School Journalist: A very special interview
This week, we are sad to say goodbye to the one and only Sue Yardley, our always cheerful lollipop lady. She has been doing this job for 30 years, earning legendary status in the village. She knows everyone at school so well and we all really appreciate her friendly, caring manner and the time she has put in over the years to keep us all safe. Leeds United fan Sue, who in 2014 was awarded a British Empire medal for her services to the village, is also well-known for her help at St Phillip’s Church.
I chatted to her last week about her experiences and plans for the future.
What job did you do when you were younger?
I worked in the Co-op offices on Albion Street in Leeds when I was 15.What are your plans for the future?
I’ve got lots of friends so we’re planning to go on lots of walks in the countryside.What is the strangest thing that has happened whilst you were a lollipop lady?
I was in the middle of the road crossing children over and a man drove straight past me whilst I was still in the road. I don’t know how he didn’t see me with all my hi-vis gear on.
Sue will be greatly missed by everyone at the school and we wish her all the best for the future.
Our weekly message (Friday 17 May 2024)
This week has been SATs week – the end of Key Stage 2 assessments. Well done to all the Year 6 children for coping so well. Well done also to adults in school for supporting our children, making sure the week isn’t a horrible one. Thanks to one of our governors who visited school to ensure the assessments were being managed effectively, going through a checklist of points to ensure robust procedures are in place.
Healthy eating
Our recent Living and Learning healthy eating sessions have included reference to the 5 a day message and the Eatwell Guide. Linked to this, the Just One More campaign, currently running across Leeds, aims to encourage increased vegetable intake by ‘just one more’ portion per day.
The campaign is to help people eat more vegetables by:
- Consuming vegetables as snacks
- Adding more vegetables into meals
- Adding more vegetables when shopping
- Growing vegetables at home or in community spaces
- Sharing vegetables with friends and family
- Choosing more vegetables at school
Give it a go – try ‘just one more’!
Handwriting and spelling
This comes from Mr Catherall, our Writing Leader…
When it comes to writing, children have to think about a whole range of things in order to get their ideas down onto the paper. Some people liken writing to playing multiple games of chess at the same time – the demand on the brain is huge.
That’s why handwriting and spelling are so important. If children can write neatly and legibly without having to concentrate on this, it frees up lots of brain space for them to concentrate on other aspects of writing – like choosing the correct vocabulary.
It’s similar for spelling. If you can spell words automatically, your brain doesn’t need to waste power on thinking about this which significantly reduces the cognitive load on your brain.
In school, we place a huge emphasis on what we call the ‘Must Dos’
for writing – the basic skills needed to be an effective writer. A recent publication by Ofsted found that this isn’t always the case in primary schools.
With this in mind, we really appreciate the effort that goes into learning the weekly spellings at home – please encourage your child to learn these words. Also, if you’d like some help with how to support your child with their handwriting, check out our handwriting guide or speak with your child’s class teacher.
Finally this week, with just one more week of the Summer 1 half-term to go, you might like to check out the activities going on within Active Leeds this half term.
Nursery Open Morning
Come and have a look around our happy and healthy Nursery!
Open morning: Saturday 29 June, 10am
School Journalist: Scholes Beavers, Scouts and Cubs
Being a scout helps you learn important skills for life, teaches you how to work well as part of a team and to help society.
The First Scholes scout group is located in the village and most of the Beavers, Cubs and Scouts go to Scholes school.
I spoke to Harry from Scouts and Noah from Cubs to find out about their experiences in scouting.
What is your favourite part of being a scout\cub?
Harry: We get to do lots of fun activities, make different foods and also go on camps and hikes.
Noah: Doing activities outside and camps because we learn new things as well as having fun.What has been your favourite thing in scouts\cubs this year?
Harry: Making mascots for our competition on Saturday.
Noah: Going to the deep because I got to see what it’s like there and sleeping over because I had never been there before.What are you most looking forward to this year?
Harry: The last week of scouts when we get to have a big water fight.
Noah: Going to summer camp at Bramham Park because we also went last year with cubs and it was a great experience.
On Saturday, there was a large scouting event called the Andrew Oliver Incident Hike which was created in memory of Andrew Oliver (an assistant scout leader at the Tadcaster scouts troop) who sadly died of Leukaemia in 1986. This year, Scholes entered the competition for the first time.
