An A to U of frequently asked questions about Bun-sgoil Taobh na Pàirce.
For full school information please see the School Handbook and visit the school website
Active Schools
Active Schools is an Edinburgh Council programme of sports classes delivered in the school at lunchtime and after school. The school will email you when classes become available to book. Link: Active Schools website
After School Childcare
Àm Cluiche
Play time
C1 – C3: 10.15 – 10.30
C4 – C7: 10.35 – 10.50
Àm Dìnneir
Lunch time
C1 – C3: 12.00 – 12.45
C4 – C7: 12.50 – 13.35
Àm Spors
Gym/P.E.
The kit for P.E. is T-shirt, shorts and gym shoes with non-marking soles
Aodach Sgoile
Uniform
The menu of uniform options at the time of writing are:
White Polo Shirt
White Shirt
Navy Sweatshirt (Clas 1-6)
Turquoise Hooded Top (Clas 7 only)
Navy Jumper or Cardigan
Navy Trousers, Shorts, Pinafore or Skirt
Blue Gingham Dress
Holyrood Tartan Kilted Skirt
Holyrood Tartan Tie
Navy or White Tights, Socks
Book Bag
Backpack
Robust Footwear; suitable for running and playing outdoors
Apps for GME parents
Abair Abairtean! created especially for parents with children in the early stages of GME. Simple phrases you can use in the home and outside playing. Each phrase has accompanying audio and “phonetic” spelling, as well as a colourful image
Duolingo! is a free language learning app. Learn Scottish Gaelic in just 5 minutes a day. For free!
Bookbug this app from the Scottish Book Trust has a good selection of songs and stories in Gàidhlig, suitable for the early years.
Bainne
Milk
If you wish, you can order subsidised milk for your child to have at school. Please contact the school office for more information
Bòrd Òir
Gold Board
An exceptional piece of work, chosen by the class teacher fortnightly and displayed on the Bòrd Òir (Gold Board) in the school corridor.
Classlist
A social networking site for parents to connect with each other and share information, resources and events related to their school. Email us for access
Club Bracaist
Breakfast Club
See Òganan Dhùn Èideann
Collection Arrangements
The school requires written collection arrangements for every child. These are collected via this End of Day form.
Còmhdhail Sgoile
School Transport
School transport is provided by the Council’s Travel Hub. All queries about eligibility for transport should be directed to the Travel Hub.
City of Edinburgh Council Travel Hub
Telephone: 0131 469 2950
Email: schooltransport@edinburgh.gov.uk
https://www.edinburgh.gov.uk/schooltransport
Comhairle nam Pàrant
The Parent Council
The Parent Council supports the school in its development and its day to day life. Fosters a strong home/school connection. Updates the parent body about events and developments within the school and is the voice of the parents in the school
The Parent Council invites any parent or carer to get involved in a range of activities to benefit our children. We meet every term and everyone is welcome to attend, but you don’t need to attend a meeting to get involved.
Email: chairs@parantantaobhnapairce.org.uk
The parent council contacts parents and carers via Classlist, Class Reps and occasionally via school email.
Cruinneachadh
Assembly
Cruinneachadh is once a week on a Monday. They are a chance for the Headteacher to engage with children about school values and behaviours and celebrate achievements through Gaisgeach na Gàidhlig, Leanntainn ar Luachan, Sgoilear na Seachdain, and Bord Òir
Events
The Parent Council runs events at the school throughout the year. These include Summer & Christmas Fairs, Cinema Night, Halloween Disco, Ceilidhs and Concerts. Dates for these are shared on Classlist and via email in the Headteacher’s newsletter.
The school runs a monthly Gaelic Café, Adult Gaelic classes, and Gaelic Information events. The Headteacher shares dates for these events in her email newsletter and the Parent Council shares them on Classlist.
Annual Gaelic events in Edinburgh include Edinburgh Local Mòd, Fèis Dhùn Èideann, and Seachdain na Gàidhlig. The school and it’s pupils are active participants in all of these events
Fèill na Nollaig
Christmas Fair
Held in early December in the school gym hall and has a range of stalls and a visit from Bodach na Nollaig (Santa Claus)!
