in schools or nurseries for children of the same age. 

The Education (Additional support for Learning) (Scotland) Act 2004 (as amended 2009) created the term additional support needs and explains the duties on education authorities to support children and young people’s learning.

A child or young person may have additional support needs for lots of reasons including:

• A physical disability
• Being a young carer
• Changing school a lot
• Being bullied
• Having a communication difficulty
• Being looked after by the local authority
• Having a long term illness

Staged Intervention is the process used to identify, assess and plan to meet a child’s needs. Every school and nursery has a Pupil Support Co-ordinator with responsibility for ensuring appropriate support for children with additional support needs. For most children the support they require is provided from school, for example, differentiated materials, additional time, movement programmes, and support groups. Some pupils with more complex needs may be referred to ASN Outreach or other partner agencies to provide more enhanced interventions. Agreed actions will be recorded and reviewed during staged intervention meetings in collaboration with the child, family and staff.  Where there is more than one agency supporting a child and this is significant and long lasting, a Coordinated Support Plan may be developed.

If you have concerns about your child, in the first instance, contact your school.  

More information is available on the website or by contacting ASN and Wellbeing Team or find information on Parentzone Scotland on your child's specific support needs.

Independent Advice

Enquire are a Scottish advice service providing help and information, all advice is independent and impartial. Contact the Enquire Helpline on 0345 123 2303.

Enquire also has two websites, one for parents, carers and professionals, https://enquire.org.uk/, and one for children and young people, https://enquire.org.uk/advice-young-people/.

Let's Talk ASN helps parents of children with additional support needs who may require support in relation to a dispute or potential dispute with an education authority. The service can be used by anyone who has a right to make a reference to the Additional Support Needs Tribunals for Scotland.

My Rights, My Say is a children's service which provides advice and information, advocacy support, legal representation and a service to seek children's views independently about their support. 

Public Liability

Stirling Council has Public Liability Insurance in respect of claims against the Council for bodily injury to any person or for loss or damage to any person’s property for which the Council is legally liable. Negligence or failure to fulfil a statutory obligation on the part of the Council or its employees resulting in injury, loss or damage to property must be established.

Pupils’ Property

Each session, unfortunately but inevitably, pupils’ property is lost, damaged or stolen in school. Parents should be aware of the following points:

• Parents’ house contents policy may give some measure of cover for personal effects of family members.
• It is suggested that parents may wish to consider taking out additional individual personal cover.
• Pupils should be encouraged not to bring valuables to school.

The general rule is that pupils bring property to school at their own risk. There may be situations where the school accepts responsibility for pupils’ property, but otherwise the Council is not responsible if property is lost, damaged or stolen in school.

Personal Accident/Travel Cover – Educational Excursions

Persons Covered:  Organisers, participants, members, employees and others on excursions or trips organised by or under the auspices of the Council.

When Covered: While participating in any activity organised by or on behalf of the Council beyond the limit of the school grounds.

If you require further information please contact the Council’s Insurance Team on 07387 243095.

NHS Forth Valley has a statutory obligation to provide health services for all school age children. The aim is to ensure that all children and young people, throughout their school years, are in the best possible health to benefit from their education.

School Nursing Service

School Nurses are available Monday – Friday between 8.30 am and 4.30 pm all year round, excluding public holidays and weekends. School Nurses are part of the integrated community team and are based in local health centres and clinics.

The School Nurse Team offer health screening, health assessments, health reviews, health promotion and health interventions when required.

A health screen and review of the child’s growth is offered to all children in Primary 1. This involves a parent questionnaire and the opportunity of an appointment with the school nurse to discuss any parental concerns.

The School Nursing Team comprises of:

School Nurses

Family Support Workers

Children/young people, parents/carers may request a health appointment at any time by contacting the service on 01786 468272.

Referral to the School Nursing Service can be made by Education, Social Work, GP or any other health care professional using the appropriate Getting it Right for Every Child (GIRFEC) documentation.

School and Nursery Meals

Schools and nursery lunches are an important part of the day, encouraging our children to eat a nutritious lunch. The lunchtime experience plays a huge part in developing a child’s relationship with food, understanding where food comes from, the health benefits to our bodies and the opportunity to experiment and taste new foods.

