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

• Week ending 19.01.24

  Fri 19 Jan 2024 Mr John Howe

  Rotakids

  Together with the Rotary Club of Seaburn we are launching Rotakids.
  RotaKids is a fun and exciting way for children in Yrs 3-6 to make friends and get involved with important activities in the community, all while having a great time in the process.
  Examples of RotaKids activities include:
  Filling shoeboxes with toys for underprivileged children around the world as part of the Rotary Shoebox Scheme
  Raising money for charities in your area with a sponsored bike ride, non-uniform day, cake sale or school fun days
  Supporting the environment by setting a nature project in the school playground or local community
  Collecting books for children in countries around the world.
  We are looking for 12 potential Rotakids in our school to join this new club: starting on Wednesday, 24th January 2024 in school.
  I will be taking names of those interested on Monday from class teachers and if we are oversubscribed, I will be drawing them out of the hat.

   

  Attendance

  A huge well done to Yr 4 and Reception - who had the highest attendance this week and have earned extra play time. Our overall attendance - as a school - was 95% this week, against a city-wide average of 93.6%.
  1. Yr 4/R - 99.5%
  2. Yr 5 - 95.8%
  3. Yr 1 - 95.7%
  4. Yr 3 - 94.4%
  5. Yr 6 - 93%
  7. Yr 2 - 91.1%

• OPAL Appeal

  Tue 05 Dec 2023

  Dear parents/carers
  
  Thank you so much to the children and parents who have brought in items for the playground. We have some fun loose parts already, however, we still need so much more! Please go hunting in your homes, sheds and garages, as you clear space for Christmas. I have included the list of items once again:
  
  *Suitcases of any size and type
  *Anything on wheels/castors
  *Plastic milk crates/supermarket delivery crates/plastic bread trays
  *Briefcases, especially hard cased ones
  *Road signs and cones
  *Kitchen pots, pans, baking trays, work tables, wooden spoons, chopping boards
  *Tools like small spades/shovels, trowels and brooms
  *Tubes of various sizes and various materials
  *Buckets
  *Nets and thick ropes
  *Keyboards/torches/laptops/calculators/mobile phones/desk phones/webcams/cameras that are no longer working
  *Fabric (large sheets/brightly coloured fabric)
  *Foam sheets/bodyboards/camping roll mats/yoga mats
  *Wooden pallets
  *Metal frames
  *Cable drums
  *Guttering
  *Noodles (the type you use in the swimming pool!)
  *Hats/scarves/jazzy shirts/elasticated skirts/waistcoats/wedding dresses/character costumes
  *Pegs (to help to set up dens)
  *Small World figures, houses, homes, animals, Lego.
  
  Items will continue to be collected on the main playground (they can be left next to the bike storage) between Wednesday, 6th December and Wednesday, 13th December.
  
  If you are able to, or you know anyone who can, donate a large number of plastic boxes/crates/pallets, please contact the school office.
  
  Many thanks for your continued support.
  
  Yours sincerely,
  
  Mr Howe

   

• The Big Survey

  Thu 30 Nov 2023 Mr John Howe

  Big Ambition Survey
  
  We have been asked by Dame Rachel De Souza, Children’s Commissioner for England, to share details of this survey with you which you may wish to complete with your child/ren:
  
  www.childrenscommissioner.gov.uk/thebigambition.
  
  Further resources are available on their website.
  
  Message from Dame De Souza:
  "It is really important that the pupils at Seaburn Dene Primary School participate in The Big Ambition survey and have their say.
  I want to ensure that the voices of all children in Sunderland are fairly represented in the findings so that I can share their views with the most senior members of the country.
  I must reiterate that it is vital that all children have their voice heard through this survey because, as Children’s Commissioner for England, I have a statutory duty to protect and promote the views and interests of children.
  "The Big Ambition provides a much-needed opportunity for the children of England to tell political decision makers what is important to them ahead of the General Election. I will be sharing their responses with Government to ensure that children’s voices are heard."

• Christmas 2023

  Wed 22 Nov 2023

  A list of events for Christmas in school. Please look out for some additions, eg the choir and assemblies.

  

• Odd Socks Day

  Thu 09 Nov 2023 Mr John Howe

  Odd Socks Day is happening on Monday, November 13th as school supports all the work of Anti-Bullying Week.
  The theme this year is "Make A Noise About Bullying", which is about empowering children not to be silent when bullying is happening, either to them or others.
  On Monday, we would encourage all our children to put on a pair of odd socks and join the 5 million children nationwide who participate in this event.

  

• Gold Sports Award - Fifth Year Running

  Fri 03 Nov 2023 Mr John Howe

  We have been recognised - for the fifth consecutive year - for our work in promoting sort and healthy lifestyles.
  We received the Active Gold Award in recognition of the sporting opportunities we provide as well as our curriculum provision in promoting a culture of healthy eating and mental wellbeing.
  The school was first given Sunderland's Active Gold Award in 2018-19 in recognition of the vast number of different sports children are given the opportunity to play including basketball, tennis, hockey and cricket. We have successfully been awarded this each year since then.
  We are also an active participant in a number of inter-schools cluster tournaments to promote competitive sports including rugby, athletics, tennis and gymnastics.
  PE lead Mr Ashton said: “It’s fantastic accolade to receive this award and we are determined to provide multiple opportunities for children to be engaged in sports and activity."

