The Big Pedal 19th April - 30th April 2021

On each day of the challenge, schools compete to see who can get the highest percentage of their pupils, staff and parents cycling, walking, wheeling or scooting to school. Ashfield’s best five days will determine our final position, but we can log journeys on all ten days if you wish.

Please can you help us make as many active journeys as you can.  We get extra points for parents' and guardians' journeys. 

In 2019, over 1,682 schools made 3,869,618 journeys to schools by cycle, foot and scooter. Help us to: 

improve health, enhance mental health and wellbeing  as well as reduce congestion.

Hedge supplementing at Ashfield

We've been adding to hedge materials in our field by adding goat willow saplings which we had donated from Leeds City Council.  Hedges may support up to 80 per cent of our woodland birds, 50 per cent of our mammals and 30 per cent of our butterflies. It will help with our pledge to support community vision 2030: enrich wildlife areas to promote diversity in habitats and reduce carbon footprint.

At the moment the plants are small and supported by canes and tree protectors.  If you have any prosecco or champagne corks, please can you donate then to school to add as cane toppers to make the canes less sharp.

We decided to combine the celebrations of World Book Day with Red Nose Day this year with a theme of funny stories.  I am sure you will recognise a few of the characters in the photographs above.

Year 2 willow Class told their best jokes to Zig and Zag our guinea pigs.  They had a starring role on Look North.  Please see a clip of this below:

22nd February 2021

After the prime minister’s announcement tonight, we are really pleased that we will be able to open to all pupils again from 8^th March.  We’ve really missed having everyone under one roof.

How our measures so far have kept us safe

We will use the same Covid measures that kept us safe from September to December with all of our pupils in school.

I have been really pleased that our measures have been effective. Since September 2020 we have had 4 people at school test positive for Covid 19: 3 pupils and 1 member of staff.  None of these cases spread within our school community. 1 pupil had not been at school for 72 hours before symptoms started so we did not have to close a bubble. 2 pupils tested positive in October half term and we had to close 2 bubbles.  No other pupils or staff members from these bubbles went on to display any Covid symptoms. A staff member tested positive in January. Again we had to close a bubble but once again no other pupils or staff members from these bubbles went on to display any Covid symptoms.

Staff lateral flow tests

Staff in school are using two rapid coronavirus (COVID-19) tests each week at home to identify positive cases more quickly and break the chains of transmission. This offers an extra layer of protection for staff and for children and their families.   

For more details of the reopening, please see the full letter below:

12th February 2021

Otley Library is putting together bundles of books to borrow. Please see their message below: Introducing... our brand new, shiny Selection Bags! Would you like a bundle of books to lift the lockdown gloom? Whether it’s crime, romance or general fiction, a stash of stories for your primary-age kids or a parcel of picture books for your toddler? Contact us via telephone or email and we’ll have a Selection Bag of terrific titles ready for you to collect from your local library. Their email is OtleyLibrary@leeds.gov.uk phone 01943 466 572

4th January 2021

New advice from the government on Monday evening:

I am sure that you have watched the news tonight with a sense of déjà vu and a mixture of emotions.  We learned that schools will close from tomorrow with the exception of the children of key workers and vulnerable children. 

If you are a key worker and would need your child to be in school, please click this link to fill in our Google Form: https://forms.gle/7T1Vt8nxBwt2s6ug9 

You can find the most up-to-date list of critical worker occupations here.

If you have already filled in a key worker Google Form, you can bring your child to school tomorrow for 8:45am and we will be ready for them.  I will meet you in the playground to direct you to the correct classroom entrance. There will be no breakfast club tomorrow but we will plan for this in the future and let you know.

Tomorrow, I will ring the parents of vulnerable children to invite them into school. We appreciate your patience with this.

Home Learning will be delivered through Google Classroom.

Please log on to classroom.google.com   if you are struggling to get on to this, please don’t hesitate to contact class teacher via the email addresses below.

