News

Our homework policy

Our Homework Policy was written to support and engage as many learners as we can, and to provide opportunities for others – family, friends – to support in a positive, constructive way.  It’s great to see more and more children are putting more and more effort into their homework.  Recently, a few parents have asked about expectations.  I hope the following will clarify what we can expect and what you can expect:

Talk Time

Teachers have noticed that, in some instances, a lot of time has been taken on the presentation of the Talk Time homework.  Children are welcome to do this although it is not necessary.  The purpose of Talk Time homework is to encourage a conversation around their current learning. Any notes made in their homework book should simply be there to aid them as a prompt when it is discussed in class the following week.  For this reason, teachers tend to give verbal feedback during their talk time session in class.  We want our children to be expert talkers, using a variety of sentences and expressions, and able to back up their points or disagree with others in a polite way – this is more important than written notes for Talk Time.  Simply: it’s hard to be a good writer if you’re not a good speaker, so Talk Times using ambitious words, useful phrases, interesting sentences is the best way to support your child.

Creative

This is where your child’s creative juices can flow!  Creative homework is an opportunity for your child to choose whatever they want to demonstrate some learning.  For example, the Y3 and Y4 homework this week is Creative: I can show what I know about food chains.  Your child could present all their learning in so many different ways, from a diagram with notes to a story or comic strip.  Parents’ and carers’ role is to support, encourage, help but (obviously) never to take over and do the homework!  Teachers always look forward to seeing how creative children can be.  If you notice the work has not been marked, please don’t worry.  Teachers will have looked at and celebrated the homework in another way – the work might have been viewed by the whole class using a visualiser which allows the work to be projected to the whole class and a discussion of ‘stars and steps’ will happen.  Peer assessment is also effective – children are very able to share what’s good and what needs improving!  These sorts of verbal feedback strategies are often more effective than a written comment because it’s more instant and it makes sure the child understands (and their work is praised publicly!).

Practice makes Perfect

This is similar to what you might consider traditional homework: it may be a worksheet or a writing task (such as Y5’s current homework: I can write instructions).  Practice Makes Perfect is useful homework when something has been taught in school but needs consolidation.  The work should be fairly straightforward for the child as there should be no need for new learning, so just some encouragement from you is needed.  However, it would be a great time to get your child to teach you – they should be able to explain the key points or processes!  We use this type of homework less often because usually the best practice is where a teacher can keep feeding back and presenting new challenges when they see it as appropriate.  Teachers mark these activities in line with our marking policy.

As always, please ask if you’ve any questions or concerns.

Our two new charities are...

…Water Aid and Dogs’ Trust.

This week, children in our school chose two new charities to support over the next two years.  The selection process involved five stages:

1. Talk Time homework: children were asked to discuss Which two charities should we support and why?  
   They were given prompts such as whether we support a local charity like St Gemma’s or a children’s charity like Unicef or even whether we should support charities in school at all.
   
2. Class discussion: as always, following Talk Time homework, there was a class discussion; each class shortlisted two charities for the School Council to consider.
3. School Council chose to disregard some charities: Archie in Y2 suggested one or two charities could be removed from the long-list for various reasons (eg there were two Leeds-based medical charities, so the School Council voted to remove one from the long-list).
4. Councillors put forward the views of their classmates: Iona in Y5 represented the views of Henry in her class, who had spoken about everyone’s right to water (he’d decided to support Water Aid in his Talk Time homework), and lots of Y3 and Y4 children had supported Dogs’ Trust (one reason for this was that dogs have rights, too).
5. School Council vote: after all the stages, Councillors were left with just four charities to consider: Water Aid, Dogs’ Trust, St Gemma’s Hospice and Cancer Research.  Each Councillor voted secretly for two of these, and then all the votes were added using tally marks.  The results were extremely close.

For the past two years, we’ve supported WWF and NSPCC.  Over the next two years, we’ll support our charities in various fund-raising ways, including our Christmas, Easter and Summer productions and an occasional fund-raising event.  Because we choose to support these charities, we don’t always raise money for other national events, such as Comic Relief.

