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

• Reverse Advent Calendar

  Tue 27 Nov 2018
  We are readying ourselves for the beginning of Advent which is the time of preparation for Christmas.

   

  The children were really moved by the presentation, given to us yesterday, by Keith Statham who volunteers out in the Gambia and has helped to build a school in Nyofella. Both staff and children felt compelled to help the charity further and asked Keith about the types of things that were needed out there.

   

  We have decided to do a Reverse Advent Calendar this year and ask for contributions for Nyofella. Attached is the calendar displaying items that are needed in order to provide the children with the education they so desperately need.  We would love you to get involved! Items are to be sent in daily and will form a part of our Advent daily reflection time. You are under no obligation to send in more than one item - if any - but we would be grateful for any generosity you can show. Talk as a family and with your children about the items you could contribute - ensuring these are manageable for you - and hopefully something you either have excess of or things you no longer need.

   

  The charity are also putting out a plea for adult clothing (as the teachers are receiving very little payment) and we would be grateful for any you wish to donate.

   

  Reverse Advent Calendar

  Christmas is a wonderful and exciting time of year and during Advent we prepare for

  the day when God sent his son, Jesus, as a gift for us all. We would also like to give

  a gift – the gift of hope; to our friends and global neighbours in Nyofella.

  We invite you to contribute to our reverse Advent calendar by choosing items to bring in.

   

  Toothpaste   1	Toothbrush   2	Soap   3	Shampoo   4
  Pens   5	Blue-tak   6	Sheets of paper   7	Pencils   8
  Tools   9	Screws and nails   10	Garden tools   11	Seeds   12
  Chalk   13	Pencil Crayons   14	Glue   15	Stapler/ Staples   16
  Socks   17	Pants   18	Balls   19	Adult Clothes   20
  Think about the children of Nyofella as you enjoy your Christmas holiday

   

  

• Our Global Neighbours

  Mon 26 Nov 2018

  We were delighted to welcome Keith Statham to our Community Worship this morning. He gave us a fascinating account of his time spent in The Gambia helping the village of Nyofella set up a school.

   

  Some of the facts were striking - the teachers work from 7.30 until 6.30 every day, with a morning session for half the children in the school and then a second session in the afternoon for the rest. Until the charity provided solar panels for the village three years ago, there was no electricity. Due to a corrupt ex-president, the government have no funds available to pay the teaching staff. During the 8km journey, children have been known to die on the route to school when flash floods in the rainy season produce up to 6 metres of rain in one day. The building of a maternity unit by the charity has lessened infant mortality rates from 3/10 to zero!

   

  Keith was bowled over by your generosity and has taken laptops and outfits for the children away with him to take over to Nyofella in the new year.

   

  We are going to continue this link and will be setting up a reverse advent calendar for your donations of unwanted goods that will make such a difference to the lives of our global neighbours.

   

  

• Fundraising

  Fri 23 Nov 2018

  Thank you for all your support of the recent British Legion and Children in Need appeals.

   

  We raised a total of £93.62 for The Royal British Legion and

  £146.23 for Children in Need!

• Parental Questionnaire

  Fri 23 Nov 2018

  Thank you so much for taking the time to express your views on the questionnaires, sent our following parent consultation. These are such a helpful insight into your feelings and thoughts about the work we do here, and most importantly, the happiness, well-being and education of your children.

   

  We received responses from just under 50% of our families.

   

  The feedback was positive about the new style parent consultations. Parents commented that they appreciated the involvement of the children, that the teachers knew the children very well and gave constructive feedback and that it provided a calm environment to look at the children's work.

   

  We have taken on board your helpful and constructive criticism: Some parents felt it lacked privacy in the hall and one family felt that it took up family time as it was held on an INSET day. We hope to alleviate these issues for the next one, which, although held in the hall, will ensure space is used wisely so that waiting parents can not listen in to conversations. It will also be held on a school day as we appreciate INSET days are often precious family time.

   

  100% of responses to the following OFSTED questions were positive:

   

  My child is happy at school

  My child feels safe at this school

  My child makes good progress at this school

  My child is well looked after at this school

  My child is taught well at this school

  This school makes sure its pupils are well behaved

  The school is well managed

  The school responds well to any concerns I raise

  I receive valuable information from the school about my child's progress

   

  And all would recommend the school to another parent.

   

  20% of parents did not respond to 'the school deals with bullying effectively'. But added that they had no experience of this.

   

  3% of parents disagreed that their child 'receives appropriate homework for their age' commenting that they should be given more. However, this was contradicted by others saying that the children receive too much homework as it can feel like they are 'over-loaded'.

   

  It was a pleasure to read the comments left in the feedback with staff being praised for the 'teaching and care' they give the children and the 'wonderful learning environment' they provide.

   

  Have a read of some of these comments:

   

  "My child gives the school 10/10!"

   

  "Our children are happy and have made lots of progress at this school."

   

  "Staff are always available to answer questions."

   

  "Keep up the fantastic work you do."

   

  "The children are looked at as individuals which has made their confidence grow."

   

  "The school has high expectations and the pupils strive to meet these with the encouragement of the staff."

   

  "A great team of teachers and TAs."

   

  "Mrs Selby provides great school dinners that the children  appreciate and enjoy."

   

  Thank you for your on-going support! We look forward to finding out your views on residential trips, so please return your questionnaires asap.

   

• Nottinghamshire’s annual consultation on admission arrangements

  Thu 22 Nov 2018

   

  The County Council is required by the School Admissions Code to determine admission arrangements annually. Any changes have to be consulted upon prior to determination.

