This week’s message is a day earlier because of the training day tomorrow.
Your views matter
Every year, we invite you to complete a short survey. Your views matter. They help to shape what we do in the forthcoming year(s).
This year’s survey features a series of questions closely related to what Ofsted might ask parents during an inspection. Towards the end, we’re asking just a few extra questions about mobile phones – we really want to hear your views.
Complete the Scholes (Elmet) Primary survey here. We’ll send a few reminders before the closing date, which is Monday 15 June at noon.
It’s worth bearing in mind that if you raise in the survey something very specific that needs to be addressed, we can’t easily act on this without your child’s name. In fact, the survey isn’t the best place to raise individual, specific concerns – hopefully, you’re comfortable to speak with your child’s class teacher or Miss Hague about these instead.
You said, we did
Last year, you shared some concerns about school dinners and food at wraparound care. We’ve talked with other catering providers but weren’t convinced their offer would be any better or value for money. We’ve also raised your concerns with Catering Leeds and since then we’ve seen some improvements – we’ll continue to monitor this.
School meals prices
To enable Catering Leeds (our school meal service provider) to ensure the financial sustainability of the service, we’ve been informed that, unfortunately, school meal pri
From September, the price of a school meal for children in Nursery and Years 3, 4, 5 and 6 will be £3.20 per day. (Children in Reception, Year 1 and Year 2 will continue to receive Universal Infant Free School Meals.)
As you’ll no doubt have heard in the news, school budgets are becoming increasingly tight. We have no choice but to pass on the cost increases to parents/carers, to ensure we have as much money as possible for teaching, learning and providing a varied curriculum for our children.
Relationships and Sex Education
Nationally, all primary schools are required by law to teach Relationships Education and Health Education. In Sphere Federation schools, we’ve provided RSE lessons successfully as part of Living and Learning for many years.
In the first three weeks of Summer 2, children from Year 1 to Year 6 will take part in Relationships and Sex Education (RSE) lessons. Please be assured that RSE is delivered at a level appropriate to both the age and development of pupils. Lessons are led by children’s class teacher and take place in a safe learning environment.
In the latest update to the statutory guidance for Relationships, Sex and Health Education, we welcome the inclusion of correct terminology for body parts, including genitalia. This reflects established best practice when it comes to giving children the knowledge they need to stay safe, including the ability to identify and report signs of abuse. We’ve been teaching the anatomical names for body parts for many years.
We refer you to these sections of our RSE policy:
- Section 9 provides alist of the vocabulary that will be used (pages 7 and 8)
- Section 11 includes anoverview of the topics that will be covered (page 11 includesa table to show the learning across each year group)
We know that you may have some issues / concerns. If you’d like to find out more, discuss any concerns, or speak to someone in more detail about the teaching and learning planned for this important aspect of your child’s education, please contact your child’s class teacher or Miss Hague.
Similarly, you have the right to request that your child be withdrawn from some or all of the lessons that can be regarded as ‘sex education’. For our school, this comprises lessons in Year 6 on what human reproduction is and how babies grow. Please see the government’s factual guide to RSE for parents: Understanding Relationships and Health Education in your child’s primary school: a guide for parents. If you wish to withdraw your Year 6 child from RSE, please contact Miss Hague to discuss the matter. (See page 6 of the RSE policy for more information about your right to withdraw your child.)
We’re committed to working in partnership with parents. Parental feedback indicates that the overwhelming majority of parents are highly supportive of our Relationships and Sex Education programme.
Staying safe
This week has been our Staying Safe themed week in school. Check out our Class News for more about this.
One of the most important ways to help your child stay safe is when they’re online. Gov.uk has a site dedicated to online safety for children. Find practical information from trusted places to help you feel more confident on the steps you can take to protect your child online.
Have a happy and healthy half-term.