Headteacher Newsletter Issue 14
FORTNIGHTLY NEWSLETTER ISSUE 14: 27.4.18
Welcome back to the Summer Term. I hope you all had an enjoyable Easter. I would like to welcome two new families to the school Esme in Class 4 and Samuel in Class 1.
Expansion/New Playground Equipment
We are excited to announce that our new playground equipment, which has replaced the Monkey Bars apparatus, has been installed. We are now just waiting for the official safety checks to be carried out before we can start using it.
As before, all children will get to use the apparatus at some point, but not necessarily straight away as this will be according to their age and ability to access the equipment safely.
The children, as a class, will discuss the safety rules and how to use the equipment. Year Two in the second half of this term will have, as with the previous equipment, a monkey bar test before they can start using it.
We would like to thank the Friends of Clavering, especially the Cambridge Tipis, Fundraising team for raising the monies for this equipment.
Please note that due to Health and Safety reasons, the children must not play on the equipment at ‘pick up’ time after school. Thank you
Our expansion work has now started with the external works for the extra classroom out the front being the first part of the project.
Wider Opportunities
The children in Years 3, 4, 5 and 6 welcomed back Mr Grey who will be teaching whole class ukulele for a ten week block.
Forest School Year 4
On Friday Year 4 went to Forest School and we have rules in Forest School because it is Mr Cook’s garden. If we are very quiet we might see the ducklings and geese on the pond. When we got there we did five minutes silence in the trees. After that we got to play for a bit then we had a snack. We made some things with the ropes. We made swings and things to climb on. We had so much fun. We walked back and we said goodbye to the forest until next time. We had the best day ever in Forest School.
By Lucy and Hermione
Forest School Year 5
On 20th April, Year 5 went to Forest School. It was really fun and we had a fantastic time. It was very useful that the weather was so nice. We built dens and swings and we had a biscuit before we left. We learnt really useful knowledge for when you are in a forest. Even though it was really hot on the way there it was much cooler in the shade in the forest and we had to keep moving to keep warm.
By Rose and Patrick
Year 1 and 2 visit Notley Park
Years 1 and 2 were lucky to have a dry day for a day of outdoor ‘explorer’ fun at Great Notley Country Park on Tuesday 24th April. The children enjoyed a range of activities including map-making and reading, story telling, team challenges and shelter building. Oskar, Year 2, said of the day: “It was actually the best day of my life. I loved it. I had a great adventure.”
Cross Country Event
On Thursday 19th April, a cross country running team of boys from Year 3 – Aiden, Ted R, Ted B, Harrison and Ollie – went to Hadleigh Park in Banfleet to compete in the county finals. The boys had qualified as one of the fastest 14 Year 3 teams from all of the primary schools in Essex. The boys all ran extremely well, coping with the heat on the hottest day of the year and we are very proud of their achievements. Thank you to all the parents who helped with transport to the event and supported the boys running.
On Friday 20th April Mrs Hall and Mrs Perry went to Hadleigh Country Park with 5 pupils to attend the Essex Cross Country Primary Individual Runners Final. The finalists had done very well to get this far and there were 130 competitors in each race from different schools from around Essex. Friday was a very hot day and the children coped well with running in the heat. The finalists were: Year 3 – Amber (7th), Aiden (73th) and Ted B (68th), Year 5 Grace W (88th) and Year 6 Will C (21st). Well done to all the finalists and thank you to the parents who helped to transport the children to Southend and cheered them on as they ran.
Year 4 Dance Performance
On Wednesday 25th April we (class 4) went to Saffron Walden County High School to do a “Men in black” dance. We were last to dance but that didn’t matter because first we got to see gymnastics with back flips, cartwheels and forward rolls. I thought if someone failed they would end up in hospital! Apart from that they were amazing. When we came on the stage, I was horrified, scared and nervous. It was amazing and really fun.
By Scarlett and Jamie
Football match
On 29th March, Clavering played their last game of the season against Birchanger. Birchanger opened the scoring and created lots of chances but Petra made several excellent saves. Birchanger were winning 3-1 at half time. Clavering played really well in the second half and were drawing with Birchanger until a last minute goal made the final score 4-3 to Birchanger. Clavering showed excellent commitment in very wet conditions. Thank you to Mr Prentice for coaching the game and to the parents for staying to support the team in the torrential rain!
HOLIDAYS
The number of unauthorised absences is increasing. This is a concern and needs to be reduced. The DFE have proven that each day a child misses school it has a negative effect on their academic performance
Guidance from the Local Authority:
Leave of absence may only be granted by a person authorised in that behalf by the proprietor of the school. As from 1st September 2013, the Education (Pupil Registration) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2013 amended Regulation 7 to prohibit the proprietor of a maintained school from granting leave of absence to a pupil, except where an advance application has been made by the parent with whom the pupil normally resides, and the proprietor considers that there are exceptional circumstances relating to the application.
Taking your child out of school during term time could be detrimental to your child’s educational progress. A pupil who takes 10 days absence will only attain 94.7% attendance in the year. 10 days absence also means the pupil will miss 50 hours of education.
