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.

• Mobile Phones in School

  Mon 26 Feb 2024 Headteacher

  You may have read in the media that there is currently a focus on mobile phones and whether pupils should have access to these in school. 

   

  Read the full guidance here: DfE mobile phones in school.

   

  Our procedures are unchanged, if parents provide pupils with a mobile phone, the phone should be handed in to the class teacher at the start of the school day and taken to the school office for safe keeping, it will be handed back at the end of the day. Pupils are not allowed to use or access their phones during the school day, this includes during childcare or clubs. It is important to note that the school does not accept responsibility for any loss or damage to devices/

   

  For more guidance on how to talk to your child about their mobile phone use have a look at this useful guide from the UK safer internet centre:

  • Guidance for parents, how to talk to your children about what they use their mobile phone for and how to use it responsibly. 

• Chinese New Year

  Tue 13 Feb 2024

  A big thank you to the Tong family and friends for coming to school to parade their lion and dragon as part of Burnside's Chinese New Year celebrations. Some of our very creative children in Year 3 and Reception have been working very hard outside of school time to create their own wonderful dragon for the parade. Well done to all involved, it was amazing!

  

• Children's Mental Health Week

  Mon 05 Feb 2024

  From 5th to the 9th February 2024, our school will be taking part in Place2Be’s Children’s Mental Health Week. This year the theme is ‘My Voice Matters’ and it is all about empowering our children by giving them the tools they need to express themselves.

   

  The week has begun with all of our pupils observing a virtual assembly led by ‘52 lives, School of Kindness’. During this week, we want all of our children to be able to say and believe that ‘My Voice Matters’.

  Each day, some classes will be watching a short video / assembly and there will be some discussion points linked to the focus of the day. All classes will be completing ‘Acts of Kindness’ throughout the week that have been carefully designed by our School Council  members. Children will also be taking part in a range of other stimulating activities in their classrooms that will support our mental health.

  Mrs Akram
  Year 2 teacher
  Mental Health Lead

  

• Invacuation 'lockdown' drill, keeping children safe

  Thu 01 Feb 2024 Headteacher

  This half term in addition to our usual fire evacuation drill pupils and staff will practise our invacuation drill as part of our regular safety checks. It is important that we put procedures in place and plan even for those events that are VERY unlikely to occur. 

   

  What is an invacuation and when would it happen?

  An invacuation, sometimes referred to as a lockdown procedure,  is a standard safety procedure, similar to an emergency evacuation/fire drill. This procedure would be used if there is a threat to the safety of pupils, staff and others in  school, and when it’s safer for everyone to remain in the school building rather than evacuate. 
  Situations where our invacuation procedure may be used include:

  • a potentially dangerous person or dog on the school site
  • an alert from the police about a disturbance or dangerous situation in the local community that could affect the school
  • a nearby chemical incident or other risk of air pollution
  • an incident related to terrorism.

   

  What is the invacuation procedure?

  When we initiate the invacuation procedure, everyone in school will be alerted by the sounding of a specific alarm.

   

  Staff follow procedures and ensure that, as in the case of a fire evacuation, everyone is safe.

  
  During a drill pupils will either stay in their classroom, or if outside on the yard or field, will make there way into the nearest classroom, and wait quietly until the drill is given the 'all clear'.

• Celebrating With Positivity

  Thu 25 Jan 2024

  Has your child received a positive feedback this week? 

  Did you know adults in school record positive behaviour?

   

  Teachers and other adults in school give stickers and golden tickets  to recognise positive achievements, acts of kindness, going over and above to show the school values - BE SAFE, BE KIND, BE SMART

   

  Pupils are rewarded in many others ways in school too. these include:

  • praise, for doing the right things, following our school values, being polite, helping others.
  • a moving up the class behaviour chart, for making good choices throughout the day, 

   

  Find out more about how we support and manage pupils behaviour by reading our behaviour policy.

• Punctuality and why it is important

  Thu 25 Jan 2024

  Arriving on time for school is one of the best ways to help your child reach their full learning potential. Research shows that arriving just 5 minutes late each day can impact the amount of lessons they miss.
   

  • Arriving 5 minutes late every day, roughly adds up to  over 3 days lost each year

  • Arriving 15 minutes late every day, roughly adds up to 2 weeks absence a year

  • Arriving 30 minutes late every day, roughly adds up to 19 days absence a year

   

  Please support your children with this by ensuring they arrive at school on time every day.  

  
      Main School times

  • 7.30am - Breakfast Club Opens

  • 8:30am - Children permitted onto school yard

  • 8:45am - Classroom & external doors open.

  • 9:00am - All classes, registration. Lessons begin immediately after registration.

   

  When children arrive late it can be disruptive for the class teacher and the other children in the class. It is also unsettling for the child, because they may  miss the important instructions for the first lesson of the day.

   

  Children who arrive at school after the doors have closed  are late, they should go to the office to sign in via the main reception. 

• Collecting Children

  Thu 25 Jan 2024

  Dear Parents and Carers,

   

  We would like to remind you of the importance of collecting your children promptly from school. We understand that waiting around in cold and wet weather can be unpleasant, so we have asked our teachers to dismiss at the correct time.

   

  If you are running late, please telephone the school office to let us know. Whenever, possible staff  can arrange for your child to be taken over to the after-school club to be supervised and have a snack until you arrive. This is particularly useful when teaching staff have training, meetings or are teaching immediately after the school day finishes. 

   

  Please note that there is a charge of £4.50 which covers anytime used until 4pm. 

   

  Thank you for your cooperation.

• Job Vacancy - Lunchtime Supervisor

  Tue 23 Jan 2024

  We are currently looking to recruit new Lunchtime Supervisors to our existing team.

   

  Details of the post are available on the Vacancy Section of our School Website.

   

  All applicants will undergo a DBS check and will be required to complete safeguarding training.

   

  If you wish to obtain further details please ring the school office 01670 736 052 and speak to

  Mrs McMullen, Senior Lunchtime Supervisor.