FORTNIGHTLY NEWSLETTER  ISSUE 8:                            9.2.24

We would like to welcome some new families that joined us this week – Bingley years 2 and 5, Harding year 1 and George years 1 and 2.

Dance Coach Year 3

Class 3 were very excited to have Kate Burnham come in to teach us a dance routine. This is ready for the Dance Festival at Saffron Hall in a few weeks’ time. We listened very carefully and begun to learn the dance. She is coming back for further lessons over the next few weeks, to help finish and perfect the routine. We are excited to be able to perform on the stage at Saffron Hall to our families!

KS1 Multi Skills Festival

KS1 visited JFAN on Wednesday for an afternoon of multi skills.  More to follow in next week’s Friday Focus!

Reception Class Trip to Aerozone at Stansted

What an amazing trip. We are enormously proud of all the children who were one of the best groups they have had with brilliant behaviour and questions. We had different activities: role play, dressing up, making paper planes, science activities, hearing from ground crew, history of the airport and a visit to the viewing platform where we watched passenger and cargo planes landing and taking off. We even got flashing lights and waves from the pilots in the cockpit. I can proudly tell you that 22 Reception children make 114 decibels of noise which is much noisier than an aeroplane (84-89 decibels). Thank you to Michelle, Anna, Sarah and Chloe for their help.

Heads of School

Our Heads of School welcomed our two newest Governors to the school with a tour across all the classes followed by a school lunch.  The Heads of School were a credit to the school hosting the occasion.

Children’s Mental Health Week

This week is ‘Children’s Mental Health Week’, which is run by the charity Place2Be. It focuses on the importance of promoting good mental health and wellbeing. National data indicates that 1 in 6 children and young people now have a diagnosable mental health condition. This year, the theme is ‘My Voice Matters’, recognising that every child has the right to express their views, feelings and wishes in all matters affecting them, and to have their views considered and taken seriously. Please find attached a ‘Top Tips for Families Information Sheet’, produced by Place2Be. It includes ideas and suggestions, as well as video activities. Further parenting advice from child mental health experts, including practical tips to support children’s wellbeing and behaviour, can be found by following this link: https://parentingsmart.place2be.org.uk.

Safer Internet Day

Safer Internet Day took place on Tuesday 6th February.

This year’s theme is Inspiring change and Navigating Change Online.

Artificial Intelligence is a rapidly advancing piece of online technology.  Children should be exploring the exciting world of Artificial Intelligence and learning how to stay safe online. The classes in KS2 attended a live lesson during the morning to help them understand the impact of AI on all aspects of our lives and highlight the many exciting careers and jobs available working with and developing AI.

Please see this link below further information about Safer Internet Day and top tips for parents/carers: https://saferinternet.org.uk/safer-internet-day/safer-internet-day-2024/top-tips-for-parents-and-carers

Music Theory Club

New music theory club starting on Thursday lunchtimes. Free to any musicians of any instrument or singers in year 3-6 pre-grade up to grade 2. We will be working our way through Discover music theory books and learning the basics of music theory. This group is open to anyone regardless of where they learn their instrument but an enthusiasm for learning theory is required. It will take place in the last 15 minutes of lunchtime and attendance every week is expected. Max 10 students and places will be offered on a first come, first served basis. Students will need to provide their own books – a link will be sent out once you have signed up (approx cost £8). Please let the school office know in the first instance if your child is interested in signing up.

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, 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 the school 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.

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 our children.

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 DATES FOR YOUR DIARY  

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

13.2.24                        Friends of Clavering sponsored pancake flip

19.2.24 – 23.2.24          Half Term

28.2.24                        Cross country final pm KS2

29.2.24                        Friends of Clavering Neon Disco

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 E-safety Sessions – children, staff and parents (8 – 9.30) online

28.3.24                        Friends of Clavering Easter Egg Hunt

28.3.24                         Last day of term

15.4.24                         INSET Day – school closed pupils

16.4.24                         Summer term begins

ACHIEVEMENTS

STAR OF THE WEEK 26.1.24

Reception        Ivy – for her outstanding listening!

Year One         Juliet – for demonstrating lovely ideas in her writing

Year Two         Ollie – for super contributions to lessons and a good attitude to his learning

Year Three       Buddy – for a great improvement in his handwriting and always having a positive attitude

Year Four         Christopher – for super Science work and great presentation

Year Five         Ruby – for excellent focus and perseverance in all lessons

Year Six           Rio – for hard work and determination, great focus in assessments.

STAR OF THE WEEK 2.2.24

Reception        Orla – for excellent listening and super Maths

Year One         Sydni – for her wonderful enthusiasm towards all learning, particularly writing

Year Two         Annabelle – for great effort and enthusiasm in her learning, especially in English

Year Three       Jaxon – for fantastic effort in all lessons this week

Year Four         Alastair – for super thinking and contributions in our Science lessons

Year Five         Elliott – for a superb attitude to learning. Excellent effort in our lessons

Year Six           Oscar – for consistent progress in all areas of the curriculum and fantastic presentation

WRITER OF THE WEEK

Reception        Jack for using the correct pencil grip

Year 1              Naomi for creative instructional writing

Year 2             Laura for using the correct features when writing instructions

Year 3              Jacob for super diary presentation

Year 4              Alfie for a great effort with his handwriting

Year5               Alexa for using all the key features when writing a newspaper report

Year 6             Darcie for GREAT independent writing

If you have any questions at any time, please feel free to make an appointment.

Have a good weekend

Rosalind Allsop
Headteacher