Tommy, Alex, Harry, Jayden and I took part. Scholes fielded two different teams, hoping for a debut win. The 8 and a half mile hike consists of 11 checkpoints where the team has to complete a task. Points are awarded for the speed, amount of times completed, or quality of an item built as well as politeness. Two examples of the type of task included putting up a tent and paper-boat building. All of the tasks had to be completed without adult help. Unfortunately, neither of the Scholes teams won but everyone had great fun and enjoyed themselves, as well as being exhausted at the end of a long, hot day.
Better luck next year, Scholes!
Goodbye Lollipop Sue
After 30 years of crossing children over the road, Sue has decided to hang up her lollipop and retire. The news comes with sadness but also with a huge sense of gratitude and understanding. Sue has braved all kinds of weather and increasingly busier roads morning and night, year in and year out. I could count on one hand the number of days she’s missed in all this time.
Sue has informed Leeds City Council (who actually employ her) and came to tell me the news a few weeks ago. Sue said she didn’t want too much fuss but I’ve assured her we can’t promise that!
Sue’s last day is Thursday 23 May. At school we’re going to have a special lunch and assembly for her.
We know that lots of you will want to say goodbye to Sue in your own way, but if you’d like to contribute to a collection we’re having at school, please either pop into the office with your donation or send it in with your child. Unfortunately, we can’t use the app for things like this.
Any donations will be used to buy Sue a gift which will be presented to her in assembly.
If donations could be in by Friday 17 May that would be helpful.
Our weekly message (Friday 10 May 2024)
We hope you’ve enjoyed the great weather this week. Check out the NHS guidance around sun protection for your child.
In case you missed it, last week’s message had a link to a useful NHS website with advice to support your child if they’re feeling anxious about any assesssments.
The bulk of this week’s message is about Relationships and Sex Education, but check out the great feedback at the end, too.
Coming up in the weeks commencing 03 June, 10 June and 17 June, children from Year 1 to Year 6 will take part in Relationships and Sex Education (RSE) lessons.
We want parents/carers and pupils to feel assured that RSE is delivered at a level appropriate to both the age and development of pupils, and to feel safe to voice opinions and concerns relating to the provision.
The lessons are led by children’s class teacher. They take place in a safe learning environment and are underpinned by our school ethos and values.
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.
- Section 9 provides a list of the vocabulary that will be used (pages 7 and 8)
- Section 11 includes an overview of the topics that will be covered (page 11 includes a table to show the learning across each year group)
We know that you might have some 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 Miss Hague.
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 the Head of School 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/carers. Feedback has indicated that the overwhelming majority of parents/carers are highly supportive of our Relationships and Sex Education programme.
Finally, some great feedback… Most primary schools in Leeds have regular visits from a School Improvement Advisor. Here’s a few comments from a recent visit where the advisor visited a sample of Maths lessons:
- ‘Learning carefully matches the needs of pupils, building upon prior learning and enabling pupils to deepen and demonstrate their knowledge.’
- ‘The school have high aspirations for all pupils and closely monitor the progress of all pupils.’
- ‘Throughout the lesson, the adults…reinforced this language and enabled all pupils to confidently use this to explain their learning.’
Join our team!
We have a vacancy for a lunchtime assistant to join our team. Further information can be found on our website – https://www.scholeselmet.leeds.sch.uk/join-in/vacancies/
Please email scholesfinance@spherefederation.org for further information.
School Journalist: Sports Desk issue
And now we go over to the sports desk where Jimmy has our latest news from the local fixtures.
Thank you, James. Welcome to Sports Report!
Starting with the football, there was an exciting and very positive weekend of end of season action. Collingham Eagles got their revenge for last year’s cup final defeat by beating Wheldrake 5-2 in their third place playoff. Year 6s Thomas, Jack, Elliot and I play for them. Jack put the cherry on his birthday cake by scoring a goal and Collingham ended their season with the bronze medal.
Kyan in year 4 grabbed 2 assists in Bradford U9s’ 8-5 victory over Burnley U9s. Bradford put on a great display and fully deserved their victory. In Garforth Villa U11s’ match, they won 2-0. Gene and Tommy in year 6 play for them. Tommy was annoyed to be denied by the post but the same post offered him a helping hand when his goal went in off it. Staying with Garforth Villa but moving down 3 years, the U8s drew 8-8 (that was a mouthful!) in a very eventful game. Max, Freddie, Joseph, Charlie and Oscar in year 3 play for them. Max scored a great goal which went into the top corner but was also angry when he got distracted taking a penalty that ended up hitting the post.
