Latest News
Keep up to date with all the latest news happening in school at the moment.
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Children in need 2022- Thank you!
Thu 24 Nov 2022
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Sex and Relationship Education Policy - feedback request
Mon 21 Nov 2022The email below has been sent to all Parent and Carers:
We have recently reviewed and updated our Sex and Relationship Education (SRE) Policy, SRE is part of our PSHE curriculum. It is important we consult with parents and carers on the contents of the policy. We need to ensure we meet the needs of the pupils and parents so the policy reflects the community we serve. We would appreciate your views on our policy and curriculum, your feedback would be valuable to us.
The policy and the curriculum is available to view on the school website, within the PSHE overviews.
If you have any questions or wish to discuss the policy further please contact me (Faye Marshall, PSHE Leader). You can send feedback by 'replying' to this email. We would appreciate receiving any feedback by 9am on Friday 2nd December 2022.
Thank you for your time.
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Christmas Events 2022
Thu 10 Nov 2022Christmas Events
We are really looking forward to all of our Christmas Celebrations this year. The children will be doing lots of lovely Christmas activities in class too. Please read the information below regarding all Christmas Events that are coming up here at school.
Christmas Card Post Box
From 1st December, there will be a Christmas Card Post Box in the Nursery, Reception, Infants and the Juniors. The children are welcome to post their cards to be delivered to their friends and teachers in this box. Please can you ensure that they have the child’s full name, year group and class on to help our post people get them to the right person.
Christmas Wrapping Morning
Father Christmas would like a little help with wrapping the presents, as his elves are so busy already. We would like to ask if there are any parents or grandparents who feel they can give us an hour or two of their time on the morning of 5th December to help, starting at 9am after dropping off. We will provide the wrapping paper, scissors and sellotape. You will be rewarded with a mince pie, beverage, some Christmas tunes and good conversation. If you are able to help please contact the school office. We will meet at the junior site.
Christmas Lunch
Christmas lunch is a lovely opportunity for the school staff and children to celebrate Christmas together. Children can also come to school wearing their Christmas Jumpers on their lunch day.
Date of Lunch
YEAR
Tuesday 6th Dec
Nursery, Reception, Year 1 and Year 2
Wednesday 7th Dec
Years 3-6
A Google form will be sent to you shortly via text/email so you can let us know if your child will be having the lunch. Please complete this by Friday 25th November. After this date, no other numbers will be added as the food will be ordered. Please complete one form for each child.
If your child in Year 3 to 6 does not want a Christmas Lunch, they will need to bring a packed lunch on this day as there will be no other options. (This does not apply to Reception, Year 1 & Year 2 children as they will all have the Christmas Lunch, please still fill in the online form to let us know if your child will have the meat or veg option)
Children in Reception, Year 1 and 2 are covered for this lunch by the Universal Free School Meals. All other years, the cost of the meal is £2.40; this will be paid for by the usual Parent Pay System. Please ensure your child has enough funds in their account on the day of Christmas Lunch.
Christmas Lunch Menu: Roast turkey, sausage, stuffing, roast potatoes, carrots, broccoli, gravy and chocolate orange muffin for desert. Vegetarian Option is the same trimmings but either a Quorn Roast or a Roasted and Cranberry Slice.
Christmas Concerts
We are delighted to invite you to our Christmas Carol Concerts this year. The children are all working really hard to make the concert festive and entertaining; we hope you will be able to join us at this event.
A letter will be coming out shortly for you to reserve tickets for your child’s concert. Unfortunately, due to fire regulations we are only able to offer 2 tickets per family for the concert. We look forward to seeing you there.
Date &Time of Concert
YEAR
Friday 9th December 9.15am
Year 2
Monday 12th December 9.15am
Year 4
Tuesday 13th December 9.15am
Reception
Wednesday 14th December 9.15am
Year 3
Thursday 15th December 9.15am
Year 1
Christmas Parties
Each year group will be having a Christmas Party. We would like the children to come to school in their party clothes on their party day and wear them all day.
