School Journalists: Half-term fun!

This week, our school journalists caught up with a few people round school to find out what they plan on getting up to over the half-term holidays.

Mila Y3 – I’m looking forward to going swimming with my cousins and playing football.

Stanley Y4 – On Pancake Day, I’m going to see my grandma and grandad. And, obviously eating pancakes.

Clara Y5 – I’m looking forward to seeing my grandma and grandad and having a sleep over at their house

William Y6 – I’m excited to have a sleepover with two of my friends, I’m seeing my cousins and I’m going to the cinema.

Whatever you get up to over half-term, we hope it’s happy and healthy.

Our weekly message: Friday 13 February 2026

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.

February half term holiday clubs in school

They’re running clubs across multiple schools… the coaches are buzzing to get started, and they’re putting the final touches on an action-packed itinerary full of sports, games, challenges, creativity, and plenty of smiles. Every session is designed to help children stay active, build confidence, make friends, and have an amazing time — whatever their ability.

To book your child’s place, please follow this link: https://pepartner.coordinate.cloud/list

The clubs at Moortown, Scholes, and St James’ are OFSTED registered, meaning childcare payment schemes can be used.

Refer a friend and earn £6.50 credit…

PE Partner can’t wait to deliver another brilliant school holiday club in our schools, helping children be more active, more confident, and happier, more often.

Our weekly message: Friday 06 February 2026

Don’t forget the parent-teacher meetings happening next week on Tuesday and Thursday after school – we’re looking forward to seeing you there.

Also next week…

Number facts challenge

Does your child know their times tables and other number facts?

On Wednesday next week, we’ll be doing the challenge for the first time with no preparation. After this, your child will bring home the challenge, their score and sponsor forms.

Please help your child improve their score for the next part of the challenge which will be on Wednesday 25 February. Help us raise lots of money for our school charity and for PTA – funds raised will be split 50-50.

Safer Internet Day 2026

Next Tuesday (10 February) is Safer Internet Day. This is an annual, global awareness day that encourages children, young people and adults to think carefully about how we use the online world and digital technology.

At home, it can be a powerful annual prompt to refresh conversations about online safety, wellbeing and responsible digital behaviour. Use these top tips for parents and carers from the UK Safer Internet Centre.

Sticking with the staying safe theme…

Blue lights

This week’s Living and Learning theme has been ‘I know the importance of the emergency services’.

Children in Key Stage 1 should watch this BBC Bitesize clip called “The different people who help us’. Have a chat about what they’ve watched. Can your child name any other people who help us?

Children in Key Stage 2 should watch an alternative BBC Bitesize clip: ‘How to make a call to emergency services’. On the same page are lots more short clips in the same series – how to deal with burns, choking, bites and stings… Aim to watch them over the next few weeks.

Have a happy and healthy weekend.

School Journalists: In the Spotlight

In the spotlight this week is Miss Bennett. Miss Bennett is a teaching assistant who works across Y1,2 and Y3,4.

What got you into working in schools?

I feel very passionate about helping children.

What’s your favourite thing about working in a school?

Favourite? I’d say seeing the children reach their full potential and I find it very rewarding.

What is your favourite subject?

In Key Stage 1, I’d say phonics. In Key Stage 2, I’d say writing.

What is it like to see all the children’s smiley faces?

It’s very rewarding and seeing children happy makes me feel happy, too.

And last, do you like working at Scholes?

I love working at Scholes!

Our weekly message: Friday 30 January 2026

We’re fast approaching the end of half-term, marking the half way point of the school year. Despite the dark and cold mornings (this morning being one of them!), it’s lovely to see our children coming in happy and healthy with a smile on their faces. The positive energy in school was noticed this week by our Chair of Governors who paid us a visit.

2026-27 training days

Last week, we let you know that the 2026-27 holidays are in our school calendar. We can now confirm the five training days are all confirmed and in the calendar, too. They are:

• Tuesday 01 September 2026
• Friday 02 October 2026
• Friday 23 October 2026
• Monday 07 December 2026
• Friday 28 May 2027

There are three in Autumn 1 half-term because this is a long half-term (eight weeks), giving children a chance to have a couple of longer weekends to rest.

A happy and healthy place to work

As well as welcoming helpful constructive questions, comments and concerns, every year we invite you to complete a survey. We do the same with staff – sometimes just teachers and sometimes all staff. Here’s a couple of comments from this year’s survey of teachers:

• ‘It feels like staff wellbeing is considered across the federation. Everything seems well considered and you can see the impact in the children and their learning.’
• ‘I feel very well supported by the school, and I really value the open communication and guidance from leaders and colleagues. There is a strong sense of shared responsibility and teamwork, which makes it easy to ask questions and feel confident in my role.’

