Dear Parents/Carers,
We are delighted to welcome you and your child to Alderman Cogan’s Primary Academy as they begin their journey with us this September. As a Church of England school, our community is rooted in strong Christian values, and we are proud to live out our ethos of CREATE—Courage, Resilience, Empathy, Aspiration, Tolerance, and Empowerment—in everything we do. Guided by our staff vision, “Together, we create opportunities for every child,” we are committed to ensuring that every pupil feels valued, supported, and inspired to thrive from their very first day.
We know what a huge milestone this is, and we want you to feel right at home from the very first moment you walk through our doors.
We are committed to making this transition as smooth and happy as possible for your child, so please look out for details regarding meetings and transition sessions held during the summer term. These sessions will be a wonderful opportunity for the children to enjoy some time in their new classrooms and for you to meet the team properly before the new academic year begins.
Our door is always open, so please do feel free to pop in for a chat or send us an email if you have any questions at all. We are here to support you every step of the way and we cannot wait to start this wonderful adventure together. See you very soon!
How can you help your child get ready for school?
Starting school is a really exciting time – and as parents / carers there are some really useful guides to help you prepare your child between now and September. Please take time to read through – there’s some really helpful information in there.
How will we communicate with you?
To ensure we can communicate effectively and keep your child’s records up to date, we use Arbor, our secure school management system. Arbor allows you to manage your contact details, check attendance, and provide essential consents all in one place.
Getting started with Arbor
You will shortly receive a separate email with your login information and how to set up your Arbor account. Can you please complete this by Friday 26th June 2026.
For help and support:
Updating your details
Once logged in, we kindly ask that you review the User Profile section. It is vital that we have your most current phone numbers, home address, email address and three additional emergency contacts to ensure the safety and well-being of your child. Please ensure you complete ALL sections as it is vital that we capture information such as: ethnicity, religion, language, medical needs, allergies, dietary requirements, doctor details, and parental consents.
The importance of registering your home language
At our school, we believe that speaking more than one language is a significant academic advantage. We use the term English as an Additional Language (EAL) to recognise any child who has been exposed to a language other than English at home.
Who should register as English as an Additional Language (EAL)?
A child qualifies for EAL status even if they were born in the UK and speak English perfectly. For example, if a child is born in the UK and is a fluent English speaker, but one parent speaks French (or any other language) at home, the child is officially recorded as EAL.
Why this is important for our school
Recording this information accurately is essential because the Government provides the school with additional funding for every child identified as having a home language other than English. By simply noting your heritage language on our forms, you are directly contributing to the resources and support available to your child and other children.
Data Protection & Consent (UK GDPR)
To comply with UK GDPR and the Data Protection Act, we require your permission to use your child’s personal data (images, recordings and names). Please indicate your consent through Arbor.
We take your privacy seriously and only use this data to celebrate student achievements and essential school identification. On the Arbor platform, you will find a section dedicated to Consents. Please indicate your preference for the areas listed there.
Please note:
- Withdrawal: I understand that I can withdraw my consent for any or all of these options at any time by contacting the School Office in writing. Please note: while digital images can be removed immediately upon request, we are unable to recall or edit printed materials (such as school prospectuses, local press, or yearbooks) that have already been published and distributed.
- Duration: This consent will remain valid for the duration of my child’s time at the school unless otherwise updated.
The Data Protection Officer for Ebor Academy Trust is Wendy Harrington: dpo@ebor.academy
Google Classroom
As part of the parental consents for Google Classroom, please refer to this link:
Home School Agreement
Please see the agreement at the end of this document.
Parental Code of Conduct
GDPR Policies
Please visit the following link for more information regarding our GDPR policies:
Support
If you encounter any issues logging in or navigating the dashboard, please do not hesitate to contact the school office on 01482 376203 or admin.acs@ebor.academy
We look forward to welcoming you and your child to our school.
Best regards,
Mr Jon Tucker
Alderman Cogan’s Church of England Primary Academy
Home School Agreement
- Alderman Cogan’s Primary Academy is a welcoming and exciting place where children and adults enjoy learning and work hard to realise their potential.
- We offer a high standard of teaching and personalised learning set within a broad, balanced and creative curriculum.
- We provide a safe, happy and healthy place that fosters positive relationships and high standards of behaviour.
- We value and celebrate Staynor Hall’s rich and diverse community and promote equal opportunities for all.
- We develop strong partnerships and positive relationships with parents, carers and the wider community.
- We inspire children to become confident and caring individuals who will make a positive contribution towards society and enjoy future success.
Our pledge to you
- We will treat children fairly and encourage children to develop positive relationships
- We will encourage children to behave well and provide a safe, secure and stimulating learning environment
- We will provide a broad, balanced and exciting curriculum tailored to the needs of each pupil
- We will keep you regularly informed of your child’s progress
- We will provide interesting and exciting clubs, trips, events and other activities
- We will let you know of any concerns that we have and offer support as well as the opportunity to meet with the key staff.
Jon Tucker
Interim Head of School, on behalf of Alderman Cogan’s Primary Academy
Your pledge to us (child)
- I will show honesty and respect to other children and adults
- I will behave well and look after school property
- I will always try my best and begin to take responsibility for my own learning; including my homework
- I will work hard to achieve my targets and bring to school everything that I need for the day
- I will make the most of the clubs, trips and other activities that take place at Staynor Hall Community Primary Academy
- I will tell a member of staff if I am worried about anything.
Your pledge to us (parent/carer)
- In accordance with the law, I will make sure that my child attends school regularly, arriving for 8.50 a.m. and leaving on time
- I will appreciate that homework is important and will spend time encouraging my child to complete it
- I will be respectful to other adults and children
- I will encourage my child to behave well and be supportive of school policies, particularly in relation to behaviour
- I will take an interest in my child’s learning by attending Open Evenings and other school events
- I will support the school where possible with trips, workshops and other activities
- I will let the school know, in a calm, supportive manner, of any problems which may affect my child’s health, work or behaviour
