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News and Letters

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  • March 2023 Newsletter

    Published 31/03/23

    Dear Parents / Carers 

    Thank you all for your commitment and support over the past Spring term.

    Staffing update- In March, academy leaders interviewed candidates for a permanent teacher vacancy in the academy. We are incredibly pleased to announce that Mr Watkins-Smith, who is currently teaching Year 3, will be joining us as a permanent member of staff at Smithies Moor.

    Parent Governor – We are pleased to announce that through the parent governor elections, we received one parent governor application. As an academy and as a trust, we welcome Peter Bellwood as our new parent governor to join Richard Lupton on our Governing Council.

    Over the past year we have taken part in  the DfE Behaviour Hubs program with support from a Lead School- Spring Grove Primary School, Huddersfield. This has been a great success in developing behaviour rules and routines across the academy. In the Summer term, we will be launching our new Behaviour Curriculum. Like all curriculum areas this will have a long term plan and areas of behaviours will be explicitly taught to all our pupils. The children will have behaviour objectives to focus on each half term. Through staff training we are developing a behaviour culture where behaviour is seen as communication. This is having a positive impact on supporting all pupils in the academy. This is supporting our co-op ways of being through succeeding together and doing what matters most.

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  • CHRISTMAS DAY FREE LUNCH​​​​​​​

    Published 16/12/22

    Christmas is a wonderful time of the year.

    If you are struggling for any reason, please come and share Christmas Day with us.

    We are now taking bookings for our Christmas Day Lunch 2022. Contact us on 07398 735 530

    We will also be delivering to housebound people where needed.

    For all Bookings and donations please call into 34-34a Cloth Hall Street, Crackenedge Lane, Dewsbury WF13 1QE.

    Opening Days

    • Wednesday 11 am – 2 pm
    • Saturday 11 am – 2 pm

    Fully supported by the Longcauseway Church Dewsbury – Merry Christmas!


    Single parent? Worried about funding everything for Christmas?

    Dewsbury Cares Community Group is here to help out… We can deliver to your door* FREE Christmas day meals and gifts if you or someone else cannot collect them. Or please join us at Longcauseway Church in Dewsbury where there will be children’s activities and entertainment, plus a visit from Santa. Transport can be arranged.

    Book in with us by calling 07398 735 530. All we need is your name, address*, ages, and gender of children then you can leave the rest to us.

    We normally deliver to addresses in Batley, Dewsbury, Mirfield, and Spen – If you live further afield, please give us a call and we’ll let you know if it’s possible to deliver to you on Christmas Day.

    Merry Christmas!

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  • December Newsletter

    Published 15/12/22

    As the term is near to ending I wanted to give you some updates ready for next year. We have had an incredibly busy autumn term and the children and staff have been working hard on developing their knowledge in all areas of the curriculum. 

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  • Cost of Living Support​​​​​​​

    Published 01/12/22

    Please find details below of all organisations who can help you should you need any support.

    Foodbanks

    Batley Food bank

    26 Wellington Street, Batley, WF17 5HU

    info@BatleyFoodBank.org.uk

    01924 474 999

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  • Help this Christmas | A message from YCC

    Published 01/12/22

    Do you live in Kirklees and need help this Christmas? YCC is here for you!

    We could supply your family with a gift for children aged 0 – 16 years.

    Email : fundraising@yccuk.org.uk

    Text : 07761 339 284

    Call : 01484 519 988

    Let us know your full name, how many children you require a gift for, their age, and gender.

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  • Kirklees SEND Newsletter​​​​​​​

    Published 14/11/22

    Join us at Local Offer Live 2022

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  • Activities this October half-term

    Published 17/10/22

    There is a range of exciting activities taking place this coming half-term. Check out the flyers below for more details.

    You can also click here for more information.

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  • October Half-Term Holiday Camp

    Published 14/10/22

    See the flyer below for an amazing Holiday Camp this coming October half-term! Scan the QR code to book your place!

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  • Free Community Sessions for Parents and Carers

    Published 11/10/22
    • Free sessions including yoga and peer-to-peer support
    • Chill and Chat cafe for families with SEND needs
    • A chance to meet up and relax

    There are some great sessions available to parents and carers taking place in our community.

    At the Church in Roberttown, the sessions are free for parents and carers with their babies to enjoy some gentle yoga-type exercises, peer-to-peer support from other local parents, and a chance to do something local to where they live.

    These are every Monday afternoon (1:30 pm until 2:30 pm).

    The same sessions are available at Salvation Army in Heckmondwike every Wednesday morning from 10.30 until 11.30 am.

    There is also a Chill and Chat cafe at Northorpe Hall on Wednesday 19th October for families with SEND needs. You do not need a diagnosis. The sessions are for parents and carers to gain support, relax with professionals on hand etc.

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  • We’ve been approved for a New Building with the School Rebuilding Programme!

    Published 12/07/22

    Co-op Academy Smithies Moor has today, 12th July 2022 been named as one of the schools prioritised for the School Rebuilding Programme.

    The Department for Education will start a project to replace or refurbish one or more buildings at the school, as appropriate, setting the school up for high educational standards for all its pupils for decades to come.

    Co-op Academy Smithies Moor, supported by Co-op Academies Trust will work with the Department for Education to agree the educational design of the project and the timeframe for delivery. Over the course of the work there will be minimal disruption at Smithies Moor, ensuring all of the children get the best education possible.

    The details of the development have not yet been agreed, though the school plans to share updates as they approach the building work. 

    Head of Academy at Smithies Moor, Catherine Brackenbury said:

    “We are so excited to have a new building on the horizon. We have long felt that our building does not match the forward thinking approach of our school. To have a state-of -the-art facility will better reflect our ethos and will be wonderful for our children. 

    It will be transformational not just for pupils but for our whole school community. It will add an excellent facility to the local community for all to benefit from for many years to come.”

    Chris Tomlinson, CEO of Co-op Academies Trust said:

    “It’s wonderful news that investment in education is happening through projects like the School Rebuild Programme.  The building is the old Heckmondwike Secondary school, which was repurposed for Smithies Moor in the 90’s. This new building will be purpose-built with primary education in mind, and is fantastic for the community.”

    Across the School Rebuilding Programme, the rebuilds and refurbishments will create modern education environments, providing new facilities from classrooms and science labs, to sports halls and dining rooms.

    The new school buildings will also be net-zero carbon in operation, helping meet the government’s net zero target.

    The programme is due to deliver 500 rebuilding projects over the next decade, which will benefit tens of thousands of pupils over their lifetime.

    This school is part of an announcement of 61 new projects, including primary, secondary and special schools, levelling up opportunities across the entire country.

    Education Secretary James Cleverly said: 

    “Our School Rebuilding Programme is already making a difference to the lives of pupils and their teachers. It is creating greener school sites that are fit for the future and that local communities can be proud of. 

    “We know how important it is to have high-quality school facilities. That is why we continue to invest billions in our rebuilding programme.”

    Co-op Academy Smithies Moor will be revealing detailed plans in the near future.

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  • Train to Teach with Co-op Academies

    Published 11/02/22

    Andy Gibson- Head of Early Career Framework with Initial Teacher Training

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  • Remembrance Day

    Published 29/11/21

    For this year’s Remembrance Day, we’ve had lots of activities, exploring what this day is and finding out about the Poppy Appeal for The Royal British Legion. 

    Read More

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