The EllisChurch Of England Primary School

Communication 9^th January 2026

Foundation Stage ‘Writing in the Early Years’ Workshop – Tuesday 20th January

Dear Parent/Carer,

We are delighted to invite all parents, carers, and grandparents of children in our Foundation Stage (Nursery and Reception) to a free workshop on Tuesday 20^th January at 4:30pm (lasting approximately one hour).

This session, “Writing in the Early Years,” will offer valuable insight into our curriculum at The Ellis and provide practical ideas for supporting your child’s early mark making development throughout their time in the Early Years Foundation Stage.

We know that many of you are keen to understand more about what happens in Nursery and Reception. This is a wonderful opportunity to learn more, ask questions, and connect with other parents.

Refreshments will be available free of charge.

Unfortunately, children will not be able to attend the session with you.

If you would like to join us, please reply to this email.

Please note that we will only be able to run the workshop if there is sufficient interest, and we encourage you to sign up as soon as possible to confirm your attendance.

We look forward to welcoming you.

Many thanks and kind regards,

Mr Grayhurst and Mrs Pollard

 

Communication 8^th January 2026

Y6 Bouldering Event – Wednesday 14th January

Dear Parents and Carers,

Your child will be attending a bouldering event on Wednesday 14th January 2026 at The Climbing Works, Sheffield, S8 0UJ. The event will start at 10am and finish at 12pm.

A packed lunch will be required. Children will eat this on their return, and they are welcome to take a snack with them to the event.

Children will travel by minibus, and Mr Webster will accompany them to the event. Unfortunately, parents are not able to attend.

Your child will be provided with a school PE shirt but will need to wear suitable trainers and come to school wearing their PE kit (white PE top and black shorts). The event will be held indoors; however, we suggest that suitable tracksuits and coats are worn when travelling to and from the venue.

If your child requires an inhaler, they must bring this with them.

The cost of the trip will be funded using the Sports Premium Grant; therefore, no payment is required.

If you have any questions or queries, please contact me at school.

Yours sincerely,

Miss Cook

Wider Curriculum Lead/Teacher

 

Communication 8^th January 2026

Data-Checking Reminder

Dear Parents and Carers,

I am writing to follow up on the email below, as we have not yet received a response. Please reply by Friday 16th January ahead of the launch of our new Parent Portal. 

The Parent Portal will become one of our preferred methods of communication and will soon also replace ParentPay for items such as trips, breakfast club, after-school clubs, and tickets. Keeping your contact details up-to-date will help us make this transition as smooth as possible and ensure you receive all important updates regarding your child(ren).

Email dated 20^th October.

In preparation for introducing our new Parent Portal, we are undertaking a data-checking exercise to ensure we have up-to-date details for parents and legal guardians of pupils at The Ellis.

Please email office@ellis.dsat.education with all of the following information by Friday 7^th November:

• Name of child(ren)
• Name of parent/legal guardian(s) 
• Email address(es)
• Address(es)
• Telephone number(s)

Thank you for your continued support.

Kind regards,

Mrs Edwards

Headteacher

 

Communication 7^th January 2026

Y5/6 Athletics Event – Friday 9th January

Dear Parent/Carer,

Your child has been selected to represent the school in a Year 5/6 Athletics Event at Kirk Balk Academy on Friday 9th January 2026.

The event will start at 1pm and will finish at 3pm. Your child will travel to the venue by public transport (bus) at 12:25pm and should be back at school at approximately 3:25pm; however, this is dependent on the bus.

Children should bring their MiCard (if they have one), their water bottle and suitable trainers, and come to school wearing their PE kit (white PE tops/black shorts). The event will be held indoors, and we would suggest that suitable tracksuits/coats are worn when travelling to and from the event.

If your child does not have a MiCard, we would encourage you to apply for one, as it enables your child to benefit from free bus travel within Barnsley and also supports the school financially when we organise public transport for sporting activities such as this. To apply for a MiCard, please visit the Travel South Yorkshire website.

Unfortunately, parents are not allowed to attend the event.

If your child requires an inhaler, they will need to bring this with them. The cost of the trip will be funded using the Sports Premium Grant; therefore, your child requires no money for the event.

If you have any questions or queries, please contact me at school.

Yours faithfully,
Miss Cook
Wider Curriculum Lead/Teacher

 

Communication 5^th January 2026

Y5 Information

Dear Y5 Parents and Carers,

We would like to inform you that today we welcomed our local Police Community Support Officer (PCSO) into school to deliver an information session focused on behaviour and keeping safe.

The session was delivered in an age-appropriate and reassuring manner, giving pupils the opportunity to learn about making positive choices, showing respect for others, and understanding how to seek help if they are worried about something. The PCSO spoke with the children calmly and supportively, using clear examples that were suitable for their age and level of understanding.

This visit forms part of our wider work in school to promote positive behaviour, encourage responsible decision-making, and reinforce the importance of staying safe and within the law. The children were engaged throughout the session and asked thoughtful questions.

The PCSO will be returning to school at a future date to speak with other classes.

If you would like to discuss the session further or have any questions, please do not hesitate to get in touch.

Thank you for your continued support.

Kind regards,
Miss Cook

 

Communication 19^th December 2025

A very Merry Christmas and a happy New Year

Dear Parents,

I just want to take a moment to wish you all a very Merry Christmas and a happy, peaceful New Year!

I’m so proud of all our children this year, especially for the amazing services and nativities they’ve taken part in. Their enthusiasm, talent, and the joy they bring to our school make every day so special.

A huge thank you also goes to our fantastic staff and governors for all their hard work, and to all of you for your support and partnership throughout the year. It’s wonderful to celebrate this special season together and reflect on the values that make The Ellis such a great school.

We can’t wait to see the children back in the New Year for another term full of learning, fun, and growth!

Kind regards
Mrs Edwards

 

Communication 12^th December 2025

Y1 Trip Information

Dear Parents, 

Here are a couple of reminders about our trip on Tuesday to Doncaster Cast Theatre. 

The performance is 11:30am – 12:20pm and we will be leaving here by 10:30am to ensure we have time to park and sort the children before we go into the theatre. 

As we will not be returning for lunch until approximately 1:15pm, we will offer the children toast and fruit before we leave, to help keep hungry tummies at bay! Please ensure your child has either ordered a school packed lunch (from The Pantry) or brings a packed lunch from home as we will eat in class on our return and therefore hot dinners will not be an option. 

Please ensure your child is wearing school uniform and has a coat with them. 

The staff accompanying the class are Mrs Trotter, Mrs Andrews, Mrs Edwards and Miss Rigby. 

Please can I ask that you do not send your child with any snacks or sweets for the theatre and no spending money is required. 

We are very much looking forward to it and appreciate your support.

Kind regards,

Mrs Trotter

 

Communication 10^th December

Disco Information for SEND

Dear Parents of children with SEND,

If you feel that your child would benefit from arriving 10 minutes earlier to the disco tomorrow evening (Thursday), to help acclimatise to the lights and music, I will be at the Y3/4 classroom door to the playground to welcome them. 

There will also be a breakout space in the library, for those who need it.

I’m looking forward to a fun packed night!

Mr Davies

Y3 Teacher and SENDCo

 

Communication 9^th December

New After-School Clubs

Dear Parents,

Please see below for details of the after-school clubs for next half term, that are now available to book on ParentPay.

After-school clubs will be displayed within ‘Pay for other items’ when you log into your ParentPay account. Please note that making a payment to a club does not book a place. You must click ‘book sessions’ and then ‘book all sessions’ to secure your child’s place. You may also be required to checkout.

If there are dates when a club will not run, for example, inset days, the date will not be displayed in the booking calendar. 

The cost for each club is £2 per week, and the full amount of £12 for the half term will need to be paid via ParentPay before we can secure your child’s place. Bookings for clubs will remain open until 11:59pm on Wednesday 17^th December.

Refunds will only be offered if clubs have to be cancelled and not for non-attendance or if your child changes their mind. We are committed to making these clubs accessible; therefore, if the fee presents a challenge for your family, please reach out to us. We are happy to discuss options for support.

If you wish to use the tax-free childcare payment to pay for after-school clubs, you will need to initially make the payment from your personal bank account to secure your child’s place at the club. Once we have received the tax-free childcare payment into our school bank account, we will credit this to the relevant after-school club on ParentPay, and refund your initial payment back to your ParentPay account. Please tell the office if you would like to use your tax-free childcare payment for after-school clubs.

Our clubs can be popular and have a limited number of spaces. If you cannot see the club listed in your ParentPay account, it may be that it is full. Please email office@ellis.dsat.education to place your child on our waiting list.

Please ensure your child has their PE kit with them for sports clubs. If your child will not be attending club one week, please inform us to avoid any confusion and so we can make sure they do not get changed at the end of the school day.

Our sports after-school clubs are run by coaches from Active Club. 

All clubs run straight after school until 4:15pm.

Please contact the office if you have any questions regarding after-school clubs or the new booking system.

Kind regards,

Miss Cook

Teacher/Wider Curriculum Lead

Spring 1 After-School Clubs 

Please remember to use ParentPay to book and pay for your child’s place in our clubs. 

Monday 

Multi Sports – open to F2 (Reception) to Y3 children.

Tuesday 

Dance – open to Y1 to Y6 children.

Tuesday 

Lego/Craft Club – open to Y2 children.

Wednesday 

Gymnastics – open to Y1 to Y6 children.

Thursday

Team-building/Den-building/Problem-solving – open to Y1 to Y6 children.

 

Communication 9^th December

Foundation Service Christmas Information

Dear Parents,

As Christmas approaches, there will be lots of events happening in school, so we thought it would be useful to send a reminder of some of the key dates and information shared in our recent newsletter.

Library Sessions

Our last Reception (F2) Library Session of the term will be on Thursday 11th December, from 8:15–8:45am in the main school library.

Our last Nursery (F1) Library Session of the term will be on Thursday 18th December, from 8:15–8:45am in the main school library.

Christmas Jumper & Christmas Dinner Day – Thursday 11th December

Please send your child to school wearing their Christmas jumper on this day. Normal uniform should be worn underneath.

Christmas dinner is available to order through The Pantry. There is no alternative lunch available on this day; therefore, if a school lunch is not ordered, a packed lunch will be required.

Please note that, for Nursery children, Christmas dinner is only available to order for those who attend on a full-time basis.

Early Years Coffee Morning – Friday 12th December

A reminder that you are all invited to our Coffee Morning, which will be held in the school hall on Friday 12th December, from 9–10:30am. There will be festive refreshments, and the children have been busy making gifts for you to buy. We have been practising lots of lovely Christmas songs, and we look forward to seeing you there.

If you would like to purchase your child’s gifts or refreshments, please be aware that we are unable to accept card payments.

We would also ask that you send your child to school wearing their Christmas jumper on the day of the Coffee Morning.

Christmas Party Day – Thursday 18th December

Children may arrive at school and wear their party clothes all day, however, please be mindful of outdoor play.

All Nursery children are invited to enjoy party food. If you would like your afternoon Nursery child to join in, please bring them to the morning session (8:45–11:45am) instead of the afternoon session. All lunches should be ordered through The Pantry.

Christmas Service – Friday 19th December

Please join us for our school Christingle Service, which will be held in the hall at 2pm on Friday 19th December.

Thank you for your continued support.

The Early Years Team

 

Communication 8^th December

Y1/2 Nativity Information – Tuesday 16th and Wednesday 17th December

Dear Parents and Carers,

Our Nativity is creeping ever closer!

The children have all worked incredibly hard and are very excited to perform A Midwife Crisis for you. They are busy practising at school and are looking forward to sharing the performance with you during the last week of term.

Here is some key information about the evenings of the performances.

Please could children return to school at 5:30pm on Tuesday and Wednesday (16th and 17th December) via the outside KS1 cloakroom door. They do not need to come back in school uniform – onesies or casual clothes are fine. We expect the play to last approximately 45 minutes, therefore, children will need collecting from classrooms at 6:45pm.

Please do not arrive before 5:30pm, as staff will not be available to open the doors until then and we do not want children to stand out in the cold. Please could we also ask that children do not rush to get past us when the doors open, but come in one at a time, as we must register them for safety reasons.

We have two fantastic raffles (one for each performance) and tickets will be on sale at the door before the start of each performance (£1 a strip). All funds raised will go straight back into KS1 to fund additional resources for us to use with the children.

