If you wish to order uniform with our school logo on for September, the link for our supplier (Emblematic) can be found here:

http://studentuniform.co.uk/fps016

Cut-Off Dates for 2024 from Emblematic:

- Order before 16th June – Delivery to School or home before School closes for the summer.

- Order before 21st July – Delivery to School or Home before School returns in September.

There is absolutely no expectation from us as a school that your child needs to have our school logo on their uniform as plain jumpers, t-shirts and cardigans can be purchased from most supermarkets, and look just as smart.

The dates below give the day for your child's class teacher to either meet with you in school or ring you to update you on their learning progress, social interactions and discuss any other areas of strength or concern.

Email office@fordleyprimary.org.uk or pop into the office if:

- you would like an appointment in school
- you will need your appointment on the phone to be within a specific time 

Your child's class teacher will ring all families so you don't need to make an appointment.

We will hold an open morning/afternoon after half term so that you can see your child's learning this year with your child.

DATES:
- Wednesday 1st May - 4LM
- Friday 3rd May - 4DG
- Tuesday 7th May - 5NT
- Wednesday 8th May - 5LS
- Thursday 9th May - RHN
- Friday 10th May - RZB
- Monday 13th May - 2EM
- Tuesday 14th May - 2RB
- Wednesday 15th May - 1JR
- Thursday 16th May - 1CH
- Monday 20th May - 6CS
- Tuesday 21st May - 6JF
- Wednesday 22nd May - 3DF
- Thursday 23rd May - 3AW
 

Please read the letter below from North Tyneside Council

11 March 2024

RE: Findings from initial structural reports

Dear Parent/Carer,

We have received a report from the Council and their structural engineers Narro who have been investigating what caused the small part of concrete block to fall from the ceiling in December 2023.

Over the past few months, we have worked closely with the Council and engineers to carry out tests including drilling into the core of the building, removing, and testing blocks.

It’s been a lengthy process, and we really appreciate your patience while we allowed these vital checks to take place.

We are pleased to now able to give you a summary of the issue below.

What is the issue?

The report has confirmed that there is currently no concern as to the overall stability of the building or significant collapse.  The parts of the school currently open can continue to be used safely.

Early indications from this report suggest the issue is a historical isolated issue connected to the mixture of the concrete used when the school was constructed. 

This weak mix was formed into hollow blocks – a common building method in the 1960s when the school was built – and then used as part of a technique which is sometimes referred to as Hollow Concrete Block and Plank.  

A crack in a single block can cause weaknesses across the other blocks they are positioned next to. This does not create issues with stability for the whole building, just small, isolated areas, and individual blocks.  

This method is no longer used in the UK and no specific information on structural performance or failure of this type of floor slab construction have been found during construction.  

This first report allows us to determine the cause and possible solutions to this issue but makes it clear that we don’t expect this to be easily resolved.

We would like to reiterate that all school buildings in North Tyneside followed Health and Safety law, had regular checks and maintenance programmes and the issue identified is not something that showed up in any of the checks or audits.

What happens next?

Working together with the individual schools, the Department for Education, and structural engineers we will start to explore remedial works that will allow two-storey building to reopen when it is safe and appropriate to do so.

As we shared with you late last week, our modular classrooms have been ordered and work will begin to prepare our site for the buildings to be constructed from next week.

These classrooms will have mains lighting and heating, hot and cold water, connection to our fire alarm and security alarm system as well as direct access to toilet facilities.

We hope that today’s information gives you a better understanding of why we’ve had to take the precautionary steps we have.

Thank you once again for your understanding.

Julie Firth                                                              Claire Withers

Director Children’s Services                               Headteacher

North Tyneside Council                                     Fordley Primary School

Good afternoon to you all,

Despite the very challenging circumstances we found ourselves in, it feels like we settled into a new routine and way of working very quickly thanks to your support, the hard work of my fantastic team and the amazing adaptability of our lovely Fordley children.

I am very pleased to be able to share an update on the next steps to returning all of our Fordley children back to their home on our Fordley school site.

What will be happening on the Fordley Primary school site?

We have been working closely over the last few months with North Tyneside Council, and a modular buildings company, to plan for brand new bespoke modular classrooms (classrooms and toilet facilities which can be built on our school site) to be designed to fit the educational needs of our children and the layout of our site.   It was essential that we took the time needed to do this properly so that they are designed to create an educational environment that our children rightly deserve.   

I am now in a position to confirm the fantastic news that the modular classrooms have now been ordered. 

What facilities will the new modular buildings have?

All classrooms will have mains lighting and heating, hot and cold water, connection to our fire alarm and security alarm system, WiFi access as well as direct access to toilet facilities.

When will this work begin?

It was confirmed with me yesterday that the ground work needed to prepare our site for the buildings to be constructed will be due to start the week beginning 18^th March.  If this is likely to cause any disruption to safe access to our site, I will let you know in advance.

How will the modular buildings be organised?

