Latest News

Keep up to date with all the news happening in school

• Poppies for sale

  Mon 02 Nov 2026

  Hello everyone and welcome back

   

  We now have poppies for sale at school. Suggested donation is £1, if you would like to buy one. Please put the money into an envelope marked 'poppies' and your child's name and your child can give it in to the Year 2 children who are walking around the classes with the poppies in the morning.

   

  We talked about the reason why we have remembrance day in our assembly this morning. The children were full of lots of questions about the day, and may ask you to look for the cenotaph in  Bishops Waltham-they shocked to learn all town and villages had one. We also discussed which sweet was launched as 'Peace Babies' by Bassett's in 1918 to celebrate the end of WW 1, but later rebranded after WW 2-do you know which sweet it was?

   

  Some of you may have noticed a glitch in our website this morning. Our current providers have been taken over and migrating all websites to a new format. Once they have migrated our information over, it will still be organised the same, but will look slightly different. Please bear with us during the changeover-we hope to be up and running soon.

   

  Kind regards

   

  Mrs Riches

  Headteacher

   

  Kind regards

   

  Mrs Riches

  Headteacher

• Weekly Update Friday 23rd October

  Fri 23 Oct 2026

  As we reach the end of a very busy half term, it’s lovely to take a moment to reflect on some of the wonderful learning and memorable experiences our children have enjoyed. Year R told me this week that they had been in school "forever" and I think, by yesterday, both the children and staff were feeling much the same! It has certainly been a packed half term, filled with learning, laughter and achievements, and everyone has thoroughly earned a well-deserved break.

   

  Last Friday, our Year 1 and 2 children enjoyed a fantastic evening at their disco party with Crazy M. There was dancing, bubbles, snow and even limbo, all packed into one fun-filled event! The teachers couldn’t resist joining in and having a boogie too. A huge thank you goes to our wonderful PTA volunteers, who organised snacks and drinks and helped make the evening such a success. We had so much fun that we have decided to put on an additional Year 1 and 2 disco in February. Keep an eye out for the flyers coming in the new year!

   

  Year 2 amazed us all this week with their Great Fire of London Exhibition. The children spoke confidently about the causes of the fire and the changes that followed, demonstrating a fantastic understanding of this important historical event. They were able to place events accurately on a timeline, explain how historians use sources to learn about the past, and proudly share the wonderful home learning they had completed. We were incredibly impressed by their knowledge and enthusiasm.

   

  Congratulations to the winner of our "Guess the Teddy" competition. The winning name was Parker, and together you helped raise £21. Thank you to everyone who took part and supported this fun fundraiser.

   

  Looking ahead to next half term, Mrs Moth will be hosting a new SENDCo Coffee Morning on Wednesday 11th November at 9.00am. This will be an informal opportunity for parents and carers to chat, ask questions and connect with others in a supportive environment. We would be delighted to see you there.

   

  Our Parent-Teacher meeting booking system also went live this week. This year we are trialling a combination of face-to-face and online appointments in response to feedback received from parents in previous years. Following the meetings, we will send out a short feedback form which will help us decide whether to continue with this approach in the future. If you were unable to secure a face-to-face appointment, please do sign up for an online slot so you can hear all about your child’s progress and celebrate their successes.

   

  Today, our staff enjoyed a brilliant training session with Marie from the Hampshire SEND Department. We explored the science behind sensory circuits and learned more about how different activities can support different needs and behaviours. Marie was incredibly impressed by the enthusiasm, knowledge and commitment shown by our team. We are excited to further develop our sensory circuit provision and continue strengthening the support we provide for all children, particularly those with SEND.

   

  As always, thank you for your continued support. It has been a wonderful half term and we are incredibly proud of everything the children have achieved.

  We wish all of our families a happy, restful and enjoyable half-term break. We look forward to welcoming everyone back refreshed and ready for another exciting half term of learning.

   

  Have a wonderful break and take care.

   

  Mrs Riches

  Headteacher

   

   

• Weekly Update-Friday 16th October

  Fri 16 Oct 2026

  What an autumnal week it has been at BWIS!

   

  We started the week with our Harvest Festival at St Peter's Church. Our children filled the congregational pews and were in awe of the beautiful building. Once again, the church had outdone itself with a stunning harvest display and beautiful floral arrangements.

