Weekly Newsletter

Head of School - Mr R Beevers

Associate Assistant Headteacher - Miss L Whale

Associate Assistant Headteacher - Mr K Reynolds

Dear parents and carers,

As we come to the end of the first half-term of the academic year, I can reflect positively on the start we have all made: pupils are striving to be the best versions of themselves in their behaviour and learning, our attendance figures are better than they were at this point last year and the changes to the school building are almost all complete. Here are the highlights of a wonderful week to close on.

On Monday, selected pupils from Years 5 and 6 represented Larks Hill in our latest PAT football fixtures against Halfpenny Lane Primary School. Although our girls' and mixed teams unfortunately lost on this occasion, our boys' team secured a well-deserved victory! Throughout all three matches, pupils demonstrated fantastic resilience, respect and collaboration. We are very proud of the way every pupil represented Larks Hill, both in their sporting performances and their attitudes towards others on the pitch.

As a school, we celebrated Black History Month (BHM) by holding an assembly focused on honouring the community and recognising the achievements and contributions of important historical figures, including Walter Tull and Mary Seacole. Each afternoon, pupils took part in dedicated BHM learning sessions, with a particular focus on Ade Adepitan, exploring his achievements, his positive impact on the community, and how he inspires young people with disabilities to participate in sport. Through these activities, pupils developed their understanding of Black history, the importance of representation, and how individuals can make a difference in their communities.

To celebrate the end of the half-term, pupils were given the opportunity to wear Halloween or fancy-dress outfits on Thursday. As well as the ghoulish getups, there was a whole host of spooktacular events throughout the day: a pumpkin decorating competition, two school discos and a best outfit competition.

Noah the Dracula!!

Daisy the Devil

Ruby the Dead(Wo)man

Winner - Sonny

Runners up - Lottie and Remi

Please see below a list of diary dates for the remainder of the Autumn Terms. This list may be subject to change or additions as we move through the term.

Harry - EYFS

Barnaby - Year 1

Arthur - Year 2

Brodie - Year 3

Ethan - Year 4

Thomas- Year 5

Seth - Year 6

Martha in Year 4, for being a role model to her class in both behaviour and learning. Well done Martha!

Olivia in Year 2, for making good choices, all day every day. Well done Olivia!

Benji

Charlie

Harry

Jude

Online gaming is a popular activity for many children, offering opportunities for fun, creativity and friendships. However, some games also allow children to communicate with people they do not know in real life, making it important for parents and carers to understand the potential risks.

With half-term approaching, Ofcom has produced a helpful guide through its Parents Power Up campaign, encouraging families to follow three simple steps: Check account and privacy settings, Chat regularly about gaming experiences and online friendships, and Change parental controls as children grow.

The guidance provides practical advice to help families make online gaming a safer and more enjoyable experience

Read more here: Ofcom – Parents Power Up: Helping Your Child Stay Safe While Gaming Online

We have received a number of reports at school regarding disruptive parking at the start and end of the school day. This is a polite reminder to adhere to the parking restrictions outside of the school gates and opposite the school gates. All regulations are in place to keep you and your children as safe as possible during what can be a busy time. It takes everyone to follow these rules to ensure we are keeping the entire community safe so I appreciate your support in this area.

Thank you for your continued support throughout this half-term. When pupils return on Tuesday November 3rd, we look forward to the same high standards being upheld across all areas of school. Have a safe and enjoyable week.

Yours sincerely,
Mr Beevers

Please remember to send your nominations for our CATS Spotlight feature. We love hearing about all of your children's achievements and successes.

Friday, 23rd October - Last Day of School

Monday, 2nd November - INSET Day

Tuesday, 3rd November - Back to School

Tuesday, 3rd November - Year 3 & 4 Visit to The Royal Armouries

We currently have vacancies for Parent Representatives on several School Performance Review Boards and would welcome expressions of interest from parents or carers.

If you think you may be eligible, scan the QR code or visit https://wakefield-dash.achieveservice.com/service/Free_School_Meals___Eligibility_Check

Registration is not automatic and you must apply even it you have been on universal credit for some time

When we return to school after half term, we will be on week 3 of the lunch menu.

Witches, ghosts, vampires and little monsters — we want to see your best Halloween outfits at the OneBore Stadium!

Our Kids Halloween Party takes place on Friday 30 October, from 6–8pm, with a prize for the best fancy dress.

Enjoy food, Halloween party games and a Halloween disco & DJ. Get your little Tigers ready for a spooky evening!

Castleford Tigers Online Tickets

This half term, Wakefield Council is piloting a new half term offer of the successful Happy Healthy Holidays Programme. We are working with over 40 local groups, schools, and childcare providers to offer free activities and food for children and families who receive Targeted Free School Meals. There are also limited places for those that do not receive Targeted Free School Meals – these will be assigned on a first come first served basis.

There are lots of fun activities to choose from, including: sports; dancing; arts and crafts; day trips; and much more!

Bookings open on Monday 28th September.

What Schools Can Do

• Send one of the attached flyers to families who receive Targeted Free School Meals through your parent portal or in children's book bags.
• Please also send the flyer to those families that you think would most benefit from activities – even if they do not receive Targeted Free School meals (though a place cannot be guaranteed)

How to Book

1. Visit the Happy Healthy Holidays booking website: https://eequ.org/happyhealthyholidayshalfterms
2. Choose and book activities taking place between 26th - 30th October.

Need More Information?

If you have any questions, please email:

HAFwakefield@wakefield.gov.uk

As a community rugby club, we are always looking to encourage more young people to get involved in sport, make new friends, build confidence and enjoy being part of a team.

We are currently recruiting boys and girls for our 2027 season and would love to reach families who may not be aware of the opportunities available at our club.

We have attached two recruitment posters covering:

🏉 Primary Rugby – Boys & Girls

• Lions Cubs – Ages 3–5
• Under 6s – School Year 1
• Under 7s – School Year 2
• Under 8s – School Year 3
• Under 9s – School Year 4

🏉 Girls Under 12s – School Years 6 & 7

We are also introducing a Girls Under 12s team and will be holding three taster sessions on Saturday 17th October, 31st October and 14th November, from 10am to 11am.

All children are welcome, regardless of experience or ability. No previous rugby experience is necessary.

We would be extremely grateful if you could share our attached posters on your school's social media pages, parent newsletters or communication platforms, helping us reach as many local families as possible.

As a volunteer-run community club, support from local schools makes a real difference in helping us provide sporting opportunities for children in our area.

Due to a recent increase in demand for our Wraparound After School club, we have taken the decision to increase our capacity from 15 to 18 children per day. We hope this will help out those families that need childcare either on a regular or ad hoc basis.

If you haven’t used our Wraparound After School Club before, please drop in to the office to sign the agreement form.

The Club runs from 3.15pm-5.45pm Monday-Thursday and costs £12 per session (or £10 each for siblings).

Children can take part in games, activities, crafts and more! We also offer a selection of snacks and light bites for them to enjoy.

From next week we will also be launching our new Friday offer! Friday club will run as the rest of the week but at a discounted price of £8 for the full session, or £5 for a 4.30pm pick-up. This could be an opportunity for parents to get ready for the weekend, do some shopping or run any errands that need doing without the children there.

Places should be booked on MCAS by Friday of the preceding week, please give us a call if you need to book after this deadline and we will see what we can do.