About Colinton Primary School

Colinton is a small, friendly, neighbourhood school in the south of the city of Edinburgh. It is a single storey building built in 1967. At present we have around 190 pupils in school and a Nursery with 40 part -time places (20 morning places and 20 afternoon places)
	Inside: There are 14 rooms, which provide accommodation for 8 classrooms, the nursery, a support for learning base, a library, a science room, a music room and the ICT suite. We have a dining area situated beside our P2 and 3 classrooms. There is a large multi purpose hall in the centre of the building. We also have an Information and Computing Suite which houses our Apple Mac computers. Classrooms also have at least 1 computer.
Outside: We are currently trying to raise money for new playground equipment. At present we have seating in some parts of the school and a small courtyard area with a soft play section for the younger children. A new addition to our playground is a well tended garden area which surrounds the infants soft play area.
	The School Day: Morning Nursery Monday to Friday: 9am - 11.30am Afternoon Nursery Monday to Friday: 12.30pm - 3pm P1 and P2 Monday to Thursday: 8.50am-12.05pm LUNCH 1.00pm-2.50pm Friday: 8.50am-12.15pm P3 - P7 Monday to Thursday: 8.50am-12.20pm LUNCH 1.00pm-3.10pm Friday: 8.50am-12.25pm P1 children attend for mornings only until the September holiday weekend. Pupils should not arrive at school too early e.g. before 8.30am in the morning.
School Uniform: All childern are expected to wear school uniform. We believe that it encourages a sense of school identity. Our uniform consists of: Skirt, Pinafore or Trousers: Grey or Navy Shirt or Polo Shirt: Blue or White Jersey: Grey, Royal Blue or School Sweatshirt Optional Fleece: Navy Blue P.E Kit Shorts and T-shirt. No football colours please. All children require indoor shoes to change into in school. Each child should have a school bag for books to make sure they are kept in good condition. ALL ITEMS SHOULD BE CLEARLY MARKED WITH YOUR CHILD'S NAME. The school office holds stock of: Waterproof fleeces Fleeces Sweatshirts Cardigans Ties Polo shirts Gym bags Book bags

