Keep up to date with all the latest news happening in school at the moment.
Parents’ Evenings are a really useful opportunity to update parents/carers with important information regarding pupils’ wellbeing and academic progress. In the Autumn Term, we usually provide information around attainment and progress in the core curriculum areas of English and Maths (including Phonics for younger children), pastoral information and hints and tips as to how families can best support their child/children at home.
Unfortunately, we will not be able to invite parents in to school for this so we are going to send out a short report card instead. It will be sent out on either the first or second week after half term for children in all year groups with the exception of Reception pupils. Mrs Godsman will telephone those parents instead.
Once you have received your report card, if you have any concerns, please contact the school via the admin email: admin@oldtown.calderdale.sch.uk and your child’s class teacher will contact you.
Kind regards
Jo Buckley
As you know we received an update to guidance regarding the amended advice regarding social distancing. Public Health have since advised us not to increase the number of children in each space before the summer holidays and to continue with our current arrangements. The Governing Body made a unanimous decision to adhere to that advice. There will therefore be no change to our current arrangements for the time being. I would like to apologise for having raised hopes. Jo
Dear Families
We have just received updated guidance in school regarding the reduction in the 2m rule and the implications for schools. I do not want to raise expectations too much as there is a limit of 15 children per class and the priority groups of Reception, Year 1 and Year 6 are still in effect. Governors are meeting tomorrow to discuss a possible increase in provision from 6th July. I will let you have further information as soon as we have made a decision.
Jo Buckley
Summer Reading Challenge
The Summer Reading Challenge for Primary aged children will this year, because of Covid-19, be held online instead of in Calderdale Libraries. The Challenge is open from now until September and there are lots of fun activities at https://summerreadingchallenge.org.uk/ to encourage children in a love of reading. Children can still borrow e books and e audio books from the library for the Challenge. Go to https://www.calderdale.gov.uk/v2/residents/leisure-and-culture/libraries/digital-library/ebooks-and-eaudio-books
Dear families
As you know, the current advice from the Local Authority is not to go ahead with the Wider Opening plans for children in Reception, Year 1 and Year 6. We are, however, busy making plans should that advice change and I need your help in order to progress with my planning.
The guidance is clear in that the children of Key Workers should have priority places and once those children have been accommodated, schools should use the remaining resources (space and personnel) to offer a place to Reception children. If there continues to be capacity, Year 1 pupils should be invited and following that, Year 6 pupils. You can see therefore that it is vital that I know which children of Key Workers are likely to take up their eligible place between now and the end of term. Until I have that information, I am unable to say for sure whether places can be offered in Reception, Year 1 and Year 6.
I understand that you may not know for sure what your requirements will be but I would appreciate a response from all key workers even if you are not 100% sure of your needs. Please note that there is no obligation for you to use the service if you are a Key Worker.
If you are not a Key Worker, please ignore this email. If you are a Keyworker, please will you complete the following table and return it urgently:
Parent’s Name:
Keyworker Role:
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Child’s Name |
Year Group |
I intend to take up my child’s place in school Yes/No |
Days of the week required |
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Kind regards
Jo Buckley
Dear families
I am writing to inform you that the Local Authority has advised schools across Calderdale not to go ahead with the wider opening arrangements from the 1st June. The council has given a detailed explanation of the reasoning behind its decision and the letter is attached to this email *.
The Governing Body called an urgent meeting today in response to the advice and, as Old Town Primary is a Local Authority Maintained School, Governors made a unanimous decision that the school will follow the advice of the Local Authority. This means that the proposed wider opening phase on 1st June to welcome Reception, Year 1 and Year 6 pupils will not go ahead as planned.
I know that this news will be met with a mix of reactions and emotions - some of you will be extremely disappointed and others will feel enormous relief. This continues to be a testing time for everyone in our school community and I would like to encourage you all to keep in touch with us and with each other and to continue to support one another as you have for the past weeks.
We will, of course, continue with the current home schooling arrangements that are in place until we receive further advice from the Local Authority.
Yours faithfully
Jo Buckley
* attachment can be found under Parents/Whole School Letters/Calderdale Council Covid-19 Letter to Schools
Please click on the link below to listen to the school virtual choir sing our lockdown collaboration song.