News Archive
July 2020
Reading at Home
To further support home learning and to help your child progress with their reading over summer, we have set up an online Reading library called Rising Stars Reading Planet. Teachers have already assigned age appropriate books for your child to access and we will provide usernames and passwords via email to all parents and carers.
Also, it's not too late to sign up for the Leeds Libraries Summer Reading challenge and why not check out these Top Ten Tips for encouraging your child to read at home?
Transition and Goodbyes
The teachers have recorded videos for their outgoing classes and their new classes, click here to see them.
Virtual Reception Transition
For Parents and Carers of children due to start school in September 2020, we have created an All About Reception page, where you will find lots of useful information and resources to support your child's transition to full-time education.
A Guide to Parent Controls
To help you provide your child with a safer online experience, please see our Guide to Parental Controls.
Covid-19 Track and Trace Privacy Notice
Please see our privacy statement in regards to the governments new Track and Trace policy. The information is also available via our GDPR page.
SEND
Just a reminder that we have a range of information to help parents in supporting children with Special Educational Needs at home. Please have a look at our SEND page which is being updated all the time.
Virtual Sports Day
On Tuesday 7th July we will be taking part in a virtual sports day. The results and instruction video for the list of challenges below will go live in the morning and we have until Wednesday at 12.00pm to submit our scores. We will be representing Thorpe Primary School (Thorpe Primary Chargers) and Leeds against other schools in West Yorkshire. There are prizes for teamwork, passion and achievement. We hope to accumulate as many points as we can! Good luck!
There will be an online document to record you points which will be live on the day. Please download the attached document for more information
June 2020
Wider School Opening from 8th June
Please see the attached letter regarding the wider opening of school over the coming weeks.
FAQs
Please see the FAQ document we have compiled, which will hopefully answer your questions regarding school places after Half Term.
School Places After Half Term
For more information on our plans regarding school places after half term, please click here and for parents and carers of children who will be offered a school place from 3rd June, please see our Parent Contract.
Year 7 Transition
We appreciate that the current Covid-19 school closures has left many people feeling uncertain about transition arrangements to secondary schools. Please rest assured that we will do our very best to ensure that this process ,despite the uncertain times, will be as smooth as possible for our current year 6 pupils. As soon as we have any information for parents we will pass this on but in the meantime please keep checking the following websites for direct information from the schools, Rodillian, Outwood Grange, Royds, Freeston, Silcoates and Woodkirk.
Domestic Violence
West Yorkshire Police have created a simple online form to enable people to report domestic abuse directly to them and as an alternative to speaking on the phone. The information people provide on the form will be dealt with in the same way as any other report of domestic abuse. Click here for the link.
Reading
While school is closed the staff at Thorpe are taking the opportunity to catch up on their reading. Check out which books we are reading at the moment. We would love you to share your photos and books too
May 2020
School Places after 1st June
Following the Prime Minister's announcement, we have been doing everything in our power to work out how to keep you and all our staff as safe as we can and at the moment we are still in our planning stage. We are hoping to open on June 3rd to children of Key workers, only if there is no one at home to look after them. We have capacity to fit between 9 and 10 children in a classroom, whilst following the Government social distancing guidelines. If the number of Key worker's children is manageable we will start by inviting Reception back on a staggered start. If all goes well, hopefully we will invite Year 6 back shortly after. More detailed information will follow by the end of the week. When making your decisions please note that you will not be fined for non attendance at the moment as school is not compulsory.
Prime Minister Announcement
Following the Prime Minister's announcement last night, I am sure that you will have many questions and I ask that you give us time to seek clarification and further detail. We will be getting further advice and as soon as there is more solid information, I will be sharing it with you. I want to reassure you all that the main priority will always be the safety of our school community.
Thank you for your continued support at this difficult time. Until then, things will remain the same and we will continue to support you and your children remotely.
March 2020
Tell us about your Home Learning
How are you getting on with Home Learning? Have you turned your kitchen into a classroom? What are you learning today? Are you sticking to a timetable, or taking a more flexible approach? We would love to hear from you so we can share some tips, stories and photos on the website. Please contact us via parents@thorpe.leeds.sch.uk. In the meantime, check out our Home Learning page for some useful tips and advice.
Artistic Inspiration
Looking for artistic inspiration as part of your home-learning activities? Then check out the new Artist of the Week page with information and ideas for art activities and our Art Blog to support your creative learning at home.
