Headteacher Newsletter Issue 14
FORTNIGHTLY NEWSLETTER ISSUE 14: 28.4.23
Dear Parents
We would like to welcome two new families to the school – the Briggs and the Green families who have joined year one.
Staffing update
Sadly Mrs Pemberton will be leaving us just before half term. We would like to take this opportunity to thank her for all her hard work as a Learning Support Assistant, Midday Assistant and supporting the Friends of Clavering over the years.
Some exciting news!
I was lucky enough to win a raffle prize at a Headteacher Conference before Easter resulting in the school receiving £3,000 worth of outdoor play equipment from Pentagon! It is called ‘Play Builder Equipment Set’. Since Key Stage Two have the outdoor climbing frame, this will predominantly be for Reception and Key Stage One. The children were told in an assembly this week and we are very excited about using it.
Heads of School
The Heads of School have been meeting with me recently to discuss our next projects. We have two areas that we are exploring. We will update you further when we have more detail. The Heads of School also met with one of our newest governors this week. They led a tour of the school followed by lunch with Ms Kamel.
Uniform
At Clavering, we pride ourselves on looking smart. Our school uniform plays a valuable role in contributing to the ethos of the school and setting an appropriate tone. It helps promote the identity of the school and is one of the most immediate ways in which a child associates themselves with being part of our community. We want children to be proud of Clavering and the expectation is that every pupil will wear the school uniform. We would, therefore, appreciate your support in ensuring it is consistently and fairly applied.
Our School Uniform Policy:
Winter
- Blue V neck jumper with school logo / Blue cardigan with logo
- White polo shirt (no logo)
- Grey trousers, skirt or pinafore
- Grey socks or tights
- Black shoes
- Fleece with logo (navy)
- Year 6 – white shirt (short or long sleeve) with a tie (provided by the school).
Summer
- Blue/white dress Blue cardigan with logo or blue V neck jumper with logo
- White socks
- Black shoes (same for winter)
- White polo shirt (no logo)
- Grey shorts
- School cap with logo (legionnaire can be taken off)
PE Kit
- Navy panel sided polo shirt with Clavering logo
- Navy panel sided shorts with Clavering logo
- Navy skort with Clavering logo
- Navy hooded or zip up jumper with Clavering logo
In colder weather there is also the option of:
Navy tracksuit top with Clavering logo
- Navy tracksuit bottoms (that can purchased from any retailer)
This is then accompanied by white/black socks and trainers.
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
1st May Bank holiday
2nd May Year 6 Sats Week Parents Meeting
3rd May Bag2School
3rd May KS1 Striking Skills
5th May School Coronation Street Party
8th May Bank Holiday
9th – 12th May SATs week
15th – 19th May Science/Eco week
19th May Sharing Assembly – invitation for year 4 parents
23rd May Reception Farm Visit
24th May Year 6 Cricket
25th May Year 3 Rapid Fire Event
26th May Sharing Assembly – invitation for year 1parents
29th May – 2nd June Half term
5th June INSET day – school closed to the pupils
5th – 9th June Multiplication check
7th June Year 6 Parents Residential Meeting
12th – 16th June Phonics check
14th June Crucial Crew
17th June Clavering Village Fete
19th June Sports Day
25th – 28th June Year 6 residential
30th June Transition day at JFAN
26th June Year 5 Harlow Outdoors trip
3rd – 7th July Work experience student
4th July French Day
7th July Tray Day
10th – 14th July Work experience student
17th July Class Swap
17th July Parent evening
18th July Parent evening
19th July Year 1 and 2 school trip TBC
21st July Last day of term
ACHIEVEMENTS
STAR OF THE WEEK
Week ending 31st March
Reception Cameron – for his outstanding work in PE
Year One Nell – for great detail in her first person retelling of ‘Mrs Mole I’m Home’
Year Two Hugo – for his brilliant paired work for Design and Technology
Year Three Esmee – for extra enthusiasm and commitment to dance this week
Year Four Polly – for representing the school so well at the Cross Country Finals
Year Five Rowan – for his writing an excellent piece based on The Hobbit
Year Six Amelia – for her excellent reasoning skills in Maths
Week ending 21st April
Reception Michaela – for being kind to others and helping a friend who needed it
Year One Alfie – for super enthusiasm and effort in music
Year Two Buddy – for engagement in all subjects but especially music and singing
Year Three Phoenix – for always having a positive can- do attitude
Year Four Poppy – for her kindness towards everyone she knows and her positive attitude to learning
Year Five William – for excellent calculating in maths and for working hard on his reading challenges
Year Six Liam – for his great focus and positive attitude
WRITER OF THE WEEK – 21.4.23
R Alex R for great story ideas and super writing
1 Jude for a super effort with his handwriting
2 Willa for great science presentation
3 Phoebe R for writing appropriate open ended questions
4 Carrie for great inference skills
5 Darcie for working hard on her presentation and handwriting
6 Emma for her ‘free write’ story she created at school and home
If you have any questions at any time, then please feel free to make an appointment.
Have a good weekend
Rosalind Allsop
Headteacher