Friday 25th October

Dear Parents/Carers,

Hasn’t it RAINED this week? We took delivery of some new lunchtime equipment but as we unpacked it all on Tuesday lunchtime I couldn’t help but wish I’d ordered some umbrellas, cagoules and maybe a few rowing boats…:0) As you would expect, we are now asking the children to wear coats during the long lunch break so please ensure your child has one with them as it’s pretty chilly on our blustery playground. My thanks to support staff and senior leadership in school, all of whom are now doing a shift on the playground over lunchtimes to maintain our high adult-pupil ratio: a great team, who really do go that extra mile on behalf of your children every day of the week.

 

Ofsted

Last weeks Ofsted Inspection now feels like a long time ago – hard to believe as I write this week’s newsletter that this time last week we were only half way through the process. The team made some very accurate and positive observations of life in our school and – strangely – we actually enjoyed the two days! I am unable to share the outcome with parents until the report is released. Happily, we don’t have long to wait as I expect the report next Friday 1^st November and it will be live on the Ofsted website from 8^th November. I will, however, post the report on the website and the blog around about the 1st, and all parents will receive a paper copy straight after half term.

 

Parent Consultations

Thank you to all parents who attended parent consults this week. This is always a great time for teachers - who are often overwhelmed by your positive comments and feedback - and, we hope, a great time for you when you are able to see just how much your child has learned in the last 8 weeks! It is clear that pupils in school are making outstanding progress in their learning – congratulations to them and thanks to you for your help with their learning through homework, good attendance and plain, old fashioned encouragement. It’s ALL adding up!

 

Learnatics

This Tuesday, as part of our positive behaviour policy, I enjoyed a pizza lunch with the pupils right across school who had been chosen by their classmates for their exceptional learning behaviours since our return in September. This is a wonderful accolade, as only 11 pupils are chosen each half term and so the average year only clocks up 66 Learnatics in total! Well done to all our Learnatics, past and present, for this magnificent achievement - and if you have one in your house, be sure to tell them they’re a rare breed!

 

School Council

Congratulations to pupils who have been elected by their peers as School Council Representatives for the year ahead. They are very proud of their badges and are keen to start meeting in order to support their classmates and represent their views.  The first School Council meeting will be on Friday 8th November at 10.15 - 10.45 with Mrs Turner and Mr Green.  If your child talks with you about any aspect of school that they would like to improve, please urge them to write it down and post their suggestions, worries or questions into the School Council Suggestion Box in the entrance. We will let you know the headlines of our meetings – you will be amazed by the children’s mature discussion: they really do have a very clear idea of what a quality school looks like and are never too shy to tell us!

 

Diggerland

As half term approaches, I can make you aware of a one day offer at Castleford’s Diggerland which may be of interest. To mark the start of half term, Diggerland is offering parents and children entry for £5 per person on Sunday 27/10/13. Please quote code CASPOST271013 on entry to take advantage of this great offer. For more information, see the website http://www.diggerland.com/yorkshire/ .

 

 

Bonfire and Firework Display

On Saturday 9^th November, Cookridge Village Scout Group are hosting their annual Bonfire and Firework Display. Gates open at 5.45pm for the lighting of the Bonfire at 6.00pm and fireworks at 7.00pm. Entry is by donation and food is available to buy on the night. Please note – in the interests of safety for all no alcohol or private fireworks should be brought along to this event.

 

A new heart for Holt Park!

I received an email this week outlining some exciting development planning for Holt Park as public consultation on the matter gets underway. The proposal includes new retail, housing and an improved public space. The draft Planning Statement is available for inspection at Holt Park library or more information can be viewed online at http://www.leeds.gov.uk/council/Pages/Holt-Park-District-Centre-Regeneration-Consultation.aspx.

 

Tempest school photos

This week’s photos were pretty dashing and I hope you liked them! The closing date for orders being processed via the school office is Wednesday 6th November.

 

Attendance : 'GIVE IT 100%'

At Cookridge, we have many ways of celebrating high levels of attendance, with  'Bourbon' (and his bag of biscuits) spending the week the class with the highest attendance for the week, a ‘chancer’ draw which gives all pupils with 100% attendance each week a chance  to win a prize from Bourbon’s prize box, and termly 100% attendance certificates. In addition to all this, our local school cluster is running an attendance competition for all schools in the cluster for a limited period from the 4th to the 29th November. All pupils who have achieved 100% attendance during this time period will be put into a draw and there will be the opportunity to win some very fancy prizes, including a one month family membership package at Cookridge Hall Health and Fitness Ltd, a family ticket to the Vue cinema at the Light in Leeds, a £50 gift voucher for White Rose shopping centre (for the high schools) and a stunt scooter for the primary schools. Give it 100% throughout November and it just MIGHT be you!

