Transitions are the moves children and young people make from home to nursery, from nursery to primary, from primary to secondary, from secondary to further education and beyond.
Starting Early Learning and Childcare
Once your child has been allocated a place in the early learning and childcare class you will be invited along to meet the staff and children, to find out more about the curriculum and to share information about your child. Your child will be invited to join the early learning and childcare class with your support as necessary until they have fully settled.
Starting Primary One
Children in Scotland who reach the age of five years between 1st March 2021 and 29th February 2022 should start school in August 2021. This generally means that children start school when they are aged between four-and-a-half and five-and-a-half. For academic session 2021/2022 online registration will begin mid-January 2021; further information will be available on the council website and in the local press.
To help your child prepare for a good start you can:
- Listen and talk to your child about this change in their lives
- Involve your child in getting ready for school by helping choose the things they will need, e.g. their uniform, lunchbox, school bag
- Keep in touch with the school about anything which may affect your child’s learning
- Attend induction events or introductory sessions
Transfer to Secondary School
Primary school pupils normally transfer to their catchment area secondary school in August following completion of their P7 year. Secondary staff visit P7 pupils to discuss aspects of their transfer with them and in June the pupils will spend an agreed length of time at their prospective secondary school.
The catchment area secondary school for Park Primary is:
Oban High School
Soroba Road
Oban
PA34 4JB
Tel: 01631 564231
Website: http://www.obanhigh.argyll-bute.sch.uk/
You will be contacted by letter and offered a place for your child at Oban High School, which you may either accept or decline. Secondary schools have their own arrangements for meetings with prospective parents/carers, and you will be given details of these meetings.
Should you prefer your child to attend a school other than the designated catchment area school then a Placing Request must be made. Forms are available from the Head Teacher or School Support, Argyll & Bute Council, Argyll House, Alexandra Parade, Dunoon, PA23 8AJ – Tel: 01369 704000.
Moving from Stage to Stage
Your child will be involved in an induction programme every year in school. Prior to the summer holiday your child will meet their teacher/s for the following session and visit their new classroom/s. Teachers work closely and share information about your child’s learning and achievements. Staff will also share other information which will help the teacher support your child’s learning, e.g. friendship groups, preferred ways of working, etc.
Moving Between Schools
When a child moves to a new school their class teacher will normally telephone the new school to share information on academic achievement and personal likes/dislikes with their new teacher. Parents/carers are encouraged to organise a visit to the new school (if possible) in advance to support the child feel secure in the move.
It should be noted that opportunities for enhanced transitions are available for children as required.
Liaison with Local Schools
Our school maintains close links with Oban High School and other primary schools within the local area. Our teachers, and in some cases our pupils, visit other schools and establishments and other teachers and pupils visit us. This process is important for the professional development of staff, reciprocal understanding and the establishment of curricular consistency.