SEAL statement 10th May
Linked to SATs week this week our SEAL statement is ‘I try my best for others and for myself.’ Good luck to all the Year 6 children.
SEAL statement 3rd May
‘I can tell the truth and say sorry if I have hurt someone’ is the new SEAL statement for this shorter school week.
We’re a good school
As part of the World Class Primary Plan, the Secretary of State, Ed Balls, asked all local authorities to submit a plan to him. Amongst the key components of the plan were to outline an approach to school improvement for all schools and a specific focus on schools performing below targets or rated less than satisfactory by Ofsted.
The authority was required to ‘segment’ schools according to very specific data. Based on this criteria, Moortown Primary has been judged a good school.
Good schools are defined as schools which are graded by Ofsted as good for overall effectiveness and at least good for achievement and standards and leadership. These schools are at or above national attainment and in top two quartiles for progression.
Moortown Children’s Centre
Moortown Children’s Centre is now open.
This is a Sure Start Children’s Centre to support families with children in the following areas:
- childcare,
- early education,
- health, and
- family support services.
It is the cornerstone of the government’s drive to work with parents-to-be, parents, carers and children and to promote the physical, intellectual and social development of babies and young children so that they can flourish at home and when they get to school.
Moortown Children’s Centre brings together service providers from sectors like health, social services and early education as well as private, voluntary and community organisations and parents themselves to provide integrated services for young children and their families based on what local children need and parents want.
It’s based in the grounds of Moor Allerton Hall Primary school on Lidgett Lane but links with all local primary schools within the area, including Moortown Primary School. If you would like more information regarding services already up and running from Moortown Children’s Centre please contact Lindsay Blackburn or Kirsty Murray on 07854 989281.
SEAL statement 26th April
‘I know things to do to make others feel better’ is the new SEAL statement this week as part of our Relationships theme. Even a simple friendship token can help someone to feel better.
New SEAL theme and weekly statement
‘Relationships’ is the new SEAL theme for this half term and our weekly statement is ‘I know how I feel and how others make me feel.’ This theme looks at the feelings associated with our important relationships including family and friends.
Safeguarding – Keeping Children Healthy and Safe from Harm
We are always happy to share with you our policies and practices. Policies relating to safeguarding help to ensure that children are taught and encouraged to live healthy lifestyles and adopt safe practices – they enable a consistent approach throughout the school because they are adhered to by staff, governors and volunteers.
The policies include Child Protection, Attendance, Behaviour, Safer Recruitment and Acceptable Use of ICT.
Please check the policies section of the website or ask a member of staff about safeguarding at Moortown.
Heroes – what a topic!
What a topic!
In Year 1 and 2, the children this term have had much of their learning based around the theme of Heroes.
Heroes covered so much that inspires and engages our children. The Year 1 and 2 classes have learnt about lots of different aspects of being a hero, starting from what they think a hero actually is – quite a deep question in itself, especially for six and seven year olds! They went on to consider lots of different types of hero, fictional (even Superheroes!) and real-life.
Real life heroes included those who volunteered following the Haiti earthquake – a really useful link that helped the classes to consider global issues. The children wanted to become heroes too, and came up with the idea of a Book and Bun Sale, which the whole school got involved with. Some children were surprised to think that by contributing to different things they could be actual heroes as well.
They didn’t forget heroes closer to home – those in our local community such as police, nurses and firefighters. A visit to the rugby stadium at Headingley was a great success and helped to highlight sporting heroes, too.
Also in the topic, the classes have learnt about historical and religious heroes like Nelson Mandela, Martin Luther King and Florence Nightingale. This helped children to appreciate that heroes can come from all walks of life, from all countries, and be heroic for lots of different reasons.
Along with the other topics (Where in the World, Snowbound and The Tempest), Heroes has another example of great learning that matches the interests and experiences of our children with brilliant outcomes.
After the Easter holiday, we look forward to the summer topics…
Thanks, IBM!
Last term, we were happy to accept a grant of £650 from IBM. The grant came as part of IBM’s volunteer programme which supports IBM workers in their volunteer efforts. The £650 recognises the commitment of Mrs Janice Rush to the role of Chair of Moortown Primary Governing Body.
We have spent the money on new projectors for classrooms so images are brighter and easier to read.
Ten Top Tips for Homework
The DCSF has produced a useful leaflet called Ten Top Tips for Homework Survival which is aimed at parent / carers of children aged 8-13 years – the tips they mention fit in really well with the different types of homework we set and – importantly – are realistic and achievable. Download the PDF.
