Issue 36 - Friday 27th June 2025

Headteacher's Welcome

Dear Parkfield Families,

It’s been another busy and memorable week here at Parkfield – full of exciting events and proud moments for our school community.

Thank you to all the family members who joined our Year 1 and Year 2 Family Learning events this week. It was lovely to welcome so many of you into school and we hope you found the sessions helpful in understanding how we teach key skills – particularly around writing. We hope the insights shared will help you feel more confident in supporting your child’s learning at home.

As I write this, I’m currently in Blackpool with our fantastic Year 6 pupils, enjoying the final day of what has been a brilliant residential experience. Over the past three days, the children have visited the top of Blackpool Tower, explored Madame Tussauds, enjoyed the Sea Life Centre and spent a full day having fun at the Pleasure Beach. The children have been an absolute credit to the school: showing positivity, kindness and resilience throughout, and the staff team couldn’t be prouder. Photos of the trip will soon be available on our website, so do keep an eye out!

Next Tuesday is our annual Move Up Day, where children will spend the day with their new teacher and classmates in preparation for September. It’s always an exciting time and helps ease any worries children may have about the new school year. Good luck to our Year 6 pupils, who will be off visiting their new high schools.

Finally, big congratulations to our dancers and choir, who took part in competitions this week against other schools from across Middleton and Rochdale. Their enthusiasm, talent and teamwork were fantastic, and they represented Parkfield brilliantly at both events. Well done to everyone involved!

Thank you for your continued support, and as always, have a lovely weekend,

Mr Kemp

UPCOMING EVENTS

MONDAY 30TH JUNE @ 4PM IN THE SCHOOL HALL - NEW EYFS PARENTS MEETING This meeting is for those parents of the children that are going to be attending Parkfield in September 2025.

TUESDAY 1ST JULY - CLASS MOVE UP DAY Children spend a day with their new class teacher in their new classes whilst Y6 spend a day in their new high schools. Children are to come into school using their usual door so they can place their bags and coats safely. Please can the existing Y4 class (new Y5's) come to school in their PE kits as they will be having a PE lesson that afternoon.

WEDNESDAY 2ND JULY - Y6 CAREERS DAY Members of the school community are coming speaking to our Y6 class about their careers.

FRIDAY 4th JULY - FORFEIT DAY - Children are welcome to come into school dressed in non-uniform in exchange for a Bottle of anything. These items will then be used as prizes at the Summer Fair taking place on Friday 11th July.

THURSDAY 17TH JULY - SCHOOL CLOSES FOR SUMMER HOLIDAYS

LATEST NEWS

SUMMER FAIR - FRIDAY 11TH JULY - WE NEED YOUR HELP

If you're able to support set up and/or run a stall at the Summer Fair on Friday 11th July, we would be grateful for as much help as possible. Please let the school office know if you are able to help in any way. Thank you in advance for your support.

SCHOOL GATEWAY MOVING OVER TO ARBOR

We’re excited to let you know that from the new school year, we will be moving to a new, streamlined system to manage all payments and bookings. This will include: Payments for school dinners and trips and booking places for our Before and After School Club.

Unfortunately, there will be some disruption due to this change and from next Wednesday 2nd July, we will only be able to accept cash payments at the school office.

Before and After School Clubs - Please pre-book children on before this date. From this date, you will no longer be able to book your child into Before and After School Club using the Gateway app. Instead, please make bookings by paying in cash at drop-off or collection, or in advance at the school office.

We kindly ask all families to clear any outstanding balances before the end of this school year to help ensure a smooth transition to the new system.

Any remaining balances that are not paid by the end of term will be carried over and added to your account in the new system, which will be accessible when you log in from September. We’ll be sharing full details, including how to set up your account and use the new system, before the start of the new school year. If you have any questions in the meantime, please don’t hesitate to contact the school office.

BEFORE AND AFTER SCHOOL CLUB FOR SEPTEMBER

Please note that this will be able to be booked from 1st September on our new Arbor system. There is no need to panic as there will be spaces for all children to attend. More information will be sent near the end of the summer holidays.

AFTER SCHOOL SPORTS CLUBS - WEEK COMMENCING 30/06/25

ALL AFTER SCHOOL SPORTS CLUBS HAVE NOW FINISHED FOR THIS TERM.

IF YOUR CHILD IN YEAR 5/6 HAS SIGNED UP TO THE 3 V 3 FOOTBALL TOURNAMENT, THIS WILL TAKE PLACE ON THE 7TH, 8TH & 9TH JULY (SEE BELOW).

3 v 3 Football

On the 7th, 8th & 9th July year 5/6 children have the opportunity to take part in a

3 V 3 football tournament run by Mrs Banks after school.

This will be from 3.15pm-4pm and it is just Parkfield children.
All children have now been put into teams - picked randomly out of a hat!
3 V 3 rules will apply!!
Your child must be available for all 3 nights.

