FORTNIGHTLY NEWSLETTER  ISSUE 17:                           20.6.25

Crucial Crew

On 6th June, Class 6 attended Bridge End Gardens, for the annual Uttlesford Crucial Crew. Children went round in groups and spoke with youth workers, firefighters and the police about issues facing young people today: shop lifting, social media, healthy relationships, anti-social behaviour, water safety and vaping. Year 6 listened and asked questions to support their understanding of these important areas. A huge thank you to Mrs Hall, Mrs Sellwood and Mrs Martin for making this visit possible.

Parent Forum

We had a very productive Parent Forum meeting last week.  We discussed organising and streamlining our volunteer processes in order to match roles to interest and need, cost of trips and transport and increasing parental involvement in children’s learning in Key Stage One, following Reception. Thank you to our representatives for their support and hard work around this.

Reception Induction Morning

This week we welcomed our new Reception parents to the school with our Induction Morning. Mrs Course, Mrs Berrett, Mrs Snelling, Ms O’Brien, Mrs Elliston and Mr Gooding all spoke, along with myself, to the parents, sharing key information about our school.

Year 3 visit to Clavering Castle

Class 3 enjoyed a fantastic visit to the excavation site of Clavering Castle on Thursday morning. We were given a tour of the site where 2 trenches had been dug out. The archaeologists showed us the different layers of soil and how these can tell us which years the ruins are from. Some of their findings go as far back as the 11^th century! After exploring the site, we went back to the barn and washed some of the stones and bones which had been found in the dig. After some refreshments, we used clay to make our own pots and vases. A few members of the class were then interviewed by Saffron Walden Museum’s historical podcast! The children did our school proud especially with the heat. And some of the class are already looking forward to visiting the site again on Saturday with their families for the Castle open day.

Year 6 Residential

On Sunday, Class 6 went to Bawdsey Manor in Suffolk for our residential. Over the three and a half days we were there the children took part in abseiling, climbing wall, problem solving, disco, disc golf, camp-fire, survival, giant swing, canoeing, challenge obstacle course, Jacob’s ladder, fencing and archery. It was wonderful to see the children challenge themselves, encourage one another and try new things. We were extremely lucky to have amazing weather, we all had the best time and the children didn’t want to leave! A BIG thank you to Miss Morton, Mr Snelling and Mrs Neal for all their hard work leading up to and during the residential.

Fun Run Thank you to the Friends of Clavering for an excellent Fun Run last Friday. The children thoroughly enjoyed themselves and managed to complete many circuits around the field.  Mr Snelling was gunged for the ‘Gunge the Teacher’ fundraiser.  He was a great sport. Greta’s name was chosen out of the raffle tickets.  Picked by Mrs Snelling!!  As you can see Greta really enjoyed the moment!
Clavering Village Fete Thank you again to the Friends of Clavering for running a Prosecco stall at the village fete.

Parking – a polite reminder

Just a polite reminder. Please park considerably no matter how short a time – do not block driveways or bus bays.  Please also remember to use the one-way system on Vassars Field and do not turn round half-way down the road which causes unnecessary congestion and causes a potential unsafe situation for the children getting to school.

See attachment for a reminder of the one-way system and description below –

“Please use the road and car park as designed: follow the circular route by travelling up the access road, passing the exit to the car park, and continuing around the loop to the car park entrance. You may then park in the car park or proceed to the designated drop off/pick-up bays. Please park only in the designated bays, following the prescribed route, and avoid crossing the road’s centre line. Additionally, the bays nearest to the entrance are reserved for school buses and minibuses; please do not park in these bays.”

Thank you for your support with this.

Smartphone Free Childhood

We know that many of our parents are interested in Smartphone Free Childhood – for those of you that are interested here are some useful links: A recent article from the New York Times about Smartphone Free Childhood, highlighting recent successes in the UK around delaying smartphone free ownership:

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/04/01/world/europe/smartphone-ban-schools-uk-childhood.html

Alternative to smartphones: Smartphone Free Childhood have pulled together a list of suggested alternative phones to smartphones. Although they vary in price, there have been various new phones and other solutions coming onto the market recently, and new suggestions are often added: https://smartphonefreechildhood.co.uk/alternatives

Following the recent Netflix drama ‘Adolescence’, here is a useful article that pulls together the various reasons why delaying smartphone ownership is necessary:

“In 2010, teens, parents, schools and even tech companies didn’t know that smartphones and social media had so many harmful effects. Now we do.”

https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/smartphones-children-adolescence-mental-health-social-media-b2720374.html

Scopay App

As you are aware, Scopay is the system we use for the payment of school meals, trips and other school events.  We want to make sure you are aware there is a Scopay app that can be downloaded which you may find more user friendly than the Scopay.com website.  Please see instructions for downloading the app at the end of the newsletter.

Healthy Snacks – break time AND BEFORE CLUBS

We would like to encourage all children to bring in a snack for break time and before clubs. It is a long time between breakfast and lunch, as well as between lunch and dinner, especially if attending a club after school, and a snack, as well as a drink of water, make a big difference to children’s concentration levels and ability to learn.

