Keep up to date with all the latest news happening in school at the moment.

• Staying Well Over Winter

  Wed 07 Dec 2022 Bernie Ranzetta

  You do not always have to see your GP for minor illnesses. In many cases, home based self-care might be all that’s needed for your child.

  Please see the leaflet below:

  

• Positive Attendance: Helping Children and Young People to Succeed

  Thu 01 Dec 2022 Bernie Ranzetta

  The following is a transcript of a letter from Ellen Collier (Service Manager, Education Welfare Service)

  School is an important part of the lives of children and young people. It is where they begin to develop new skills, make friendships and it helps prepare them for their future. When a child misses school, they can miss out on these vital opportunities and their learning and friendships may suffer. Whilst 90% is an excellent result in a test, an attendance level of 90% is poor, children are classed as persistently absent and children’s outcomes in school can be badly affected. Any absence that is not authorised by the school is a reason for concern. Parents and carers have the legal responsibility to ensure that a child attends school regularly and arrives on time. Absence taken during the school term can have a negative impact on a child’s education.

  Therefore:

  • Schools rarely agree to parents taking their children out of school for the purposes of leave of absence / holidays in term-time. This is not an automatic entitlement and only the Head teacher can authorise this if a parent applies in advance and the Head teacher’s view is that there are exceptional circumstances. If your child misses school for the purposes of a holiday or a trip and the absence is not agreed, you may be issued with a Penalty Notice, or you may be prosecuted.

  • Penalty Notices may also be issued to parents whose children have 20 or more unauthorised absences in a 12 week period. Penalty Notices are a fine of: o £120 per parent per child if paid in full within 28 days (reduced to £60 if paid within 21 days)

  • If a Penalty Notice is not fully paid within 28 days and there is no reason to withdraw the Notice, the Local Authority has no option but to prosecute a parent in the Magistrates’ Court for failing to ensure regular school attendance.

  • In Court, if a parent pleads guilty, or is found guilty, they will then have a criminal record. A fine of up to £2,500, up to 3 months imprisonment or a community penalty could be imposed together with a parenting order. You can help your child by ensuring that they arrive on time and that you arrange any appointments for them (e.g. dental check-ups) outside school hours. If your child has regular absences the school may require medical evidence. If you have any questions or would like to discuss any issues affecting your child’s attendance, please contact your child’s school in the first instance or the Education Welfare Service on (0116) 454 5510.

• Energy Advice Pop-Up Event

  Thu 01 Dec 2022 Bernie Ranzetta

  British Gas is running free community pop-up events in Leicester to support people struggling to pay their energy bills. The next event will be within the Post Office on Gallowtree Gate on 13 December.  Anyone seeking financial or practical energy advice is invited come along and speak to trained British Gas energy debt advisors who will provide free, independent support.  If you know of someone who is struggling with the rise in living costs, please tell them about Better Off Leicester to find out if they are entitled to any benefits or support – visit the BetterOff Leicester website.

• Holiday Activity and Food Programme

  Thu 01 Dec 2022 Bernie Ranzetta

  Children eligible for benefits-related free school meals can access up to 2 weeks of free activities and they will also receive a healthy lunch each day that they attend.  
  Full details to support schools can be found on the link above.  Registration will close on Sunday 4 December.

   

  Please click on this link for more information:

  https://families.leicester.gov.uk/haf

• Household Support Fund

  Thu 01 Dec 2022 Bernie Ranzetta

  The local authority has received funding of £3.4 million which they plan to distribute to the most vulnerable households within Leicester up to 5 March 2023.  The focus in this scheme is to support those who have not received financial support from the Government Cost of Living payments and the previous grant period of this scheme between April and September 2022 – therefore awards to households who have already received both of these will be limited to food only, unless there are vulnerabilities or risk factors identified in the household.  Household Support Fund applications are accepted from parents directly via the city council website or via schools.  A reminder that this is not a crisis service.  If you think you are eligible, please contact the school and ask to speak to our Family Support Worker, Leona Wallace.