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Important Note:
This is a text and image only webpage that can be used to easily translate important updates for those whose first language is not English.
Weekly Newsletter - 24th October 2025
“Excellent attendance is vital for children to flourish and achieve”
We hope you all have a fantastic half term and the weather improves a little. We will see you all on Monday 3rd November.
We hope all our children, families and staff who celebrate Diwali had a lovely time with their families this week.
Something Mrs Wainwright has enjoyed this week was spending time in Nursery, the children were fantastic and very excited to show me what they do in Nursery.
Worship – Our current theme is thankfulness and this week we have continued to reflect on the positives in our lives and learning to, ‘Count our Blessings’
We also reflected on our Big Question, what does thankfulness cost? The children explained that it costs nothing to say thank you and to feel thankful for what you have.
We have also discussed our attribute, ‘Optimism’ looking on the bright side, thinking about things positively.
Poppy Appeal - When we return to school we will be supporting the poppy appeal again. There are a small number of items that can be purchased, these are £1 and very limited (one per child). Poppies are available for a donation. These will be available from Monday the 3rd November and some of the older children will come round school.
NURSERY PLACES
We still have Nursery places available, so if you have a 3 year old not in a school Nursery please ask Mrs Drake at the office, to register your child.
IMPORTANT REMINDERS
Applications for year 7 places for September 2026
Reminder the deadline for applications for year 7 places falls in half-term, on 31 October 2025. If you need help with your application, you can contact startingsecondary@leeds.gov.uk.
For parents who are making enquiries about applications for Reception places, please follow the link below to a video guide on how to apply for a Reception place
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WRU1SrS7iJE
The portal to apply will open online on 1st November. If you need help applying online, please see Mrs Drake to make an appointment.
School Meals – After half term Leeds Catering have changed their menus, please check our website for the new menus.
Pack Lunches – Please remember that we do not allow sweets, chocolate (including chocolate spread), fizzy drinks and any kind of nut products in children’s lunches. If you want to discuss what is allowed, please ask. Mr Waddell is happy to help plan a healthy pack lunch. We are expected to make sure that lunches including those from home meet the National Food Standards. We thank you for your support with this.
Bonfire Theme Menu - We will be serving a theme menu on Wednesday 5th November, if your child normally has a packed lunch and would like a dinner on this day please pay by ParentPay or by card at the office if paying for other items as we no longer accept payments less than £5, payment must be made by Monday 3rd November, and inform us of any allergies. The cost is £2.90. You can see the Menu on our website and in the notice boards.
Attendance
We expect all children in school from the first Monday, the 3rd November up to the last day of term, Friday 19th December
Last week’s attendance (13th October – 17th October)
- Nursery: 90.5%
- Reception: 90.5%
- Years 1 to 6: 94.7%
Attendance Winners for last week:
- KS1 – Class 6 – 98%
- Years 3 & 4 – Class 7 – 98.1%
- Years 5 & 6 – Class 12 – 98.5%
Well done to the best classes:
- KS1 – Class 1
- Years 3 & 4 – Class 7
- Years 5 & 6 – Class 13
Weekly Round Up
Nursery – This week we have been celebrating Black History Month. We have talked about inspirational people. We have read a book 'Baby goes to the market' and 'Handa's surprise'. We looked at traditional clothes and food. We would like to thank all the parents who sent in the photographs as well as 'greetings' in their home languages - the children enjoyed sharing them with their peers and grown-ups. In phonics we have learnt 'African drum' song and explored instruments including African drums 'djembe'. The children also enjoyed moving to music from around the world. In Maths we have counted fruit and used fingers to point to fruits as we counted them. The children have made lovely pictures inspired by Kente pattern.
Reception – This week in Reception we have continued to learn the story Little Red Riding Hood using our story map and actions. We have worked hard to describe Little Red Riding Hood using a talking mat and have drawn out own pictures of the character. In Maths we have been comparing quantities and talking about who has more and who has fewer. We have continued to talk about the changes we see in Autumn and have learnt an Autumn song about the leaves changing colour and falling off the trees. We have talked about animals that hibernate during the winter and animals that collect food to store through the winter. We have even seen a squirrel in our garden taking our conkers! As the weather is turning increasingly cold and wet if any parents have any wellies or waterproof footwear children can keep in school please bring them in after the holidays.
Year 1 & 2- Children in KS1 have really enjoyed the final week to the first half term. Children in Year 1 have been looking at different creation stories in RE and have reflected on how they can look after our planet. They have thought about how they can reuse, reduce and recycle waste and be advocates of ways they can make the world a better place. Children in Year 2 were really excited about their Kings and Queens day this week. They used their learning of what life was like in medievil castles to role play different characters. They will have chance to apply this further when they visit Skipton Castle after the half term break. The children will be guided round the castle looking at many of the features of the castle's defences they have learnt about.