The work is there to provide interest and choice.  There will be an English activity and a maths activity each day. Science will be twice a week and there will also be another subject in addition to English and maths each day. We realise each family is different and has their own needs. We will try to say which work is most essential and which is an optional extra. If you have any questions, please contact your class staff on the following emails:

Nursery: acorns@ashfieldprimary.co.uk

Reception: maples@ashfieldprimary.co.uk

Year 1: silverbirch@ashfieldprimary.co.uk

Year 2: willow@ashfieldprimary.co.uk

Year 3: beech@ashfieldprimary.co.uk

Year 4: rowan@ashfieldprimary.co.uk

Year 5: elm@ashfieldprimary.co.uk

Year 6: oak@ashfieldprimary.co.uk

The reply might not be immediate as staff may be in school, caring for a child or vulnerable relative.  We will have a rota caretaking each other’s emails for this purpose.

Please be patient with staff this week as they make plans. We have been working hard over the past week to put plans in place for such an eventuality although I didn’t expect it to happen with such short notice.

Thank you for the many messages of support you have already voiced – that’s really appreciated.  In the coming weeks, we may not be geographically together but we will remain Team Ashfield!  Children, parents, carers and staff – a community looking out for each other. 

Do email me directly (elspeth.warren@ashfieldprimary.co.uk) if you have any worries or difficulties that we might be able to help with.

Ashfield's summer music concert

I hope you will enjoy the summer music concert that Mrs Wilson has put together virtually using videos of our children performing at home.  

Plans for September and the full opening of school

Please find my letter outlining plans for our full return in September.

I'm so pleased we will be able to fully open for all pupils.  I have missed a lot of smiling faces every day.  

Reports

Your child's report will have reached you in one of a few ways:

• child delivery if your child is currently in school
• within a home learning pack
• you may have collected it from reception
• I may have delivered it to your home

Please ring school if you would like a telephone call with your child's teacher to discuss the report.

It was lovely to see so many of you as I made my rounds of Otley making deliveries.

An advert for 2^nd Otley Scouts

Although face to face meetings for our Beavers, Cubs and Scouts haven’t been taking place in the last few months we have been running meetings for all our sections online via Zoom. We have found that the children have relished these weekly get togethers, as have the leaders, so we have decided to continue running them through the summer holidays and until the Scout Association advises us we can finally meet up.

We have spaces for new members contact us through our website www.2ndotleyscouts.org.uk

New Government Guidelines for schools for September 2020

Hello

Government guidelines for full re-opening of schools in September came out yesterday.  A lot of the guidelines refer to all schools but many have to be taken in the context of each school's circumstances. For this reason, I shall consult with first staff, then governors and then write to you soon with personalised details for Ashfield.

Monday 22nd June  First day back of wider reopening with Reception

It was lovely to see another ten of our Reception pupils today. 

Mr Nowell and Mrs Hey have been really impressed at how mature the children have been. 

So far they have been enjoying the following:

• seeing friends again
• riding outside on bikes and scooters
• telling and listening to lots of stories
• playing with the construction toys

Thursday 11th June

Please see my letter updating how our gradual wider reopening has gone with the children on key workers, vulnerable children, Year 6 and Year 1 as well as our plan for the return of Reception children.

https://www.ashfieldprimary.co.uk/letters/

Wednesday 10th June 

It was lovely to see 14 of our Year 1 pupils today. 

Ms Morison, Miss Monaghan, Mrs Whitehead and Mrs Butterill have been really impressed at how mature the children have been. 

So far they have been enjoying the following:

• Art and Personal Social Health Education (PSHE) have been combined making pictures of what’s inside their heads!
• ‘White Rose Maths’ has gone well and it’s good for the teachers to see the children working hard on this.
• ‘Super Movers’ has made the children giggle.
• Playing outside this lunchtime – I was told that lunch was yummy.

We're now planning for our Year 1 pupils to return to school on Wednesday 10th June. 

Staff for this cohort will be in school on Monday and Tuesday ensuring we have got everything sorted.  Ms Morison has written pupils, parents and carers a letter to let you all know a bit more of what to expect.  You can find this letter: https://www.ashfieldprimary.co.uk/letters 

We’re really looking forward to seeing the children again as we have missed them. We do understand that the decision whether or not to send your child to school is a difficult one and that each household has different circumstances therefore we will support your individual decisions.

First day back of wider reopening with Year 6

It was lovely to see 18 of our Year 6 pupils today.  Despite the drizzle this morning, Year 6 pupils returning brought smiles to the staff’s faces. 

