It’s the last Weekly Message of Spring 1. It’s incredible to think we’ve already reached half-way through the school year!

Let’s start with another great Scholes (Elmet) Primary success…

Fantastic footballers

Whatever happens, we’re super proud of the children for getting so far in such a big tournament. As well as their success, we’re also super proud of the way they’ve conducted themselves throughout the competition – a representative from Harrogate Town recently praised the team for their team spirit, sportsmanship and their positive interactions with their opponents!

Staying safe online

Tuesday was Safer Internet Day. Do you speak with your child about staying safe online? Do you check your child’s devices and online history regularly? Do you make sure your child is online only in a busy room, with other people at home around them?

The government is launching a new website on 16 February 2026 to support families and encourage regular conversations about what they’re seeing online, asking simple questions, like ‘who shared this’ and ‘why?’. Based on parents’ main concerns and needs, it provides:

• tips for parents’ conversations with their children
• actions to support each stage of their child’s life
• parental controls information

The website will also feature signposting to trusted resources from charities and third parties, where parents can access other forms of support (like speaking to an expert).

The website will continue to grow and be developed this year, supporting the Online Safety Act and wider government aims.

Check out Kids online safety.

Young artists

Now in its eighth year, the Young Artists’ Summer Show is a free, open submission exhibition for students aged 4–18 studying in the UK. Artworks are judged by a panel of artists and arts professionals, with selected artworks displayed online and on-site at the Royal Academy of Arts.

Click here for more information about the competition. We’ve registered Scholes (Elmet) and now it’s over to you to register and submit an artwork. Submissions close on 4 March 2026 at 5pm.

Policies

Sphere Federation governors have asked me to include a reminder to you all that some key policies are available on our website.

Any docs and content on the website is available as a paper copy if you ask.

Swimming

This is a reminder about changes to Swimming lessons…

Previously, children in Year 3 attended weekly swimming lessons at a local pool. However, once travel and changing time were factored in, these lessons took up a large part of the afternoon – often for just a short amount of time in the water.

We’re introducing a new and improved approach: a pop-up pool – a purpose-built, heated, temporary swimming pool, located right on school grounds. Scholes (Elmet) Primary and Moortown Primary (another Sphere Federation school) will share this pool in an alternating cycle each year.

Each school will have access to the pool for a three-week block. During this time, children in Years 3 and 4 will swim every day for 45 minutes. Lessons will be delivered by fully qualified, external swimming instructors. This means your child will get 15 high-quality swimming lessons in just three weeks – a more focused and effective way to learn.

In Summer 2026, Scholes (Elmet) Primary will use the pool. (In Summer 2027, it’s the turn of Moortown Primary.) Over this two-year cycle, all children in Years 3 and 4 across both schools will benefit from this enhanced model.

We understand this may seem like fewer lessons overall. However, the intensive daily format has been shown to significantly boost children’s progress.

We’re confident that this change will give children a stronger foundation in swimming– and do so in a way that’s efficient, inclusive, and enjoyable. We’ll let you know more about swimming for Year 3 and 4 children nearer the time.

We hope you and your family enjoy the Spring half-term break – hopefully, it’ll stop raining at some point… See you on Monday 23 February.