We would appreciate you helping with food for the parties. The children will be having a normal school dinner on their party day, but some treats for the parties would still be appreciated. Please could you send the treats in with your child on their party day and they will be distributed for the children to share. We request that you make sure there are no nuts, strawberries or bananas in anything to ensure children with allergies are safe. School will provide drinks, cups and plates. This year we are asking for;
- the girls to bring in savoury items (for example sausage rolls, bite size items, crisps, scotch eggs)
- the boys to bring in the desserts (for example cakes/ buns, biscuits, chocolates)
The Christmas parties will take place in the afternoons on the following dates.
Date of Party
YEAR
Friday 9th December
Year 3
Monday 12th December
Year 2 and Year 4
Tuesday 13th December
Nursery and Reception
Wednesday 14th December
Year 1 and Year 6
Thursday 15th December
Year 5
Last Day of Term- Friday 16th December
The last day of term will be Friday 16th December. All children can come to school in Christmas Jumpers/ Non-uniform on this day.
Best wishes
Anna Cvijetic
Headteacher
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Children in Need
Fri 04 Nov 2022This year our school will be supporting Children in Need by taking part in a Non-Uniform Day on Friday 18th November. (For Nursery children, this will take place on Monday 21st November)
Children will not need to wear school uniform on this day; they can come to school in their own clothes or anything Pudsey/ spotty themed.
A suggested donation of £1.00 would be gratefully received which will be sent to the Children in Need charity.
Thank you for your support.
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Odd Sock Day- Tuesday 15th November
Fri 04 Nov 2022To mark the start of Anti-bullying week, on Tuesday 15th November we are asking children to come to school wearing odd socks.
It's a great way to celebrate what makes us all unique in Anti-Bullying Week!
Children will also be engaging in some fun activities to help us think about difference and also ways to prevent bullying.
Best wishes
Faye Marshall
PSHE Lead
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Parent Governor Vacancy- Location of box for nomination form
Tue 01 Nov 2022If you would like to stand for election, please arrange for the nomination form to be completed and placed in the Parent Governor Election Box not later than 12 noon on 17th November 2022.
The Parent Governor Election Box is situated at the School Office in the Junior building.
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Parent Governor Vacancy November 2022
Tue 01 Nov 20221st November 2022
Dear Parent/Guardian,
There is a vacancy for a parent governor on our school’s governing board and I am writing to invite nominations to fill the vacancy. Parent governors are elected by and from other parents and are vital to our board of governors. They share equally with other governors the responsibility for carrying out the board’s wide range of responsibilities and play an important role as members of the governing board, which is responsible for promoting high standards of educational achievement. The term of office for parent governors as determined by the governing board is four years.
Governors do not run the school day to day, as their role is at the strategic or policy-making level in the school. You do not have to be an expert in education to be a school governor, and we value the experience that all governors bring to the role. Training is available for all governors and those new to being a governor are encouraged to attend induction training. It is important parent governors have a keen interest in the school, are prepared to play an active part in the boards work, regularly attend board meetings, time to give to this role (some of which will need to be during the school day) and are willing to attend governor training. Information overleaf gives brief details of the role of governors.
If you would like to stand for election, please arrange for the attached nomination form to be completed and returned to the school not later than 12 noon on 17th November 2022. Paper copies of the nomination form are available at the school office should you need one. Nominations must be from parents or carers with children at the school on the day that nominations close. Parents/carers putting their names forward are invited to provide a brief personal statement limited to not more than 60 words identifying your suitability for the position. If a ballot is needed this statement will be copied and sent to the other parents at the school with the ballot paper. Parents/carers who have paid employment in the school for 500 hours per academic year or more or who are elected members of the Local Authority are not eligible to stand in these elections. Once you have completed your forms, please return them in a sealed envelope and post in the box at the main reception.
‘Declaration of Eligibility’ summarises the qualifications to serve as a governor. Anyone standing for election must certify that he/she is not disqualified for any reason and sign this form. Additionally, it is a requirement that all governors must hold an enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) certificate.
