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.

• Strike Action - Latest Update

  Tue 31 Jan 2023 Headteacher

  Strike Action

  Further to my previous correspondence regarding industrial action on Wednesday 1st February, I now have to unfortunately inform you that some members of staff have informed me today that they have taken the decision to take strike action.

   

  Strike action tomorrow 1st February is a result of a dispute between national government and the teaching union NEU over teachers' pay and conditions.

   

  I understand this situation will cause families disruption and my staff have made these last minute decisions with a heavy heart. I am sure you appreciate, industrial action is not an easy choice. Every member of staff is incredibly hard working and remains fully committed to the well being of pupils in school.

   

  The situation is that the school will be partially closed.

  • Nursery Fully open
  • Reception RC Closed
  • Reception RMS Open
  • Year 1R Closed
  • Year 1M Closed
  • Year 2A Open 
  • Year 2T Closed
  • Year 3B Open
  • Year 3T Closed
  • Year 4MK Closed
  • Year 4G Closed
  • Year 5D Closed
  • Year 5K Closed
  • Year 6C Open
  • Year 6BW Open

   

  Code club will be cancelled.

   

  Music tuition and choir for this week only will take place on Friday 3rd February.

   

  Pupils who receive a benefits related free school meal may collect a lunch from the school office from 11.30am.

   

  We are not providing remote education because teachers not taking strike action will be teaching their class and teachers who are striking will not be preparing/delivering lessons.

   

  Please be aware that staff are not required to inform me which union they are in or if they are indeed striking. We do not anticipate a picket line at the school, however if there is both Mrs Williams and I will manage this situation and seek support from Human Resources.

   

  Our wrap around child care will be open as usual from 7.30am - 9.00am and then again from 3.00pm - 6.00pm. If you no longer require child care please cancel your place and a full refund will be given.

   

  Once again , please accept my apologies for this difficult situation which I have no control over.

   

  Kind regards

  Jane Ramsay

  Headteacher

• Children's Mental Health Week Feb 6th - 12th 2023

  Mon 30 Jan 2023

  We are delighted to say that next week children throughout the school will be taking part in a range of interesting activities that support their mental wellbeing. During the week some year groups will be using the assemblies from Place2Be to talk about mental health and raise awareness in school. It will be a fantastic opportunity for the children to talk openly about their feelings and it will be wonderful to watch our children grow in confidence and enjoy the range of activities they will be taking part in.

  The theme this year is ‘Let’s Connect’. We as humans thrive in communities and this connection is vital for our wellbeing and our survival. When we have healthy connections with our family, friends and others, this can support our mental health and our sense of wellbeing. And when our social connections are not met we can sometimes feel isolated and lonely which can have a negative impact on our mental health.

  At Burnside we understand how crucial supporting children’s mental wellbeing is and all our staff and children will be working hard next week to ensure that maintaining good mental health and wellbeing will always remain a priority.

  Mrs Akram

  

• National Storytelling Week

  Mon 30 Jan 2023

  This week is National Storytelling Week. All children in school will be taking part in fun, interactive storytelling activities throughout the week. Some children in Key Stage Two will take part in an online event with professional storyteller and author Wendy Shearer. 

   

  We will be promoting the message that everyone is a storyteller and we all have our own story to tell. Encourage children to make up their own stories this week at home as well as retell familiar stories. Children's own storytelling is improved by their exposure to other people's stories and story language hence why reading stories is so important. 

   

  Children will come home tonight with a 'Share a Story' challenge sheet . This challenge is to promote reading for pleasure throughout February. Completed challenge sheets to be returned to school by 1st March. All entries to be awarded golden tickets and entered into a prize draw on World Book Day.

   

  Miss Turnbull

  

• Latest Update - Industrial Action

  Fri 27 Jan 2023 Headteacher

  Following my earlier message, I am now satisfied that with the information I currently have available, that all children can attend school on the 4 proposed days of strike action although a very small number of classes will not be following their usual curriculum timetable.

   

  As I explained earlier, teachers do not have to tell me their intentions, however, staff are liaising with me regularly to support me in planning.

