2023 Spring #4

Teachers’ Strikes

Dear Parents/Carer

Many of you will have heard that the National Education Union (NEU) have confirmed that their teaching members have voted in favour of strike action. Strikes are set to take place over the next two months.

Teachers who are part of the NEU, have been invited to strike for a number of days, following national ballots on issues regarding pay and funding.

Teachers who are members of the NEU, have a choice to strike or not and they cannot be forced to strike.

Following contingency planning and a risk assessment, we are able to remain fully operational on Wednesday 1 February.

If this situation changes, I will give you as much notice as possible, so you are able to arrange alternative childcare.

As we approach the upcoming, additional strike days, I will be able to provide further information, closer to the time.

Kind regards
Mrs M Dhaliwal

Attendance

Being in school on time and every day is extremely important for all children to ensure they receive the best possible start to their learning.

We all know that good attendance is vital to a successful education. We very much appreciate that sometimes children must miss school for a medical appointment that cannot be made out of school time. We also appreciate that sickness cannot be helped.

Please ensure that you make all reasonable efforts to send your child into school. Sometimes you might suspect that your child is slightly under the weather, but well enough to come to school. Please inform your child’s class teacher of this so they can carefully monitor your child. If necessary, school can administer medication and make a call later on in the day. Sometimes a magic dose of Calpol is all that is needed. Clearly, there are some illnesses that mean there is no choice other than keeping them off for the day. The office staff are more than happy to discuss any queries you have.

Did you know that a child having 90% attendance is the same as having one day off every two weeks? If their attendance drops to 80%, that is the same as having a day off every week. Our new curriculum lessons are planned in sequences so if a child misses a part of this sequence, they are at a disadvantage when it comes to committing that learning to long term memory.

Mrs Hodgkins and I, monitor the attendance figures every three weeks along with our Education Welfare Officer. We discuss all attendance below 95% and put actions in place to support children and families where we notice patterns in absence.

Not only do we monitor individual children’s attendance, but we also look at the attendance of each class in our school. We are going to bring back more recognition for good attendance during our achievement assemblies.

Ace the Attendance Mascot
Joining our school from next week will be Ace the Attendance mascot. He will visit Coalbrookdale and greet the children arriving at school for one week each term. Look out for him on the school gate from next Monday 30th January! The children are really excited about meeting him!

Attendance Incentives
Each class will be given an attendance target to reach for the week. If it is reached, they will be recognised in collective worship and be awarded with a certificate.

The class with the highest attendance will be awarded the Attendance Cup and Ace the teddy which will remain in their class for the week.

Children with 100% attendance will receive a certificate and prize. This will be recognised at the end of a half term, term, two terms and a year.

It is important to remind you the law states that: “The parent of every child of statutory school age is compelled by law to ensure such a child attends school unless there is a reasonable excuse for non-attendance. Failure to do so may result in legal action being taken against you”.

Next week we will send you some further information with lots of useful facts about attendance and what we do in our school.

Thank you in advance for your continued support in helping us do the best we can for your children.

Mrs M Dhaliwal
Headteacher

Year 6 Parent Meetings

Parent meetings for children in Year 6 will take place at the beginning of February (Tuesday 7 February (1.15pm – 5.30pm) and Thursday 9 February – (1.15pm – 6.00pm)).

Parents will be able to book their appointments via the school website from next Monday.

Jewellery & Hair

Parents are reminded that children who have pierced ears must remove earrings during PE and games to prevent them from causing injury. If your child is unable to remove their earrings on their own they will be asked to cover them with tape.

Please ensure that if your child’s hair is longer than shoulder length that it is tied back.

School Shoes

Children should wear black school shoes on days that they do not have PE and not trainers.
Trainers worn on PE days should be a dark colour.

Friends School Disco – Friday 9 February

For all the details see below

Community News – Road works – Buildwas Road

Severn Trent have advised us of further work on Buildwas Road. They are installing a new sewer for a development in the area. They planned to start on 9 January 2023, but due to the risk of flooding and the erection of the flood barriers the works had to be delayed. They now plan to start from 13 February 2023 and take approximately three months to complete

Work will be in two phases: Phase one will be carried out under a rolling road closure with a diversion route. Phase two will be carried out under rolling multi-way traffic lights. Their working week is Monday to Sunday.

Phase one will be from Dale End roundabout to just before the entrance to Ironbridge Rowing Club, Buildwas Road. To allow us to carry out this work quickly and safely we will have a rolling road closure with a diversion route in place, this is to ensure your safety and the safety of our workforce.

Phase two will be from just before the entrance to Ironbridge Rowing Club up to and along the old power station entrance, we will have rolling multi-way traffic lights in place, this is to again ensure your safety and the safety of our workforce. The plan and table overleaf show the approximate location, timescale and traffic management.

You may need to allow extra time for your journey. Pedestrian access will always be maintained.

For more details, please see attached below a letter from Severn Trent.

Ironbridge Waste water SD 13.02.23

Community News – Coalbrookdale & Ironbridge Community Centre

Please see details of new beginners classes for Taekwondo at Coalbrookdale & Ironbridge Community Centre

What Parents Need to Know – Building Cyber Resilience At Home