Keep up to date with all the latest news happening in school at the moment.

• The builders have finished - we have new classrooms

  Tue 20 Dec 2022

  We are really pleased that the builders have been able to hand over our three new classrooms ready for January. 

  Mrs. Astell's and Miss Martin's year three children were able to begin moving into them at the end of the autumn term ready for a fresh start in January. Our updated building plan shows you where their new classrooms will be - CLICK HERE. 

   

  Mrs. Wojcik's year one children may also spend the first few weeks of the spring term in one of the new classrooms (A7) as some work takes place in their existing classroom to repair a leaking rain water down pipe. They will then move back once this is finished. 

   

  On January 8th all of the procedures for the start and end of the day will be the same as they have been throughout the Autumn term. Once we have settled back in January, we are planning to return to using the side gate in the mornings and the end of the day so that children and families don't have to walk across two carparks to get into school. We will share more information in January about when this will happen. 

• Frozen water safety

  Thu 15 Dec 2022

  We have all been moved by the tragic incidents in Birmingham last weekend and the death of four children. Our thoughts and prayers are with the families of the children. 

   

  All teachers at school have spoken to the children about staying safe in icy conditions and not going on frozen water. Parents that want to to help their children understand the dangers of water safety in icy conditions are able to use the poster below. 

   

  The most important messages to give children are

  • Don't play near frozen water
  • Don't go on icy water at a pond or lake. Children need to be especially aware of this if
    • they see someone else on the ice, they must not copy them, even if they are been encouraged or dared to.
    • a toy (for example a football) goes on the ice they must not go and collect it.
    • a pet (for example a dog who is running off the lead) goes on the ice, they must not go to try and help it. 

   

  

• Please don't purchase Christmas gifts for staff.

  Thu 15 Dec 2022

  We have published a letter for families about Christmas gifts for staff. We hope that this information helps families recognise that no gifts are expected and that if children want to offer any thanks or kind words that home made cards or letters are the best way of doing so. CLICK HERE. 

• Scarlett fever update

  Tue 06 Dec 2022

  We have published a letter this evening sharing information about some recent Scarlett Fever cases in school that gives some help and support to families to help keep children safe and happy. CLICK HERE. 

• Free grocery vouchers for free school meal children

  Fri 02 Dec 2022

  We have been asked to share this message from Derbyshire County Council. 

   

  You may have heard that the Government have awarded further Household Support Fund (HSF) grant monies to Derbyshire County Council to support local households facing financial hardship over the winter (October 2022 to March 2023). We are pleased to announce that we intend to distribute free grocery vouchers to families who are eligible for benefit related free school meals.

   

  The vouchers will be distributed in early January 2023. 

   

  With this in mind we will be sharing information with the Local Authority to confirm the names of children who have benefit related free school meals. Please note that this does not include children in reception, year 1 and year 2 who have universal free school meals. 

   

  If you have any questions relating to this please don't hesitate to get in touch with the school. If you are eligible for these free vouchers and would rather not receive them please contact the school by Wednesday 7th December at the latest. 

• Draft school uniform policy - consultation with parents

  Thu 01 Dec 2022

  For many years we have published our school uniform information on our website. CLICK HERE. Parents have always shared that this information is useful. 

   

  However, the Department for Education have shared some statutory guidance that schools should consider when producing a uniform policy. One of these requirements is to allow parents to help in the production of a policy. CLICK HERE. With this in mind we are pleased to invite parents to read our draft policy and then have the opportunity to complete a short online form to share any thoughts on the uniform at St. John's and our draft policy. The DfE state that 

  By creating a common identity amongst all pupils, regardless of background, a school uniform can act as a social leveller. It can reduce bullying and peer pressure to wear the latest fashions or other expensive clothes. If, however, the uniform is too expensive it can place an unreasonable burden on families. Furthermore, if a distinction can be made between those who can afford it and those who cannot, this can reduce the benefits of a uniform and has the potential to negatively impact attendance, access and participation, and lead to bullying.

   

  Please be aware that we have no plans to alter our uniform, our suppliers or our guidance that we have had published on the website for several years. This draft policy and parental survey is to ensure that we act on the Department for Education guidance. 

   

  If any parents have any questions please don't hesitate to speak to Mr. Averis any morning or afternoon when he is at the school gate. 

   

  Finally, in the run up to Christmas we are inviting children to wear novelty hair bands in the final week of term and on Christmas jumper day (Wednesday 14th December) only. Please can children continue to wear normal hair bands until then, thank you. 

   

  Draft policy - CLICK HERE

  Parental uniform survey - CLICK HERE