Western Primary School Newsletter No 01
5th September 2008
Dear Parents/Carers,
It is lovely to welcome the children back after the summer break. I hope you all had a good holiday despite the lack of sunshine. I am hoping for an ‘Indian Summer’ but the forecast is not very promising!
We are very pleased with the refurbishments that have taken place over the summer. The Years 1/3 and 2/4 cloakrooms and toilets are unrecognisable. In the words of one Year 4 boy, “they are amazing!”. If you would like to see the transformation for yourself, you are welcome to visit on Friday, Monday or Tuesday at 3.45pm. May I ask Years 1, 2, 3 and 4 parents not to come through the cloakroom doors in the morning as space is at a premium? If you need to access the school, please enter via the front door and the office staff. Thank you for your understanding in this.
We have also had the staffroom completely refurbished and we are delighted with all these improvements. A clean, attractive environment is important for everyone.
We are having some ‘mini’ partitions built between classes 5H and 4P to help define these rooms more distinctly. This work will be completed at half-term, at the latest.
All these projects are financed from the school’s Devolved Capital Grant which is an annual grant from the government for building and other capital projects. Western has received £44,000 each year for the past few years and this money has been spent on improving internal spaces to enhance the learning environment.
This funding has previously financed our library, DT room, classroom and staff toilet refurbishments. This year, from accrued funds, we have spent £85,000 on the cloakrooms and toilets, £7,000 on the staffroom, £11,000 on ICT hardware and £1,500 on the partitions. This leaves a small amount which will be carried forward to the next financial year when it can be added to next year’s grant in April. We are planning to use some of this funding to purchase interactive whiteboards for Years R, 1 and 2 classrooms.
Plans for the next phase of improvements are being discussed in the coming year. If you would like to be involved in the strategic development of the school and spending decisions, you may be interested in the role of Parent Governor. We have some vacancies currently and information about how to apply will be sent home next week. If you would like to find out more, please do not hesitate to contact me or I can put you in touch with one of our governors.
Mr Yaldren, our Site Manager, will be retiring at October half-term after 16 years service at Western. He has been a loyal and reliable member of the team and we wish him all the best for a long and happy retirement.
If you know of anyone who may be interested in the role of Site Manager, please ask them to contact Mrs Adams for an application pack. The closing date for applications is 3.30pm on Wednesday 17th September.
We welcome Mrs Hedges to our team at Western. She will cover Key Stage 2 planning, preparation and assessment (PPA) time and teach Years 3, 4 and 5. She specialises in French and music but will also teach a range of other subjects.
Mrs Thomas goes on maternity leave on Friday 19th September and we send her good wishes for the forthcoming event.
Can you spare 75 minutes a week on a regular basis? If the answer is ‘yes’, we would love to hear from you! We urgently need to recruit Lunchtime Supervisory Assistants. Even one day a week would make a huge difference to our team and to the children’s experience of lunchtimes. Perhaps you know someone who may be interested (a Sixth Former at Peter Symonds perhaps?). Please pop into the office and pick up an application form. This is a very important role in school.
You will be pleased to know that HCC have approved the School Travel Plan and allocated £5,835 for its implementation. My thanks to Mrs Henderson and Mr Woodland for their hard work in writing and submitting the bid. The planned improvements will be put out to tender this term and work will commence as soon as possible.
Fruit and vegetables are provided free of charge to all children in Years R, 1 and 2 through a national scheme funded by the government. We have rolled this scheme out to children in Years 3 and 4 at a very reasonable cost - £7.00 per term. Other snacks should not be brought into school please, to encourage healthy eating. If you would like to participate, it is not too late. Please make your cheque payable to ‘Western C of E Primary School’. Children in Years 5 and 6 are encouraged to bring fruit, vegetables or a cereal bar as part of our healthy eating initiative.
A booklet detailing up to date practical information will be sent home next week. It contains important reminders about life at school that help to keep the children safe and everything running as smoothly as possible.
Western is very fortunate to have a large, attractive site which allows the children to have access to a green oasis in the midst of dense housing. However the site does have some disadvantages and it needs careful management. Reviews of health, safety and security measures are carried out annually and reports are made to governors.
Out of bounds – Children and parents should not use the steep bank outside Year 1/Year R classrooms to access the main field. Trees and bushes next to the perimeter fencing should not be used during school hours or after school. Children should not go into the trees and bushes around the playgrounds and fitness trail.
Vehicles – Parents should not drive into the school site between 8.40 and 9.10 am and 3.20 and 3.50 pm.
The back gates (not the Year R gates) will be locked at 9.10 am each day and reopened at 3.20 pm.
Dogs – May I remind you that dogs should not be brought on to the school site. Also, please do not tie your dog at the gate.
I will keep you informed of any health and safety measures that we implement. The safety and well being of the children, staff and visitors at Western are of paramount importance and we thank you for your support in our efforts to make Western a place where everyone is safe and secure.
I will write again soon. In the meantime, I hope the children are settling back into the school’s routines and enjoy all the exciting activities the teachers have planned for this half-term. Detailed curriculum information letters will be sent home by the classteachers in the next week.
Yours sincerely
Lorraine Smith
Headteacher
Diary Dates
Monday 22nd September : 7.45pm for 8.00pm PTA AGM – All welcome
Tuesday 30th September : 7.00pm New Year R Parents’ Meeting
Tuesday 21st October : Parent-Teacher Consultations 4.30 – 7.30 pm
Thursday 23rd October : Parent-Teacher Consultations 4.30 – 7.30 pm
Friday 24th October : In Service Training Day Closure
Monday 27th – Friday 31st October : Half Term
Monday 3rd November : School reopens 8.55 am