Headteacher Newsletter Issue 13
FORTNIGHTLY NEWSLETTER ISSUE 13: 27.3.26
As we approach the end of the Spring Term, I would like to thank you all for your support and the staff for all their hard work. It has been a very short term but packed with great achievements and learning experiences. We wish you all a special Easter break. Please note there is an INSET day on Monday 13th April, so the children will return on Tuesday 14th April.
Tray Day and Parent Evenings
Thank you to all of you for attending our recent Tray Day and Parent Evening. We hope you enjoyed seeing all the work the children have produced this term and hearing how well they have progressed.
Work Experience
We are supporting several students with work experience between now and the end of the academic year. Most of them are past pupils, which is great to see.
Heads of School
The Heads of School are working hard organising our Talent Show, that will take place next term. We have had over 60 requests to enter, which is great to see, from Reception to Year 6.
Years 3 Dance Festival
In Class 3 we have been working with Tam our dance coach to learn a dance routine as a whole class. Last Tuesday, our parents joined us after school at Saffron Hall to watch us perform our dance, along with 15 other schools who also performed dance, cheerleading and gymnastics numbers. It was quite nerve-wracking getting up on the big stage there, but we had a fantastic time and performed brilliantly!
Reception, Years 1 and 2 Dance Festival
On the morning of Wednesday 18th March, the Reception, Year 1 and Year 2 children all had a fantastic fun morning at the local schools’ KS1 Dance Festival at Rickling Primary School. The Reception children performed a space themed dance, the Year 1 children performed to ‘Cha Cha Slide,’ and the Year 2 children performed a pop mega mix. The children all performed brilliantly and should be very proud of themselves!
Friends of Clavering School Disco
Thank you to the Friends of Clavering for organising and running a successful disco last week. The children thoroughly enjoyed the event.
Comic Relief – Friday 20th March
Comic relief supports incredible projects and organisations that are making a difference for people across the UK and around the world.
This year the school council decided that we should ‘Go Red’ – that meant they could wear anything that was red. This could be a whole outfit or just a pair of socks. It was up to the individual to decide.
As always, there were some very imaginative ideas.
A big thank you for all the donations to comic relief.
The School Council
Choir Festival at Saffron Hall
On Tuesday 24th March, the Clavering School Choir went to Saffron Walden County High School and took part in a choir festival. In the morning, we got on the coach and then when we got there, Carrie Rawlings (a professional singer) taught all of the schools a song. The schools were: St Thomas Moore, Katherine Semar, Debden primary, St Mary’s, RA Butler, Great Chesterford and Clavering primary School.
All of the schools went up onto the stage one at a time and rehearsed their song. Then we all went and had lunch in the school canteen.
When we came back, we listened to an opera singer called Toben Durrant, who is a second year student at the Royal Academy of music. He performed a piece by Mozart. We then did a question and answer session with him. We also listened to some singing by the SWCHS choir.
All the schools then did a final recap, singing the song we had been learning in the morning. We were split into groups and sang different harmonies.
All the parents arrived and we took turns to sing our choir pieces. The concert was amazing and we all had a brilliant time.
By Kitty and Amelia (Year 6)
Essex Cross Country Finals
On Wednesday 25th March, 5 children from KS2 went to Southend Leisure Centre for the Essex cross country finals after qualifying through the Newport group stage and Uttlesford final. There were approximately 113 competitors in each race. In Year 3, Griff came 43rd, Alex S came 40th and Cam finished in 21st. Laura in year 4 placed 2nd and Max in year 5 came 42nd. An amazing effort and achievement for all!
Parking along the private road Vassars Field – IMPORTANT INFORMATION FORM VASSARS FIELD MANAGEMENT COMPANY
The Vassars Field Management Company met with the school last week and would like us to share the information below so that we can all work together to make school drop and pick up times safer for the children –
- The access road and parking areas are private roads owned by Vassars Field Management Company and not the school. We respectfully therefore ask for parents to adhere to the rules put in place to protect the children being dropped off.
- For all parking spaces on the access road, cars need to park FACING Stortford Road
- There are 38 spaces in total including the access road and car park. No cars are to be parked on double yellow lines, the pavements or elsewhere on the private road
- We request cars are parked for no longer than 20 minutes
- The speed limit on the access and loop roads is both 10mph to ensure the safety of the children
- Currently the residents of Vassar Field have found that at times a further 20 cars are parked in addition to the 38 spaces on double yellow lines and pavements. The situation will be monitored until the end of February to see if these practices stop. If, however, no improvement is noted, the residents will have no option than to instruct the services of a parking enforcement company. Please note if this is necessary the parking fines are £100
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 be 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 our children.