On the closing date for the receipt of nominations, where the number of candidates is the same as or fewer than the number of vacancies, all candidates will be duly elected unopposed. If, however, there are more candidates than vacancies, an election by secret ballot will be held and voting papers will be sent to all parents/guardians in the school with details of the ballot procedure.
If you would like to know a little more about becoming a parent governor, you are welcome to contact me.
Yours faithfully,
Anna Cvijetic
Headteacher
Brief Details of the Role of Governors - The Board of Berkeley Primary School
BACKGROUND
School governors represent the largest volunteer force in the country with approximately 1% of the adult population serving in this capacity at any one time. The board of governors of Berkeley Primary School has 14 governor positions of which 2 are for parent governors. Parent governors are elected by their fellow parents and are vital to a governing body because they ensure that the other governors are kept in touch with the concerns and issues of most importance to our parents.
CHARACTERISTICS AND ROLE OF SCHOOL GOVERNORS
Governors are people who wish to make a positive contribution to the school and the education of its children. They will contribute to the strategic direction of the school and have an effective input toward the educational achievements of its pupils.
The boards overriding responsibility is to work in partnership with the Headteacher to promote continuous improvement in the performance of the school. In partnership with the senior leadership of the school, the board establishes the schools development plan, the setting of challenging but achievable targets and an understanding of information to assess progress and determine appropriate action. Aligned to its improvement role, the board of governors is there to provide the right balance between supporting and challenging the performance of both the Headteacher and the school.
TRAINING AND SUPPORT
The local authority values the voluntary contribution of its governors and provides a high-quality training and support service. Governors are able to access this support in a variety of ways including training courses, access to online training, Governors News (magazine produced by the local authority), termly chairs’ briefing sessions, complemented by professional support and advice from the clerking service. We endeavour to keep school governors informed of developments in education policy and current best practice. All new governors are expected to attend a governor induction course during their first year and further training afterwards on a regular basis to keep up to date.
BECOMING A PARENT GOVERNOR
Being a parent governor can be stimulating, enjoyable and rewarding. If you have the enthusiasm and desire to become closely involved in the school and its community, then please consider putting yourself forward for vacancies that arise. It is important that you have time to give to this role, some of which will need to be during the school day. Parent governors are an important component in achieving an effective and well-balanced governing body.
Declaration of Eligibility
Qualifications and disqualifications (regulation 17 and Schedule 4 to the Regulations) School Governance (Constitution) (England) Regulations 2012 or the School Governance (Federations) (England) Regulations 2012.
Grounds for disqualification fall into three broad categories:
• general grounds;
• grounds that apply to particular categories of governor; and
• grounds that arise because of particular failings or actions on the part of the governor.
All the grounds for disqualification apply also to associate members except that associate members can be registered pupils at the school and can be under 18.
General grounds
Registered pupils cannot be governors.
A governor must be aged 18 or over at the time of election or appointment.
A person cannot hold more than one governor post at the same school at the same time.
Grounds that apply to particular categories of governor
A person is disqualified from being a parent governor if they are an elected member of the LA or paid to work at the school for more than 500 hours (i.e. for more than one-third of the hours of a full-time equivalent) in any consecutive twelve month period at the time of election or appointment.
A person is disqualified from being a local authority governor if they are eligible to be a staff governor at the school.
A person is disqualified from being a partnership governor if they are:
• a parent of a registered pupil at the school;
• eligible to be a staff governor at the school;
• an elected member of the local authority; or
• employed by the local authority in connection with its education functions.
Grounds that arise because of particular failings or actions on the part of the governor
A person is disqualified from being a governor of a particular school if they have failed to attend the meetings of the governing body of that school for a continuous period of six months, beginning with the date of the first meeting they failed to attend, without the consent of the governing body. This does not apply to the head teacher or to foundation governors appointed by virtue of their office.
