Headteacher Newsletter Issue 6
FORTNIGHTLY NEWSLETTER ISSUE 6: 20.12.23
Forest School Reception and Year 6
Year 6 were invited by Mrs Course and Mrs Berrett to join Reception at the Forest on Friday and we had the most amazing time! Class 6 walked to and from the Forest and surprised the Reception children by our unexpected arrival. It was wonderful to see all of Class 6 supporting the younger children with their adventures around the woodlands and they happily shared hot chocolate and biscuits in the log circle. Year 6 children commented how it was the best Forest School they had ever been on. Thank you to Mr Sullivan, Mrs Jones, Ms Gawthorpe and Mrs Neal for making our visit possible!
Christmas Plays
We have had a wonderful week of Christmas plays. The Key Stage One performance ‘Lights Camel Action 2! The Sequin’ took place during the afternoon of 14th December. The children were fantastic. All the children managed to learn a lot of lines for the speaking parts and words for the songs.
During the morning, Reception class performed a wonderful Nativity for their parents, called The Big Little Nativity. It was a great success and the children impressed everyone with all the songs and actions that they had remembered.
KS2 performed ‘No One Wraps Like An Elf’ over two evenings. It was an amazing performance. All year groups had a significant role within the play with a mixture of speaking parts and dances. Year 6 had the larger speaking parts. The acting flowed beautifully, and the songs were sung extremely well.
Well done to all the children for taking part in the Christmas plays and a big thank you to all the staff. Thank you too for all your generous donations. The money will go towards the cost of the play licences and a donation to the Food Bank.
The school productions will be available to buy on a DVD early next term.
For more detail, please look at our Friday Focus from last week http://www.clavering.essex.sch.uk/2023/12/friday-focus-15-12-23/
Best Decorated Classroom Competition
All the classes have worked hard over the last two weeks decorating their classrooms with their own decorations. There has been great team work, Eco-friendly decorations, feature walls and rooms filled with colour. The winners received a cake, made by Mrs Coy, which they enjoyed during the day. A huge well done to Class 5 who were the worthy winners, especially for the decorations they made as of their Maths learning.
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Thank you Friends of Clavering
Thank you to the Friends of Clavering for an excellent Christmas shopping morning this week and our Christmas entertainment with Calamity Clown. The children thoroughly enjoyed themselves and have perfect presents for their family!
E-safety message from the Local Authority
Are you planning on giving your child a new games console, mobile phone, tablet, or computer game this Christmas? Or do you have friends or family who are?
Visit www.essex.police.uk/sortyoursettings for practical things you can do to help make your child’s new device safer when they are online.
Bad weather
In the event of severe weather conditions and possible school closure a notice will be placed on the school website.
Parents will be notified via our school website or the Essex County Council on the ‘Emergency School Closures’ page: https://www.essex.gov.uk/education-schools/schools/dates/pages/emergency-school-closures.aspx
Please note that when the school is open in bad weather a path will be cleared to enable you to gain access to the school but care does still need to be taken.
Communication Chain
Just as a reminder, in order for the communication chain to be effective it is important that phone calls are made as opposed to emails or texts, in order to ensure contact is made. Normally the chain will be activated the morning of the school closure as the decision is made on the day, unless in exceptional circumstances we know of the need in advance. We will try to open where possible, hence the decision being made at the last minute, once we can assess the school site. We will endeavour to give you as much notice as possible, but as you are aware it takes some time for the communication to pass through.
Facebook can be used as a supplementary means of communication if requested to do so by a member of the leadership team but this is not part of the school process. ParentMail, the Communication Chain, the school website and the Essex link above are the school notifications.
Thank you again for your support with this process.