Attendance

Attendance is monitored closely in Leeds.  We have been set a school target of 96% minimum.  Our school average so far this year is 96.7%.  Well done to Y2 and Y6 who are above average.

Here are the class averages so far:

• Reception: 94.8%
• Year 1: 96.8%
• Year 2: 98.0%
• Year 3: 96.5%
• Year 4: 96.6%
• Year 5: 96.3%
• Year 6: 97.5%

Our new SEAL theme is...

Rights and Responsibilities

SEAL stands for Social and Emotional Aspects of Learning.  This is a national scheme that promotes self-awareness, managing feelings, empathy, social skills and motivation. 

At Moortown Primary, we’re dedicated to the value of SEAL in promoting a happy and healthy place to learn.  However, we’re always thinking about other ways to meet our children’s needs and interests.  That’s one of the reasons we choose to sometimes break away from the national SEAL themes to do something different.

This half term, we’ll think about our rights and responsibilities and, importantly, that if we have rights, we also have responsibilities.  We last taught this in Spring term 2010 and it was very successful.  For example, children said:

• We have the right to resources; we have the responsibility to look after them.
• We have the right to have money; we have the responsibility to earn it.
• We have the right to live in a clean and tidy city; we have the responsibility to not drop litter.
• We have the right to food; we have the responsibility to make healthy choices.
• We have the right to play sports; we have the responsibility to follow the rules.

As you can see, some important messages are promoted.  Each week this half-term, we’ll concentrate on a different area:

• Week beginning 03 January: being healthy
• Week beginning 09 January: community and making a positive contribution
• Week beginning 16 January: learning
• Week beginning 23 January: jobs and money
• Week beginning 30 January: staying safe
• Week beginning 06 February: general

Perhaps you can support your child’s learning by discussing and promoting rights and responsibilities at home, too.

We're outstanding!

Mrs Rush, the Chair of Governors, writes: 

‘Moortown is an outstanding primary school’ (Ofsted, November 2011)

I’m delighted to tell you that the recent Ofsted inspection of MoortownPrimary School concluded that our children attend an outstanding school.  The report was extremely positive about the school:

Learning

Based on Key Stage 2 SAT results for 2010 and 2011, we already know that progress and attainment at Moortown Primary is extremely high.  It’s good to have this confirmed by Ofsted:  ‘All pupils attain highly by the time they leave the school, having achieved outstandingly well both academically and in their personal and social skills… Pupils are happy at school because they really enjoy learning and take great pride in their work.’ 

Other outcomes

As well as achievement, the inspectors conclude: ‘A number of aspects of their personal development are outstanding, including the extent they feel safe, their behaviour, the contribution they make to the community and their spiritual, moral, social and cultural development.’  Unsurprisingly, the extent to which they adopt healthy lifestyles was also judged to be outstanding.  In addition, thank you to all parents and carers who have avoided term-time holidays in recent years: attendance over the last three years is now judged to be good.

Teaching

The quality of teaching is judged to be good overall with instances of outstanding teaching.  As part of the inspection process, Mr Roundtree observed some lessons with an inspector to make sure his judgements were accurate; feedback to us (not in the final report) is that his judgements are very accurate and reflect high expectations of his staff.  This is good for us long term because we know we can rely on the school’s own monitoring and evaluating process in the future, and on the high standards expected by the school’s leaders.

Curriculum

The school’s curriculum was radically overhauled in 2008-09 so that children could learn through topics and themed weeks.  The new curriculum is described as ‘exciting’ whilst retaining ‘excellent attention to the basic skills of literacy and numeracy’.

Leadership

The report praises the governors’ good leadership which has led to ‘the development of an exceptionally strong staff team which is totally committed to ensuring the best for each and every pupil’.  In particular, it refers to Mr Roundtree’s high expectations and his ‘visionary’ leadership, and cites this as one of the main reasons why our school has gone from ‘good’ (Ofsted, 2007) to ‘outstanding’ now. 

