This page is used to inform you of our latest news at Kirkleatham Hall School, discuss Apple applications and view our half termly Newsletter
Dear Parents/Carers
It has been incredibly hot today in school with some classrooms being over thirty degrees Celsius.
I do not want to shut the school, as I am aware of the impact of this on families. At the same time, I have concerns over our ability to keep the children cool enough within school. I also worry about the length of time some of the children will be on the bus on the way home.
Tomorrow, according to reports, it is due to be four or five degrees hotter than today. We have a number of vulnerable children in school who are more susceptible to the heat and I am aware that it is probably easier to keep your child cooler at home. I am happy for you as parents and carers to make the decision around whether you want your child to attend as you know them best. However, I can assure you that if you decide to keep your child off due to the heat then in this case it will not go down as an unauthorised absence. If you intend to keep your child off then please inform us through the school telephone system so that we are aware that your child will not be in.
If your child is in school could you please ensure that they have light clothing, sunhats and that they have had an application of sun cream.
Thank you for your continued support
Paul McLean
Headteacher Kirkleatham Hall School
Dear Parents/Carers
Student Absence
We want to tighten up the processes around how student absences are reported. Although bus escorts are able to pass messages on to us and vice versa, these messages are often misconstrued or relayed in a way that the initial sender did not intend.
We would ask that if your child is absent for any reason that you phone school directly in order to pass this message on. If you could do this prior to 8:45 this will allow us to have a list of who will not be in that day. We have now changed our school answering system to allow you to leave your child’s name and the reason for absence.
If a child is off school and you have not left a message on the school’s answering system we will follow this up with a welfare phone call. We want to move away from messages being passed on via bus escorts.
Please can you support this process by ensuring all absences are reported appropriately; this will reduce the need for a member of staff to be ringing to check why students are not in school.
If your child is off for longer than a day you only need to report it on the first day, although we may phone up to check everything is ok if the absence is extended.
Cost of School Dinners
The cost of living crisis is impacting on everyone. We have tried to shield parents from any price increases in relation to school dinners. However, the reality is that school are heavily subsidising the price of school dinners, this then impacts on the school budget and what we are able to spend on the children. As such, we have reflected on the price of school dinners and will be introducing a very slight increase in the cost of school dinners starting in September. We currently charge £2.20 for Primary students and this will increase to £2.30 per day (or £11.50 each week). Secondary and FE students pay £2.30 for dinners but this will increase to £2.50 per day (or £12.50 each week). It is worth noting that dinners for older students are a larger portion than that offered to primary students. Students who receive a free school meal will not be affected by this price increase. I am sorry if this causes any concern for you as a parent and it is not a decision that we have taken lightly.
School Uniforms
We have previously had different coloured uniforms for primary and secondary students. However, this became quite confusing for parents when we have had mixed primary and secondary classes. We will be looking at the uniform policy in the near future, but in the meantime, I wanted to reassure you that you do not need to purchase new uniform for the new academic year unless your child specifically needs it. We are happy with children wearing primary uniform, secondary uniform or indeed their own clothes no matter what department they are in.
Thank you for your continued support
Yours sincerely
Paul McLean
Dear Parents/Carers
We would like to invite you to our Summer Fayre on Thursday 23 June between 1.15pm – 2.45pm and will be hosted outside on the Primary playground and FE garden. Entrance will be via our FE Oakwood Building.
We are arranging a number of stalls, selling a variety of goods such as; cakes, tombola, toy raffle (tickets available from school before the day for £1 per strip), beat the keeper, doggy treats, hook a duck, along with many more. As well as invited guest stalls from KHS Friends, Everyone Active and local colleges.
Donation Request - If you have any bottles, gift packs, chocolates or anything else that you would like to donate for the tombola we would be extremely grateful if you could send them into school over the next couple of weeks.
Please feel free to invite friends and family, the more the merrier.
Notice of pupils leaving early – you are welcome to collect your child to visit the fayre on the day. We just ask that you complete the slip sent home and return this to school before the day to confirm you will collect them from the main reception between 1pm – 1.15pm. Pupils who are taken by parents and carers will then be your responsibility to transport home and will not be returning to classes.
We currently have vacancies for Teaching Assistants, Lunchtime Supervisory Assistants and Cleaners. See link below for more information on each role.
Dear Parent/Guardians,
On Thursday 26th May, we will be having a special fancy dress day in school. The day is part of our school Platinum Jubilee celebrations. Staff are going to dress up in an outfit from the decade they were born, but students can choose to dress up in a costume of their choice.
On Friday 27th, we are going to have a whole school tea party with entertainment from a vocalist called Tom Powell who will sing songs from across the decades. Children and staff are welcome to dress in a red, white and blue theme if they so wish.
Thank you for your continued support
Helen Newton
Primary Phase Leader/ Creative lead
We are delighted to invite you to the Preparing for Adulthood event for young people with Special Education Needs and Disabilities (SEND) and their parent/carers in Redcar and Cleveland
When: Wednesday 25th May 2022
Where: Redcar & Cleveland College, Corporation Road, Redcar
What time: 4pm – 7pm
This year’s PfA event aims to support, advise and inform young people and their families of some of the options available to them for their future. This is a great opportunity for young people, parents, carers and professionals to discover what provisions are available in and around the Redcar and Cleveland area for children and young people with Special Educational Needs. It is hoped that this event will hopefully allay some of the fears that exist surrounding transition.
