This week’s message is a day earlier because of the training day tomorrow.
Your views matter
Every year, we invite you to complete a short survey. Your views matter. They help to shape what we do in the forthcoming year(s).
This year’s survey features a series of questions closely related to what Ofsted might ask parents during an inspection. Towards the end, we’re asking just a few extra questions about mobile phones – we really want to hear your views.
Complete the Moortown Primary survey here. We’ll send a few reminders before the closing date, which is Monday 15 June at noon.
It’s worth bearing in mind that if you raise in the survey something very specific that needs to be addressed, we can’t easily act on this without your child’s name. In fact, the survey isn’t the best place to raise individual, specific concerns – hopefully, you’re comfortable to speak with your child’s class teacher or Mrs Weekes about these instead.
You said, we did
Last year, you told us you’d like food offered at breakfast club. We now offer breakfast (non-sugary cereals; toast or crumpets; yoghurts; fruit). Linked with this, we’ve extended times in breakfast club: we now start half an hour earlier in the morning. This change has been welcomed by parents and wraparound care is well attended.
Last year, some of you also expressed some concern around some of the food served at wraparound care. A school leader has now attended training about food standards and the offer of food is gradually changing over time, with more nutritional snacks offered.
Last year, you told us you’d like children to use The Green more often. We now have a Trim Trail (courtesy of PTA) to create different experiences in that area. The introduction of Forest School has also expanded ways that the children can explore the outdoors and has given more opportunities for play without structured equipment eg building dens; rope swing.
School meals prices
To enable Catering Leeds (our school meal service provider) to ensure the financial sustainability of the service, we’ve been informed that, unfortunately, school meal pri
From September, the price of a school meal for children in Years 3, 4, 5 and 6 will be £3.20 per day. (Children in Reception, Year 1 and Year 2 will continue to receive Universal Infant Free School Meals.)
As you’ll no doubt have heard in the news, school budgets are becoming increasingly tight. We have no choice but to pass on the cost increases to parents/carers, to ensure we have as much money as possible for teaching, learning and providing a varied curriculum for our children.
Relationships and Sex Education
Nationally, all primary schools are required by law to teach Relationships Education and Health Education. In Sphere Federation schools, we’ve provided RSE lessons successfully as part of Living and Learning for many years.
In the first three weeks of Summer 2, children from Year 1 to Year 6 will take part in Relationships and Sex Education (RSE) lessons. Please be assured that RSE is delivered at a level appropriate to both the age and development of pupils. Lessons are led by children’s class teacher and take place in a safe learning environment.
In the latest update to the statutory guidance for Relationships, Sex and Health Education, we welcome the inclusion of correct terminology for body parts, including genitalia. This reflects established best practice when it comes to giving children the knowledge they need to stay safe, including the ability to identify and report signs of abuse. We’ve been teaching the anatomical names for body parts for many years.
We refer you to these sections of our RSE policy:
- Section 9 provides alist of the vocabulary that will be used (pages 7 and 8)
- Section 11 includes anoverview of the topics that will be covered (page 11 includesa table to show the learning across each year group)
We know that you may have some issues / concerns. If you’d like to find out more, discuss any concerns, or speak to someone in more detail about the teaching and learning planned for this important aspect of your child’s education, please contact your child’s class teacher or Mrs Weekes.
Similarly, you have the right to request that your child be withdrawn from some or all of the lessons that can be regarded as ‘sex education’. For our school, this comprises lessons in Year 6 on what human reproduction is and how babies grow. Please see the government’s factual guide to RSE for parents: Understanding Relationships and Health Education in your child’s primary school: a guide for parents. If you wish to withdraw your Year 6 child from RSE, please contact Mrs Weekes to discuss the matter. (See page 6 of the RSE policy for more information about your right to withdraw your child.)
We’re committed to working in partnership with parents. Parental feedback indicates that the overwhelming majority of parents are highly supportive of our Relationships and Sex Education programme.
Staying safe
This week has been our Staying Safe themed week in school.
The Junior Leadership Team were busy on Monday making sure The Green is safe. They looked at all the different areas with Mrs Weekes and created a risk assessment so that The Green can be used safely by everyone. They then tested the trim trail to make sure it was safe!
One of the most important ways to help your child stay safe is when they’re online. Gov.uk has a site dedicated to online safety for children. Find practical information from trusted places to help you feel more confident on the steps you can take to protect your child online.
Have a happy and healthy half-term.