Home Learning Page
Thanks to everyone who has sent photos and comments to add to our Home Learning Page. The children have clearly been working hard and we are very proud of them. Updated 01/04/20.
Please keep emailing us parents@thorpe.leeds.sch.uk or use Class Dojo to send work.
Free Lunches
"Grab bag" lunches will be provided at the school gates today between 12:00 and 13:30 for Pupil Premium children who qualify for Free School Meals not for KS1 Universal Free Meals.
World Book Day
We all had a fabulous day at our vocabulary themed World Book Day. Please check out our gallery to see some wonderful images from the day.
Online Safety
A new Online Safety Newsletter has been sent home today, alternatively please click here to read it.
World Book Day
If you are struggling to find time to sit down and read with your children every day, why not try listening to an audio book as a family? As part of World Book Day you can download lots of free children's favourite audio books here.
Social Media
We would like to remind parents and carers that most social media apps are recommended from age 12 upwards and that Whatsapp has an age limit of 16. Please think very carefully before you allow your children access to social media and ensure you are fully aware of what they are doing online. Please see our newsletter this week for more information.
Easter Extravaganza
Just a reminder that we are still looking for donations for our Easter Fair of bottles and chocolate for the tombola and prizes for the raffle. All donations will be very gratefully received and all money raised will go directly to the children.
Easter "Eggstravaganza"
We will be running an Easter fair on Thursday 2nd April to raise money for the school. We are looking for donations for our bottle and chocolate tombola, nearly new toys and raffle prizes. Please see the newsletter for more information.
Punctuality
We have seen a worrying increase in the number of children arriving late. Can we remind parents and carers that school doors open at 8:45 am and that children arriving at school after 8:50 will be marked as late. Please see this week's newsletter for more information.
February 2020
Parent Consultation Evening
We would like to invite all parents and carers to make an appointment with their child's class teacher on Tuesday 3rd March 15:05 - 17:05 or Wednesday 4th March 15:05 - 18:05. This is an opportunity to discuss your child's progress and how we can work together to ensure they reach their potential. Click here to download an appointment letter.
World Book Day
World Book Day is on the 5th March. This year we are asking children to come to school dressed as a word! This fits with our push across school on extending our vocabulary. Your child could come dressed as ‘shimmering’ or ‘strong’ or ‘fluffy’ or ‘inquisitive’. Click here for more information.
January 2020
New Lunch Menu
The latest school menus have been published on the site. Please click here to see them.
New School Dog
Winnie Nichols, a one year-old Cavapoo, will be joining us next week to fill the vacant position of Thorpe School Dog, please click here to read more.
Year 5 and 6 Casting Call
Lion Television are looking for children in Year 5 and 6 to take part in the second series of CBBC show Step Up To The Plate. The show sees top chef Allegra McEvedy and service expert Fred Sirieix challenge children to run their own restaurant, both in the kitchen and front of house, with the two most successful contestants being crowned Head Chef and Maître D’ respectively. Click here for an application form.
The 'Litter Lads'
One of our Year 5 pupils has set up a Thorpe Community Litter Picking Group to keep our local area litter free and looking fabulous. The next scheduled litter pick will be on Saturday 1st February and they would love to see you there. Please check out their Facebook Page for more information.
Online Safety drop-in
On Tuesday 21 January we have some IT specialists coming in to assist parents and carers in setting up parental controls on their electronic devices. This is a free drop-in session to improve online safety for your children. Please bring all your devices with you, phones, tablets, laptops, gaming consoles and join us in the hall at 9:00 am.
Changes to PE days
There have been some changes to our PE timetable for some classes. Please see individual class pages or click here to see the new timetable.
Born in a Barn Shortlisted for National Media Prize
Early Years' nativity play has been shortlisted for the Virgin Media's Christmas Stars Competition to find the UK's best primary school play. Well done to Miss Armstrong and the whole Early Year's team! Click here to read more.
April 2020
Earth Day home Learning
Check out our new Earth Day Home Learning Page to see what some of our children have been working on this week.
Website Updates
Now we're into a new term, there are lots of updates on the website. There is new content on the following pages, Virtual Lessons, Art Blog, Artist of the Week, Class Pages, KS2 Home Learning, KS1 Home Learning, Earth Week and the NHS page. Please keep sending in all the children's fantastic work so we can keep adding it to the site.