REMINDERS

STAFFING FOR SEPTEMBER 2025

Following our recent recruitment we are now in a position to name the staff that will be in each class from September.

Reception: Mrs Taylor, Miss Dippnall, Miss Aspin, Miss Eatock
Year 1: Mrs Hartley, Mrs Mullane, Mrs Randell and Miss Rigby
Year 2: Miss Leary, Mrs Rowarth, Mrs Balfe and Miss Charlotte
Year 3: Mrs Gooding, Mrs Gully, Miss Bradshaw and Miss Howarth
Year 4: Miss McCall, Mr Shearman, Miss Hamilton and Mrs Heyes
Year 5: Mrs Acil, Mrs Bardsley and Miss Hall
Year 6: Mr Robinson, Mrs Naughton and Mrs Langan
Cherry Tree Room: Mrs Shepherdson, Mrs Edyvean and an additional teaching assistant (currently recruiting)

Work will be taking place over the coming weeks to ensure there is smooth transition from one class to another for all pupils.

NEW MEMBERS OF STAFF

You may recognise a few new names on our staffing list. We welcome to the Parkfield staff Mrs Edyvean, our new Assistant Headteacher and SENDCO. Mrs Edyvean joins us from an outstanding local primary school where she has taught children across the primary age range and had a positive impact on pupils with SEND.

Welcome also to Miss Leary who is going to be our Y2 teacher for the next 12 months whilst Miss Gibson is on maternity leave. Miss Leary is returning to Parkfield after she completed her teacher training with us a few years ago.

STAFF LEAVING

Our interim Deputy Head and SENDCO, Mr Russell, is going to be leaving us this summer as he has been successfully appointed as the SENDCO at an Oldham high school. Mr Russell has been a great addition to the team over the past two terms whilst he has covered Mrs Clawson's maternity leave. He will be missed and we wish him all the best in his new role.

Unfortunately, Mrs Slatford is going to be leaving Parkfield on Friday 11th July after successfully being appointed at another primary school. Mrs Slatford Has been our wonderful front of house member of staff over the past 5 years and she is going to be sadly missed by all at the school. We wish her all the best in her new role.

Finally, Mr Barnett will also be leaving us at the end of this academic year. Mr Barnett has been at the school for 12 months and has supported our Year 6s brilliantly whilst also being of great support for the sport taking place across the school.

EASY FUNDRAISING - PLEASE SIGN UP, SPEND MONEY AND RAISE FUNDS FOR SCHOOL!

We want to let you know about a way you can support the school using an online platform called easyfundraising. It helps schools, causes and charities in the UK raise donations for FREE by simply shopping online.

They have partnered with over 7,000 brands including John Lewis & Partners, Argos, Iceland, Amazon, eBay and M&S who will give you and the school a donation every time you shop with them at no extra cost.

The brand pays easyfundraising a percentage of what the shopper spends and easyfundraising turn that into the donation that goes to the school

Over 190,000 causes and charities are using this at the moment and £56 million has been raised so far, so it really does work!

To sign up and help Parkfield raise money, please click here: Easyfundraising for Parkfield

FREE SCHOOL MEALS, FREE HOLIDAY CLUBS AND FOOD VOUCHERS

Did you know that if you are entitled to free school meals you also get access to free holiday clubs and food vouchers during the holidays? To apply or if you're not sure if you are eligible, please read the information and apply using the link here. School receives additional funding for those pupils that are entitled for free school meals and this much needed funding helps better support all Parkfielders. Even if your child is in Reception, Year 1 or Year 2 or they're on packed lunch - please still apply. In addition, if there has been a change in your family circumstances (i.e. recently become unemployed) you may also be entitled to apply for Free School Meals.

Latest Class Updates

Photos on X

Reception

Newsletter Slides

SAFEGUARDING INFORMATION

Mr Kemp is our Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) supported by Mrs Clawson and Mrs Smith (Deputy DSL). 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

ATTENDANCE and PUNCTUALITY

As you are all aware, school attendance and punctuality is one of Parkfields priorities and I have been thrilled with the support that parents have been giving with regards to improving their children’s attendance.

Our school target is 96% this year and we need your continued support to ensure that we meet this mark.

ATTENDANCE - HOLIDAYS IN TERM TIME

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

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. This could also result in the authority taking legal action against parents, resulting in a fine or court appearance. Over the next few weeks I will be making contact by letter with the families of children whose attendance is below 90% to invite you into school for a discussion about how we can support you to improve your child’s attendance.

Thank you so much to all the families who have been working hard to ensure children’s attendance and punctuality is high. Establishing early good habits really will make a positive difference to their lives. 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.

Punctuality

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 shortly after.

If you arrive after the doors are closed you will have to come through the school office.

Arrivals after 9.30am are classed as an unauthorised absence for the morning session.

HEALTH and SAFETY

STAY SAFE EARLY BIRDS - REMINDER

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 at any time.
Children are not allowed on the play equipment before and after school. Please keep them off.

MENTAL HEALTH AND WELLBEING

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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