Parkside Primary News Week ending: Friday 3rd October 2025

BBC 500 Words

The BBC 500 Words competition is back for 2025 – the UK’s biggest children’s story competition, open from 23 September to 7 November 2025. Children aged 5–11 are invited to write a story of 500 words or less – no spelling or grammar rules, just creativity!

Prizes include:

🏆 A glittering grand final hosted by Her Majesty The Queen

📚 Book bundles, literacy wall art, and 500 books for winning schools

💷 £75 National Book Tokens for schools with 50%+ FSM entries

👉 Find full details here: 500 Words

Friends of Parkside PTA events

We are excited to let you know about the following events that the PTA have planned. We are really grateful to them for this, not only do they raise much needed funds for the school but they are also great fun for the children.

• Tuesday 21st October - Halloween discos
• Tuesday 25th November - Christmas Fayre
• Tuesday 10th February - Family Bingo in West Hall
• Thursday 26th March - Family Easter Crafts
• Tuesday 7th July - Summer Fayre

If you can help out at any of these events, please do get in touch.

Lunch safety notice

Please can we remind all parents and carers that many small fruits and vegetables pose a choking risk. This includes grapes, cherry tomatoes and also blueberries. Please make sure that these are cut lengthways and ideally into quarters.

The Child Accident Prevention Trust explains that "The size and shape of grapes means they can completely plug a child’s airway. And the tight seal produced by the grape’s smooth surface makes them difficult to dislodge with standard first aid techniques."

They also state that there is no fixed cut-off age for when you should stop cutting grapes etc. up.

You know your child best. Do they sit down still to eat? Do they chew their food properly? Do they eat quickly when distracted, excited or in a rush? If in doubt, give yourself peace of mind and cut them up.

Click here for more advice on choking.

Cracking Cross Country!

Thirty-two of our brilliant pupils took part in an inter-school cross country event at Delta last week. Everyone worked so hard and rose to the challenge, and also did a fantastic job of supporting each other. Well done to each and every one of you!

Special mentions go to Tommy and Ralph who took first and second place in the Year 3/4 boys race, Reonne and Peyton who also took the top spots in the Year 3/4 girls race and Skye who took third place for the Year 5/6 girls. Amazing work everyone, we are very Parkside Proud!

Young Voices Year 5

Just a reminder that if your child is going to Young Voices and you would like tickets or t-shirts for the concert you need to order online before 31st October. Please login here:

https://yvmusicroom.com/auth/parent/login

If you are having any issues with logging in, please let us know as sometimes (but not always!) we have to approve your login at this end.

Parent Consultation Evenings

Our parent consultation evenings will be taking the place on the following dates this term. We will be sending out details next week of how you can book your appointments.

• Wed 22nd Oct 2025 - 4.00-6.00pm
• Thurs 6th Nov 2025 - 4.00-7.00pm

Important Safety Notice

Please can we remind you that children should not use or play on any of the outside equipment before or after school. This is for their safety and we would appreciate your support in enforcing this with your children.

Parent Workshops

The Mental Health Support Team are coming in to school to deliver a series of workshops.

The first is on Wednesday 22nd October at 9:15am-11:15am and looks at 'Behaviour as a form of Communication'. For more details and to book your place, please click here.

The upcoming workshops are follows - we will send out more details nearer the time:

• Routines & Rhythms - Wed 19th November 9:15am-11:15am
• Anxiety Workshop for parents - Wed 21st January 9:15am-11:15am

Curriculum update

We are now using Kapow Primary to support our work in school in Art, Design & Technology, Geography & History. They provide exciting schemes of work that will inspire the children in these subject areas. You can see the work they will be covering by looking at the subjects on the Our Learning section of the website, and then scrolling down to the curriculum overviews.

• Art & Design
• Design & Technology
• Geography & History

Road safety: Parking

Please can we ask that parents park safely when dropping off and picking up near school. Please keep the yellow lines clear (see below). Parking in this area makes it dangerous for pedestrians and drivers. It is important to keep sightlines clear for both children and drivers, so that they can cross the road and enter the school safely.

Peep Learning Together Programme

Peeple is a charity which supports parents, carers, babies and children to learn together.

Have a look at the parents' area for useful tips and advice here: https://www.peeple.org.uk/parents-area

Diary Dates

A reminder that diary dates can be found at the bottom of the newsletter including class assemblies, open afternoons, performances and more.

You can also view dates on the calendar on our website:

Arbor parent app

Thank you to all of the parents who have already downloaded the Arbor parent app. A reminder that moving forward, we will no longer be sending out information via text message so the in-app messages will be the best way for you to keep up to date. Updates will also be sent via email if you do not have the app.