English Language
English Language is split into four areas, Listening, Talking, Reading and Writing. Each area is then split into different stands as follows: Listening: For information and instructions; In groups; In order to talk about texts; To different types of text Talking: To give information and instructions; In groups; About experiences and feelings; About texts; To an audience Reading: For information (comprehension); For enjoyment; To discuss the writer's ideas; Aloud and with expression Writing: Functional (reports/letters); Personal (account); Imaginative (stories); Punctuation; Spelling; Handwriting; Grammar
Mathematics
Maths is divided into the following areas: Problem Solving: understand then solve the problem by choosing the best strategy e.g. write a list, work backwards, draw a diagram, etc. Information Handling: graph work, pie charts, databases etc. Number, Money and Measure: range and type of number, money, add, subtract, multiply and divide, round numbers, fractions, ratios, patterns, functions, measure and estimate, time, perimeter, formula and scale
Environmental Studies
Our Environmental Studies programme provides a wide range of content, skills and concepts in a progressive development integrating History, Social Studies, Geography, Science and Technology. Within each year there is a balance of the subject areas listed. Studies begin in the child's own environment and move out in ever widening circles. Emphasis is put on observation, inter-relationships between places, man and other living things, and appreciation and responsibility for the environment. Here is a brief overview of the topics covered in Environmental Studies from P1 to P7 P1: HISTORY- All About Me SOCIAL STUDIES - Personal Safety GEOGRAPHY - Where I Live P2: HISTORY- Homes and Farms SOCIAL STUDIES - People Who Help Us GEOGRAPHY - Homes and Farms P3: HISTORY- Castles SOCIAL STUDIES - The Post GEOGRAPHY - Life in Other Countries P4: HISTORY- Romans SOCIAL STUDIES - Dinosaurs and Conservation GEOGRAPHY - Woodlands P5: HISTORY- Egyptians SOCIAL STUDIES - Endangered Species GEOGRAPHY - Scottish Landscape/Weather P6: HISTORY- Old Edinburgh SOCIAL STUDIES - Feeling Yes, Feeling No GEOGRAPHY - Rainforest P7: HISTORY- Scotland SOCIAL STUDIES - Choices and Decisions GEOGRAPHY - European Study
Science
Here is an overview of the topics studied in Science from P1 - P7 P1: EARTH & SPACE - Introducing Materials ENERGY & FORCE - Introducing Energy LIVING THINGS - Introducing Living Things P2: EARTH & SPACE - Sun, Moon & Stars ENERGY & FORCE - Energy LIVING THINGS - Looking After Living Things P3: EARTH & SPACE - Making Materials Change ENERGY & FORCE - Forces LIVING THINGS - Plants and Animals P4: EARTH & SPACE - Water ENERGY & FORCE - Electricity LIVING THINGS - Indentifying Living Things P5: EARTH & SPACE - Solids, Liquids and Gases ENERGY & FORCE - Light and Sound LIVING THINGS - Living on Earth P6: EARTH & SPACE - The Solar System ENERGY & FORCE - Electric Circuits LIVING THINGS - Air Resistance and Gravity P7: EARTH & SPACE - Structure of the Earth ENERGY & FORCE - Energy Sources and Burning LIVING THINGS - Our Environment
Health Education
Here is an overview of the topics studied in Health Education from P1 - P7 P1: Ourselves P2: Healthy Eating & Personal Safety P3: Safety in the Home & Friendships P4: Hazards and Help & Healthy Bodies and Minds P5: Help in Our Community, Looking After Ourselves & Communicating with Each Other P6: Coping Strategies & Health Promoting School P7: Sex Education, First Aid, Equal Opportunities & Lifestyles NB: Drugs Education is integrated through a variety of topics in Health Education and Environmental Studies
Religious and Moral Education
The aim is to help children become aware of themselves and others and to develop understanding of situations that put moral and religious questions and help them in their response to these situations. The children study themes with knowledge, skills and attitudes developed according to their stage and ability. The children will study the following topics from the point of view of Christianity, Other World Religions (Judaism, Hinduism, Buddhism and Islam) and Personal Search P1: Myself/New Life P2: Special People and their Books P3: Special Times and Places P4: Lives of Special People P5: A Place of Worship P6: Principles of Faith P7: Founders of Faith

Expressive Arts
The Expressive Arts comprise of Art and Design, Drama, Music and Physical Education. They provide a means for the children to express themselves, give them enjoyment and learn skills and techniques. Art and Design - In the early stages, the children are encouraged in the use of different media and to recognise colours. Later the children progress in colour composition, tints and shades, line, texture and shape and of course study various artists. In creative activities there is a mixture of free expression and acquiring skills. Drama - Drama encourages self confidence in the children and activities include role play, mime, improvisation and script work. Music - In the early stages, children are encouraged in singing and simple percussion activities. This is developed throughout the school and children from Primary 3 are taught to read music and introduced to different types of music and composers. Physical Education - Gymnastics, games, dance and athletics are brought together in PE. Activities are designed to increase agility and control. Children from the earliest age are taught the correct way to handle and use the apparatus. Encouraging team work is also a large aspect of our PE teaching. All pupils are given swimming instruction at the Dreghorn Swimming Pool.
Information and Communication Technology
Computers now form an integral part of our lives. We hope to familiarise all children with the use of computers as the form an increasingly important part of our lives. We are working towards having these integrated into the mainstream curriculum. We ensure our children have as much ICT experience as possible. This starts in the Nursery and continues until Primary 7. It is hoped that by the time the children move on to secondary they will have had experience of word processing and database technology in addition to using computers as an educational aid. There is at least one computer in each classroom and a computer suite which the children are timetabled to use.
Modern Languages
The pupils are taught French in P6 and P7. We have 4 members of staff who have attended the 'Modern Languages in the Primary School' course. In Primary 7 French is integrated into the children's daily routine on a regular basis.