FORTNIGHTLY NEWSLETTER  ISSUE 17:                          12.6.26

Welcome to the Hrabovska family that have joined year 3.

Year 4 trip to Duxford

Last week, Year 4 enjoyed an exciting visit to Duxford Imperial War Museum as part of our History learning about World War II.

One of the highlights of the day was meeting a war veteran, Alan, who shared his experiences of growing up during the war. The children had the opportunity to ask him thoughtful and respectful questions, and we learned so much about what life was like during World War II. Alan spoke about opening his home to evacuees, his experiences at school, and how daily life was affected by the war. His stories brought our learning to life and gave the children a valuable insight into this important period in history.

We also explored the World War II hangars and visited the Operations Room, where we watched and listened to a real sequence of how Duxford conducted an operation during the war. This experience helped us understand the crucial role Duxford played and the challenges faced by those involved.

The children were a credit to the school throughout the day.  It was a fantastic day of learning, and everyone came away with a deeper understanding of World War II and many lasting memories.

Work experience

We are hosting work experience for a few former pupils over the next few weeks.  We are enjoying having them back and supporting them with the next stage of their education.

Talent Show

George in Year 3 and the Heads of School, have been very busy preparing for our upcoming school Talent Show. Due to popular demand, we are holding the event over two sessions.

On Thursday 18th June 2026, children in Reception, Year 1, Year 2 and Year 3 who have signed up to perform will be sharing their talents with one another. Year 4, Year 5 and Year 6 will be showcasing their talents on Friday 19th June 2026.

This wonderful fundraising idea was created by George to support our school. We kindly ask that all children taking part — as well as those watching the performances — contribute £1.50 towards this much‑needed fundraiser. Monies can be brought in to school from Monday 15^th June and handed to class teachers.

If your child has signed up to perform, please ensure they bring any costumes or props they may need for their act.

Thank you for your continued support.

Online lesson with the National Gallery

On Tuesday, the children in Key Stage 2 enjoyed a live, on-line lesson led by educators from the National Gallery.  They were encouraged to consider the background and detail of Canaletto’s Regatta on the Grand Canal (the subject of our Art Week w/c 29 June).  They explored ways of representing water and layering images as well as making and decorating their own regatta boats.  At the end of the session, we combined our water images to make long waterways, sailing our boats along them.  The lesson was both informative and fun and children commented that they enjoyed the freedom to develop their own ideas, resulting in very different outcomes.  We look forward to experimenting further with skills and ideas prompted by this painting during Art Week.

If anyone has art skills that they would like to share with a class in school (any age) and are free to help run a session during Art Week, please contact the school office – we would love to facilitate this if possible.  Thank you.

Scootfit

Reception and some of Class 1 had a super Scootfit session on Wednesday before the rain came!!! Ms Chesters from SWCHS led the sessions.

The children learned that they must wear a helmet and should always walk their scooter across a road. They remembered to stop and hop off their scooter using the brake rather than their foot – this is because if they use their foot the wheels keep moving. We are hoping to rearrange another session for the rest of Year 1.

Local History

Class 5 enjoyed an exciting visit from Saffron Walden Museum this week—the first of three sessions as part of the Berden project. The children explored why learning about local history matters to them before looking at a collection of toys from the past. Using enquiry questions, they examined these historical sources closely and worked together to place each object in the correct time period. It was a brilliant start to the project and we look forward to our next sessions.

Parent Forum

Our Parent Forum met yesterday.  We are looking for any interested volunteers to support our Art Week starting on 29^th June and we highlighted our next Inclusion/SEN Coffee Morning for parents on 30^th June 9 – 10 am.  This is a valuable opportunity to catch up with other parents, meet SEN staff as well as our Mental Health Specialist team.  We shared our school development actions around SEN this year, how our club offer is evolving and a possible idea of a working party of parents to refurbish areas around the school.

Induction Morning

Our induction morning for the new Reception parents took place yesterday. It was a great success.  Staff shared key information and parents were given the chance to network with each other. We are looking forward to welcoming them to the school in September as well as during our transition events over the next few weeks.