CLUBS SPRING TERM – 2024
Clubs will start the week commencing 8th January 2024
Monday | |
Football Club | Year 4 – 6 3.20 – 4.20 |
Drama Club STING | Year 1 – 6 3.20 – 4.20 Starts 15/01/24 |
Tuesday | |
Football Club | Year 1,2 3.20 – 4.20 |
Fitness Club | Year 1 – 4 3.20 – 4.20 |
Wednesday | |
Football Club | Year 3 3.20 – 4.20 |
Choir Club | Year 2 – 6 3.20 – 4.20 |
Thursday | |
Dodgeball Club | Year 4 – 6 3.20 – 4.20 |
Relax Kids | Year 3 – 6 3.20 – 4.20 |
Swimming
Swimming lessons will start Monday January 8th for 6 weeks for children in Year 3.
School Admissions – Primary – Apply Now!!
To apply quickly and easily for primary school places go online to https://www.essex.gov.uk/admissions-to-essex-schools-for-the-next-school-year
Primary (Reception) places for September 2024
From 6 November 2023 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 2024. Applications received after this date are considered late and will reduce your chance of being offered a place at your preferred schools. Please note even if a parent already has a sibling at the school, you still need to apply if you have a child due to start Reception next September.
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.
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.
Ooo000ooO
DATES FOR YOUR DIARY
18.12.23 Friends of Clavering Christmas Shopping Morning
19.12.23 Christmas Lunch and entertainment
20.12.23 End of term
4.1.24 Spring term begins
17.1.24 Year 5/6 Sports Hall Athletics
19.1.24 Sharing Assembly – Year 3 parents invited – 2.45pm
26.1.24 Sharing Assembly – Year 6 parents invited – 2.45pm
31.1.24 Year 4 Tag rugby
6.2.24 Reception class trip to Stansted
7.2.24 KS1 Multi-skills Festival
19.2.24 – 23.2.24 Half Term
28.2.24 Cross country final pm KS2
5.3.24 Parents Evening
6.3.24 Gym/Dance Show KS2
7.3.24 Parents Evening
7.3.24 World Book Day
8.3.24 Sharing Assembly – Year 2 parents invited – 2.45pm
15.3.24 Tray Day
21.3.24 The Two Johns Esafety Sessions – children, staff and parents (8 – 9.30) online
28.3.24 Last day of term
15.4.24 INSET Day – school closed pupils
16.4.24 Summer term begins
ACHIEVEMENTS
HEADTEACHER’S AWARD
For children who have achieved their personal best:
Reception:
Henry – excellent progress with reading
Ezzie – fantastic progress in writing taking her time to write neat and well formed letters
Year One:
Felix – for his thoughtful contributions towards all his learning.
Daisy – for being an excellent role model and for always trying her best.
Year Two:
Scarlett for great progress in maths
Cruz great progress in reading
Year Three:
Willa- a great improvement in Maths, handwriting and her concentration.
Hugo- improving his Maths work and trying hard to grasp new concepts.
Year Four:
Dougray for being so conscientious in his learning especially with his handwriting.
Phoenix for growing in confidence which has allowed her to tackle challenging maths questions independently.
Year Five:
Elliot – for consistently trying his best in all lessons. Excellent progress in maths and working really hard on his discussion writing.
Lenny – for really trying hard in his English, handwriting and spelling especially.
Year Six:
Teddy – for great progress in maths and a positive attitude to all areas of the curriculum
Ava – For improved focus in all areas of the curriculum and great progress in maths
Cartoon Attitude Learning Awards
We have our super hero learning behaviours, which the children created. This half term the children worked hard on cooperation, championed by “Co-octopus”. Two children from each class were nominated for a special award and will enjoy a hot chocolate treat with Miss Allsop.
Reception: Oscar and Sophie
Class 1: Chantelle and Griff
Class 2: Jakob and Marnie
Class 3: Delilah and Cecily
Class 4: Eve and Alfie
Class 5: Alexa and Jemima
Class 6: Camden & Martha
If you have any questions at any time, please feel free to make an appointment.
Wishing you all a lovely Christmas and thank you for all your support.
Rosalind Allsop
Headteacher