Mr Patel has been amazed at their progress since he taught them 3 years ago.  He was wowed with their improved concentration, reading ability, maths ability and their ability to understand his jokes now!

The children said they had enjoyed seeing their friends and having a change of scene. I persuaded them that they had enjoyed flexing their brains but I could not persuade them that they had enjoyed Mr Patel’s jokes.

Pupils have really thought carefully about how to follow our social distancing codes and helped each other with polite reminders.  We have  been really proud of their maturity.

I’m sorry not to have had the opportunity to have had any close conversations with you today.  Please know that although the door is not wide open, we are available to chat to over the phone or email.  Do let me know if there is anything that may be worrying you or that may be worrying your child.

Year 6 pupils to return Wednesday 3rd June

We're planning for our Year 6 pupils to return to school on Wednesday 3rd June.  We've got a new 1 way system for arrival and entry and a queuing system just like the supermarkets.

We’re really looking forward to seeing the children again as we have missed them. We do understand that the decision whether or not to send your child to school is a difficult one and that each household has different circumstances therefore we will support your individual decisions.

Wider reopening of School  

We're working hard to risk assess the wider reopening of school.  The hub for schools in the north of Otley will come to an end on Friday 22nd May.  Over half term, key workers' children will be in school Monday to Wednesday and we will have Thursday and Friday to clean and organise class bases.  A letter detailing our plans will be sent to you all very soon.

Well done to members of Willow Class for extra effort this week and to Aaron in Y5 for helping his brother so well.

We're all really proud of you for working so hard.

We're very proud of Loukas in Y6 for entering and winning an Otley poetry competition.  The theme was spring.  He's certainly captured the theme of nature sprucing itself up and the hope that spring brings.  This is so well matched to the hope we all need this spring as we hope for everyone to stay safe and well support our NHS workers and carers. 

Signs of Spring

The cycle of the seasons never cease to amaze,

But spring is my favourite when we get longer days,

Like bears in hibernation your neighbours do emerge,

And mum gets all busy with the spring cleaning urge,

This year we see the beauty mostly through the glass,

But when you go outside you can smell freshly cut grass,

The daffodils and blossom, seeds and buds,

Signs of spring give hope that one day all will be good.

Friday 27^th March 2020

Dear Parents and Carers,

A Keeping in touch letter

Thanks

• I’m just writing to say a big thank you to all our families.  You’ve all been so patient last week as the messages gradually came out that we would have to close the school. 
• Thank you to families where there are key workers for keeping us up to date with your needs and your solutions to keeping everyone safe.
• Thank you to Ashfield staff who are either coming into school to supervise the children of key workers and vulnerable children or manning the home learning electronically.
• I’m sure you will join me in thanking NHS staff and other key workers for their contribution in this national emergency.

School without you all

School has been a strange place.  The corridors echo. The children who have had to remain with us have been fabulous.  We’ve really missed everyone else though.  It’s been good to wave to a few of you if I’ve been out delivering.

Home Learning

Your teachers have been busy updating the website and Google Classroom with home learning ideas.  There will probably be too many ideas for you all to do.  Please log on to classroom.google.com   if you are struggling to get on to this, please don’t hesitate to contact class teacher via the email addresses below.

The work is there to provide interest and choice.  We realise each family is different and has their own needs. Please adapt the amount of work and type of work to your family.   If you have any questions, please contact your class staff on the following emails:

Nursery: acorns@ashfieldprimary.co.uk

Reception: maples@ashfieldprimary.co.uk

Year 1: silverbirch@ashfieldprimary.co.uk

Year 2: willow@ashfieldprimary.co.uk

Year 3: beech@ashfieldprimary.co.uk

Year 4: rowan@ashfieldprimary.co.uk

Year 5: elm@ashfieldprimary.co.uk

Year 6: oak@ashfieldprimary.co.uk

The reply might not be immediate as staff may be in school, caring for a child or vulnerable relative.  We will have a rota caretaking each other’s emails for this purpose.