   

  Each class had worked hard to prepare their own contribution, including dancing, poetry and story retelling. Year 1 and Year 2 also wrote their own harvest prayers, which they shared confidently and thoughtfully. Reverend Hunt spoke to the children about where our food comes from, and we all enjoyed singing our harvest songs, some of which I'm sure many parents will remember from their own school days! With Big Red Combine Harvester still ringing in our ears, we made our way back to school, walking beautifully alongside teachers and accompanying adults.

  A huge thank you to all the parents who walked with us and became part of our congregation on this very special trip.

   

  The Meon Valley Foodbank was extremely grateful for the generosity shown through our harvest donations. A few parents have mentioned that they forgot to contribute. Please remember that we have a foodbank donation box in our school lobby all year round, so if you are able to make a donation at any point, it would be very much appreciated.

   

  Year R have been asking for wellington boot donations to support their outdoor learning. If you have any spare smaller-sized wellies at home, please consider bringing them into the school office. We would be very grateful for any donations.

   

  Don't forget our Name the Halloween Bear competition at the front of the school! Entry is £1, and the winner will be drawn next Thursdayand will get to take the bear home. Good luck everyone!

   

  Tonight we have our 'Crazy M' PTA Disco for Year 1 and Year 2. All of our teachers are ready to boogie, and a big thank you to Claire and Emily for preparing the snacks. Collection will be from your child's classroom door. To say our children are feeling fizzy with excitement would be an understatement. They simply cannot wait to dance the evening away!

   

  Looking ahead to next week, Year 2 will be hosting their Great Fire of London Exhibition. The children have already been sharing some fantastic facts, and we had an excellent diary entry and a beautifully created collage brought out as part of Star Learner this week. I cannot wait to see the finished exhibition and celebrate all of their hard work.

   

  Parent Teacher Meetings will take place during the week beginning 9th November. In response to parental feedback, we are trialling a hybrid approach this year. We will be hosting one face-to-face afternoon and evening session on Wednesday 11th November from 3.30pm to 6.30pm, alongside an online afternoon and evening later that week. There will be one appointment per child, and booking information will be sent out shortly.

   

  Finally, on school photograph day, for the first time in the 17 years I have been at BWIS, we achieved 100% attendance! Nikky the photographer could hardly believe it. Every one of our evening family photo slots was also booked, and there were plenty of smiley faces all round. Thank you to Mrs Palmer for organising the evening bookings so smoothly.

   

  Wishing everyone a wonderful weekend. Or, as one of the children reminded me today: "Only five more get-ups until half term!" 😊

   

  Best wishes,

  G Riches
  Headteacher

   

  

• Guess the name of the teddy

  Wed 14 Oct 2026

  Pop into reception to have a go guessing the Halloween teddy's name.  Winner will take the bear home next Thursday. 

  

• Weekly Update Friday 9th October

  Fri 09 Oct 2026

  As we move further into the term, it has been wonderful to see the children’s confidence, enthusiasm and curiosity growing every day. The school has been buzzing with exciting learning opportunities, and we are incredibly proud of the way all of our children continue to embrace new challenges with such positivity and determination.

   

  Year 1 had a fantastic Learning Outcome this week, where they shared their learning about being healthy. The children set up a variety of healthy tests for their parents and families to take part in and really put all of their new knowledge and skills into practice. I was particularly impressed when two members of Squirrel Class expertly demonstrated the recovery position on me! The children spoke confidently about what they had learned and were clearly very proud of their achievements. Thank you to everyone who came along and supported this special event.

   

  Year R have been busy strengthening their fine motor skills through a wide range of engaging activities in their classrooms. From careful cutting and creative construction to mark-making and threading activities, the children have been developing important skills while having lots of fun. They have also been exploring and developing their gross motor skills in PE. We are especially pleased with how independent they are becoming. We certainly have some super independent clothes changers this year, which is a fantastic achievement so early in the school year!

   

  Year 2 continue to amaze us with their enthusiasm for learning. They are learning more and more facts about the Great Fire of London and have demonstrated excellent recall and understanding. They have also been drawing on their experiences from last week's visit to Little Woodham, remembering many details from the trip and making valuable connections with their classroom learning. It was certainly a memorable learning experience for everyone involved.