Scholes (Elmet) Primary is a happy and healthy place to learn and also to work!

Charging, remissions and outstanding payments

We’ve recently updated our policy. Check this out, especially if your child attends wraparound care, after-school clubs or Nursery, or has tuition for an instrument. Main updates are around what we do if we’re waiting for a payment for these services.

Morwick Grove

At regular intervals, we like to remind everyone about the agreement that the school has with our Morwick Grove neighbours…

The long strip of grass down the side of Morwick Grove, adjacent to the school boundary hedge, is actually owned by neighbours on Morwick Grove and not school, Leeds City Council or the Parish Council. Access to the Nursery and Out of School Club is granted to us by them as a goodwill gesture – it’s not a right.

We obviously like to maintain the good relations we have. If you have to use this space, please ensure that you park and use this area respectfully. Please don’t park on the double yellow lines or grass verge, and please don’t block residents’ driveways.

Thank you for your cooperation.

Have a happy and healthy weekend.

School Journalist: some exciting updates

This week, our school journalists caught up some of our Y3 friends. It’s been a particularly exciting couple of weeks for Year 3. They have started their sessions in our new Forest School and, last week, visited The Yorkshire Museum. 

Our journalists caught up some children to find out a bit more.

Forest School is a fun, outdoor education program that children in Year 3 do every Monday.

What is your favourite thing about Forest School?

That it is all about nature.

What do you want to do next in Forest School?

Make pizza with the fire (spoiler alert: Y3 did this on Monday of this week).

Are your enjoying it?

Yes, definitely.

Do you have fun?

Yes!

Here’s a summary of the visit to Yorkshire Museum:

There were sculptures and lots of Roman artefacts like swords and shields. We went in an art gallery, where we ate our lunch.

In the dinosaur section, there was a VR (Virtual Reality) headset where you could feed a dinosaur. There was also an interesting section about Mary Anning.

Our weekly message: Friday 23 January 2026

This week’s message is a busy one. However, most of the sections are short and the last two sections are just suggestions…

Online safety Zoom

Did you attend Monday’s Zoom session – Online Safety Workshop?

• If you did, thank you. We welcome your feedback
• If you didn’t, you can watch a recording

Watch us while we work

Talking of feedback, thank you for the feedback following our recent Watch Us While We Work session.

• ‘The class was well organised with useful tips to help my child with their reading at home, whilst understanding how they are taught at school and what they are focusing on this term.’
• ‘I always really enjoy the opportunity to come into school and see learning in action, but it was great today to see the learning of a different topic away from the usual core subjects (today was a lesson centred around feelings and managing them).’

2026-27 school holidays

Leeds school holidays can be found here, and they’re now also in our school calendar. What’s missing at the moment is the dates of the five training days which schools take – we’ll be confirming these shortly and we’ll let you know.

Absences in term time

You all know we don’t authorise holidays or trips away in term time. You can be fined or face legal action for taking your child on holiday during term time. Since September 2025, there have been 1,841 penalty notices issued to families in Leeds.

We’re able to authorise an absence if it’s unavoidable or exceptional:

If your child is genuinely ill, that’s unavoidable (check the NHS Is my child too ill for school?). However, if your child has had numerous absences, we can ask for evidence of an illness or simply not authorise the absence.

If you need to be absent for something exceptional, like a wedding of a close relative, please ask for a form to request the absence is authorised. We may ask for more details so we can be clear about the absence. (And please remember – the absence must be exceptional, so a second absence is unlikely to be classed as exceptional, even if it’s for a different reason.)

Big Garden Birdwatch

The RSPB’s Big Garden Birdwatch starts today. It’s the world’s largest garden wildlife survey. It’s simple: spend an hour watching the birds in your patch, between 23 and 25 January, and record the birds that land!

Half-term suggestion

We can’t believe there are only three weeks left of this half-term before the half-term holiday. Fancy something different? Maybe consider something new, like climbing – there are sessions in Leeds and Harrogate – or something more traditional, like football.

As with all clubs and holiday activities, we strongly recommend you check out the provider’s safeguarding policies and practices. Check out the four questions you should ask – they’re at the foot of our Our extra-curricular activities page.

School Journalists: What we've been learning

This week, our school journalists interviewed some children to find out what they’ve been learning.

Faith met with some of our Y1,2 friends:

Did you enjoy Watch Us While We Work?

Yes – my parents came and it was nice for them to see my classroom.

Are you enjoying your class novel?

Yes, it’s a really good book. We’re reading The Tiger who Came to Tea.

What is your favourite subject to learn?

I would say reading.

Mine is writing.

Stanley caught up with some of our Y3,4 friends:

In maths, we’re learning about numbers up to 1000.

In art, we’ve been listening to music whilst we create patterns on our paper with a pencil.

