Haltwhistle Academy Newsletter

Our NEW School Parent App

Online safety training for parents

Miss Kennedy's Science - parts of a plant

Ivy Class spent their science lesson this week, learning about each of the different parts of a plant. They then dissected daffodils and labelled each part they discovered.  

Competitive Times in Miss Arkless' class!  

It was a battle of boys vs girls in Miss Arkless' class this morning which brought out the competitive edge in all the children whilst they fought to be the class timetables champions.  Great concentration and effort Year 5!

Planting seeds in Bramble Class

Reception have been learning about plants and what they need to grow. Our raspberry plants will take a long time to grow so we decided to plant seeds that would grow quickly. We made cress heads. We sprinkled cress seeds onto cotton wool and watered them. We have put them on the windowsill to watch them grow. When the cress grows will are going to make some delicious egg and cress sandwiches. 

Easter Bingo is back!  

Haltwhistle Family Hub - courses for Spring

Attendance Matters - important changes coming

The government have announced important changes to the school absence measures which schools are required to implement. We are sharing these with parents now as we do not want our families to receive fine as a result of these changes in the future:

• Absence fines charged to parents will rise from £60 to £80, or £160 if not paid within 21 days. 

• From the Autumn, only two fines can be issued to the same parent for the same child within a three-year rolling period. Any second notice will automatically be charged at £160. 

• Schools will have to consider a fine if a pupil misses 10 sessions (half days) of unauthorised absence in a rolling period of 10 school weeks.  For example, four sessions in term time plus six instances of arriving late would count as 10 sessions. 

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.    In line with our attendance policy, we are required to refer all qualifying absences due to holidays during term time to the Education Welfare Officer at Northumberland County Council.  

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.

Understanding Free School Meals and Pupil Premium

Eligibility for free school meals - Means tested all year groups - nursery to Y6

If you are eligible for this type of free school meals your child will also benefit from additional funding in school to support their learning for the next 6 years.  To apply for Free School Meals, please complete this application form or contact the school office.  

The government has made amendments to the eligibility criteria since April 2018. This is to reflect the introduction of Universal Credit.

PLEASE NOTE: Free school meals are available to pupils in receipt of, or whose parents are in receipt of, one or more of the following benefits:

• Universal Credit

• Provided you have an annual net income of no more than £7,400

• This is assessed by earnings from up to three of your most recent assessment periods

• Income Support

• Income-based Job Seekers Allowance

• Income related Employment and Support Allowance

• Support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999

• The guarantee element of Pension Credit

• Child Tax Credit

• Provided you are not entitled to Working Tax Credit and have an annual gross income of no more than £16,190

• Working Tax Credit run on

• Paid four weeks after you stop qualifying for Working Tax Credit

Universal 'Infant' free school meals

• All pupils in reception, year one, and year two are entitled to a free meal, without having to apply for this option, however if you meet the requirements listed above we would urge you to claim as the school receives an additional fund each year for a minimum of six years.  In addition your child will receive free milk. 

Pupil Premium

Pupil premium is an additional fund that the school receives depending on criteria.  

• Pupils in year groups reception to year 6 recorded as free school meals (see above) 

• Looked-after children (LAC) defined in the Children Act 1989 as one who is in the care of, or provided with accommodation by, an English local authority 

• Children who have ceased to be looked after by a local authority in England and Wales because of adoption, a special guardianship order, or child arrangements order (previously known as a residence order) 

• Pupils in year groups reception to year 11 recorded as Ever 6 service child or in receipt of a child pension from the Ministry of Defence 

Please inform the school office if your child is eligible for Pupil Premium.

Before and After School club bookings

Calendar of Events - Please scroll to see all dates

If reading this on your phone, please turn your phone sideways to be able to scroll through our planned dates.  You can also add our calendar to your own phone calendar to be sure you don't miss a date.  

Our school designated safeguarding leads are Susie Drake, Alex Wood, Vicki Ridley, Shirley Phillips

Please speak to a member of this team if you are concerned about the safety of a child.