Latest News

Keep up to date with all the latest news happening in school at the moment.

• Fasting during Ramadan 2023

  Wed 22 Mar 2023 Mr Beale

  Dear Parents/ Carers,

   

  This week sees the start of the holy month of Ramadan, a time in the Islamic year which we know is important to many of our families. We appreciate the observance of fasting for many during the month of Ramadan and recognise that some of our older children may wish to fast whilst at school. However, it is important that parents understand the school’s responsibilities to those children who may wish to consider fasting during this time.

   

  The school is happy to provide support for Year 5/6 pupils who wish to fast but needs to make clear its responsibilities, together with those of the parents/carers. Primary age children become very tired when they do not have regular meals and are sometimes unable to safely perform the activities expected of them during the course of a school day.

   

  As such, we want to explain the procedures that will be followed to ensure the well-being of your child or children:

   

  1. ‘Request to Fast’ Form – Y5 & Y6 parents who wish to give permission for their child to fast during Ramadan whilst at school, will need to complete, sign and return a 'Request to Fast' to school before fasting begins. Children will not be allowed to fast unless this form has been returned. This form is only available to parents of children in Y5 & Y6 and was sent home yesterday – pupils in other year groups should not fast during the school day
  2. Curriculum – Children who are fasting are expected to take part in all areas of the curriculum as normal during Ramadan, including PE & music
  3. Requests for Food – As the school is required to take care of all pupils and cannot ignore the needs of a hungry or thirsty child, the staff will comply with requests for food or drink received from a child, even if a completed form has been provided. Contact will be made with parents/ carers as soon as possible afterwards
  4. Illness – If a child appears to be experiencing adverse physical or emotional effects due to fasting, e.g. dizziness, nausea, distress, etc., staff will offer that child food or drink, even if a completed form has been provided. Staff will call the child’s parents or carers, and may call the emergency services, if they believe that it is necessary.

   

  I hope that the above is clear, but please do not hesitate to contact a member of the school leadership or the school office if you have any questions.

   

  Thank you

• The Big Walk & Wheel 2023 - Monday March 20th - Friday March 31st 2023

  Tue 14 Mar 2023 Mr Beale

  We have worked hard in recent years to reduce the number of cars and traffic around our school. The car-free afternoons on Dixon Road and Camelot Way we have organsied have been particularly successful and it has been good to see many parents park away from school and for families to be less reliant on using cars to travel to school.

   

  I have to say, however, that more recently we have begun to see an increase again in cars and traffic, with cars parked on zigzag lines, pavements or double-parked causing a hazard to children and parents walking to school.

   

  We would like to encourage more parents to leave their cars at home or at least park away from school and walk the last 5-10 minutes to the gates. This encourages children to be healthier, makes it safer around school and reduces the effects of air pollution.

   

  As such, from next week we will be taking part again in the Big Walk & Wheel. We'd like to encourage children to either walk, cycle or scoot to school between Monday 20th March and Friday 31st March. Trips that children make on foot or by bike or scooter will be counted and we will be finding out which class has made the most - the class with the most trips will win The Golden Pedal.

   

  When children arrive at school, they will be given a ticket by a member of staff at the gate to show they have either walked, cycled or scooted to school. Children who come by car and then park and walk/ scoot/ cycle must have travelled at least 5 minutes by foot/ bike/ scooter, i.e. they must not have parked on Arthur Street/ Camelot Way/ Dixon Road.

   

  Bikes and scooters can be left in the scooter/ bike stands by the Nursery, in the playground or outside the school office.

   

  The Big Walk & Wheel is a national competition being run by Sustrans to encourage children to use alternative, healthier methods of transport to get to school. The total number of trips will be recorded nationally and the school may win local and national prizes.

   

  We hope everyone will try and take part every day; if not, even one or two non-car days will help per week. Please support your children, keep everyone safe, help encourage children to be healthy and leave your cars at home if possible.

   

  Thank you.

• Information for parents - NEU Strike Action on Wednesday 15th and Thursday 16th March 2023

  Mon 13 Mar 2023 Mr Beale

  Dear Parents/ Carers,

   

  It is likely that members of the NEU teachers' union will take strike action as expected this week on Wednesday 15th and Thursday 16th March. Unfortunately, this means there will be further disruption on these days when school will be partially CLOSED.

   

  School will be OPEN for all Nursery, Reception, Year 1 and Year 2 classes as well as 3SA in KS2.

   

  School will be CLOSED for children in all other KS2 classes. Children in these classes who are eligible for Free School Meals will be sent home with packed lunches on Tuesday to cover Wednesday and Thursday - it's important that these are immediately stored in a fridge on Tuesday afternoon.

   

  Links to websites and suggestions and ideas for learning activities that children can complete at home will be shared on the Year Group pages on the school website.

   

  Again, I apologise for the disruption caused by the partial closure of school this week. School will be OPEN as normal on Friday 17th March for ALL children.

   

  Thank you for your understanding,

   

  Mr Beale