Littleborough Community Primary School

Littleborough Community Primary School

Welcome back and an especially huge welcome to all the children and families who are new to our school.

Pupil Progress; Last year we are proud that data shows the rate of children’s progress accelerated sharply. This year we will be building on that success.

‘Year of Inspiration’
We are proud to announce our ‘Learning Challenge Curriculum’ which we have designed to meet the new National Curriculum. At the end of last term children were invited to their WOW days and some of them have already taken place. Some WOW days have involved dressing up, learning the Samba, creating a Greek salad, writing a letter about their holidays to me, making gargoyles and ‘going to the North Pole’. We believe the best way for children to learn is to interest and excite them. It is certainly working.

The New National Curriculum is harder than the one before. Many key ideas in subjects will be introduced earlier. In each year group, for example, we will be expecting more of children in spelling and grammar. In Maths, children will be expected to do more mental arithmetic and problem solving, as well as knowing key number facts earlier than before. We have already revised our curriculum, conducted staff training and altered our assessments to meet this. Children will also be learning French from Year 3 as well as computer coding. Please see Dates for your diary for workshops on the new Curriculum.

Lion Club is almost full after school and there are just a few places at Breakfast Club.

Nursery. We have only 4 full time places left. To help working parents, this means your child will be looked after and cared for from 7.45am until 5.15pm. Your 15 hours free entitlement will count towards these hours.

The Year of Inspiration starts with:

• Nursery – All about me
• Rec – What can we find out about Colour & Light?
• Yr 1 - Why can’t a Meerkat live in the North Pole?
• Year 2 - Why were Christopher Columbus and Neil Armstrong brave?
• Yr 3 – Why has Greece always been in the news?
• Yr 4 – Why were Norman Castles not bouncy?
• Yr 5 – Why is Brazil in the news again?
• Yr 6 – How did the world stop slavery?

During the next 2 weeks we will be sending some very important letters home:

1. We will be sending a letter about unauthorised absences from school. During the holidays the Government has announced important changes to the law. The new law gives NO entitlement to parents to take their child on holiday during term time. Head teachers are not expected to grant ANY term time holiday as exceptional. The letter sets out more detail.
2. Please look out for a letter about the use of Mobile phones in school.
3. We are also sending out our updated Home work policy.
4. We have now set up Payments online and are pleased that some parents have already begun paying for lunches and trips online. You will be able to pay for lunches, trips, music, Nursery fees and Lion Club online. User names and passwords to register were given to you with the reports at the end of July.
5. Free School Meals – all KS1 children are entitled to a Free school meal from September. If you are currently getting Free School Meals you must register as before to continue getting your benefits.
6. We are pleased to welcome Mrs. Jennifer Pitchforth as the new Parent Governor.
7. Medicine – in line with Rochdale LA policy, school staff are not allowed to administer medicine to pupils. If your child needs medicine during the school day, as part of a prescribed medical plan, it is the parent’s responsibility to make arrangements for them or a suitable adult to give the medication during break or lunchtime. This should be arranged through the office and not school staff.

Key Events to watch out for:

• Open morning 26.9.14. Come and enjoy a coffee for the Macmillan coffee morning and see what your child has been learning. Donations of cake are most welcome.
• Parents’ Evenings, from 3.20pm on Monday 20th October and 5pm Tuesday 21st October (see dates below)
• Open day for prospective parents Tuesday 11.11.14 2pm
• Parent workshops; Wed. 17.9.14. 5.30pm – 6.30pm Y5 & Y6 SATS Workshop (Hall). 6.30pm- 7.30pm Foundation Stage Phonics and Reading Workshop (Hall)

Parking:
It is illegal to park on the lane at the side of school. This is because ambulances and fire engines will use that lane for access to the playground if necessary. If cars are parked there, the lane isn’t wide enough for them to get through. We have been asked to give number plates to the traffic police and they will issue a penalty ticket and fine which will include points on your license. Please use the cricket club car park. Thank you for your co-operation.

Thank you!
The children all look so smart in their uniforms. We are pleased that the children are all wearing their black school shoes, which is a requirement. Jewellery is not permitted and earrings must be small studs which can be taped over for PE. We would just like to make it clear that extreme haircuts are not permitted. This includes ‘Mohican’ styles and styles where patterns are cut into the shaved areas. These styles can be saved for the summer holidays. We have already had comments about how smart our children are and we want to keep it that way.

Celebration Assemblies:
Last year we had whole school assembly from 2.30pm on Fridays. This worked well but there were times when there was so much Good Work we over ran! To avoid this, we are moving to 9am on Fridays and showcasing Good Work and Class Champions. You will be notified by 2pm on Thursday if your child has been chosen.

This year’s classes:
Nursery – Mrs. Cockcroft
Reception 1- Mrs. Coupe
Reception 2 – Mrs. Cavanagh
Class 3 - Miss Lilley
Class 4- Miss Pursglove
Class 5 – Mrs. Crabtree
Class 6 – Mrs. Howard
Class 7 – Mrs. Whittaker
Class 8 – Mrs. Lord – Jones
Class 9 – Mrs Majeed
Class 10 – Miss Holden
Class 11- Mrs. O’Malley
Class 12 – Mr. Shaw
Class 13 – Mrs. Kitchin
Class 14 – Miss Dixon

Dates for your diary for the year so far:

• Wednesday 17.9.14.
  5.30pm – 6.30pm Y6 SATS workshop (Hall)
  6.30pm- 7.30pm Foundation Stage Phonics and Reading workshop (Hall)
• Wednesday 24.9.14 7pm PTFA
  Friday 26.9.14.
  9-am MacMillan coffee morning and Open morning Monday 29.9.14.
  2 – 3pm Foundation Phonics &Reading workshop Hall
  6pm Resources Governors subcommittee
• Tuesday 7.10.14 7pm Full Governing Body meeting
• Monday 13.10.14 Book Fair week 3.15pm - 4.15pm
• Monday 20.10.14 3.20 5.20pm Parents Evening day 1- 10 minute appointments
• Tuesday 21.10.14 5-7pm Parents Evening day 2
• Friday 24.10.14 9-10am Harvest whole school
• Break up
• Thursday 6.11.14
  5-6pm Whole school Maths parental workshop
• Tuesday 11.11.14 2pm Open Day for prospective parents
• Thursday 4.12.14 Foundation Stage play 2pm
• Monday 8.12.14 KS1 Xmas play 9- 9.30am Coffee 9.30-10.30am Play
• Tuesday 9.12.14 KS1 Xmas play 7PM
• Tuesday 16.12 14 Pantomime in school
• Wednesday 17.12.14 KS2 Carol Concert 7pm
• Friday 19.12.14 KS2 Xmas Carol Concert 9am followed by Fancy Dress. Break up 3.15pm
• Monday 5.1.15 Return
• Friday 13.2.15 Whole school Assembly and break up
• Tuesday 24.2.15 SAC Governor Committee 6pm
• Monday 2.3.15 Parents Evening 5 – 7pm
• Book Fair Week
• Tuesday 3.3.15 Parents Evening 3.20-5.20pm

Please note the closure days next year- Friday 22 May 2015 and 20 and 21 July 2015.