   

  One of the greatest strengths of BWIS is our children. Every day they show kindness, resilience, curiosity and a willingness to learn. Whether they are supporting one another in class, challenging themselves with new learning or representing the school so positively, they continue to make us enormously proud. It is a privilege to watch them grow in confidence and independence each week.

   

  This week we also held a successful PTA Extraordinary Meeting, and we are delighted to announce that our PTA will be continuing. However, additional support is needed to ensure its future success.

  We are pleased to introduce our new PTA committee members:

  • Jesse Staple – Chairperson
  • Nick Thakrar – Treasurer
  • Emily Vidovic – Secretary
  •  

  We would ideally like a representative from Year R, Year 1 and Year 2, so if you are interested in becoming involved, please do get in touch. Additionally, if you have excellent IT, design or social media skills and can help create attractive publicity and promotional materials for events, the PTA would love to hear from you.

   

  I would also like to take this opportunity to say a huge thank you to Claire, Baz, Cath and Emily for their incredible commitment and hard work over the last three years. During that time, they have helped organise many wonderful events, created memorable experiences for families and raised significant funds for our school. Everyone at Bishop's Waltham Infant School is extremely grateful for the support they have given us. Thank you all so much for everything you have done.

   

  Hampshire Road Safety have asked us to share information with all parents about modelling good road safety behaviour on journeys to and from school. Please take a few moments to look at the information via the link below:

   

  https://sway.cloud.microsoft/xEzqLOV8RGtXGhKN?ref=Link

   

  Finally, a reminder that our Harvest Festival takes place on Monday. Donations for the Meon Valley Foodbank are very welcome. More and more local families are relying on this essential resource and this is one small way that BWIS can contribute to supporting our wider community. If you forget to bring your donation on the day, we also have a collection box in Reception.

   

  Thank you, as always, for your continued support. Together we create such a caring and positive school community, and it is wonderful to see our children thriving as a result.

   

  With warm wishes,

  
  Ginene Riches
  Headteacher

• Weekly Update-Friday 2nd October

  Fri 02 Oct 2026

  As another busy and exciting week draws to a close, it has been wonderful to see so much fantastic learning taking place across the school.

   

  Our Year 1 children have enjoyed a very special experience this week, taking part in Heartstart training led by one of our former parents, Kath Bell. The children thoroughly enjoyed learning these important life skills and discovering more about how their amazing bodies work. They have shown great enthusiasm throughout the project and are incredibly proud of what they have learned. We know they cannot wait to share their Healthy Heroes Learning Outcome with their families next week.

   

  Meanwhile, Year 2 have had a completely different adventure as they stepped back in time with their visit to Little Woodham. The excitement has continued long after the trip, with children talking non-stop about the characters they met, the fascinating history they experienced and, of course, the smoky fires that made such a lasting impression! A huge thank you to all the parents who gave up their time to help. Your support makes these valuable learning opportunities possible, and we are very grateful.

   

  As a reminder, due to changes in Keeping Children Safe in Education 2026, only parents and grandparents who have completed a returned DBS check will be able to accompany school trips. The process is free and only takes a short time to complete. If you are thinking about helping on a future trip, please pop into the school office and we will be happy to help you arrange this.

   

  At our school, we are fortunate to have three members of staff trained in Mental Health First Aid. During recent training, they were introduced to the Hub of Hope app, which helps people find local mental health and wellbeing support services. We wanted to share this excellent resource with families. You can find out more by visiting: https://hubofhope.co.uk/

   

  This week, we had very few entries in our Reading Raffle during Celebration Assembly. We know how much our children love sharing books with the important adults in their lives. They beam with pride when they successfully decode new words and are always eager to talk about the stories they are reading. We ask that children read at least three times a week, although a little reading every day is even better.

   

  We completely understand that family life is busy, but we are encouraging all families to make reading a priority wherever possible. Reading is one of the greatest gifts we can give our children. It opens doors to new worlds, builds confidence, develops independence and supports learning across every area of the curriculum. Most importantly, reading for pleasure can become a lifelong habit that enriches children's lives for years to come.

   

  As the author Dr Seuss famously said:

  "The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you'll go."