Inclusion/SEN Coffee Morning 30.6.26

There will be an inclusion coffee morning on Tuesday 30^th June at 9am.  Please attend if you would like to discuss inclusion with SEN staff including our SEN governor and Mental Health specialist.  This will also be an opportunity to meet with other parents.

Cloverleaf Wraparound Club

We are thrilled to announce two fantastic additions to our Cloverleaf Wraparound after school. Allotments and Forest School every Monday and Wednesday. These sessions give children the chance to explore, grow, build and discover in the great outdoors. In the morning, the club offers a variety of breakfast choices, served between 7.30 and 8.00am, followed by quiet activities until 8.40am when the children are taken to their classes.  Please contact the school office if you would like to secure a place at Cloverleaf.

Parking on Vassars Field – communication from the management company

The residents of Vassars Field have been trialling traffic cones in the areas where parents have been incorrectly parking over the last couple of days. Unfortunately, this has not had the desired solution with cars just being parked in other private road areas or in some instances, parents just moving the cones to park. We are requesting parents only park in the designated spaces. The residents are trying all options to avoid instructing a parking enforcement company.

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 me.  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

8^th and 9^th June                Year 1 phonics

8^th – 12^th June                  Work Experience

11^th June                         Induction Morning

14^th – 17^th June                Year 6 Residential

24^th June                         School photos (individual)

18^th June                         Talent Show pm Rec – year 3

19^th June                         Talent Show am Year 4 – 6

22^nd – 26^th June                Year 6 Transition Week

23^rd June                         JFAN SEN transition morning

24^th June                         Music and Choir Concert (new date as of yesterday)

25^th June                         JFAN/SWCHS Year 7 transition

22^nd June                         Friends of Clavering Fun Run

25^th June                        Sharing Assembly – Year 3 Parents invited 2.45pm

26^th June                         Year 5 Quiz event at SMSW pm

26^th June                         Sharing Assembly – Reception parents invited – 9.30am

29^th June                         Year 5 trip to Harlow Outdoors

29^th June – 3^rd July           Art Week

30^th June                         Year 2 Museum Trip

30^th June                         Inclusion Coffee Morning

30^th June – 2^nd July          Work Experience x3

1^st and 2^nd July                 SEN Learning Plan meetings

2^nd July                           Sharing Assembly Year 5 parents invited 2.45pm

3^rd July                            Friends of Clavering Summer Fayre

6^th July                            Tray Day

6^th July                            Sports Day

13^th July                          Class Swap 11 – 12

14^th July                          Year 1 Colchester Castle trip

15^th July                          Class photos

15^th (16^th) July                 Parent evening

16^th July                          Year 6 Leavers’ Assembly

17^th July                          last day of term

20^th July                          INSET day – school closed to pupils

ACHIEVEMENTS

STAR OF THE WEEK

Week ending 22^nd May

Reception         Albert – for his great ‘Keeping Healthy’ ideas for the giant.

Year One          Arna – for coming to school with such a positive attitude and working hard

Year Two         Violet – for always trying her best and being helpful in class

Year Three       Myles – for always trying his best and a great first half term at Clavering

Year Four         Alfie – for being a great role model showing great encouragement and respect to his peers

Year Five          Wilbur – for always having a positive attitude and showing fantastic sportsmanship at the cricket this week

Year Six           Isabella – for fantastic engagement, thoughtful answers and questions on our trip to Zoology museum

STAR OF THE WEEK

Week ending 5^th June

Reception         Albert – for his super bean plant drawing

Year One          Faye – for using ‘feelings’ adjectives to write the thoughts of a character

Year Two         Maisie – for doing her best, focusing hard and a great presentation on penguins

Year Three       Juliet – for great understanding and comparing of angles

Year Four         Ollie – for fantastic effort and presentation in all areas of learning this week

Year Five          Delilah – for always trying her best and being a role model to her peers

Year Six           Bella – for resilience and perseverance whilst creating bar graphs in Maths

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

Have a great weekend

Rosalind Allsop
Headteacher