WLD Update for Parents & Carers - Friday 24th September 2021

Good afternoon,

It has been another busy, but successful week.  The school week was interrupted for students by a staff training day - our Teaching and Learning Conference with a nationally recognised authority on teaching and learning - Tom Sherrington.  In school it has been great to see fixtures against other schools resume - football this week against Brownedge - another sign of life returning to "normal".  Year 7 students have been continuing to settle into life at Walton-le-Dale and are doing some online tests at the moment to tell us more about their learning.  Year 7 parents and carers have been invited to the "Settling-in Evening" on Wednesday 6th October.

All Parents & Carers:

• The COVID19 vaccinations will take place in school on Friday, 8th October for children aged 12-15 years.  Your child will have brought home the consent form but you can also find a copy together with the guidance on our website here.  Please can these forms be returned to your child's form tutor by no later than Friday, 1st October whether or not you consent.  Many thanks
• Attendance: This is a really important issue at this time.  It is extremely important that students are in school so that they can be taught.  On the other hand we are aware that there are a lot of bad colds and stomach bugs going around!  Please be aware of the current government & NHS guidance - students do not have to self-isolate as they are under 18.  Our current attendance (not including absences due to COVID) is 85.5% this week, which is about 10% lower than we would normally expect at this time of year.  Please ensure that your son or daughter attends school if at all possible.

• Return of laptops:  As I mentioned before the summer break please can all laptops which were issued by us from the Department for Education to students during lockdown be returned to us temporarily for vital software updates.  Many thanks.

Year 7 - Hothersall Lodge - Monday, 22nd - Wednesday, 24th November - Letters were sent out early this week and are also on our website here: https://www.waltonledale.lancs.sch.uk/parents/communication

Year 8 - Outward Bound Trip - Friday, 22nd October - A trip has been organised by Mrs McClelland, Head of Year 8 to the Anderton Centre. Your child will bring a letter home today and a copy has also been emailed out and can also be found on the website here: https://www.waltonledale.lancs.sch.uk/parents/communication. 

Years 7 & 11 Parents - If your child had their photograph taken last Friday, the details we have as Primary contact should have received confirmation from Tempest Photography with the digital proof. If you have not received this, please email Mrs Hodgson on: l.hodgson@waltonledale.lancs.sch.uk

Thank you for your positive response to my message last week about the way in which we speak to each other.  I understand that you will sometimes disagree with decisions that we make, but we are all human (parents, staff and students) and worthy of politeness, kindness and respect.  We have had a few conversations with parents about basic school rules which don't change - uniform and detentions would be a couple of examples - please be aware that these aren't about to alter and are just part of the basics of any school.

Best wishes and have a very good weekend,

James Harris

Headteacher