During the evening, please note that photos and videos will not be allowed. We have already taken photographs of your child in their costume, which we will share with you, so please just sit back and enjoy the show!

Thank you again for your ongoing support.

The KS1 Team

 

Communication 2^nd December 2025

Y3 Trip Information

Dear Y3 Parent/Carer,

As part of our curriculum, we are excited to inform you of two visits linked to our curriculum that Year 3 children will experience. 

Sheffield Cathedral

To support our learning about Christianity in RE, we are pleased to let you know that we intend to take the children to visit Sheffield cathedral on Monday 19^th January 2026. During the visit, the children participate in 2 workshops:

 

This visit will be led by Mr Davies and supported by Mrs Lawson.

We will be travelling with GeeVee Coaches, leaving school at 9am and returning around 3pm. If your child is prone to travel sickness, please administer the appropriate medication before arriving at school.

The cost of the workshops for the cathedral visit will be covered by school, however, we will require voluntary contributions of £10 to partially cover the cost of transport. Unfortunately, if we do not receive enough contributions, the trip may not be able to go ahead. If you will find it difficult to cover the cost, please speak to Mrs Edwards in confidence.

Creswell Crags

Our second visit will be to Creswell Crags, on Thursday 26^th March 2026. This exciting opportunity is linked to our learning about the Stone Age. Creswell Crags, located on the Nottinghamshire-Derbyshire border, is one of the most important prehistoric sites in Britain. Caves within this gorge have sheltered people and animals for over 120,000 years, with bones, fossils and stone tools all telling the story of the people who visited during the last Ice Age. For more than thirty years, Creswell Heritage Trust has maintained this site, offering engaging tours, activities, and learning opportunities for visitors of all ages. The visit will have 3 parts to it: 

We will be travelling with GeeVee Coaches, leaving school at 8:30am and returning around 3:15pm. If your child is prone to travel sickness, please administer the appropriate medication before arriving at school.

The cost of the visit to Creswell Crags will be £29. Unfortunately, if we do not receive enough contributions, the trip may not be able to go ahead.  

The visit to Creswell Crags will be led by Mr Davies, Miss Beresford and Mrs Lawson. 

Please make sure your child wears school uniform on the days of the visits, along with suitable footwear. The visit to Creswell Crags can be a little chilly, so please ensure your child has warm clothing on and a coat. 

Children will also need a packed lunch on both visits. You can order a packed lunch from school via The Pantry in the usual way for ordering dinners if you wish.  

These visits promise to be a wonderful day out and enrichment opportunity for the children, and we are really looking forward to them. The visits are live on ParentPay if you would like to start making payments in instalments or pay the full amount straight away. If you are finding it difficult to cover the cost, please speak to Mrs Edwards in confidence.

Thank you for your continued support – we really couldn’t make these experiences happen without it.

Yours sincerely,
Mr Davies and Miss Beresford

 

Communication 27^th November 2025

F2 Food Tasting – Tomorrow (Friday 28th)

Dear Parents/Carers, 

As part of our DT topic of Food, we will be preparing and tasting different fruits for our fruit salad this week. 

We will be using the following fruits – bananas, melon, satsumas (oranges), apple, grape and strawberry. 

The following week we will be preparing pizzas, however, the children will not eat these at school as they will be bringing them home. 

We will be using ready-made pizza dough, pizza sauce for the base and a choice of cheese, ham, peppers, olives, courgette, fresh tomato and pineapple for the toppings. 

If you do not wish your child to participate in these activities, please let the school office know immediately. 

Many thanks and kind regards, 

The F2 Team 

 

Communication 25^th November 2025

Y5/6 Netball Tournament – Friday 28th November

Dear Parent/Carer, 

Your child has been selected to represent the school in a Netball Tournament at Kirk Balk Academy on Friday 28^th November.  This is part of the School Games events and there is a chance that children can qualify for a future round.  

The event will start at 1pm and will finish for 3pm.  Your child will travel to the venue by public transport (bus) at 12:25pm, and should be back at school for approximately 3:25pm, however, this is dependent on the bus. Children will need a packed lunch on the day.

Children will need to bring their MiCard (if they have one), shorts or tracksuit bottoms, trainers and their water bottle. They will be given a school shirt to wear.  The event could be held outdoors so it would be useful to bring warm clothes for when they are spectating. 

If your child does not have a MiCard, we would encourage you to apply for one, as it enables your child to benefit from free bus travel within Barnsley, and also supports the school financially when we organise public transport for sporting activities such as this. To apply for a MiCard, please visit the Travel South Yorkshire website. 

Parents are unable to spectate on this occasion.

If your child requires an inhaler, they will need to bring this along with them. The cost of the trip will be funded using the Sports Premium Grant and therefore your child requires no money for the event.

If you have any questions or queries, please contact me at school.

Yours faithfully,

Miss Cook

Wider Curriculum Lead/Teacher

 

Communication 25^th November 2025

Foundation Stage (Nursery and Reception) Sponsored Walk

Dear Parents/Carers,

We are delighted to inform you that, thanks to your generosity, we have raised over £1,100 for the Early Years Foundation Stage. We are extremely grateful for all the time and support you gave to enable the Sponsored Walk to go ahead and be such a success. The money raised will be used to enhance and improve our indoor and outdoor learning environments.

Once again, we would like to say a big thank you for your ongoing support. It is very much appreciated by us all.

Kind regards,

Mr Grayhurst, Mrs Pollard, Mrs Beevers, and Mrs Kelly
(The Early Years Team)

 

Communication 19^th November 2025

KS2 Inclusive Panathlon Event – Tuesday 25th November

Dear Parent/Carer,

Your child has been selected to represent the school in an inclusive Multi Skills Panathlon event at Barnsley College Honeywell Site on Tuesday 25^th November.  The event will start at 9:45am and finish at 11:45am.  Children should arrive back at school before lunch time.

This is an inspire and engage event run by the School Games.  These events place an emphasis on participation and encouraging children to develop their sporting skills.

Children will travel to and from the venue via Wyatt Coaches. Unfortunately, due to space constraints, parents are not allowed to attend the event.

Your child will be given a sports top but will still need to bring suitable trainers, their PE kit, a drink of water, a bag for their belongings, and suitable clothing to wear when not participating. The event will be held indoors.  

If your child requires an inhaler, they will need to bring this with them. The cost of the trip will be funded using the Sports Premium Grant, and therefore your child requires no money for the event.

Yours faithfully,

Miss Cook

Wider Curriculum Lead/Teacher

 

Communication 19^th November 2025

The Ellis Christmas Key Dates

Dear Parent/Carer, 

As Christmas comes upon us there will be lots of events happening in school, so we thought it would be useful to send you a reminder of some of the key dates and information for the remainder of this half term. 

Christmas Dinner and Christmas Jumper Day – Thursday 11^th December

Please come to school in your Christmas jumpers and normal school uniform for the bottom half (trousers or skirt). There is no alternative food that day, therefore, if you do not wish to order school lunch through The Pantry, please send your child to school with a packed lunch. Please note that for Nursery children, Christmas dinner is only available to order for those who attend on a full-time basis.

Christmas Discos – Thursday 11^th December Y1-3 5-6pm / Y4-6 6:30-7:30pm

Tickets are on sale on ParentPay priced at £3.50 each until Tuesday 9^th December. This includes a drink, crisps and a small bag of sweets.  A list of attendees will be handed to the staff on the evening, and your child’s name will be ticked off as they enter school.

If your child is arriving unaccompanied, please remind them to register with a member of staff when entering school.  Parents do not need to stay with their children.

Children must arrive at the disco no earlier than 5 minutes before the start time. Children will not be allowed to leave school without an adult.  Please collect them from the main office. Y1-3 at 6pm / Y4-6 at 7:30pm.

Please leave a contact telephone number on the notes section for emergencies, when you pay for your ticket.

The Ellis Church – straight after school in the hall, Thursday 11^th December

All are welcome to attend.

Foundation Service (Nursery and Reception) Christmas Coffee Morning – 9-10:30am, Friday 12^th December

All our F1 and F2 family members are invited.

Hemingfield Action Group (HAG) Christmas Concert – Friday 12^th December 7pm (doors open 6:30pm)

Mrs Edwards is currently recruiting Y1 to Y6 children to be part of a choir for the Hemingfield Action Group Carol Concert on Friday the 12^th December. If your child would like to take part, we would be delighted to have them! Please email the office to confirm their place. 

We will be rehearsing on Wednesday and/or Friday lunchtimes (both as we get a bit closer to the event).

On the evening of the concert, children will need to stay with their parent/guardian until it is our turn to sing. Christmas jumpers are very welcome to add to the festive atmosphere, but they are not compulsory.

Christmas Party Day – Thursday 18^th December

Party food will consist of cheese or ham sandwiches, a pork sausage roll, a cheese pizza bite, crudites and a Christmas dessert. 

Children are welcome to come in their party clothes but please be mindful of outdoor play.  

All nursery children are invited to enjoy party food. If you would like your afternoon nursery child to join in with this event, please bring your child to nursery in the morning session (8.45am-11.45am), instead of the afternoon session. All lunches should be ordered through The Pantry.

There is no alternative food on this day, therefore, if you do not wish to order school lunch through The Pantry, please send your child to school with a packed lunch. 

Christingle Service – Friday 19^th December

Please join us for our school Christingle Service which will be held in the hall at 2pm on Friday 19^th December.

If you have any questions or would like any further information, please contact the office who will be more than happy to help you.

We look forward to seeing you all in school over the coming weeks!

Many thanks for your continued support.

The Ellis Office

 

Communication 19^th November

Y1/2 Nativity Tickets – Tuesday 16th December and Wednesday 17th December

Dear Parent/Carer,

Our Nativity this year is called ’A Midwife Crisis’ and we know the children are going to make us proud! 

Tickets are now available to purchase on ParentPay, priced at £2 each (child and adult).

Tickets are available on a first come first served basis, and will be on sale until Tuesday 9^th December.

We will be allocating seat numbers, therefore, please let us know in the notes section on ParentPay if you require any accessible aisle seats.

We will be sending tickets home with your child from Wednesday 10^th December.

A raffle will be held on both nights (cash only please), and all money raised will improve our KS1 learning areas and classroom resources.

Thank you for your continued support.

The Ellis Office

 

Communication 18^th November

Hemingfield Action Group Carol Concert Choir

Dear Parents/Guardians,

We are putting together a choir for the Hemingfield Action Group Carol Concert on Friday 12th December, here at school at 7pm (doors open at 6:30pm). It would be wonderful to see as many of our children as possible involved and representing the school.

If your child would like to take part, we would be delighted to have them! Please email the office to confirm their place. We will be rehearsing on Wednesday and/or Friday lunchtimes (both as we get a bit closer to the event).

On the night of the concert, children will need to stay with their parents/guardians until it is our turn to sing. Christmas jumpers are very welcome to add to the festive atmosphere, but they are not compulsory.

We had a fantastic time at the last concert, and I’m hopeful that this year will be just as enjoyable, if not even better, hopefully with lots of our children taking part.

Thank you very much for your support. I look forward to seeing you there and singing along!

Kind regards,
Mrs Edwards

 

Communication 17^th November

KS2 Inclusive Glow in the Dark Dodgeball – Friday 21st November

Dear Parents,

Your child has been selected to represent the school in an inclusive glow in the dark dodgeball event at Hoyland Common Primary School on Friday 21st November.  

The event will start at 1pm and should finish approximately 3pm. Your child will travel to the venue by public transport at 12:25pm, and should be back at school for approximately 3:25pm. However, this is dependent on the bus. Mr Davies and Miss Turton will accompany the children to this event.  

Children will need a packed lunch on the day. They will need to be in full PE kit but can bring tracksuits to travel in. They will need inhalers if they require them and their water bottle with their name on.

Parents are unfortunately unable to spectate on this occasion.

The cost of the trip will be funded using the Sports Premium Grant and therefore your child requires no money for the event.

If you have any questions or queries, please contact me at school.

Yours faithfully,

Miss Cook

Wider Curriculum Lead/Teacher

 

 

Communication 17^th November

Foundation Stage (Nursery and Reception) Road Safety Session – Friday 21st November

Dear Foundation Stage Parents,

On Friday 21st November, during the school day, your child will be taking part in a Road Safety lesson delivered by Ami Harding, our local Active Travel Coordinator. She will be visiting the school to work with both the Nursery and Reception classes, helping to raise the children’s awareness of how to stay safe near roads and when playing outside.

