Headteacher blog 11th December 2020

It is a very different Christmas period in school this year: no Town Hall concert, nativity or Christmas performances. If Santa comes to school next week, he will be more socially distant than usual and certainly won’t have anyone sat on his knee – he is in a vulnerable age group you know…  We also aren’t really allowed to sing as large groups belting out a song raises the risk of the spread of any virus via aerosols. Instead, this year, the children have learned to sign along to some Christmas songs using a sign language called Makaton. These songs will be shared via video next week.   The children will also get the chance to have some small Christmas parties in their bubbles and the PTA have arranged a small gift for every child.

This morning, I had a lovely meeting about having a school dog one day a week in the new year. Her name is Zoey and she is a very well-trained, docile 4-year-old brown cockapoo. She is an experienced school dog and she will be with us one day a week in the new year. Zoey will primarily be working with some of our children with SEND and children with anxiety or other needs and will be based in our pastoral space called the Woodlands Room.

I was pleased that our application for an eco-grant was finally submitted on Monday. If successful, we should get significant solar panel installations across the site and some air source heat pumps for the infants. This would represent a very significant investment into the school and would complement other carbon-reduction work that we have implemented recently e.g. new LED lighting in the classrooms. This is crucial work as the school must reduce its carbon footprint as a matter of urgency.

One Comment

• Katy Smith (SEND Governor) says:

  11/12/2020 at 2:32 pm

  I love the news that Zoey will be joining Farsley Farfield! There is so much evidence that highlights school dogs can significantly reduce fear and anxiety for pupils. I look forward to hearing about the positive impact she has.

  Reply