Keep up to date with all the latest news happening in school at the moment.
LETTERS HOME TODAY
Cycle to School / Active Travel Week is next week (27th Sept – 1st October).
Bike to School Week (Active Travel) is a week-long event across the UK to encourage families to cycle and scoot to school. It's a great way to celebrate the huge benefits an active school run brings. This year it takes place from 27 September to 1 October 2021 / next week.
All children are encouraged to travel to school via a means other than a car, for example to cycle, scoot, walk (even if this
is parking further from school and walking part way in), skip part way, pogo stick, or any means...other than car!
On the last day, we will again be joined by World Record Holder Leigh Timmis, who will be handing out awards to children in the school.
Friday 1st October – Children are asked to come to school with a Tour De France Theme. Yellow (winners’ jersey colours) Green (sprint winner jersey), Red Polka dot (King/Queen of the mountains jersey) or any other cycle themed dress-up.
Face painting in these themes is allowed.
Tour De France 1919 Challenge.
We will be running a Tour De France Distance Challenge throughout the week for children, visitors and staff.
In 1919 the longest Tour de France stage (a single day of 21 successive days) at 482km (300 mile) was included in the event. This is the longest stage of The Tour ever hosted.
We plan for the children to cumulatively match or better this distance over 4 days (afternoons) of cycle to school week.
Who will take part ?
All children will have the opportunity to take part in some form, wether by cycling an internal circuit on a bike they ride to school on, a bike provided by the school, or for non-cyclists to skip, run walk or other means add to the distance covered.
You will have a chance to join in too!
A ‘static bike’ will be set up in the reception area of school each day with a distance computer attached. Visitors will be encouraged to join in by spinning a few revelations on the bike whilst they are on site (tech allowing, this may also be taken to the playground on some days for parents to join in!). YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED!!!
We look forward to you supporting this event in any way and ensuring that the one week stimulates increased active travel in general. The school will be working with Sustrans through the year to support this aim.
Whilst it may seem a long time away, current Year 6 children applications for secondary school are now open. It is very important to understand that this is not managed by primary schools and you will not receive application forms via Ashgate Primary School. You must act to make your application direct via Derby City council.
APPLICATIONS ARE NOW OPEN THROUGH DERBY CITY COUNCIL Applications can be submitted by paper online and by telephone.
Paper applications can be downloaded and sent direct to DCC. If you are unable to download an application you should call DCC (01332 642350) and request a paper copy. Paper copies ARE NOT automatically sent-
Applications are NOT sent via primary schools- DO NOT SEND THESE TO US.
The closing date for online applications is 31st October 2021.
I include below relevant information and a link to copy and paste to take you to the correct department.
Apply for year 7 at secondary school (from DCC website)
We (Derby City Council) process secondary school applications for all parents living in Derby city. If you live outside Derby city, you should apply through your local councilOpens in new tab even if you want to apply for a place at a Derby city school.
If you want to apply for the intake year of a secondary school starting in September 2022, you can make an application from 14 September 2021. The closing date for online applications is 31 October 2021. If the closing date has passed you can still apply however any applications made after the deadline date will be classed as late and will be considered after all on-time applications.
The quickest and easiest way to apply is online. You can also apply by telephone on 01332 642350. Alternatively, you can download a paper application form and return it to us or request a paper application form to be sent to you using the same telephone number.
For more details visit:
https://www.derby.gov.uk/education-and-learning/schools-and-colleges/school-admissions/secondary-schools-admissions/apply-for-year-7-at-secondary-school/
Following on from some comments from parents around the adjusted arrangements to the start of the school day, I provide further clarity.
Why are there changes to the start of the school day arrangements?
There are 3 threads leading to the change, all of which are safeguarding linked.
Whilst I do understand the desire to wait as long as possible to give that extra assuring wave, even after the children are with the teacher, staying on the premises means my school site remains open to the general public. Free flow of pupils on site cannot commence, resulting in additional adults being required to accompany children from building to building, (including those arriving late!) The longer the gates are open, the longer the delay to staff starting their work and school being secure.
*There are increasing infection rates in schools and young people. I have personal knowledge of two schools who have re introduced staggered starts in the space of 1 week of opening to reduce the numbers of adults on school site at one time. I do not wish to go back to such a system, but may be forced to if parents do not follow the procedures in school.
