Dear Parents/Carers of Robins class,

I am writing to update you on staffing arrangements for Robins Class after the Easter break, following the early retirement of Mrs Winfield.

Miss Warburton will be the lead practitioner for the class after the holiday, supported by Ms Z. Naqi and our long‑standing, highly effective Early Years team.

Kind regards,

Mrs Forte

Dear Parents and Carers,

As you will be aware from the announcement at the start of the term, Mr Seargent will be retiring from education at the end of the Summer term.

Consequently, the Board of Governors has now formalised the recruitment process to appoint a new Headteacher to lead Ashgate Primary School from September.  They plan to complete this process before the start of the summer term, so that the post can commence at the start of the new academic year.

THIS SURVEY WILL CLOSE ON SUNDAY 22nd FEBRUARY

This is a critical process for the school, and the Board is committed to ensuring a rigorous selection to find a leader who will best serve our pupils, staff, and the wider community.

We believe that parental input is a vital component of this recruitment. To assist the interview panel in assessing candidates, we would like to understand which qualities and priorities the parent body values most.

The following survey asks you to rank these attributes. Your feedback will be used directly to shape our interview questions and help the panel assess which candidate aligns best with the priorities of our families.

To share your views:

CLICK ON THE LINK SENT TO YOUR MOBILE DEVICE:  Or

or scan the QR code:

We are reaching out to share the link to the Parent Catering Survey, and we would be grateful if you could pass it on to your parent community.

The survey is designed to gather valuable feedback on our catering offer, and the insights will help us shape the next menu cycle and continue improving our service to your school.

Parent Survey Link:
https://forms.office.com/e/JXDdZWwBjM?origin=lprLink

There is no fixed closing date embedded in the survey, but we kindly ask that responses are submitted by Friday 13th February so we can review and share results shortly afterwards.

Thank you in advance for your support in encouraging families to take part.

Derby Music Centre runs classes for young children on Saturday mornings, 9.15-10am. Families are invited to bring children aged 3-6 to enjoy these fun activity based music sessions with an experienced music leader, and the first term is FREE😊 More information  https://www.derbymusiccentre.com/post/music-classes-for-younger-children. We look forward to you getting in touch with Derby Music Centre by email info@derbymusiccentre.com

Derby Music Centre is a hub partner with the Derbyshire Music Hub, together providing music opportunities for pupils and families in and out of school.

Dear Parents, Carers, and Members of the Ashgate Primary School Community

I am writing to inform you of some teaching staff updates and leadership changes for the coming months.

Mr Seargent (Co-Headteacher): Retirement

At the end of last term, I informed the Governing Body and the Local Authority of my decision to retire from the profession at the close of this academic year. After what will have been 12 years at Ashgate Primary and 26 years in education in total, my final day at the school will be 23 July.

This is a personal decision based on changed circumstances beyond the workplace.

Governors are currently making arrangements for the transition in leadership and you will be kept abreast of any outcomes regarding recruitment or appointments in due course. 

I want to assure you that until my final day in July, the current leadership structure will remain fully in place. My focus, alongside that of Mrs Forte, remains to provide the leadership and stability required to ensure our dedicated staff have the support needed to be effective in their roles and to maintain the high standards that define Ashgate Primary School. I will also be working closely with the Governors and the Local Authority to ensure the smoothest possible leadership transition.

Mrs Winfield (Early Years/Reception): Retirement

I am also writing to inform you that Mrs Winfield notified the Governing Body and me earlier this term of her intention to retire from teaching. Her final day at school will be 27 March.

Mrs Winfield has been, and remains, a real and long-standing asset to Ashgate. Having served at Ashgate for 23 years—both as a classroom teacher and previously as a school Governor—she has made a significant impact on our community. A rough calculation estimates that at least 700 pupils will have had the positive experience of her as their teacher.

She will be greatly missed by us all, and we thank her for her immense dedication to our pupils. We wish her the very best as she prepares to enjoy more time with her family.

