Weekly Parent BulletinWeek Commencing 11 March 2024

This Week:

Parent-Teacher Meeting Dates:

• Year 11 (Second) - Tuesday 26 March 2024 - 16:00 - 19:00
• Year 8 - Tuesday 30 April 2024 - 16:00 - 19:00

Mr J Tomasevic - Assistant Headteacher

On Thursday, NFS celebrated World Book Day. For one day only, our children were taught by the Queen Of Hearts, Little Miss Sunshine, Gandalf and many Greek Gods and Goddesses. There were plenty of smiles and the students are currently voting for the best costume via Satchel One. 

Many of our KS3 children completed a Scavenger Hunt to find hidden books around the school (winners pending) and some won a free book via our KS3 Book Raffle to celebrate the day. More pictures to follow next week. 

Ms S Dirrane - Head of English and Associate Assistant Headteacher

Kooth Support

Kooth offers 24/7 instant access to anonymous and personalised mental health support to young people across the UK. Kooth is available outside of school hours and during school holidays which compliments the support that already happens at Nottingham Free School.  

In April, Kooth will be running webinars specifically to help parents and carers support their child whilst they are sitting their exams.  This is a free session and can provide support if parents/carers are worried about their child's anxiety.  The link for the webinars are below:

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdzCwZBLgkBAa0zO5_C3grLjWE9VGND8h7wbfODX4gIgBOgLw/viewform

The webinars are taking place on Monday 22nd April (1-2pm) and Thursday 25th April (6-7pm)

Online Safety

Do you know what doxing is?

It is a practice where individuals or groups expose and publicise private information about a person on the internet without their consent, often for the purposes of causing distress or creating malicious intent. 

For further information please click the link below:

https://swgfl.org.uk/magazine/what-is-doxing-a-guide-for-professionals-parents-and-carers/

OmeTV

We have recently become aware that the students are using OmeTV.  This is an app that encourages users to make friends across the world. It is primarily used for video calls and users can be searched based on age and gender.  The age guidance for this app is 17+ and therefore, students should be not be accessing this app due to being able to talk random strangers.  Below is a link to a parent guide; however, if you need further guidance then please contact the school.

A reminder to all parents/carers that you should be checking your child's phone on a regular basis to ensure that you are aware of what apps they are using and how they are connecting with people.  There are many products that support families to monitor online usage such as Apple Family Set up, Google Family link. 

Please click on the link below which explains all the available products.  

https://www.internetmatters.org/resources/monitoring-apps-parents-guide/

Click Here - for an OmeTV factsheet

Mrs Gray - Deputy Headteacher

Please can all students taking part in practical lesson have a container for their food to go home in - this is part of their expected equipment for the lesson. 

Over the last term we have given out over 30 containers which have not been returned.

If any families to have any items from Food Technology (containers, tins, etc) please can they be washed and returned as soon as possible.

Moving forward - if students do not have a container they will be sanctioned (R20) for this as this is a piece of missing equipment.

Miss E Burley - Head of Design Technology

A reminder to parents and carers: 

Planners - It is an expectation that all students (Y7-11) have their planner in school, as part of the standard school equipment. Please support your child by ensuring they have packed this equipment in their bag. 

Mobile phones - A reminder of our policy that phones are 'Not Seen, Not Heard, Not Used' - If seen, heard or used the phone is confiscated, the child will be issued an R20 and a parent/carer will need to collect the phone. 

Jewellery - A reminder that wearing jewelry is not permitted in school, with only one discreet pair of stud earrings permitted. If worn, jewelry would be confiscated until the end of the school day. 

Ready to Learn - a visual reminder of all our 'Ready to Learn' equipment:

Mrs K Gray - Deputy Headteacher (Pastoral) 

Music tuition is available for all students at Nottingham Free School. Some spaces have recently become available for the following music lessons:

• 1:1 or 2:1 spaces on Flute or Saxophone.
• 1:1, 2:1 or 3:1 spaces on Drums, Piano, Guitar, Trumpet and Trombone.

Payments for music lessons are:

• £116 per term for 1:1 tuition
• £58 per term for 2:1 tuition
• £39 per term for 3:1 tuition.

If your child is interested in learning a new instrument or would like to pick up an instrument they have previously played, please contact lwilson@nottinghamfreeschool.co.uk for any further information.

Miss L Wilson - Head of Music

When?

• Tuesday 21st, Wednesday 22nd, Thursday 23rd May 
• All Year 10 students will be doing work experience. 
• There will be no Year 10 classes on in school.

How do you find a work experience placement?

Once your young person has decided what they would like to do, they will need to look for placements by:

• Asking around personal contacts
• Googling local companies
• Looking at the Safety Measures website. (log on details are on Satchel One)

Are there any limitations?

• The placement must have Public Liability Insurance.
• Parents must be happy for their child to attend this placement.
• Students cannot work directly with parents or at home or at their own primary school.

What should you do you if you can't find a placement?

It takes perseverance to find a placement and we will help where we can, but unfortunately, we are unable to provide every child with a placement.  If you are struggling after trying for some time, please do get in touch with Mrs Barrett at pbarrett@nottinghamfreeschool.co.uk

What happens when my young person has found a placement?

• Check you are happy with the placement.
• Submit the details to the Mrs Cockayne in the school office - kcockayne@nottinghamfreeschool.co.uk
• The office will contact the employer and then the risk assessment company, Safety Measures, will check that the company has Employer’s Liability Insurance. 
• Checking placements can take several months - so this is now urgent.

Mrs Barrett - Head of Careers