Headteacher Newsletter Issue 18
FORTNIGHTLY NEWSLETTER ISSUE 18: 4.7.25
Congratulations
Congratulations to Nicole Bond who has attained her Qualified Teacher Status after an intense year of study and excellent practice. We are looking forward to working with her next year in this new role.
Tray Day
Thank you to you all for attending Tray Day this week. We hope you enjoyed looking at your child’s work
Year 6 Leavers’ Lunch
Thank you to all the parents and kitchen staff for making the Leavers’ Lunch so successful this week. We really enjoyed the occasion and hope to repeat it for other year groups next year.
Work experience
We have been supporting several work experience students this term. Many are former pupils and two are about to start a PGCE programme post university.
| Three Tees cricket – Friday 20th June
A huge congratulations to our incredible Year 2 cricket team, who have made it through to the Essex County Finals in Chelmsford after an outstanding performance in their recent tournament final at Audley End House. Competing against 9 different schools, Clavering played a total of 7 matches – and won every single one, earning 1st place! Their teamwork, determination and sportsmanship were on full display throughout the event, earning them a well-deserved place among the top 14 schools in Essex. We couldn’t be prouder of their efforts and can’t wait to see them next week competing again. Well done Year 2, what a fantastic achievement. |
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KS2 Athletics – Thursday 26th June
Last Thursday, Children from KS2 (eight from each class) went to an athletic tournament at Carver Barracks. There was eleven schools in total and we took part in many events which were: relay, howler, long jump, javelin, 600m, sprint and triple jump. We were very proud of our achievements, we had lots of fun and came third overall. – Competitors of Year 6.
Year 4 trip to Duxford – Wednesday 2nd July
Class Four had a fantastic day at the Imperial War Museum, Duxford.
We started off with a trip on the concord, they even let us hear just how loud the engine was! We then looked at the parachute regiment display, we particularly found the medals and the dog parachute interesting. After this, we went to the Battle of Britain hanger where we saw lots of the planes and the artefacts from the Blitz. We then took part in the discovery challenge. In groups of three we were given a phone, snapper board, a microphone and lanyards from SMASH TV. We then received messages to the phone giving us instructions. From this we had to film our own mini documentary teaching someone about The Battle of Britain. Miss Hagger has received the videos which are fantastic and we will be sharing them with the school in our next assembly!
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Rapid Fire Final – Thursday 3rd July
Congratulations to our brilliant Year 3/4 rapid fire cricket team on a fantastic performance in their final this week! After a tough start with a loss in their opening match, they showed incredible resilience and determination, going on to win every remaining game. Their impressive efforts saw them finish 2nd in their first group, 1st in their qualifying group and place 5th overall out of 14 schools. Well done Year 3/4, you’ve done the school proud!
Safeguarding at the end of the day
We have had reports from members of the community driving past the school at the end of the day, that children are running into the road near moving cars. Children are also near the road unsupervised and some children are on scooters near moving traffic.
Please can we ensure our children are supervised at all times when they are near any roads.
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.”
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 our children.
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DATES FOR YOUR DIARY
30th June Tray Day
30th June School photos
1st– 3rd July Work experience students
2nd July Year 4 trip to Duxford
3rd July Sharing Assembly – Year 3 parents invited – 2.45pm (please note this is a Thursday)
4th July Year 1 trip to Stansted Castle
4th July Friends of Clavering Summer Fayre
7th July Harlow Outdoors
7th – 11th July Work experience student
9th July KS1 Athletics and EYFS am
10th July KS2 Sports Ambassadors
11th July Sharing Assembly – Year 4 parents invited – 2.45pm
14th July Class Swap 11 – 12
14th July French Day
17th July Year 2 trip to Aerozone
21st July Year 6 Leavers’ Assembly
22nd July Last day of term
ACHIEVEMENTS
STAR OF THE WEEK
Week ending 20th June
Reception Dylan – for being a kind and helpful friend
Year One Colin – for showing an excellent knowledge and understanding in Maths, especially in Number
Year Two Alex S – for consistently giving 100%, especially in English when writing a detailed and neatly presented newspaper report
Year Three Henry C – for improving his understanding of time in Maths
Year Four Delilah – for amazing effort and engagement when learning about WW2 in History
Year Five Dougray – for trying hard in all our lessons, great focus
Year Six Maya – for showing resilience on the residential
STAR OF THE WEEK
Week ending 27th June
Reception Noah – for going out of his way to care for a classmate
Year One Zara – for trying really hard with your learning. All your hard work is paying off!!
Year Two Sydni – for showing excellent progress in Maths, especially with her deep understanding of time
Year Three Annabelle – for her positive attitude and engagement in all her lessons this week
Year Four Astrid – for a creative clay tile, great contributions in RE and always being a star!
Year Five Kitty – for always doing her best and being a great friend
Year Six Greta – for always going above and beyond to help and showing kindness to others
If you have any questions at any time, please feel free to make an appointment.
Wishing you all a good weekend
Rosalind Allsop
Headteacher
