Dear Parkfield Families,
We have certainly hit the ground running at Parkfield following the half-term break! From Vikings and languages to theatre performances and new friendships, our Parkfielders have enjoyed a fantastic variety of experiences in just a few days. It has been lovely to welcome everyone back, refreshed and ready for another exciting half term of learning.
A big thank you to our Year 2 families who joined us for Family Learning earlier this week. We hope you found the session useful and enjoyed learning more about how you can support your child at home. We really value these opportunities to work together and strengthen the partnership between home and school.
All classes have also enjoyed SCARF workshops this week, with a special visitor coming into school to deliver sessions linked to our PSHE curriculum. These workshops provide valuable opportunities for children to explore important themes around relationships, wellbeing and making positive choices, helping them develop essential skills for life.
Our Year 4 children enjoyed a visit to M6 Theatre, where they watched a performance and met pupils from Brimrod Primary School as part of the Rochdale Linking Schools Project. This is a wonderful opportunity for children to build new friendships, celebrate similarities and differences, and develop a greater understanding of the communities around them.
Meanwhile, Year 5 have had a particularly busy week! They enjoyed a Languages Day at St Anne's Academy, giving them a taste of language learning in a secondary school setting. This afternoon, they also travelled back in time with a fantastic Viking workshop, delivered by a visitor from Touchstones Museum in Rochdale. What a brilliant way to bring their history learning to life!
Our Year 5 & 6 Cross Country team performed brilliantly at St Anne's Academy this week with some excellent finishing positions. It is fantastic to see so many children wanting to take part. Our football team also played this week and came out winners once again by beating Middleton Parish 4-1. Mrs Banks was once again impressed with their teamwork and positive attitudes. We are STILL unbeaten in all football competitons this season!!
As always, thank you for your continued support. We hope everyone has a lovely weekend and, if you're heading out to enjoy any bonfire or firework displays, please wrap up warm, take care and stay safe. We look forward to seeing everyone back at Parkfield on Monday!
Mr Kemp
TUESDAY 10TH NOVEMBER @ 9.15AM OPEN MORNING - Prospective parents of those children that may want to join Parkfield in September 2027 are welcome to join us in the school hall for a presentation and a tour of the school from our school councillors.
WEDNESDAY 11TH NOVEMBER - ALL DAY - HISTORY THEME DAY - The whole school will be learning about 'Rememberance' across the day.
THURSDAY 12TH NOVEMBER @ 9:15 - SEND Parent Coffee morning - an informal opportunity for parents to attend and chat with our SEND team to discuss IEPs or any other concerns
FRIDAY 13TH NOVEMBER - YEAR 1 SCHOOL TRIP TO EUREKA - Year 1 are enjoying a visit to Eureka museum - more information has been emailed out. Payments for the trip are to be made on Arbor as soon as possible.
TUESDAY 17TH NOVEMBER @ 9AM in the SCHOOL HALL - EYFS FAMILY LEARNING - Our family members from Reception class are welcome to join us for a learning event linked to phonics. The event will give you an insight into how to support your child with their reading and phonics at home.
We will continue selling selling items for the Poppy appeal next week including: paper poppies, stickers, snapbands, pencils, bracelets and reflective poppies. The items have suggested prices between 20p and £1. All donations will go towards the Poppy Appeal. We will be selling them on Monday and Tuesday ready for Remembrance Day on Wednesday. We hope you will donate to the Poppy Appeal! Thank you.
PARENT GOVERNOR ROLE
Although we have recently recruited to the position, we still have one parent governor role available at the school.
Parent Governors play an important role in the life of Parkfield, helping to support and challenge school leaders, contribute to key decisions and ensure the school continues to provide the best possible education for all our Parkfielders. You do not need any previous experience of being a governor – just an interest in our school and a willingness to get involved.
The role involves attending a number of meetings across the school year, as well as opportunities to visit school and learn more about different aspects of school life.
If you are a parent or carer of a child at Parkfield and would be interested in finding out more or putting yourself forward, please contact Mr Kemp at mkemp@parkfield.rochdale.sch.uk
Deadline for expressions of interest: 12:00pm on Friday 20th November 2026
READ WITH YOUR CHILD? SIGN THEIR PERSONAL ORGANISER
A reminder to please record and sign your child's personal organiser when you have listened to them read. If you can listen to your child read a minimum of three times a week it makes a huge difference!
CHILDREN IN NEED
In previous years, we have supported Children in Need by inviting pupils to dress up and make a £1 donation. This year, we have decided not to take part as a school, as we have other fundraising activities planned this term. Our School Council will be supporting the Poppy Appeal, and we will also be raising money for Springhill Hospice through our popular Reindeer Run. We know that families are often asked to contribute to different causes, so we hope you understand our decision to focus on these two worthwhile charities this term.
PREVIOUS NEWS AND REMINDERS
Please note that you can use the links on the left (if viewing on a computer) or the top of this page (if viewing on a phone/tablet) to look back at previous news and messages that have been shared in previous newsletters.
DINNER MENU NEXT WEEK - WEEK 2
If you'd like to know what is on next weeks menu, please click here: https://www.parkfieldprimary.com/families/dinner-menus
Please always check the newsletter to make sure your child's club is on the following week as they are sometimes cancelled due to Middleton Schools Sports fixtures.