  Finally, a reminder that our PTA Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM) will take place next Wednesday at 6.00pm in school. We are very hopeful that we can continue the wonderful tradition of having a parent and school fundraising group supporting our community. The PTA makes a real difference to the experiences and opportunities we can provide for our children, and we would love to see as many families as possible there.

   

  Have a lovely weekend, and thank you for your continued support. We look forward to welcoming everyone back on Monday for another week of learning and fun. 😊

   

  Best wishes,

   

  Mrs Riches

  Headteacher

   

   

   

  

• Weekly Update-Friday 25th September

  Mon 28 Sep 2026

  It has been another busy and exciting week at school, with lots to look forward to over the coming days.

   

  Most of our Year 2 clubs will be starting this week and next week. The children have thoroughly enjoyed choosing their clubs and are excited about trying something different with their teachers and friends. These opportunities help to broaden children's experiences, develop new interests and skills, and add an extra dimension to school life that we know the children really value and enjoy.

   

  Next week, our Year 2 children will be heading off on their trip to Little Woodham, where they will step back in time to experience life around the period of the Great Fire of London. The visit gives the children a wonderful opportunity to explore what houses were like at the time and understand how easily the fire could have started and spread through the city. Please remember to return any outstanding forms and contributions towards the trip as soon as possible.

   

  A reminder that all trip helpers need to have a current DBS check in place. If you are thinking of volunteering for school activities this year, please arrange this as soon as possible. Mrs Palmer in the office will be very happy to help you with the process.

   

  Our recent Open Morning was extremely well attended, and it was lovely to meet so many prospective families. We enjoyed answering some thoughtful questions about what life is like for our children when they first join us in Year R. If you were unable to attend, don't worry. Further bookable opportunities to visit the school will be released in November.

   

  This week, staff took part in excellent professional development led by Mrs Moth, focusing on SEND (Special Educational Needs and Disabilities). Our dedicated team are committed to continually developing their knowledge and skills through both in-house expertise and external training provided by Hampshire and beyond. Thank you to Mrs Moth for ensuring that we remain up to date with the latest guidance and best practice.

   

  We would also like to make a plea for donations to support our outdoor play provision. We are looking for items such as toy cars, dolls, dolls' clothes and role-play costumes for our drama area. If you have any unwanted items that are in good condition, we would be very grateful if you could bring them to the school office.

   

  Across the school, the children are currently busy learning harvest songs for our pupil-only Harvest Festival at the church in a few weeks' time. We will soon let families know how they can support the worthwhile work of our local foodbank through harvest donations.

   

  Finally, I met with our Safeguarding Governor this week to review the start of the new term and audit our safeguarding provision. All staff completed their annual safeguarding training at the beginning of term, and we were pleased to thoroughly review our procedures and practices together. Safeguarding remains our highest priority. If you ever have any concerns you would like to share with us, please do not hesitate to contact the school by phone, email or in person.

   

  Wishing everyone a lovely weekend.

   

  Kind regards,

  Mrs Riches

  Headteacher

• Weekly Update-Friday 18th September

  Fri 18 Sep 2026

  What a fantastic week our children have had at school this week.

   

  Our Reception children have had an amazing start to school life. They have settled brilliantly into their new routines and have particularly enjoyed choosing their own lunches each day. We are incredibly proud of how well they have behaved in the lunch hall. They have been real superstars and are already showing our school values in action.

   

  Meanwhile, our Year 1 and Year 2 children are continuing to settle into their new classrooms and become familiar with the expectations of their new year groups. It has been wonderful to see their confidence growing every day.

  Year 1 have been very busy learning about healthy lifestyles, exploring how to eat well and stay healthy. They have enjoyed a range of activities linked to looking after themselves and making positive choices.

   

  Year 2 have been learning all about symbols and signs that we see around us both in school and in the wider world. They have become excellent symbol detectives!

   

  To top off a busy week, the children also enjoyed making their own bread today. We discovered there are some expert kneaders in Frogs and Foxes class, and the delicious smell around school was an added bonus!

   

  Clubs Are Back!

  We were delighted to launch our after-school clubs this week, and our very popular Year 2 lunchtime clubs will begin next week.

