10th July 2014

Dear Parents,

As the dust from the recent leavers’ assemblies has finally settled, it gives us all the chance to reflect on what has been an extraordinary end to an action packed summer term and a very successful year. I’m certain that both pupil and staff leavers were delighted with the send-off they received and are positively looking forward to the opportunities that will no doubt present themselves once they leave Fairfield. We wish them all the very best for the future.

I would like to take this opportunity to thank Mr Littleworth for all his efforts during his time here at Fairfield. Mr Littleworth will be returning to Sheffield Hallam to complete the final year of his degree course in September after a very successful years’ placement. He has proven to be invaluable in the support he has given Mr Boothe in the ICT Suite and also Mrs Willingham in our After School Club. Mr Littleworth has also turned his hand to bolstering our Holiday Club and certainly earned his keep during the recent Year 4 Bushcraft Residential.

Miss Draper will also be leaving Fairfield to take up a place at Cardiff University to study Educational Psychology (Masters) in September. She was instrumental in establishing a quality programme of activities in our After School Club and we wish her all the very best for the future.

Sadly, Mrs Paice will be hanging-up her tabard in order to spend more time with her family in September. She has been an excellent Midday Supervisor and will be missed by the children, particularly those who were fortunate enough to have her as a helping hand when they joined the school in Reception.

As with every departure, there comes arrivals and it gives me great pleasure to welcome three new members of staff to the Fairfield family. With the huge take-up in our Wrap Around Care programme, we are now able to staff the Medical Room from 7.45am to 6.00pm, with extra provision for the lunch time break. We have appointed two excellent replacements for Mrs Barnes who will work on a half day schedule (7.45am-1.30pm & 12.15pm-6.00pm) during term time. Both Nurses will commence their contracts on Monday, 29th September, with Mrs Barnes “holding the fort” until then.

Nurse Kinloch joins us from the Leicestershire Partnership Trust and Nurse Spencerjoins us from the Nottingham City Care Partnership. I do hope that you will get the opportunity (or not depending how you look at it!) to meet both Nurse Kinloch and Nurse Spencer in due course.

I am also delighted to announce that we have appointed Miss Thorpe as Head of EYFS (Reception) from September 2014. Miss Thorpe joins us from Farndon Fields Primary School and she has already introduced herself to the incoming Reception cohort during the New Parents’ Evening last week. I am sure that you will all have the opportunity to meet Miss Thorpe around the Fairfield campus at the beginning of the academic year in September.

Hopefully you will have had the opportunity to peruse the Autumn Term Calendar and will have made note of several key dates, one of which is the Parental Information Evening on Thursday 18th September in the Eadon Hall at 6.30pm.

The event will focus on the issue of ‘E-safety’ and I would encourage all of you to attend,as we have representatives from ChildNet International to focus on the needs of primary aged children. The representatives from ChildNet International will also be working with your children here at Fairfield in the field of ‘E-safety’ during designated sessions.Although we already teach our pupils about E-safety, we are introducing a new Digital Literacy programme from September 2014 which will be embedded in both Computing and PSHE lessons.

We at Fairfield take this issue very seriously and have taken the lead by establishingan E-safety group, which comprises of teachers, the Chair of the Fairfield Liaison Committee and the Chair of the PTA. This body meets regularly to assess our current provision and plan any necessary future action.

In relation to this, we have created a page on our website that contains numerous links to useful websites giving advice to parents about how to keep their children safe. This can be found by clicking on Information then E-safety:

One link which I hope you have already had the chance to look at is that which provides answers to some of the questions which were raised both during and after the Pre Prep New Build Information Evenings. If you haven’t had the chance to do so, then please click on: for further details.

As you know, works will commence on 21st July and Fairfield will look very different when you return in September. There will be some consequential effects in relation to that part of our campus and in particular, the car park, please find below more detail as provided Mr Tom Allardice, Estates Manager.

  • It is proposed that the vehicular entrance to the building site will be straight across Burton Walks from the bus bay. An opening will be created through the fence/hedge opposite the exit from the bus bay and this will be the main entrance to site so traffic can flow in and out. Restrictions will be placed upon the contractors and their suppliers as to the times of day which need to be avoided.
  • As a consequence of the above, it may not be possible to continue to allow parents the privilege of parking in the bus bay from September. (Mr Allardice will assess the situation near to the start of term and will advise parents accordingly). If we were to continue to allow parking is this area, it would be on the understanding that parents strictly adhere to the timings as we would not be able to tolerate parking either side of the published times (whichunfortunately,does tend to occur at present).
  • Pedestrian access into Fairfield will also change, as the existing footpath will be within the confines of the building site. The proposal is to install a temporary “forest” path through the trees next to the A6. This will be accessed through the existing fence outside of the brick arch and will meander through the trees into the existing playground.
  • The perimeter fence to Fairfield will also change location during the summer. The Music/Fairfield entrance will be moved from its current location and be re-installed from the front corner of the Music School across to the Astro-turf fence. The security arrangements for this gate will change to a card reader and office controlled use only. Fencing will also be placed on the other side of the Astro-turf between it and Burton Walks. This will continue down Burton Walks towards the A6 until it meets the contractor’s fencing.

There is no doubt that the problems we already experience in the car park will be compounded during the construction phase of the project. With this in mind, could I kindly ask parents to enter and leave the car park carefully as there could be plant/equipment either parked-up or moving about. Please can you adhere to any timings we may have set and to drop-off or collect pupils with alacrity and not be in the car park any longer than is absolutely necessary during this time.

From the start of term, there will be an increased presence of Estates Staff in the car park to try and ensure things run as smoothly as they can. This approach will be essential in ensuring minimal disruption during the building works and I will endeavour to update you of any significant developments via ParentMail, or indeed @Fairfield.

With this in mind, I would like to invite you to my next Headmaster’s Surgery in the Eadon Hall on Thursday, 9th October from 4.00 – 5.00 p.m., which will focus specifically on “School Communication”. The Surgery will provide parents with the opportunity to give an honest appraisal of the way in which we communicate in all aspects of school life. This was certainly a topic which was raised for consideration during the last Headmaster’s Surgery and I hope that as many parents are able to attend as possible. Those who are unable to attend are more than welcome to email their comments to Mrs Dexter ().

As we look forward to the start of the new academic year and, as part of our History unit of work, we will be focusing on the centenary of World War I. Each year group will explore, at the appropriate level, the different characteristics of the conflict and why it is important to observe remembrance. We shall as ever, inform you of our plans nearer the time, but suffice to say, it will hopefully prove a memorable experience for your children.

One experience for the children at Fairfield, which I will forever treasure, was clearly evident on a recent visit to the Forest School. The site has been transformed beyond recognition and I would like to wholeheartedly thank Miss Carter for working so hard in literally getting the site off the ground from an unused patch of grass to a fully flourishing learning experience, unique to our school. To see our Pre Prep children enjoying the delights of climbing trees, making mud pies and building fairy houses out of natural materials is one which will always bring a smile to my face and will remind me of more carefree time spent as a child doing something very similar!

It goes without saying that our Forest School would not have taken-off without the funding from the Nearly New Shop, so ably and efficiently managed throughout the year by Mrs Bolton and her team of willing helpers. We aim to recognise this valuable contribution through an official opening of the Forest School Site in the autumn term.

So as you can see, a plethora of exciting opportunities and experiences lay ahead for our children when we return to school on the 3rd September. I do hope that you and your families have the opportunity to enjoy quality time together this summer holiday and create lifelong memories of those happy times which we all cherish so much.

With best wishes,

Yours sincerely

Andrew Earnshaw

Headmaster