If you are not currently receiving emails from us, please get in touch with us to ensure that we have your current email address.

Please make sure you enable 'push notifications' on your device so that you are notified of new messages.

School Meals Menu

Click the button below for the current school menu.

Applying for Reception places

It is now time for parents of children born between 1 September 2021 and 31 August 2022 to make applications for Reception in September 2026.

Please see the link to the Citizens Portal to make your application.

Citizen Portal - Sign in (eastriding.gov.uk)

Spotlight on Attendance 🔦

The overall attendance has dropped below 96% in the last two weeks - let's see if we can get back above that next time. Remember, every day in school makes a difference to your child's learning.

Here are some reminder of how to support your child:

• Do not take holidays in term time (see here for Penalty Notice information)
• Make appointments outside of school hours
• Use the "When is to ill to ill" guidance when considering keeping your child off school (click here to view)
• Arrive on time each day. School gates open at 8.40 with registers closing at 8.55am
• Reach out to school Via Mrs Daine or Mrs Greenley for support around school attendance including Emotional Based School Avoidance

Absence from school not only equates to lost learning but also missing out on other benefits to a child's wellbeing and wider development.

Safeguarding and Wellbeing support

• East Riding - Support and protection for children
• NSPCC - Support & advice for parents
• Family Information Service - What can FISH do for you?
• Family Help Service
• Free online learning for parents and carers
• Two Rivers Community Pantry

If you have any Safeguarding concerns outside of school hours, or are concerned a child has suffered or is likely to suffer significant harm and is at immediate risk call the Children’s Safeguarding Hub on (01482) 395500 or ring 999 (asking for the Police).

SEND News

The latest bulletin from the East Riding Local Offer is available to view by clicking the button below.

Optimistic October

Daily actions from Action for Happiness encouraging you to carry out small acts of kindness. Have a look at this month's calendar below - click here to download the pdf. Optimistic October suggests daily actions to help you focus on what really matters..

Dates for your diary

(Please note that all dates are subject to change. We will of course update you of any changes as soon as possible.)

Dates are also available on our website by clicking here.

Dates for Academic Year 2025/2026

Autumn Term 2025

• Fri 10th Oct 2025 - 6HA Class Assembly 9.15am
• Fri 17th Oct 2025 - 6AB Class Assembly 9.15am
• Tues 21st Oct 2025 - Halloween Discos
• Wed 22nd Oct 2025 - Parent Consultation Evening 4.00-6.00pm
• Thurs 23rd Oct 2025 - School closes for half term (3.30pm)
• Tues 4th Nov 2025 - School re-opens (Doors open 8.45am)
• Thurs 6th Nov 2025 - Parent Consultation Evening 4.00-7.00pm
• Fri 7th Nov 2025 - 2WB Class Assembly 9.15am
• Mon 10th Nov - Antibullying Week
• Fri 14th Nov 2025 - 2C Class Assembly 9.15am
• Fri 14th Nov 2025 - Children in Need Day
• Mon 24th Nov 2025 - Year 3 Open Afternoon 2.30pm
• Tues 25th Nov 2025 - Year 2 Open Afternoon 2.30pm
• Wed 26th Nov 2025 - Year 2 Open Afternoon 2.30pm
• Thurs 27th Nov 2025 - Year 3 Open Afternoon 2.30pm
• Fri 28th Nov 2025 - 6HR Class Assembly 9.15am
• Fri 5th Dec 2025 - Year 2 Carols at Collection 3.10pm
• Mon 8th Dec 2025 - Year 3 Carols at Collection 3.10pm
• Tues 9th Dec 2025 - Nursery & Reception Performance 9.30am
• Tues 9th Dec 2025 - Year 4 Carols at Collection 3.10pm
• Wed 10th Dec 2025 - Nursery & Reception Performance 2.45pm
• Thurs 11th Dec 2025 - Year 1 Performance 9.30am
• Thurs 11th Dec 2025 - Year 6 Carols at Collection 3.10pm
• Fri 12th Dec 2025 - Year 1 Performance 2.45pm
• Mon 15th Dec 2025 - Year 5 Carol Concert 2.45pm
• Tues 16th Dec 2025 - Year 5 Carol Concert 9.30am
• Wed 17th Dec 2025 - Christmas Dinner Day
• Fri 19th Dec 2025 - School closes for Christmas (3.30pm)

