Headteacher blog 17/3/23

I usually start these letters/blogs with a positive statement about what a good week it has been. This week is different: a two day strike that is a miserable thing to do and something that I hope we don’t feel compelled to repeat. There has been a bit of progress with the NHS dispute and I hope that can extend to education soon too.

A really positive development this term has been a reinvigorated relationship with Farsley library. We enjoyed an imaginative assembly around World Book Day with lead librarian Kate (Tessa in Reception’s mum) and now all the classes are visiting the library on Town Street for a directed session and the feedback from staff has been extremely positive. Still having a library in the village is an enormous asset and it is important that our children (and wider community) make good use of it.

We are approaching the end of the financial year. Things are looking exceptionally challenging financially for both the school and the Children’s Centre. Funding simply isn’t keeping up with costs, especially around provision for children with SEND. There are going to have to be some difficult and imaginative decisions as we look to try to make budgets work sustainably.