York City U9s thrashed Harrogate U9s 7-0. Caleb in year 4 scored and got a hat-trick of assists. In tennis, Lily in year 6 had a tournament in which she played 4 matches, winning 3 of them by the score-line 10-9 and then losing one 7-10. The tournament went very well for Lily as she took the gold
medal.
Perhaps we shouldn’t be surprised that in cricket, Barwick Thunder and Barwick Lightning’s matches were called off due to an electrical storm. Whilst Thunder’s game was a total washout, Lightning managed to get 6 overs of play in. Elliot in year 6 was the captain and Archie in year 5 was also
playing, but I was annoyed as my career best figures of 3 wickets for 10 runs were scratched from the record books due to the abandonment. The coach joked that next year the team should be called Barwick Warm Sun with a Gentle Breeze!
Earlier in the week, a combined Barwick team progressed through to the second round of the cup by beating Church Fenton by 90 runs. Thomas, Noah and I made valuable contributions with bat and ball, each picking up a wicket and scoring runs to help the team over the line.
Nursery Open Morning
Are you looking for a nursery place for September 2024? Do you have any friends or family who are looking for a nursery for their child to join?
Why not come to our nursery open morning on Saturday 29 June, 10.00 am at Scholes (Elmet) Primary School and have a look around. We offer 15 and 30 hours places for 3 and 4 year olds.
Staff will be available to show you around and answer any questions you may have.
Our weekly message (Friday 03 May 2024)
May is the month of SATs for children in Year 6, and – like most schools – as we approach the end of the school year, there are various assessments for children in each year group. Ask your child’s teacher if you’ve any questions, comments or concerns. You might like to check out this NHS guide to help reassure your child, too.
We’re pleased that in Sphere Federation, we now have an officially trained senior mental health lead, as part of the government’s commitment to offer this training to all eligible schools and colleges by 2025. The extensive training supported the senior mental health leads to develop and implement a whole school approach to mental health and wellbeing. It’s important that any mental health issues or wellbeing concerns can be addressed on a bespoke, individual or small group scale. Having a SMHL now gives us the ability to identify specific need and monitor the impact of any support or intervention.
The rest of this week’s message is about one particular assessment. It’s mainly for parents and carers of children in Year 1. It might also be useful for if you’ve a child in Year 2 or Reception.
Phonics Screening Check
The Year 1 phonics screening check is for children in Year 1, and children in Year 2 who didn’t meet the threshold in the previous year. It checks that children are on track to become fluent readers who can enjoy reading for pleasure and reading for learning.
The screening check is a way for teachers to ensure that children are making sufficient progress with their phonics skills to read words. It helps to identify whether your child needs additional support at this stage so that they don’t fall behind in this vital early reading skill.
The check assesses phonics skills and knowledge learned through Reception and Year 1.
We make sure it’s not a stressful process for each child. It’s carried out by a teacher – usually the Year 1 teacher – who will be well-equipped to listen and understand children’s level of skills.
It checks if your child can sound out and blend graphemes (letters) in order to read simple words. This includes phonically decodable one-syllable and two-syllable words, eg cat, sand, windmill. There is also a selection of nonsense words which are referred to as pseudo (or ‘alien’) words eg brip, snorb. Pseudo words are included in the check specifically to assess whether your child can decode a word using phonics skills and not their memory.
The check is not about passing or failing but checking appropriate progress is being made. If children do not reach the required standard, then the teacher will be in touch to discuss plans and offer additional, tailored support to ensure that your child can catch up. Children progress at different speeds, so not reaching the threshold score does not necessarily mean there’s a problem. Your child will re-sit the check the following summer term.
School will report your child’s results to you by the end of the summer term as well as to the local authority.
Help at home by supporting your child to say each sound in the word from left to right. Blend the sounds by pointing to each letter – /b/ in bat, or letter group /igh/ in sigh, as you say the sound. Then, run your finger under the whole word as you say it. Talk about the meaning if your child does not understand the word they have read. Work at your child’s pace. Always be positive and give lots of praise and encouragement.