Keep up to date with all the latest news happening in school at the moment.

• Kids eat free (or for £1) over summer holidays 2023!

  Tue 25 Jul 2023
  

• Y Kidz Breakfast and After School booking for September

  Thu 20 Jul 2023 Mr Seargent

  YKidz After School Care

   

  I am delighted to announce that the Ashgate Primary School YKidz wrap-around care will be open from  Monday 11^th September.  Based on the number of responses to the questionnaire, 15 places will be made available initially.  If demand increases over the term, this may be extended.

   

  Both clubs include a meal and activities and will be situated on school premises.

   

  Costings:

  Breakfast Club – 7:30 am – 8:45 am               £6 per session

  After School Club – 3:20 – 6:00 pm                £11 per session

   

  Cost includes meals and activities.

   

  No booking - No place

  Sessions must be booked and paid for in advance and this is done online.  The online booking will be available from 24^th July.  You must book directly with YKidz at least 1 week in advance.  YOU CANNOT BOOK VIA THE SCHOOL.

   

  More details, including the meal menu and bookings can be accessed by clicking:

  https://ymcaderbyshire.org.uk/y-kidz/ashgate-primary-school/

   

   

  Further details will be available on the Ashgate Primary School YKIdz website in the coming weeks.  For any questions, you can email Ykidz@ymcaderbyshire.org.uk 

  or telephone 01332 579568

   

  Important note:

  Y KIdz is managed by the YMCA and is a not-for-profit charity.  All payments and arrangements are made through their service contact, not the school.  School staff will not be able to advise beyond directing you to the YMCA – Ykidz service.

   

   

  Please note that online bookings for Ashgate Primary School Wraparound care need to be submitted one full week in advance.

   

  Payment must be received before your child attends the club. Once booked, online details of how to pay via BACS or a Childcare Voucher will be provided. Please note that we are unable to accept card payments.

   

  Bookings taken within 24 hours of a club will incur a late booking fee of £2. This is to allow us to plan staffing levels to meet our ratios, activities and food served accordingly.

   

  We understand at times that situations change and you may need last minute childcare arrangements. If you do require last minute access, Y-Kidz

  wraparound care will do their best to accommodate you, if there are places available.

   

  You must email Ykidz@ymcaderbyshire.org.uk or telephone 01332 579568, however your child’s place will not be confirmed until you receive either written or verbal confirmation from a member of our team.

   

  Please note we cannot accept booking enquiries via the Ashgate Primary School wraparound mobile number. This is only to be used to contact us whilst your child is in our care.

   

   

   

   

   

• Ofsted report published.

  Tue 04 Jul 2023 Mr Seargent

   

  Dear parents and carers.

   

  Today a link will be forwarded to you to access the Ofsted report from the two-day inspection on 6^th and 7^thJune 2023.

   

  I am delighted to inform you that the school was graded as follows:

   

  Overall effectiveness                         GOOD

   

  The quality of education                    GOOD

  Behaviour and attitudes                     GOOD

  Personal development                       GOOD

  Leadership and management            GOOD

  Early years provision                          GOOD

   

  The inspection was detailed and rigorous, covering every aspect of school life.

   

  We are particularly pleased that special mention is made to the provision for Special Educational Needs and Disabilities, which is referenced as ‘expert’.  Likewise, the judgements relating to safeguarding at the school were described as stringent and effective; with staff providing ‘a front-line service’ for the community.  This is pleasing to hear as protecting children from harm is at the heart of much of our work.   Behaviour was seen as a strength with bullying rare and children having confidence and trust in their teachers to support their wellbeing.

   

  Clearly, academic provision was key to the inspection, and rightly so.  It was recognised that the curriculum is well constructed and sequenced and that academic ambition is high for all.

   

  I would like to thank all the children, staff and governors who contributed to the inspection.

   

  The inspection report is available in full on the school website and can also be viewed via the link below.  Ofsted will be updating its online system with the revised report before the end of the term.

   

  Click to view Ofsted report

• Strike Action :Wednesday 5th and Friday 7th July

  Mon 03 Jul 2023 Mr Seargent

   

  NEU INDUSTRIAL ACTION - PARENT UPDATE

  Current forecasted actions for

  Wednesday 5th and Friday 7th July (this week)

   

  ALL INFORMATION IS ACCURATE AT THE TIME OF PUBLISHING.