The fair is run by the parent council; it is a big fundraiser and lots of fun, if you’d like to help please join the Events & Fundraising Group on Classlist or email us
Fèill Samhradh
Summer Fair
A fundraising fair ran by the Parent Council at the end of Summer Term.
Flashcards
A useful set of flashcards to learn Gàidhlig phrases
https://www.gaelic4parents.com/0-3-years/flashcards/flashcards-direct
Fundraising
The Parent Council run an active calendar of fundraising activities and events. All parents and carers are invited to join in!
One thing you can do today to start raising funds for the school is sign up to ‘Easyfundraising’. Easyfundraising turns your everyday online shopping into free donations for the school. Retailers like Tesco make a small donation on top of every penny spent. Easy!
Link: https://www.easyfundraising.org.uk/causes/bunsgoiltaobhnapirce/
If you would like to get involved in fundraising or have an idea for something new for us to run, join the Events & Fundraising Group on Classlist or email us
Gaelic 4 Parents
www.gaelic4parents.com
A website for parents, carers, and children involved in Gaelic medium education. This site is bursting with games, stories, audio and has recordings of most of the books your child will bring home from school or the library
Gaisgeach na Gàidhlig
A weekly award for pupils who make an effort to speak Gaelic, improve their Gaelic, or use exemplary Gaelic.
Guth Sgoilear
Pupil Council
Guth Sgoilear is the school Pupil Council, consisting of pupils from C1-7, meets regularly with the Head Teacher to take forward pupils’ views on all aspects of school life. Regular updates are part of the Headteacher updates at Parent Council meetings.
Homework
Reading homework goes home regularly, from Term 4 of C1 onwards, with the reading diary being used to share tasks and feedback between home and school. Some tasks may involve the use of the BookBug or Giglets online reading programmes.
Homework mats for Numeracy and Mathematics and Gaelic Literacy are sent home each term.
Homework help is available every evening from 5.30pm – 7.30pm, Monday to Thursday, on Facebook. Go to the ‘Gaelic 4 Parents’ Facebook page and press the ‘help’ button. www.facebook.com/gaelic4parents
Latha Spòrs – Sports Day
This is usually held in the summer in Pilrig Park. The school will confirm the date nearer to the event
Leanntainn ar Luachan
A pupil award for living school values, or acts of these. Nominated by class mates and chosen by class teacher fortnightly
Learning Journals
An online profile of your child’s learning that teachers use to share information about what your child is learning in school
The school policy on medicine administration can be found on the school website. There is a form to complete, you can collect this from reception or ask the School Office to email a digital copy. No medication can be administered without the completed form. If your child needs medicine to be administered during school hours, please contact the school office in the first instance
Neo-làthaireachd
Absence
Report unplanned sickness absences on the school absence line 0131 553 5856 (option 1) before 9am.
Report planned absences like medical appointments via email to the school office.
Oifis na Sgoile – the School Office
You are invited to contact the school by phone, letter or email.
Phone:
0131 553 5856
Email:
admin@taobhnapairce.edin.sch.uk
Address:
139 Bonnington Rd
Edinburgh, EH6 5NQ
If your communication relates to a specific child, please contact initially the head of pastoral care for the relevant year group (see Pastoral Care below)
Òganan Dhùn Èideann
Gaelic Childcare
Contact Òganan for breakfast club, after school care, private pre-school day care, and holiday clubs.
https://www.oganan.com/
rachelm@oganan.com
Telephone: 07985 326 110
Parent Consultations
Parent consultations are arranged twice yearly for parents and carers to discuss progress with their child’s teacher. These are in Autumn and in Spring.
Parent Groups
There are a number of parent groups working on behalf of the parents to support the school, the pupils and their families. Gardening, ASN, Events and Fundraising, Gaelic Ambassadors… contact them via Classlist or email us.
ParentPay
All school meals must be booked in advance on the ParentPay website so that the school can order the correct amount of food. The ordering deadline is midnight on Wednesday the week before lunches are taken.
