Child Safety in Absence Reporting

In order to maximise the safety of the children, it is important that all parents follow the procedures for reporting child absence from the school.  It is essential that we know immediately if your child is going to be absent from school, even for a hour or two.

To this end, we must ask all parents to take responsibility for informing us, first thing in the morning, of any absence or late arrival.

• Parents should phone the school between 8.30 am – 9.30 am to report a child’s absence – We now have an answering machine, so a message can be left as  early as is suitable.
• Estimate how long the absence will be.
• Phone again on the morning of the estimated return if absence is to continue.
• Keep following this pattern until the child returns to school.
• Phone even if your child is coming later – e.g. after a doctor or dentist  appointment, if they are not going to be in school by 9.00 am.
• Keep us informed of any holidays, in particular remember extra days added on  to weekends, etc.

If the class teacher reports your child absent after 9.00 am and there has been  no phone call from you by 9.30 am, we will do our best to contact you on the contact number you have supplied- please keep this updated.

In this way we hope to work together with you to ensure each child is safe, either at school or home.

Unfortunately we cannot automatically accept messages from other children, (which may be hearsay or wrongly reported) on such an important matter. Direct contact from the parent/guardian is the safest way.

Sickness And Injury
Medical examinations of children are undertaken during each child’s school life.  Your child will normally be examined during their first year at primary school, and then at ages 10/11 and 13/14 years, by staff of Lanarkshire Health Care.  You may refer your child at other times to the Clinic Medical Officer for examinations or advice.

Dental Inspections are also carried out on a routine basis and parents are offered any necessary treatment for their children although you may choose to go instead to the family dentist.

If your child takes ill or is hurt during school hours, he/she is attended to by the school first aider, Mrs. Young.  If the Head Teacher considers that a child is unfit to continue with his/her work, you will be contacted, or failing this, the emergency contact number will be used.  Your child should then be picked up from the school office.

In case of serious illness or injury when immediate medical attention is required, your child will be taken to Hairmyres Hospital.  Every effort will be made to contact you..

The administration of medicines prescribed by your family doctor can only be carried out after you have informed the Head Teacher and completed an “Administration of Medicines” form which is available from the school office.

As a rule, pupils with asthma use their inhalers as prescribed by their doctor and are responsible for looking after their own inhaler while in school.  A spare may be left at the school office if parents wish – this is recommended.

For medical/dental appointments during school hours, you must notify the school in writing and collect your child from the school.

Under no circumstances will any child be allowed out of school for appointments during school hours unless collected by an adult.

Anti-Bullying Policy
St. Blane’s has a firm anti-bullying policy which identifies procedures to be followed when bullying issues arise.

It offers advice to parents on helping their child in potential bullying situations. It also offers children advice on how to avoid being bullied, or deal with the situation should it arise.  Class teachers address bullying issues and support children in dealing with them in a sensitive and practical manner, often during class Circletime.  They also provide bullyproofing lessons at the start of each term – i.e. three times a year.

To view our Bullyproofing Policy click here