News

Why are we closing?

You’ll be aware that many public sector workers, including teachers who are members of the National Union of Teachers and the Association of Teachers and Lecturers, are taking industrial action this Thursday, 30 June.

Briefly, pensions are the big issue. The unions say that government plans mean teachers will be required to pay more, work longer and receive less when they retire.  The teaching unions’ reasons for taking this action can be found here.

There’s been plenty of talk in the media about Michael Gove’s suggestion that headteachers should do all they can to keep schools open, even to the extent of asking parents / carers come in to help.

As headteacher of Moortown Primary, closing the school is a decision I never take lightly.  On Thursday, however, I have no choice.  All teachers at Moortown plan to take industrial action.

I realise the closure of school causes many problems (eg with childcare) and, for this, I apologise.  However, there are issues which I have to consider, whether or not Mr Gove has done so.  Not so long ago, for example, schools could fail an Ofsted inspection if they could not show they had carried criminal record checks (CRB checks) on volunteers in school; these would be necessary, and costly, if we were to use parents to cover staff absences on Thursday’s strike.

Even for those volunteers with the correct documentation, there are other issues I’d need to consider, including:

• confidentiality
• first aid training
• safe use of equipment
• behaviour management
• knowledge of restraint procedures
• guidance on physical contact with pupils
• insurance liability

Based on these points, and other arguments, the headteachers’ union, the National Association of Head Teachers, has recommended its members do not invite parents / carers to help on Thursday.

Once again, I apologise for the inconvenience caused.

SEAL statement 27 June

‘I can make the most of an unwelcome change’ is the new SEAL statement for this week.  Unwelcome changes can happen at any time and it is important for the children to have the ability to make the most of these changes.  This may be through developing a suitable response to this change, turning the situation into something positive, understanding and managing feelings associated with this type of change and seeking support from others.

How's my child doing at school?

We’re still waiting on the Key Stage Two SAT results for Y6, but (just like last year) I’m confident that the children performed extremely well. More importantly, their attitudes and behaviour have been excellent throughout the year – a really great year so far.

Children from Y2 to Y5 have also had some end of year assessments recently. These tests help teachers to decide on a final level to give to each child for reading, writing and maths. They only help teachers decide; for example, if a child performed quite poorly in a test but have excelled throughout the year, teachers would quite possibly ignore a test result. In Reception and Y1, teachers base their final assessment entirely on the children’s day to day actions and abilities.

Soon, you’ll be receiving the end-of-year annual report about your child’s attainment, progress and attitude in school. On the report (except the Reception report), teachers use ticks to indicate how your child is doing.  If you’d like to know their actual level, we’re happy to give you this – just ask me or your child’s teacher near the end of the year.

Pupils in Y2 and Y6 are at the end of a key stage. Because of this, parents of these children will receive a letter alongside their reports with the teacher assessment level on it. Parents / carers of Y6 children will also be told the results of the SAT tests.

Here’s a table to show general, national expectations for the end of each year. Letters are used to indicate a higher or lower level eg 2A is a higher level of attainment than 2C, but a lower level of attainment that 3C.

From this, you can see that any child reaching Level 5 at the end of the year is working at a level above national expectations. Well done to Yutaro and Rosie for attaining a Level 6 in Maths this year – about the level of an able 14 year old!

Reception children are not given a level. Instead, they are assessed against criteria and typically reach 6 points in each strand, such as reading or numbers for counting and labels. A point is given when adults observe a child securely showing a particular skill or activity.

SEAL statement 20 June

‘I can change my behaviour for the better’ is our ‘Changes’ SEAL statement for this week. 

As stated in our Positive Relationships policy:

It is the responsibility of pupils to make good choices at all times and with all adults and pupils in school. This will lead to pupils behaving well and building up and maintaining good relationships. Pupils should follow three simple rules to avoid bad choices:

• follow instructions
• use positive language (including body language)
• keep hands, feet and objects to themselves

Therefore a change in behaviour can be made by making positive choices rather than negative choices.  

Working together for good behaviour in schools is a helpful document for parents.

Bike Week 20 - 24 June

Next week is Bike Week.  Why not use our cycle rack and bike to school during this week?

