Headteacher Newsletter Issue 8
FORTNIGHTLY NEWSLETTER ISSUE 8: 9.1.26
Staffing – exciting news
We have some happy news to share with you as Miss Ullmann is expecting a baby!
She will be commencing her maternity leave during the summer term. Mrs Clutterbuck, a regular member of staff who the children know, will be teaching the class during this time, for the remainder of the term.
Kind donation of laptops from Amazon
We are about to receive 72 laptops from Amazon! A big thank you to Ruth Faraci for making this happen and for Anna Green’s support around this. This is an excellent resource for the children across the school.
Well done Clavering!
We have just been informed that we have attained the KS1 Active Essex sporting award, from Essex, for our sport provision.
Parent Forum
Thank you to our representatives for meeting with me yesterday.
We discussed our approaching Hobbies Week, which is the week beginning 2nd February. If you are willing and able to attend, please get in touch with your class representative. It is a similar format as our Professional Week but with a Hobbies theme – speaking to the children for about 20 minutes and then questions. The more interactive and visual the better. Please let us know how many sessions you are happy to deliver and which year group/s.
We also discussed our plans to develop SEN communication across the school further with a time slot within a two-day period for parents to meet with the class teacher and SENCO to review Learning Plans. This will be in addition to a SEN parent evening slot, which will have a more general focus.
The last item we discussed was asking for any companies to match fund or sponsor areas of the school in order to help our school budget maintain the current provision in light of recent funding cuts we have been notified of.
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, on the school site, 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.
Please see below a message from the Local Authority regarding seasonal illnesses.
“As we move further into the term, we want to remind all settings of the key guidance available to help manage seasonal illnesses and keep pupils and staff well.
- Education Hub Blog: Reducing the spread of illness this winter: Seven steps to healthier schools and higher school attendance – a helpful blog for parents and staff.
- NHS Guidance for Parents: Is my child too ill for school? – a useful resource to help parents decide when children should stay at home.
- Preventing and Controlling Infections Guidance: Includes advice on vaccination, ventilation, and good respiratory hygiene.
- A–Z of managing Infectious Diseases: Practical guidance on managing specific illnesses.
Drop off times and key messages for class teachers
If you would like a message to given to your child’s class teacher, before school, then please catch the person on duty by the gate leading on to the playground. It is usually myself. These messages will be given to the class teacher before school.
Class teachers cannot meet with parents during this time as they are with the children in their classrooms. Appointments or telephone calls can be made upon request at a mutually convenient time.
Thank you for your support with this.
School Absences – sickness and holidays
Following Local Authority guidance we will be contacting families on a daily basis, even if we have been told there is sickness. Following the same guidance, if it is believed that the family are actually on holiday and not sick then this will need to be actioned as an unauthorised absence. Fines may follow.
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 safeguarding policy for all of our children.
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Dear Parents and Residents of Clavering,
On behalf of the Clavering Parish Council, the Steering Group are undertaking the development of the Clavering Neighbourhood Plan. We wanted to take this opportunity to update you on the current progress, but also to highlight the need for a neighbourhood plan and to gain your support in its preparation.
What is a neighbourhood plan?
Following the government’s stated aim to increase the number of houses built, the local district council has designated Clavering as one of the larger villages and as such it is required to accommodate 116 new houses over the next 15 years. The availability of a neighbourhood plan allows the residents to have a much greater say in where these houses are built, what they look like and what additional facilities/infrastructure may be required.
In the absence of a plan, Uttlesford District Council will decide where these houses are built, and residents will have no say.
What are the Steering Group doing?
Currently the Steering Group is collecting evidence from residents on what is important to them about the village, how they would like the new houses to look and what facilities are essential to them. In addition, we are obtaining evidence from the landowners and potential developers so that potential sites can be evaluated as possible candidates for these new houses.
We very much need your input to ensure this plan is appropriate for the whole village. As such, we are holding a meeting in the Village Hall on 14th January at 6.30pm. Free refreshments will be available, and we would be delighted to see you there and to hear your views. If you cannot attend, you can contact us on or via our website www.claveringnp.co.uk
Kind regards
Rachel Tallon (Chair of Clavering Neighbourhood Plan Steering Group)
Ooo000ooO
DATES FOR YOUR DIARY
5th January Spring Term starts
7th January Parent Forum 2.30pm
8th January Friendship Day
W/B 2.2.26 Parent Forum Hobbies Week
10th and 11th February SENCO/Parent/Class teacher discuss Learning Plans (ahead of SENCO
writing them). Appointments to be arranged with parents
W/B 16th February Half Term
27th February Public Speaking year 4 at Great Chesterford
16th March Tray Day
19th March Governor Focus Morning
25th and 26th March Parent Evenings
27th March End of term
13th April INSET Day
14th April Summer Term begins
ACHIEVEMENTS
STAR OF THE WEEK
Week ending 12th December
Reception Frankie – fantastic cutting with scissors – so accurate and neat.
Year One Rocco – performing so well in our Christmas production
Year Two Indie – great effort in English and super acting in the play
Year Three Chantelle – your great engagement and enthusiasm especially in English with your letter writing
Year Four Lunetta – always working hard and having a positive attitude to learning
Year Five Freddie – an excellent effort in all areas of the curriculum and being super polite
Year Six Kitty – always thinking of others and being a fantastic support in Reception
STAR OF THE WEEK
Week ending 19th December
Reception Matilda – amazing singing and her positive attitude
Year One Ted – using exclamation marks and writing exclamation sentences so neatly
Year Two Izzy – a great improvement in confidence, independence and presentation
Year Three Bertie – always trying your best, staying focussed and doing a super job with your work and presentation. Well done!
Year Four Henry – amazing effort in all lessons, excellent presentation and positive contributions to class discussions
Year Five Emily – for her art work
Year Six Esmee – always being helpful and kind, 100% effort in all areas of the curriculum
If you have any questions at any time then please feel free to make an appointment.
Have a great weekend.
Rosalind Allsop
Headteacher
