This week a few parents have asked me about the plans to appoint a new Headteacher for September. To keep you updated, I am pleased  to inform you that interviews are taking place next week with the candidates in school on  Monday. I was delighted that we had an excellent field of applicants keen to lead such a wonderful school. We will let you know the outcome of this as soon as possible.

This week has been Children’s Mental Health Week with the theme of  ‘Let’s Connect’, thinking about how we make meaningful connections with others. People thrive in communities, and this connection is vital for our wellbeing. Having healthy connections – to family, friends and others – can support our mental health and sense of wellbeing.

Our Hob Moor community is very special and we definitely felt a sense of connection on Wednesday when the whole school came together to take part in our Sponsored Dance-a-thon. As you can see from the photos, we had a wonderful time and everyone was smiling by the end of the day. Thank you to those families who have already sent in some sponsor money, every penny will go towards giving your child(ren) some fabulous opportunities during the Spring and Summer months.

You will have hopefully seen our new school menu for after half term and ABM, who provide our delicious school lunches, have been working hard to promote this. One new idea, which I know the children will love, is that if a child has a school dinner on their birthday they will be given a special “birthday cupcake” to enjoy. And it’s pancakes all round on Tuesday 21st February too. I will certainly be booking my lunch for that day! As you know the cost of our school dinners has been stable at £2.30 since 2015 and I have been very keen to keep it at this. However, it has got to the point, with increasing costs all round, that we have no option to increase this to £2.50 after half term. This will come into effect from Monday 20th February.

I hope you all received the latest information about the teachers strike action, which I sent out on Wednesday. Please do contact us if you have any questions relating to this, and if there are further changes I will endeavour to give you as much notice as possible,

We welcome you all back to school after the Christmas holidays. I hope you have had a good start to 2023, I know we certainly have!  We had a brilliant afternoon on the first day back, when we enjoyed the M&M Production of ‘Jack and the Beanstalk’. Laughter was heard throughout the school and it was a great way to start the term. Already in the first two weeks, as I have  walked around school and visited lessons, the children are showing enthusiasm for their new learning themes and working incredibly hard. Our whole school topic for this half term is ‘The Tales we Tell’, with a big focus on Science and Design / Technology.

As we start the new year, we welcome our new staff; Mrs Gowland, Mrs Dobson, Miss Colquitt and Miss Leslie but we also pass on huge congratulations to Miss Brady who is now the DSL (Designated

Safeguarding Lead) for Hob Moor Community Primary Academy. Miss Brady impressed the Academy interview panel just before Christmas and is delighted to take on her new role in school. Nicky Ellis, who has worked across both Hob Moor Primary and Hob Moor Oaks in a Federation role for Safeguarding, Behaviour and Wellbeing, has moved  into a full time role with Hob Moor Oaks this term. Nicky has worked with children, and families of Hob Moor Primary over the past 12 years and I would like to personally thank her for all her amazing work. Over the last two weeks she has moved desks but we’re very pleased we will still see her gorgeous smile and hear her kind words on a daily basis. I hope she enjoys her new role.

I am pleased to share that Nicky Ellis, who has worked across both Hob Moor Oaks and Primary in a Federation role for Safeguarding, Behaviour and Wellbeing, will move into a full time Hob Moor Oaks role this year. Nicky has a wealth of knowledge of SEND and is very excited to work alongside pupils and staff in the Oaks full time.

Over the upcoming weeks the children will be interacting with their story texts for our school performances. There are lots of lovely learning opportunities within continuous provisions to help the children to become familiar to the characters, stories and songs. We are looking forward to welcoming you in to see the live performances. Please look out for a parent hub message regarding the timings and groupings early next week.

Thank you to a lovely parent for pointing out the errors on the diary dates. Please see the amendments to World Book Day and Mother’s Day. Many thanks, Olivia

 Please can Y6 parents/carers let teachers know via the care diary if they are attending one of our Lea Green residential meetings.