Headteacher's Letters
13th January 2020
Dear Families, Parents & Carers,
Happy New Year
Welcome back to all our students. It has been great to see so many pupils back and settling well to class learning again. I do hope you all had a decent break.
Sickness and Diarrhoea
I am aware that many schools have had significant outbreaks of sickness with some closing before Christmas due to the vomiting bug/norovirus. We have been fortunate not to be hit with significant illness and our school attendance is the best it has ever been at 90.5%. Thank you all for really making a huge effort to ensure you child attends school and you let us know about appointments. I have been re-reading the NHS guidance around sickness, vomiting and diarrhoea. I realise we had information either wrong or out of date on our website.
I just wanted to share the NHS guidance with you all to try to ensure our vulnerable pupils don’t come into contact with any sickness bugs.
They are very clear that any person with vomiting, sickness or diarrhoea needs to “Stay off school or work until you have not been sick or had diarrhoea for at least 2 days.” We have changed the advice on our website as well and just want to ensure if your child has had sickness or diarrhoea they do not return to school for 48 hours after the last time they were unwell.
Our ‘information for parents’ page on website makes it clear.
There is a NHS link which may help www.nhs.uk/conditions/diarrhoea-and-vomiting/
New Pupils
We have 3 new pupils who have now formally started on roll with us and have had a good week in their new school. A couple of them are still increasing their times/days and we would want to welcome the students and families to our school.
Parent’s Chinwag and Facebook page
Chinwag, this is a very informal and friendly meeting for parents to discuss whatever is important to you.
If you have not been I would recommend you contact Becky Earp and take this opportunity to chat to other parents. There is also the ‘parents only’ Facebook page which again is organised by Becky.
Our Futures Night
We would encourage you to get involved and attend this very useful meeting on Thursday 6th February between 5pm and 7pm in the hall. It will be a drop in and informal chat session. There will be a number of providers and services present to give advice. It has been really useful in the past and I would encourage you to come along if you have an older student for some good advice and support post Hilltop.
New Job Adverts
We have a number of new jobs being advertised on our website and Facebook.
Please spread the word as we want some great people to work with our children and young people.
Yorkshire Wildlife Trust
We met with Bryony from the trust and they are planning to create a small wild flower meadow, water recycling planter/benches, plant some trees and reclaiming rainwater from our new polytunnel. They have also given us some great ideas for developing the pond area. It is quite exciting to see what they are planning for us over the next month. They have also invited our students to visit Potteric Carr Nature Reserve and we are planning this over the next few weeks.
MyEd
We have purchased an app for us to communicate with parents. It is a simple app on your phone which will notify you of letters dates etc. We are in the process of setting it up and it should be up and running in the next few weeks. We are aware there are and have been some issues with communication at school.
We are hoping this will help us all to keep in touch and reduce the amount of paper we waste.
Pink and Yellow Classes new PMLD play area opening
As I hope you are aware we have some new play equipment paid for partly by donations and grants from others. These are specifically for our pupils with more complex needs who are likely to be wheelchair users. Alice and John have worked hard on the planning and design of this. We have asked Shaz Biggin our Chair of Governors and the Chair of Maltby Town Council to formally open the play area. The opening will be at 10am Wednesday 29th January. Alice and John will be sending out letters to have a coffee morning in classes to celebrate the new equipment. All parents are welcome to come. We also hope to have some plans to share for the new therapy suite which should be soon underway.
Dear Families, Parents & Carers,
Happy New Year
Welcome back to all our students. It has been great to see so many pupils back and settling well to class learning again. I do hope you all had a decent break.
Sickness and Diarrhoea
I am aware that many schools have had significant outbreaks of sickness with some closing before Christmas due to the vomiting bug/norovirus. We have been fortunate not to be hit with significant illness and our school attendance is the best it has ever been at 90.5%. Thank you all for really making a huge effort to ensure you child attends school and you let us know about appointments. I have been re-reading the NHS guidance around sickness, vomiting and diarrhoea. I realise we had information either wrong or out of date on our website.
I just wanted to share the NHS guidance with you all to try to ensure our vulnerable pupils don’t come into contact with any sickness bugs.
They are very clear that any person with vomiting, sickness or diarrhoea needs to “Stay off school or work until you have not been sick or had diarrhoea for at least 2 days.” We have changed the advice on our website as well and just want to ensure if your child has had sickness or diarrhoea they do not return to school for 48 hours after the last time they were unwell.