An area to develop

The previous inspection (2007) had two areas to develop, one of which was to improve the teaching of basic skills of learning and writing in the Foundation Stage in order to speed up progress in Reception and Year 1.  The inspectors this time reassured us that teaching in the Foundation Stage is good.  This is something with which local authority advisors and school leaders agree.  Inspectors now think the provision (which is more about making best use of space and resources to enable challenging learning to take place) can be improved further, with better use made of outside activities and greater challenge for more able children.  Some of the feedback given from different inspectors about the Foundation Stage appears a little contradictory.  Also, some of the findings appear to conflict with the principles of learning through play and with the assessment data (Moortown’s Reception children attain higher than the local authority and national averages); however, we’ve already begun to consider how we can put these actions in place, bearing in mind the limited space we have. 

(The report also states: ‘Many improvements have been made since the previous inspection, including the management of provision for pupils with special educational needs’ – this was the other area to develop from the last inspection.  We’d like to say well done to Mrs Weekes, who is responsible for all aspects of inclusion.)

Parents’ and carers’ views

We’re happy to note that the inspectors were impressed by the school’s attempts to engage all parents and carers, from its ‘first class website and use of new technologies’ to its more traditional ‘family’ ethos.  You’ll be able to see a summary of parents’ and carers’ responses to the Ofsted questionnaire in the final report.  In the meantime, it’s perhaps best summed up by the fact that 99% said that ‘overall, I am happy with my child’s experience at the school’.  A sole respondent disagreed with this statement, and only a very small number of parents and carers (always less than 5%) disagreed with others.  It’s impossible to deal with each individual concern in an anonymous survey, but please be assured that if you follow our school policies (whether they are for uniform, term-time absences, behaviour or some other aspect of school life) and if you raise your concerns in the way set out in the school’s complaints policy, then school teachers, leaders or governors will be ready to listen.

I’m sure some of you would like to read more.  The inspection report will soon be available on our own school site and on Ofsted’s website.  You might be interested to hear more about the inspection, its report and the next steps forMoortownPrimary School– we’d like to invite you to an informal meeting led by governors: either Wednesday 11 January 2012 at 2.30pm or 6.30pm.  You don’t need to confirm attendance.

Finally, I’d like to take this opportunity to say a big well done to all school children and staff on this wonderful achievement.

You could earn our school an extra £488!

Did you know for every child registered as entitled to Free School Meals, our school will get extra money from the Government? Claim now to make sure we don’t miss out!

The Government is giving money to schools to help children from lower income families do their very best. This funding is called a ‘Pupil Premium’. For every child registered, Moortown Primary School gets £488 this year. With this money we could, for example…

• give extra tuition after school for certain pupils
• help fund the purchase of extra sports equipment
• support parents at difficult times.

If you are registered for Free School Meals you could also get help with the cost of school trips or music tuition. Please get a claim in before Christmas to make sure your child and others in their class don’t miss out.

How do I claim?

1. Check if you’re entitled – you don’t have to be unemployed to qualify. Students and people working less than 16 hours a week can also get Free School Meals. Take a look through the list below.
2. You may not need to fill in a full claim form. Everyone in Leeds already getting help with their rent or Council Tax will automatically be considered for Free School Meals. If you’re already getting help and think you might qualify for Free School Meals but haven’t heard, simply ring the Benefits Helpline on 0113 222 4404 and they’ll tell you what you need to do.
3. If you haven’t claimed in Leeds before, phone the Benefits Helpline for an application form. Alternatively call in and get one from any Council One Stop Centre. One Stop Centre staff can also help you fill the form in.
4. The claim form can also be downloaded from www.direct.gov.uk.

What are the benefits?

• Your child can have a free, healthy meal at lunchtime, saving you more than £350 a year in dinner money or saving you the hassle of preparing a packed lunch everyday.
• Once you’ve been told you qualify for Free School Meals, the Council will also consider you for a School Clothing Grant of up to £37.50 per child, even if you don’t want your child to take the meals.
• Getting Free School Meals will not affect any other benefits you are receiving and you can claim in confidence.
• Most importantly, the school gets an extra £488 to spend for every child that has a Free School Meal award in place, regardless of whether they take it up.

