Dear Parents and Carers

The Local Authority (Derby City Council) have been aware of some alarming text messaging that are circulating communities of a concerning nature on attacks to children and young people.

Whilst the DfE have provided assurances these messages fall under disinformation; we are still mindful that messages of this nature can cause distress.

All schools have clear processes for the recording and sharing of information regarding safeguarding and these are very effective.  If you have a particular or specific concern regarding the wellbeing of children, you should continue to contact the school.

Dear Parents and Guardians,

This is a friendly reminder that our school uniform policy is available to view online on the school website (Key information - Policies and Documents)

A Note on Footwear

As part of the uniform policy, pupils are required to wear appropriate school shoes. We'd like to clarify a few points regarding footwear:

• Sturdy school shoes should be worn as part of the daily uniform.

• Training shoes, are not permitted, nor are crocs, flip flops or similar

• The school will, however, accept all-black footwear that is in the style of a training shoe, provided it has no visible logos or markings.

Uniform Policy and DfE Guidance

Please be aware that the school reserves the right to enforce the uniform policy in accordance with guidance from the Department for Education (DfE). If a student is not wearing the correct uniform, we may contact you and, in some cases, ask you to bring a change of clothes to school or collect your child to change at home.

We sincerely appreciate your continued support in ensuring our students are dressed smartly and are ready to learn.

Subject: A Healthy Approach to Packed Lunches at Ashgate Primary School

Dear Parents and Guardians,

At Ashgate Primary School, we are committed to fostering a healthy and supportive environment for all our pupils. A key part of this is promoting healthy eating habits, which directly impact a child's energy levels, concentration, and overall well-being throughout the school day.  Trust us, if a child does not have a nutritious lunch, the impact is seen directly in the afternoon.

We kindly ask that if your child has a packed lunch you help us in this effort by providing a healthy and balanced packed lunch for your child. A healthy lunch can include:

• A starchy food like bread, pasta, rice, or potatoes for energy.

• Protein from lean meat, fish, eggs, or beans to help them feel full and build strong bodies.

• A dairy item such as cheese or yogurt for calcium.

• Plenty of fruit and vegetables for essential vitamins and fiber.

• Water as a drink to keep them hydrated.

While we do not actively inspect lunchboxes or strictly stipulate their contents, we believe that providing nutritious food is a vital part of preparing your child for a successful day of learning.

If a concern is ever raised or shared with us regarding the contents of a child's packed lunch, we may reach out to discuss this with you. These conversations are always approached with sensitivity and are aimed at ensuring the well-being and best interests of the child.

Thank you for your cooperation and for being a partner in your child's health and education.

Important Note to Parents Regarding School Reports

Dear Parents/carers

,

We are writing to inform you that school reports for all pupils will be issued at the end of this term electronically via email, as opposed to paper copies.  This is done to reduce the excessive paper used when printing and copying reports.

To ensure you receive your child's report promptly, it is vital that your email addresses are up to date in our school system.

If you have not yet provided an email address, or if your contact details have changed, please provide the correct information to the school office as soon as possible.

Please note: 

Reports will be sent to all individuals registered at the school as having Parental Responsibility for the child and for whom we have an email address.

We will send a further message closer to the release date of the reports to confirm the exact day they will be issued. If you do not receive a report after that date, please contact the school office.

What is  Parental Responsibility in a School Context (for your reference):

Parental Responsibility (often abbreviated as PR) is a crucial legal term that dictates who has the authority to make decisions and receive information about a child's upbringing, including their education. In the context of a school, having Parental Responsibility means an individual possesses all the rights, duties, powers, responsibilities, and authority that a parent legally has in relation to their child.  In most cases these are the biological parents or anyone else with court issued legal guardianship.

Friday, 27 June 2025

Dear parents and carers

Staffing Changes for the New Academic Year

We're writing to let you know that Miss Hilton will be leaving Ashgate Primary School at the end of July. After 18 dedicated years of service to our school and community, she has decided to focus on new opportunities. During her time here, she has taught across many year groups, both infant and junior, and worked tirelessly behind the scenes to ensure children receive the best education available.

We want to express our sincere gratitude to Miss Hilton for her incredible commitment and the positive impact she has had on countless children's lives. Her dedication will be greatly missed by pupils, staff, and parents alike.

We are however pleased to announce that Miss Carter will be taking over Miss Hilton’s duties in Year 3/4 starting from September. We conducted a rigorous recruitment process to find the right individual, and we are confident that  Miss Carter will continue to provide excellent support and education to our pupils. Miss Carter will be working alongside teachers in the school during the remainder of this term and will be meeting her new class members soon.

Again, we wish Miss Hilton all the very best in her future  endeavours when she leaves at the end of the term and thank you for your continued support.

Yours sincerely,

Mr Seargent/Mrs Forte

Co Headteachers

NOTICE REGARDING HAIR BEADS

Dear Parents,

This letter addresses the wearing of hair beads in school. We've noticed an increase in children wearing hair beads, and we want to ensure everyone understands our guidelines, which are primarily focused on safety.

We fully support and celebrate the diverse cultural and religious practices within our school community. We understand that for many families, hair beads hold deep significance and are an important part of their heritage.

However, we've had instances where hair beads have come loose and been found on the floor. These loose beads can present a choking hazard, particularly for our younger pupils. The safety and well-being of all children are always our top priority.

Therefore, we ask that hair beads only be worn by children for whom they hold a significant cultural or religious purpose. If your child does wear hair beads for these reasons, please ensure that they are securely fastened in their hair to prevent them from coming loose during the school day.

We appreciate your understanding and cooperation in helping us maintain a safe environment for all students while continuing to respect and support individual family practices.

Sincerely,

Important Notice: Social Media and Messaging

Dear Parents,                                                                                                 

This note serves as a reminder that children of primary school age are not permitted to use social media platforms, including WhatsApp – access is against the terms and conditions with good reason. If your child experiences harm due to social media misuse, parents must acknowledge their contribution to that harm through them being complicit in its use.

We have observed that many, if not most, conflicts/anxieties/peer pressures among pupils are either initiated or exacerbated by messages exchanged on WhatsApp and other social media platforms outside of school hours.

There is now an overwhelming body of research evidencing the damaging impact that the use of social media/mobile phone use can have on childhood development, mental well-being, and the formation of healthy friendships.

According to a recent poll by Parentkind (March 2024), 83% of parents in the UK believe that smartphones are harmful to young people, yet 91% allow their child to own one (20% under the age of 4). It is therefore concerning that so many parents continue to allow access to something they acknowledge is known to be damaging to their child's health rather than act to prevent it.

It is vital to understand that control over access to social media and messaging platforms must reside with adults, not the child. Children of primary school age simply do not possess the cognitive maturity or life experience to effectively assess the complex risks associated with online interactions, cyberbullying, exposure to inappropriate content, or the long-term impact on their mental health and development. As parents, you hold the crucial responsibility for safeguarding your child in the digital world.

While the school is not in a position to dictate how you manage your child's access to social media or messaging services at home, we strongly advise you to limit or block their access to these platforms and consider delaying smartphone ownership. We believe this is crucial for their well-being and to foster a more positive and harmonious school environment.

We will continue to support our pupils in resolving conflicts. However, please be aware that we will view incidents unfavourably when a parent's permission for a child to use messaging platforms is clearly a contributing factor to the issue.

Our advice is and will always be to deny access to any platform that's damaging to your child’s well-being. Parents and not the child are responsible.

Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.