Throughout the week each time you cycle to school you will be entered into a prize draw from Leeds City Council to win lots of cycling related prizes.  Let your class teacher know each time you come to school on your bike.

Year 5 and Year 6 have both recently had their cycling training and what a better way to put these new cycling skills into practice than to bike to school during Bike Week.

For more information about Bike Week visit www.bikeweek.org or www.leeds.gov.uk/bikeweek

For more information about cycling in Leeds visit www.leeds.gov.uk/cyclemaps

2011-2012 classes

Last year, I told you about four new teachers starting. The teachers we recruited went through a very rigorous process and I’m delighted to say that the four – Mr Redfearn, Mr Wilks, Mr Owen and Miss Hazell – have all had a fantastic year at Moortown Primary School.

There will be only a few small changes to teaching staff next year:

• I’m sure you’ll all be delighted to hear the news that Mrs Taylor is expecting her second child. She will be leaving us, probably around Autumn half-term, but will return, hopefully for September 2012 (and some visits sooner, we hope!). Mrs Taylor’s role in school, as Health Leader, will not be replaced in her absence by a new teacher.
• Mr Redfearn and Miss Hewson swap year groups – having taught Year 4 for three years, Miss Hewson wants to widen her experience; it’s good for the school to move teachers, too, so that they bring fresh ideas to the new age groups.

Here is a list of who’s teaching which year group for 2011-12:

Later this term, your child will spend some time getting to know his or her new teacher, teaching assistants and classroom. In the meantime, if you’ve got any questions, comments or concerns, as always please contact me.

Fantastic feedback

We regularly receive feedback from visitors into school – it’s always great to read what others think about our community.  For example, Gareth from Total Sports Coaching, recently complimented the school as one he always looks forward to visiting because all our pupils listen and behave so well.

Here’s feedback from Richard, a member of Leeds Healthy Schools and Wellbeing Service, following a recent visit:

Just a quick email – as you know I met with some children this afternoon to help plan their workshop at the Pupil Voice Showcase Event.  The planning meeting went really well and – as always – your pupils excelled themselves and amazed me with their creativity and general approach to the task at hand.

After the meeting the three of them gave me a little tour of the school which was great as I’ve never visited before – just wanted to say what I’m sure you knew already: ‘Wow! What a great school!’

SEAL statement 13 June

‘I can get better at my learning‘ is the SEAL statement for this week.  In some instances, ‘changes‘ may relate to a change in a child’s learning behaviour.  By focussing on and improving learning skills such as listening, concentration and communication, this in turn can help the child to get better at their learning.

SEAL statement 06 June

Our final SEAL theme for this year is ‘Changes’ and this week we will be focussing on, ‘I can cope with an unexpected change.’

This SEAL theme tackles the issue of change and aims to equip children with an understanding of different types of change, positive and negative, and common responses to change. The key ideas and concepts behind this theme are:

• Change can be uncomfortable, because it can threaten our basic needs to feel safe and to belong
• Change can also be stimulating and welcome
• Both adults and children can experience a range of powerful and conflicting emotions as a result of change – for example, excitement, anxiety, uncertainty, loss, anger, resentment
• Worries about change can be made worse by uncertainty, lack of information, or misinformation and lack of support from others
• People’s responses to and ability to cope with change are very variable, and might be influenced by individual temperament, previous experience of change, and the nature of the change – chosen or imposed, expected or unexpected, within our control or out of our control

Some children may welcome most forms of change and dislike routine and predictability.  Other children may find even small changes very difficult.

Within school, children, who are coping with or have undergone significant change, are supported in a variety of ways:

• Our positive ethos within school
• Support systems, from staff and peers, for children who have undergone change or who maybe new to the school
• SEAL and circle time sessions where children feel safe to talk about their feelings
• Class SEAL boxes for children to record any concerns
• Preparing children wherever possible for planned changes for example, a change of class teacher, Key Stage or even school

SEAL statement 23 May

It’s ‘My Community Week’!  This week our statement reflects this: ‘I can make a positive contribution in my community.’

Over this week the children will be learning:

• what is meant by ‘community’
• what communities we belong to
• we are all part of a ‘world community’