Headteacher Newsletter Issue 9
FORTNIGHTLY NEWSLETTER ISSUE 9: 27.1.23
Dear Parents
Bishop’s Stortford Rugby Coach
Last week, Classes 3, 5 and 6 began sessions with a coach from Bishops Stortford Rugby Club. They are learning and perfecting the skills, rules and teamwork needed for tag rugby. Despite the cold weather, the children have enjoyed their sessions so far!
Sports Hall Athletics
Last week members of Years 5 and 6 attended JFAN to take part in the Sports Hall Athletics tournament against four other schools. Between them, they took part in events such as chest push, javelin, speed bounce, various relay races and different types of jump and came away with 1st place! This means we will progress to the next round at the beginning of February. The children had a fantastic afternoon and represented the school well.
Year 6 Tag Rugby
On Wednesday 25th January, Class 6 represented Clavering at a Tag Rugby tournament at JFAN against eight other local schools. We had three teams: A, B and C. Each team played matches against other schools in different groups. All three teams reached the semi-finals for their group and then the finals. Eventually, Clavering B and C team played a final against each other – B team won a close match. Team A also came first in their group and will be going to the next round of the tournament at Carver Barracks later this term. We had a very enjoyable, though exhausting and chilly morning, of Tag Rugby – well done all. Thank you to Mrs Rotheram and Mrs Mackie for their help. The children were a credit to Clavering school and themselves demonstrating good skills and sportsmanship. Fantastic teamwork Class 6!
Tray Day
Thank you to all the parents that were able to attend our Tray Day last week. It was pleasing to see so many parents in school. We hope you enjoyed looking at the children’s work. There will be a further tray day later in the term.
Congratulations
An enormous well done to Mrs Berrett who has completed and passed all her Forest School Training and assessments (stalled by recent Covid restrictions). She has been leading wonderful forest school sessions alongside Mrs Thomas and now is fully trained and ready to go! We are so very lucky to offer Forest School at Clavering and hugely grateful to Mrs Berrett for giving up an enormous amount of her own time to attend training sessions and courses and for the dissertation style project she completed. Well done Mrs Berrett.
We now have 3 Forest School Leaders in the school.
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Lateness
School starts at 8.50 a.m. We have noticed several children 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.
Please note that lateness is recorded on a per pupil basis.
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.
Cost of Living Support
We know that there are families across Essex who are currently struggling with the rise in the cost of living. Colleagues have pulled together a special newsletter which gives information on some of the support they may be eligible for. Please share onwards with parents and carers. You can also find out more about cost of living support on the Cost of Living web hub.
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.
Free school meals are available to pupils in receipt of, or whose parents are in receipt of, one or more of the following benefits:
- Universal Credit (provided you have an annual net earned income of no more than £7,400, as assessed by earnings from up to three of your most recent assessment periods)
- Income Support
- Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance
- Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
- Support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
- The guarantee element of Pension Credit
- Child Tax Credit (provided you’re not also entitled to Working Tax Credit and have an annual gross income of no more than £16,190)
- Working Tax Credit run-on – paid for four weeks after you stop qualifying for Working Tax Credit
How to apply –
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.
Ooo000ooO
DATES FOR YOUR DIARY
30th January Road Safety visit – Rec and yr5. Plus Reception parents
10th February Sharing Assembly – year 2 parents invited
13th – 17th February Half Term
W/b 27th February Book Week
8th March Parent Evenings – 4.20 – 6.40pm
9th March Parent Evenings – 3.40 – 6.30pm
21st March Year 5 River Study at Daws Hall
24th March Sharing Assembly – year 5 parents invited TBC
27th March Tray Day
31st March End of term
ACHIEVEMENTS
STAR OF THE WEEK
Week ending 16th December
Reception Quincey-Beau – for being brilliant in our nativity
Year One Annabelle – for super effort in all lessons, especially English
Year Two Willa – for an excellent solo and performance as the ‘Star’
Year Three Lottie – for fantastic effort during the Christmas production
Year Four Alexa – for fantastic singing and dancing in our Christmas play
Year Five Ava – for her caring and thoughtful nature
Year Six Class 6 – for working hard and supporting each other to make such a ‘Brilliant’ Snow Queen
production
Week ending 13th January
Reception Alex S – for his brilliant ideas in phonics and great writing of ‘W’ words
Year One Rollo – for super understanding and hard work in Maths
Year Two Lila – for a fantastic attitude to all her learning this week
Year Three Eve – for fantastic effort with her English work this week
Year Four Esme – for asking excellent questions to find out more about Roman gods
Year Five Matilda – for her great enthusiasm and ideas in dance
Year Six Kayleigh – for her excellent focus and effort in Maths
Week ending 20th January
Reception Felix – for great sounding out and blending in reading
Year One Lunetta – for her super effort in her learning and great improvement in reading
Year Two Emily – for a positive attitude to learning and being a role model
Year Three Alfie – for an improved effort with his written work
Year Four Ella – for being such a thoughtful member of class 4 who always makes time for others
Year Five Rosie – Ann – for her conscientious attitude towards all areas of learning
Year Six George B- for his excellent Art homework on Monet and Hockney
WRITER OF THE WEEK – 13.1.23
R Peter for trying really hard to write neatly.
1 Marnie for great descriptive writing.
2 Torben for improved presentation across all his learning.
3 Matilda W for great improvement in handwriting.
4 Joseph for putting so much effort into his handwriting.
5 Luna for her thoughtful monologue writing (and wonderful handwriting).
6 Sidney for trying really hard when writing a Stone Age artefact paragraph.
KITCHEN AWARD
Jemima, Year 4 – for being very helpful in the hall
Benjamin, Year 3 – for being very courteous
If you have any questions at any time then please feel free to make an appointment.
Have a good weekend
Rosalind Allsop
Headteacher