Headteacher Newsletter Issue 12
FORTNIGHTLY NEWSLETTER ISSUE 12: 17.3.23
Dear Parents
We would like to welcome Hannah Stobart, a Cambridge University student, who is working in year 3 as part of her teacher training placement.
Red Nose Day
The children thoroughly enjoyed themselves today celebrating Red Nose and raising money for comic relief. Thank you to everyone that has supported this event.
Jackie Coleman visit
Mrs Coleman has been in to teach Year 3 a dance, in preparation for the Dance Festival at Saffron Walden County High School in a couple of weeks’ time. Together, we choreographed and learnt the new routine. Mrs Coleman helped us all to count the beat of the song to ensure we can all be in time. We have some rehearsing to do over the next couple of weeks, but cannot wait to perform on the stage in front of our families and children from local schools!
Lisa Dunlop visit
Last week Ms Dunlop visited from JFAN to take PE sessions with Reception class and class 2. The classes both focused on their ball skills using tennis balls. The children had some tricky challenges to complete throwing, bouncing and catching and making a rainbow shape from one hand to the other.
Friends of Clavering Neon Disco
The children had a great time this week at the school disco. Thank you to the Friends of Clavering team for organising the event and to the staff and parents for attending.
Parent Consultations
Thank you to all the parents that attended our Parent Consultation sessions last week. We hope you found them informative along with your child’s interim report.
Important information – Term time holidays – Essex update
Improving school attendance is a key priority for all schools across Essex. Where families choose to take a family holiday during term time, this can detrimentally impact a pupil’s progress and can prevent them from fulfilling their true academic potential. Our school attendance policy, available via our school website, clearly sets out the process that parents should follow if they wish to apply for leave during term time. Please note that applications should only be made, if you feel that there are exceptional circumstances which mean that the leave cannot be taken during the school holidays. We would ask all parents to note that, where families choose to go on holiday during term time and the absences are coded as unauthorised, Essex County Council may not issue penalty notices and may instead proceed to prosecution and place the case directly before the Magistrates for their consideration in court.
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.
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
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
31st March Easter Egg Hunt
31st March End of term
ACHIEVEMENTS
STAR OF THE WEEK
Week ending 3rd March
Reception Harrison – for settling in so brilliantly in Reception Class
Year One Eva – for great enthusiasm in all her learning and super effort in her reading
Year Two Astrid – for a fantastic attitude to all learning and always being polite and kind
Year Three Dylan – for fantastic start to his time at Clavering School
Year Four Elliott – for being curious by asking insightful questions especially in Science
Year Five Harry – for his great thinking and explanations in Science
Year Six Finlay – for being so tactically aware at Tag Rugby
Week ending 10th March
Reception Felix – for his great independent writing and typing this week
Year One Rollo – for his fantastic effort and independence in his writing
Year Two Frankie – for a fantastic attitude to learning and working hard in all subjects
Year Three Benjamin – for super effort and drive to challenge himself in maths this week
Year Four Frankie – for challenging himself in Maths by showing excellent understanding of converting
fractions
Year Five Rowan – for demonstrating great enthusiasm and determination to complete his Maths work
Year Six Anna – for her excellent detailed biography of Jaqueline Auriol
WRITER OF THE WEEK – 10.3.23
Reception Griff for great independent writing
Year One Eva for great independent writing
Year Two Jaxon for a great piece of independent writing, using adverbs
Year Three Minty for great use of alliteration
Year Four Poppy for being resilient when trying to achieve her writing target
Year Five Oscar for his wonderful writing on rivers
Year Six Liam for a great effort improving his biography writing
If you have any questions at any time, then please feel free to make an appointment.
Have a good weekend,
Rosalind Allsop
Headteacher