 

With our youngest pupils fighting off a bout of chicken pox at the moment, attendance in Reception this week is pretty low but perfectly understandable! Thank you to all parents of chicken pox ‘victims’ for helping to minimise the spread of this virulent infection by keeping their child at home until all the spots dry up. At the other end of the spectrum BIG CONGRATULATIONS to Class 9 for clocking up our first 100% of the school year. I’m so proud of you – Bourbon will be bringing his back your way straight after the holidays!

 

National Minimum ‘Good’ Expectation		Target 2013-2014		Attendance this week					Year to date
95%		96%		95.3%					96.%
Class attendance figures for this week w/e 23/10/13
Rec A Rec B	Class 1	Class 2	Class 3		Class 4	Class 5	Class 6	Class 7		Class 8	Class 9
77.9% 90.9%	98.1%	98.1%	98.6%		91.4%	98.%	97.9%	96.%		97.3%	100.%

 

After school clubs

Mrs Turner this week distributes news of the remaining spaces in after school clubs and two new clubs we are adding to the menu – iJam (time to work with iPADs on music and video projects) and netball. If you would like your child to join a club, please return the slip provided back to school after half term.

 

That’s all folks – it’s a rap for Autumn 1! Have a magnificent half term week and I will see you all bright and early on Monday 4^th November for the Christmas run-down… Yikes!

 

Mrs Bailey

Friday 18th October 2013

Dear Parents/Carers,

You are no doubt aware that this week has been pretty busy! Ofsted Inspectors made the phone call we had been expecting at 12 noon on Wednesday, and joined us for Thursday and Friday for a full inspection. The inspection process is very complex and you can rest assured that every aspect of your child’s wellbeing,  learning and safety has been cross examined in the last 48 hours! I am unable to let you know the outcome  at this point, as the official feedback will begin at 3.30pm today, and then there will be a few weeks in between the actual inspection and the release of the grading and report. What I can share, however, is just how proud I am of your children, the entire staff team, the school leadership team and governors – all of whom have been Bobby dazzling over the past two days. As a school leader in an outstanding school prior to Cookridge, I have been lucky to work alongside some talented and professional colleagues in my career HOWEVER the level of expertise, focus, determination, dedication and passion I have witnessed amongst the staff team since Wednesday is – frankly – unprecedented for me. What a cracking bunch – well done team you have been amazing. You really are very lucky to have this group of professionals around your children. A heartfelt thank you, also, to all of the many parents who have sent us emails, tweets, accessed parentmail or caught us on the door to wish us well and share your very positive views of our school. It has been very touching and very much appreciated. And so now, we sit back and wait for the report… Business as usual next week!

 

When shall we three meet again?

A fantastic group of Year 5 and 6 children would love to see you all at their performance of Macbeth at the Carriageworks Theatre on Monday 4th November (7:30pm), as part of the School's Shakespeare Festival.  Last week, they attended their Cast Workshop at the theatre where they were put through their paces by professional actors alongside another school performing in the festival. Miss Fowler goose bumps when seeing our talented kids perform on stage in a professional theatre and that they did themselves and the school proud with the effort and commitment they gave to the morning.  What a team! Now, it's down to some intensive rehearsals before the big night.  It would be wonderful to have your support on the night and we hope to see you there!

 

Friends

Next week’s disco is in set to be the usual fun-filled affair. If your child fancies strutting their stuff on the dance floor, please complete and return the slip below in a sealed envelope or call into the office to buy the tickets directly. Don’t forget – we are hoping that the Cookridge Cookbook can be produced in time for the Christmas Fair and so invite you to submit your special recipe by Friday 25^th October. Recipes should be sent to friends.cookridge@gmail.com or handed in at the school office.

 

Other, exciting, beginning of year Friends news is now live on http://friendsofcookridge.blogspot.co.uk/.

 

Sports News

The football league started this week for the Y5/6 team with a game against Ireland Wood. Despite a tricky surface and blustery conditions, Cookridge played some great football and came out eventual winners 4-3. The goal scorers for us were Nathan Brown (2), an own goal and Liam Jones (1). A special mention for Yacine Zekagh who deservedly won the man of the match accolade for his great tackling, goal saving blocks and hard work over the full 40 minutes.

