Keep up to date with all the news happening in the school at the moment. Articles are added during the week. Parents are encouraged to check regularly. Our weekly newsletter, emailed directly to parents, summarises content for the week.

• Cramlington Hub Window Display

  Fri 16 Dec 2022 Headteacher

  We were invited again to create a Christmas window display within the Cramlington Hub, next to Concordia Leisure Centre. 

  Please go and have a look if you are in the vicinity. The children's work looks amazing, even if I say so myself!!

• Pupils Voice - Maths

  Tue 13 Dec 2022

  In order to continue to improve our maths curriculum, our maths leaders recently asked pupils from each year group within school to complete a short questionnare. The results will be used to continue to fine tune the teaching of maths from Nursery to Year 6.

  Results from reception pupils to follow.

   

  Year Group	Nursery	Reception	Year 1	Year 2	Year 3	Year 4	Year 5	Year 6
  What do you like about maths?	Learning numbers.   We learnt the number 2 and next we will learn 3.   We have been doing patterns – orange and blue, orange and blue.		Doing number sentences. Using cubes. Doing maths on my whiteboard.	Learning lots of new things. Subtracting. Doing the adding and taking away methods.	Testing my brain. Using cubes. Doing the challenging questions. Figuring out answers.	Times tables and addition and subtraction. Challenges and problem solving.	Learning things in small steps Lots of discussion	Solving problems Learning new things Maths is fun. I especially like numbers and division
  What do you not like about maths?	Nothing		Sitting on the carpet too long. When there are too many numbers.	When you get things wrong. When it’s hard but maths isn’t too hard it’s just right.	Doing division with high numbers because it’s hard. When I get things wrong.	I like everything about maths. It can be hard but in a good way.	Too many questions to answer in our workbook When I don’t finish all of the questions. Too many of the same type of question sometimes.	When it’s hard Multi-step problems because I lose track.
  When do you learn best in maths?			When we do it together. When I write it on my whiteboard.	Using base 10, number lines or a method.	When I can talk with my partner about it. When we work quietly.	When it’s quiet and I can work on my own. When we can share maths skills with our partner and talk about it. When I take notes on the carpet to help me.	Talking with a partner or my table Using my whiteboard Working quietly but being able to share ideas with my partner	When I listen Having a whiteboard When it’s quiet and I can get on independently
  Do you do maths every day?			Yes – except when we do Outdoor Learning We sometimes do maths in the afternoon too.	Yes	Yes	Yes – we do double maths one day because we have music.	Yes	Yes
  What do you do if you get stuck in maths?			Put my hand up. Wait until my teacher comes to my table.	Ask my teacher. Use my fingers. Look at the base 10 on the wall.	Keep trying. Use a number line. Use the times tables around the classroom. Ask my teacher. Use a hundred square.	Try again. Ask my teacher. Use a times table turner. Use our maths wall. Partition the numbers.	Use the examples on the maths board. “I sometimes get the numerator and denominator mixed up so its helpful having it on the board.”	Put your hand up and ask Use my whiteboard Use the words on the maths wall Ask someone on my table
  Why do you think maths is important?			When we have a job or go to high school.	So we can learn new things. For when we do projects at home.	When you want to buy things.	So you can sort out your bills when you’re older.	Sorting out things when you’re a manager in a job. Paying for things at the shop.	We need it for everyday life When we’re buying things and have a job
  How do you know when you’re doing well in maths?			When the teacher says the answer and we’ve got it right. When I’ve put my numbers the right way using the number line on my table.	Ticks in my book. Stars.	I’ve got the correct answer and put a tick.	Ticks in my book. When you can see what you’ve got right.	We understand it. You can explain it to your friend. Stars in our book or a comment. We can see when we mark our own work.	Stars in our books or good comments. When we have no corrections to do
  How do you know what to improve in maths?			When you get an answer wrong you can cross it out and have another try.	We have another go at the question.	I can see which ones I’ve got wrong and what mistake I’ve made when I tick and cross it.	The teacher talks us through it. When we mark our work we can see what mistakes we have made and can try and correct them.	We can see the mistakes we have made when we mark our own work.	When we read back through and repeat a question to correct it When we self-mark and see our mistakes
  How could we make maths better at Burnside?			More challenges, More number sentences.	Doing more maths.	Have more resources. More challenges.	More challenges.	Do some of the questions together first. People to come in to see what maths is like out of school.	Having maths ambassadors Tutoring Having a maths club to help us with SATs

• Burnside Wins 1st Place

  Tue 13 Dec 2022

  Year 3 pupils across the Schools Sport Partnership were invited to compete in an inter class competition. Burnside Won BEST OVERALL CLASS (3B)

  In fact we broke a record as it was the first time ever that any school was awarded a 100% result. 

• Winter Weather

  Tue 13 Dec 2022

  I would like to thank Mr Marks, our school caretaker, for preparing with salt/ grit the walkways around the school site during this extremely cold period. 

   

  If you are coming onto site, please remember to use the footpaths which have been gritted. We have a map of all areas which are gritted, copies of this map are available from the school office should you require one.

  

• Governing Body News

  Tue 13 Dec 2022

  Earlier this term, Mr Caddies Green was elected Chair of Governors. He has been a member of the Governing Body, for several years, so knows our school well. Mr Caddies Green will be attending some of our Christmas events, so it may be a great time for you to meet him informally.

• Staff Update

  Tue 13 Dec 2022

  As we approach the end of this school term, there are several staff changes:

   

  • Mrs Stewart, Reception Class Teacher and KS2 French Specialist Teacher was welcomed back this week following her maternity leave.