There is no entitlement to parents to take their child out of school during term time, however, you may apply to the school for leave of absence if you believe there are exceptional circumstances.
If the absence is not authorised and the holiday is taken, the case will be referred to the Education Welfare Service who may issue a Penalty Notice for £120 (or £60 if paid within 21 days) to each parent for each child taken out of school.
DfE “The link between absence and attainment at KS2 – 2013/14 academic year”
The analysis of the link between overall absence ….and attainment when taking prior attainment and pupil characteristics into account showed that, for each KS2 and KS4 measure, overall absence had a statistically significant negative link to attainment – i.e. every extra day missed was associated with a lower attainment outcome.
Sun Protection
At last the sunny weather has arrived! Please can you ensure that on sunny days your child brings a hat to wear at break times and lunchtimes. Wide-brimmed or legionnaires hats, which have a cloth attached on the back to give additional protection to the neck, are perfectly acceptable. Sunglasses are not allowed and sun lotion (long lasting waterproof sunscreen with a high protection factor and high UVA protection) should be applied just before the children come to school. This should last until after school and overcomes the need for pupils to bring in lotion.
Lateness
School starts at 8.50 a.m. We have noticed several children that are consistently arriving late for school – ‘late’ is defined by not being within the school gates by 8.50 a.m. Please make every effort to be at school on time and if you know that your journey will be disrupted by road works, do allow time for this. Thank you.
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DATES FOR YOUR DIARY
16th April INSET DAY
17th April Return to school for summer term
20th April ‘Saville’ Non Uniform day for most House Points last term
24th April Year 1 and 2 Great Notley Park
26th April Year 6 Sats and Residential Meeting for Parents 3.20pm
29th April Friends of Clavering Ramble
30th April Friends of Clavering Bag2School
7th May BANK HOLIDAY
14th – 18th May SATs week for Year 6
18th May Sharing Assembly, an invitation to Year 2 parents 2.45pm
25th May Sharing Assembly, an invitation to Year 5 parents 2.45pm
25th May Break up for half term
4th June Return to school after half term
7th June Induction morning for new Reception Parents
11th June Phonics Assessment Week
13th June Reception visit to Shepreth
13th June Archaeology years 5 and 6 with Cambridge University Students
15th June Sharing Assembly, an invitation to Reception parents 2.45pm
17th – 20th June Year 6 residential to Kingswood
22nd June Sharing Assembly, an invitation to Year 4 parents 2.45pm
27th June Years 3 and 4 Egyptian Day
28th June Crucial Crew for Year 6
29th June Sharing Assembly, an invitation to Year 1 parents 2.45pm
5th July Year 5 outdoor pursuits day –by coach am
6th July Friends of Clavering School Fete
10th July Tray Day 3.15 – 4.15pm
11th July Parent Consultations 3.30 – 6pm
12th July Parent Consultations 5 – 7.30pm
12th July Sports Day
17th July ‘Class Swap’ (11 – 12)
19th July Leavers’ Assembly 1.45pm
20th July Break up for the summer 3.15 pm
ACHIEVEMENTS
STAR OF THE WEEK
Week ending March 29th
Reception Morgan – making a big improvement in his writing.
Elliot – making a big improvement in his writing
Year One Aurelia – fantastic dancing in the Year 1 and 5 dance.
Year Two Poppy – working really hard at her writing.
Year Three Henry – being kind, polite and helpful to others.
Year Four Isabelle – much improved presentation.
Year Five Maya – great detailed descriptive writing.
Year Six Tom – a positive mindset approaching everything with a smile.
Week ending April 20th
Reception Bella – working hard on shape challenges with a friend
Rowan – working very hard on his handwriting.
Year One Katie – putting lots of effort into all of her work.
Year Two Micah – working very hard on his Maths and English.
Year Three Alice – improved writing, trying to use more powerful verbs and adjectives.
Year Four Jamie – excellent concentration during creative writing.
Year Five Summer – good discussion and contributions in lessons.
Year Six Petra – being an excellent ambassador for the school today.
Isabella – being an excellent ambassador for the school today.
IT DIDN’T GO UNNOTICED’ AWARD
Class One, especially Lola, Poppy, Robin, Anna and Louisa – for helping the Midday Assistants and Playleaders at lunchtimes
THE TIDIEST CLASSROOM OF THE WEEK!
Our cleaners are judging the tidiest classroom each week. The winners are announced in assembly on a Friday. The class that has won the most times at the end of a term will be awarded an afternoon with an activity of their choice or an extra playtime.
Winners: Spring Term 2018: Class 2
Week beginning:
16.4.18 Year One
REMINDERS:
Dinner money for this half term is £59.40 or £123.20 for the whole of the spring term (to Easter). The cost of a meal is £2.20 a day, £11.00 for a week. Dinner money should be sent in to school on a Monday in your child’s Friday Folder and should be in a sealed envelope with your child’s name and amount enclosed written on the front. Cheques should be made payable to Clavering Primary School.
If you have any questions at any time then please feel free to make an appointment.
Have a good weekend
Rosalind Allsop
Headteacher
