Headteacher Newsletter Issue 1
FORTNIGHTLY NEWSLETTER ISSUE 1: 11.9.26
This is the first of our fortnightly newsletters for this academic year. Welcome again to the new term and it is very pleasing to see how well the children have settled into the new term.
Each class has sent out a class newsletter, which informs you of the curriculum that is being taught this term.
Thank you
A huge thank you to you all for all the support and positive feedback during our inspection this week. Once the report is finalised, we will be in a position to share it with you. The children were a credit to the school and we are all very proud of them. The whole school team were phenomenal supporting each other and showcasing our amazing school. I was very proud of everyone and grateful for all the hard work and support for the school.
Bikeability
This week, our Year 6 children took part in Bikeability training through Cycle Essex. The programme is fully funded by the Department for Transport, ensuring as many pupils as possible can learn this important life skill with support from fully qualified cycling instructors.
Training begins on the playground, where children demonstrate key skills such as controlled riding, looking behind safely and signalling clearly. Once they show they can do this confidently and responsibly, they progress to cycling on local roads, applying their skills in real‑life situations.
Meet the Teacher Evening – Thursday 17th September – reminder
6.15 – 7pm: Reception Class only
7.00pm – 7.20pm and repeated at 7.30pm – 7.50pm: Years groups 1 – 6
(We have repeated the session to accommodate families with more than one pupil in the school)
These evening sessions are for parents to attend without their children. Please go to your child’s class where the teacher will talk about the rules, routines and expectations of the class as well as the curriculum coverage. This is not an evening for individual consultation, which will take place in October.
Healthy Snacks
We would like to encourage all children to bring in a snack for break time (and if they have a snack before an after school club). It is a long time between breakfast and lunch 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.
SAFEGUARDING – No Mobile Phones in School – updated DFE guidance and school policy
In line with new DFE guidance, mobile phones are not permitted in school. If a child needs a phone, as they are walking to and from school (years 5 and 6, as per our School Travel Plan) then it must be handed in to their class teacher upon arrival and collected before they leave school at the end of the day. Please note this has always been our policy, but it has now been released as an expectation by the DFE, which is active from September 2026.
Families are strongly encouraged to choose a non-smart (call/text) phone if a device is needed. The school is looking to join the Saffron Walden schools in becoming a Smartphone Free School due to the risks to mental health, sleep, attention, exposure to harmful content, cyberbullying, and reduced play/social interaction among children. Families are encouraged to delay social media access until legal ages and to consider non-internet ‘retro’ phones if contact is essential for travel.
Staff, Parents, Governors and visitors can only use mobile phone(s) and other devices with camera functions in designated areas and never in front of the pupils. When not in a designated area, phones must be switched off and out of sight. Any exception must be pre-arranged.
Sickness
The school office should be notified on the first day of each absence before registration at 8.50am and this should be followed up in writing on the day of return.
If your child has been vomiting or had an upset stomach a 48-hour leave of absence from the last episode is required. For guidance on other illnesses please contact the School Office or refer to the document on the website in the ‘Attendance’ section – “Guidance on infection control in schools and other childcare settings”.
E-safety
Last week, as part of our school e-safety policy, we sent out some e-safety rules that we would like you to discuss with your child. We will reinforce these messages in school. Please return the slip that is attached to the e-safety letter once you have been able to discuss the rules with your child. Thank you.
PE Clothing – a reminder
Please ensure that full kit is in school all week, including trainers and socks (especially if your child normally wears tights). Please also make sure the children have alternative clothes for any clubs that require it. In compliance with health and safety regulations, earrings (including studs) must not be worn for any sport. Please make sure that children who wear earrings know how to remove them and have somewhere safe and clean to keep them during PE lessons. Thank you.
Nut Free School
Please note that we have a number of children in school with nut allergies, some very severe, so please ensure that you do not send nuts in any form into school as snacks or in your child’s lunch box including peanut butter or Nutella sandwiches. This also includes sesame which is in houmous. Thank you.
School Admissions – Primary and Secondary – Apply Now!!
To apply quickly and easily for primary and secondary school places go online to https://www.essex.gov.uk/admissions-to-essex-schools-for-the-next-school-year
Secondary school places for September 2027
From 12 September 2026 you can apply online for your child’s school place https://www.essex.gov.uk/apply-for-a-secondary-school-place
You must submit an application by the national closing date of 31 October 2026. Applications received after this date will be considered late and you may reduce your chance of being offered a place at your preferred school.
Primary (Reception) places for September 2027
From 9 November 2026 you can apply online for your child’s school place https://www.essex.gov.uk/apply-for-a-primary-school-place
You must submit an application by the national closing date of 15 January 2027. Applications received after this date are considered late and will reduce your chance of being offered a place at your preferred schools.
Free School Meals Update – Criteria Change from September 2026
From the start of the 2026 to 2027 academic year, all children from households in receipt of Universal Credit will be entitled to receive a free school meal. There will no longer be an income threshold of £7400 for the purposes of free school meals. Your child may, therefore, be eligible for free school meals if you receive certain benefits. In addition, eligibility may provide the school with extra funding (Pupil Premium) to support your child through initiatives such as additional teaching, tuition, or extracurricular activities.
The information provided will be used to assess eligibility for free school meals and may be shared with relevant Council departments to help identify other support you may be entitled to.
Please note, children in Reception, Year 1 and Year 2 automatically receive free school meals, regardless of the earnings or benefit status of their household. However, we encourage you to still apply for benefits-based free school meals as, if eligible, the school could receive additional funding.
Please click on the link below to apply via Essex County Council.
Free school meals: Apply for free school meals | Essex County Council
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DATES FOR YOUR DIARY
1st September INSET day – school closed to pupils
2nd September Autumn Term begins
4th September Non uniform day for house point and sports day winners
W/b 7th September Year 6 Bikeability
17th September Meet the Teacher Years 1-6, 7-7.30pm and repeated 7.30- 8pm.
Reception Class – one session 6.15-7pm.
1st October Governor Focus morning
20th October Parents Evening
21st October Parents Evening
26th Oct – 30th Oct Half term
2nd November INSET day – school closed to pupils
9th November Flu Vaccine
12th November The Two Johns E-safety sessions for pupils, staff and parents
24th November Tray Day
15th December KS2 dress rehearsal am, KS1 dress rehearsal, KS2 evening performance yrs 3 and parents 6-7pm
16th December Christmas Lunch
17th December Reception Nativity am, KS1 performance pm, KS2 evening performance yrs 5 and 6 parents 6-7pm
18th December End of Term
If you have any questions at any time then please feel free to make an appointment.
Have a good weekend.
Rosalind Allsop
Headteacher
