This week’s message is one day early because tomorrow is a training day.
What happens on a training day?
Training days are exactly what they say on the tin – a day jam-packed with training for teachers to make sure they’re all fully skilled and prepared. In recent Ofsted inspection reports, the impact of the training we provide for teachers across Sphere Federation is rated highly:
Teachers have secure subject knowledge… The professional development available for all staff is of high quality, and they appreciate the collaborative support shared among the schools in the federation.
Scholes (Elmet) Primary Ofsted inspection report, 21-22 May
Professional development for all staff is exemplary. Leaders have planned high-quality training.
Moortown Primary Ofsted inspection report, 19-20 March
At the training day tomorrow, teachers from across Sphere Federation will gather for five different learning sessions: phonics teaching; using technology as a teaching aid; gymnastics; Art skills; and Living and Learning.
Talking of Living and Learning…
Living and Learning
‘I use what I’ve learnt in Living and Learning’ was this week’s Living and Learning statement. It’s an opportunity for teachers to return to some of the learning this half-term, including rights and responsibilities, protected characteristics, and democracy. Help at home…
- talk to your child about what they’ve learnt
- check out our Living and Learning Curriculum Guide – page 6 gives you an overview of next half-term’s mental wellbeing theme
Our school charity for 2024-25
Each year, our Junior Leadership Team select a charity to support – we ask for donations after Christmas and Summer productions for example. Last year, our charity was Leeds Hospitals Charity. This year, the shortlist was selected by our Admin staff across Sphere Federation. Start thinking about each of these below, so your child’s ready to pass on their views to their Junior Leader representative in Me and My Community week.
- Yorkshire Air Ambulance is an independent charity providing a lifesaving rapid response emergency service to 5 million people across the whole of Yorkshire. Money raised keeps both of their air ambulance helicopters maintained and in the air.
- Leeds Mind provides help and support for people who may be experiencing issues impacting on their mental health and wellbeing.
- Willow Foundation supports young adults, aged 16 to 40, who are living with a life-threatening or life-limiting condition.
- Action Against Hunger aim to save the lives of vulnerable people affected by hunger. Action Against Hunger fights hunger and malnutrition around the world, because no child should ever suffer or die from it. Stop hunger today.
- Zarach‘s mission is to end bed poverty in England. It believes no child should live in poverty. All children should have their basic needs met so that they can achieve their full potential in life. Give every head a bed.
- Leeds Hospitals Charity has been nominated again. The charity aims to support patients, families and staff. They fund for lifesaving equipment, treatments, research into rare diseases and home comforts.
Cooking
Across the year, we hope that every child in Key Stages 1 and 2 will learn food preparation skills. We need voluntary donations for ingredients so that we can offer this. Thank you for the donations so far – they total £236. If you’ve not yet donated, please consider it. A donation of £3 to £6 will ensure we can offer all three food preparation sessions:
- Year 1 and 2: fruit smoothies, overnight oats, and fruit bars
- Year 3 and 4: egg pots, chopped tomatoes and garlic, and savoury scones
- Year 5 and 6: vegetable and chickpea curry, pasta bake, and bread
You can make your donation using the School Gateway app.
For more about our Cooking curriculum, please check out our Cooking and Nutrition Curriculum Guide (we’re in Year B this year).
Happy and healthy and safe
We’re confident that all the things we do are effective in keeping children safe – Ofsted (19-20 March) confirmed this:
The arrangements for safeguarding are effective.
…but we like to make sure we go over and above, so we can keep getting better and better. That’s why we arranged for an external audit of safeguarding here at Moortown Primary.
Last Tuesday (15 October), someone from the local authority visited us to carry out a comprehensive check and evaluation – in total, there were 75 points, from statutory processes to best practice, covering a wide range of different aspects of safeguarding: recruitment, staff training, teaching pupils about staying safe, health and safety…
We’re delighted to say the audit went very well:
- 67 areas were rated green (meaning safeguarding arrangements are in place and meet the required minimum standard)
- 8 areas were rated pink (safeguarding practice identified as exemplary)
Thanks to Mrs Weekes and all the pupils and staff who were involved.
Finally… Over half-term, why not get involved in Leeds Festival of Play. Check out the list of organised events.