The Scottish Government introduced changes to the Nutritional Standards for Food and Drinks Regulations within Schools in April 2021. The changes to the regulations are based on the most up to date scientific evidence on diet and are designed to support the health of children and young people within our education settings. The food and drink provided across the day is designed to support the Scottish Dietary Goals. This will ensure all children and young people receiving a meal have access to nutritionally balanced lunches. We are committed to provide healthy, nutritious and good value for money meal options in all our Nurseries, Primaries and Secondary Schools.

Every P1 to P5 pupil is entitled to a free meal. We would encourage parents to access this meal as there are benefits to having a meal. The focus is on an enjoyable lunchtime experience for all children.

All 3 and 4 year old children and eligible 2 year olds are entitled to a free meal if they are in nursery for more than 4 hours accessing a funded session. Parents may still choose to provide a packed meal if preferred. During unfunded sessions, parents can purchase a meal if they choose to do so. In addition to meals, all nurseries will provide a morning snack and afternoon snack. There will be no cost for this during funded or unfunded sessions. Snacks will include Scottish Government funding milk and a portion of fruit/vegetables.

Our Nurseries and Primary schools offer a two course lunch menu with a choice of main meal, and either a starter or dessert. The menu runs on a three week cycle and has plenty of healthy and popular meals on offer for pupils. Menus and current prices can be viewed on the Council’s website, https://www.stirling.gov.uk/learning-education/schools/school-meals-uniforms/.

Pupils and parents have an opportunity to provide feedback and have their say regarding the development of future menus and always welcome suggestions for improvement.

Where a child or young person has an allergy or requires a specific diet, this can be catered for in most circumstances however, this must be communicated clearly to the Catering Supervisor, discussed and a clear plan agreed. Full allergen assessment information will be available in every school kitchen. The special diet policy must be followed at all times and documentation completed by parents.

Pupils and parents have an opportunity to provide feedback and have their say regarding the development of future menus and always welcome suggestions for improvement.

We provide meals for specific dietary requirements such as vegetarian, medically prescribed diets and allergens. Parents are required to inform their headteacher as soon as possible to enable meetings to be set up.

Parent Pay

Parent pay is a web-based application that provides a facility for parents to pay online for school & nursery meals, trips, music tuition etc. Parents will benefit from being able to make on line payments for meals using a secure website at any time that is convenient. Parents can view all transactions online and see their running balances. This makes it a safer method of payment, instead of children taking cash into schools and nurseries. For more information, please go to https://www.parentpay.com/

From Monday 23 October parents will be able to pre order their child’s school lunch online.

Food for Life served here

Stirling Council has been a member of the FFL accreditation scheme since 2012. The FFL accreditation providers must achieve the thirteen standards of the Bronze Food Life which include 75% of all dishes on the menu to be freshly prepared on site. The Food for Life Catering Mark is an endorsement from the Soil Association Scotland that as caterers we have taken steps to ensure that the food that we serve uses fresh ingredients which are free from undesirable additives and trans fats, are better for animal welfare and comply with national nutrition standards:

• Our meals do not contain any undesirable food additives, hydrogenated fats or GM ingredients.

• Over 75% of our dishes are freshly prepared every day by our cooks.

• All of the meat we use is traceable and from farms which satisfy UK welfare standards.

• All of the eggs we use are free range from cage free hens.

• We offer a seasonal menu.

• We provide ongoing training for our dedicated team of catering staff.

• We ensure our meals comply with the national nutritional standards set out by the Scottish Government.

• We provide information for children about where their food comes from.

• Poultry, eggs and pork are produced in line with the standards set for the Freedom Food Scheme, a welfare minimum or 10% of ingredients are organic. All of the milk we use in our recipes and the children drink is certified local organic milk.

• A range of locally sourced items are on the menu.

• No fish is served from the Marine Conservation Society “fish to avoid list“.

We are proud of our Silver Food for life accreditation for all our meals, promoting food provenance, freshly preparing foods free from nasty additives colourings and preservatives. More information about the standard can be found on the Soil Association website, https://www.soilassociation.org/certification/foodservice/.

