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.
To view a list of the current Board of Governors including a short biography on all members please click here (PDF, 130KB)
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 Government 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.
- Business Development Committee whose core purpose is to oversee the Public Relations, Marketing and Fundraising activity of the school.
The day to day running of the school is delegated to the Principal, and the Strategic Management Team, supported by the Operations Group.
The School Day and Term Dates
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 the academic term dates for sessions 2009-2010 and the provisional term dates for 2010-2011 (PDF, 95KB)
Healthy Eating
2009 has been a very successful year for the Donaldson's catering team. The kitchen has won the ‘Healthyliving Award’ and Catering in Scotland’s Healthier Scotland Award and was shortlisted to the final three of the Best Dinner Man/Lady Award at the Radio 4 Food & Farming Awards.
 We have come a long way towards achieving our aim of an organic, free range, locally sourced and above all a healthy menu. All the food is prepared and cooked in the school kitchen from basic ingredients. We carefully monitor and severely limit the amount of additives in all of the products used. All our milk is organic from Grahams Family Dairy in Stirlingshire. Our eggs, some vegetables, lamb, beef, pork and chicken all come from Bonnytoun Farm, an excellent local supplier in the hills surrounding the school. The vegetables are often picked in the morning and delivered here in time for lunch. The salmon is from an organic fish farm in Orkney and the other fish such as Pollack (a great substitute for Haddock) is all sustainable and caught in the North Sea. The Tuna we use is dolphin friendly. The orange and apple juice we serve is freshly squeezed in Stirling not made from concentrate. Real Foods of Edinburgh, one of our new suppliers, has a great range of organic dry goods, as well gluten free produce.
We work on a four week rotating menu, which changes twice a year (Winter/Summer) therefore our lunch menus change every day. To see the Winter 2009/10 menus you can download them here (PDF, 120KB).
We make our own mince and sausages which are free of chemical additives, virtually fat-free and are gluten free. We make gluten and dairy- free, as well Halal meals. If a meal does not fit a pupil’s dietary requirement we 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.
 The kitchen is constantly working with teachers and support staff to help pupils make healthier and more informed choices about food. With the use of stickers and classroom activities we try to encourage pupils enjoy healthy food.
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
PE Kit
- Donaldson’s branded t-shirt
- Shorts
- 3/4 length tracksuit bottoms
- Full length tracksuit bottoms
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 Kim Pedder, Admin Assistant.
Download the Uniform Price List (PDF, 12KB)
Download the PE Kit Price List and Order Form (PDF, 96KB)
Download the Uniform Order Form (PDF, 7KB)
Please print and complete the order form and return with payment to:
Kim Pedder
Admin Assistant
Donaldson's
Preston Road
Linlithgow
EH49 6HZ
Cheques should be made payable to Donaldson's Trust.
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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, 358KB) and are carried out in the best interest of the pupils.
Parents Newsletter
You can download the latest Summer 2009 Newsletter here (opens PDF, 600KB)
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