Earth Day 2020
It is Earth Day on Wednesday 22nd April and to celebrate we have created a page with lots of information and activities for you to do at home. You can also watch a live Science Video linked to Earth Day every day this week at 11am. We would love for you to share the children's work with us via Class Dojo, Tapestry or parents@thorpe.leeds.sch.uk.
Free School Meals
If you qualify for means tested Free School Meals, you should have received a text or email telling you what to expect. Vouchers should be with you before Monday, please let us know if you have any problems or questions.
Nursery Starters
If your child was due to start Nursery after Easter, please be aware that all home visits have been cancelled until further notice and that we will be in touch to let you know next steps.
Contact Details
If you have changed your home phone, mobile or email address, please make sure that we have your up to date contact information to ensure we are able to get in touch with you should the need arise.
Policies Update
Please check out our Policies page for an Covid-19 update to our Safeguarding Policies and information about Online Safety.
Support While School is Closed
If anyone is struggling with home learning, finances, emotions or mental health while school is closed, please get in touch with us. We will help where we can, or signpost you to an appropriate organisation.
Whole School NHS Project
We have already been sent some fantastic work as part of our whole school NHS project; please check out our new NHS Home Learning Page. Please keep sending us your work via class dojo or parents@thorpe.leeds.sch.uk
Corona Virus, A Book for Children
Axel Scheffler has illustrated a new book for children about Corona Virus, you can download a PDF copy here. If you have children in EYFS this book suitable for younger children is also available.
Corona Virus, A Book for Children
Axel Scheffler has illustrated a new book for children about Corona Virus, you can download a PDF copy here.
Home Learning
We have had so many examples of fabulous home learning that we have had to create another page to showcase all the children's work. There is now a EYFS and KS1 page and a KS2 page. Please keep emailing us parents@thorpe.leeds.sch.uk or use Class Dojo to send work. Updated 08/04/20
Reading
School may be closed but reading doesn't have to stop; there are a range of websites that offer free eBooks to support your child's reading at home, whatever their age or ability. EBooks are available at Epic Books, Renaissance, Oxford Owl and Phonics Play Comics and can be read on a computer, phone or tablet. Happy reading!
Serial Mash
Purple Mash have granted us access to another part of their site called Serial Mash which contains numerous fiction stories for all ages, separated into chapters. Each chapter has online and printable comprehension tasks linked to it which you can complete to aid your child's understanding of the text. Information about how to access Serial Mash will be provided on your child's class page and on Class Dojo.
Virtual Lessons
To support you further while you are at home, the teachers and support staff have created some virtual lessons for you to watch from the comfort of your living room. New videos added 05 April 2020.
STARS
The Specialist Training in Autism and Raising Standards Team have been updating their website with lots of ideas and resources to support you.
Class Pages
Information on Class Dojo for Years 1 to 6 and videos from the teachers are now live on individual class pages.
Advice for Parents and Carers
Please help us to open safely and follow this advice.
Staying At Home Will Save Lives
You should only send your child to school on Monday if you absolutely have to; the childcare offered at school is only if you have no other option. Even if it is inconvenient, the safest place for your child is at home. The more children at school the more staff we need in and the more we spread the virus. Stay at home, protect the NHS and save lives.
School Closure
This is the last day of school and we will not reopen until the government says it is safe to do so. From Monday we will endeavour to stay open for the parents of key workers and vulnerable children, but this will depend on staff availability with the restrictions implemented to prevent the spread of Covid19 click here to see a letter from Mrs Park with more information.
Emergency Childcare
We will be contacting you by text this afternoon if we are able to offer emergency childcare. Please click here to see a letter from Mrs Park explaining the criteria we are using to allocate spaces for the children of critical workers and vulnerable children.
Key Workers
The government has now released details on key workers and that information can be found here.
In line with government guidelines, children should be kept at home if it is possible to do so without relying on childcare from the elderly or those with underlying conditions and parents and carers should make every effort to ensure children are observing the same social distancing principles as adults.
If you are a key worker and have no way of looking after your child at home please email us at parents@thorpe.leeds.sch.uk before lunchtime today with your hours of work and proof of your key worker status, so that we can make provision for next week.
Home Learning
Class pages have been updated with home learning activities, you can also click here to see 100 activities to do inside.
Free Online Resources
Several sites have free online resources, or have made their sites free to use during this time, some examples are:
