Core education provision is delivered through Curriculum for Excellence providing broad general education up to S3 with the senior phase running for S4-6. Achievement is celebrated in its broadest sense, beyond formally assessed learning to include participation in activities such as volunteering and participation in arts, sport and community programmes to overcome inequality by raising attainment for all and closing the attainment gap.
Schools work in a way which supports parents and carers in their vital role of helping children and young people’s learning, choices and life chances through a firm commitment to parental engagement and participation and GIRFEC. Head Teachers and Guidance Teachers in Secondary schools provide the Named Person role and are committed to the key principles of the GIRFEC approach.
Parental Engagement
The involvement and engagement of parents in their children’s learning is recognised as a key element in raising attainment through support, help and encouragement given at home and whilst at school. In Aberdeenshire we will continue to ensure that parents and carers are welcomed to be actively and meaningfully engaged in their child’s learning and life at school, because when schools and families work together, the outcomes for children are better. The Parental Involvement and Engagement Strategy refresh 2023-2026 demonstrates the ongoing commitment by Aberdeenshire Council to improve the quality and extent of parent and carers engagement in their child’s learning and underline the important role they play.
Aberdeenshire Council’s CLD Youth and Communities Team works with and supports young people across Aberdeenshire, to reach their full potential, by facilitating personal, social, and informal learning opportunities. Relationship building is a key component in our work and furthering this positive relationship with young people is important in jointly identifying and addressing the needs of young people. CLD works with partners to co-create and offer family learning opportunities, encouraging families to learn together, targeted as appropriate through identified needs assessment.
CLD Workers work in a range of settings across Aberdeenshire and with partners to jointly deliver opportunities using programmes which are designed specifically for young people, whilst ensuring young people are included in planning these programmes. CLD encourages young people to be empowered to make their own informed decisions, whilst challenging young people’s thinking so that they explore various options and consider risk.
CLD work has a context of national, local, and individual outcomes, addressing Accreditation, Employability, Youth Voice and Transition. Progress and improvement can be managed and reported aligning with the CLD Key Performance Indicator’s, Aberdeenshire Council and CLD Service Plans.
Educational Psychologists (EPs) aim to make a positive difference to the lives of all children and young people across Aberdeenshire from the early years to school leaving age. EPs work with children, young people, families, educational staff and local authority colleagues. EPs also work with a wide range of other professionals. These include the health professions, social work staff, early years partner providers and post school training and education providers.
Educational Psychologists have skills in problem analysis and solution-focused discussion and apply their knowledge of psychology and child development to improve experiences, outcomes and opportunities for children and young people. We do this through: Consultation, Assessment, Intervention, Training and Research. Aberdeenshire EPS has a Consultation Model of Service Delivery (Wagner, 2000).