Headteacher Newsletter Issue 15
FORTNIGHTLY NEWSLETTER ISSUE 15: 11.5.18
We would like to welcome a new family to the school. Elissa started in Year Three this week.
Year One visit to the Post Office
Last week Year One walked to the Post Box to post our letters we have been writing in our English lessons, to a friend in the class. The children were all very excited and had lovely discussions about the journey our letters would go on and how long it would take them to arrive back at school. Chloe said “I was happy when I posted my letter. I was thinking about when it would arrive at school.” The Post Man has delivered the letters and we had a great time opening and reading them.
Forest School Year 3
Unfortunately, our Forest School session last Friday had to be cancelled due to the road being closed for resurfacing. As it was such a beautiful day and the children were dressed for outdoor learning we decided to go on our class walk instead. We walked across the fields to Starlings Green. There we stopped in the paddock for a rest and a biscuit. Afterwards, we sketched signs of Spring around us. Then we walked back to school across the fields – some of which were still pretty muddy after all the rain this Spring. The children enjoyed the walk but hopefully we will be able to go to Forest School next Friday. Thank you to Mrs Casson and Mrs Shaw who walked with us.
New play equipment and outside area development
Our new play equipment, which has replaced our previous Monkey Bar unit, was launched this week, along with our renovated school train.
Key Stage Two classes will be using the new Monkey Bar apparatus at lunchtimes, as before. Year Two will be undertaking their Monkey Bar test during afternoon play times after half term.
Reception class have now joined the rest of the school on the playground and the field.
Year One, so they do not feel left out of all the new excitement, have a treat afternoon of their choice. They have chosen a treasure hunt and games.
We also have a new volley ball net and notice board.
The children are also enjoying the new equipment in the play box, from the monies raised by the School Council. We have now made a tremendous start developing our outside area, which was the action point following our last Vision Day. We have many more plans that will be implemented over time.
A special thank you to the Betts, Crabb, Phipps, Pemberton and Rotherham families for spending Bank Holiday Monday renovating the train. Also Dom Crabb for spending Friday after school hosing down the train and Mr Docking for setting up all the water and electricity supplies!
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.
Ooo000ooO
DATES FOR YOUR DIARY
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
9th July Induction Day at JFAN and SWCHS for year 6 pupils
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 April 27th
Reception Teddy – for his brilliant subtraction work
Year One Patrick – for being polite, well behaved and always trying his hardest
Year Two Rory – for working really hard at My Maths
Year Three Harry – for his improved writing style
Year Four Ollie – for great concentration and good work in Maths
Year Five Lily – for fantastic effort in class, especially contributing ideas to class discussion
Year Six Uma – for great thought and care in creative writing
Week ending May 4th
Reception Luke – for brilliant writing and responses in guided reading.
Year One Kayleigh – for putting lots of effort into her writing this week.
Year Two James – regularly demonstrating good speaking and listening skills
Year Three James – for his imaginative puppet show
Year Four Tom – for concentrating really hard during English, Topic and Maths
Year Five Jude – for great persuasive letter writing
Year Six Daisy – for excellent achievements in reading comprehension with thoughtful responses to texts
IT DIDN’T GO UNNOTICED’ AWARD
Reception class, especially Teddy, Elliot, Max and Luke for helping the Midday Assistants and Playleaders
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
23.4.18 Year Three
30.4.18 Year Five
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