   

  Every year, at the autumn term governing body meeting, an important agenda item is the consultation about the admission arrangements for community and voluntary controlled schools. This year, the consultation is in relation to the admission arrangements for 2020-2021 and will run from 21 November 2018 to 15 January 2019. Parents are invited to be a part of this consultation process.

   

  Nottinghamshire’s consultation on admission arrangements for community and voluntary controlled schools together with the coordinated schemes will be available on our website from 21 November 2018 to 15 January 2019: www.nottinghamshire.gov.uk/admissionsconsultation

   

  Attached is a summary of the consultation for your consideration but please refer to the full consultation document available at www.nottinghamshire.gov.uk/admissionsconsultation

   

  Anyone can comment on the arrangements up to 15 January 2019 by:

  • completing the online response form on the public website www.nottinghamshire.gov.uk/admissionsconsultation
  • emailing admissionsconsultations@nottscc.gov.uk

  · writing to School Admissions Consultation, Support to Schools Service, Meadow House, Littleworth, Mansfield, Nottinghamshire NG18 2TA.

• NSPCC and O2 E-Safety Worskhop

  Thu 22 Nov 2018

  Advanced Notice!

  Free online safety workshop for parents and carers

   

  Muddled by Minecraft or rattled by Roblox? NSPCC and O2 are running an hour-long interactive workshop with tips, tools and advice on how to keep your child safe online. Talking about online safety with your child doesn’t need to be difficult –build your confidence to have those important conversations, get to know your child’s online world and learn where to go for help and advice.

   

  The workshop will take place at 9.00 till 10.00 on Wednesday 13th March 2019.  Don’t miss out on this great opportunity! Make sure you RSVP by responding to the office.

• New Life Children's Centre

  Fri 16 Nov 2018

  Our children and wider school community are incredibly thoughtful and generous when it comes to helping out our global neighbours. On Wednesday we welcomed representatives from New Life Children's Centre to school, who came to collect our unwanted classroom furniture. This furniture is going to be shipped to The Gambia where it will fill classrooms and aid the education of the children there.

   

  If you wish to find out more about the charity then you can do so by following this link: https://newlifegambia.co.uk/

   

   

  

• Remembrance Day and World War One Centenary

  Fri 09 Nov 2018

  This week the children have been taking part in activities based around Remembrance and World War 1. We were fortunate enough to welcome Andrew and Elaine from the Royal British Legion on Monday who informed the children about the origins of the Poppy Appeal. They also announced the winners of the local poppy art competition and we were delighted to celebrate with Ben who won the under 18s category and with Verity and Millie who were runner up and highly commended for their work.

   

  Nigel Wood, local historian, came to school with a treasure trove of artefacts, photos and information about the local people who are acknowledged on the Roll of Honour for their contribution to the war effort. Year 6 have spent the week exploring these and gaining empathy for those that served through the drama activities that they have done with Mr Brown.

   

  The weeks events have culminated today in a wonderfully thought-provoking service in church. Classes contributed to this with poems, information and song and wreaths were laid to honour the fallen. We are particularly grateful to the parents, grandparents and members of the community that attended the service and those that have made donations to the RBL poppy appeal throughout the week.

   

  Poem by Robert Laurence Binyon (1869-1943), published in The Times newspaper on 21 September 1914.

   

  With proud thanksgiving, a mother for her children,
  England mourns for her dead across the sea.
  Flesh of her flesh they were, spirit of her spirit,
  Fallen in the cause of the free.

   

  Solemn the drums thrill: Death august and royal
  Sings sorrow up into immortal spheres.
  There is music in the midst of desolation
  And a glory that shines upon our tears.

   

  They went with songs to the battle, they were young,
  Straight of limb, true of eye, steady and aglow.
  They were staunch to the end against odds uncounted,
  They fell with their faces to the foe.

   

  They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:
  Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
  At the going down of the sun and in the morning
  We will remember them.

   

  They mingle not with their laughing comrades again;
  They sit no more at familiar tables of home;
  They have no lot in our labour of the day-time;
  They sleep beyond England's foam.

   

  But where our desires are and our hopes profound,
  Felt as a well-spring that is hidden from sight,
  To the innermost heart of their own land they are known
  As the stars are known to the Night;

   

  As the stars that shall be bright when we are dust,
  Moving in marches upon the heavenly plain,
  As the stars that are starry in the time of our darkness,
  To the end, to the end, they remain.

  

• Laptops for The Gambia

  Fri 09 Nov 2018
  On Monday 26th November we have a gentleman called Keith Statham coming in to lead Community Worship for the children. He will be talking about his work in The Gambia where, as a charity, they have set up a school. The charity are asking for donations of old laptops to create an ICT suite in the school. We are donating ten of our old laptops and are appealing to see if we can generate any more. If you have an old laptop, in working order and with a power cable, that you would be willing to donate, please send it in to school before this date. Your kindness and generosity would be greatly appreciated by Keith and the children of Nyofella.

   

   

   

• Christmas Lunch

  Fri 09 Nov 2018

  Warning – this is about Christmas! I know it feels very early, but in school we are planning for the half term ahead.

   

  It has become a tradition at Langar that members of the community are invited in to partake in our Christmas lunch, followed by a trip to church to watch the nativity. This is a lovely occasion that is appreciated by staff, children and guests alike.

   

  This year we are asking for nominations of guests for us to invite. We would like to acknowledge those who are elderly, vulnerable or generously give of their time to make Langar and Barnstone the community it is; these could be members of the church community, Parish Council or charitable organisations. Places are limited to 15 and these will be chosen by School Council who will then send invitations out.

   

  Letters have been sent out containing this information along with a slip. Please return these by Friday 16th November with the details of your nomination.