Following the Easter break, the pupils in her class will be taught by an experienced, high-quality teacher, supported as always by our long-standing and effective Early Years team. A permanent arrangement for this position will be established during the Summer Term, and we will keep parents updated throughout this process.

Thank you for your understanding as we plan for the future. I look forward to leading the school through the remainder of what is set to be a successful and productive academic year.

Yours sincerely,

Mr Seargent Co-Headteacher Ashgate Primary School

Wishing a Fond Farewell to Mrs. Donald (Miss Archard) after 13 years!

It is with a mixture of sadness and gratitude that we announce that tomorrow will be the final working day for the wonderful, Mrs. Donald, as she leaves Ashgate Primary School to embark on an exciting new career away from education.

Mrs. Donald has been an incredible asset to our school family for many years. She has played a vital role in supporting a wide variety of children and staff, always ensuring that the needs of our pupils come first.

Many of us have come to rely on her  ability to "save the day," as she has frequently come to the rescue at the last minute and provided support in moments of real need.  Never flustered; nothing too much.

Beyond her professional dedication, she will be greatly missed for her calm and considerate nature. Whether the school day was at its busiest or most challenging, Mrs. Donald remained a composed and thoughtful presence for everyone around her.

While we are sorry to see her go, we are so thankful for the lasting impact she has made on our school community. We wish her the very best of luck as she leaves for "pastures new" and hope she finds great success in her future endeavors.

Thank you for everything, Mrs. Donald!

Emergency Access to

Washing Machine Facilities

We are pleased to announce a new initiative at the school to support our families with emergency washing machine access.

Thanks to the generosity of Smol, who donated a washing machine and limited detergent, and Richard, a friend of the school, who kindly volunteered his time to provide the plumbing installation, we are now able to offer emergency washing machine access on-site.

When Might This Be Useful?

We understand that life can be unpredictable. This service might be helpful if:

• Your home washing machine has unexpectedly broken down.
• You are experiencing a temporary gap in utility services.
• You are in a transitional housing situation with limited facilities.
• You have limited levels of electricity/water available to you for any reason
• An emergency has occurred (such as a leak or flood at home) and you need a quick cycle for school uniforms or essentials.

How it Works

This resource is intended to support families who are struggling with access to laundry facilities only.  Please keep the following guidelines in mind:

• Eligibility: This is a support measure for those in need; it is generally not intended to replace your home machine if it is in working order.
• Booking: You must book access via the school office.
• Not a Laundry Service and we are not a laundrette. This is an offer of access to a machine only. School staff are not responsible for washing, drying, or managing your laundry, loading or emptying your clothes.
• Limited use:  One load per day, which is why booking is essential.
• Self-Service: Parents are required to operate the machine themselves
• Washing Only: Please note that we do not have drying facilities. You will need to take your wet laundry home to dry immediately after use.

How to Book

If you find yourself in need of this resource, please contact the school office directly. We will handle all requests with sensitivity and discretion, and we will work with you to find a suitable day for your booking.

Again, we are very grateful to Smol and Richard for helping us provide this extra layer of care for our school community.

ADVERSE WEATHER CONDITION ACTIONS

Speculation is that, over the next few days, adverse weather conditions are possible.  Forecasts vary in terms of the extent this may impact in the East Midlands.  Whilst I do not anticipate the weather to be bad enough to cause a closure, it is apt to share the advice now.

The school will only close if:

• Advised to do so by the Local Authority.
• Met Office warnings advise ‘non travel’ in and around the immediate vicinity of the school.
• Limited numbers of staff at school prevents ‘acceptable’ adult to pupil ratios (This can not often be pre-empted), or conditions are reported to worsen making it challenging for staff or children to get home.

A summary of the points in this announcement:

• We are not at the time of writing anticipating school closure.
• The school will close only if there is no safe alternative.

• Parents and carers should assume the school is open unless told otherwise (text/dojo, radio, website).
• Only parents can decide if it is personally safe to travel.

• Children should come prepared to go outside, even in the snow.
• Every opportunity will be provided for pupils to keep safe, whilst enjoying the conditions.
• Working conditions may require adaptation if other schools close or staffing is restricted.