Our ‘information for parents’ page on website makes it clear.
There is a NHS link which may help www.nhs.uk/conditions/diarrhoea-and-vomiting/
New Pupils
We have 3 new pupils who have now formally started on roll with us and have had a good week in their new school. A couple of them are still increasing their times/days and we would want to welcome the students and families to our school.
Parent’s Chinwag and Facebook page
Chinwag, this is a very informal and friendly meeting for parents to discuss whatever is important to you.
If you have not been I would recommend you contact Becky Earp and take this opportunity to chat to other parents. There is also the ‘parents only’ Facebook page which again is organised by Becky.
Our Futures Night
We would encourage you to get involved and attend this very useful meeting on Thursday 6th February between 5pm and 7pm in the hall. It will be a drop in and informal chat session. There will be a number of providers and services present to give advice. It has been really useful in the past and I would encourage you to come along if you have an older student for some good advice and support post Hilltop.
New Job Adverts
We have a number of new jobs being advertised on our website and Facebook.
Please spread the word as we want some great people to work with our children and young people.
Yorkshire Wildlife Trust
We met with Bryony from the trust and they are planning to create a small wild flower meadow, water recycling planter/benches, plant some trees and reclaiming rainwater from our new polytunnel. They have also given us some great ideas for developing the pond area. It is quite exciting to see what they are planning for us over the next month. They have also invited our students to visit Potteric Carr Nature Reserve and we are planning this over the next few weeks.
MyEd
We have purchased an app for us to communicate with parents. It is a simple app on your phone which will notify you of letters dates etc. We are in the process of setting it up and it should be up and running in the next few weeks. We are aware there are and have been some issues with communication at school.
We are hoping this will help us all to keep in touch and reduce the amount of paper we waste.
Pink and Yellow Classes new PMLD play area opening
As I hope you are aware we have some new play equipment paid for partly by donations and grants from others. These are specifically for our pupils with more complex needs who are likely to be wheelchair users. Alice and John have worked hard on the planning and design of this. We have asked Shaz Biggin our Chair of Governors and the Chair of Maltby Town Council to formally open the play area. The opening will be at 10am Wednesday 29th January. Alice and John will be sending out letters to have a coffee morning in classes to celebrate the new equipment. All parents are welcome to come. We also hope to have some plans to share for the new therapy suite which should be soon underway.
| Headteachers Letter 13th Jan 2020.pdf |
17th December 2019
Dear Families, Parents & Carers,
Panto
Well what can I say! It is always ‘interesting’ to see what is developed though the work of the students and what comes from Jeff Millar’s mind. I know so many people supported this in so many ways but I do need to thank Anita Lacey and Claire Saddington for making it all happen. What was so fantastic about the performances, which many people commented on, was how relaxed and confident all of our brilliant students were. Thank you to parents for supporting and all of our young people for doing such a brave and fantastic job.
Nativity and Class Performances
How nice to see so many of our children involved in such a smashing event. The combination of singing dancing and videos of our children was so much fun to see. Again, Anita did a great job supporting our students with their dance and movement to a variety of songs and organising the performances. The nativity was so wonderful to see and thanks to Alice and the team for such a brilliant job. Thanks of course to our performers who were such stars.
Parent’s Chinwag and Facebook page
This is a very informal and friendly meeting for parents to discuss whatever is important to you. If you have not been I would recommend you contact Becky Earp and take this opportunity to chat to other parents.
There is also the ‘parents only’ Facebook page which again is organised by Becky.
Transport meeting
Just a reminder that this will be in the school hall on Thursday 19th December at 9:30. Do come along and find out about the changes.
Christmas Holidays
We do wish you all a good Christmas and hope that it is a peaceful as it can be over the holiday.
I wish you all well and will see the students back on Monday 6th January.
David Burdett
Headteacher
Dear Families, Parents & Carers,
Panto
Well what can I say! It is always ‘interesting’ to see what is developed though the work of the students and what comes from Jeff Millar’s mind. I know so many people supported this in so many ways but I do need to thank Anita Lacey and Claire Saddington for making it all happen. What was so fantastic about the performances, which many people commented on, was how relaxed and confident all of our brilliant students were. Thank you to parents for supporting and all of our young people for doing such a brave and fantastic job.
