Summer 1 Newsletter
Dear Parents, Carers and Friends of Broadgate,
Welcome back! We hope you had a restful Easter break. As we begin the summer term, we look forward to the busy and exciting weeks ahead, filled with new learning opportunities, events and (hopefully) lots of sunshine! Thank you, as always, for your continued support. We are pleased to bring key dates for this half term to your attention, along with early warning of later school events you may wish to put in your calendars.
Mon 20th April Y5 cycle training begins
Wed 22nd April ‘Hands on History’ - Great Fire of London visitor to Y2
Wed 22nd April Y4 School Skipping competition
Mon 4th May School closed – May Day Bank Holiday
Tues 5th May Whole school skipping workshops - Day 1
Wed 6th May ‘Hands on History’ - Viking visitor to Y3
Wed 6th May Open evening for new Reception parents (Sept 2026)
Fri 8th May Y2 visit to Harlow Carr
Mon 11th May Y6 SATs week begins
Tues 12th/13th May Reception visits to Skelton Grange
Mon 18th May Robinwood Residential - information meeting for parents 3.15pm
Wed 20th May Y5 visit to Harrogate Showground
Thurs 21st May Whole school skipping workshops - Day 2
Fri 22nd May School closes for half term 3.05pm
Mon 1st Jun Staff training day – school closed for pupils
w/b 8th Jun Y1 Phonic Screening week
w/b 8th Jun Y4 Multiplication Tables Check week
w/b 8th Jun Y6 Residential to Robinwood
Wed 10th Jun Meetings for new Reception parents (Sept 2026) 9am and 6pm
But Firstly…
- It was lovely to welcome so many of you into school for parents’ evenings just before Easter and to share with you the wonderful work your children have been doing and the progress they have made. These opportunities for school and home to come together are incredibly valuable and we are so grateful for the strong partnership we share with you. Your support makes a real difference to your child’s confidence, happiness and success in school.
- A huge thank you to Mr Tyrrell and Mrs Stevenson for organising such an imaginative and engaging World Book Day celebration. The whole school was ‘buzzing’ on March 5th with heroic and dastardly characters - each with their own incredible superpowers. Most importantly, the day truly captured its core aim - to inspire a love of reading for pleasure. Well done to everyone involved.
- Sincere thanks to our PTA too for organising the follow-up ‘book and bake sale in the school hall, which was a great success and very well supported, as were the series of age-related discos they subsequently arranged. These events are always hugely popular and bring so much joy to our children who absolutely love them. A big thank you for all the rainbow-themed items that were sent into school at the end of term, and congratulations to our Rainbow Raffle winners. We are very fortunate to have such a committed and enthusiastic group of volunteers whose hard work and dedication make such a positive difference to our school community. The PTA is always grateful for extra help. If you are able to volunteer any time, however small, please email broadgatepta@hotmail.com
- Red Nose Day was once again very well supported with £172 raised for Comic Relief - a very worthwhile charity tackling poverty, inequality and injustice. Thank you to the School Council for organising the event, ably supported by Miss Marr.
- And finally, a huge thank you to everyone who attended our Easter assemblies at the end of last term. The children loved performing their Easter songs for you, as well as showcasing their classwork. Thank you for being such a supportive and appreciative audience.
Y5 Cycle Training
All Y5 pupils have received information regarding our annual cycle training sessions. The training will be taking place over the course of a week and a half and all children will be allocated specific sessions. Cycle training is a vital skill helping children build up confidence, independence and road safety awareness as well as encouraging an active and healthy lifestyle. Let’s hope that the weather is kind to them. Fingers crossed!
Y6 SATs Week
Our Y6 pupils will be sitting their Standard Assessment Tests (SATs) during week beginning 11th May. The timetable below is just for your information: -
Mon 11th May Spelling, punctuation and grammar
Tues 12th May Reading
Wed 13th May Maths Paper 1 and Maths Paper 2
Thurs 14th May Maths Paper 3
Please join with me in wishing our Y6 pupils all the best with their endeavours. They have worked so hard this year. No matter what the outcome, it’s ‘trying their best’ that counts. We are so very proud of them all and they will certainly deserve to celebrate when SATs are over. As a reminder, the special Y6 breakfast club will start each day that week (Monday to Thursday inclusive) at 8am. This is an opportunity for everyone to focus and be energised in a calm, supportive environment, where Y6 pupils can relax, chat to friends and prepare themselves for the daily challenge. Good luck to them all.