A foundation, local authority, co-opted or partnership governor at the school who is disqualified for failing to attend meetings is only disqualified from being a governor of any category at the school during the twelve month period starting on the date on which they were disqualified.
A person is disqualified from holding or continuing to hold office as a governor of a school if, in summary, that person:
• is the subject of a bankruptcy restrictions order; an interim bankruptcy restrictions order; debt relief restrictions order; an interim debt relief restrictions order; or their estate has been sequestrated and the sequestration has not been discharged, annulled or reduced;
• is subject to a disqualification order or disqualification undertaking under the Company Directors Disqualification Act 1986; a disqualification order under the Companies (Northern Ireland) Order 2002; a disqualification undertaking accepted under the Company Directors Disqualification (Northern Ireland) Order 2002; or an order made under section 429(2)(b) of the Insolvency Act 1986 (failure to pay under county court administration order);
• has been removed from the office of trustee for a charity by an order made by the Charity Commission or Commissioners or High Court on grounds of any misconduct or mismanagement in the administration of the charity, or under section 34 of the Charities and Trustee Investment (Scotland) Act 2005 from being concerned in the management or control of any body;
• is included in the list of people considered by the Secretary of State as unsuitable to work with children or young people;
• is barred from any regulated activity relating to children;
• is subject to a direction of the Secretary of State under section 142 of the Education Act 2002 or section 128 of the Education and Skills Act 2008;
• is disqualified from working with children or from registering for child-minding or providing day care;
• is disqualified from being an independent school proprietor, teacher or employee by the Secretary of State;
• subject to certain exceptions for overseas offences that do not correlate with a UK offence, has been sentenced to three months or more in prison (without the option of a fine) in the five years ending with the date preceding the date of appointment/election as a governor or since becoming a governor;
• subject to certain exceptions for overseas offences that do not correlate with a UK offence, has received a prison sentence of two and a half years or more in the 20 years ending with the date preceding the date of appointment/election as a governor
• subject to certain exceptions for overseas offences that do not correlate with a UK offence, has at any time received a prison sentence of five years or more;
• has been convicted and fined for causing a nuisance or disturbance on school or educational premises during the five years ending with the date immediately preceding appointment/election or since appointment or election as a governor;
• refuses a request by the clerk to make an application to the Disclosure and Barring Service for a criminal records certificate.
Anyone proposed or serving as a governor who is disqualified for one of these reasons must notify the clerk to the governing body.
Would you please confirm that you are willing and eligible to stand by signing the declaration below.
I declare that I am the parent or guardian of a pupil registered at the school and I am not disqualified from serving on a school governing board. If I become disqualified I will give notice of the fact to the clerk to the governing body.
I will agree to a Disclosure and Barring check (DBS Check).
Signed: __________________________________________________ Date: _________________
ELECTION OF PARENT GOVERNOR
NOMINATION FORM FOR BERKELEY PRIMARY SCHOOL
NAME: ..................................................................................
(Mr/Mrs/Miss/Ms/other)
ADDRESS: ..................................................................................
..................................................................................
..................................................................................
I have a child at the school and do not work at the school for more than 500 hours in any consecutive 12-month period and am not an elected member of the Local Authority. I confirm that I am willing to stand as a candidate for election as a parent and that I am not disqualified from holding office for any of the reasons set out in the School Governance Regulations.
SIGNED: ..................................................................................
SECONDED* BY: NAME : ..................................................................................
(Mr/Mrs/Miss/Ms/other)
ADDRESS: .................................................................................
.................................................................................
.................................................................................
SIGNATURE: .............................................................................
*The seconder must be a parent of a pupil at the school.
PERSONAL STATEMENT (not more than 60 words) to include:
Why I am interested in being a school governor and what I can bring to the role: (When completing this section, please include details of generic experience / knowledge / skills you have to offer. These could include professional expertise, community involvement, voluntary work etc) please refer to the letter for any specific skills the school are looking for.
Candidates may also wish to include details as outlined in the nomination letter.
