Amazing attendance competition
Amazing attendance competition
Good attendance remains high on the agenda at our school.
- A child with 90% attendance has missed four whole weeks of school in a year.
- Over six years of primary school, a child with 90% attendance will have missed 24 weeks of learning – that’s almost two thirds of a year.
- Good attendance enables your child to develop strong friendships at school, leading to a happy and healthy person.
Next half-term, we’re running an Amazing attendance competition!
If your child has 98% attendance or above over the course of Spring 2 half-term and up to the Easter weekend (from 25 February to 18 April inclusive), they will be entered in to a prize draw to win a £20 Pizza Express voucher.
There will be one voucher for each phase in school: Early Years, Y1-2, Y3-4 and Y5-6.
Help your child to be the best that they can be and do everything you can to make sure they attend school on time every day!
Fantastic feedback
At Scholes (Elmet) Primary, we regularly seek the views of others. Last month, we let you know about feedback from:
- children (see news article on 28 January, 2019, deriving from the Feedback Forms we ask our children to complete a couple of times a year)
- Leeds Health and Safety Advisors (news article on 31 January 2019, deriving from a Health and Safety inspection)
- Leeds Early Years Advisor (news article on 15 January 2019, deriving from a visit to Nursery and Reception classes)
In January, we also collected the views of staff for the second time in recent years. We asked staff to complete a survey with questions that Ofsted use during inspections (very much like the survey we ask parents and carers to complete in the Summer term). The survey was completed by 29 staff (in any role – premises staff, lunchtime supervisors, teachers, teaching assistants…). Here are some key findings:
100% of staff agree that our school has improved since it was last inspected, with 93% believing the school has improved a lot.
(These percentages exclude two staff members who are new to school and can’t comment on improvements since the inspection). Comments include: ‘Huge improvements to learning behaviours, assessment and especially teaching and learning.’ and ‘I feel that the school has a more positive vibe about it.’
100% thought the school was well-led and managed (of those who expressed an opinion).
‘There’s a clear and focused vision for the school.’ and ‘We are pushed to be the best we can be…’ were two of four comments made (all were positive).
100% approved how leaders support staff to manage behaviour (of those who were able to comment).
All the comments were positive: ‘Good whole school behaviour strategy which is monitored and maintained through regular discussions.’ and ‘Leaders regularly discuss keeping learning behaviour tight.’
We were also pleased to receive these two comments which came later in the survey: ‘I find the children take the warning system seriously and adhere to it.’ and ‘Over the 10 years working the lunchtime period, the children are better behaved than any other year.’
100% of staff agree that pupils are safe at this school, 83% agreeing strongly to the statement.
(One respondent didn’t feel in a position to comment and isn’t included here). Comments include: ‘With the use of weekly statements, living and learning ‘circle times’ and whole school assemblies, children know how to look after each other. Children have a range of ways to get help when needed.’ and ‘Children know what to do if they have a concern and who to talk to. The curriculum is designed to help children think about their safety in all aspects of life.’
96% of those who expressed an opinion agreed that leaders and managers are considerate of their well-being.
‘Senior leaders and a number of other staff members have been extremely supportive…’
100% felt that being in a federation benefits this school.
(A small group didn’t feel in a position to express an opinion). Comments include: ‘Planning can occasionally be shared between schools as well as ideas for learning in different contexts and environments.’ and ‘It’s nice to have someone to bounce ideas off, and who understands when I need to off-load!’
Strengths
We asked staff to comment in an open-ended question about the strengths of our school. Some of the many strengths they mentioned are:
- ‘Great leadership, continuously improving behaviour management, fun and new learning opportunities.’
- ‘A common sense approach to ensuring that things are done that lead to progress and not done for the sake of it.’
- ‘Trying to get every child to reach their full potential.’
- ‘Consistency across the classes.’
- ‘High expectations of excellence.’
- ‘Good behaviour policies.’
- ‘Team work and shared vision – most members of staff working together to drive improvement forward.’
- ‘Like the staff, children work together and discuss challenges openly.’
- ‘A strong leadership team that is supportive of all teachers.’
- ‘Individual children are valued and cared for. Staff are fully committed to the wellbeing of the pupils. Pupils and their needs come first and there is a high expectation for their intellectual learning too.’
- ‘A clear vision of what needs to be done to bring about improved outcomes for children.’
- ‘Leaders know what needs to be done and are implementing steps to continue improving outcomes for our children.’
Next steps
We’re always wanting to keep getting better and better. Based on the survey, the areas to develop are to support teaching assistants more with performance management and professional development: ‘To continue to develop support staff to be fully effective in their roles.’ Like so many schools across the country, we also want to be even more mindful of teachers’ work-life balance to ensure their wellbeing. Others things mentioned were:
- ‘Pupil progress and how it is evident.’
- ‘To continue to build on progression within all subjects.’
- ‘To continue in the same vein of improvement and equipping staff to be amazing teachers.’
- ‘I feel that slightly more time could be spent celebrating staff and student successes whether it be work produced in books or on displays, lesson ideas/slides, fun learning games and so on.’
- ‘Consolidate the outcomes from 2018.’
- ‘Securing consistently good attainment and progress outcomes for our children, year on year.’
Other comments
Finally, we asked staff if they had any other comments. These included:
- ‘I am very happy working at this school. I have positive relationships with my peers and senior leaders. I completely believe that Scholes Primary is very much on a journey to being considered an ‘outstanding’ school and I’m glad to be a part of that.’