Remember: Staff at Ashgate Primary School are also impacted on if other schools close, in the same way that you are.  This can reduce staffing levels even if we intend to open.

Deciding to travel to school or take your child out of school, even if it is open.

A minority of parents express that keeping a school open places them at risk by remaining open as it was it can be unsafe to travel.

It is the responsibility of parents and carers to decide if it is safe for them to travel to school. 

The Headteacher cannot make such decisions on your behalf.  

In exceptional cases, the school can authorise absence as a result of problems caused by adverse conditions, such as road closures, traffic delays and similar.  However, parents electing to take their child out of school when it is not closed should assume that absence is unauthorized unless told otherwise.  Authorisation, in such cases, will be the decision of the Headteacher in consultation with the parent and if necessary the governing body.

School should be informed if you deem it unsafe for you to travel.

Limited staffing resulting from adverse conditions or ‘other school closures’

Should the number of staff in school be reduced, ‘best fit’ actions may be taken to meet the needs of pupils, including; combining classes, ‘skeleton’ curriculum delivery or in extreme cases, some non-academic activities. 

Should a change of circumstance occur after school has started, we will inform you of this as soon as we can.

Suitable clothing

In all circumstances children should arrive at school with clothing suited for outdoors, including:

• Hat and gloves
• Wellington boots (or similar) – named with a permanent marker or similar
• A change of foot-wear

A ‘common sense’ approach to snow

Many schools are of the opinion that snow and children do not mix.  I do not agree. Although I understand that children, like all of us, are more vulnerable to slips, trips and incoming snowballs at this time of year, I will not prevent children playing out, or in, the snow. 

Of course, careful consideration will take place prior to break times as to the conditions of the playground, snow and ice, in order to assess or reduce risk, however children should anticipate being outdoors.

Snowballing

When there is sufficient snow, designated areas will be provided in which the throwing of snowballs is allowed and areas will be chosen where snowballs are not allowed.  This way children will be able to follow the ethos of the RESPECT agenda, making ‘clever choices’ and being ‘responsible’ for them, choosing where to play and what experience they want.  Those entering areas designated for snowballing must accept that they are likely to be hit and that they take this risk by playing there.

It may be useful to discuss and impart your wishes with your child regarding this matter, as they will be responsible for where and how they play.

Yours sincerely

Dear Parents and Carers,

I am writing to share some important information regarding our after-school sports provision.

As many of you are aware, school budgets across the country are becoming increasingly squeezed. At Ashgate, we have always taken great pride in being able to offer our after-school sports clubs run by RS Coaching free of charge.

We firmly believe in the benefits of physical activity and the positive impact these clubs have on our pupils and this is why we offer free sports clubs, competitions, transport, additional swimming sessions and a multitude of other activities across all year groups and academic years.  We are one of only a shrinking minority of schools that have maintained free provision in recent years.

Temporary Suspension of Clubs

Due to these ongoing financial pressures, the school will no longer be able to provide free after-school sports clubs starting from January 2026. This means that there will be no RS Coaching sessions during the Spring term.

The Path Forward

We are working hard to ensure these popular clubs return. Our current plan is as follows:

• Recommencement: We aim to restart the clubs after the Spring term (following the Easter break).

• Funding: This return is subject to the reallocation of the DFE (Department for Education) School Sports Grant.

• Sustainability: To ensure we can maintain high-quality coaching in the long term, we will need to consider introducing a nominal charge for these clubs starting in the Summer term.

We understand that this may be disappointing news. Our goal is to find a sustainable way to keep our children active and engaged with professional coaching while managing the school's budget responsibly.

We will provide further updates regarding the new schedule and any associated costs later in the Spring term. Thank you for your continued support and understanding as we navigate these financial challenges.

Warm regards,

Mr Seargent

Bookings for winter Holiday Activities & Food (HAF) clubs are now open! Check your inboxes (and junk mail!) for an email from HolidayActivities.com and follow the instructions to book. If you believe your child is eligible and you haven’t received an email, please check with the school.