Important Note:
This is a text only webpage that can be used to easily translate important updates for those whose first language is not English.
Weekly Newsletter - 23rd October 2026
“Excellent attendance is vital for children to flourish and achieve”
Our Vision relates to the parable of ‘The Lost Sheep’ and we do not want any child or adult to be left behind, we all work together and respect everyone. We believe all our children can flourish and achieve their potential to enable them to succeed in the future.
It is already the end of the first half term. Time goes so quickly! The children have made a fantastic start to the new school year, including all the new children who have joined St Bart’s since September. They are a credit to you all. We hope you enjoy the half term break and we will be here to welcome you all back on Monday the 2nd of November for another great half term.
Thank you to all parents who attended this week’s parents’ consultation. It is important to hear how your children are doing in school. If you require more information or have any questions at any time, please ask or contact the SLT via email and we will get back to you as soon as we can.
- childprotection@stbartsleeds.org.uk
- headteacher@stbartsleeds.org.uk
- nursery@stbartsleeds.org.uk
- reception@stbartsleeds.org.uk
- year1year2@stbartsleeds.org.uk
- year3year4@stbartsleeds.org.uk
- year5year6@stbartsleeds.org.uk
IMPORTANT REMINDERS
Holidays in term time – We cannot authorise any absence unless there are exceptional circumstances and this will only be granted when you have met with Mrs Wainwright and provided any evidence we need. As a school our attendance is monitored by Leeds and the DFE and we are being challenged on the high numbers of holidays taken in school time. Please stop taking holidays in school time, more importantly it also results in children missing important learning, catching up on a week’s work is very difficult. These are not school rules but the governments. You will be fined if the holiday is 5 days or more and if your children have 3 holidays it could result in you going to court.
Free Breakfast Club - Remember we now have a free breakfast club when children can come to school at 8am. They will be provided with breakfast and given chance to join in a range of activities. If you are interested in this, please see Mrs Wainwright or Miss Lawson.
This is part of the DFEs scheme and is funded by them, it is what has enabled to keep the cost of our paid breakfast club the same this year as the DFE pay for the last 30 minutes from 8am.
Punctuality – In a morning children must be in Nursery by 8.40am and the rest of the children MUST be in school by 8.50am. We are having an increasing number of children late coming through the office, one day this week we had over 30 children late. This is unmanageable and takes staff away from what they should be doing. More worrying is it results in children missing part of their lesson and can cause them to be upset when they have to go in a lesson that has already started.
Poppy Appeal – After the half term we will be supporting the poppy appeal again. There are a small number of items that can be purchased, these are a minimum of £1 and very limited (one per child). Poppies are available for a donation.
Something Mrs Wainwright has enjoyed this week was teaching in Mr Blackburn’s class again. I love being in class (a treat for me nowadays) and spending time with the children who worked so hard.
Worship – Our current theme is Generosity and this week we have seen how generous everyone is by bringing food for Harvest which will donate to local good causes. Thank you
We also reflected on our Big Question; do you always have to be generous? This has been difficult to answer as we want to be generous and helpful but sometimes you cannot and that is ok.
We have also discussed our attribute, ‘ambition’ and the children have shown this in the first half term of the year in how well they have settled and worked hard in their new classes.
The St Bart’s way – We will continue to follow the St Bart’s Way. These expectations keep school a safe, respectful and happy place to be.
Attendance
We expect all children to be in school every day and on time. 8.30am for Nursery, 12.30pm in the afternoon and by 8.50am for the rest of school. Thank you
Attendance Winners for last week:
- KS1 – Class 3 – 97.3%
- Years 3 & 4 – Class 6 – 97%
- Years 5 & 6 – Class 15 – 98.6%
Well done to the best classes:
- EYFS & Years 1 & 2 – Class 5
- Years 3 & 4 – Class 8
- Years 5 & 6 – Class 15
Weekly Round Up
Nursery – This week we have been exploring harvest vegetable: pumpkin. The children loved looking at different coloured pumpkins, describing and painting them. We have been ordering them according to their size and checking which ones are heavy and light. We opened them up and saw what was inside. In phonics we have read pumpkin stories and the children learnt pumpkin song '5 little pumpkins'.
Reception –This week in Reception we have been exploring pumpkins and enjoyed scooping out the seeds. In R.E we have been talking about caring for others and what Jesus and Prophet Muhammed teach us about being kind. We have been caring for the babies and making cheerio bird feeders. As part of our worship theme generosity, we have been showing generosity to each other my making cards for each other. In Maths we have been comparing amounts and identifying more and fewer.
Years 1 & 2 –This week the children in Key Stage 1 have been learning about Remembrance Day. They have looked at the origins of this day and how it began after the end of the First World War. Children have looked at how people show respect to the veterans from the armed forces and how some people wear poppies to remember those who have served our nation and have lost their lives in war. The children have created their own poppies using different methods such as printing. These will be used to create year group wreaths which will be displayed in church.
Years 3 & 4 – Year 3 lessons - We have enjoyed completing a range of Remembrance activities and have reflected on our learning in Science by evaluating our Plants topic. In Maths, we have completed our work on subtraction, putting our calculation skills into practice.