   

  • Mrs McDonald, Reception Class Maternity Supply Teacher will leave us at the end of term and we would like to thank her for her commitment during the short time she was worked with us. 

   

  • Mrs McCoy will leave at the end of term to have her 2nd baby. She will return after her maternity leave. We wish her and her family the best of luck.

   

  • Miss Akhtar will start in January 2023 to cover Mrs McCoy's maternity leave. She is a talented teacher who was fantastic when we interviewed her. We look forward to welcoming Miss Akhtar when she visits next week to meet the children in her class.

   

  • Mrs Donaldson, After School Club Manager will leave at the end of term. Mrs Donaldson will be missed by her colleagues and the children. We wish her the very best of luck in the future. 

   

  • Mrs Burnip will continue to lead and support our Nursery and Reception Classes in Mrs Shaw's absence. We continue to send Mrs Shaw our very best wishes for a speedy recovery. Mrs Burnip's class in Year 3 will continue to be covered by Mr Smith.

   

  • Miss Battista, Year 5 trainee teacher has completed her placement and PGCE. She has been appointed as Key Stage 2 Teacher at Kings Priory, Tynemouth. We wish her luck as she embarks on her new career in teaching. 

   

• Are your child's vaccinations up-to-date?

  Tue 06 Dec 2022 Headteacher

  Reminder from the NHS  to get your child vaccinated over the Christmas holidays

   

  We would like to remind parents of school aged children to  to keep up to date with their child’s vaccinations. This winter break from school presents a great opportunity to go out and get them vaccinated.

   

  Most children aged 1-9 years old need to receive the polio vaccination to keep them safe from its devastating effects. Whilst it is urgent for your child to have the polio vaccination now, it is also important to check your child is up to date with their covid, flu and MMR immunisations during the winter period.

   

  Lots of appointments are available through local pharmacies and booked appointments at vaccine centres.

   

  If your child missed their flu vaccination in school, you can call the flu catch-up number to find out where to get a flu vaccine.

   

  Why is the polio booster so important?
  Polio can result in life-long paralysis and other disabilities, and in extreme cases, even death. There is no cure for polio, immunisation is the only protection.

   

  We have not seen a live case of polio in the UK since 1984, and it is advised that we prevent any community spread.

   

  More information and frequently asked questions about the polio vaccination programme for children is available from the NHS

• Scarlet Fever and Invasive Group A Strep

  Tue 06 Dec 2022 Headteacher

  As this is the first winter without pandemic restrictions in two years, you and your children may be more susceptible to the usual winter bugs and viruses this year. Winter bugs and viruses are usually mild, but can sometimes become more serious. More information about when to keep your child away from school and nursery is available:

  • NHS, Is my child too ill for school?

   

  You may have seen the news recently about the Group A strep bacteria. This is a common bacteria found in the throat that can cause a range of illnesses, including tonsillitis, scarlet fever and some skin infections.

   

  Scarlet fever
  Scarlet fever is usually a mild illness, but it is highly infectious. Look out for symptoms in your child, which include a sore throat, headache, and fever, along with a fine, pinkish or red body rash with a sandpapery feel. On darker skin, the rash can be more difficult to detect visually but will have a sandpapery feel.

   

  Contact NHS 111 or your GP if you suspect your child has scarlet fever, because early treatment of scarlet fever with antibiotics is important to reduce the risk of complications such as pneumonia or a bloodstream infection.

   

  If your child has scarlet fever, keep them at home until at least 24 hours after the start of antibiotic treatment to avoid spreading the infection to others.
  
  When to seek help
  As a parent, if you feel that your child seems seriously unwell, you should trust your own judgement.
  Contact NHS 111 or your GP if:

  • your child is getting worse
  • your child is feeding or eating much less than normal
  • your child has had a dry nappy for 12 hours or more or shows other signs of dehydration
  • a baby in your family is under 3 months and has a temperature of 38℃, or is older than 3 months and has a temperature of 39 ℃ or higher
  • your baby feels hotter than usual when you touch their back or chest, or feels sweaty
  • your child is very tired or irritable.

   

  Call 999 or go to A&E if:

  • your child is having difficulty breathing – you may notice grunting noises or their tummy sucking under their ribs
  • there are pauses when your child breathes
  • your child’s skin, tongue or lips are blue
  • your child is floppy and will not wake up or stay awake

• Good Hygiene Measures

  Tue 06 Dec 2022 Headteacher

  On 2nd December 2022, UK Health Security Agency (UK HSA) put out an alert on the national rise in cases of scarlet fever (caused by Group A Streptococcus) and Invasive Group A Streptococcus. This is across all regions in England. For us, this means:

  • pupils with specific conditions such as scarlet fever should stay off school until GP and/or clinical assessment and not return for 24 hours after starting antibiotics;
  • where there maybe many co-circulating bacteria and viruses, we re-emphasise good hygiene including:
    • more hand-washing or sanitising during the school day until the end of term. Parents may send pupils to school with a small bottle of hand-sanitiser, if you wish;
    • reminding pupils of the 'catch-it, kill-it, bin-it' approach to respiratory hygiene, including taking a lesson time to talk to pupils and perhaps watch a video.
  • tell us if your child has been diagnosed with scarlet fever because we must also tell Northumberland health protection team if there are 2 or more cases in a class.

• Remember to check the Calendar!!!

  Fri 02 Dec 2022 Headteacher

  We are approaching one of the busiest times of the year and it's easy to forget what is happening in school. I often don't know if I am coming or going!!!

   

  Our school calendar has all the dates and information you will need. You can even set up alerts to your device to help you out!!