The session will be fun and engaging, and will include a mixture of discussion, videos, and colouring activities.

Kind regards,

The Ellis Office

 

Communication 12^th November

Key dates for this half term

Dear Parents and Carers,

Please see below a list of the key dates for this half term. The full list of important dates can be found on our website at https://theellisschool.org.uk/virtual-office/calendar/

Anti-Bullying Week – Monday 10^th to Friday 14^th November

Y6 Walk to Cenotaph – Monday 10^th November

Early Years Reading Workshop for Parents – 4:30-5:30pm, Wednesday 12^th November

Refreshments will be available free of charge.

Unfortunately, children will not be able to attend the session with you.

Children in Need – Friday 14^th November (not 21^st November as previously advertised)

Children are welcome to come to school in pyjamas or wear something spotty. Should you wish to donate, please do so via the Children in Need website.

FS (Nursery and Reception) Road Safety Session – Friday 21^st November

More information to follow.

F2 to Y6 Flu Vaccinations – Thursday 20^th November

The Ellis Church, straight after school in the hall – Thursday 20^th November

All are welcome to attend.

The Book Bus book fair – Thursday 27^th November

Your child should have brought home a leaflet with more information about the Book Bus book fair. 

If you would like to send your child to school with some money for the bus, children will be taken in small class groups during the day. There is also the option to purchase a voucher (please visit https://thebookbus.co.uk/voucher). Alternatively, you are welcome to board the bus with your child after school.

Rocksteady Music Concert/Assembly – 2:30pm, Tuesday 2^nd December

Families of our Rocksteady Music band members are invited to the concert/assembly, which will be held in the school hall.

Y6 Crucial Crew – 8:45am, Tuesday 9^th December

The coach will leave school at 8:45am prompt and is expected to return to school by 3:15pm.

Christmas Dinner and Jumper Day – Thursday 11^th December

More information to follow.

Christmas Discos – Thursday 11^th December (5-6pm for Y1-Y3 and 6:30-7:30pm for Y4-Y6)

More information to follow.

The Ellis Church – straight after school in the hall, Thursday 11^th December

All are welcome to attend.

Foundation Service (Nursery and Reception) Christmas Coffee Morning – 9-10:30am, Friday 12^th December

All our F1 and F2 family members are invited.

HAG (Hemingfield Action Group) Christmas Concert, in the school hall Concert begins at 7pm, Friday 12^th December

All are welcome. Doors open at 6:30pm.

KS1 Nativity – 6pm, Tuesday 16^th December, and Wednesday 17^th December

More information to follow.

Y1 Theatre Trip – Tuesday 16^th December

Christmas Party Day – Thursday 18^th December

More information to follow.

Christingle – 2-3pm, Friday 19^th December

Please join us for our school Christingle Service, which will be held in the hall at 2pm.

Christmas Holidays – Monday 22^nd December to Friday 2^nd January

Kind regards,

The Ellis Office

 

Communication 12^th November

PINS Meeting – 20th November 2025

Dear all,

Please see the attached flyer for details about our PINS (Partnership for Inclusion of Neurodiversity in Schools) meeting taking place on 20th November at 1:30pm.

If you would like to attend and enjoy a free Greggs, please send your order to Mr Davies at wdavies@ellis.dsat.education.

Kind regards,
The Ellis Office

 

Communication 10^th November

Y5/6 Football U11s Utilita Cup Competition – Friday 14th November

Dear Parent/Carer, 

Your child has been selected to represent the school in a football U11s Utilita Cup Competition for the Barnsley area.  This will be held at Oakwell Stadium (outdoor Astro turf) on Friday 14^th November.  

The event will start at 12:45pm and will finish for 3:15pm.  Your child will travel to the venue by minibus at 12:10pm. As the event is set to finish around 3pm children may be slightly late returning to school.  Children will need to return to school on the minibus before being dismissed for home.   

Your child will need a packed lunch, shorts/tracksuit bottoms, black socks, trainers and their water bottle. They will be given a school shirt to wear.  If your child does not have these items, school can provide them.  As the event will be held outdoors, it would be useful to bring warm clothes for when they are spectating and they can choose to wear trainers or AstroTurf boots. Shin pads are essential and can be provided by school. 

Parents are able to spectate on this occasion but are asked to refrain from entering the playing surface for safeguarding reasons.

If your child requires an inhaler, they will need to bring this along with them. The cost of the trip will be funded using the Sports Premium Grant and therefore your child requires no money for the event.

If you have any questions or queries, please contact me at school.

Yours faithfully,

Miss Cook

Wider Curriculum Lead/Teacher

 

Communication 7^th November 2025

Y2 Whirlow Residential Trip – 29th June-3rd July 2026

Dear Parents,

Thank you for the positive response to our Year 2 residential to Whirlow Farm next year, I can now inform you that we have 23 children going, which is very exciting news! Now we have these numbers, I can give you some more information. We will only need to take 2 groups this year as the accommodation can take 12 children each time so the 3rd group is no longer needed.

29th June to 3rd July 2026

Group 1: Monday 29th June – Wednesday 1st July 2026

(Leaving at approximately 10.30am on Monday and arriving back at 12pm on Wednesday)

Group 2: Wednesday 1st July – Friday 3rd July 2026

(Leaving at approximately 10.00am on Wednesday and arriving back at 12pm on Friday)

When your child is not on their residential trip, they should attend school as normal. Two members of staff will stay with each group of residential children and other staff members will teach the children who are at school.

The cost of the trip will be £88, which includes 2 nights’ accommodation, return travel, food, ice cream at Forge Dam and all activities whilst we are there. We must inform you at this stage that the cost is non-refundable. Unfortunately, we are unable to offer a discounted price if your child does not sleep over night.

We ask that payments be made via Parent Pay. The total amount will now appear on your child’s page and you are able to pay off small amounts at a time (the total amount left will decrease as payments are made) or should you wish to, you can pay the full amount in one go. We ask that all parents meet the following payment deadlines as we have to pay Whirlow Farm in advance. Should you wish to pay the balance before these dates that is fine.

First payment of £18 to be paid by Monday 15th December 2025

Second payment of £35 to be paid by Monday 2nd March 2026

Third payment of £35 to be paid by Monday 11th May 2026

Parents are invited to a meeting on Monday 18th May 2026, at 5pm, to discuss what your child will need to bring and to give you more information. Should you have any questions prior to this time, please do not hesitate to pop in and see Mrs Trotter.

Thank you for allowing your child to take part in this experience. We are sure that many life long memories will be made whilst we are there!

Kind Regards,

Mrs C Trotter (Year 1 teacher and KS1 Leader)

 

Communication 5^th November

Poppy Appeal – Thursday & Friday, this week only

Dear Parents and Carers,

As part of our support for the Royal British Legion’s Poppy Appeal, our Y6 School Council will be selling poppy merchandise in school tomorrow (Thursday) and Friday during break times in the library.

Suggested donations for the items are: £1 for a standard wristband, £1.50 for a snap band, and 50p for a reflector. Paper poppies/stickers are available for any donation amount. We have very limited stock therefore we are limiting children to 1 of each item, so the maximum amount a child would need is £3.50 (unless they would like to include an additional donation). If your child would like to purchase something, please send them with the correct amount of money on one of these days. We cannot guarantee your child will be able to get the item they want as it is purely a first come, first served basis and we apologise in advance for any disappointment this may cause. 

Thank you for helping us to support this important charity.

Kind regards

Mrs Edwards and our Y6 School Council

 

Communication 5^th November 2025

Y5/6 Girls Football Finals – Monday 10th November

Dear Parent,

A few weeks ago, your child was part of the girls’ football team that came runners up in the district finals. As a result of this, we have been allocated a place in the Barnsley Girls Plate Finals.  

The event is Monday 10^th November 2025 at Barnsley College Honeywell Site (also known as Honeywell Sports Village), S75 1BP, and will run 12-3pm. 

Children will need a packed lunch, which they will eat at the event. Your child will travel to the venue by minibus at 11:20am. 

The event will be played on Astro turf, and your child will need suitable footwear, shin pads, socks, water bottle, and warm clothes to wear when spectating. Your child will be given a school football kit to wear at the event.  

If your child requires an inhaler, they will need to bring this along with them. The cost of the trip will be funded using the Sports Premium Grant, and therefore no money is needed.

Parents are able to spectate on this occasion; however, children will need to return to school via the minibus before they can be collected. 

Due to the location of the event, children may not return to school until approximately 3:30pm.

Kind regards,

Miss Cook

Wider Curriculum Lead/Y3 Teacher

 

Communication 5^th November 2025

Foundation Stage (Nursery and Reception) Sponsored Walk – Friday 7th November

Dear Parents/Guardians,

EYFS Sponsored Walk around the school field – Friday 7^th November 2025

We would like to remind you that our ‘Sponsored Walk’ is on Friday 7^th November at 9.15am on our Early Years Field.

On the morning of the sponsored walk, children will assemble on the Early Years Field at 9.15am after they have registered in class as usual. Children will need to come dressed appropriately according to the weather i.e. a suitable coat and wellies. We aim to walk around the field as many times as we can within 20 minutes and we would love if you could support us in person by joining us at our event. 

Refreshments will also be served at this event after the Sponsored Walk has been completed. 

We welcome any sponsored donations by Friday if possible. Donations can be made through ParentPay, where you are able to choose the amount that you would like to give. 

Many thanks for your continued support, 

Kind regards,

 

Mr D Grayhurst, Mrs T Pollard, Mrs C Beevers, Mrs L Kelly

The Early Years Team

 

Correspondence 24th October 2025

Ellis Update and Thank You

Dear Parents and Carers,

As we reach the end of our first half term, I want to take a moment to thank you for your continued support. It’s been a busy and rewarding few weeks, and we’re so proud of how well the children have settled into the new school year.

From the enthusiasm shown in lessons to the kindness and teamwork on display around school, the children have made an excellent start. None of this would be possible without your encouragement at home and your partnership with us.

We are also very excited to share that from 1st November, we will officially be part of DSAT (Diocese of Sheffield Academy Trust). This marks an exciting new chapter for our school, and we look forward to the opportunities this partnership will bring for our pupils, staff, and wider community.

We hope you all have a restful and enjoyable half-term break, and we look forward to welcoming everyone back, refreshed and ready for another exciting term of learning and fun on TUESDAY 4th NOVEMBER due to our planned INSET day.

Kind regards,

Mrs Edwards

 

Correspondence 24th October 2025

Ellis Information

Dear Parents,

School Meals 

Please take a moment to talk with your child about the meal choices you select together.
We’ve noticed that some children aren’t always aware of what has been ordered for them and sometimes say they don’t like their meal, even though it has been prepared to a very high standard. Discussing the options together can help ensure your child knows what to expect and enjoys their lunch experience.

Oral Health Newsletter

We have been asked to share the attached Autumn & Winter Oral Health Newsletter with our parents. 

Oral Health Newsletter

Holiday Activity Newsletter 

As is now tradition, Barnsley, Doncaster, Rotherham and Sheffield Children’s University centres have come together to publish an October 2025 Newsletter, full of activities happening in the October half term holidays right across South Yorkshire.

Click here to download your copy of the Holiday Activity Newsletter: https://bit.ly/SYCUActivityNewsletterOct2025

The Ellis Office

 

Correspondence 22nd October 2025

F2-Y6 Christmas Card Competition

Dear F2-Y6 Parents,

Our local MP Stephanie Peacock is running her Christmas Card competition again this year, and has invited schools in the area to take part.

The competition is running from now until Tuesday 4^th November with applications accepted up until the deadline. Designs should be submitted on white A4 paper, preferably landscape, and returned to school no later than Tuesday the 4^th.

To avoid any potential confusion, please could the artist’s full first name, the first initial of their surname, class, year group and the name of their school be clearly written on the back of their design.

Winners from each school will be chosen and be named the ‘school winner’. Winners from each participating school will then be shortlisted, and the final design will then be chosen to be my Christmas card design. The card will be sent to politicians, local businesses, civic leaders and voluntary groups across Barnsley and Westminster.    

Thank you.
Maggi Brinkley

HLTA/Art Lead

  

Correspondence 22nd October 2025

EYFS (Nursery & Reception) Parent Workshop – 4:30pm, Wednesday 12th November

Dear Parent/Carer,

We are delighted to invite all parents, carers, and grandparents of children in our Foundation Stage (Nursery and Reception) to a free workshop on Wednesday 12th November at 4:30pm (lasting approximately one hour).