Ooo000ooO
DATES FOR YOUR DIARY
27th March End of term
13th April INSET Day – school closed to pupils
14th April Summer Term begins
27th April Parent phonics session for Reception and Year 1 – 4.30pm
28th April Governor Focus Morning
4th May Bank Holiday
6th May Parent Forum meeting 2.30pm
11th May SATs Week
18th May Year 5 Daws Hall
18th May Sharing Assembly – Year 1 Parents invited 2.45pm
21st May Year 6 trip to Science Evolution
21st May Sharing Assembly – Year 3 Parents invited 2.45pm
25th – 29th May Half Term
1st June Year 4 Multiplication Check window opens
1st June INSET Day – school closed to pupils
3rd June Year 4 trip to Duxford
8th and 9th June Year 1 phonics
8th – 12th June Work Experience
11th June Induction Morning
14th – 17th June Year 6 Residential
18th June Talent Show pm TBC
22nd – 26th June Year 6 Transition Week
23rd June JFAN SEN transition morning
25th June JFAN/SWCHS Year 7 transition
26th June Year 5 Quiz event at SMSW pm
29th June Year 5 trip to Harlow Outdoors
29th June – 3rd July Art Week
30th June Year 2 Museum Trip
30th June – 2nd July Work Experience x3
1st and 2nd July SEN Learning Plan meetings
2nd July Sharing Assembly Year 5 parents invited 2.45pm
6th July Tray Day
13th July Class Swap 11 – 12
15th (16th) July Parent evening
16th July Year 6 Leavers’ Assembly
17th July last day of term
20th July INSET day – school closed to pupils
CLUBS SUMMER TERM – 2026
After School Clubs will start the week commencing 20th April unless otherwise stated
| Monday | |
| Football Club | Year 4-6 3.20 – 4.20 |
| Drama Club STING | Year 1-6 3.20 – 4.20 |
| Tuesday | |
| Football Club | Years 1-3 3.20 – 4.20 |
| Golf Club | Year 3–6 3.20 – 4.20 |
| Wednesday | |
| Netball Club | Years 3-6 3.20 – 4.20 |
| Choir | Year 2–6 3.20 – 4.20 |
| Thursday | |
| Dodgeball Club | Year 4–6 3.20 – 4.20 |
| Tennis Club | Years 1-6 3.20 – 4.20 |
MUSIC TUITION
Mrs Thomas will continue with piano lessons starting the week of the 14th April.
SWIMMING
Swimming lessons will commence on 20th April for Year 5.
ACHIEVEMENTS
HEADTEACHER’S AWARD
For children who have achieved their personal best:
Reception
Niamh – for excellent progress with reading
Milo – for trying very hard to improve his writing.
Year 1
Hetty – for coming into school with a more positive attitude.
Henry – for trying to write more independently and using and applying his phonics in his writing.
Year 2
Arthur A – for fantastic effort and progression in all areas
Monty – for challenging himself to make progress and always doing the right thing!
Year 3
Evy for George-fantastic effort in improving her writing.
Bella – for brilliant effort and greater consideration in the content of her writing.
Year 4
Henry – for consistently trying hard and making great progress in all areas of the curriculum. Well done.
Tilly – for making great progress in Maths and English. I am really proud of you.
Year 5
Elizabeth – For including such beautiful description in her English work and for consistently editing her writing.
Xander – For his engagement in all lessons and for being inquisitive especially in Geography and Science by asking questions to extend his learning.
Year 6
Lottie – for fantastic focus in writing, carefully editing to improve pieces and challenging herself in maths.
Bella – for brilliant progress in maths, working hard to secure different methods for different types of calculations
Cartoon Attitude Learning Awards
We have our super hero learning behaviours, which the children created. This half term the children worked hard on Engagement, championed by Engagemonk. Two children from each class were nominated for a special award and will enjoy a hot chocolate treat with Miss Allsop.
Reception Eva and Casper
Class 1 Ted and George
Class 2 Izzy and Orla
Class 3 Cameron and Bertie
Class 4 Lucas and Eddie
Class 5 Caleb and Emily
Class 6 Beebee and Yan
ACHIEVEMENTS
STAR OF THE WEEK
Week ending 20th March
Reception Eva – for always working hard and so positive in class
Year One Henry – for trying so hard in all areas of the curriculum and improving his handwriting
Year Two Alba – for always listening taking on advice and trying her best in every subject
Year Three Amelia – for always giving her best in all of her learning with a great positive attitude
Year Four Annabelle – for amazing effort in Maths during lessons and for taking home extra challenges to practice and improve
Year Five Torben – for having a positive attitude to his work and for showing excellent sportsmanship in his PE lessons
Year Six Yan -for hard work and focus in Maths and English
If you have any questions at any time, then please feel free to make an appointment.
Have a great Easter break.
Rosalind Allsop
Headteacher
