Letter to Parents regarding changes to the collection of children following the crowning ceremony on
Bo’ness Far Day June 2026Over the last few years, the staff in each of the Bones cluster primary schools have worked together
to ensure the sustainability of The Fair, but most importantly to safeguard the well-being and safety of the school children, both in the Procession and at the handover of parents at the end of the day. This has
already led to various changes being implemented. Despite our best efforts working alongside the Fair Committee, there continue to be significant health, safety and safeguarding risks that cannot be fully mitigated during the procession in its current format

In order to manage this more effectively, the Bo’ness Cluster schools are jointly initiating the following changes:

After the crowning ceremony at Glebe Park, parents, guardians (or nominated adults) who wish for their child to participate in the community procession will be asked to collect their child from a designated muster point in the vicinity of Glebe Park. The accompanying adult will then join the child in the procession. Children who do not wish to participate in the procession can be collected from the designated muster point or will return to school with the school staff and dismissed as normal at 1:30 pm

Parents or Guardians who are unable to accompany their child in the procession may nominate another responsible adult over the age of 16 to support their child.

These changes will ensure that the children taking part in The Procession will be in the care of a known and responsible adult who will support and safeguard them throughout the route.

Parents of children in the various groups (fairies, flower girls, guards and banner parties will berequired to work together to have overall responsibility for the group and to consent to sharing
personal details for safeguarding purposes. These children (fairies, flower girls, guards and banner parties) will be accompanied by the group volunteers and/or their nominated adult during the community procession and will be dismissed to their parent or nominated adult in Douglas Park by
the group volunteer. Final arrangements for these groups will be made with the volunteers in due course.

Presentees will be accompanied by parents/group volunteers for the procession and supervised for the performance at Douglas Park. The adult collecting Presentees, but who are not accompanying them in the Procession, will be required to be in the vicinity of the stage in Douglas Park in the afternoon to collect their child as soon as they have finished their afternoon performance. The Presentee group volunteers will manage this handover.

Retinue children (Grange school 2026) will be under the jurisdiction of their parents and the Fair Committee. Retinue parents will be given two tickets per child to enter the seating area at DouglasPark, and they will be required to complete a consent form with the necessary information for the Fair
Committee. Following the performances and retinue duties, parents should collect their children.

The Bo’ness Fair Committee will announce communication about the new arrangements for the Fair on Friday, 9th January to the community. However, arrangements will be made in conjunction with our own Parent Council School Fair Committee, parents of children involved and school staff in the coming months.

Kind regards
Headteacher