Year 3 & 4 – Year 3 - This week, we have been learning how to add in columns in Maths. We have been looking at adding across 100s and looking at number bonds to 100. In English, we have been writing Kenning poems about ourselves. In Science, we have been completing concept maps to show off our knowledge of plants from this half term. In History, we have been looking at Black History Month and celebrating diversity throughout time.
Year 4 - This week, we have been exploring area in Maths. In English, we have been writing playscripts in groups and performing these to the class. In Science, we have looked at jobs to do with sound. On Friday, we celebrated different religions and cultures, as well as hearing about how people celebrate at home.
Year 5 & 6 – Lessons: In PSHE, we looked at what makes a good role model and how we can say no to peer pressure.
On Monday, the fire service visited us and delivered a workshop on fire safety. Fire Officers came to talk us about how to be safe around bonfires and fireworks. On Thursday, Leeds Rhinos visited Year 6 and delivered a workshop on rail safety.
Click on the following links below to catch-up on the latest news in Years 5 & 6:
https://www.st-bartholomews.leeds.sch.uk/blog/category/year-5
https://www.st-bartholomews.leeds.sch.uk/blog/category/year-6
Homework - Thank-you to the children who have completed some of the Autumn Term homework tasks – their work is now on display in the Years 5/6 area.
The tasks can be found by clicking on the following link if you and your child fancy completing some of the tasks:
https://www.st-bartholomews.leeds.sch.uk/parents/homework
Year 6 SATs Week - Year 6 SATs week will begin on Monday 11th May 2025. It is vital that all children in Year 6 attend school that week. The test timetable will be as follows:
- Monday 11th May: Grammar, punctuation & spelling
- Tuesday 12th May: Reading
- Wednesday 13th May: Arithmetic & Reasoning
- Thursday 14th May: Reasoning
Secondary School Applications
The deadline for applying for secondary school is 31st October. Please click on the following link for further guidance and links to applying for secondary schools.
https://www.leeds.gov.uk/schools-and-education/school-admissions/apply-for-a-secondary-school
School Dates 2025 -2026:
- Friday 24th October 2025 School Closes at 3.30pm
- Monday 3rd November 2025 School Opens at 8.30am
- Monday 3rd - Wednesday 5th November 2025 Class 3 Bikeability
- Thursday 6th - Monday 10th November 2025 Class 4 Bikeability
- Monday 10th November 2025 Class 5 Skipton Castle
- Wednesday 12th November 2025 Class 6 Skipton Castle
- Wednesday 19th November 2025 Class 7 Coal Mining Museum
- Thursday 20th November 2025 Class 9 Coal Mining Museum
- Friday 21st November 2025 Training Day – No Children in School
- Friday 19th December 2025 School Closes at 3.30pm
- Monday 5th January 2026 School Opens at 8.30am
- Tuesday 3rd February 2025 Year 2 -Classes 5 and 6 Great Fire of London workshops
- Friday 13th February 2026 School Closes at 3.30pm
- Monday 23rd February 2026 School Opens at 8.30am
- Friday 20th March 2026 Training Day – No Children in School
- Thursday 26th March 2025 Year 1 farm visits
- Friday 27th March 2025 Year 1 farm visits
- Thursday 2nd April 2026 School Closes at 3.30pm
- Monday 20th April 2026 School Opens at 8.30am
- Monday 4th May 2026 School Closed May Bank Holiday
- Monday 11th May 2026 Year 6 SATs Grammar, Punctuation & Spelling
- Tuesday 12th May 2026 Year 6 SATs Reading
- Wednesday 13th May 2026 Year 6 SATs Arithmetic & Reasoning
- Thursday 14th May 2026 Year 6 SATs Reasoning
- Friday 22nd May 2026 School Closes at 3.30pm
- Monday 1st June 2026 School Opens at 8.30am
- Friday 12th June 2026 Training Day – No Children in School
- Monday 15th June 2025 Seaside visit - Class 5
- Thursday 18th June 2025 Seaside visit - Class 6
- Friday 17th July 2026 School Closes at 3.30pm
FAO Families - Applications for year 7 places for September 2026.
A reminder that the deadline for applications for year 7 places falls in half-term, on 31 October 2025. If you need help with your application, you can contact startingsecondary@leeds.gov.uk.
FAO Families - Reception Places 2026
For parents who are making enquiries about applications for Reception places, please follow the link below to a video guide on how to apply for a Reception place:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WRU1SrS7iJE
There is also a detailed page on our website with information:
https://st-bartholomew-s-cofe-primary-school.schudio.com/parents/admissions-attendance