   

  Additional closures may be required if, for reasons such as sickness or dependent leave needs, staffing levels are reduced further. Likewise, staff who have not declared an intention to strike continue to have the option not to attend their place of work on the day of industrial action. As such, parents may be contacted on the day to collect their children.  This is beyond the control of senior leaders.

   

  The school will be closed to and therefore children in these classes should not attend*:

   

  Miss Ince (Year 1/2) Closed Wednesday and Friday

  Mrs Sahota (Year 1/2) Closed Wednesday and Friday

  Mrs Morey (Year 3/4) Closed Friday only

  Mr Brooks (Year 3/4) Closed Friday only

  Mrs Fennemore (Year 3/4) Closed Friday only

   

  To the best of the school’s knowledge, we will be open to all other classes not listed above

   

  • The school has, in line with Department for Education Guidance, extended groups who are eligible to attend school during closures.  This means a pattern of re distribution of pupils in striking classes is not possible.
  • *School will remain open to all children regardless of class as identified in section 1:3 (Vulnerable and ‘emergency critical workers [not previously identified key workers]). Pupils from these groups will be deployed in other classes or combined as a group depending on numbers and supported by staff available (Teaching Assistants).

   

  Dear parents and carers

   

  1. 1. Intention:

  I provide the most up to date information regarding National Education Union (NEU) industrial action.  Parents should be assured that any actions taken in regard to opening or closing to groups of children have been taken with due regard to legislation and no decisions have been taken lightly. As forecasted, strike action will affect some classes, but the Senior Leadership Team have taken all possible legal and reasonable adjustments to reduce direct impact,  especially for vulnerable/emergency critical worker families. A thorough risk assessment has been completed in order to ensure safe practice and to ascertain the level of closures required.

   

  Industrial Actions – Administration

   

  1.2 Curriculum coverage for those attending (unchanged):

  In order to prevent wider school closure, your child’s class may be supported by a staff member who provides ‘supervision’ and / or ‘alternative activities’.   This means that the staff member may not be able/qualified/required to deliver the National Curriculum at the level of the striking staff member and therefore activities that would be expected of those holding Qualified Teacher Status may be limited.

  Staff who are not striking are not required to cover for absent colleagues.

   

  All after school clubs and tuition groups will be cancelled.

   

  1.3 Supporting the most vulnerable (unchanged since last action)

  Children in closed classes who fall into one or more of the following categories have the option to attend school on strike days; however, they will not be with their own class.

   

  • Children who are deemed ‘Looked After’ (meaning that they are in care of the Local Authority).
  • Children who have been awarded an Educational Health Care Plan (EHCP) by the Local Authority.
  • Children who receive Social Care support under the category of Child Protection.

   

  Families subject to these criteria will already know as formal notice and action plans will have already been agreed with the school and Local Authority.

   

  Critical front line/emergency workers 

  Parents should note that this is a list of ‘critical front-line workers’ and is not extended to previous Covid listed ‘key workers’. 

   

   

  The school will remain open to any family where both parents (or one in the case of single parents) are identified as a critical worker and can evidence both working on the day of the strike action.

   

  ‘Critical’ workers are defined for this purpose as:

   

  1. Critical NHS health workers (doctors/nurses/midwives/paramedics/pharmacists/ambulance crews) This does not extend to general care services
  2. The police (including directly employed constabulary staff)
  3. Fire and rescue services
  4. Ministry of Defence personnel
  5. Teachers/school support staff
  6. Social Services

   

  Those parents who feel that they are eligible for child attendance under the category of critical front line emergency worker, as listed above, will need to inform the school in advance and provide evidence of:

  • Employment in the declared service (Identification badge or contract)
  • Working pattern that includes the day of the strike
  • Contact details of an available line manager to check status

   

  Evidence of status should be brought with you on the day of the strike.  You are directed to bring this to the school office where a decision to open to your child will be made based on the evidence provided.