Nativity and Class Performances
How nice to see so many of our children involved in such a smashing event. The combination of singing dancing and videos of our children was so much fun to see. Again, Anita did a great job supporting our students with their dance and movement to a variety of songs and organising the performances. The nativity was so wonderful to see and thanks to Alice and the team for such a brilliant job. Thanks of course to our performers who were such stars.
Parent’s Chinwag and Facebook page
This is a very informal and friendly meeting for parents to discuss whatever is important to you. If you have not been I would recommend you contact Becky Earp and take this opportunity to chat to other parents.
There is also the ‘parents only’ Facebook page which again is organised by Becky.
Transport meeting
Just a reminder that this will be in the school hall on Thursday 19th December at 9:30. Do come along and find out about the changes.
Christmas Holidays
We do wish you all a good Christmas and hope that it is a peaceful as it can be over the holiday.
I wish you all well and will see the students back on Monday 6th January.
David Burdett
Headteacher
| Headteachers Letter Dec 17th 2019.pdf |
December 6th
Dear Families, Parents & Carers,
Christmas Fair
Thank you to everyone who helped, supported, attended the Christmas Fair yesterday. It was a great success and we have raised over £1000. A big thank you to Claire Saddington our newly qualified teacher who has taken the lead with this ably supported by Jeff and Anita. Thank all those who came and for those that did not you will have chance to buy raffle tickets when you come to our Christmas events!
Parent’s Chinwag and Facebook page
This is a very informal and friendly meeting for parents to discuss whatever is important to you.
If you have not been I would recommend you contact Becky Earp and take this opportunity to chat to other parents. There is also the ‘parents only’ Facebook page which again is organised by Becky.
Flu bug and Norovirus
We have had a couple of children off with what is at least a very nasty flu and may be norovirus.
I know other schools have had the same and we want to ensure some of our most vulnerable students don’t get any terrible bugs over the winter. I am including an advice sheet from Public Health England. Just to remind you if your child has a ‘tummy bug’ please keep them off for 48 hours after the last bout of diarrhoea or sickness. If you are concerned about your child spreading flu like symptoms keep them at home till they are well. If you are at all concerned do seek medical advice via NHS 111 or your GP.
Transport meeting
You should be getting information from Rotherham transport about changes to some buses next year.
They are trying to slightly reduce the number of vehicles and provide a better service.
Nothing is going to change suddenly and David Stockdale wants to come and talk this through with as many parents as can attend. This will be in the school hall on Thursday 19th December. Do come along and find out about the changes if you can. Just to reassure you it is not a whole new tendering process like it was a couple of years ago.
David Burdett
Headteacher
Dear Families, Parents & Carers,
Christmas Fair
Thank you to everyone who helped, supported, attended the Christmas Fair yesterday. It was a great success and we have raised over £1000. A big thank you to Claire Saddington our newly qualified teacher who has taken the lead with this ably supported by Jeff and Anita. Thank all those who came and for those that did not you will have chance to buy raffle tickets when you come to our Christmas events!
Parent’s Chinwag and Facebook page
This is a very informal and friendly meeting for parents to discuss whatever is important to you.
If you have not been I would recommend you contact Becky Earp and take this opportunity to chat to other parents. There is also the ‘parents only’ Facebook page which again is organised by Becky.
Flu bug and Norovirus
We have had a couple of children off with what is at least a very nasty flu and may be norovirus.
I know other schools have had the same and we want to ensure some of our most vulnerable students don’t get any terrible bugs over the winter. I am including an advice sheet from Public Health England. Just to remind you if your child has a ‘tummy bug’ please keep them off for 48 hours after the last bout of diarrhoea or sickness. If you are concerned about your child spreading flu like symptoms keep them at home till they are well. If you are at all concerned do seek medical advice via NHS 111 or your GP.
Transport meeting
You should be getting information from Rotherham transport about changes to some buses next year.
They are trying to slightly reduce the number of vehicles and provide a better service.
Nothing is going to change suddenly and David Stockdale wants to come and talk this through with as many parents as can attend. This will be in the school hall on Thursday 19th December. Do come along and find out about the changes if you can. Just to reassure you it is not a whole new tendering process like it was a couple of years ago.
David Burdett
Headteacher
| Headteachers Letter Dec 19.pdf |
Archive
| Headteachers Letter Sept 19.pdf |
|
| ||||
|
| ||||
|
| ||||
|
| ||||
|
| ||||
|
| ||||
|
| ||||
|
| ||||
|
| ||||
|
| ||||
|
| ||||
|
| ||||