- ‘The school has made rapid progress over the last two years.’
- ‘The school is a lovely place to work. Children are polite and staff are easy to get a long with.’
- ‘Staff have worked tirelessly and relentlessly to improve the areas identified by Ofsted, and others, hopefully ensuring the next inspection will be good or outstanding.’
- ‘The school is a positive place to work.’
- ‘2/3 years ago I didn’t think that the school particularly required improvement. However, seeing the changes that have been made since the inspection, there was obviously lots to be done! As a member of staff, I think morale is better than it’s ever been. As a parent, I feel my children are progressing well. Huge thanks to Mr Roundtree for turning this school around!’
- ‘The school has made vast improvements since our last inspection. As a middle leader, I now feel that I have an effective role in the school’s journey. The priorities and actions for my subject area are now taken into account by senior leaders and I feel that I have autonomy for my subject area.’
- ‘I am very proud to work at Scholes (Elmet) Primary School. The staff who I work with are great – they make a fantastic team.’
Thank you to all staff for supporting our school, and a special thanks to those who completed the survey.
Thank you to our football kit sponsors!
We would like to say a big THANK YOU to our football kit sponsors. Alison Owen, who owns Willows Beauty Ltd in Scholes, sponsored the new Year 6 team kit and Danny Howarth arranged for CKS (a technical support company providing electronic repair and system integration to the film and tv industry) to sponsor the Year 5 kit. I hope you agree they are very smart and just waiting to get muddy in our upcoming matches. Thank you!
A happy and healthy - and safe - place to learn
We hear so many scare stories and myths about health and safety that it’s easy to pour scorn on anything remotely related to the topic. However, as a school, we need to know that our buildings and our practices are safe and secure for your child and his/her teachers.
Just like we’re happy to invite a fresh pair of eyes into school to evaluate the quality of teaching and learning, we do the same – invite an expert from Leeds City Council – to check on health and safety aspects of our school.
We’re delighted that our school was judged to be good in terms of health and safety, with outstanding management of this aspect of school.
Scholes (Elmet) Primary is a happy, healthy and safe place to learn!
Comments from our children
From time to time, we collect the views of our pupils – they can be really helpful and interesting!
Here are a few comments from some of our youngest (in Year 1) and oldest (in Year 6) pupils:
- ‘When I did the learning I am most proud of, at first it was a bit hard and I felt frustrated. I was determined. I felt happy and felt like a winner at the end.’ (Y1)
- ‘I enjoy writing because it boosts my vocabulary and confidence.’ (Y6)
- ‘Lunchtimes are fun and fantastic.’ (Y1)
- ‘I am happy at school because I feel welcome every day and I really enjoy the lessons.’ (Y6)
- ‘I like working with a partner in Maths.’ (Y1)
- ‘Living and Learning is good because it helps me be a better person outside of school.’ (Y6)
- ‘I know what a drug is and I know medicine is a drug.’ (Y1)
Training days 2019-20
For those already planning their trips away and days out, we’ve now agreed our 2019-2020 training days:
- Monday 02 September 2019
- Tuesday 03 September 2019 (this means children are back on Wednesday 04 September, although there’s a transition period for those starting in Reception)
- Friday 25 October 2019 (this is the day before the October holidays)
- Friday 15 May 2020 (this is the last day of the Key Stage 2 SATS week – a welcome day off for our Year 6 pupils)
- Monday 20 July 2020 (the last day of the school term, meaning children break up on Friday 17 July 2020)
The dates are all published on our school calendar.
(We tell you our training days well in advance, and we’ve tried to schedule many close to existing school holidays. This means you’ve got more chance to plan and book any holidays abroad. We don’t authorise term-time absences for holidays.)
School Council - raising money and awareness
Our democratically elected School Council, assisted by Miss Parling, enjoy thinking of ideas to raise money for our school charity (Cancer Research) and taking care of the environment. We try to do everything we can in school to recycle, and have raised £84.35 for charity by recycling ink cartridges from our printers and photocopiers. We are starting to spread the word on eco-bricking too. Why not join us?
Active playtimes - helping towards the 30:30 wristband challenge
We encourage children to be active at playtimes. Skipping has risen in popularity again after our visit from Skipping School but hoops and balancing equipment are also popular.
Supporting parents with anxious children
EPOSS Cluster are running a group to support parents with anxious children. The group will give advice and strategies to support your child, provide psycho-education on anxiety and give the opportunity for you to meet parents with similar problems and share ideas.
The first session will be held MONDAY 21 JANUARY
Venue: The House
Wetherby High School
Hallfield Lane
Wetherby
LS22 6JS
Time: 8am-9am.
No need to book, just turn up on the day.
If there is sufficient uptake the group will then run every Monday until the February half-term holiday.
If you would like any further information please call:
Rachel Midgley, Cluster Therapist – 0752 617 2934
Liz Giles, Targeted Services Officer – 0791 278 4637
Fantastic Foundation Stage!
We’re always wanting to get better and better. One of the ways we’ve secured great improvements in recent years is that we work closely with LA advisors so we benefit from ‘an extra pair of eyes’ and their specific skills and expertise.
Just before Christmas, an Early Years expert visited our Foundation Stage classes. Here’s an extract from her report:
It is clear that the team work closely together and know their children really well… provision is of a very high quality and provides a stimulating learning environment; children were seen engrossed in a range of activities this morning, effectively supported by adults both inside and out.