Parents | Carers

If your young person is in immediate danger or experiencing a serious health or mental health emergency, please contact the appropriate emergency or health service.

We know that supporting a young person through secondary school can bring both rewarding moments and challenges. Parents and carers play an important role in helping pupils feel safe, supported and ready to learn.

Here are some practical ways you can support your young person:

Keep communication open

Make time to talk about school, friendships and how they are feeling. Listening calmly and without judgement can make it easier for young people to share worries before they become bigger concerns.

Encourage good attendance

Regular attendance helps pupils stay connected with their learning, friendships and school community. If your young person is finding it difficult to attend school, please contact us as early as possible so that we can work together to provide support.

Build positive routines

Encourage regular routines around sleep, meals, homework and getting ready for school. A consistent routine can help young people feel more settled and prepared.

Support learning at home

Take an interest in homework, assessments and coursework without feeling that you need to know all the answers. Encourage your young person to ask teachers for help when they need it and praise their effort, progress and resilience.

Help with organisation

Encourage your young person to check their timetable, pack their school bag, charge devices and prepare clothing or PE kit the night before. Small routines can reduce stress at the start of the school day.

Talk about online safety

Discuss responsible use of phones, social media, gaming and online messaging. Encourage your young person to tell a trusted adult if they experience bullying, harassment, inappropriate contact or anything online that makes them uncomfortable.

Support healthy sleep

Teenagers need good-quality sleep to support learning, concentration and wellbeing. Encourage a regular bedtime routine and, where possible, limit phone and screen use late at night.

Encourage healthy choices

Regular meals, physical activity, time outdoors and opportunities to relax can all support physical and emotional wellbeing. In the Highlands, even short periods outdoors can be a valuable part of maintaining a healthy balance.

Take concerns about wellbeing seriously

Changes in mood, behaviour, sleep, friendships, attendance or schoolwork can sometimes be signs that a young person needs additional support. Speak with your young person and contact the school if you are concerned.

Encourage positive friendships

We are a Rights Respecting School. Talk with your young person about respectful relationships, kindness, boundaries and how to manage disagreements. Encourage them to seek help if they are experiencing bullying or difficulties with friendships.

Help them manage assessment pressure

Remind your young person that assessments and exams are important, but they do not define them. Help them create realistic study routines, take regular breaks and ask for support if they are feeling overwhelmed.

Support independence

As young people move through secondary school, encourage them to take increasing responsibility for their learning, organisation and decision-making while reassuring them that help is available when needed.

Talk about future pathways

Encourage conversations about subjects, qualifications, college, university, apprenticeships, training and employment. Young people do not need to have everything decided immediately, and plans can change as their interests develop.

Keep the school informed

Please let us know about any significant circumstances that may affect your young person at school. Sharing relevant information helps us provide appropriate and timely support. Please email Gairloch.High@highland.gov.uk or call 01445 712275.

Contact us early

You do not need to wait until a problem becomes serious. If you have concerns about learning, attendance, friendships, behaviour, wellbeing or any aspect of school life, please contact your young person’s Guidance teacher, or if related to Additional Support Needs, our Principal Teacher of ASN. Click to see up to dated contact list.

Working together

The best outcomes for young people are achieved when pupils, families and school staff work together. We encourage parents and carers to keep in touch, attend meetings and parents’ evenings where possible, and contact us whenever advice or support is needed.

• Contact the school to get access to our new mobile app.

• Adverse Weather Guidelines - November 2025

Extract from school handbook with links to form 1a and 1b:

Under no circumstances can non-prescribed medications be administered in schools. This includes paracetamol, aspirin and ibuprofen.

As a parent/carer, if you wish a prescribed medication to be administered by a member of staff, you should print off FORM - Admin1a, complete and sign it and return it to the school as soon as possible. Verbal permissions are not permitted.

As a parent/carer, if you wish your child to carry and administer their own prescribed medication, you should print off FORM - Admin 1b, complete and sign it and return it to the school as soon as possible. Verbal permissions are not permitted.   

In addition to the above, if your child has any form of medical protocol or individualised health care plan that we are not aware of, please let the school know of this at your earliest convenience 

In addition to contacting our Principal Teacher of ASN here in the school, there are various resources online to support parents/carers, some of which are linked to below:

ENQUIRE: information for parents/carers of children who have, or might have, additional support needs.