Important Note:
This is a text and image only webpage that can be used to easily translate important updates for those whose first language is not English.
Weekly Newsletter - 13th November 2026
“Excellent attendance is vital for children to flourish and achieve”
Our Vision relates to the parable of ‘The Lost Sheep’ and we do not want any child or adult to be left behind, we all work together and respect everyone. We believe all our children can flourish and achieve their potential to enable them to succeed in the future.
Something Mrs Wainwright has enjoyed this week was spending time outside on duty with Years 3 & 4. It is nice to be able to spend time with the children, chat and join in their games. I had a go at football and basketball (I still have skills!)
Worship – Our current theme is compassion and this week we discussed what it means to be compassionate.
We also reflected on our Big Question, how does showing compassion make you happy?
We have also discussed our attribute, ‘drive’ and how you have to work hard at things especially in lessons so you can do your best.
The St Bart’s way – It is more important than ever that we walk round school in line sensibly as the weather makes everywhere more wet and slippery.
These are the poppy wreaths that the children made in classes that went on display in church for Remembrance Sunday.
Well done to all the children and thank you to Mrs Best and Miss Appleton who organised this.
REMINDERS:
- ONLINE SAFETY – It is really important in this modern work we keep our children safe online. Children have access to many things online and need careful monitoring by adults. Many social media platforms are restricted and children should not be on them. We teach in school the importance of online safety and how they can keep themselves safe but ultimately the adults in their lives need to monitor and restrict what they do. This is hard if you are busy or may not be very knowledgeable about these things yourself. If you need advice on online safety, please ask. We will look at running a session for parents after Christmas.
- Halal Menu – If your child is on the Halal menu, they have to have this when it is an option. This is Leeds Catering rule and helps them plan and prepare. If you want to discuss the Halal menu, please see Mrs Busby at the office.
- Coats – It is the time of year when children need to come to school in their coats. Often, they have new ones and their names may not be in them. Please check and put their name in or ask us to. We are having an increasing amount of lost coats/jackets that we struggle to find the owner of. We know how much coats cost and do not want them to go missing. We really appreciate your support with this as we can spend a lot of time looking for lost coats.
Starting Reception September 2027 – If your child is born between 1st September 2022 and 31st August 2023, then you must apply online for a school place between 1st November 2026 and 15th January 2027. If you require any help completing your online application please contact Mrs Drake at the school office.
Lost and Found
Here are three items found since we returned at half term and we cannot find their owners. If you recognise these ask at the office.
Attendance
We expect all children to be in school every day and on time. 8.30am for Nursery, 12.30pm in the afternoon and by 8.50am for the rest of school. Thank you
It is the time of year when children, and adults get winter bugs. If they are sick, they need to be off for two days. If they have a cough and cold they should be in school unless they are too unwell with a temperature.
We are very aware it is a fine balance between keeping our children well and wanting them to be in school learning.
If you are unsure, please ask us and we can advise you.
Attendance Winners for last week:
- KS1 – Class 2 – 96.4%
- Years 3 & 4 – Class 7 – 98%
- Years 5 & 6 – Class 99.7%
Well done to the best classes:
- EYFS & Years 1 & 2 – Class 3
- Years 3 & 4 – Class 10
- Years 5 & 6 – Class 14
Headteachers Awards – Well done to the children who have had a great week in school.
- Class 11 Kelechi
- Class 11 Aaima
- Class 11 Toro
- Class 12 Darrel
- Class 12 Rebecca
- Class 12 Fraser
- Class 13 Ethan
- Class 13 Dorota
- Class 13 Dilajla
- Class 14 Kaspian
- Class 14 Elaine
- Class 14 Tahlia
- Class 15 Emmanuel
- Class 15 Noble
- Class 15 Hokay
Weekly Round Up
Nursery - This week we have learnt all about Diwali and Remembrance Day. We had two minutes silence on Wednesday and we were so proud of all the children as they sat quietly for the whole two minutes. The children learnt two new songs: Diwali song and ‘10 little fireworks’ song. We continued to paint fireworks and listened to firework sounds. In Maths the children practised counting 3 objects by touching them or pointing to them as they ‘1…2...3'. The children also continued to recognise 3 objects without counting, this time in different arrangements.
Reception – This week in Reception we have been talking a lot about Remembrance Day and why we have a 2 minutes silence. We have enjoyed making playdough poppies and creating poppy artwork. In Maths we have learnt a new counting song '5 little peas in a pea pod’. We have practiced counting out 5 counters on to counting hands. We have listened to the story 'The true story of the 3 little pigs' and decided if the wolf was telling the truth about what happened to the pigs.
Years 1 & 2 – This week the children in Year 1 have really enjoyed their English lessons where they have been looking at firework poetry. They learnt the poem 'Zim Zam Zoom' and were able to spot the words that described what fireworks sound like. Children worked in pairs to perform fire work poems using their oracy skills and focusing on having a clear and loud voice.
Children in Year 2 have had a fantastic week visiting Skipton Castle. They loved seeing the different rooms in a castle - especially the dungeon!! They were able to see how castles defended themselves from attack and also learned about how Skipton Castle has changed over time. Check out the website for the photos.
Years 3 & 4 – Year 3 Lessons - We have enjoyed learning about why Baghdad became the first city in the world to reach a population of one million people. In English, we have developed our reading skills by practising rapid retrieval questions and finding evidence quickly in texts. In Science, we have continued our investigations into rocks, carrying out experiments to observe the effects of vinegar and water on different rock types.