This session, “Reading in the Early Years,” will offer valuable insight into our curriculum at The Ellis and provide practical ideas for supporting your child’s early reading development throughout their time in the Early Years Foundation Stage.

We know that many of you are keen to understand more about what happens in Nursery and Reception. This is a wonderful opportunity to learn more, ask questions, and connect with other parents.

Refreshments will be available free of charge.

Unfortunately, children will not be able to attend the session with you.

If you would like to join us, please register your place via Eventbrite using the following link:
EYFS Reading Workshop – 12th November 2025

Please note that we will only be able to run the workshop if there is sufficient interest, and we encourage you to sign up as soon as possible to confirm your attendance.

We look forward to welcoming you.

Many thanks and kind regards,

Mr Grayhurst and Mrs Pollard

  

Correspondence 21st October 2025

School Photograph Reminder – Thursday 23rd October

Dear Parents,

Photographers will be coming into school on Thursday 23rd October to take the children’s individual photographs.

Brothers and sisters who attend school and either nursery session will also be photographed together for a sibling photograph, and this will be organised in school. 

If you have a preschool baby or toddler that you would like to bring for a family photograph, please come to the school hall at 8:15am. You are, of course, under no obligation to purchase any of the photographs if you do not wish to do so. 

School Photograph Reminder

Kind regards,

The Ellis Office

 

Correspondence 21st October 2025

Foundation Stage Sponsored Walk Postponed

Dear Parents and Carers,

We have made the difficult decision to postpone this Friday’s sponsored walk due to the poor weather forecast and for the safety of the children.

The walk will now take place on Friday 7th November at 9:15am. We would love for you to come along to support your children and enjoy some refreshments afterwards.

Thank you for your understanding and support.

Kind regards,

Mr Grayhurst and Mrs Pollard

  

Correspondence 15^th October 2025

Ellis Information – Data Checking

 Dear Parents and Carers,

In preparation for introducing our new Parent Portal, we are undertaking a data checking exercise to ensure we have up-to-date details for parents and legal guardians of pupils at The Ellis.

Please email office@ellis.dsat.education with all of the following information by Friday 7^th November:

• Name of child(ren)
• Name of parent/legal guardian(s) 
• Email address(es)
• Address(es)
• Telephone number(s)

Thank you for your continued support.

Kind regards,

Mrs Edwards

Headteacher

 

Walk to the Church Uniform Clarification

Correspondence 15^th October 2025

Foundation Stage Cleethorpes Trip – Monday 13th July 2026

Dear Parents and Carers,

Just a quick reminder that we’ll be walking to church tomorrow morning (Thursday) for our Harvest Service. I have been asked to clarify our uniform requirements for the day. If your child has PE in the afternoon, they’re welcome to still come to school in their PE kit however, if they’d prefer to come in their normal uniform, that’s absolutely fine too. We will provide an opportunity to change later in the day if needed.

Please remember to send your child with a coat and comfortable shoes for walking. The path might be a bit muddy, so it would also be helpful if they bring a pair of indoor shoes to change into when we get back to school if they don’t already have some in school.

Thanks so much for your support.

Kind regards

Mrs Edwards

 

Correspondence 15^th October 2025

Foundation Stage Cleethorpes Trip – Monday 13th July 2026

Dear Parent/Carer,

Visit to Cleethorpes

As part of our topic on ‘Journeys’, we are excited to let you know that we would like to take all of our EYFS children (Nursery and Reception), on a trip to Cleethorpes on Monday 13th July 2026. During the visit, the children can enjoy a beach scavenger hunt (there may even be a prize involved!) and then have some free time with their friends and family to enjoy a well-earned ice-cream.

Children in Nursery (F1) must be accompanied by an adult. For children in Reception (F2), we recommend that an adult joins them too, although this isn’t essential. Any children not accompanied by an adult will be looked after by their class teacher.

As there are a limited number of seats on the coach, we kindly ask that just one adult accompanies each child. Unfortunately, younger siblings are unable to travel with us due to insurance restrictions.

The visit will be led by Mrs Pollard and Mr Grayhurst, with support from Mrs Kelly and Mrs Beevers.

We will be travelling with Gee Vee Coaches, leaving school at 8:30am and returning around 4pm. Please make sure your child arrives at school by 8:15am at the latest. If your child is prone to travel sickness, please administer the appropriate medication before arriving at school.

The cost of the trip will be no more than £15 per person and adults will also need to pay. Unfortunately, if we don’t receive enough contributions, the trip may not be able to go ahead. Payment should be made via ParentPay by 14th June 2026. The default amount is £30, but if your F2 child is coming without an accompanying adult, please adjust the payment to £15. If you are finding it difficult to cover the cost, please speak to Mrs Edwards in confidence.

Please make sure your child wears school uniform on the day, along with suitable footwear. They will also need a sun hat, sun cream, a bucket and spade, and a coat if the weather isn’t kind to us.

Adults are welcome to buy lunch (fish and chips are always popular!), but if your F2 child is unaccompanied, please send them with a packed lunch. School packed lunches can be ordered from The Pantry (when available online – details are attached).

Children who aren’t joined by an adult may bring a small amount of spending money (up to £5) if they wish.

We will send a reminder email closer to the time with all the final details.

This promises to be a wonderful day out for the children, and we are really looking forward to it. The trip is already live on ParentPay if you would like to start making payments in instalments or pay the full amount straight away.

Thank you for your continued support – we really couldn’t make these experiences happen without it.

The Pantry Booking Packed Lunch for school trips guide

Yours sincerely,
Mrs Pollard & Mr Grayhurst

 

Correspondence 15^th October 2025

School Photographs – Thursday 23rd October 2025

Dear Parents,

Photographers will be coming into school on Thursday 23rd October to take the children’s individual photographs.

Brothers and sisters who attend school and either nursery session will also be photographed together for a sibling photograph, and this will be organised in school. 

If you have a preschool baby or toddler that you would like to bring for a family photograph, please come to the school hall at 8:15am. You are, of course, under no obligation to purchase any of the photographs if you do not wish to do so. 

Kind regards,

The Ellis Office

 

Correspondence 15^th October 2025

Home Time Update – Parents’ Evening

Dear Parents and Carers,

We would like to thank you in advance for bearing with us, as home time may be a little slower than usual today.

As it is Parents’ Evening, we have combined some classes to ensure all children are safely supervised while staff meet with families. This may mean that the dismissal process takes a little longer than usual.

Thank you for your patience and understanding – the safety and wellbeing of our pupils is always our top priority.

Kind regards,
Mrs Edwards

 

Correspondence 15^th October 2025

Y3/4 Hockey Competition – Friday 17th October

Dear Parent/Carer,

Your child has been selected to represent the school in a Year 3/4 Hockey Competition event at Hoyland Springwood School on Friday 17^th October.

The event will start at 1pm and will finish for 3pm.  Your child will travel to the venue by public transport at 12:25pm, and should be back at school for approximately 3:25pm. However, this is dependent on the bus.

Children will also need to bring their MiCard (if they have one), tracksuit bottoms/leggings, black socks, trainers and their water bottle. They will be given a school shirt to wear.  As the event will be held outdoors, it would be useful to bring warm clothes for when they are spectating.

If your child does not have a MiCard, we would encourage you to apply for one, as it enables your child to benefit from free bus travel within Barnsley, and also supports the school financially when we organise public transport for sporting activities such as this. To apply for a MiCard, please visit the Travel South Yorkshire website. 

Parents are unable to spectate on this occasion.

If your child requires an inhaler, they will need to bring this along with them. The cost of the trip will be funded using the Sports Premium Grant and therefore your child requires no money for the event.

If you have any questions or queries, please contact me at school.

Yours faithfully,

Miss Cook

Wider Curriculum Lead/Teacher

 

Correspondence 14th October 2025

Reception (F2) School Vision Screening Information

Dear Reception (F2) Parent,

We have been asked to share the attached information regarding the school Vision Screening programme with you.

Information For Parents Updated 2025

Kind regards,

The Ellis Office

 

Correspondence 13^th October 2025

New After School Clubs

Dear Parents,

Please see below for details of the after-school clubs for next half term, that are now available to book on ParentPay.

After-school clubs will be displayed within ‘Pay for other items’ when you log into your ParentPay account. Please note that making a payment to a club does not book a place. You must click ‘book sessions’ and then ‘book all sessions’ to secure your child’s place. You may also be required to checkout.

If there are dates when a club will not run, for example, inset days, the date will not be displayed in the booking calendar. 

The cost for each club is £2 per week, and the full amount for the half term will need to be paid via ParentPay before we can secure your child’s place. Bookings for clubs will remain open until 11:59pm on Monday 20^th October.

Refunds will only be offered if clubs have to be cancelled and not for non-attendance or if your child changes their mind. We are committed to making these clubs accessible; therefore, if the fee presents a challenge for your family, please reach out to us. We are happy to discuss options for support.

If you wish to use the tax-free childcare payment to pay for after school clubs, you will need to initially make the payment from your personal bank account to secure your child’s place at the club. Once we have received the tax-free childcare payment into our school bank account, we will credit this to the relevant after school club on ParentPay, and refund your initial payment back to your ParentPay account. Please tell the office if you would like to use your tax-free childcare payment for after school clubs.

Our clubs can be popular and have a limited number of spaces. If you cannot see the club listed in your ParentPay account, it may be that it is full. Please email office@ellis.dsat.education to place your child on our waiting list.

Please ensure your child has their PE kit with them for sports clubs. If your child will not be attending club one week, please inform us to avoid any confusion and so we can make sure they do not get changed at the end of the school day.

Our sports after school clubs are run by coaches from Active Club. 

All clubs run straight after school until 4:15pm.

Please contact the office if you have any questions regarding after school clubs or the new booking system.

Kind regards,

Miss Cook

Teacher/Wider Curriculum Lead

Autumn 2 After School Clubs 

Please remember to use ParentPay to book and pay for your child’s place in our clubs. 

Monday 

Multi Sports – open to F2 (Reception) to Y3 children.

Tuesday 

Sportshall Athletics – open to Y4 to Y6 children.

Tuesday 

Lego/Craft Club – open to Y3 children.

Wednesday 

Dodgeball – open to Y3 and Y4 children.                     

Thursday

Darts/Archery – open to Y4 to Y6 children.

 

Correspondence 14^th October 2025

Y6 Crucial Crew – 14th December

Dear Parent/Carer,

As part of the year 6 curriculum, we will be taking the children to Crucial Crew, an initiative run by South Yorkshire Police and Fire services, on Tuesday 9^th December 2025. The visit leader on the trip will be Mr Milliner. 

The coach company we will be using is Globe. The coach will leave school at 8:45am prompt and is expected to return to school by 3:15pm.  If your child suffers from travel sickness, we would suggest that appropriate travel sickness tablets are taken.  A further tablet for the return journey can be brought into school in a named envelope.

This trip will be fully funded by school as it is designed to help children develop an understanding of how to keep themselves and others safe in a variety of scenarios.

Your child will need a packed lunch for the day. Alternatively, you can order a packed lunch from The Pantry (once it is available, the guidance is attached).

The Pantry Booking Packed Lunch for school trips guide

Please log onto Parent Pay to give your consent.

Yours sincerely,

Mr Milliner

 

Correspondence 9^th October 2025

Ellis Information

Dear Parents,

Secondary Admissions Information

Please note:
The closing date for applications is now 31^st October 2025 – this is a significant change from last year’s deadline.
  It is essential to apply on time to give your children the best chance of being offered one of their preferred schools.

Why applying on time matters:

• 89% of on-time applicants were offered their first preference school
• Only 36% of late applicants received their first preference

If you require the admissions information to be re-sent, please contact: admissions@barnsley.gov.uk

Please see the two documents attached for further information.

Parents Applying for Sec School 2026-27

Applying Online for a Secondary School Place 2026-27

Important Safeguarding Notice: Children’s “Spy” Books

We have been informed of a recent issue affecting some popular children’s books by Andrew Cope, including the Spy Dogs, Spy Cats, and Spy Pups series.

Some editions of these books include a printed web address at the back. This link used to go to the author’s website, but the domain is no longer under his control. It has since been taken over by another party and now leads to inappropriate adult content.

The publisher, Puffin, has paused sales and distribution of the books and is working with schools, libraries, and retailers to remove copies from circulation. They have stressed that the website has no connection to the author or publisher.

