Headteacher Newsletter Issue 11
FORTNIGHTLY NEWSLETTER ISSUE 11: 3.3.23
Dear Parents
We would like to welcome three families to the school, the Sharp family joining year 3 and 5, the Hill family in Reception and the Loveridge family in year Reception, 3 and 5.
Book Week
To celebrate Book Week, Clavering was very fortunate to welcome the author David Allen into school. David led an amazing assembly about his and Alex Sinclair’s book ‘Superhero Scientist’ and introduced the children to some of the different scientist he interviewed and the field of science in which they work. As part of the interview process David & Alex asked each scientist which superpower they would like to have. David then held workshops for the KS2 children.
For World Book Day the children dressed up as either their favourite book character or an adjective. It was wonderful to see all the children in such imaginative costumes. We had a variety of colours, sports, moods a long with some Fantastic Mr Foxes, a Mr Topsy-Turvy, a couple of Dobbies and witches & wizards.
Tag Rugby Final – Year 6
On Wednesday 1st March, the Tag Rugby team took part in the second round of the Uttlesford Tag Tournament. It was a cold cloudy morning at Carver Barracks, but the tag rugby team were very resilient and played with enthusiasm. First, they played 2 games, the winners of which played in Group 1 and the other schools played in Group 2. As Clavering lost 1 and had 1 draw, we were put in Group 2. We then played 7 more games of 8 minutes each – and Clavering won all 7! After an exciting, though tiring, tournament Clavering came first in Group 2, and 8th overall. Thank you to Mrs Lawless for her all help. Excellent teamwork – well done! | ![]() |
Tag Rugby Final – Year 3
Class 3’s A team had a great time at the tag rugby final at Carver Barracks. We came 4th in our group, the children played fantastically. We were particularly impressed with the team-work demonstrated by all players.
Friends of Clavering Pancake Flip Competition Winners
A huge thank you to the Friends of Clavering for organising such a fun event and to everyone that helped and took part. We raised nearly £1000 for the school!
Below are the winners that were announced in assembly last Friday and prizes awarded –
Reception
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Year 1
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Year 2
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Year 3
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Year 4
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Year 5
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Year 6
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INSET Dates for the academic year 2023 – 2024
Schools allocate five non-pupil days for staff training:
Monday 4th September 2023,
Friday 20th October 2023,
Monday 15th April 2024,
Monday 3rd June 2024,
Monday 1st July 2024
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
W/b 27th February Book Week
8th March Parent Evenings – 4.20 – 6.40pm
9th March Parent Evenings – 3.40 – 6.30pm
14th March Disco
21st March Year 5 River Study at Daws Hall
24th March Sharing Assembly – 2.45pm – Year 5 parents invited
27th March Tray Day
30th March Easter Fayre
31st March Easter Egg Hunt
31st March End of term
ACHIEVEMENTS
STAR OF THE WEEK
Week ending 10th February
Reception Luca – for his brilliant ideas all week and for his kindness towards our visitors
Year One Henry – for great effort answering reasoning questions in Maths
Year Two Jasmine – for fantastic effort in all learning and a positive attitude
Year Three Tilly P – for great contributions during Online Safety and Mental Health Day activities
Year Four Rory – for his positive attitude and for always being so polite to others
Year Five Charlie – for his super reading, a sensible and mature attitude and for being very polite
Year Six Sidney – for super writing about Iron Age forts
Week ending 24th February
Reception Poppy – for always helping others and being so kind
Year One Marnie – for giving great contributions and answers in all lessons
Year Two Isaac – for consistent hard work, wonderful presentation and positive attitude to learning
Year Three Kitty – for fantastic resilience with her multiplication and division work in Maths
Year Four Carrie – for going above and beyond in her homework by investigating reversible changes
Year Five Samuel – for demonstrating great enthusiasm in Maths and Science
Year Six Taylor – for great effort and good ideas in English this week.
WRITER OF THE WEEK – 27.1.23
w/e 10/2/23 |
Year R Alex S for using phonics to spell independently Year 1 Luna for excellent responses to a poem Year 2 Bailey for amazing story writing Year 3 Lottie for great use of speech in her writing Year 4 Milly for improved handwriting and a great ode Year 5 Martha for wonderful writing relating to the Titanic Year 6 Louisa for her excellent letter to Miss Allsop |
If you have any questions at any time, then please feel free to make an appointment.
Have a good weekend,
Rosalind Allsop
Headteacher