 

The deadline for children in Year 5/6 and their parents who wish to enter a team into the school fantasy football league is 11:00am Saturday 19th October. The website you will need is www.schoolsfl.com and when you apply to join the school league you will need to enter the league PIN which is 5166890. Thank you to all those parents who have already entered a team and good luck!

 

School photos

It’s that time again! School photos will be taken on Tuesday of next week. Wear your best smile…

 

Attendance

My thanks to parents of pupils celebrating Eid this week for their cooperation in completing request forms. We were also touched to receive gifts from the Muslim community – flowers for the staff and sweet treats for the children – which enabled us to share in the celebrations: you are very kind. I hope that you enjoyed your celebration – the children were very keen to share news of this key invent back in school! The days absence, although authorised, affects our attendance figures somewhat. We are now right on the cusp of 96% which we would love to keep up! Well done to Class 9 this week who have managed to bag it with 96.8% - Bourbon is coming!

National Minimum ‘Good’ Expectation		Target 2013-2014			Attendance this week				Year to date
95%		96%			92.6%				96.0%
Class attendance figures for this week are:-16/10/13
Rec A Rec B	Class 1		Class 2	Class 3		Class 4	Class 5	Class 6		Class 7	Class 8	Class 9
87.9% 94.6%	94.2%		95.6%	93.1%		91.8%	90.%	94.1%		88.3%	94.%	96.8%

 

Parent Consultations

You should, by now, have received your appointment for next week’s parent consultations. We are very keen to sit down and have a chat with you about how your child has settled into the school year, their current achievements and next steps. Please be courteous and keep to the 10 minute appointment slots allocated so that subsequent appointments are not delayed – we will be happy to arrange another appointment if you want or need a longer chat about your child. If you haven’t already made an appointment – please contact the office ASAP so that we can allocate you a remaining time slot.

 

Next week… And beyond!

Remember – no clubs after school next week due to Parent Consults. Clubs will begin again from the first week back. (N.B. Funtime is not affected).

 

We break up next Friday 25^th October and pupils do need to be in school on that date. We return on Monday November 4^th. Our next Training Day (school closed to pupils) is on Thursday 14^th November, as we will be spending the day at Beecroft Primary School to get our partnership work with this outstanding school established. Exciting times!

 

Have a wonderful weekend – I know I will…… Zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz.

Mrs Bailey

Ofsted are coming.... Tomorrow and Friday!!!

Please see below notification letter your child brought home tonight. If you have a few moments this evening - spend it wisely! Get on Parentview and give the inspection team a sense of our school, ahead of the inspection.

Dear parent or carer

 

Inspection of Cookridge Primary School by Ofsted

 

We have just told your child's school that we will inspect it on 17 to 18 October 2013. The lead inspector will be Mrs Rosemary Batty. We are writing to you because we would like to know what you think about the school. Please take a few minutes to read the leaflet which came with this letter. It explains why we inspect schools, and what happens during an inspection.

 

Your views about the school are important to us

 

If you are a registered parent or carer of a pupil at the school (including pupils on sick leave or who are temporarily excluded), you can tell us your views about the school by completing Ofsted's online survey, Parent View, at: http://www.parentview.ofsted.gov.uk.

 

Parent View asks for your opinion on 12 aspects of your child's school, including the progress made by your child, the quality of teaching, dealing with bullying and poor behaviour.

The inspectors will use the online survey responses when inspecting your child's school.

 

To register your views, you will need to provide your email address, which will be held securely. It will not be used for any purpose other than providing access to the online survey. Neither schools nor Ofsted will have access to any email addresses.

 

Please complete the online survey by 11 am on 17 October 2013 as this will give the inspection team more time to consider your views. However, we will consider all online responses that are completed during the inspection. Should you wish to provide written comments these should be sent to the school in a sealed envelope, marked confidential and addressed to the inspection team.

 

Speaking to an inspector

 

If you are unable to complete the online survey, it may be possible to speak to an inspector during the inspection, for instance at the start of the school day, or to pass on messages to the inspectors if you are unable to speak to them in person. Inspection administrators will be happy to make the necessary arrangements. If concerns are raised about child protection, we may have to pass the information we receive to social services or the police. You can contact the administrators on 01695 566862. Inspectors will be pleased to receive your comments, but cannot deal with complaints about individual pupils or settle disputes between you and the school.

 

Thank you in advance for taking the time to complete the online survey.

