Dear Parents and Carers,
What a scorcher of week it has been! The children have coped remarkably well in the heat; with some starting school for the first time and all learning new routines within classrooms. I have been truly impressed and you should be rightly proud of your children.
My thanks to all staff for their hard work not only this week, but also over the holidays with planning and preparation for the forthcoming term.
During the holidays staff have cleared classrooms and a number of resource and work rooms. Chestnut class has been painted and all display boards around the school have been stripped, de-stapled and re-backed predominantly in material, of which around 50% has been from recycled sources. Named butterfly and bird murals have also been painted around the school, with the aim that children will learn these and then be able to transfer this learning and be able identify them in the outdoor environment.
Swimming pool
I had every hope and intension of opening the swimming pool up for the month of September, with the pool being maintained over the summer period without being heated. However, following a seizing of the pump and a shock treatment to the water, the pool remains cloudy. I am reliably informed by our pool specialist that it will take a further 10 days to clear, by which time the weather will have turned. I have therefore may the decision to ‘put the pool to bed’ for the winter and we will start swimming at the earliest opportunity in the summer term, obviously carefully considering the financial costs linked to the heating the water.
Photography and social media
Please could I remind all parents not to post photographs which contain other children, this includes in the background of shots, on social media. This is linked to child safeguarding
Breakfast & After School Club
As previously mentioned in Newsletters, to ensure we offer a wrap around care option, we have had to seek an outside company. Prices for both clubs have not increased in the past 8 years, therefore price rises are inevitable. With an outside company running the sessions, there is less flexibility with systems. E.g. short time slot charging, for this I can only apologise, however I feel it is better to have a consistent care option at both ends of the day, rather than sporadic care throughout the week.
Timings and charges for breakfast and after school clubs are:
- Breakfast Club is £4 per session 7.45 – 8.45am. (School are funding the breakfasts offered)
- After School Club is £4 for the hour (3.30 – 4.30) plus £2 for a late pick up at 5pm.
All sessions should be booked through: https://primesportscoaching.classforkids.io/camp/26
After School Hobbies
There are three after school FREE hobbies. These have limited places and are funded through the Sports Premium budget. Please sign your child up for these clubs through Mrs Pike.
- Monday – Key Stage One –(children in Year 1 and 2) – Multisports 3.30 – 4.30pm
- Tuesday – Key Stage Two (children in Years 3 – 6) – Football for boys and girls 3.30 – 4.30pm
- Friday – Key stage Two (children in Years 3 – 6) – Netball for boys and girls 3.30 – 4.30pm
Read Write Inc
As you will know we are adopting the Read Write Inc scheme which covers phonics, reading, writing and spelling. My thanks to Miss Buxton for leading a session for parents last Tuesday.
Please see your child’s class welcome letter which should explain reading material that you can expect to come home in book bags.
Assemblies
Due to the adoption of the Read Write Inc phonic scheme our timetable has altered somewhat from last year, with assemblies now occurring each morning (other than Wednesday), and the Praise and Celebrate assembly on a Friday afternoon. The grid below gives an overview of assemblies across the week.
| Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday |
| Learning characteristics assembly
(8.55 – 9.05) |
PSHE related assembly
(8.55 – 9.05) |
Faith / Community assembly covering a variety of faiths & community groups
(8.55 – 9.05) |
House points assembly
(8.55 – 9.05) |
|
| Singing / shared reading assembly
(15.00 – 15.15) |
Praise and Celebrate assembly
(14.55 – 15.15) |
Our Praise and Celebrate assemblies will focus on our Learning Characteristics, which will enable us to celebrate achievements across the curriculum.
French
For the teaching of French in Chestnut and Oak classes this year, the school has purchased ‘Language Angels’ a scheme which supports the developmental teaching of languages, as well as offering learning opportunities which can be accessed from home. Further details will follow regarding links to home learning.
A reminder – Pupil Premium, PLAC and forces children
Families on a limited income and/or receiving some benefits may qualify for Pupil Premium funding which can be used in a variety of ways to enhance their learning opportunities while at school. Also previously looked after children and those with a parent or guardian in the forces also qualify. Further information regarding registering your child can be found:
https://dorset-self.achieveservice.com/service/pupil-premium-application
Your child could be entitled to free school meals and the school receives additional funding which can be used to further support your child and the school.
Healthy School
As a healthy school we encourage all pupils to have a healthy snack at playtime, in Reception and Key Stage 1 this is provided by the school, however an alternative snack may be brought, as long as it is in line with our guidance. Healthy snacks include: fruit, vegetables, cheese, yogurt, crackers, cereal bars etc. (Please avoid foods with high salt or sugar content e.g. chocolate and crisps). I would ask for any snack items brought in from home, to be labelled on the packaging or within a labelled container, this is due to duplicated snacks being confused and unnamed Tupperware being unclaimed.
Please could I also ask that your child has a labelled water bottle daily, which contains water for use in class. Spillages in classrooms do occur regularly and squash makes a very sticky mess! Juice and squash may be included within lunchboxes and consumed in the hall during lunchtime, where spillages are much easier to manage!
Diary dates for the next academic year
| 19th Sept | Slots from 15.30 | SEND Parent Evening |
| 2nd Oct | 15.30 | PGL talk for Oak Class parents |
| 9th Oct | 17.30 – 19.30 | Parent Meetings |
| 11th Oct | 15.30 – 17.30 | Parent Meetings |
| 15th – 18th Oct | PGL Trip (Oak Class) | |
| 22nd July 2024 | INSET DAY | |
| 23rd July 2024 | INSET DAY |
Best wishes