What this means for you:

• If your child has any Spy Dog, Spy Cat or Spy Pups books at home, please check the back for website links and make sure they do not try to visit the site.
• It is safe for children to continue reading the stories themselves — the concern is only with the outdated link.
• We recommend talking with your child about the importance of not following web addresses in books without checking with an adult first.

Your Home Fire Safety Checklist
 South Yorkshire Fire & Rescue is offering a free online fire safety check for all families. This tool helps you to identify and reduce potential fire risks in your home.

• Take Action: Get instant fire safety advice tailored to you.
• Get Support: If your home is deemed high-risk, you can opt for a free in-person visit from the fire service.

Please visit http://www.ohfsc.co.uk 

Open The Book Training Package

We have been asked to share details of ‘Open The Book’. This is a training package that enables congregational members to form small, fun groups to be able to go in to schools and provide simple and scripted collective worship. Please see the attached flyer for more information as this independent from school.

Open the Book Event Rotherham

Family Service – 12^th October 

Please see the attached flyer for more information on St. Mary’s Harvest Family Service.

Harvest Family Service – 12th October

Kind regards

The Ellis Office

 

Correspondence 9^th October 2025

Y4 Geography Fieldwork Trip – Monday 13th October

Dear Parent/Carers,

We are planning a Year 4 Geography Fieldwork Trip to Elsecar Canal/Trans Pennine Trail (beside the Elephant & Castle) on Monday 13th October 2025. This is linked to our ‘Why are rainforests important?’ learning and will be an opportunity to observe and collect data about a local habitat that falls into the temperate deciduous forest biome, allowing us to compare our observations to that of a tropical rainforest biome. We will be making observations on living things along the canal, recording data on the living things we see, considering their habitats in addition to considering the similarities and differences between a body of water within our biome and that of the Amazon. 

We will be leaving school after lunch at 1pm and walking down Tingle Bridge towards the entrance to the Elsecar Canal at the Elephant and Castle. The fieldwork will take no longer than an hour and a half, so we will be back in school for the end of the day.

On the day of the trip your child will need school uniform, a waterproof coat, suitable footwear for a potentially muddy walk, and a water bottle. We suggest pupils bring a rucksack in which to carry their water, as they will also be carrying clipboards for data collection.

The visit is covered by the local walks consent form and therefore, no separate consent is needed. 

Kind regards, 

Miss O’Brien

Y4 Teacher

 

Correspondence 9^th October 2025

Y5 Jorvik Viking Trip – 26th February 2026

Dear Parent/Carer,      

Visit to Jorvik Viking Centre

In support of the children’s topic on Vikings in the Spring term, we would like to take Year 5 to the Jorvik Viking Centre in York on Thursday 26^th February 2026 to experience what life was like during Viking times.  The children will take part in a tour of the Jorvik, a tour of the Dig Site and a Viking battle tactics workshop.  

We will be travelling with Globe coaches. The coach will leave school at 8:15am and is expected to return to school by 3:30pm. Children will need to be at school for no later than 8:05am.  If your child suffers from travel sickness, we would suggest that appropriate travel sickness tablets are taken before school. 

The cost of the trip is £28 per pupil towards the cost of the coach, entrance to the two sites and the workshop fee. Unfortunately, if we do not receive sufficient contributions to cover the cost, the trip may have to be cancelled. Payment is available now via Parent Pay and will need to be paid by Monday 9^th February.  

We are aware we that this is a significant cost additional to the PGL cost, however we try to give the children as many experiences as possible to enhance their learning.  Consequently, we have given as much notice as possible and you are welcome to pay smaller instalments over time. If anyone is struggling with the cost, then please contact the school.  

Your child will need a packed lunch for the day. Alternatively, you can order a packed lunch from The Pantry (once it is available, the guidance is attached).

There is a gift shop on site and the children can bring a small amount of money (no more than £5) if they wish, however this will be the children’s responsibility to look after. Please ensure school uniform is worn on the day with suitable footwear and an appropriate coat depending on the weather. 

The Pantry Booking Packed Lunch for school trips guide

Yours sincerely, 

Miss Cook 

Teacher/Wider Curriculum Lead

  

Correspondence 8^th October 2025

Y4 Cannon Hall Trip – Friday 16th January 2026 

Dear Parents and Carers,

As part of our history enquiry, “How Children’s Lives Have Changed,” Year 4 will be visiting Cannon Hall Museum on Friday 16th January 2026. During the day, the children will explore how Victorian children lived and compare their experiences with those of our Y4 children today.

The country house offers a fantastic opportunity for pupils to see both upper-class and working-class Victorian living quarters. The visit will also include a hands-on workshop where the children will step back in time to become Victorian children. They will take part in activities such as washing clothes, baking sweet treats, and making lavender bags for their ‘masters’. The children will be able to bring these keepsakes home.

We will be travelling with Globe Coaches, leaving school just after registration, so please ensure your child arrives promptly at 8:45am. We expect to return to school in time for the usual home time.

As the museum has both indoor and outdoor areas, please ensure your child wears:

• Their normal school uniform
• A waterproof coat
• Suitable shoes for walking around the site

Your child will need a packed lunch for the day. Alternatively, you can order a packed lunch from The Pantry (once it is available, the guidance is attached).

The cost of the trip is £16.60 per child, and we are asking for contributions to be made by Friday 9th January 2026 via ParentPay, where you can also give your consent. Unfortunately, if we do not receive sufficient contributions to cover the cost, the trip may have to be cancelled.

You are welcome to pay in smaller instalments or in full at any time before the due date. Please note that no spending money is required for this trip.

I will send out an email nearer to the date with all the final details. 

This promises to be a wonderful and memorable experience for our Year 4 children, and we are really looking forward to sharing the day with them.

Thank you, as always, for your continued support. Without this, our trips could not go ahead.

The Pantry Booking Packed Lunch for school trips guide

Kind regards,

Miss O’Brien

 

Correspondence 7^th October 2025

Ellis Information

Dear Parents and Carers,

Thank you to everyone who attended our Open Evening last week and to those who have already responded to our policy consultations. These will remain open until Friday if you would still like to share your views.

PINS (Partnership for Inclusion of Neurodiversity in Schools)

A quick reminder that the first of our three upcoming PINS events will take place on Thursday 9th October at 1pm.

This is a great opportunity to meet with staff and other parents to chat about co-production and how we can communicate and work better together to improve the experiences of our children.

Future sessions are scheduled for 20th November 2025 and 15th January 2026.

Water Bottles

We kindly ask that children’s water bottles are no larger than 500ml and do not have straws sticking out, as storage space in classrooms is limited and we want to avoid bottles getting damaged.

There’s no need to buy new bottles, however if replacements are ever needed, please avoid oversized ‘Stanley cup’ style bottles, as these are too large for our storage.

Children are always welcome to refill their bottles throughout the day.

Harvest Service

Our Harvest service this year will be at St Mary’s Church on Thursday 16th October.

Years 1 to 6 will be walking from school promptly at 9am and parents and families are welcome to meet us at St Mary’s for a 10am start. Seating is available on a first come, first served basis, however, the children will be sitting in the main pews directly in front of the altar, so please leave these free. Children will need to stay with their class throughout the service and will share some harvest poetry or art.  

At the end of the service, we will walk the children back to school in time for their lunch. 

Kindly bring any donations of tinned/packet food or toiletries with you as these will be donated to Wombwell food bank via St Mary’s.

Lost Property

Please ensure that all belongings are clearly labelled with your child’s name. This makes it much easier for us to return any misplaced items quickly and helps reduce the amount of lost property.

Thank you, as always, for your continued support.

Kind regards,

Mrs Edwards

 

Correspondence 3rd October 2025

Y2 South Yorkshire Aircraft Museum Trip – Thursday 5th February 2026

Dear Parents,

We are planning a Year 2 trip to South Yorkshire Aircraft Museum, this is linked to our History enquiry ‘How did we learn to fly?’, where we have been learning about the Wright Brothers, Besse Coleman, Amelia Earhart and their flying journeys. The former RAF airbase will give children an amazing opportunity to experience the development of aircraft over time with some crafts dating back nearly 100 years! There will be opportunities to step back in time through a number of exciting exhibits.

The trip will take place on Thursday 5th February 2026. We will be leaving just after registration; therefore, children will need to arrive promptly at 8:45am, and we will arrive back at school in time for normal home time. We will be travelling with Globe Coaches.

The museum has areas that are both inside and outside, and your children will need to wear their normal uniform, a waterproof coat and suitable shoes for walking around the site. As we will be there all day, the children will require a packed lunch on this day or you can order a packed lunch from The Pantry (once it is available, the guidance is attached). I will send out an email much nearer the time to give you all the final details. There will be no spending money needed for this trip.

The cost of the trip will be £14.95 each, and we are asking for contributions to be made by Monday 26th January 2026. If we do not raise sufficient funds to cover the cost of this trip, then unfortunately it will have to be cancelled. Please log onto ParentPay to make payments and to give your consent.

This trip will be a fantastic experience for the children and we are looking forward to taking them. It is available now on ParentPay should you wish to start paying smaller amounts towards it. Alternatively, you can pay the full amount up to the given date.

Thank you so much for your support. Without this, our trips could not go ahead.

The Pantry Booking Packed Lunch for school trips guide

Kind regards,

Miss Bradbury

Y2 Class Teacher

 

Correspondence 2^nd October 2025

SEND Children’s Progress

Dear Parents of Children with SEND,

We are aware that many parents with SEND children often have additional meetings or contact with their child’s class teacher and therefore do not need extra time at Parents’ Evening. 

If you are happy with the 12-minute meeting on either of the two days that have been offered, then this will be great for us too, however, if at the end of your appointment, you or the class teacher feel more time is needed to discuss your child’s progress/learning, a further appointment can be booked for a mutually convenient time.

Thank you

The Ellis Office

 

Correspondence 2^nd October 2025

Parents’ Evenings – Wednesday 15th and Wednesday 22nd October

Dear Parents, 

We will be holding our parents’ evenings in the school hall on Wednesday 15^th October and Wednesday22^nd October, between 2:30pm and 6pm.  

To book your child’s 12-minute slot, please use the Cloud system by following the link below:

https://theellisce.schoolcloud.co.uk/

If you have any problems logging on to the system, please contact Mrs Fiddes or Miss Dodd at office@ellis.dsat.education who will be able to help you.

The Ellis Office

 

Correspondence 30^th September 2025

RSE / Behaviour Policy

Dear Parents,

Attached are the two policies that will be available for consultation tomorrow evening. I thought it might be helpful to share them in advance so you have time to read through and consider any questions or thoughts you might like to raise.

We really value your input and look forward to discussing these with you tomorrow. I have attached the link to the google forms if you are unable to attend, but would still like the opportunity to contribute. 

RSE policy feedback:    https://forms.gle/5WhtnxvXT7YzD2Zq8

Behaviour policy feedback:    https://forms.gle/zD5CFvqiLAH1d6ej9

DRAFT RSE Policy Sep 26

DRAFT Behaviour Policy Oct25-Oct26

Kind regards,

Mrs Edwards

Headteacher

 

Correspondence 26^th September

Ellis Information

Dear Families,

Welcome to our latest newsletter. There is lots to share with you about what is happening in school and what is coming up. As always, thank you for your continued support—it makes such a difference to the children’s experiences here at The Ellis. We hope you find this update helpful and that it gives you a flavour of the exciting things going on in and around school.

Online Learning Platforms

We are finally up and running with our online learning platforms, such as SeeSaw, TT Rockstars and Spelling Shed. Thank you so much for your patience during the set up. If you experience any issues logging in, please speak with your class teacher who should be able to help. 

Open Evening 1^st October

We’re really pleased to let you know that, following feedback from parents, we’re bringing back our curriculum evening! This is a great chance to pop into your child’s classroom, have a look around and meet their class teacher. You will also be able to see what is planned for the year ahead in terms of the curriculum.

The evening starts off at 3:30pm and staff will be around until 5pm. Feel free to drop in whenever works for you.

While you’re here, you can also pop into the hall to share your thoughts on our school behaviour policy and RSE policy—we’d love to hear your views.

Just to be clear, this isn’t a formal parents’ evening—it’s a relaxed, friendly opportunity to get a feel for your child’s learning environment and the journey they’ll be on this year.

Sensory Toys 

At The Ellis, we know that every child is unique and may need different types of support to help them thrive. We have lots of tools in school to help identify and meet these needs, and we also work with other professionals when needed.

