Exciting extras
Bike Bus
Every month, Oatlands Infant School and Oatlands Junior School work together with parents and carers to facilitate a Bike Bus. This exciting initiative encourages active travel in a safe group with trained marshals, funded through our use of the Opening School Facilities funding (OSF). You can read more about OSF here: Opening School Facilities - North Yorkshire Sport
The group meets on The Stray after 08:00 on set dates, and a safety briefing takes place at 08:10. The Bike Bus leaves at 08:20, arriving at the Infant School for approximately 08:40. Members of the Infant and Junior School teams attend alongside trained marshals, however children must be accompanied by a parent or carer at all times. Families can only join at the set start point - should you wish to join part way through, you will have to cycle behind the rear marshals.
You can read all about the Bike bus here: Harrogate's first-ever Bike Bus for pupils and parents is launched successfully in Barcelona's footsteps
Bike Library
Through our use of the 'Opening School Facilities' funding, we have been able to purchase 8 high-quality bikes. These can be used by children, families and staff for free, and you can borrow them for as long as you want to. We also have alarmed 'D locks' and a range of different size helmets. We have 4 adult bikes and 4 bikes for children, all in a range of sizes.
To borrow a bike, just speak to a school leader on the playground. You'll need to read the risk assessment and sign a disclaimer, then you're good to go!
You can read all about the Bike Library here: Oatlands Infant School launches bike library - Your Harrogate
Our (not so) Secret Garden
We are very lucky to have an onsite garden and pond, which our children use on a regular basis. We successfully bid for a £9,000 grant from the Mukherjee Trust, and in summer 2024 our garden was fully renovated with the help of the team, the children and Harrogate Joinery. This included laying paths, building shelters and barriers, rebuilding the entrance archway and making the area more wildlife friendly with hedgehog houses, bird boxes, a bug hotel and insect-friendly planting. We were awarded bronze in the 'Harrogate in Bloom School Garden' competition in summer 2024, and we also received a 'Wildlife Gardening Award' from Yorkshire Wildlife Trust in September 2024.
Our aim is to install a gate on the top fence, leading onto Cromwell Road, so the local community can use the garden outside school hours.
School Therapy Dog
Maggie, our school therapy dog, completed her 60 hours of training and joined the team in October 2024. She's here to look after children and staff if ever they're feeling low and need a friend. She enjoys cheesy treats, walks in the school garden and listening to children reading.
You can read all about Maggie here: New school dog for Oatlands Infants School - Your Harrogate
Themed Days, Trips and Visitors
We have lots of themed days throughout the academic year. Victorians Day is always a firm favourite, where children dress us as Victorian school children and travel back in time to see what the school was like when it first opened. We also have languages week, Unity Days, themed meals from the kitchen team and, our absolute favourite, Maths Rocks Day with Rock Kidz!
You can see some of our Maths Rocks day fun here on Instagram via the links below:
- https://www.instagram.com/reel/C22EORYMtJw/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==
- https://www.instagram.com/reel/C227tgGMS6l/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==
We also have heaps of trips and visitors throughout the school year, which we love sharing on our Instagram page @Oatlands_Infants