   

   

  

• Ofsted report

  Wed 01 Nov 2023 Mr John Howe

  Wednesday, November 1st 2023
  
  Dear Parents /Carers,
  
  As you are aware, the school had a full Ofsted Inspection on the 3rd and 4th October 2023 and I am delighted to confirm that Seaburn Dene continues to be rated a GOOD school. I enclose a copy of the report for you.
  
  Excerpts from Ofsted Inspection report: Seaburn Dene Primary School, 3rd and 4th October 2023.
  
  "The school encourages pupils to ‘dream big, show determination and be respectful and kind’. They respond to this challenge. Pupils play and learn together in harmony. Disputes and fallings-out are rare. The school is typified by order and calm."
  
  "Pupils talk about the fun they have in learning and how they are supported if they feel unsure about new knowledge.
  Pupils’ needs lie at the heart of the school’s well-developed curriculum. The essential knowledge that pupils must learn and retain is crystal clear. This allows checks to be made on the knowledge pupils have acquired. Well-sequenced lessons build on the knowledge pupils have learned already."
  
  "Pupils achieve well, including those with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). These pupils’ needs are identified early so that additional help is provided that is tailored to these needs."
  
  "Reading has a high profile in school through class book areas and the library. Pupils love being read a story, irrespective of their age, because texts are carefully chosen to capture their interest."
  
  "The school seeks to raise pupils’ aspirations and career goals through links to businesses, including car manufacturing, engineering, public transport and the construction industry. Visits, such as to the mayoral offices and places of worship for different faiths, broaden pupils’ understanding. Pupils experience the performing arts, such as working with two members of the Royal Northern Sinfonia and watching theatrical productions, including a French opera."
  
  The summary evaluation of the inspection is as follows:
  Overall effectiveness: Good
  Quality of education: Good
  Personal development: Good
  Behaviours and Attitudes: Good
  Leadership and Management: Good
  Early Years Provision: Good
  
  The report is certainly worth a more thorough read as it is overwhelmingly positive and reflects the progress we have made as a school since our last inspection in 2018.
  
  We are particularly proud that pupils’ behaviour in and around school has been recognised as excellent. Ofsted wrote, "Pupils are polite and caring to each other, adults and visitors. They said that disputes and fallings-out were rare and when it does happen, that adults will listen and sort it out quickly and positively."
  
  During the two days, extensive feedback was given which did not make the final report, but reflected positively on our school. My thanks go to the children, parents, carers, governors and all the staff for giving so much to our school.
  
  As a school, we will continue to strive to improve
  I know that I will have your support in the work we will be doing together to make Seaburn Dene Primary School exceptional for all our pupils.
  
  Mr John Howe
  Headteacher

   

   

• Poppy Appeal

  Tue 31 Oct 2023 Mr John Howe

  Please support the Royal British Legion by supporting their Poppy Appeal. We are now selling poppies, snapbands, bracelets, badges and pencil sharpeners - please see below for the price of each.
  
  These can be purchased from the school office and Year 6 will be selling them at breaktimes and lunchtimes. Poppies can be bought for any donation.
  
  Thank you for your support

  

• Weekly Update

  Fri 13 Oct 2023 Mr John Howe

  Mr Day

  I am sad to say that Mr Day will be leaving Seaburn Dene on Tuesday, 31st October for pastures new - Northumbrian Water, to be precise.
  I hope you will join me in wishing him the very best of luck in his new career. Mr Day will be missed in school and has made a tremendous impact since starting with us in September last year, not least with the children and our football teams.
  I hope that Mr Day continues his coaching journey, despite his new challenge and we wish him well, remembering that he is always a part of our school family.

   

  Would you like to meet up with other parents and help us run fundraising activities in school? The Friends Group will be having a meeting next Thursday, 19th October at 2.15pm in school. No need to make any big commitments, come along, have a coffee and see how we help school raise funds and give the children fun activities at the same time. See you at the school office 2.15pm!

   

  Football

  Our Yr 5/6 Football team - had an unbeaten start to a new season after promotion to Division B, winning both games v Broadway Juniors and Valley Road Primary with two clean sheets too.

   

  School Photos

  Wild North Photography were in this week taking our children's photos and they are delighted with the result. Photos won't be available for another 3/4 weeks so if your child came home with a form to allow you to access the photos can you please either keep the form in a very safe place or complete the registration form. Once registered you will receive an email when the photos are ready to view. We are keeping the majority of the forms in school and will send them home once the photos are ready.

   

  Message from NHS England for all parents.
  Measles continues to circulate across England with all regions having cases or outbreaks. All children
  returning to school after a summer break without being up to date with their MMR vaccinations are at risk of catching measles in their classroom from an infected classmate.
  • Nine out of ten unvaccinated children can catch measles from an infected classmate (source)
  • One in five will require a hospital visit if they catch measles (source)
  • One in 15 will experience complications from measles, such as meningitis and sepsis (source)
  * This stat is taken from the published Gov.uk source for MMR uptake age 5 for the last four quarters results as a proxy for those starting
  primary school (source).

  

• Ofsted Inspection of Seaburn Dene Primary School

  Mon 02 Oct 2023 Mr John Howe

  Dear Families,
  Tomorrow and Wednesday, we will be welcoming Ofsted into Seaburn Dene for a two day inspection. Please see the attached letter and guide which explains the visit.
  I would be really grateful if you could complete the online survey: https://parentview.ofsted.gov.uk. by 11am tomorrow.
  Thank you!