We would like to continue to reassure our Parents that the school and nursery meals service within Stirling Council are working hard to provide a safe environment for pupils and staff and are working to Covid 19 protocols.

Stirling Council provides free transport to children who live more than two miles from their catchment school, or where there is no safe walking route available. Further information is available on the Stirling Council website at: https://www.stirling.gov.uk/learning-education/schools/school-travel-trips/school-transport

While schools have contingency planning in place to cope with a number of circumstances, sometimes it is necessary to close schools or amend the normal school day. e.g., storm damage, power cut.

In the event of this happening, we have to ensure school record of parents’ place of employment and childcare arrangements are up to date. Please make sure we have an emergency contact telephone number and address. We will issue an annual update form to check the accuracy of contact details and other information held by the school.

Please make sure your child knows who to go to if you are not at home.

Digital Tools for Learning and Teaching

In Stirling Council schools and nurseries, we use a variety of digital tools for learning and teaching, to share information about the life of the school, communicate with parents and carers, and to celebrate success. Use of many of these tools requires sharing some personal data about your child with the providers of the services. This may include, for example, children’s names, classes and photographs. For some services, we will need your consent to share personal data.

Core Digital Services

Across Stirling Council, we use Glow and Google Workspace for Education Plus for learning and teaching. Data is shared with these services under the legal basis of public task - use of these services is deemed essential for learning and teaching, and we have legal agreements in place with both Education Scotland and Google to ensure that personal data is kept safe (see our Privacy Notices for our use of these services).

Likewise, SEEMiS is used to securely manage children and young people’s personal data, including sensitive category data (such as information about their health). This data sharing is also done under the legal basis of public task, and appropriate agreements are in place to ensure the data is securely managed.

Digital Services Requiring Consent

For other processes involving digital tools, we will seek consent of parents/carers and the young people themselves when they are aged 12 and over.

Data Protection laws say that the Council must be transparent about how we process personal data.

This Register of Data Processing sets out the Council’s activities that involve the collection and use of personal information and the reason why we can process your information lawfully.

Privacy Notice

For each activity, we publish a Privacy Notice setting out how personal data is used.

We are legally obliged to safeguard public funds so we are required to verify and check your details internally for fraud prevention. We may share this information with other public bodies (and also receive information from these other bodies) for fraud checking purposes.

We are also legally obliged to share certain data with other public bodies, such as HMRC and will do so where the law requires this. We will also generally comply with requests for specific information from other regulatory and law enforcement bodies where this is necessary and appropriate.

Your information is also analysed internally to help us improve our services. This is covered in our Fraud Privacy statement.

Privacy Notices are available on the Council website, https://www.stirling.gov.uk/council-democracy/access-to-information/register-of-personal-data-processing-privacy-notice/.

Parentzone Scotland is a unique website for parents and carers in Scotland, from early years to beyond school. The website provides up-to-date information about learning in Scotland, and practical advice and ideas to support children’s learning at home in literacy, numeracy, health and wellbeing and science.  

Information is also available on Parentzone Scotland regarding additional support needs, how parents can get involved in their child’s school and education. Furthermore, the website has details about schools including performance data for school leavers from S4-S6; and links to the national, and local authority and school level data on the achievement of Curriculum for Excellence levels.

Parentzone Scotland can be accessed at https://education.gov.scot/parentzone.

The 2024/2025 school year starts on 14 August 2024.  This is the only date for beginning school education for that year.

All children who are five years old on or before 14 August 2024 are of school age and must start their primary school education on 16 August 2023, children who are five years old between 14 August 2024 and 28 February 2025 may start their primary school education on 14 August 2024.

If your child is starting their primary school education in August 2024, or if you are choosing to defer their entry into primary school to August 2025, you must enrol them at their catchment school by 26 January 2024. Details of school catchment areas and further information on our enrolment procedures can be found by visiting our website www.stirling.gov.uk or by contacting us on 01786 233185. Should you wish your child to attend a primary school other than their catchment school you are still required to enrol them in the catchment school and submit a placing request for the school of your choice. We have now moved to online enrolments and request that you complete the online enrolment form which can be found on our website www.stirling.gov.uk. As part of the enrolment process we are required to check the residency of all parents wishing to enrol their child at their catchment school, you will be required to scan and upload a copy of your child’s birth certificate, and two of the following - child benefit book/award letter, tax credit/universal credit award letter, two recent household utility bills or a recent council tax bill. If you are unable to use our online enrolment form or scan and upload the necessary documents please contact the school who will be able to assist.

