You will find a huge amount of information in the school handbook and on the website. Any further questions can be directed to the school office via email admin@st-andrews.edin.sch.uk. If you have any informal questions or you’re looking for hints, tips and ideas from other parents then this is your chance!
First, we recommend signing up to Classlist if you haven’t already. It’s the easiest way to communicate with other parents in your child’s class, or even reach the wider school community. You’ll find helpful reminders about upcoming events, can purchase tickets for them and it’s a great place to ask questions and get quick answers from other parents.
You can join via the link below
https://app.classlist.com/s/WV9OHO
Emails from the school
Most emails from the school will come from platform@parentpay.com
All emails can be found listed in your parent pay account making it easier to find important information.
What do you need for school?
Full school uniform – shirt/ polo shirt (white), jumper/ cardigan (royal blue), trousers/ skirt/ pinafore (grey), socks/ tights and shoes (black), blue & white gingham dress in warmer weather (optional).
PE Kit (can be worn to school on PE days, there is normally two PE days a week) –
t-shirt, jumper, shorts/joggers/ leggings, trainers.– t-shirt, shorts/ leggings, trainers.
Outdoor Kit – waterproof coat, waterproof trousers and outdoor shoes or wellies.
School bag, snacks and a water bottle. Lunch box if your child will have packed lunch.
The school practices a nut-free environment, so please avoid all items that contain nuts.
(Your child will not need a pencil case, pencils, paper, calculator – these are provided by the school)
ALL ITEMS SHOULD BE LABELLED WITH THE CHILD’S NAME
Where do other parents buy uniforms and PE kit from?
School uniform without a logo can be purchased from high street stores and supermarkets. Marks & Spencer, Sainsburys, Asda and Aldi are very popular. Top tip – Sainsburys blue jumpers and cardigans are almost an exact match for the schools official blue colour.
M&S have 20% off school uniform usually in the first week of June.
Aldi and Lidl have uniform events each year, this will take place around Thursday 9th July.
Aldi 2019 prices – Polo shirt 2 pack £1.75, Shirts 2 pack £2.49, Skirt/ trousers £1.75, 2 pack pinafore £5.99, shoes £5.99.
Decathlon, Tresspass, Mountain Warehouse and Go Outdoors are other options as well as suggested above for out door Kit. The school will always try provide outdoor kit if asked.
Outdoor kit normally stays in school until the last day of term when it comes home to be washed and returned on the first day of the new term.
Uniform grants are available from Edinburgh Council for those who qualify.
Edinburgh School Uniform Bank can provide uniform for families facing financial hardship and the school will always try to supply uniform if asked.
The school has pre-loved uniforms that are in good condition. Please contact the school if you have any special requests
Where do you get the best school shoes?
A lot of parents go to Clarks, although they can cost more they are generally very durable. There is a Clarks outlet branch in Livingston that stock a good range at a lower price. Other parents use M&S, high street stores or supermarkets.
How many uniforms does your child need?
If possible 2 or 3 sets of school uniform is enough as the other two days are typically PE days. Extra polo shirts are helpful as they get worn out very quickly. Uniform usually only lasts one day before needing to be washed after facing school dinners, art lessons and outdoor play
Does my child take PE kit to school every week?
There will typically be two days a week that the children have PE. They are to come to school dressed in their PE kits on they days.
Does my child need to bring snacks to school?
Yes. Your child will need a snack for morning break time & another for the afternoon if your child is in p4 or below. Healthy snacks are strongly encouraged and must be nut free. Children are not allowed to swap or share snack.
Lunches
Theses can be booked on parent pay. They must always be booked at least a week in advance & the cut off point is a Wednesday night. You can book ahead for a few weeks in advance if this is easier than trying to remember to book them weekly.
What happens if my child doesn’t eat their lunch?
The school lunch areas are staffed and children will always be encouraged to eat all of their lunch. If there is something they don’t like they will be encouraged to eat the other things on their plate. There will always be bread, fruit and yogurt available to make sure children have something to eat.
If children bring a lunch from home, they will bring back any rubbish and uneaten food.
How do you know if the school is closed for a snow day?
St Andrew’s school will contact you by email and by text if the school has been closed for a snow day or emergency. It is very important the school has the correct contact details for you. The Edinburgh Council website also provides live updates on school closures and Forth One Radio broadcast information.
What do I do if my child is late for school in the morning or I am late for pick up?
If you arrive at school late in the morning and the line has already gone into school, take your child to the school office where they will be taken in. If you are late for pick up email/call the school office and they will advise the next steps.
After the settling in a traditional week would see all children start at 8:50am.
pick-up for P1 & P2 is 3.15 Mon – Thurs and 12pm on a Friday.
P3- P7 pick up is 3:20pm Mon – Thurs and 12.05pm on a Friday.
For P1 it is ok to accompany your child while lining up until they are in a routine but after this point please do not stand with your child in the line as space is restricted. It can be overwhelming & scary for the young ones having so many adults crowding them especially if they don’t know them. If your child requires your assistance, please stay back from the queue and then they can join the queue when it starts to move. This proves to be a less stressful option for the child & yourself. It then allows time for a member of staff to come & assist if needed.
Please avoid approaching the teacher at drop-off as learning starts at 08:50. The teacher is responsible for making sure the whole class gets to the classroom safely. So important messages may get forgotten about or not passed on to the relevant person. If you need to pass on a message please email the school office;
admin@st-andrews.edin.sch.uk
Or phone on 0131 339 2383
What is the parking situation at the school?
We at St Andrews like to be good neighbours & a valued part of the community. Please make sure that when you are parking in and around the school that you are
doing so safely and not obstructing crossing points or peoples’ driveways. It may seem like a short time but if they need in or out of their driveway in an emergency it can be a very stressful.
A reminder that the school car park is for school staff, deliveries and the emergency
services only. It’s a small area & very difficult to turn in. This is to ensure the safety of all our pupils, staff and visitors.
How do I contact the school or my child’s teacher?
Email admin@st-andrews.edin.sch.uk You are asked not to approach the class teacher at drop-off and pick-up times as they are performing other duties.
How much do you donate for dress down days?
Occasionally St Andrew’s will have dress down days to raise money for charity. Children are asked to bring a donation to help raise funds. Donations are optional. The amount you donate is entirely up to you and what you can afford, a suggestion would be £1.
Will my child appear on social media?
When your child starts school you will be asked to complete a document giving you the option for your child’s photo to be used in social media. At St. Andrew’s we now share photos of your child on the class Team. Here you will find updates on learning taking place in class and will see if your child has been awarded a certificate.
standrewsfoxcovert.com 