Year 3 Local Area Walk - As part of their Science learning, Year 3 will be taking a walk around the local area to explore and identify the different types of rocks found in our environment. Both classes will be going on the walk during the afternoon of Tuesday 17th November. This will provide a fantastic opportunity for pupils to develop their observational skills and apply their classroom learning in a real-world setting.
Year 4 Lessons - In Geography, we have been learning about human geography and have enjoyed designing and building our own stadiums. In RE, we have been exploring the Ten Commandments and discussing their importance for Christians. In Science, we carried out investigations to test which materials allow water to drain through most effectively.
Year 4 Trip to Armley Town Street - As part of their History learning, Year 4 will be visiting Armley Town Street to explore how the area has changed over time. Class 10 will visit on the afternoon of Monday 16th November, and Class 9 will visit on the afternoon of Wednesday 18th November. We look forward to discovering more about our local history and comparing Armley today with the past.
Website - To keep up to date with the exciting learning and experiences taking place in Years 3 and 4, please click on the links below to view our latest news and blog posts:
These pages are regularly updated with information about classroom learning, educational visits, special events, and pupil achievements.
Homework - This year, we will be continue using technology to support homework. Children are expected to:
Complete 21 minutes on Times Tables Rock Stars each week.
Complete their spelling task on Oxford Owl.
Read their school reading book every night.
Most families will have access to a device that can be used to complete these tasks. If you experience any difficulties accessing the online platforms, please contact Mr Needham, or pass on a message to the member of staff on duty during morning drop off. Children who are currently in a phonics group will receive a paper-based homework sheet instead.
Homework will be set on Monday and should be completed by Friday each week. Login details for the online platforms will be provided during the first few weeks of term.
Children who consistently complete their homework will be rewarded with an additional break to towards the end of each half term.
Years 5 & 6 – Lessons - In Science, we have enjoyed learning about mould and have begun our investigation into how quickly bread develops mould under different conditions. In Geography, we have explored where mountains are located across the UK, learning about some of the most famous peaks and why they are significant. In English, we have continued writing our non-chronological reports, focusing on organising information clearly and effectively.
Lotherton Hall- Classes 11, 12 and 13 will attend on the following dates:
- Monday 23rd November: Class 12
- Thursday 26th November: Class 13
- Friday 4th December: Class 11
These visits provide an exciting opportunity to support and enhance learning beyond the classroom.
We kindly ask for a voluntary contribution of £5.00 per child towards the cost of the trip. Contributions can be made via ParentPay. Whilst no child will be excluded from taking part due to an inability to contribute, please note that the visit may not be financially viable if insufficient voluntary contributions are not received.
A sincere thank you to all families who have already made a contribution. Your generosity and support are greatly appreciated.
Please use ParentPay to provide consent for your child to attend the trip and to make payment. If you have not yet set up your ParentPay account, login details can be provided. Should you experience any difficulties, please contact Mr Needham or Mrs Busby in the school office, who will be happy to help.
Website - To keep up to date with the exciting learning and experiences taking place in Years 5 and 6, please click on the links below to view our latest news and blog posts:
These pages are regularly updated with information about classroom learning, educational visits, special events, and pupil achievements.
Homework- Children are expected to read their reading book at home every evening. Each week, children will be set homework on Emile (Grammar, Punctuation and Maths) and Oxford
Owl (Spelling). Homework will be set on Monday and must be completed by the following Monday.
A Homework Club will run every Tuesday lunchtime for pupils in Years 5 and 6, providing an opportunity to complete homework during the school day.
Children who complete all of their homework will be rewarded with either an extended morning break or an extended lunchtime on Friday.
Year 6 SATs Week - Year 6 SATs week will begin on Monday 10 May 2027. It is vital that all Year 6 pupils attend school throughout the week, as the tests are set nationally and must be completed on the specified dates.
The timetable for the week is as follows:
- Monday 10 May: Grammar, Punctuation and Spelling
- Tuesday 11 May: Reading
- Wednesday 12 May: Arithmetic and Mathematics Reasoning
- Thursday 13 May: Mathematics Reasoning
We would appreciate your support in ensuring that Year 6 children arrive at school on time each day and avoid making any appointments during SATs week wherever possible.
School Dates 2026 -2027:
- Friday 27th November 2026 Training Day – No Children in School
- Friday 11th December 2026 Training Day – No Children in School
- Friday 18th December 2026 School Closes at 3.30pm
- Monday 4th January 2027 School Opens at 8.30am
- Friday 5th February 2027 Training Day – No Children in School
- Friday 12th February 2027 School Closes at 3.30pm
- Monday 22nd February 2027 School Opens at 8.30am
- Friday 26th March 2027 School Closed Good Friday Bank Holiday
- Monday 29th March 2027 School Closed Easter Monday Bank Holiday
- Friday 2nd April 2027 School Closes at 3.30pm
- Monday 19th April 2027 School Opens at 8.30am
- Monday 3rd May 2027 School Closed May Bank Holiday
- Friday 28th May 2027 School Closes at 3.30pm
- Monday 7th June 2027 School Opens at 8.30am
- Friday 18th June 2027 Training Day – No Children in School
- Thursday 22nd July 2027 School Closes at 3.30pm