Gaelic Medium Provision

Gaelic Medium Provision is available at Riverside Primary School, Forrest Road, Stirling tel: 01786 474128 email: rvrsdeps@stirling.gov.uk .  Any parent wishing to enrol their child in our gaelic medium provision should contact the school for further information. 

Notice to Parents and Guardians of Children due to Transfer from Primary to Secondary School

Children currently in P7 will transfer from primary to secondary education in August 2024.  You will receive notification of transfer arrangements through your primary school and your child will be automatically enrolled in their catchment secondary school. Should you wish your child to attend a secondary school that is not their catchment school a placing request must be submitted.

Placing Requests for Session 2024/2025

In accordance with the Education (Scotland) Act 1980 as amended, Stirling Council hereby informs parents or guardians who wish to make a placing request for the school session 2024-2025, to do so online no later than 15 March 2024. Your right applies to a request that your child be placed in a school other than the school which normally serves the area in which you live. It applies to a primary school or, where appropriate, the transfer to a secondary school, including a school providing for children with additional support needs. You can apply online at https://www.stirling.gov.uk/schools-and-learning/schools/placing-requests/make-a-placing-request/ It is essential that you enrol your child at their catchment school even if you are making a placing request for another school, this ensures that should the placing request be unsuccessful they still have a place at their catchment school. Please note that school transport is not provided for children and young people attending a school on a placing request.

Schools Information

Information on local authority schools in Stirling Council is available on our website www.stirling.gov.uk or by contacting us on 01786 233185. 

Parents wishing to apply for enrolment to  St Modan’s High School should contact the school to discuss enrolment policy. Details are also available on the Council website www.stirling.gov.uk

Stirling Council

Schools, Learning and Education

October 2023

Getting it right for every child (GIRFEC) supports families by making sure children and young people can receive the right help, at the right time, from the right people. The aim is to help them to grow up feeling loved, safe and respected so that they can realise their full potential.

Key elements of GIRFEC are:

• Wellbeing
• Named Person
• Child’s Plan

Wellbeing

To help achieve a common understanding of what wellbeing means, it is broken into 8 wellbeing indicators.

Every child and young person should be Safe, Healthy, Active, Nurtured, Achieving, Respected, Responsible, Included.

Each child is unique and there is no set level of wellbeing that children should achieve. Each child should be helped to reach their full potential as an individual. 

Named Person

Most children get all the help they need from their families and communities but for some, they may need extra help at times.

Children from birth to 18 or their parents, will have access to a named person to help them get the support they need. The named person will be a clear point of contact for families. For school age children, the named person will be a promoted member of staff.

Children, young people or their families can expect their contact to respond to their wellbeing needs, to respect their rights, choice, privacy and diversity. Children should be included in decisions that affect them. There is no obligation on children and families to accept the offer of advice or support from a named person.

More information is available on the Scottish Government website: https://www.gov.scot/policies/girfec/.

Child’s Plan

A personalised child’s plan will be available when a child or young person needs a range of extra support planned, delivered and co-ordinated. The plan outlines what should improve for the child and the actions to be implemented and reviewed.

The child's plan is managed by a 'lead professional' i.e. someone with the right skills and experience to make sure the plan is managed and reviewed regularly. Depending on the situation and the child's needs, the lead professional may also be the named person.

The child and parent/s and carer/s will know what information is being shared, with whom and for what purpose, and their views will be taken into account. This may not happen in exceptional cases, such as where there is a concern for the safety of a child, young person or someone else.

Stirling educational establishments have long established staged intervention procedures which provide appropriate and proportionate assessment, planning and review to ensure children and young people have their individualised needs met. Further information is detailed in Staged Intervention Guidance.