Uniform and School Meals

SCHOOL UNIFORM / EIDEADH NA SGOILE

While school uniform cannot be compulsory, I stress that our policy is to encourage it, and I would greatly welcome the support of parents on this matter. The following items are recommended:

•Grey or white shirt/polo shirt

•Grey skirt/trousers/pinafore/culottes

•Grey or maroon jumper/cardigan/sweatshirt

•Maroon/grey striped tie

Sweatshirts, polo-shirts complete with school logo and ties (standard/elastic) are available from the school. Prices are currently £6.50, £4.50, £3.00, £2.50 respectively.

All children are expected to have suitable PE clothing and this is basically shorts, gym shoes etc. From time to time confusion arises regarding the PE clothing situation. While tracksuits, leggings etc are perfectly acceptable it is not recommended that these be used for PE then left on for the remainder of the day.

It is vitally important, especially in the case of school sweatshirts that all items of clothing are clearly labelled with the pupil’s name and class. We do not permit the wearing of football shirts or jeans.

The Highland Council Clothing Grant is available for those parents who claim Income Support, Working Families Tax Credit, Disabled Person’s Tax Credit, Income Based Jobseeker’s Allowance and Widowed Mother’s Allowance. If you think you may be entitled to the grant, application forms are available from the school office.

SCHOOL MEALS / BIADH NA SGOILE

These are cooked on the premises and are available in the school dining room at the current rate. The menu works on a 4 weekly rota system, offering a good range of healthy options. A copy of this menu is posted on the wall in the dining room. Where a child has paid for a full week’s meals and is absent for a day or more, credit will be given. We would ask parents to pay for dinners at the beginning of the week. Costs are reviewed annually and parents will be informed of any increases as they arise. Water or milk is available free of charge but children may purchase flavoured milk or soft drinks if required. Provision is made for those taking packed lunches and they can be stored in a specially allocated fridge until lunchtime for freshness.

Where a pupil requires a special diet, please inform us and the matter can be discussed with the cook-in-charge. Parents in receipt of Income Support or Tax Credits are entitled to free school meals for their children and should seek the necessary forms of application from the school office. Facilities for the consumption of packed lunches are available in the dining room. Parents are reminded that the Highland Council’s 1980 Safety recommendations should be adhered to- ie - In the interests of safety, breakable bottles and vacuum flasks with hot drinks in them should not be brought to school.

It would be very helpful to us if you, as parents, could encourage the use of cutlery. Children who are not accustomed to using a knife and fork correctly find the situation a little difficult when they start school meals. If any child has a food allergy of any kind could parents please inform the school. It is important that the school have signed permission from parents of any child who leaves the school to visit the village at lunchtimes.