Some children have sensory needs—for example, they may need to move more or use certain tools to help them regulate. Already this year, some families have kindly sent in things like fidget toys, putty, soft toys or notebooks to help. Whilst this was done with the best of intentions, we’ve noticed a few challenges:

• Sometimes it’s tricky for children to see the difference between “toys” and “tools.”
• Items can get lost, broken, or cause upset if they need to be put away.
• It can be confusing for pupils who don’t need sensory tools but would like to bring toys from home.
• For some children, these items actually become more of a distraction than a help.

To keep things clear and supportive for everyone, we’ll continue building and reviewing sensory toolkits in school for children who need them. We’ll provide a range of resources and work with families to identify what might help, but we kindly ask that parents don’t send sensory items in from home, particularly slime.

If you feel your child may have an unidentified sensory need, please chat with your child’s class team—we’re here to listen and support.

Melatonin Information

We’d also like to remind families about the use of melatonin. Recently there has been a rise in melatonin products being sold online, but these can be unsafe. The quality and dosage of these products aren’t always reliable, and giving them to children without medical guidance can be harmful. If your child needs support with sleep, please speak to your GP. Melatonin, in any form, should only ever be given to children when it has been prescribed by a doctor.

Book Bus 

We’re also really excited to let you know that we’ve booked The Book Bus again this year! It will visit school on the 27th November (just in time for Christmas). Each class will have time during the day to visit the bus, and families are warmly invited to pop along after school too. It’s a great chance to browse and buy high-quality books at reduced prices. We will send out more information closer to the date.

A big thank you to all our families for your ongoing support! Don’t forget that Class Dojo is a great way to keep up with what’s happening in your child’s class. From updates on learning and class activities to messages from teachers, it’s a simple way to stay connected and support your child’s learning at home. 

Thank you 

Mrs Edwards

 

Correspondence 26^th September 2025

Secondary Admissions Information

Dear Parents,

Please note:
The closing date for applications is now 31^st October 2025 – this is a significant change from last year’s deadline.
It is essential to apply on time to give your children the best chance of being offered one of their preferred schools.

Why applying on time matters:

• 89% of on-time applicants were offered their first preference school
• Only 36% of late applicants received their first preference

If you require the admissions information to be re-sent, please contact: admissions@barnsley.gov.uk

Please see the two documents attached for further information.

Parents Applying for Sec School 2026-27

Applying Online for a Secondary School Place 2026-27

Kind regards

The Ellis Office

 

Correspondence 24^th September 2025

Barnsley Poetry Slam 2025

Dear Parents/Carers,

We are excited to share that your child has expressed an interest in taking part in Barnsley Poetry Slam 2025. This is a wonderful opportunity for students to develop their performance and creative skills whilst enjoying the art of poetry.

The performance event will take place on Monday 13th October, from 5pm to 7pm at the Holiday Inn, Dodworth.

To prepare for the performance, your child will need to attend sessions to learn and practise their poem during the school day and be willing to practise at home to build confidence and fluency.

We would like your permission for your child to participate in these preparation sessions and to attend the event, with an adult, at Holiday Inn.

Please reply to this email by the close of day tomorrow (25th September) to confirm:

1.      Your child has your permission to attend the final event on 13th October.
2.      You agree to support your child by practising their poem at home.
3.      An adult will be able to stay at the Holiday Inn to support the performance.

We look forward to encouraging your child as they take part in this exciting opportunity!

Kind regards,

Mrs Edwards

Headteacher

 

Correspondence 24^th September 2025

Y1 Trips Information

Dear Parents,

I am very excited to inform you of the two trips we have organised for our Y1 children for this academic year. At The Ellis, we see real value in taking our children on educational visits and want to ensure that throughout their time with us, they have the opportunity to experience many different places and types of visits. This year we would like to take our Y1 class to Cast Theatre in Doncaster and to Pops Outdoor Adventure in Rosehill Park, Rawmarsh. As the children are now in KS1, the staff at The Ellis accompany the children rather than parents. The trips are supervised in line with recommended ratios, and the staff taking the children are very experienced at running trips. I will be trip leader for both, and these two trips are perfect for the first-time children go without their parents. I have outlined the two trips below and will send out final details of each one nearer the time. We have tried to keep the cost as low as possible and to give you as much notice as possible so that parents can spread the cost over the coming weeks. The theatre trip is the higher priced one, as the tickets per child cost more and so does the coach. We have tried to balance this by running a lower cost trip to Pops.

Cast Theatre, Doncaster

On Tuesday 16th December 2025, we have booked to take the children to see ‘Hansel and Gretel’. It is described as a “joyful, festive theatre treat packed with magic, music and festive sparkle. Perfect for ages 2-6”. This will be a lovely experience, especially as it is the week of our nativity, so we can experience what it is like as an audience member rather than a performer.

The show lasts 1 hour, and we will be using Globe Coaches. The cost of the trip will be £20.40, and we are asking for voluntary contributions to be made by Friday 22nd November. If we do not raise sufficient funds to cover the cost of this trip, then it will have to be cancelled. Please log onto ParentPay to make payments and to give permission.

The performance starts at 11.30am prompt, and therefore we will be leaving at 10.30am to allow for traffic and getting into the theatre. I am aware that this will impact on lunchtime, so my plan is to offer the children a mid-morning snack of toast and fruit before we set off and to ask children to either bring a packed lunch or to order a packed lunch from The Pantry (once it is available, the guidance is attached), so that when we return by 1pm we can have a picnic in our classroom before I take the children out for their lunchtime playtime. I will send out a letter reminding you of this information nearer the time. Children do not require any spending money for this trip. If you would like to find out more about the show, please visit

https://www.castindoncaster.com/whats-on/hansel-gretel/

Pops Outdoor Adventure (Rosehill Park, Rawmarsh).

On Wednesday 29th April 2026, we have booked to take the children to Pops, which is an educational centre within Rosehill Park that has a daily before and after school club and runs holiday clubs too. They have their own fully insured minibuses, which we will be using (hence the cost is a lot lower as they only charge for petrol which is wonderful). During the day, the children will take part in lots of activities linked to mini-beasts, and it supports a lot of our science Y1 objectives for the spring term. The centre has an indoor classroom where we can eat our lunch and a large gazebo tent should it be needed.

The cost of the trip will be £13, and we are asking for voluntary contributions to be made by Wednesday 25th March 2026. If we do not raise sufficient funds to cover the cost of this trip, then it will have to be cancelled. Please log onto ParentPay before this date to make payments and to give permission. We will send out a reminder nearer the time, as it is a long way away.

We will leave school at 9am for this trip, therefore children will need to arrive promptly at 8.45am. We will be back in time for normal home time. The children will require a packed lunch on this day or you can order a packed lunch from The Pantry (once it is available, the guidance is attached). I will send out an email much nearer the time to give you all the final details. There will be no spending money needed for this trip.

Local Walk

During the summer term, we will carry out a local walk around our village as part of our Geography topic, ‘What is it like to live in Shanghai?’ The local walk is an opportunity for the children to compare the human and physical features of Shanghai to features in Hemingfield village and to make a simple map using data collected through the fieldwork. There is no need to give permission for this trip as it is covered by the local walks permission already received. We will, of course, send out information about the day and details of the walk in the summer term.

I realise that this is a lot of information, but felt that it was helpful for parents to have all the information regarding trips for the year in advance, to enable parents to spread the cost throughout the year.

We love trips in Y1, and we hope that the memories they create will last for many years to come. Both trips are on ParentPay should you wish to start paying smaller amounts towards them. Alternatively, you can pay the full amount up to the given date.

The Pantry Booking Packed Lunch for school trips guide

If you have any questions regarding any of these trips, please do come and see me.

Thank you so much for your support. Without this, our trips could not go ahead.

Kind regards,

Mrs C Trotter

 

Correspondence 23^rd September

Y4 Football Tournament – Friday 26th September

Dear Y4 Parent/Carer, 

Your child has been selected to represent the school in a Football Tournament at Elsecar Primary School on Friday 26^th September.  

The event will start at 1pm and will finish for 3pm.  Your child will travel to the venue on foot. Children should arrive back to school for the normal finishing time, however may be a few minutes late depending on when the event finishes.  

Children will need to bring shorts/tracksuit bottoms, black/blue football socks, trainers and their water bottle. They will be given a school shirt to wear. Socks can also be given out if needed.  As the event will be held outdoors, on grass, it would be useful to bring warm clothes for when they are spectating and they can choose to wear trainers or football boots. Shin pads are recommended but not essential. 

Parents are unable to spectate on this occasion.

If your child requires an inhaler, they will need to bring this along with them. 

If you have any questions or queries, please contact me at school.

Yours faithfully,

Miss Cook

Wider Curriculum Lead/Y5 Teacher

 

Correspondence 22^nd September 2025

Y5 Skipping Festival – Tuesday 7th October

Dear Parents/Carers,

Your child’s class has been selected to take part in a Skipping Festival at Trinity St Edwards on Tuesday 7th October.

The event will run from 12:30pm to approximately 2:30pm. Children will have their lunch in school before leaving.

Please ensure your child comes to school wearing their full PE kit (white PE top, black shorts) with suitable trainers and a water bottle. As the event is indoors, they will also need a tracksuit/coat for travelling to and from the venue.

If your child uses an inhaler, please make sure it is brought into school on the day.

Unfortunately, parents are not able to spectate on this occasion.

The cost of this trip is fully covered by the Sports Premium Grant and therefore no payment is required.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me via the school office.

Yours faithfully,

Miss Cook
Wider Curriculum Lead/Year 5 Teacher

 

Correspondence 19^th September 2025

Ellis Information

Dear Parents and Carers,

It’s hard to believe we are already at the end of Week 3 of the new school year! It has been wonderful to see how well the children have settled back into school life. Classrooms are calm, happy and purposeful, which reflects both the children’s positive attitudes and the support you provide at home. Thank you for helping your child transition so smoothly after the summer holiday.

Over these first few weeks, teachers and support staff have been focusing on getting to know each child as an individual, building strong relationships that will support both learning and wellbeing throughout the year.

Academisation

I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your patience. As some of you may know, our conversion to academy status has been delayed, which has had a knock-on effect on some of our background systems. As a result, we are still working through a few technical issues with our online learning platforms following recent MIS changes. We will keep you updated, and we appreciate your understanding whilst we get everything running smoothly.

Classroom Visits

In response to feedback from our end-of-year reports, we are pleased to share that we have reinstated our Classroom Open Evening. This will take place on Wednesday 1st October from 3:30pm (further details to follow). The evening will give parents and carers the opportunity to look around their child’s classroom, meet the teaching team, and find out more about the curriculum expectations for the year ahead.

Timing

I also want to apologise for the timing of the recent PE kit changes. I recognise that introducing this information at this stage of the term caused families inconvenience, and I am sorry for this, however the decision was made with the children in mind and moving forward it will benefit them. I am grateful to everyone who has taken the time to share their thoughts, both positive and negative. 

To help clarify:

• On cooler days, it is absolutely fine for children to wear the joggers or leggings they already have for outdoor PE during their indoor PE sessions too.
• School jumpers and cardigans can be worn as an extra layer.

• There is no expectation to purchase additional items such as hoodies for your children.

SEND Meet and Greet

A huge thank you as well to everyone who attended our SEND Meet and Greet this week. It was lovely to see so many families come together. For our next event, we will ask attendees to book via Eventbrite to ensure we can comfortably accommodate everyone.

The Pantry (School Lunch Provider)

If you are still experiencing issues with The Pantry system, please contact them directly, as the school is unable to resolve these issues on your behalf.

Important Dates Calendar

We have attached these for your reference.

Important Dates

A few general reminders:

• Start of the Day: Children should arrive on time each morning. The school gates close at 8:50am, after which children need to be signed in at the office. Families who are regularly late will be contacted by the senior leadership team so we can work together to address any difficulties.
• End of the Day: Thank you for your patience as we continue to get used to new routines and faces during dismissal, particularly in KS1. The process is becoming quicker and smoother each day.
• MUGA and Playground Equipment: Children are not permitted to use the playground equipment or play games on the MUGA before or after school, unless supervised by a member of staff.

Thank you once again for your ongoing support in helping us make such a positive start to the term.