We understand the reasons why some parents may not like to claim. Often people see claiming their entitlement to Free School Meals as “charity” and would prefer to provide sandwiches etc. However, we can only claim the ‘Pupil Premium’ on behalf of pupils who have a Free School Meal award in place.

Please contact Paula O’Malley or Nicky Russell in our School Office or Julie Wilson, our Learning Support Mentor, if you’d like to discuss Free School Meals.

Do I qualify?

• Your child will qualify for Free School Meals if you get any of these benefits:
• Income Support
• Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance
• Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
• Support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
• The Guarantee element of State Pension Credit
• Child Tax Credit, provided you are not entitled to Working Tax Credit and have an annual income (as assessed by HM Revenue & Customs) that does not exceed £16,190
• Working Tax Credit ‘run-on’ – the payment someone may receive for a further four weeks after they stop qualifying for Working Tax Credit

Leeds Children's Mayor - well done, Bronwen!

Industrial action

You will be aware that the headteachers’ union, the National Association of Head Teachers (NAHT), has voted to take industrial action on Wednesday 30 November 2011. This means headteachers now join other public sector workers on strike on this day.

Teachers will also strike.  The vote of National Union of Teachers (NUT) members in the Teachers’ Pension Scheme in June covers all members in the schools balloted to take action on 30 November. They do not need to ballot again.

The industrial action in June meant Moortown Primary had to close.  A similar number of staff members, whether NAHT or NUT members, have decided to strike on 30 November.  Therefore, it is definite that Moortown Primary will close.

Bronwen's visit to the Children's Commissioner

You may be aware that one of our Year 6 pupils, Bronwen Grainger, recently took over the role of Children’s Commissioner, Maggie Atkinson, in London.  She has prepared this report of her day:

Report of day as Children’s Commissioner

On Friday 11th November 2011 (Take Over Day and Remembrance Day), at about 10:45, we arrived at Trafalgar Square and met some remarkably young soldiers who had just got back from Afghanistan. We also saw people who had got the licence to be able to drive a submarine plus we also found out that Maggie’s (Children’s Commissioner) husband had also had a career as a submarine driving and got his badge that had 2 dolphins to say he has an official licence. Before the 2 minutes silence, we listened to: the soldiers, a young girl who had an amazing voice and a few others.

Then quickly after that, the royal trumpet player played the tune that they play to wake up the soldiers. Then the 2 minutes started. After the silence, everybody who was there was invited to throw some poppy petals into one of the 2 fountains. Pretty much after that we left to have lunch in a nearby Starbucks. We then got in a taxi and got driven to the Royal Artillery Museum in Woolwich where we presented a nearby school called Fox Field Primary school a certificate saying that they had taken part in Take Over Day. We also got to try on some of the clothes they wear in the army in an assembly 2 soldiers performed.

When we got back to the Children’s Commissioner office we got presented with a certificate for taking part in Take Over day, which ended my day as being a Children’s Commissioner. Thank you to Maggie for letting me shadow her, I had a very interesting and enjoyable day.

Thanks for voting...

We’re very proud that Bronwen, a Year 6 pupil here at Moortown Primary, was selected as one of ten finalists for the Leeds Children’s Mayor competition. Year 6 children completed a manifesto of what they would like to change if they could become Mayor for the Day and Bronwen was chosen as our entrant for the competition.

Voting for the finalists closed on Friday 04 November.  Sadly, Bronwen did not win.  Well done to Joe Smith from Strawberry Fields Primary School who won.

This whole programme is about encouraging children to show an interest in democracy and to get them into the habit of voting on issues that affect them.

We know children at Moortown Primary already make a positive contribution to the school and their community through the School Council, litter-picking, raising money for charity etc. It’s great individuals like Bronwen want to go the extra mile to have their views heard!

Perhaps Bronwen has her sights on bigger, national levels of leadership.  Friday 11 November was Takeover Day, where schools are encouraged to allow children to take over any aspect of school or work life.  Moortown Primary had children take over in the office, the kitchen and in assembly.  Children in lessons took over some teaching and took over writing some of the newsletters. Missing from the day was Bronwen – she was in London, where she had taken over the role of Children’s Commissioner for the day!