We will have the answer to your most popular queries. Otherwise you can contact us on:
education@aberdeenshire.gov.uk
What do I need to do if I want to educate my child at home ?
- Will Aberdeenshire Education, Learning & Leisure Service pay for Boarding School ?
- What do I do if I want to make a complaint ?
- What is Disclosure Scotland ?
- Why do I need a Disclosure Scotland check if I volunteer at my child's school ?
- Is there anything I can do to develop my child's literacy and numeracy skills before they start school ?
- What do I do if I want my child to go to a school outside our local zone ?
- Can I get any help paying for my child's school uniform or school meals ?
- Is my child eating a healthy school meal ?
- My child has special educational needs, what help will the Council provide ?
- Where can I read inspection reports for Aberdeenshire schools?
- How can I find out which school is in my catchment area ?
- My child is deaf/blind, can they still attend a mainstream
school ?
- I think my child is being bullied, what anti-bullying policies does the council have in place ?
- We are moving to Aberdeenshire, how do I go about registering my child at a school ?
1. What do I need to do if I want to educate my child at home ?
If your child attends a local authority school, you must write to the Quality Improvement Officer to seek consent to remove your child from the school, whilst also detailing suitable alternative schooling. In other cases it may be sufficient to write to the Quality Improvement Officer in the area, informing them of your decision. For more detailed information about this go to the Home Education page. 
2. Will Aberdeenshire Education Service pay for Boarding School ?
Boarding education is not provided in the Aberdeenshire Council area and Aberdeenshire Education and Recreation does not make payment for boarding provision outside its area, except in very special circumstances - such as the support of children at specialist schools for art, drama, music, etc.
Generally, the full cost of sending pupils to residential special schools outside the Authority area is met by Aberdeenshire Education, Learning & Leisure.
3. What do I do if I want to make a complaint ?
If you have an issue with your child's school, or the services provided at the school you should speak to the Head Teacher in the first instance. If the Head Teacher is unable to resolve your concern to your satisfaction you should ask the Head Teacher (or contact the Education, Learning & Leisure Service on 01224 664630) for the contact details of your Quality Improvement Officer. You should contact your local Quality Improvement Officer directly and discuss your concerns with them. If you are not satisfied with the response you receive from your Quality Improvement Officer you should contact the Head of Service (Education Development) at Woodhill House, Westburn Road, Aberdeen, AB16 5GB (01224 664630). Finally, if you are still dissatisfied with the responses you have received you should go to step 2 of the Aberdeenshire Council Complaints Procedure.
4. What is Disclosure Scotland ?
Disclosure Scotland is the new name (since April 2002) for the Scottish Criminal Records Office. Disclosure Scotland carries out criminal record checks on individuals at the request of that individual's employer (paid and voluntary work).
5. Why do I need a Disclosure Scotland check if I volunteer at my child's school ?
Scottish Ministers hold a list of those ‘disqualified from working with children’ and under The Protection of Children (Scotland) Act 2003 it is an offence for anyone who appears on this list to work (either paid or unpaid) in any childcare position. In order to know whether someone is on this list it is necessary to carry out a Disclosure Scotland check. Everyone who applies to work with children must undergo this check and it is therefore not any reflection on you personally. For more detailed information about this go to the Parent Volunteers page.
6. Is there anything I can do to develop my child's literacy and numeracy skills before they start school ?
Yes! The Early Intervention Team at Aberdeenshire Council has developed a list of activities that you and your child can do together in order to strengthen and support your child’s success in education. For more information go to the Home/School Partnership page.
7. What do I do if I want my child to go to a school outside of our local zone ?
The first thing to do is to contact the Head Teacher of the school you wish your child to attend (click here for a list School Contact details), he/she should then be able to tell you if there is a place available at the school. If he/she cannot give you the information immediately, he/she will pass your request on to the local Education Network Manager who will contact you directly. For more detailed information about this, go to Choosing a School.
8. Can I get any help paying for my child's school uniform or school meals ?
Depending on your financial situation, yes. To find out if you and your child qualify for financial assistance go to the Financial Assistance page.
9. Is my child eating a healthy school meal ?
Aberdeenshire Council is fully committed to implementing the healthy school meals initiative outlined by the Scottish Executive in ‘Hungry for Success - Whole School Approach to School Meals in Scotland’ - a nationwide initiative to promote healthy eating amongst school children. School menus are now planned in such a way that a complete meal provides one-third of a child's daily nutrient requirements. Read more about this and view the new school menus for Winter 2006/07 by going to School Meals.
10. My child has special educational needs, what help will the Council provide ?
Aberdeenshire Council Education, Learning & Leisure has guidelines in place to help support children with special educational needs such as sensory impairment, autism, dyslexia and physical impairment. To find out in more detail about what support can be offered to individual children go to the Additional Support Needs page
11. Where can I read inspection reports for Aberdeenshire schools ?
Please go to H.M. Inspection Reports.
12. How can I find out which school is in my catchment area ?
An A-Z List of all schools in Aberdeenshire and their catchment areas is available on the School Contact Details page.
13. My child is deaf/blind, can he/she still attend a mainstream school ?
In line with legislation, Aberdeenshire Council makes every effort to meet the needs of the vast majority of children within their local school. Very occasionally that is not possible and we work with the parents to find suitable provision. This might be a special school within Aberdeenshire or within another authority. For more information and other questions about facilities for children with a sensory impairment, go to Sensory Support.
14. I think my child is being bullied, what anti-bullying policies does the council have in place?
Every school within Aberdeenshire is required to have an anti-bullying policy. The content of the policy is not dictated by Aberdeenshire Council. Each school will develop a policy that meets the needs of their own pupils. However the policy should clearly set down guidelines on the positive management of behaviour, support for individual children, the school’s response to incidents of bullying, and guidance to parents about how to raise concerns with the school. Aberdeenshire Council feels that eradicating bullying is not a job for schools alone and therefore encourages parents and schools to work together on this task.
15. We are moving to Aberdeenshire, how do I go about registering my child at a school ?
The first thing to do is to contact the Head Teacher at the school where you intend to send your child (click here for a list of School Contact Details). The Head Teacher should be able to tell you immediately whether or not there is a place for your child. If he/she cannot give you this information he/she will refer the case to the local Education Network Manager who will contact you directly. For more information about this go to Choosing a School.