Skipping Workshops
Following last year’s undoubted success, a big thank you to Mrs Devlin, for once again arranging another two days of ‘skipping workshops’ across the whole school on 5th and 21st May. Skipping is such a beneficial activity, promoting physical fitness, improving coordination and motor skills. These workshops are specifically tailored to different age-groups and designed to help children develop balance, rhythm and timing, whilst also boosting self-esteem and encouraging teamwork - skills not only useful in sport but in everyday life too. Above all, the workshops are great fun. Subsequently skipping ropes will be on sale in school for anyone who would like to continue their’ fun and fitness’ in their own time too. Building on this excitement, 30 of our most skilled skippers will be selected from Y4 to represent the school in a special city-wide Y4 skipping competition at Leeds Beckett University. This opportunity reflects our continued commitment to creating moments of ‘awe and wonder’ within our curriculum, giving pupils the chance to develop their talents, experience something beyond the everyday and feel inspired by taking part in a wider sporting event.
Sports Days (early warning of dates)
Please make a note of this year’s upcoming Sports Days:
- EYFS on Wednesday 24th June (morning)
- Y5 /6 on Wednesday 1st July (morning)
- Key Stage 1 on Wednesday 8th July (morning)
- Y3/4 on Wednesday 1st July (afternoon, 1:30pm start).
Please note that all morning events are planned for a 10:00am start, allowing flexibility to move to the afternoon at 1:30pm if the field is too wet or conditions are unsafe. As a contingency, we have also set aside Wednesday 15th July as a reserve date in case of a complete washout. Parents are warmly invited to come along and support, but as ever, we remain in the hands of the great British summer – so sun hats and raincoats at the ready!
Ongoing Parking Concerns
Parking around the school continues to be a serious concern and we ask all parents and carers to park considerately, safely and with respect for our neighbours and for one another. This includes ensuring that driveways, dropped kerbs and access points are kept clear at ALL times. Can we also respectfully remind Blue Badge holders too that though they are permitted certain parking concessions, these do not allow for obstruction of roads, pavements, driveways or other vehicles. Parking in a way that causes an obstruction is an offence and we ask that all members of our community adhere to these regulations to keep everyone safe. Thank you for your co-operation.
Nursery Waiting List
As always, we would be pleased to hear from any parents who are considering sending their children to our Nursery. The earlier the children are registered, the easier it is for us to plan for the future. Please contact the school office for more details on the dedicated email address: nurseryadmissions@broadgateprimary.org.uk
Reception Places for September 2026
Just for your information, we currently have a few places available in our Reception classes for September, due to falling birth-rates in Horsforth (a trend replicated across Leeds and much of the UK). So, if someone you know is looking for a welcoming, nurturing and high-quality learning environment for their child, we would love to hear from them. We offer a fantastic Early Years’ experience, with a strong focus on personal development, creativity and a deep love of learning. For more information or to arrange a visit, please contact the school office.
‘Awe and Wonder’ and Enriching the Curriculum
Further extending the range of extra-curricular experiences is one of our ongoing School Development Plan priorities. Participation in extra-curricular events is so beneficial to children, providing opportunities to enhance ‘awe and wonder’, to develop citizenship and essential life-skills as well as exploring interests and passions beyond the academic. Sincere thanks are expressed to staff for providing an ever-expanding list - their breadth and variety are a direct reflection not only of staff commitment to the children, but also the extent of staff’s wider professional commitment to the life of the school. Thank you to all the children who have participated too. Their enthusiasm and willingness to engage beyond the classroom is truly commendable!
Once again, thank you for your continued support. It is always appreciated and never taken for granted. Your encouragement and involvement make a huge difference to the children’s learning and school experience.
Warm regards,
Sarah Qualtrough