Updates from Mrs Norden

Firstly, I would like to say a huge thank you to everyone who helped to make the school fête last Saturday such a wonderful success.  Thank you to the PTA committee, the staff, all  volunteers and stallholders, whose valiant efforts led to a profit of more than £2000 towards our PTA fundraising. Thank you also to our community for joining us and your valuable part in this - spending your money (I do hope your children didn't bring home too many of the items you may have donated!). Considering the impact that Covid had on the staff, as well as other members of the community, being able to attend, this is an amazing feat. 

Unfortunately, Covid continues to negatively impact our staff and children, which is such a shame with only two weeks of the term left.  We hope to continue with all our plans, although we have modified some organisation already, but please be aware that further changes may be needed.

As we near the end of term we will begin organisation and planning for the start of the next academic year, with important updates being provided through the newsletter, its links and some separate documents.  We will endeavour to have a starting set of diary dates out to you early in the holidays to support with planning through the year.

As part of this work, there will be changes to the length of the school day next year.  You may be aware that the government released their white paper for education at the end of March.  This document provided details for the largest set of changes in education since the new National Curriculum in 2014.  Within these changes the government have set a minimum number of hours for the school week, and we fall short of this formally by 15 minutes per day (it is taken from registration time which is 9am at present).  From September the school day will start at 8.50am (registration) and the children will be dismissed at 3.20pm. 

The change in school day will mean changes to timings for lateness (authorised and unauthorised) and so the attendance policy will be updated in due course.  There will be other changes to the attendance policy as the government are also bringing in wider changes for this area as well.  However, as this is going through parliament at this time for its final approval, we cannot share these just yet.  It is expected that the final publication will be in time for the start of the new term and so the attendance policy will be updated in full for ratification by governors in their first meeting of the new term.  

I will update you further on other aspects of the white paper early next term.

Finally today, please could I ask you to remind your children to bring their water bottles (filled) to school, wear sun hats and make sure they are wearing sun cream.  Where the children bring sun cream to reapply during the day, they must be able to do this themselves and must not share theirs with others in case of allergies. The forecast is for another very hot week, so this is essential. 

                                                                                                                        _{Anna-Claire Norden
                                                                                                                                       Headteacher}

Lost property - despite numbers of items going to the fête's second hand stall last weekend, we seem to have accrued more since.  Unnamed items are on the fence at the front of the Reception and Preschool entrance for you to check.  Any items left at the end of term will go for second hand sale.  We will endeavour to run a second hand stall again before the end of term.