Spring Term 2026

• Tues 6th Jan 2026 - School re-opens (Doors open 8.45am)
• Tues 13th Jan 2026 - Year 1 Open Afternoon 2.30pm
• Wed 14th Jan 2026 - Year 1 Open Afternoon 2.30pm
• Fri 16th Jan 2026 - 4O Class Assembly 9.15am
• Fri 23rd Jan 2026 - 4H Class Assembly 9.15am
• Fri 30th Jan 2026 - 1HO Class Assembly 9.15am
• Mon 2nd Feb 2026 - Children's Mental Health Week
• Tues 3rd Feb 2026 - Year 5 Open Afternoon 2.30pm
• Thurs 5th Feb 2026 - Year 5 Open Afternoon 2.30pm
• Fri 6th Feb 2026 - 1HU Class Assembly 9.15am
• Tues 10th Feb 2026 - Safer Internet Day
• Thurs 12th Feb 2026 Parent Consultation Evening 4.00-7.00pm
• Fri 13th Feb 2026 - School closes for half term (3.30pm)
• Mon 23rd Feb 2026 - School re-opens (Doors open 8.45am)
• Wed 25th Feb 2026 - Parent Consultation Evening 4.00-6.00pm
• Thurs 5th March 2026 - World Book Day
• Fri 6th March 2026 - 3GW Class Assembly 9.15am
• Mon 9th March 2026 - National Science Week
• Tues 10th March 2026 - Year 4 Open Afternoon 2.30pm
• Thurs 12th March 2026 - Year 4 Open Afternoon 2.30pm
• Fri 13th March 2026 - 3B Class Assembly 9.15am
• Wed 25th March 2026 - Year 3 Performance PM
• Thurs 26th March 2026 - Year 3 Performance AM
• Fri 27th March 2026 - School closes for Easter (3.30pm)

Summer Term 2026

• Mon 13th April 2026 - School re-opens (Doors open 8.45am)
• Fri 1st May 2026 - 5H Class Assembly 9.15am
• Mon 4th May 2026 - School closed for Bank Holiday (All day)
• Tues 5th May 2026 - School re-opens (Doors open 8.45am)
• Fri 8th May 2026 - 5R Class Assembly 9.15am
• Mon 11th May 2026 - Year 6 SATs Week
• Mon 18th May 2026 - Year 1 & 2 Sports Day
• Tues 19th May 2026 - Year 3 & 4 Sports Day
• Wed 20th May 2026 - Year 5 & 6 Sports Day
• Thurs 21st May 2026 - Nursery & Reception Sports Day
• Fri 22nd May 2026 - School closes for half term (3.30pm)
• Mon 1st June 2026 - School re-opens (Doors open 8.45am)
• Fri 12th June 2026 - RB Class Assembly (Reception children only) 9.15am
• Fri 19th June 2026 - RP Class Assembly (Reception children only) 9.15am
• Mon 22nd June 2026 - Fieldwork Week
• Mon 6th July 2026 - SEND Week
• Tues 14th July 2026 - Year 6 Performance
• Wed 15th July 2026 - Year 6 Performance
• Fri 17th July 2026 - Year 6 Leavers Assemblies
• Fri 17th July 2026 - School closes for Summer (3.30pm)

Dates for Academic Year 2026/2027

Autumn term

• Tues 8th Sept 2026 - School re-opens (Doors open 8.45am)
• Thurs 22nd Oct 2026 - School closes for half term (3.30pm)
• Mon 2nd Nov 2026 - School re-opens (Doors open 8.45am)
• Fri 18th Dec 2026 - School closes for Christmas (3.30pm)

Spring Term

• Mon 4th Jan 2027 - School re-opens (Doors open 8.45am)
• Fri 5th Feb 2027 - School closes for half term (3.30pm)
• Mon 15th Feb 2027 - School re-opens (Doors open 8.45am)
• Fri 19th March 2027- School closes for Easter (3.30pm)

Summer Term

• Mon 5th April 2027 - School re-opens (Doors open 8.45am)
• Mon 3rd May 2027 - Closed for May Day Bank Holiday
• Thurs 27th May 2027 - School closes for half term (3.30pm)
• Tues 8th June 2027 - School re-opens (Doors open 8.45am)
• Fri 23rd July 2027 - School closes for Summer (3.30pm)

Contact us

Telephone: 01405 763634

Email: parkside.primary@eastriding.gov.uk

Please note that we send you our fortnightly newsletters as part of our remit of providing and supporting your child's education. In these newsletters we may include items from third parties that we believe will be may be in your child's interest. If you do not wish to receive our electronic newsletter, please email us on the address above.

Parkside Primary has no control over the nature, content and availability of the external sites linked to within this newsletter. The inclusion of any links does not imply a recommendation or endorsement of the views expressed within them.