   

  Should this position change, I will notify you as soon as possible however, my aim is for all children to be accounted for in school every day. 

• Our pupils are working hard and achieving well

  Fri 27 Jan 2023 Headteacher

  Assessment information indicates that the many of our pupils are working at the expected standard and beyond this for their age. Teachers are continuing to focus on stretching our pupils to achieve their individual full potential.

   

  Teacher assessment of pupils' writing and test results for reading and mathematics show that most pupils in most age groups are working at the expected standard for their age.

   

  In some age groups, some pupils are not making enough progress in, yet. This can be partially due to the time of the school year where pupils have not yet had enough time to deepen their understanding and knowledge.

   

  This term, teachers are now thinking about adding more challenge into our lessons by teaching to the top and providing support or scaffolds to help pupils reach our high expectations.

   

  Whilst test results are a useful indicator of a child's achievement, teachers' knowledge of each pupil and what they know and remember is equally important. 

   

  Deputy Headteacher and Phase Leaders are working with individual teachers to look at next steps for classes and individual pupils.

   

• Celebrating Reading

  Fri 27 Jan 2023 Headteacher

  It has been a pleasure to visit classes already this year and see so many pupils reading books for pleasure.

   

  “Reading is an exercise in empathy. An exercise in walking in someone else’s shoes for a while.”

  Malorie Blackman

   

  Reading daily improves vocabulary and language skills.

  Children learn new words as they read. Subconsciously, they absorb information on how to structure sentences and how to use words and other language features effectively in their writing and speaking. 

   

  All pupils who attend Burnside are expected to read for 15 minutes at home every day. This may be to a parent, other adult or independently, if able. Teachers will be checking pupils' reading records and signing them weekly to ensure that this is happening and will be following up with pupils and parents when it is not. 

   

  As well as signing their reading record every day and writing the name of the book and pages they've read, we would like to encourage pupils and parents to discuss new words they come across and discuss the meanings of these together.

   

  We will be making our final decisions on how we celebrate World Book Day this year in consultation with the Reading Leaders.  Please look out for further details on this next week!

  

• Risk of Closure - Industrial Action UPDATE

  Tue 24 Jan 2023 Headteacher

  I wrote to you previously regarding the proposed industrial action the NEU teaching union proposed which was to  begin on 1st February 2023.

   

  Early indications suggest that Burnside Primary School will be open as usual. 

   

  Staff have the right to change their decision right up until the date of the strike and should there be any changes I will let you know. 

• Chinese New Year

  Mon 23 Jan 2023

  A big Thank You to the Tong Family for visiting our school today and bringing their Chinese Dragon.

   

  All the children enjoyed this special treat.

  

• NSPCC Number Day - 3rd Feb 2023

  Mon 23 Jan 2023

  We are delighted to support the NSPCC by taking part in Number Day on Friday 3rd February 2023.

  (please see letter that all children were sent home with)

  

• Here Is What You Said

  Mon 23 Jan 2023 Headteacher

  Thank you to everyone who completed the short online survey. The results are as follows

  Question	Yes	No	N/A
  My child is happy at school	95.6%	4.4
  My child feels safe at school	97.8%	2.2
  My child makes good progress	100%
  I receive information from teachers about about how well my child is doing	88.9%	11.1%
  The school has high expectations for my child and wants him/her to do their best	100%
  The school encourages children to behave well	100%
  My child has NOT been bullied	91.1%	8.9%
  My child has been bullied and the school  has put measures in place to deal with it	8.9%	6.7%	84.4%
  The school is well managed	97.8%	2.2%
  The school supports my child's wider personal development	91.1%	8.9%
  My child has SEND and the school gives them the support they nee	24.4%	6.7%	68.9%
  My child's mental health is well supported	97.8%	2.2%

   

  We intended to look at areas where more than 10% of the returns felt it was an area we needed to improve. As such the area we need to work upon is ensuring that parents feel the teachers share with them information as to how well their children are doing. 

   

  I will be discussing this with Senior Leaders and teachers this half term and consider what actions we can take to improve this.

   

  Once again, thank you for completely this short form to share your views. Please look out for a series of short surveys we will be sending out during 2023. Your views are very important to us.