E-Safety Information – Bluesky

26th March 2025L Forster

Bluesky social app  is a microblogging social media platform that gained popularity after separating from Twitter in 2021. It’s more than doubled its user numbers in the past six months alone, from 14.5 million in October 2024 to 32 million at present. Since accounts must be public, this opens the door to potential trolling️, cyberbullying  and the spread of misinformation❌

 

We’ve created this free guide – also available in podcast format ️– offering parents and educators advice and guidance on the tools available to keep children safe while using the popular social media platform Bluesky.

Bluesky is a microblogging social media platform that gained popularity after separating from Twitter in 2021. Since accounts must be public, this opens the door to potential trolling, cyberbullying and the spread of misinformation.

We’ve created this free guide, offering parents and educators advice and guidance on the tools available to keep children safe while using the popular social media platform Bluesky.

https://nationalcollege.com/

 

Year 3 art club

24th March 2025ajennings

Year 3 had a fantastic first art club drawing their own self portraits. We looked at different artists and their interpretation of self portraits then children completed a portrait of themselves using mirrors and photographs to help them. They were encouraged to think about shading to enhance their drawings and add details. We finished the session with a gallery tour where they looked at the sketches and gave positive feedback to each other.

There are some very talented artists in year 3! ️

Spring Holiday Activity and Food Events Monday 14th – Friday 25th April

20th March 2025Ethan Bruce

We are working with South Tyneside Council to deliver the Spring Holiday, Activities and Food Programme! There will be FREE activities and nutritious meals for children and young people aged 5-16 years who are eligible for benefit related free school meals (FSM), as well as eligible FSM young people up to the age of 18 with SEND.

All events are subject to availability. HAF has a new booking system which will go live Monday 24th March via Plinth.

Activities and food are funded by the Department for Education.

For more information: www.southtyneside.gov.uk/holidayclub

 

E-Safety Information – Streamers

19th March 2025L Forster

You may already know that livestreaming plays a major role in children’s entertainment, with a wide range of personalities influencing young viewers in both positive and negative ways. While watching streamers can be fun, it also comes with significant risks, including misinformation,  financial harms, and ⚠️ inappropriate content.

Popular streaming platform Twitch has over 2.5 million viewers at any given time, which is why it’s more important than ever to stay informed. This week’s guide , also available as a podcast , explores the potential dangers of livestreaming and offers essential insights to help you protect the children in your care.

Live Streaming is now a major part of children’s entertainment, evolving from gamers sharing screens into a booming industry with diverse personalities. While watching streamers can be entertaining, it comes with no small number of risks for children, such as misinformation, negative influences, and inappropriate content. With over 2.5 million viewers on Twitch – the current most popular streaming platform – at any one time, this guide highlights the potential dangers associated with watching livestreams and the importance of staying informed.

We’ve created this free guide – also available in podcast format – to provide parents and educators everything they need to know about streamers and how to keep children protected.

https://nationalcollege.com/

E-Safety Information – Roblox

12th March 2025L Forster

Online multiplayer games like Roblox are enjoyed by millions across the world and can be a great way for friends to socialise; however, they can also expose young people to variety of potential harms. Roblox is a multi-platform game that enables people to play anonymously, which can often be something that attracts people to misuse the game and put younger players at risk of harm.

In addition to interacting with random strangers across the world, it’s important to be aware of other risk factors, such as in-game purchases and potential scams that can put young people at risk financially.  We’ve created this week’s free guide – also available in podcast format – offering parents and educators expert advice about what can be done to ensure that young people have a safe and enjoyable experience with Roblox.

Whilst they can be a great way for friends to socialise, online games like Roblox that allow multiplayer gameplay with strangers are always fraught with a variety of dangers that can expose children to inappropriate or harmful content. Roblox enables people to play anonymously, which can often be something that attracts people to misuse the game and potentially put young people at risk of harm.

In addition to interacting with random strangers across the world, other factors such as in-game purchases and potential scams can also pose a financial risk. It’s important that parents and educators remain aware of the risks associated with this popular title and how it can be used safely. This free guide – also available in podcast format – offers parents and educators expert advice on what can be done to ensure that young people have a safe and enjoyable experience with Roblox.

https://nationalcollege.com/

Nursery Open Evening!

12th March 2025Amy Smith

Exciting news! Come along to our nursery open evening! 

THURSDAY 10TH APRIL 2025

4-5PM

We have FREE 15 and 30 hour nursery places for 3 year olds available for September 2025.

Drop into our open evening anytime between 4-5pm and see what our nursery has to offer you and your child.

Our nursery is equipped with a large indoor and outdoor learning place, as well as a brand new sensory room!

All hours are led by a fully qualified teacher.

If you require more information please contact the school office on 0191 4562150.

We look forward to welcoming you to our nursery.

 

 

Parents’ Evening Booking – 10th and 17th March

21st February 2025L Forster

To book an appointment for your child, click on the name of their teacher – for years 4, 5 and 6 please select the teacher your child has on a morning for literacy and numeracy. At the bottom of the window, click ‘Jump to the next available date‘ and choose either the 10th or 17th of March and select the available time you would like to see the teacher and fill in the fields displayed.

Please make sure that your device it set to Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) to avoid confusion over timings of appointment.

The school are unable to book appointments. Please only contact the school to cancel appointments that are made by mistake or if you are unable to attend.

Visual references of steps:

Links to booking system:

Nursery
Miss Hamilton Miss Smith
Reception
Mrs Moore Miss Patterson Mrs Wilkinson
Year 1
Mrs Twigg Mrs Beattie Miss Mullea
Year 2
Mrs Adams Mrs Jones Mrs Langley
Year 3
Miss Maffin Mrs Hawkins Mrs Pottinger/Mrs Whitfield
Year 4
Mrs Clark Mrs Wright Mrs Davis Mr Forster
Year 5
Mrs Trotter Miss Errington Miss Booth Mr Steadman
Year 6
Mrs Fawkes Mr Dawson Mr Thompson Mrs Allen

OPAL Update

20th February 2025C Allen

This week we have launched the first phase of OPAL. I think that judging by the smiles and comments from the children, they are enjoying it. We have seen some lovely examples of imaginative play, problem solving, sharing, helping and some particularly amazing tidying-up!

It has been so nice to see all ages playing together and we hope there is something out there that everyone enjoys playing with. There are more activities and equipment on the way – along with lots of suggestions and requests from the children.

Thank you for all of your help and support as we work to establish OPAL and create better play opportunities for all of our children.

Harton Choir at Durham Cathedral

19th February 2025N Trotter

Harton Choir were randomly selected on Friday 14th February, to be a part of the ‘Choir Of The Year Competition 2025’ at Durham Cathedral.

They had to sing alongside 5 other schools in front of 2 judges.

The children sang ‘Rule The World’ by Take That and they were AMAZING! 

Unfortunately, they did not win the competition but they were given some valuable feedback about how they could improve in the future and there were a lot of positive comments about their performance.

Well done, Harton Choir!