Parents can contact West Dunbartonshire Council's Educational Services Department centrally or the EMA section by telephone:
Yvonne McCallum/Liz Coles: 01389 737319.
Each year application forms are sent out to all Secondary Schools around May. The forms are given out to pupils so that they can have their applications in for the start of the new school session. Pupils should pick the forms up at school but can also be sent out if required. More information is available at the Scottish EMA website.
Free school meals, footwear and clothing grants
Free school meals and clothing grants are available. Eligibility information and guidance notes can be found on the form. The Footwear and Clothing Grants/Free School Meals form has been updated for 09/10 but a new version is not yet available.
We apologise for the inconvenience caused but the new Footwear and Clothing Grant form will be available soon. Parents who have applied before and whose form needs renewed, will receive an application in the post on the week commencing the 22nd June 2009.
PDF: Guide for parents on free school meals and clothing grants in the 2009-2010 session (28 KB)
For further enquires, please contact your local Area Registration Office:
Alexandria: 01389 608980
Dumbarton: 01389 738350
Clydebank: 01389 738770
Additional Support Needs
The Additional Support for Learning Act is a framework for supporting children and young people. West Dunbartonshire education establishments will include and support children with a wide range of abilities and needs and to ensure that they achieve to their full potential. Read about West Dunbartonshire Council's provision for the (Additional Support for Learning Act) (Scotland) Act 2.
School Holidays
When are the holidays? Get information on West Dunbartonshire's school's holidays/openings.
School Admissions
Education authorities in Scotland have catchment areas for their primary and secondary schools. This means children are allocated with a place at the school serving their area. Primary schools can be linked to a certain Secondary school and the pupils are sent there by the authority. West Dunbartonshire Council's Educational Services Department can provide information on catchment areas upon request. Parents have the right to make a placing request for their children to attend a different school from their local one.
Arrangements for entry to West Dunbartonshire Council primary schools are on a once a year basis - at the start of the new session in August each year. Only children whose fifth birthday falls between 1 March of that year and the last day of February of the following year will automatically be admitted to school. Parents can make a request for Early Entry to school for a child whose fifth birthday falls after the appropriate latest date using the Early Entry form.
For more information on admissions please contact 01389 737308.
PDF file: Early Entry - Information and Request form for parents of Early Entry children (91 KB)
The Scottish Government annually publishes a booklet for parents which explains the school admissions and placing request process.
You can download the booklet entitled 'Choosing a school ' from the Scottish Government's website.
Learning and Teaching Scotland also have some information on this subject at the Parentzone website.
School Transport
WDC have produced some guidelines for Escorts on Home to School Transport.
Word file: Guidelines for Escorts on Home to School Transport (1.10 MB).