Pastoral Care
Pastoral care is the support the school gives for the physical and emotional wellbeing of pupils. Each class has a pastoral care contact on the school’s Senior Leadership Team.
Email the school office to speak to your child’s pastoral care contact.
School Clubs
The parent council, the school and Active Schools collectively run a number of clubs and activities for pupils both in and out of school time. An up to date list can be found on our Activities page.
If you have an idea for a new school club or activity, email us
School Hours
School Gate
08.45 – 08.55
C1-C2
08:55 – 14:45 Monday to Thursday
08:55 – 12:20 Friday
C3-C7
08:55 – 15:20 Monday to Thursday
08:55 – 12:30 Friday
Sgoil-àraich
08:45 – 15:15 Monday – Thursday
08:45 – 12:45 Friday
School photos
Photos are either taken of individuals and family groups or as full class portraits. The school will give advance notice of the date and type
Sgoilear na Seachdain
A weekly pupil award chosen by class teachers for making an effort, being a model pupil.
School Lottery
The fundraising lottery is an effective way to raise money for our school.
Each ticket enters you into two draws every week – a guaranteed cash prize for one of our supporters, plus a jackpot prize draw for £25,000.
For more information or to sign up, go to:
www.yourschoollottery.co.uk/lottery/school/bun-sgoil-taobh-na-pàirce
For more information or to sign up, go to:
www.yourschoollottery.co.uk/lottery/school/bun-sgoil-taobh-na-pàirce
Stuth Cailte
Lost Property
Lost Property is kept in the downstairs corridor of the school and can be checked during school hours. Please put a name label on all of your child’s clothes, lunchboxes, and water bottles. Parent volunteers regularly sort the lost property and give named items to C7 to return to owners. These volunteers also post photos of unnamed items to the lost property group on Classlist.
Term Dates
Visit Edinburgh Council website for term dates
The Parent Body/Parent Forum
You, the parents
Gaelic Education Organisations & Terms
Bòrd na Gàidhlig
Scotland’s national Gaelic language body, responsible for promoting the development of Gaelic language and culture
Comann nam Pàrant (CnP)
The National Organisation supporting parents and carers of Gaelic Learners, CnP offers advice and support on Gaelic medium education. CnP supports the school, the Parent Council and the parent body.
We recommend you sign up to the Comann nam Pàrant Mailing List
https://cnpduneideannblog.wordpress.com/
CCwP – The Consultative Committee with Parents
The Consultative Committee with Parents (CCwP) is a forum for Edinburgh Council to consult with Parent Councils. It exists so that Parent Councils can give their views on proposed council policies relating to education. The CCwP cannot make decisions that are binding to the Edinburgh Council.
For these meetings, Taobh na Pàirce is in the South East Cluster. If you would like to check CCwP minutes, go into this link:
https://www.edinburgh.gov.uk/parental-engagement/parent-group-meeting-details
Cròileagan – Gaelic Playgroup
Playgroup for children under five to introduce Gaelic to young children and their parents and carers, through games and song.
In Edinburgh we have Cròileagan Dhùn Èideann who run playgroup sessions and parent & toddler Gaelic classes at Taobh na Pàirce and in Tollcross.
EME
English Medium Education
GIG – Gaelic Implementation Group
A mix of council employees, Gaelic representatives and parents, instrumental in shaping and informing the implementation of the Gaelic Language Plan
GLP – Gaelic Language Plan
A government provision committed to developing the use of the Gaelic language and sustaining it. View the current plan 2024-2029
GME – Gaelic Medium Education
Bun-Sgoil Taobh na Pàirce follows a GME curriculum
Seachdain na Gàidhlig – World Gaelic Week
Sgoil-àraich – Gaelic medium nursery
A council-run, Gaelic medium nursery, for children of 3+. Many children go on to Sgoil Àraich from Cròileagan, but it’s not compulsory.
Sgoil-àraich Taobh na Pàirce is the Edinburgh Council feeder nursery for Bun-sgoil Taobh na Pàirce.