 

Yours faithfully

 

 

 

Becky Cowley

Friday 11th October 2013

Dear Parents/Carers,

This week, Mrs B turned 40. The children were their usual, sunny selves and I was treated to a lot of good birthday wishes on Monday. I lost track of the number of children who told me that I was older than their dads, though one did take the time to reassure me I am still younger than her grandma….  :0) There was a fantastic atmosphere in school this week – I am currently touring the school regularly with parents of prospective Reception pupils for 2014! I really am very proud to talk about our school and the great journey we are on: your children are such wonderful ambassadors and never fail to impress with their ready smiles and brilliant attitudes to their learning...

 

A drum a drum, Macbeth doth com!!       

In fact, he's already here and full of life at Cookridge as a group of committed and talented year 5 and 6 pupils prepare to enter the National School's Shakespeare Festival. They will be performing Macbeth at the Carriageworks Theatre in Millenium Square Leeds on Monday 4th November and we would LOVE as many of you as possible to come and support these fantastic children.  It is a wonderful evening as our children will perform alongside 3 other schools, each doing a 30 minute Shakespearean play. Last year's show was wonderful and it made a HUGE difference to have friends and parents in the audience. Tickets are available from the Carriageworks box office costing £8.50 for adults and £6.50 concessions. The box office number is 0113 224 3801.   We hope to see you there!

 

Parent Governors

My thanks to parents who expressed an interest in the role of Parent Governor recently mentioned. We received two nominations for the role and, as there are two vacancies for the position, I have been able to duly elect Mrs Kirsty Noon and Mrs Petra Salisbury to their seats. I am very pleased to welcome Kirsty and Petra aboard the Governing Body and look forward to hearing their views on the wide range of matters that are discussed by this very important group.

 

Admissions, Secondary School

On Thursday evening, I attended my local high school open evening with my youngest daughter – the fact that all three of my children will be high school by September 2014 another signal of my lost youth! Y6 parents must submit their application for their preferred high school place by 31st October 2013. You can apply online at http://www.leeds.gov.uk/residents/Pages/Admissions-Secondary-School.aspx or download a form to complete and return by post. If any parents need any help finding and completing the forms - just ask.

 

Bonfire Lunch!

Don’t forget – as we are in school this year for Bonfire Night, a special themed school dinner is on offer. Those pupils who normally have a school meal will be enjoying a Banger Burger’ (meat or veggie) or a ‘Flaming Hot dog’, baked potato skins, corn on the cob and coleslaw followed by toffee or chocolate apples or ice cream. We are inviting those pupils who normally have sandwiches to join us for a one-off school meal. If you would like your child to have one – please contact the school office by Friday 18^th October.

 

Any parents thinking of switching to cooked school meals for the winter are welcome to do so but will need to give 2 weeks written notice of the swap.

 

Friends

The excitement mounts in school as we prepare for the first Friends event of the year – the DISCO! Look out for the Friends newsletter which provides information regarding how to get hold of the tickets, and even more news about the Cookridge Cook Book we are hoping to compile in time for the Christmas Fair.

 

Attendance

This week, winter ailments have set in and our weekly attendance is the lowest it has been since our return in September, sadly. We remain in a good position on the year to date, so please keep up the great work. It is Class 6 this week that have battled on regardless and managed to chalk up 98.6% attendance between them: well done Class 6!

 

I am aware that Eid celebrations are next week. May I remind parents that absence for religious reasons must still be authorised and parents would need to complete a request form, available from the school office.

 

National Minimum ‘Good’ Expectation			Target 2013-2014		Attendance this week				Year to date
95%			96%		95.6%				96.7%
Class attendance figures for this week are:-09/10/2013
Rec A Rec B	Class 1	Class 2		Class 3		Class 4	Class 5	Class 6		Class 7	Class 8	Class 9
89.2% 93.6%	96.1%	96.6%		95.9%		95.7%	97.7%	98.6%		91.7%	96.7%	96.0%

 

After school clubs

We hope your child has so far enjoyed their time in the wide range of after school clubs on offer this school year. Just a reminder that next week is the last week of school clubs before the half term holiday, as staff leading the clubs are in parent consultation meetings during the final week of term (week beginning 21^st October). Clubs will begin again from the first week back.

 

Parent Consultations

Many thanks to all those parents who have returned their consultations letter, opting for preferred appointment slots for the upcoming parent/teacher meetings. If you haven’t already done so, please pass your reply to your child’s class teacher as soon as possible so that we can get you an appointment allocated. We have a lot to tell you!

 

Y4 Swimming

Don’t forget Y4 – next Wednesday you begin swimming at the brand new Holt Park Active! Remember your swimming kit…. The time hath come!

 

Have a wonderful weekend,

Mrs Bailey