In history, we’re learning about the Romans and the Anglo-Saxons. Our new class novel is called Queen of Darkness – we’ll read Anglo-Saxon boy soon, too.

In writing, we’re going to write a story about us (as Celts) preparing to go into battle against the Roman army.

And, Stanley also caught up with some of our Y5,6 friends:

We’ve been learning about the Vikings. They believed in a heaven called Valhalla. We’re also reading a book called Viking Boy. The main character is a boy called Gunnar who tries to avenge his father’s death.

In science, we’ve been planning an experiment properties of materials. We’re imagining that we’re preparing a cup of tea for the king. We’ll wrap it in different materials and see which one keeps it warmest.

Stay tuned for more exciting content from our wonderful school journalists. 

Our weekly message: Friday 16 January 2026

At Scholes (Elmet) Primary, we treat everything around health and safety seriously. One aspect of this is to make sure we do regular fire drills. Similar to this is to practise lockdowns and invacuations. Put simply, a lockdown is when people must stay where they are and an invacuation is when people must all go inside, possibly to the same space. We’ll be doing one of these practices next week. We explain to children reasons in a child-friendly way – for example, that this might be if there’s been a report of an angry dog or if there’s a building on fire and there’s too much smoke. 

Have you been to one of our class assemblies this year? This week, it was the turn of Class 1,2B (Mrs Latham’s class). Here’s a pic of some wonderful Phonics and Writing linked to the assembly…

The rest of this message is about this half-term’s topic…

What is this half-term’s topic?

This half-term, we’re historians. We’ll be developing our understanding of Britain’s past and the wider world. Children will use enquiry skills to answer questions about the past that require opinions. They’ll be ‘time detectives’, using sources of evidence to help them answer these questions. Each phase has age-related specific knowledge, skills and vocabulary that they’ll learn, use and apply across the topic. See pages 23, 24 and 25. 

Years 1 and 2

In this topic, children will learn about how toys and games have changed over time. They’ll develop chronological understanding by sequencing events in their own lives before learning about how toys and games were different during their parents’ and grandparents’ and great grandparents’ childhoods. They’ll look at similar toys from different times and try to sequence them chronologically using logical reasoning. They’ll use photographs and other sources of evidence to identify changes and similarities.

The key historical concept which we’ll explore in this topic is innovation. An innovation is an improvement or replacement for something

Years 3 and 4

In this topic, children will learn about the Roman Empire and its invasion of Britain. It will examine how life changed for the people living in Britain at the time of the invasion. They will learn about the Celtic warrior, Boudicca and how she resisted the Romans. Children will also consider what we know about Boudicca, how we know it and whether we can trust it.

They’ll learn about the amazing inventions and advances that the Romans brought to Britain. Finally, they’ll find out why the Romans left Britain and who the Anglo-Saxons were.

There are two key historical concepts which we’ll explore in this topic: empire and invasion. An empire is a large group of countries or states ruled by an emperor or empress. An invasion is when a country or region is invaded by an armed force. 

Years 5 and 6

In this topic, children will learn about Viking Britain and an Early Islamic Civilisation centred around the city of Baghdad around 800AD.

During this period of time, Baghdad was the largest city in the world and was the centre of the world’s trade routes. Trade between Vikings and Baghdad happened and provides a real link between these two societies.

Through studying the Vikings, children will again learn about how people invaded and settled in Britain. Invasion is also relevant as it brought an end to the Islamic Golden Age.

The Islamic Golden Age was a period of great innovation. Learning and knowledge was key to their success. They built the world’s first hospitals, universities and observatories, as well as studied writing from scholars around the world. The contrast with Viking Britain during the Dark Ages is stark!

There are three key historical concepts which we’ll explore in this topic: trade, invasion and innovation. Trade is the exchange of goods and services, initially for other goods and services, and then for money. An innovation is an improvement or replacement for something. An invasion is when a country or region is invaded by an armed force.

Help at home

Talk to your child about what they’ve been learning in class. The class news page of the school website is a good place to go to find out more about what the children are doing.

Find some books from the library which match what the children are learning. This will be quite easy for children in Key Stage 2 as there will be plenty of books about Roman Britain and Viking Britain. You should also be able to find some about the Islamic Golden Age. For children in Key Stage 1, look for some books about toys over time. However, any book that looks at how an aspect of life has changed over time will be good. For example, you may find books about shopping, houses, transport, holidays. These will all help your child to sequence chronologically and explore similarities and differences.

Watch television shows about history. Horrible Histories is great – regardless of your age!

Finally, don’t forget on Monday, we’ve an online session to support you to help your child stay safe online. This is important: very frequently, we’re made aware of unsafe behaviour amongst children when they’re online at home. Join in the Zoom session using the link that has been emailed to parents/carers.