LTP 365
Dear Parents/Carers
Happy New Year
I hope that you all had an enjoyable two-week break and it’s great to see the children back at school with smiles on their faces and engaging positively in their learning. It’s another busy learning block and the Event Calendar is attached. Also attached is the curriculum newsletter so that you can see what your child will be learning during this 6-week period.
TPA Teamwork And Training At Its Best
As you know, Tuesday morning saw the TPA early morning team spring into action to avert what could have been a much more significant incident had they not responded with professionalism and their ability to keep calm under pressure. The team responded quickly and efficiently to put in motion all appropriate safety, safeguarding and wellbeing procedures. I would like to publicly recognise how brilliantly the TPA team came together, including staff who were arriving and responding to instructions, to manage a potentially very disruptive morning, and to be able to ensure a safe and smooth opening for the day.
Whilst there were fortunately no flames associated with the electrical incident, the smoke and ash damage to the upstairs of Eat N Hall has required the area to be professionally cleaned this week to ensure a safe learning environment and we anticipate the area being up and running next week. The Year 6 children have been re-homed in Harrison Hall until they can return to Eat N Hall and have handled the situation exactly how we would expect of TPA children – brilliantly!
From The Warmest Year…
According to Met Office data, 2025 was the warmest year on record for the UK with an average temperature of 10.09°C. 2025 also goes down as the sunniest year since records began in 1910, recording 1648.5 hours of sunshine across the UK – 61.4 hours more than the previous record set in 2003.
The Met Office states that this is in line with expected consequences of human-induced climate change, saying that although it doesn’t mean every year will be the warmest on record, it is clear from our weather observations and climate models that human-induced global warming is impacting the UK’s climate. I’m sure this won’t stop most of us heading off to sunnier climes when we can though – during our TPA out of local authority weeks, securing a bargain break!
…To A Freezing Spell
That makes this week’s weather even more of a shock to our systems, so please ensure that you allow that extra time at the beginning and end of the day to make punctual and safe drop offs and collections.
If the snow does arrive and the school needs to close, we will send a text message, so please ensure that we have your up-to-date contact details.
Uniform
We always aim to be outside for breaks and PE whenever the weather allows, so please ensure that your child has a warm coat and hat and optional scarf each day. Trousers are the warmest winter choice so are advisable for girls as well as boys in the winter. Shoes should be robust, but if your child is wearing boots to school, they must be under trousers. It is absolutely fine for children to wear alternative waterproof or grippy footwear to school, but they will need to bring their school shoes to change into.
Attendance, Absence And Punctuality
I am pleased to confirm that our attendance was above the national average for 2024-2025 following rigorous application of policy as directed by the government. Whilst understanding of the policy is increasing amongst our parents and carers, unfortunately so far this year, the government’s persistent absence criteria has triggered 40 meetings with parent/carers to discuss their child’s level of absence and 16 of our families have received fixed penalty fines from Milton Keynes Council for unauthorised absence (this is however lower than at the same point last year).
This is not something we want to happen to anyone so please don’t go on holiday during term time, and take advantage of our out of local authority weeks. I know that many families do.
Punctuality is also important and children need to be in class by 08:45am to prevent being marked absent and to avoid disruption.
Being in school and on time is important to your child’s academic achievement, wellbeing, and wider development. There is lots of evidence which proves that good school attendance is key in supporting children and young people’s educational, economic and social outcomes.
As you know, we are required by law to monitor lateness alongside absence and where lateness becomes regular, we are duty bound to report it to the proper authorities. There is a clamp down nationally to secure good attendance and we are embracing it.
Fact Of The Week
Until 1752, the New Year in England didn’t start on January 1st. It started on March 25th, also known as “Lady Day” (the Feast of the Annunciation).
The Critical Shift: When the UK finally swapped from the Julian to the Gregorian calendar in 1752 (to align with the rest of Europe), we had to skip 11 days to catch up with the sun. Wednesday 2nd September was followed immediately by Thursday 14th September.
Word Of The Week
Repudiate
re·pu·di·ate
verb
refuse to accept or be associated with
“I have decided to formally repudiate the testimony of the bathroom scales and rely entirely on my own critical assessment that I am still extremely handsome.”
Joke Of The Week
I made a reservation at a fancy Italian restaurant for New Year’s Eve. It cost me a pretty penne.
Have a good weekend.
Best wishes
Warren Harrison
Chief Executive Officer