Headteacher Newsletter Issue 1
FORTNIGHTLY NEWSLETTER ISSUE 1: 9.9.22
This is the first of our fortnightly newsletters for this academic year. Welcome again to the new term and it is very pleasing to see how well the children have settled into the new term.
Each class will be sending out a class newsletter. Each newsletter will inform you of the curriculum that is being taught this term and the trips that have been planned.
Supervision of children
Teachers are on duty from 8.40am when the gate will open. NO CHILDREN will be supervised prior to this time and should not be on the premises. A member of staff will be present at the gate to take any messages for staff members. Children are to arrive 8.40 – 8.50 and go straight into class. Children will be collected at 3.20pm outside their classroom doors, as usual, at the end of the day and we are collecting children for buses and Willows from their classrooms and taking them to bus/Willows staff.
Meet the Teacher Evening – Tuesday 20th September
6.15 – 7pm: Reception Class only
7pm – 7.20pm and repeated at 7.30pm – 7.50pm: Years groups 1 – 6
(We have repeated the session to accommodate families with more than one pupil in the school)
These evening sessions are for parents to attend without their children. Please go to your child’s class where the teacher will talk about the rules, routines and expectations of the class as well as the curriculum coverage. This is not an evening for individual consultation, which will take place in November.
Congratulations
We are excited to announce and introduce our Head Boy and Head Girl along with our Deputy Head Boy and Deputy Head Girl. These Year 6 children are school ambassadors and will be meeting with the school leadership team on a regular basis so we can share ideas and work on projects together for our school.
Congratulations to:
Head Boy – Brian
Head Girl – Anna
Deputy Head Girl – Matilde
Deputy Head Boy – George B
Healthy Snacks
We would like to encourage all children to bring in a snack for break time. It is a long time between breakfast and lunch and a snack, as well as a drink of water, make a big difference to children’s concentration levels and ability to learn. As a healthy school we have agreed strict guidelines for the type of snack brought in, it must be fruit or vegetable in the form in which it grew (ie. nothing added, not stretchy or made into a bar and wrapped). This also helps to promote our eco school policies of reducing waste and packaging.
We would also like to take this opportunity to encourage a healthy balanced lunch box for those not taking a school lunch. Please remember we are a NO nuts school.
HARVEST
Harvest will be celebrated during the week commencing 10th October. We normally ask families to bring in food donations. More information will be sent out soon.
Sickness
The school office should be notified on the first day of each absence before registration at 8.50am and this should be followed up in writing on the day of return.
If your child has been vomiting or had an upset stomach a 48 hour leave of absence from the last episode is required. For guidance on other illnesses please contact the School Office or refer to the document on the website in the ‘Attendance’ section – “Guidance on infection control in schools and other childcare settings”.
E-safety
Last week, as part of our school e-safety policy, we sent out some e-safety rules that we would like you to discuss with your child. We will reinforce these messages in school. Please return the slip that is attached to the e-safety letter once you have been able to discuss the rules with your child. Thank you
PE Clothing – a reminder
Please ensure that full kit is in school all week, including trainers and socks (especially if your child normally wears tights). In compliance with health and safety regulations, earrings (including studs) must not be worn for any sport. Please make sure that children who wear earrings know how to remove them and have somewhere safe and clean to keep them during PE lessons. Thank you.
Nut Free School
Please note that we have a number of children in school with nut allergies, some very severe, so please ensure that you do not send nuts in any form into school as snacks or in your child’s lunch box including peanut butter or Nutella sandwiches. This also includes sesame which is in houmous. Thank you.
Application for leave of absence for term time holidays
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. 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.”
Please note occasional days for birthdays and treats cannot be authorised and cheaper prices cannot be considered to be a valid reason. No leave of absence will be granted during our assessment weeks or the first week of the Autumn term. Medical appointments, if at all possible should be made outside school hours. Siblings of children attending medical appointments should remain in school.
School Admissions – Primary and Secondary – Apply Now!!
To apply quickly and easily for primary and secondary school places go online to https://www.essex.gov.uk/admissions-to-essex-schools-for-the-next-school-year
Secondary school places for September 2023
From 12 September 2022 you can apply online for your child’s school place https://www.essex.gov.uk/apply-for-a-secondary-school-place
You must submit an application by the national closing date of 31 October 2022. Applications received after this date will be considered late and you may reduce your chance of being offered a place at your preferred school.
Primary and junior school places for September 2023
From 7 November 2022 you can apply online for your child’s school place https://www.essex.gov.uk/apply-for-a-primary-school-place
You must submit an application by the national closing date of 15 January 2023. Applications received after this date are considered late and will reduce your chance of being offered a place at your preferred schools.
Free School Meals Funding
You can register for Free Schools Meals Funding if you meet the criteria below.
If you have a child in Key Stage One and are receiving the free meal, which is part of the universal offer, you could be missing out on this additional funding for the school, which will support your child with their learning, if you meet the criteria below. You have to apply for this funding. If you think you meet the criteria below then please follow the guidance below and contact the school office.
https://www.gov.uk/apply-free-school-meals
Mobile Phones
This is a gentle reminder not to use mobile phones whilst on the school site.
This is part of our safe-guarding policy for all of our children.
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DATES FOR YOUR DIARY
1.9.22 INSET day – school closed to pupils
2.9.22 INSET day – school closed to pupils
5.9.22 Autumn Term begins
9.9.22 Non-uniform day for House Point winners – Wales and Sports Day – Saville
20.9.22 Meet the Teacher 7 – 7.30 repeated. 7.30 – 8pm Reception one session 6.15 – 7.
21.9.22 Girls’ football festival yrs3/4 am, yrs 5/6 pm
30.9.22 MacMillan Coffee Morning
5.10.22 Yrs5/6 Football boys am girls pm
12.10.22 Yrs3/4 Multi skills
13.10.22 PCSO visit
18.10.22 School Improvement Evening
19.10.22 Cross Country KS2
21.10.22 INSET day – school closed to pupils
w/b 30.10.22 Friendship Week
2.11.22 Parent evening
3.11.22 Parent evening
w/b 7.11.22 Bikeability
11.11.22 Year 3 Parent Sharing Assembly
18.11.22 Children in Need
30.11.22 Sports Hall Athletics yrs3/4 pm
2.12.22 Flu Immunisation
12.12.22 Tray Day
14.12.22 KS2 dress rehearsal am, KS1 dress rehearsal, KS2 evening performance
yrs 5 and 6 Parents
15.12.22 Reception Nativity am, KS1 performance pm, KS2 evening performance yrs
3 and 4 Parents
20.12.22 Church Service
20.12.22 Christmas lunch
20.12.22 End of term
5.1.23 New Spring term begins
ACHIEVEMENTS
STAR OF THE WEEK
– will be issued from the next letter
If you have any questions at any time then please feel free to make an appointment.
Have a good weekend.
Rosalind Allsop
Headteacher