   

  YOU MUST INFORM THE SCHOOL OF YOUR REQUEST FOR CRITICAL KEY STATUS USING THE ONLINE SURVEY FORWARDED IN ADVANCE OF THE STRIKE ACTION AS PER LAST INDUSTRIAL ACTION.  Link will follow.

   

  1.4 Free School Meals

  The school recognises that those entitled to Free School Meals but for whom the school is closed remain entitled to a free meal.

   

  For this reason, if your child is entitled to a Free School Meal an online order process will be provided to order a packed lunch.  This should be completed no later than 24 hrs before the action.  Packs will be available from 3:20pm on the day before the action.

   

   

  1.5 Absence records: 

  • If your child's class is closed their attendance record will NOT be impacted by strike action.
  • If a child in any other year group does not attend, other than for an authorised reason such as illness, it will be recorded as ‘unauthorised’.  This is because school is open to them.
  • Pupils who have siblings in closed classes but are not themselves in these year groups, should still attend school unless for any standard, non-strike related reason such as illness.

   

  1.6 Summary of steps to mitigate impact of strike action on families, in line with DfE directives

  • The school has taken all reasonable and legal steps to mitigate impact and reduce closure of school to pupils.
  • The school is deploying available staff to ensure children on site are adequately supervised an safeguarded.
  • The school has ensured that a plan is in place to protect those most vulnerable.
  • A thorough risk assessment of actions has been undertaken and used to determine extent of closures and determine safe practice.
  • Online resources for learning to support families can be accessed via the school website under ‘Class Pages’.

   

   

   

   

  Industrial Action: Frequently asked questions:

   

  2.1 Why are the National Education Union striking?

  The NEU have opted to take strike action because of increased financial pressures on schools and  those working in them.  Unfunded government imposed demands on school finances are unsustainable, and as suchwhat schools are able to deliver to children is greatly diminishing, including support for your child.

   

  With increasing demands on school budgets and salaries,  teaching is no longer an attractive profession in which to enter.  This is resulting in teaching and support staff prematurely leaving in pursuit of less demanding jobs that have better or equal pay.  Amongst key concerns are:

   

  • Adjustments to staffing salaries have not been funded by government. This means school leaders (headteachers and governors) are expected to fund changes through an already real term diminishing budget and this limits what can be offered in terms of support for pupils.
  • 1 in 3 teachers are leaving the profession in the first 5 years with pay and workload being cited as the main reasons.  Teachers are transferring to professions with similar or higher pay with fewer demands.
  • As of 2022 there are in excess of 1600 teacher vacancies, meaning a unsustainable and unnecessary reliance on non-qualified teaching staff to cover gaps in the profession.
  • The government recruitment target in 2022 was missed by a staggering 29% as it could not attract candidates – pay being identified as a key factor.

  2.2 Will those who are on strike get paid?

  Union members not attending work are unpaid.  Whilst a strike in specific circumstances is legal, any employee member not attending work as they have elected to take industrial action are in breach of contract and therefore not entitled to pay. 

   

  2.3Why are some staff striking and not others?

  Not all unions are taking industrial action, although all share the concerns of the NEU.  The option to strike is only for those whose unions have balloted to do so and have met the legal requirements needed to act, similarly, some staff opt not to strike despite it being legal for them to do so.

   

  2.4 I thought the government had changed the law regarding strikes and stopped them?

  The NEU action is compliant with law.  Industrial action remains legal in the UK although in the future it may be that there are safety restrictions imposed in some services such as fire and NHS.  Schools are already required to meet minimum safeguarding standards as enshrined in legislation.

   

  2.5 I heard the government are investing more than ever in schools, so why the concern?

  In real terms, schools are now more underfunded as the costs of running them far exceeds what leaders are given.  Costs have increased at a greater level than the government announced adjustments meaning budgets are decreasing in real terms.  More is asked whilst less is given and the unfunded changes to below inflation salaries this year reflect this.

   

  2.6 Will the current plan apply if there are further strikes?

  All strike actions are planned based on the number of staff taking action and can alter even on the day of the strike, subject to staff intentions.  As this cannot be ascertained in advance, the plan may be different if there is further action.  As with this action, as much notice will be given as possible.

   

  Information sourced from NEU - NAHT/ Parliamentary Report -Gov UK / Department for Education STPCD 2022