Monday - Year 1 & 2 Arts & Crafts Club
Monday - Year 3 & 4 Multi Sports
Tuesday - Year 5 & 6 Football
Tuesday 22nd September - Cookery Club
Wednesday - Year 5 & 6 Multi Sports CANCELLED DUE TO STAFF TRAINING
Wednesday - Karaoke Club - NEW GROUP (Not starting until 18/11/26)
Thursday - Year 4, 5 & 6 Cross Country Club (Lunchtime)
Thursday - Year 4, 5 & 6 Netball Club
AS THE DARK NIGHTS ARE FAST APPROACHING PLEASE CAN YOU TRY YOUR BEST TO PICK YOUR CHILD UP FROM THE CLUBS RATHER THAN THEM WALKING HOME ALONE. THANKS.
Mrs Edyvean joined the school in September 2025 and is our Assistant Head and SENDCo at Parkfield. She has loved her first year at Parkfield. She has been teaching for 14 years and has taught from EYFS to Year 6. She is also a Forest School leader and loves to be outside, spending time in nature. Before teaching, she worked as a SEN support assistant at Parkfield. Mrs Edyvean has a 9-year-old daughter and a 19-year-old step son, as well as a Cavapoo called Roxy. She loves to go for walks, go camping and on holidays.
Reception: 96%
Year 1: 75.5%
Year 2: 94.6%
Year 3: 93.3%
Year 4: 94.5%
Year 5: 93.7%
Year 6: 94%
Whole School: 91.7%
Number of lates this week: 20
A reminder that classes that achieve at least 96% attendance (no more than 6 days of absence across a class) get a reward on their attendance ladder!
This year children can be awarded with either a Platinum, Gold, Silver or Bronze certificate of attendance in recognition of meeting our school target of 96%. We will regularly update you on how well your child is doing.
Platinum: 100% attendance (0 days absent)
Gold: 98% attendance or above (3 days absent)
Silver: 97% attendance or above (5 days absent)
Bronze: 96% attendance or above (6 days absent)
Please note that, in line with the school policy, fines will be issued to families that go on a term time holiday where children miss 5 consecutive full days. Currently the fine is £160 per child per parent which equates to a £640 fine for a two parent family with two children. This is reduced to £320 if paid within 21days. If you are going on holiday due to exceptional circumstances, please speak to the headteacher as a fine may not have to be issued. More information an be found on our attendance policy found here.
Persistent absence is defined by the Government as attendance below 90%. This equates to 19 days or more of absence a year or 100+ lessons missed. If a child’s attendance drops below 90% this could lead to them becoming a safeguarding concern and will certainly lead to them doing less well than their peers.
The link between attendance and achievement cannot be over stated. Your child will achieve better if they are in school every day. Only in very exceptional circumstances should a child be absent from school. Please ring the school office no later than 8.30am to report an absence.
Please get your child to school on time. Poor punctuality can lead to your child…
Feeling embarrassed in front of their friends
Missing the beginning of vital lessons making them fall behind
Missing important instructions for the rest of the school day
At Parkfield children are to line up before school and doors open at 8.45am. They close at 8.50am.
Arrivals after 8.50am are to sign in at the main office and anyone arriving after 9.15am are marked as an unauthorised absence for the morning session.
Our overall school attendance is steadily increasing and one reason is due to many of our families taking up the school offer of bringing a bottle of Calpol in for their child if they are feeling slightly under the weather. The medicine can then be administered by school staff if your child needs it throughout the day. We do find that many of our Parkfielders show that true resilience when they arrive in school and get through their day with very little support. However, if your child is too poorly to stay in school, we will contact home so that they can be collected.
Mrs Smith is our Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) supported by Mr Kemp, Mrs Clawson and Mrs Edyvean. If you have any concerns about the needs or welfare of a pupil, please don't hesitate to contact the school. We all share a responsibility to our pupils safety and wellbeing.
As a school our promise is: We will listen, we will support and we will take action.
More information can be found on the school website here: https://www.parkfieldprimary.com/website/safeguarding-and-child-protection.html
STAY SAFE REMINDERS
If your child is attending Early Birds, please walk down the path and through the KS1 yard - it may take a few more seconds but it's much safer than walking through the busy car park. If the hall door is ever closed, simply ring the bell for assistance.
Dogs are not permitted in the school playground.
If driving, park further away from the school and walk to reduce congestion and the possibility of any serious accidents.
Unfortunately, Parents and Carers are not allowed to drop off and pick up from the school car park between 8.30am and 4.00pm.
Children are not allowed on the play equipment before and after school. Please keep them off.
5 WAYS TO WELLBEING
At Parkfield we promote the 5 ways to Wellbeing which can help children and adults to achieve a more positive lifestyle.
#THRIVE offer a local service for children and young people aged up to 19 years who are experiencing health and wellbeing issues such as feeling stressed, worried or not enjoying things. #Thrive can also provide advice and support to parents, carers and anyone that works with a child or young person. You can find out more information about the service by clicking here: https://www.penninecare.nhs.uk/thrive
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