Kind regards,

Mrs Edwards

 

Correspondence 19^th September 2025

Y2 Whirlow Residential Trip

Dear Parents,

As you will be aware, we run an annual 2-night residential trip for our Y2 children to Whirlow Farm in Sheffield. Last July, we took 29 x Y2s and had an absolutely brilliant time! Our Y2 Whirlow residential is a wonderful experience and one which our current Y6 children talk about fondly from when they visited all those years ago!

Whirlow Farm is a very popular place for Key Stage 1 children to visit and they run residential trips for children all year round (although the summer term books up very early as it is a lovely end of year experience). Their most popular age group is indeed Year 2 as it provides a welcoming, age-appropriate programme for children of this age. Many schools visit year after year and it becomes an annual favourite for Key Stage 1 children!

Whirlow Farm is a working farm with many animals, beautiful woodland and farm walks and space for children to play in the safety of enclosed gardens. It is set in acres of farmland, has a lovely play area and the views are spectacular! The farm staff are very experienced at working with primary school children and there is an onsite educational team who will work alongside the teachers and children during the day.

On one of the days, the children will have the opportunity to take part in a farm tour where they will have the chance to meet lots of farm animals and to help out with the farm jobs (e.g; feeding the animals, grooming them and handling some of the smaller animals). On the second day, the school staff will walk the children to Forge Dam, approx. 1.2 miles away, which has a large duck pond, lovely play area, picnic spots, woodland area and stream which we love paddling in (it is very shallow only coming up to ankle-level and staff are in the water with the children) and yummy ice cream! In the evenings, we will do lots of activities with the children, depending on the weather, including playing games and sports, baking and playing board games and quizzes together. The children will also work together (alongside the school teaching staff) to prepare meals, make packed lunches and wash up! It really is a big team effort but an amazing opportunity for the children to develop their independence in a small, safe environment.

With regards sleeping arrangements; the farm can cater for 12 children and 2 teachers at a time, which would mean that one group would visit whilst the others are at school and on their return the other group would then visit. If we have 24 children or less, we will run 2 trips. If we have more than 24 children, we will take smaller groups of approximately 10 and run three trips (Any child who does not wish to take part in the residential will attend school as normal that week). The children will sleep in a converted hall which has two rooms of 6 children. (The two teachers will have their own rooms within the hall and will look after the children overnight). There is a lovely enclosed garden and it is right in the heart of the farm. Waking up to sheep baaing and the cockerel crowing is magical!

As a parent myself with two children, I realise that it is hard to ever imagine that your own child will be ready for an overnight stay but this residential is a lovely way to let them experience an overnight stay with their friends and teachers they know well in a small, homely and calm environment. Having taught KS1 for many years now, it still staggers me how much the children grow up and change between the end of Year 1 and the end of Year 2. They really do grow in confidence, independence and resilience over the year.  Having now run this trip for many years now, I can say first-hand that the children gain so much from such an experience and that it provides them with lasting memories. I will be personally accompanying each group with another member of staff from school.

With regards cost, we are unable to give an exact figure until we know how many children will be going (as the hall and coach are a set price regardless of whether it is at full capacity of 12 children or not). I envisage that it will not cost more than £120 based on previous years and may be slightly lower depending on numbers. This will include 2 nights’ accommodation, food, return travel by minibus and all the activities children undertake whilst they are there. Payments can be spread throughout the year and once we have numbers, we will be able to send out a final price and a payment schedule.

As lots of schools are now starting to book residential visits for next year, we have provisionally booked the following dates for our visit, however I need to confirm these dates soon. If we have less than 24 children, then the last date will not be needed.

Mon 29th June  – Wed 1st July 2026 (first group)

Wed 1st July – Fri 3rd July 2026 (second group)

Mon 6th July – Wed 8th July 2026 (third group)

NB – group 1 and group 2 swap over on Wednesday lunchtime. Group 2 are collected from school mid-morning on Wed 1st July and are taken to Whirlow and dropped off and group 1 are then returned to school on the same minibus.

As we are only able to hold our provisional booking for a certain number of days, please can you reply to this email by Friday 26th September 2025 confirming whether or not your child would like a place. When we have confirmed numbers, I will be able to confirm the exact price. I will then send out payment schedules and details of how to pay on Parent Pay.

Please note participation in this trip will be dependent on consistent good behaviour in school.

If you have any initial enquiries, please pop and see Mrs Trotter or email the office and I will answer any questions you might have.  Alternatively, I am sure the current KS2 parents would be happy to speak to you about their experience of the residential.

Kind regards

Mrs Trotter (Y1 Teacher and KS1 Leader)

 

Correspondence 18^th September

Ellis Information

Dear Parents,

Social, Communication & Interaction (SCI) Team 

Please find attached an information flyer detailing parent/carer courses that are available for this year. 

2025-26 SCI Courses

F2 and Y6 National Child Measurement Programme (NCMP)

As you may be aware, the National Child Measurement Programme (NCMP)?is a nationally mandated public health programme. It involves measuring the height and weight of all school children in Reception and Year 6, every year. In Barnsley, this is carried out by the 0-19 Public Health Nursing Service. This provides vital information which is used to plan for and invest in key services to tackle obesity and its wider determinants and ensure all children can be healthy. It also engages parents in healthy lifestyle advice and support. We have not yet been informed as to when the nurses will be coming into school.

Please see the attached poster and the video below for more information:

Parent/Carer video

NCMP poster

Play Equipment before and after School

Please can we remind parents that children are not allowed on the play equipment before or after school. This includes the tyres, trim trail, climbing wall, reading shed and Foundation Stage field equipment. We have signs to help everyone remember these rules. Please can we ask that you help us to enforce this and if your child walks to school alone, that you talk to them about this at home. 

Thank you for your support.

The Ellis Office

 

Correspondence 16^th September 2025

Ellis Information – Changes to PE Arrangements

Dear Parents and Carers,

We are making a small change to our PE arrangements to help children get the very best out of their lessons. From now on, on their allocated PE days, children should come to school wearing their PE kit and remain in it for the full day, rather than changing at school. This will allow more time for exercise and activity, and less time spent changing, while also reinforcing important messages about privacy.

Our Uniform Policy outlines the requirements for PE kits, and we kindly ask that children come to school wearing the correct kit.

A gentle reminder that football shirts and branded tops are not permitted. During the colder months, children may wear tracksuit bottoms or trousers for PE (over their shorts for indoor lessons) and their school jumper or cardigan, or a plain, unbranded hoodie in our school colours, to ensure they are comfortable and warm. During outdoor PE lessons, a small, lightweight jacket may also be worn.

For after-school clubs, children will still have the opportunity to change at the end of the school day.

Thank you for your support with this change — we are looking forward to seeing the children enjoy even more time being active and healthy.

Kind regards,

Mrs Edwards
Headteacher

 

Correspondence 16^th September 2025

KS2 Football Tournament – Friday 19th September

Dear Parent/Carer, 

Your child has been selected to represent the school in a KS2 Football Tournament at Hoyland Common Primary School on Friday 19^th September.  

The event will start at 1pm and will finish for 3pm.  Your child will travel to the venue by public transport at 12:25pm, and should be back at school for approximately 3:25pm. However, this is dependent on the bus. Children will need a packed lunch on the day.

Children will also need to bring their MiCard (if they have one), shorts/tracksuit bottoms, black socks, trainers and their water bottle. They will be given a school shirt to wear.  As the event will be held outdoors, on grass, it would be useful to bring warm clothes for when they are spectating and they can choose to wear trainers or football boots. Shin pads are recommended but not essential. 

If your child does not have a MiCard, we would encourage you to apply for one, as it enables your child to benefit from free bus travel within Barnsley, and also supports the school financially when we organise public transport for sporting activities such as this. To apply for a MiCard, please visit the Travel South Yorkshire website. 

Parents are unable to spectate on this occasion.

If your child requires an inhaler, they will need to bring this along with them. The cost of the trip will be funded using the Sports Premium Grant and therefore your child requires no money for the event.

If you have any questions or queries, please contact me at school.

Yours faithfully,

Miss Cook

Wider Curriculum Lead/Teacher

 

Correspondence 15^th September 2025

Meet and Greet Coffee Afternoon – Thursday 18th September, 2pm

Dear All Parents and Carers,

On Thursday the 18^th of September at 2pm, we would like to invite you to a coffee afternoon with the purpose of meeting Mrs Edwards, our headteacher and Mr Davies, our SENCO (Special Educational Needs Coordinator), and Kimberley Smith from the SEND Participation Team. 

In their journey at The Ellis, all our children will have challenges and successes and we are keen to support them all, and you as their families, through the highs and the lows. Please come along to find out more about our school team and the support that can be put in place if it is needed.

Please accept our apologies for the short notice.

To help us manage numbers, please email office@ellis.dsat.education if you will be attending.

Many thanks,

The Ellis Team

 

Correspondence 15^th September 2025

Y5 Elsecar Reservoir Geography Fieldwork Trip – Wednesday 1st October

Dear Parent/Carers,

We are planning a Year 5 Geography Fieldwork Trip to Elsecar Reservoir on Wednesday 1^st October 2025. This is linked to our ‘Why do oceans matter?’ learning and will be an opportunity to observe and collect data about a local marine environment. This will give us a chance to use field study skills and to make links between our learning about the ocean and the bodies of water in our locality. We will be making a sketch map, collecting data on plants, animals and litter and making observational drawings of key human impact on the area.  

We will be leaving school after register is completed at 8:45am, walking along the canal to Elsecar Park, walking around the reservoir and stopping at three points to make tally charts regarding any litter in the area, observations of animals and plants and drawings of key geographical features. We intend to be in school for lunch, however, we may eat slightly later than our usual time.

On the day of the trip your child will need school uniform, a waterproof coat, suitable footwear for a potentially muddy walk, and a water bottle. We suggest pupils bring a rucksack in which to carry their water, as they will also be carrying clipboards for data collection.

The visit is covered by the local walks consent form and therefore, no separate consent is needed. 

Kind regards, 

Miss Cook

Y5 Teacher

 

Correspondence 12^th September 2025

Trinity St Edward’s Information

Dear Parents,

We have been asked to email the attached letter and open evening information to our current Year 6 parents.

Trinity Academy St Edward’s – Fair banding registration – Reminder

The Ellis Office

 

Correspondence 12^th September 2025

Information Flyers

Dear Parents,

Please see the attached posters for more information on:

• The community PINS project. PINS Coffee Meeting Poster

• St Mary’s Church Family Service on Sunday 14^th September. Family Service

• St George’s Church, Jump, Campfire Service on Sunday 21^st September.
• JAM (Jesus and Me) after school club on Mondays.

The Ellis Office

 

Correspondence 12^th September 2025

Young Voices Information

Dear Parents, 

Welcome back to a new school year. I hope you have all had a restful summer. I am very excited that your child has decided to join our Young Voices choir. Here are a couple of reminders and also some information about an optional after school club. 

Young Voice Account

Please ensure you have either created (new to Young Voices) an account or logged into your current account (if you have previously created one). You will only be able to access the song tracks and place t shirt and ticket orders through the website. If you signed up last year, then log into your Young Voices account and to receive a message saying you have not been approved for this season (or words similar to this). That is fine. It will then come through to me and I will approve you and it will let you into the same forum as last year where you can access everything. You do not need to make a new account. 

If you are new to Young Voices, then you need to make an account linked to our school. You can do this by clicking on the link below or by scanning the QR code. 

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

YV Music Room The YV Teacher Centre and Music Room yvmusicroom.com

This will then take you into the music room where you can gain access to everything you need. 

Ticket and T-Shirts

Tickets and t-shirts are available to order from now. Please remember they are not compulsory; a white PE t shirt is also acceptable. If you have already placed an order, then please be reassured I can see it on the school account. If you need to place an order, click on the left hand side on ‘shop – products’ and it will open up the tickets and t shirts. 

The tickets are emailed to me and I print them out and send them home. We do not receive the tickets until approximately a week before the concert, so please do not worry that you won’t receive them until February 2026, that is normal. The t-shirts are delivered in bulk to school and again I send them out when I get them (which is usually a couple of weeks before the concert). 

As tickets sell out quickly, I will be submitting all orders by Friday 3rd October. You are able to order after this date, however, I cannot guarantee your tickets will be with the rest of our school. As soon as I place the orders, you will receive an email to say they have been sent. I have to await an email from Young Voices to say I can do. 

Music Room

All the tracks, dance videos etc are now on and ready to practise! Just log onto your account and select ‘Music Room’ from the left hand side and you are ready to go! I will send home printed lyrics with your child over the next few days. 

