School Aims

In order to equip the children to function successfully, now and later in life, in their own native town or further afield, the staff of Baljaffray Primary promote the following aims based on "A Curriculum for Excellence".

1. To encourage pupils in the highest quality learning activities meeting their needs and promoting active learning.
   
2. To maximise success for all learners through collaborative planning and effective, detailed tracking of pupil progress.
   
3. To promote high expectations whilst encouraging creativity and enabling pupils to demonstrate personal responsibility, compassion and support for others.
   
4. To promote equality of opportunity and encourage the celebration of diversity.
   
5. To maximise opportunities for community involvement, providing innovative approaches to learning.
   
6. To promote a strong partnership with parents, encouraging involvement in their child's learning and school activities through effective communication and reporting of pupils' progress.
   
7. To continuously focus on improving learning and teaching, encouraging innovation and employing an integrated approach to improvement.
   
8. To enable pupils to develop their skills and capabilities as learners, while giving pupils a voice and enabling them to take on responsibility.
   
9. To enable pupils to become confident, successful learners and responsible citizens with secure principles based on self respect; an ethos of care and equality for all.
   
10. To develop a culture of ambition and achievement where every individual has the opportunity to be successful and to fulfil his/her potential.

LOCATION

Baljaffray Primary School and Nursery Class are located at Grampian Way, Bearsden, Glasgow G61 4RA, telephone 0141-942-3638.  They stand on an open site on the outskirts of Glasgow to the North of Bearsden.  There are views of the Renfrewshire Hills to the South West, and of the Campsie Hills to the North East.

We are fortunate that the school stands in very attractive grounds, as the following photographs show.

This shows the view across to the Nursery.

• that school work should be planned in such a way that each pupil is given work which is stimulating, challenging but attainable and which leads to a progressive and continuous growth in knowledge and skills and the development of desirable attitudes and personal qualities.
  

• that children should be regularly assessed to determine the extent of their attainment so that their success and progress can be identified and suitable further work planned.
  

• that parents should be informed of the progress of pupils who are being systematically assessed and should receive appropriate information about their progress.
  

• that schools and teachers should be provided with the advice and support necessary to carry forward these aspects of their professional duties.
  

• the Scottish National Guidelines and 5 - 14 Development Programmes are followed in Language, Maths, Environmental Studies, Expressive Arts and Religious and Moral Education.
  
  

Every child at some time will require extra help, whether because of absence or because of a temporary difficulty.  These children will receive all the necessary help and support they require, both from their class teacher and the support for learning specialists.  Certain diagnostic tests may be carried out to determine the exact area where help is required.  If it is thought beneficial for a child to move on to a learning support scheme for Language or Maths, parents will be consulted and kept informed of the child's progress.

Children who are more able will have an individual programme of work developed for them so that they will be able to achieve their full potential.

We are assisted in the school by East Dunbartonshire's Network Support for Learning Service.  This is a team of specially trained teachers who offer 6 roles to the school:

Consultation                                         Co-operative Teaching
Liaison                                                  Pupil Support
Staff Development                                Resources

These roles facilitate the Additional Support Needs for all pupils.

Research has shown that support in early years is highly beneficial.  East Dunbartonshire Council recognises the importance of early intervention and ensures that all Primary 1 classes are supported by the Network teacher.  This enables early identification and assessment to take place.  Team members provide whole school support for effective teaching and learning.  They work in partnership with senior management, school staff, parents, pupils and other support services.

The teacher from Network Support Services is Mrs Elsie Dougan.

East Dunbartonshire Council in supporting inclusion in its school has also established and developed a number of specialist support services.  These services are:-

• Language and Communication Service (tel 0141 942 1338)
• Woodhead Support Services (Social, emotional and behavioural difficulties)
  (tel 0141 578 2116)
• Sensory Service (Visual and hearing impairment)(tel 0141 578 0270)

Further information is available from the service managers who can be contacted by telephone on the number provided.

Baljaffray Primary and East Dunbartonshire Council aim to offer: 

EDUCATION OF THE HIGHEST QUALITY

Moving forward together:-

• meeting the challenges of the future
• continuing to raise standards
• fostering creativity
• encouraging parents as parents
• investing in school buildings and resources
• celebrating our successes
   

PROVIDING THE HIGHEST QUALITY OF EDUCATION FOR ALL