We have invited a range of organisations, covering several topics including;
Employment/Education and Training – colleges, post 16 providers, supported internship providers, supported employment, voluntary work, employers
Community Inclusion – community activities, youth centres, making friends, taking part in all activities and being a valued member of the local community
Good Health - physical and mental well-being, health eating and developing emotional resilience
Independence – independent travel training, supported housing, having independence and a lifestyle that young people want to be as independent as possible
If you have any queries please do not hesitate to telephone: 01642 304539 or email Louise Melling on louise.melling@redcar-cleveland.gov.uk
A partnership event organised by Special Education Needs Team and the parent/carer forum – SEND Family Voice Redcar & Cleveland
Dear Parents/Carers
It was lovely to have all the children back after the Easter Holidays. We are very lucky to work in a school where the children appear to be delighted to be back, a school where the staff are equally happy to see all the children. It really does feel like one big family.
SNAP PLAY SCHEME
Unfortunately, we are unable to run the summer play scheme this year. The play scheme has always relied heavily on a large number of volunteers. This year is the first year in a while that staff have been able to potentially go on holiday. As a result, it has been extremely difficult to gain the required number of volunteers we would need to run the play scheme. I apologise for the fact that this has had to be the case as I know how important the respite offered by the play scheme was for some parents.
SCHOOL DINNERS
The school hall is out of use until at least the end of this academic year. However, there is a concern that this may be the case for some of the Autumn Term as well. We are aware that it is not ideal that students are not getting a hot meal. A lot of our students are very particular about what they will and will not eat and offering a packed lunch, even if balanced, does not necessarily give students as broad or as balanced a diet as if they were having a hot meal.
We have trialled this week students eating a packed lunch in the classroom. The eating in the classroom has gone remarkably well, however a number of students are not eating lots of the packed lunch. We have therefore, in discussion with Barbara (school cook) looked at potential solutions to this. Our intention is to start serving hot dinners again from Monday 9th May. We will have to purchase special containers that will allow us to keep the food at the required temperature whilst it is being transported. If your child was previously on school dinners then we will presume that you will want them to go back onto hot dinners from Monday 9th May. If this is not the case could you inform school of your intentions.
I hope you all had a lovely Easter holidays and I look forward to the opportunity of potentially starting to see a lot of you face to face over the coming term.
Yours sincerely
Paul McLean
Paul McLean
Head Teacher
Kirkleatham Hall School
The café will be open on Wednesday April 13th 10am-12pm for a fun filled morning with Easter activities. There will be food and drinks available to purchase. We hope to see you there.
Due to the very high level of trespassing on the tracks by young people in our local area, Network Rail in partnership with the Learn Live News Channel are working to help raise awareness to students across the UK educating them about the dangers of the train tracks through interactive digital delivery.
We urgently need you to please share the relevant safety videos with your teachers to show in class or send the link to parents who can watch it at home.
The session is less than 15 minutes and explains why it is important to stay safe near the tracks.
Over 14 million students, parents and teachers from across the UK have watched these videos which has led to a significant decrease in the number of trespasses in their area through watching the latest rail safety videos.
Remember 15 mins can help save lives and provide important safety information to young people and their parents.
We have made things easier for you to watch the free safety videos by just entering the email railsafety@learnliveuk.com into the I am registered field when you first watch the videos.
Please click on the link below to view the relevant safety video:
Primary school version: Age 7- 11 (with subtitles)
https://learnliveuk.com/network-rail-primary-school-safety-talk/
https://learnliveuk.com/i-am-train-safe/
Secondary school version: Age 11-16 (revised version with subtitles)
https://learnliveuk.com/network-rail-secondary-school-safety-talk/
https://learnliveuk.com/i-am-train-safe/
Here are a couple of video testimonials from schools we have worked with over the past few months:-
You can find additional rail safety videos and resources for your school at https://switchedonrailsafety.co.uk/. Switched On is a new rail safety programme for 3-16 year olds that encourages young people to stay Switched On around the railway. On the website you will find a wide range of age targeted films, interactive games and classroom activities, Switched On teaches pupils to be aware of risky behaviour and develop hazard-spotting skills.
NHS
COVID VACCINE
Information for schools
The COVID-19 vaccination programme in schools in partnership with the School Aged Immunisation Service (SAIS) is ending as we begin to administer the last of the vaccines ahead of the Easter holidays.
12 to 15-year-olds can also get their first or second dose outside of school by using the National Booking Service or one of the walk-in vaccination sites open to this age group.
Those who are more at risk from the virus or who live with someone who has a severely weakened immune system can get their second dose earlier, eight weeks after their first, and a further ‘booster’ dose from three months (91 days) after their second.
On 11 March, the National Booking Service opened to allow those at greatest risk from COVID, including those who are severely immunosuppressed and with underlying health conditions, to book their booster online.
Children in this age group who have had a severely weakened immune system can get a third primary dose from eight weeks after their second dose, then receive a booster from three months (91 days) later. These third primary doses for those eligible can make an appointment through local booking systems or get vaccinated through their local GP or hospital or home visit team as well as at some vaccination walk-in sites.
Vaccinating 5-11-year olds
On 16 February, the Government accepted advice from the JCVI to make a non-urgent offer of Covid-19 vaccines to all children aged five to 11, to increase protection against potential future waves of COVID-19.
The National Booking Service has opened and bookings for children aged 5 to 11 can now be made.
This will not be an in-school offer, except where SAIS providers are used to provide vaccinations in special educational needs (SEN) schools.
The number of clinics will increase towards Easter to support vaccination during school holidays when parents have more time.
The NHS is already vaccinating children aged 5 to 11 who are most at risk of Covid-19 or who are a household contact of someone who is immunosuppressed.
How to get an appointment
The National Booking Service (NBS) shows available appointments and there is also a site finder to locate vaccine walk-in centres which is updated regularly. This finder shows which doses are offered at each location and to which age groups.