Year 4 lessons - In Maths, we have been investigating area, while in English we have continued our work on biographies, learning more about the life and achievements of Charles Dickens.
Website - To keep up to date with the exciting learning and experiences taking place in Years 3 and 4, please click on the links below to view our latest news and blog posts:
These pages are regularly updated with information about classroom learning, educational visits, special events, and pupil achievements.
Homework - This year, we will continue using technology to support homework.
Children are expected to:
- Complete 21 minutes on Times Tables Rock Stars each week.
- Complete their spelling task on Oxford Owl.
- Read their school reading book every night.
Most families will have access to a device that can be used to complete these tasks. If you experience any difficulties accessing the online platforms, please contact Mr Needham, or pass on a message to the member of staff on duty during morning drop off. Children who are currently in a phonics group will receive a paper-based homework sheet instead.
Homework will be set on Monday and should be completed by Friday each week. Login details for the online platforms will be provided during the first few weeks of term.
Children who consistently complete their homework will be rewarded with an additional break towards the end of each half term.
Years 5 & 6 – Lessons- In Geography, we have started our new Mountains topic by exploring the Seven Summits, the highest mountain on each continent. In Science, we have completed our end-of-topic assessment to demonstrate our learning so far.
Lotherton Hall - We are delighted that Years 5 and 6 will be visiting Lotherton Hall during Autumn 2. Classes will attend on the following dates:
- Wednesday 4th November: Class 15
- Thursday 5th November: Class 14
- Monday 23rd November: Class 12
- Thursday 26th November: Class 13
- Friday 4th December: Class 11
The visits will provide an exciting opportunity to support and enhance learning beyond the classroom. We ask for a voluntary contribution of £5.00 per child towards the cost of the trip. Contributions can be made via ParentPay. Whilst no child will be excluded from the visit because of an inability to contribute, please note that the trip may not be financially viable if insufficient voluntary contributions are not received. A sincere thank you to all the families who have already made a voluntary contribution. Your generosity and support are very much appreciated.
Please use ParentPay to provide consent for your child to attend the trip and to make payment. If you have not yet set up ParentPay, a login and password will be provided. If you experience any difficulties, please contact Mr Needham or Mrs Busby in the school office.
Website - To keep up to date with the exciting learning and experiences taking place in Years 5 and 6, please click on the links below to view our latest news and blog posts:
These pages are regularly updated with information about classroom learning, educational visits, special events, and pupil achievements.
Homework - Children are expected to read their reading book at home every evening.
Each week, children will be set homework on Emile (Grammar, Punctuation and Maths) and Oxford Owl (Spelling). Homework will be set on Monday and must be completed by the following Monday.
A Homework Club will run every Tuesday lunchtime for pupils in Years 5 and 6, providing an opportunity to complete homework during the school day.
Children who complete all of their homework will be rewarded with either an extended morning break or an extended lunchtime on Friday.
Secondary School Applications - A reminder that the deadline for applications for secondary school places is 31st October.
You can find useful guidance and submit your application using the link below:
Leeds Secondary School Applications
Year 6 SATs Week - Year 6 SATs week will begin on Monday 10 May 2027. It is vital that all Year 6 pupils attend school throughout the week, as the tests are set nationally and must be completed on the specified dates. The timetable for the week is as follows:
- Monday 10 May: Grammar, Punctuation and Spelling
- Tuesday 11 May: Reading
- Wednesday 12 May: Arithmetic and Mathematics Reasoning
- Thursday 13 May: Mathematics Reasoning
We would appreciate your support in ensuring that Year 6 children arrive at school on time each day and avoid making any appointments during SATs week wherever possible.
School Dates 2026 -2027:
- Friday 23rd October 2026 School Closes at 3.30pm
- Monday 2nd November 2026 School Opens at 8.30am
- Friday 6th November 2026 Year 1 Celebration/Diwali Day
- Friday 27th November 2026 Training Day – No Children in School
- Friday 11th December 2026 Training Day – No Children in School
- Friday 18th December 2026 School Closes at 3.30pm
- Monday 4th January 2027 School Opens at 8.30am
- Friday 5th February 2027 Training Day – No Children in School
- Friday 12th February 2027 School Closes at 3.30pm
- Monday 22nd February 2027 School Opens at 8.30am
- Friday 26th March 2027 School Closed Good Friday Bank Holiday
- Monday 29th March 2027 School Closed Easter Monday Bank Holiday
- Friday 2nd April 2027 School Closes at 3.30pm
- Monday 19th April 2027 School Opens at 8.30am
- Monday 3rd May 2027 School Closed May Bank Holiday
- Monday 10th May 2027 SAT’s Grammar, Punctuation and Spelling
- Tuesday 11th May 2027 SAT’s Reading
- Wednesday 12th May 2027 SAT’s Arithmetic and Mathematics Reasoning
- Thursday 13th May 2027 SAT’s Mathematics Reasoning
- Friday 28th May 2027 School Closes at 3.30pm
- Monday 7th June 2027 School Opens at 8.30am
- Friday 18th June 2027 Training Day – No Children in School
- Thursday 22nd July 2027 School Closes at 3.30pm