New Policies approved by Education Executive
Wednesday, June 4 2008
Scottish Borders Council’s Education Executive today approved three new policies and an updated strategy that all illustrate the Council’s absolute commitment to keeping pupils safe and improving the experiences of all children at school.
Councillor Catriona Bhatia, Executive Member for Education, said: “Whilst our children are at school we must ensure that they are safe but it is also important not to inhibit their development and ability to explore new experiences and learn from them. The policies agreed today strike a balance between ensuring the welfare of children and adopting a common-sense approach to tackling the risks and challenges which are part of today’s society.”
Policies include:
Promoting attendance and managing absences from schools:
Key elements of the policy are
o A recognition that all children are likely to be absent from school (or late) at some time in their school career but persistent poor attendance and poor punctuality are disruptive to individual pupils and to the work of their class and may be an early warning of other difficulties.
o Where there are genuine reasons for prolonged absence, school and other agencies will work with parents, carers, pupils to ensure that the child’s education is provided by means other than school attendance.
o Definition of the respective roles and responsibilities of parents, pupils, staff and multi agency partners to ensure consistency in dealing with issues of attendance and absence.
A new leaflet for parents on keeping children safe, developed with Lothian and Borders Police, has been prepared and will be distributed through schools in August.
• A new excursion policy for schools – Implementation of this policy will reduce the risk of accidents and incidents and assist excursion leaders and helpers when planning and leading all off-site visits. It complies with best practice in Health & Safety. In addition, the policy promotes good environmental practice when working with young people out of doors, particularly with regard to access to land and water.
• A new policy on the incidents of substance misuse in schools -This policy provides clear guidance for schools to ensure that every incident receives a school response matched to pupils’ needs. Responses will include a combination of support, discipline, education and public information. The principles of the policy are:
The interests and welfare of the pupil involved should always be paramount.
Any incidents involving substance misuse by staff should be dealt with under Scottish Borders Council staff disciplinary procedures.
Any incidents involving parents or carers on school premises or a through a Disclosure Scotland check should be dealt with under the Scottish Borders Inter-agency Child Protection Guidelines.
A new information leaflet for parents has been produced and is being issued to all parents of pupils in P7 as part of their transition programme from primary to high schools.
• An updated Learning Accessibility Strategy – This identifies how SBC will prepare and implement accessibility strategies
to improve access to education for pupils and prospective pupils with disabilities and ensure long term strategic planning
for pupils with additional needs. Key elements of the strategy and action plans include:
• Training in Understanding Inclusion is available for all staff in SBC schools through the Continuous Personal Development
programme and on request.
• Continued funding to support schools to provide special equipment and personnel to meet the needs of pupils with additional needs.
• Improving physical access for all pupils with disabilities and full implementation of the high school audit reports, with the ultimate aim of completing all High Schools so that they are fully accessible by 2011.
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