Lunchtime and Optional After School Club

I will start lunchtime rehearsals in October. Children will be expected to attend a 20-minute rehearsal once a week. Please remind your child that this is compulsory in order to ensure your child has a good idea of the songs we will be singing. 

In addition, I will put on an optional after school club. This will take place in the Y1 classroom on Friday 3:15pm to 4pm. You do not need to sign up for this, there is no charge and please don’t worry if you child is unable to attend one week, just come to the ones they can. It is simply an extra opportunity to practise the songs and do the dance moves with others from our YV choir. Please collect your child from the main entrance at 4pm. 

The club will run on the following dates:

Fri 7^th Nov

Fri 14^th Nov

Fri 21^st Nov

Fri 28^th Nov

Fri 5^th Nov

Fri 12^th Nov

Fri 19^th Nov – NO CLUB

 

Fri 9^th Jan

Fri 16^th Jan

Fri 23^rd Jan

Fri 30th Jan

Fri 6^th Feb – NO CLUB

I hope this helps to clarify things. I will email / Class Dojo any updates or reminders and will send home a letter with final details about the day and things your child needs nearer the time. 

Until then…keep singing! 

Kind regards

Mrs Trotter

 

Correspondence 10^th September 2025

EYFS (Nursery & Reception) Library

Dear Parents/ Carers,

We are pleased to announce that we will be reintroducing our EYFS Library Session in the school Library, every second week, beginning Thursday 18^th September for Nursery children and their families, and Friday 19^th September for Reception children and their families. This will be a ‘pop in pop out’ session where you can spend a short time choosing a book with your child.

We hope that you are able to attend with your child.

Here is a reminder of how our library sessions will run:

• Please arrive via the main school entrance between 8:15am–8:40am. This is a drop-in session, and you do not need to stay for the full time.
• Please remember that Nursery library is every second Thursday starting 18^th September, and Reception library is every second Friday starting 19^th September. 
• The library will be set up with books and stories appropriate for your child. Please help your child to choose a book to take home.
• After selecting a book, please sign it out using the sign-in/sign-out forms (a member of staff will be on hand to help).
• If siblings attend, they must remain with you at all times and respect our library session.
• Once you have signed out your child’s book, please leave via the main office entrance. 
• When returning the book at the next session, please record this on the sign-in/sign-out form before selecting a new one.

We hope you and your child enjoy these sessions and the opportunity to share stories at home. If you have any questions, please speak to your child’s class teacher.

Many thanks and kind regards, 

The Early Years Team

 

Correspondence 10^th September 2025

EYFS (Nursery & Reception) Parent Workshop – 4:30pm, Wednesday 24th September

Dear Parent/Carer,

We are delighted to invite all parents, carers, and grandparents of children in our Foundation Stage (Nursery and Reception) to a free workshop on Wednesday 24^th September at 4:30pm, for approximately 1 hour. 

This session, “What to Expect in the Early Years”, will provide valuable insight into our curriculum at The Ellis and share practical ideas on how you can support your child’s learning and development during their time in the Early Years Foundation Stage.

We know many of you are keen to understand more about what happens in Nursery and Reception, and this is a great opportunity to learn more, ask questions, and connect with other parents.

Refreshments will be available free of charge. Unfortunately, children will not be able to attend the session with you. 

If you would like to join us, please register your place via Eventbrite using the following link: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/free-workshop-for-nursery-reception-parents-wednesday-24th-sept-tickets-1679226173689?aff=oddtdtcreator

Please note that we will only be able to run the workshop if there is enough interest, so please do sign up as soon as possible to confirm your attendance.

We look forward to welcoming you.

Many thanks and kind regards,
Mr. D Grayhurst & Mrs. T Pollard

 

Correspondence 10^th September 2025

Cycle Confidence Session – 3:15pm to 4:45pm, Tuesday 16th September

Dear Y6 Parent/Carer,

On Tuesday 16th September 2025, your child has been invited to take part in a Cycle Confidence Session run by Active Barnsley at The Ellis School.

The aim of the session is to improve cycling confidence in preparation for the upcoming Bikeability session the following week. The session will run from 3:15pm to 4:45pm.

Children do not need to bring their own bikes, as these can be provided. However, if they would prefer to use their own, they are welcome to do so, and bikes can be securely locked up in school. Helmets must be worn, and these can also be provided if required.

There are only six places available, which will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis. If you would like to reserve a place for your child, please email: office@ellis.dsat.education.

If you would like your child to participate in Bikeability (week commencing 22nd September), and have not already given your consent, please do so at 

https://consent.bikeability.org.uk/matt-cap-arena

Kind regards,
Miss Cook
Teacher / Wider Curriculum Lead

 

Correspondence 9^th September 2025

Y5/6 Football Tournament – Friday 12th September

Dear Parent/Carer, 

Your child has been selected to represent the school in a Football Tournament at Hoyland Common Primary School on Friday 12^th September.  

The event will start at 1pm and will finish for 3pm.  Your child will travel to the venue by public transport (bus) at 12:25pm. This is something we are trialling travelling for local events. Your child should be back at school for approximately 3:25pm, however, this is dependent on the bus. Children will need a packed lunch on the day.

Children will need to bring their MiCard (if they have one), shorts/tracksuit bottoms, black socks, trainers and their water bottle. They will be given a school shirt to wear.  As the event will be held outdoors, on grass, it would be useful to bring warm clothes for when they are spectating and they can choose to wear trainers or football boots. Shin pads are recommended but not essential. 

If your child does not have a MiCard, we would encourage you to apply for one, as it enables your child to benefit from free bus travel within Barnsley, and also supports the school financially when we organise public transport for sporting activities such as this. To apply for a MiCard, please visit the Travel South Yorkshire website. 

Parents are unable to spectate on this occasion.

If your child requires an inhaler, they will need to bring this along with them. The cost of the trip will be funded using the Sports Premium Grant and therefore your child requires no money for the event.

If you have any questions or queries, please contact me at school.

Yours faithfully,

Miss Cook

Wider Curriculum Lead/Teacher

 

Correspondence 9^th September 2025

Starting School – Academic Year 2026-2027

Sent on behalf of Barnsley Council Schools Admissions

Dear Parent/Carer,

STARTING SCHOOL – ACADEMIC YEAR 2026-2027

Your child is due to start full-time school in September 2026.

To help you with the application process you must read ‘A guide for parents with children starting primary school in 2026’. This guide is available to view at www.barnsley.gov.uk/schooladmissions.

What you need to do

• Choose three schools.
• List them in order of preference.
• You can apply for schools in Barnsley as well as other areas.
• If you live outside of Barnsley please apply to your local authority.

How to apply 

• The easiest way to apply is online at www.barnsley.gov.uk/schooladmissions
• Select Primary School Places and then Apply Online. 
• Make sure that you submit your application by the closing date 15 January 2026.

If you can’t apply online or need help, please contact School admissions – we are here to support you.

Important notes

• Applying online is safe and secure.
• You will be able to see your child’s offer from 12:30am on 16^th April 2026.
• If you choose to send a form via post then please check with School Admissions that it has arrived. We cannot be responsible for forms lost in the post.

On offer day, 16 April 2026, you will receive a single offer of a place at a primary school.

Applying Online for a Primary School Place 2026-27

If you require any further information, please do not hesitate to contact School Admissions.

Yours faithfully,

School Admissions

 

Correspondence 4^th September 2025

Y6 Bikeability

Dear Year 6 Parents,

We are pleased to inform you that Bikeability training for Year 6 pupils will take place during the week commencing Monday 22nd September.

Please find the attached information document, which includes full details about the programme and instructions on how to book your child’s place. If you would like your child to take part, please ensure that you have booked their place and that consent forms are completed and submitted before Monday 22nd September.

Bikeability Letter & Consent 2025 – The Ellis

Kind regards,

The Ellis Office

 

Correspondence 4^th September 2025

Y2 Tuesday Lego/Craft Club

Dear Parents,

Mrs Willis will be running a Y2 Tuesday Lego/Craft Club for 7 weeks from 9^th September until 21^st October. The cost for each club is £2 per week, and the full amount of £14 for this half term will need to be paid via ParentPay before we can secure your child’s place.

Clubs are displayed within ‘Pay for other items’ when you log into your ParentPay account. Please note that making a payment to a club does not book a place. You must click ‘book sessions’ and then ‘book all sessions’ to secure your child’s place. You may also be required to checkout.

This club is popular and has a limited number of spaces. If you cannot see the club listed in your ParentPay account, it may be that it is full. Please email office@ellis.dsat.education to place your child on our waiting list.

Refunds will only be offered if clubs have to be cancelled and not for non-attendance or if your child changes their mind. We are committed to making these clubs accessible; therefore, if the fee presents a challenge for your family, please reach out to us. We are happy to discuss options for support.

If you wish to use the tax-free childcare payment to pay for after school clubs, you will need to initially make the payment from your personal bank account to secure your child’s place at the club. Once we have received the tax-free childcare payment into our school bank account, we will credit this to the relevant after school club on ParentPay, and refund your initial payment back to your ParentPay account. Please tell the office if you would like to use your tax-free childcare payment for after school clubs.

All clubs run straight after school until 4:15pm.

Please contact the office if you have any questions regarding after school clubs or the new booking system.

Kind regards,

Miss Cook

Teacher/Wider Curriculum Lead

 

Correspondence 2^nd September 2025

New After School Clubs

Dear Parents,

Please see below for details of the after-school clubs for this half term, that are now available to book on ParentPay.

After-school clubs will be displayed within ‘Pay for other items’ when you log into your ParentPay account. Please note that making a payment to a club does not book a place. You must click ‘book sessions’ and then ‘book all sessions’ to secure your child’s place. You may also be required to checkout.

If there are dates when a club will not run, for example, inset days, the date will not be displayed in the booking calendar. 

The cost for each club is £2 per week, and the full amount of £14 for this half term will need to be paid via ParentPay before we can secure your child’s place. Bookings for clubs will remain open until 11:59pm on Thursday 4^th September.

Refunds will only be offered if clubs have to be cancelled and not for non-attendance or if your child changes their mind. We are committed to making these clubs accessible; therefore, if the fee presents a challenge for your family, please reach out to us. We are happy to discuss options for support.

If you wish to use the tax-free childcare payment to pay for after school clubs, you will need to initially make the payment from your personal bank account to secure your child’s place at the club. Once we have received the tax-free childcare payment into our school bank account, we will credit this to the relevant after school club on ParentPay, and refund your initial payment back to your ParentPay account. Please tell the office if you would like to use your tax-free childcare payment for after school clubs.

Our clubs can be popular and have a limited number of spaces. If you cannot see the club listed in your ParentPay account, it may be that it is full. Please email office@ellis.dsat.education to place your child on our waiting list.

Please ensure your child has their PE kit with them for sports clubs. If your child will not be attending club one week, please inform us to avoid any confusion and so we can make sure they do not get changed at the end of the school day.

Our sports after-school clubs are run by coaches from Active Club. 

All clubs run straight after school until 4:15pm.

Please contact the office if you have any questions regarding after school clubs or the booking system.

Kind regards,

Miss Cook

Teacher/Wider Curriculum Lead

Autumn 1 After-School Clubs 

Please remember to use ParentPay to book and pay for your child’s place in our clubs. 

Monday 

Multi Sports – open to F2 (Reception), Y1 and Y2 children.

Tuesday 

Football – open to Y4 to Y6 children.

Wednesday 

Girls Football – open to KS2 (Y3 to Y6) children.         

Thursday

Dance – open to Y1 to Y6 children.

 

Correspondence 1^st September

New School Lunch Information

Dear Parents,

A reminder that from September, our school will be partnering with a new catering provider, The Pantry https://www.thepantrycatering.co.uk/. 

Please ensure you have activated your new Pantry catering account, in preparation for ordering your child’s school lunches. You should have received all of the information required to set this up direct from The Pantry. They have asked us to re-send their introductory letter along with other documents containing lots of information and useful tips and advice. Please click below:

School Meals Service

As detailed in The Pantry correspondence, all school lunches must now be ordered in advance by parents. School will no longer be able to choose a lunch for your child. If your child arrives at school late or without a lunch, the only option available will be a jacket potato with beans. Also be aware that accounts cannot be in arrears.

We are excited to be working with The Pantry, their meals are nutritious with more options now available (including sandwiches), and it will be our existing kitchen staff serving the children.

Kind regards,

The Ellis Office