Newsletter

Battledown Newsletter - 14th July 2010

Dear Parents and Friends,

This is the last newsletter of the summer term and the school year! How quickly did that time go? It has been an eventful year in the life of Battledown. Thanks for your wonderful support throughout!

We could not have achieved what we have achieved without you and we’re very grateful!  For those of you wanting to join us in saying goodbye to our Leavers the Assembly will be held at 2.00p.m. on Thursday July 22nd.

We thank all staff members who have worked so hard to ensure children feel confident and ready for the new challenges ahead in their “Big Schools”!
We break up Friday July 23rd, some of us for a very well-earned rest, others for fun during the Playscheme and Family Drop-ins.

We return to school for one INSET training day on Wednesday 1st September.  Due to the extensive work on the playground over the summer the contractors have informed me that the work will not be completed until Monday 6th September. This has caused me great concerns
over access to the building. Having risked assessed all alternative possibilities I have decided, in conjunction with the Chair of Governors, that we will not be able to co-ordinate all building users using the front entrance at the same time safely. Health and Safety has also been a concern as the practicalities of evacuating the building in the event of a fire through one exit cannot be overcome in the permissible time.

Therefore all children returning to Battledown for the Autumn term will commence school on Tuesday 7th September. We shall have 31 children on roll.
I am delighted to report that we will be appointing a new temporary Music Therapist, Maggie Grady to join our team in September. She will be covering for Mel Boswell whilst she is on maternity leave. Maggie will be with us on Mondays. Jenny Diesel, Sensory Integration Therapist will be changing
her working day to Wednesdays from September. I’ll let you know details of our long awaited Occupational Therapist and maternity cover for Debbie Ratcliffe, Speech and Language Therapist when they become available.

We have now completed the process of organising the classes for the new academic year in September. We will to let you know our plans later this week, at which point parents of those children who are part-time will be able to discuss session with the Key Teachers.
Thank you to all the team working at and with Battledown - parents included. Together you make it such a special place!

Governors Update
Thank you to Kenneth Crawford - father of John in Green Class for volunteering to stand as a Parent Governor. As there was only one nomination for two vacancies Kenneth is elected unopposed.
This still leaves us with 1 Parent Governor vacancy! Please consider supporting our school in this very important role. I’ll write to parents again in September requesting nominations. Can I take this opportunity to thank Verley Layton and Mandy Newman for their support for school as Parent Governors. Their terms of office have now ended.
Also standing down after many years as a Governor is Dr Sue Kinder. Words are not enough to thank her for all her help in making Battledown the place it is today!

Best wishes for an enjoyable and sunny Summer

 Jane