As a healthy school we have agreed strict guidelines for the type of snack brought in, it must be fruit or vegetable in the form in which it grew (ie. nothing added, not stretchy or made into a bar and wrapped). This also helps to promote our eco school policies of reducing waste and packaging. Please do not put the fruit snack in glass containers.

We would also like to take this opportunity to encourage a healthy balanced lunch box for those not taking a school lunch.  Please remember we are a NO nuts school.

Birthday Treats

In order to support children with allergies across the school and the inclusivity around this, we would ask you not to give children birthday sweets to share in school. Thank you for your support with this.

Creams/Lip balms/Suncream

Just a reminder that creams/lip balms etc. are not to be brought into school. If there is a genuine medical need for your child to have a moisturising product in school, can you please check the ingredient list for potential allergens and make the class teacher aware that your child has this item in school. If it has been prescribed by a doctor, please complete the relevant medical forms with the office. Suncream – it is that time of year again where children need to bring in suncream to apply at school. Please can you make sure your child has their name on their suncream, informs the class teacher that they have it in their bag and that you check the ingredients for potential allergens. Please can you remind your child that they must not share their suncream with other children. Thank you

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 and could add up to an ‘unauthorised’ absence.

Thank you.

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

2^nd June                       INSET Day – school closed to pupils

4^th June                         KS2 quad kids

2^nd – 13^th June               Year 4 Multiplication Check Assessment window

6th June                       Year 6 Crucial Crew

9^th – 13^th June                Year 1 Phonics Assessment window

13^th June                       Friends of Clavering Fun Run

15^th – 18^th June              Year 6 Residential

19^th June                       Reception Induction morning

23^rd – 27^th June              Year 6 transition week

25^th June                       Open Morning

26^th June                       KS2 athletics am

27^th June                       JFAN year 6 transition

27th June                   Sharing Assembly – Reception parents invited – 2.45pm

30^th June                       Tray Day

30^th June                       School photos

1st– 3^rd July                  Work experience students

2^nd July                         Year 4 trip to Duxford

3rd July                      Sharing Assembly – Year 3 parents invited – 2.45pm (please note this is a Thursday)

4^th July                         Year 1 trip to Stansted Castle

4^th July                         Friends of Clavering Summer Fayre

7^th July                         Harlow Outdoors

7^th – 11^th July                 Work experience student

9^th July                         KS1 Athletics and EYFS am

10^th July                        KS2 Sports Ambassadors

11th July                     Sharing Assembly – Year 4 parents invited – 2.45pm

14^th July                        Class Swap 11 – 12

14th July                    French Day

17^th July                        Year 2 trip to Aerozone

21^st July                        Year 6 Leavers’ Assembly

22^nd July                       Last day of term

ACHIEVEMENTS

STAR OF THE WEEK

Week ending 6^th June

Reception         Reggie – for making a huge effort in reading

Year One          Vihana – for a fantastic work ethic – you always work independently and quietly

Year Two         Bella – for showing great focus and working really hard in all your lessons this week

Year Three       Cruz – for always treating others with warmth and respect. Class 3 are lucky to have you

Year Four         Bailey – for extra effort with her Maths this week and always doing the right thing

Year Five          Alastair – for great research and presentation of Science ‘life cycles’ work

Year Six           Toben – for fantastic engagement in all learning this week

STAR OF THE WEEK

Week ending 13^th June

Reception         Henry – for putting words into alphabetical order very well

Year One          Max – for his excellent work in English. He has been using super adjectives to describe the Traction Man

Year Two         Cameron – for showing great knowledge and confidence when working with 3D shapes

Year Three       Tilly – for her creativity in RE when writing her values and motto for life

Year Four         Jacob – for having a really positive attitude and amazing effort in all areas this week

Year Five          Hattie – for continuous hard work, particularly in Maths, where she is always up for a challenge

Year Six           Carrie – for a great newspaper report for ‘The Ridge’

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

Wishing you all a good weekend

Rosalind Allsop
Headteacher

 

 

SCOPAY Mobile App – information for schools

Useful Information

The SCOPAY App has been developed as an alternative to the mobile version of our SCOPAY.com website.  The SCOPAY.com website is still available.

SCOPAY Mobile App

For parents who prefer the convenience of a mobile App then iOS and Android versions of SCOPAY
are now available for download either via Apple’s App Store or Google Play.

Search for SCOPAY

How does the SCOPAY app work alongside SCO?

There is no need to change anything in SCO – any items you make available online will appear on www.scopay.com and on the SCOPAY app straight away.

Parents who already have a SCOPAY account are able to login to the app with their existing username/password combination.

For new parents the registration process continues as it currently does – schools will generate the Online Access Letter providing the link code that parents will need during the registration process.  They will be able to register through the website or the App and will still need to validate their email address (click the link in the automated email after registration) as they do at the moment before they can login and make a purchase.

The SCOPAY Mobile App allows parents to:

• Register their SCOPAY account
• Link pupils to their account using either a link code or QR code
• View dinners calendar, order meals and top up balance
• View eligible trips, make payments, give consent, link to your mobile calendar to add trip dates
• View and purchase items for sale (revision guides, etc) and view product information
• View payment history
• Set up alerts to be received by email or in-App for new items online, trip payment deadlines, low account balances
• Manage account information – password, email, billing details, payment agreements