Weekly Update-Friday 10th February
This week has been full of learning in school. We started the week with an assembly about the invisible strings that connect us to friends, family and even pets as part of our children's mental health week. The children could all tell each other who is on the end of at least one of their strings. It was a lovely way for the children to visualise the connections they have in their lives.
Miss Apsey led an assembly to celebrate 'safer internet day' and we have sent home a reminder poster for all children about internet safety. Our safety settings are set high as a school, and it would be a good time to check your home settings as well.
Our Parent Teacher meetings are at the end of February, and an email for our booking system has gone out to all parents. Please check your inboxes for the email and book on for your preferred time slot.
Each year the school has a small sum of money put into a budget called 'capital'. This money can only be used for specific items, such as IT and improving the learning environment. The government has put extra into this pot this year, and schools have been asked to improve, where possible, energy efficiency in schools. We will be using it in this way where we can, and we had also planned for new tables and chairs for Year 1 which arrived on Wednesday. Thank you to the two dads who stayed behind and helped us move the tables and chairs down to the class-we were really grateful for your help!
We will have a book stall operating in our school entrance for the duration of the week beginning 27th February, where children can also use their World Book Day vouchers. It will be an order form system and will also be running for both parent's evenings too. More news will be given about this after half term. Due to uncertainty regarding industrial action, our World Book Day activities will be taking place on Friday 3rd March.
Our Reading Raffle winner this week was Sophie in Year 2.There are lots of entries going in each week now and the chatter about reading is all around the school. Thank you to all parents who are supporting more reading at home. It really is making a difference. We have ordered more phonic guided reading books to come home to practise, and need help covering them with sticky back. If you are good at covering (some people have a real knack!), and would like to help please let us know next half term.
We did not send attendance letters out at Christmas time this year, as so many children's attendance was affected by the bugs that were sweeping through the school. Children under 90% attendance are classed as 'persistent absentee' by the DFE. In the 'Working Together to Improve Attendance' published in September 2022, it states;
'The pupils with the highest attainment at the end of key stage 2 and key stage 4 have higher rates of attendance over the key stage compared to those with the lowest attainment.'
If you would like to read more about the document, and what schools have to do regarding attendance, please click on the link below:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/working-together-to-improve-school-attendance
We have been made aware of an increasing number of independent SEN advisers charging parents for advice, without qualifications to practice. Our advice would be to always talk to school first if you have any concerns or worries. Please come and talk to the class teacher or our excellent Special Educational Needs Coordinator, Penny Campone. Hampshire also runs a completely impartial free service for parents and carers, with qualified professionals, to give advice, support and information to all parents called SENDIASS. Please click on the link below for SENDIASS website
https://www.hampshiresendiass.co.uk/
We wish you all a restful half term and look forward to seeing you on Tuesday 21st February.
Best wishes
Mrs Riches