The layout will be as follows:

• A Nursery block for Nursery and Fordley Flyers will be built on the grassed area next to the original Nursery outdoor area.  This will mean ease of access for drop offs and collections, security and safety as well as access to the grassed outdoor area shared with Reception
• Classroom blocks (with cloakroom and toilet facilities) for Y2, Y3, Y4, Y5 and Y6 will be built around the edge of the KS2 yard in an L-shape
• Reception will return to their original classrooms
• Y2 will move to their own purpose built classrooms
• Y3 will move to their own purpose built classrooms
• A structurally safe corridor will be built to link both sides of the main building together
• We will repurpose the space left inside the main building for 1:1 and small group activities

What is the likely timeline for all of this to happen?

We plan to return year groups in this order:

• Fordley Flyers and Nursery will be the first block to be built and we are hopeful this should be ready to use after the Easter break
• The following year groups will return in this order and we hope to do this as quickly as possible over the first half of the summer term:
  1. Y2 will be moved into their new purpose built classrooms so that Reception will be able to return to their original classrooms
  2. Y3, Y4 , Y5 and Y6 will then be moved into their new purpose built classrooms as soon as they are ready
• We are hopeful that all of our children will be back on our school site by the start of the last half of the summer term (all being well with the construction of the buildings)

Once the works start I will have a better idea of expected dates of return for each of the different year groups.

In the meantime, I have assurances from the Headteachers of both Greenfields Primary and North Gosforth Academy that our children are extremely welcome to stay until their classrooms are ready.

And finally

As always, the education, wellbeing and care of your child is the very first thing we think about whenever we make decisions and plan how to make sure they are well looked after every day. 

I will keep you updated on the next steps for each year group as soon as I have them and I appreciate your patience and understanding whilst you have been waiting for this information.

If you have any direct questions, please send me a message on here or email office@fordleyprimary.org.uk. Either I, or one of our senior leaders (Mr Maule, Mrs Boyes, Mrs Langley, Mrs Miller or Mrs Butler), will be in touch with you directly to answer your query.

As always, we will respond as quickly as we can.

Yours sincerely,

Claire Withers

Headteacher

WORLD BOOK DAY - Thursday 7th March

Next Thursday is World Book Day and all children will have time throughout the day to enjoy some special book related activities.

Our theme this year is Favourite Bedtime Stories so we would love the children to share theirs with the class.

What does my child need to wear?

Your child can come to school in any of these options:

• pyjamas (and suitable footwear for the weather) for the theme of Bedtime Stories
• dressed as their favourite book character
• in non-uniform (no theme)
• in school uniform

We prefer to be able to give families (and children) the choice as not all children enjoy dressing up and it can be an unnecessary additional cost to have to buy a special costume.

REMINDERS FOR TOMORROW - Monday 15th January

NO parking on Dudley Drive between 8:30-9:30 AND 3:00pm-4:00pm.  Coaches to pick up our children MUST be able to get onto our school site for the safety of all children travelling to other schools.  
 

Gates - the main school gates at the front of the building, KS1 gate at the back and all gates around the building will be open.  The only one closed (shown with a cross on the map) is the KS2 yard gate.  This is to avoid any possible accidents as vehicles need to access this yard. 

Flyers, Nursery, Reception, Y4, Y5 and Y6 must be dropped off at the hall doors (not the main entrance)

Y1 and Y2 to KS1 entrance as normal.
Y3 to KS2 entrance as normal. 

Lates - coaches will need to leave on time (around 9am) to avoid children missing their learning time.  
 

Thank you for your support in making this run as smoothly as possible 😁

IMPORTANT UPDATE ABOUT OUR SCHOOL

Good afternoon,

As promised, here is the update regarding our school and the return to face to face learning for our children from Monday 15th January.

This was posted on Seesaw on Wednesday.  
 

We know this has been a challenging time for you all, as it has been for us, and not the start to 2024 that we would have ever hoped or wished for.

We have worked tirelessly over the last two and half weeks to have a solution for your children to be back to learning with their friends and their school adults. The letter attached explains how we will do this.

I have sent a letter on Seesaw for your child's year group which will give more details about how we will organise everything on Monday and anything else you need to know.

If you have any questions, we will be able to follow them up tomorrow and Friday. I ask for your patience as I am sure you will appreciate we may have many questions coming into school.

We very much appreciate and value your support as always.

Claire Withers
Headteacher

IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT

Good afternoon to you all,

The attached letter should give you a full update around the premises issue identified just before the Christmas holidays.  

We have been working throughout the holidays, with North Tyneside Council, to deal with the situation as quickly as possible.  

I ask that you read the letter carefully as we will not have the normal return to school that we had hoped for.

If you have any questions, feel free to send a message on here or email office@fordleyprimary.org.uk

I will respond as quickly as I can to any queries.

As always, your children are at the heart of every decision we make at Fordley and will continue to be our main focus.

Kindest regards

Claire Withers

Headteacher

A clearer version of the letter can be seen by clicking this link https://primarysite-prod-sorted.s3.amazonaws.com/fordley/UploadedDocument/c5ab869c-232b-443c-8557-52df7ff7c3da/important-announcement.pdf