In this section we aim to provide parents with easy access to essential information about the day-to-day running of Donaldson's.
If you feel there is any further information you would like to see included here then please feel free to contact us.
Organisational Management
The Board of Governors is charged under the Trust Scheme to promote, encourage and develop measures to meet the educational and social needs of children and others, who are deaf* or who have a speech and language impairment. There must be a minimum of three Board meetings per year. The Board has four main standing Committees which meet in the weeks between the main Board meeting. These are: -
- Education and Care Committee whose core purpose is to ensure that an appropriate Education and Care Plan is in place for the management of the education and care provision of the school and to facilitate the delivery of this plan ensuring full and timeous implementation of legislative requirements from such bodies as the HMIe, Care Commission, the Scottish Executive etc.
- Executive and Strategic Development Committee whose core purpose is to determine the long-term direction of the Donaldson's and to provide a strategic overview of marketing, fundraising and funding mechanisms with a view to raising awareness of Donaldson's as a centre of excellence/national resource. One of its functions is to act as an emergency decision making body where Board authority is required.
- Quality Assurance Committee whose core purpose is to ensure full and sufficient internal control mechanisms are in place across areas of potential risk to the school.
- Staffing Committee whose core purpose is to develop Board employment policy on staffing terms and conditions, salaries, remuneration and equal opportunities and, following Board approval, to ensure appropriate mechanisms are in place to monitor the implementation of the above.
The day to day running of the college is delegated to the Principal, and the Strategic Management Team, supported by the newly convened Curriculum Management Group.
The School Day and Term Dates 2008-2009
Primary (Mon-Thurs) Friday
0845 – 1035 Morning Session 0845 – 1230 Primary
1035 – 1050 Break 0845 – 1250 Secondary
1050 – 1215 Morning Session
1215 – 1305 Lunch & Break
1305 – 1520 Afternoon Session
Secondary (Mon-Thurs)
0845 – 0905 Registration
0905 – 0955 Period 1
0955 – 1105 Period 2
1105 – 1120 Break
1120 – 1215 Period 3
1215 – 1305 Lunch
1305 – 1355 Period 4
1355 – 1445 Period 5
1445 – 1535 Period 6
Term Dates
Click here to open this academic year's term dates (PDF, 61KB)
Healthy Eating
 Hello, I am Peter the cook at Donaldson’s. Over the past year I have been changing the food we offer the pupils. I try to include all food types, flavours and textures to keep the children interested. I believe in treating children as small adults letting them eat and discover ‘real food’ which is not disguised as something else.
All the food is prepared and cooked in the school kitchen from basic ingredients. I carefully monitor and severely limit the amount of additives in all of the products I use. Where I can buy local, free range, fair trade or even organic I do. All our milk is organic from Grahams Family Dairy in Stirlingshire. Our meat is all Scottish well sourced and traceable from Campbell’s Butchers in Broxburn. The salmon I use is from an organic fish farm in Orkney and the other fish I use such as Pollack (a great substitute for Haddock) is all sustainable and caught in the North Sea. Unfortunately there is not a substitute for Smoked Haddock or Tuna. Also the orange and apple juice we serve is freshly squeezed in Stirling not made from concentrate.
I work on a four week rotating menu, which changes twice a year (Winter/Summer) therefore our lunch menus change every day . To see the Summer 2008 daily menus you can download them here (PDF, 46KB).
In the coming months, I want to start making our own mince and sausages in the kitchen. These will be free of chemical additives and virtually Fat Free. I also provide gluten and dairy- free, as well Halal meals, although they are not specified on this menu. If a meal does not fit a pupil dietary requirement I try to provide a meal that is as close as I can get to what is on that days menu. If you have any worries or thoughts on this policy please feel free to contact me.
 Since the move to Linlithgow, I have been working with Primary staff to try to get the pupils to make healthier and more informed choices. This term each day there will be at least be three vegetables available to have with their lunch, each vegetable will be a different colour. If the pupils choose all three colours to eat they will receive a healthy eating sticker. The class with the most stickers will then create a menu for a day.
Personally, I am against putting food into bad and good food camps, I believe a little of everything in moderation is good for children. The cooking and food at Donaldson’s I hope is good, progressive, exciting and fun for the pupils.
Finally, I would like to say the kitchen is an open door so if parents have any queries, worries or suggestions about the food, it will always be welcome.
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Transport
Getting to Donaldson's
The Local Education Authority that your child belongs to should provide your child with daily transport to and from the school. This is negotiated at the time of entry to Donaldson's.
Transport used by Donaldson's
We have a number of vehicles which are used on a daily basis for transporting staff and pupils. Our vehicles are generally used for attending local events, taking pupils to school/work placements and going on school outings. Our drivers are fully insured, our vehicles maintained to a high standard and where necessary we use the appropriate booster seats for our younger pupils.
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Permissions
Whilst your child is at Donaldson's we believe that there are certain activities for which we prefer to have additional parental consent. A copy of all of our permission forms are listed below. Each can be downloaded for printing and signing as and when required.
When we need to involve your child in any activities which require additional permission, we will request a signed copy of the relevant form.
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Home-School Diaries
At Donaldson's we encourage as much communication between our teaching and care staff, the pupils and the parents. We therefore operate school diaries which we encourage pupils to bring home with them each day (or week for residential pupils).
In this diary our staff may put information about your child’s performance, homework, behaviour, diet and general wellbeing. We then encourage parents to also enter information into the diary which they feel would be of benefit to their child’s teaching and care staff.
This has proved an invaluable communication tool which provides a regular two-way dialogue between staff and parents and also allows the pupil to see what is being said.
Naturally we invite parents to visit Donaldson's at any time if there are any matters they feel need private discussion.
Uniforms
At Donaldson's we have a compulsory school uniform for all Primary and Secondary pupils. There is no uniform for nursery children.
Primary Pupils
- Donaldson’s branded white polo shirt
- Donaldson’s branded Royal Blue sweatshirt
- Black, grey or navy blue trousers or skirt
Secondary Pupils
- Donaldson’s branded white polo shirt
- Donaldson’s branded Navy Blue Sweatshirt
- Black, grey or navy blue trousers or skirt
We can also supply a Donaldson's branded fleece (with full length zip) which is an optional extra for pupils and staff to purchase.
Donaldson's branded fleeces, sweatshirts and polo shirts can be ordered via our Finance Department.
Download the Uniform Price List (PDF, 51KB)
Download the Uniform Order Form (PDF, 42KB)
Please print and complete the order form and return with payment to:
Evelyn Young
Finance Department
Donaldson's
Preston Road
Linlithgow
EH49 6HZ
Cheques should be made payable to Donaldson's.
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Behaviour
Donaldson's is committed to a policy of positive behaviour management. On occasion however we do have to apply sanctions to help pupils develop more awareness of the effect of their behaviour on others. There are reward systems in all areas of the school and regular assemblies celebrate the achievements of our pupils and contribute to building a positive ethos which is central to our philosophy in Donaldson's. In the event that a child’s behaviour may become a risk to himself or herself or others, parents/carers should feel assured that Donaldson's has a number of behaviour management strategies. These include some staff being trained in safe holding techniques. Parents will always be informed about significant concerns related to their child’s behaviour and certainly if the child’s behaviour has resulted in safe holding. All interventions by staff are in line with Donaldson's Child Protection Policy (PDF, 377KB) and are carried out in the best interest of the pupils.
Parents Newsletter
You can download the latest Parents Newsletter here (PDF, 950KB)
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