Internet safety

With 0ur children staying inside and accessing home learning electronically there may be some digital risks. Please see our e-safety guide for parents on the website: https://www.ashfieldprimary.co.uk/home-learning/

Guinea pigs and Blog www.ashfieldprimary.co.uk/head-teachers-blog/

Zig and Zag have also had a change to their routine.  They are on holiday at the Clayden’s house and by the looks of the photos they are having fun.  If you have a funny or lovely picture that you’d like to share with the school, please email me and I’ll put it on my HT blog. I can’t promise to use them all but it would be a lovely way to stay in touch with each other.

Happy to help

Do let me know if you are experiencing difficulties you think Ashfield could help with, such as a food bank referral. I’ve put my email address elspeth.warren@ashfieldprimary.co.uk at the top of the letter as well as the usual info@ashfieldprimary.co.uk

Take care and stay safe.

Best wishes

Elspeth Warren

Happy New Year

The children have had a great first week back in January 2020.  We've been really impressed with how ready to learn they have been.  Thank you all for your Christmas cards and gifts.  Look out for class newsletters coming home for the spring term.  I've got a basic diary for you here to save the dates.

KS2 Christmas Carol Concerts 5th December 2019

Oak, Elm, Rowan and Beech classes held an afternoon and an evening concert for parents playing instruments and singing a variety of traditional Christmas carols. 

Oak Class sang, 'O Little Town of Bethlehem,' with ukelele accompaniment.

Elm Class sang, 'We Three Kings.'

Rowan Class sang, 'Here We Come A Wassailing,' with cello/violin, guitars, glockenspiels and recorders.

Beech Class sang, 'The First Nowell.'

The choir gave us a rendition of their 'Winter Carol,' performed the previous Sunday in Otley Market Square at the Victorian Fayre.

Our audience of parents, carers and family, helped us to sing,'Silent Night' and 'We Wish You a Merry Christmas.'

• One in four Christmas jumpers bought last year was thrown away.
• About £220m will be spent on them in the run up to Christmas this year.
• Because they’re not worn often most are as good as new.
• Children grow so fast that Christmas jumpers will be grown out of before they wear out.
• The Ellen MacArthur foundation recently exposed the scale of the waste generated by the fashion industry, and how its throwaway culture generates greenhouse emissions of 1.2bn tonnes a year

Come to Ashfield to recycle – your old 2018 Christmas jumper and purchase a nearly new jumper for 2019.

Nearly new jumpers can be bought for £3.00.  If you bring in an old jumper, you get a token for £1.50 towards a nearly new one.

 Our Christmas jumper sale will take place on Friday 29th November in the hall at 3:15.

Don’t go adding to the issues we are faced with, recycle and support a good cause.

After The Orchard Centre relocated to Kirkstall, we decided to dedicate the space to a library.  Mr Raymond has had the space re-carpeted and painted.  School Council talked to Mrs Hughes about the murals they would like on the walls.  They chose themes from the books they are reading with captions to reflect how reading and books make us feel and what they made us think about:

• Rest and recuperate
• Imagine
• Face your fears
• Find a friend
• Soar to the stars
• Choose to change
• Watch and wonder

Mrs Davison has a new band of librarians after a rigorous selection process.  They will help her to open the library up for classes and individuals during and after the school day.  More details about this to come.

Six newly appointed school librarians, Oscar, Izzy, Poppy, Finley, George and George, helped me to judge the class reading corner competition.  They looked at each class's entry under the following categories:

• Can you tell which author or book the corner is based on?
• Is it inviting to children?
• Is it creative?
• Are books displayed invitingly?

Each child gave each category a score out of 4 for each class.  It was a close competition.  The winner with 85 points was Elm Class.

Have a look on the Class Blogs section of the website for the pupil comments.

This January and February, I've been working on writing with Elm Class.

Here are some examples of their super work.  It's great for me to keep in touch with classroom techniques.

Community Clear Up Day Saturday 17th November 2018

Many thanks to all the children, parents and staff who came into school this weekend to help clear up the wildlife area.

Grandparents' Day in Silver Birch Class 1st October 2018

Silver Birch children were really excited to invite their grandparents into school to show them their work, sing them a song and show them their fabulous reading skills.  Thank you to all our grandparents for supporting their grandchildren.

Thursday 27th September 2018 Peter the artist worked with KS1

Peter brought his own art work into school called 'Fantastic Hat'.  our children created their own drawings based on this.