Your Pupil Support Teacher will help you make the best of your time at Turnbull High School. Your Pupil Support Teacher will be there to: 

• LISTEN 
• DISCUSS 
• ADVISE 
• SUPPORT you in all matters concerning your education. 

As you see many different Subject Teachers each day at Turnbull, we feel it is important one teacher has responsibility for getting to know you and helping you with some decisions you will need to make as you move through secondary school. Your Pupil Support Teacher is the person you would normally turn to first if you needed some information or if you have a problem. 

Each Pupil Support Teacher is responsible for a House Group.

Pupil Support staff at Turnbull are very keen to establish and encourage close links between your home and the school, as we feel this will help you achieve your very best at Turnbull. Your Pupil Support Teacher is the person your parents should contact if they would like information on your progress at school or if they have information about you which they feel the school should know. We are concerned about your personal well-being, your academic progress and your future career choices and personal needs. We believe that by always being in close contact with your parents we are able to work together to support and guide you at the different stages of your school career. 

Remember we are here for you to talk to if you are worried or concerned about something or someone. Anything we discuss will be in confidence and always with your best interests at heart. We can’t help you unless you let us and tell us how you feel. 

As well as teaching our assigned classes, the Pupil Support team are involved in many other activities which help and guide you at various stages in your school career: 

• S1 Induction Programme
• S3 Option Choice Programme
• S5/6 Option Choice Programme
• Monitoring Pupil Attendance and Timekeeping 
• Monitoring Pupil Academic Progress 
• Care of pupils with special educational needs 
• PSHE Courses 
• Careers Education 
• Mentoring Programme 
• Contact with parents 
• Links with school departments and outside agencies 
• Preparing reports on pupils for employers, colleges and universities 
• Offering support and advice on matters arising with you 

The  base is located on the ground floor next to the pupil social area. Remember, if your pupil support teacher is not available, any member of the team will be able to speak to you and offer you advice. 

When a young person requires support to overcome any barrier to their learning, the school will work closely with parents to ensure their child is happy, safe and fulfils their full potential. 

Ways in which key staff from the school work in partnership with parents are: 

• Through transition planning meetings (primary throughout secondary) 
• Through planned review meetings 
•  Supported option choice meetings 
• Pre Parents’ night meetings 
• On a small group or one to one basis with parents 
•  Meetings arranged out with school 
• By facilitating the support of other services e.g. School Nurse 
• By making referrals for extra specialist support 
• By signposting parents to other agencies e.g. Direct Access, PPP 
• Through the school’s multi agency Pupil Support Group 
• Using Support Plans for planning and shared responsibility 
• By ensuring those young people with complex or long term barriers to their learning receive targeted support e.g. PT Support for Learning has a caseload 

For more information, please contact your child’s Pupil Support Teacher 

 As children and young people progress on their journey through life, some may have temporary difficulties, some may live with challenges and some may experience more complex issues. Sometimes they – and their families – are going to need help and support. 

No matter where they live or whatever their needs, children, young people and their families should always know where they can find help, what support might be available and whether that help is right for them. 

The Getting it right for every child approach ensures that anyone providing that support puts the child or young person – and their family – at the centre. 

Getting it right for every child is important for everyone who works with children and young people as well as many people who work with adults who look after children. Practitioners need to work together to support families, and where appropriate, take early action at the first signs of any concern about wellbeing – rather than only getting involved when a situation has already reached crisis point. 

This means working across organisational boundaries and putting children and their families at the heart of decision making – and giving all our children and young people the best possible start in life.