Should a parent have issue with the strategies put in place to safeguard children, they are free to discuss this in person with me. Keeping children and the community safe is my priority.
Children will be bringing home letters about an exciting visit to Derby Theatre. Please make sure you bring your slip back as soon as possible!
Thank you to all the parents and families who have supported what has been a fast paced, but effective start to the academic year.
Punctuality:
I have had a large number of parents requesting individual exceptions to the start and end of the school. “Can I collect earlier each day because…”, “I can’t get to school at the start time so I’ll have to arrive late each day”,and variations of this theme.
Whilst I am empathetic to circumstances, this cannot be agreed, even on an informal basis. There is no provision for altering the school day start and end times and children must arrive promptly to:
Likewise, children cannot be collected late as staff are on other duties. We cannot child mind your child.
One parent has asked me why school office phone was not picked up as they wanted to pass on an urgent message; put frankly, my office staff are too often managing children and parents arriving late. Poor punctuality impacts on not only your child, but the smooth running of the school.
Guidance and support for those regularly arriving late
Public transport / roadworks?: Leave enough time to compensate for travelling in traffic / roadworks and delays. Avoid buses that arrive at or very close to the time needed to be at school
Rushed at home?: Set your alarm clock 10 minutes earlier, ease the pressure on yourself to complete tasks in time.
Can’t find parking?: Leave home earlier, take the opportunity to park further away to walk in and exercise your child before the start of school. Children who walk or exercise on the way to school are evidenced to learn more and retain more!
Finally:
If someone else is collecting your child and the school office need to know (because this is unexpected or irregular), please let us know as soon as possible. Calling after 3pm means that messages may not reach the child or class teacher in time. The earlier the call, the more likely the message will be sent on time.
CYCLE TO SCHOOL WEEK IS COMING
(27th September – 1st October) and Launch Event:
Pre Launch day: To promote the Sustrans Cycle to School Week this year, we are having a special event to launch the initiative and act as a ‘call to action’!
Leigh Timmis: Guinness World Record Holder – visit to school Friday 17thSeptember.
For more information on Leigh, visit: www.leightimmis.com
On the 26th of September 2018, Leigh cycled into the record books, becoming the fastest person to cycle across Europe in a time of 16 days 10 hours and 45 minutes. Cycling 14 hours per day, from the west coast of Portugal to the edge of Siberia, he broke the previous world record by an astonishing eight days and seven hours.
Leigh will be providing a presentation for Key Stage 2 children on motivation, overcoming barriers and recognising that challenges are steps to future success.
Leigh will also be joining us during the Cycle to School Week (27th September to 1stOctober) to hand out awards and certificates (linked to those cycling to school and a whole school challenge – watch this space!).
Stunt cycling display! Danny Butler.
Also on that day, the children will be given the opportunity to watch a ‘Stunt/Trail’ riding display by Danny Butler!
This will be an awe-inspiring display of what a committed and discipline human can do with a bicycle, the power of determination and some guts!
Coming soon: Bike sat in the shed unused?
Free, on school site cycle safety checks for children and families. Details to follow.
Covid Absences
Parents should be aware that the guidance on Covid absences has been changed for schools.
Absences for children confirmed to have a positive Covid 19 test outcome will now be recorded as a standard ‘illness’. This will be recorded as an absence on their record as is the case with any other illnesses. If you are awaiting a child’s test outcome following symptoms or a positive lateral flow test, you must inform the school immediately.
A reminder that school ‘bubbles’ are now obsolete and that schools are no longer to ‘track and trace’ contacts with those who have tested positive. Therefore, unless the school is directed otherwise, class groups (bubbles or similar) will no longer be instructed to isolate and absences occurring as a result of parents ‘opting’ to isolate their child without a positive test outcome will not be authorised.
Children are no longer required to isolate in the case of a member of their household testing positive for Covid 19. Children are required to attend in such circumstances, unless doing so requires the person testing positive to break isolation rules. In such cases parents should seek alternative methods of securing their child’s attendance at school.
The aforementioned actions are the direction of the Department for Education and therefore legally binding; they are not at the discretion or interpretation of the school of its leaders.
It has come to light that an app called 'Monkey' has been flagged as a safeguarding concern by a police force other than Derbyshire.
The app facilitates video calls and has been found to contain content of an inappropriate nature.
Parents are advised to check if their child is using the app or has access to it and act accordingly should they feel it is necessary.
Mr Seargent.