Haltwhistle Academy Newsletter

Health and Safety messages

Please could parents be aware of the following concerns:

1. Driveway access - Please could all parents respect our driveway access rules.  The driveway is open for parents dropping off at breakfast club only from 8-8.25am.  It is then closed from 8.25-9.15am to ensure children can arrive at school safely.  In the afternoon the drive is closed between 3pm and 3.45pm  Blue badge holders should speak to the office to arrange safe drop off of children and are asked to drive at 5mph.

2. Supervision in the community - Continued concerns have been shared with us about packages / tablets / possible drugs which have been found in play areas around Haltwhistle.  In our KS2 assembly this week, we discussed what the children should do if they see a 'discarded vape, medicine, tablet or unknown substance'.  We advised the children to remember what they have seen, where they have seen it, and to go straight away to ask a trusted adult to help.  We would advise that parents continue to supervise their children appropriately when they are out playing and that any incidents are reported to police.

3. Headlice - We have a couple of cases of headlice in school.  Please could parents check their children's hair and treat as necessary.  We would advise parents to do this both at the start and end of the half term holiday. 

Wildflower seed bombs

Every class in school helped us to further diversify our grassy bank by planting wildflower seed bombs this afternoon.  With 500 seedbombs successfully planted, we're looking forward to seeing them in bloom later in the year.

KS1 Plants

On Thursday Year 1 learnt about different fruits and vegetables and the plants we get them from. We talked about which part of the plant we eat and how they grow. We then 'harvested' the plants and vegetables from the woods then matched them to their names - we had to negotiate with each other to make sure we had pictures to match all of the names.  

Haltwhistle Carnival!

Skillsbuilder - building our skills for life

Skills builder at home

Attendance Matters

Every second in school counts, as missing school, whether by being late or taking unnecessary days off, creates more new learning gaps which need to be addressed.  The best way you can support your child to recover from the lost school time of recent years is to ensure they are in school and ready to learn every day. 

We want every child's attendance to be good or better.  This means 96%+

Please check your child's attendance (see our app) against the class and national data.  School staff are able to offer support if your child's attendance is of concern.    

Please do not take your child out of school during term time as it disrupts your child’s learning and you risk financial penalties.   Any term time leave of absence must be applied for more than 2 weeks before the date of leave and can only be authorised by the Headteacher in the case of EXCEPTIONAL circumstances.  Please could we urge parents to book holidays during the 13 weeks of annual school holidays which are available each year.   

If leave has not been authorised and your child is out of school then you may receive a minimum fine of £60 per child, per parent.  If the time out of school makes your child’s attendance drop below 90% then they are known as persistently absent under the governments attendance definitions.  This means that you may face prosecution through the courts.  

Please help us to help your child catch up by ensuring they are in school and ready to learn every day.

Before and After School club bookings

Our school designated safeguarding leads are Susie Drake, Tony Irvine, Michelle Brewster and Bethan Allsop