  This year, our free Year 2 lunchtime club offer includes:

  • Painting Club
  • Puzzles Club
  • Lego Club
  • Choir Club
  • Computing Club
  • Board Games Club

  These clubs are run by our talented teaching staff and are offered free of charge to all Year 2 children. We cannot wait to see the children enjoying these exciting opportunities over the coming weeks.

   

  Help Save Our PTA

  This week, our PTA Annual General Meeting was attended by three members of staff, four committee members and one prospective new member. It was wonderful to reflect on some of the incredible projects, experiences and resources that the PTA has funded for our children over the years.

   

  However, there was also real concern about the future of our PTA. Without new volunteers coming forward, there is a possibility that the PTA may have to cease operating.

   

  Our PTA plays a vital role in providing additional enrichment opportunities for children and helping to fund resources and experiences that enhance school life. Without a PTA, fundraising opportunities would be significantly reduced, we would be unable to access many charitable grants and donations, and schools increasingly have to rely on parental contributions to maintain the high-quality enrichment experiences that children enjoy.

   

  The good news is that help is available. Claire and the current PTA team are committed to supporting any new volunteers. They are happy to share their knowledge, provide guidance and work alongside new members throughout the year to ensure a smooth transition.

   

  Please consider attending our Emergency General Meeting on Wednesday 7th October. Whether you can spare a little time or a lot, your support could make all the difference. This meeting will help determine the future of our PTA and the opportunities it can continue to provide for our children.

  Together, we can ensure that this valued part of our school community continues for years to come.

   

  Site Safety Reminder

  The safety of all children, families and staff remains our highest priority.

  Please remember that hot drinks must not be brought onto the school site. This rule is in place to protect our young children and reduce the risk of accidental burns or injuries.

  We kindly ask all parents and visitors to familiarise themselves with our school site safety expectations. These can be found on our website:

  Policies and Documents | Bishops Waltham Infant School
  https://www.bwis.org.uk/policies-and-documents/

  Thank you for helping us keep our school community safe for everyone.

   

  Lastly, our annual Open Morning for parents who have children starting in 2027 is on Wednesday 22nd September. Guided tours will need to be booked at the school office. If you are unable to make that day, our Parent Show around dates will be released at the end of this half term for November/December, so there will be opportunities to see the school in action then.

   

  Have a wonderful weekend!

   

  Warm wishes

   

  Mrs Riches

  Headteacher

• Exciting News!

  Thu 17 Sep 2026

  🎉 Congratulations and Welcome to Our New Assistant Headteachers! 🎉

   

  We are delighted to announce the appointment of Miss Chloe Turner and Mrs Tracey Moth as our new Assistant Headteachers at Bishops Waltham Infant School.

  Following a rigorous and challenging selection process involving a range of tasks and interviews with staff, governors and, most importantly, our children, Miss Turner and Mrs Moth demonstrated exactly why they are such deserving appointments.

   

  Between them, they bring an incredible 34 years of teaching experience, together with a wealth of knowledge, dedication, enthusiasm and expertise. Throughout the process, they showcased not only their professional strengths but also their unwavering commitment to ensuring that every child receives the very best opportunities to thrive and succeed.

   

  Both Miss Turner and Mrs Moth are exceptionally hardworking and dedicated professionals who consistently go above and beyond for the children, families and colleagues they work with. Their passion for education, strong leadership qualities and shared vision of continually striving to do the very best we can for every child at Bishops Waltham Infant School make them outstanding additions to our Senior Leadership Team.

   

  I am immensely proud to welcome them both to these roles and greatly look forward to working alongside them as we continue to build on the many strengths of our school. I am excited about what the future holds and have every confidence that they will make a significant and lasting impact in their new positions.

   

  A very special mention must also go to our amazing Year 2 interview panel: Josh, Cole, Pandora, Ocean, Emmy-Lou and Rosie. They took their responsibilities incredibly seriously, asked thoughtful questions and represented our school brilliantly throughout the day. We are so proud of the maturity, confidence and care they showed. 

   

  Please join me in congratulating Miss Chloe Turner and Mrs Tracey Moth on their well-deserved appointments.

   

  👏 Congratulations, Miss Turner and Mrs Moth! 👏

   

   

   

• Weekly Update-Friday 11th September

  Fri 11 Sep 2026

  What a fantastic first full week of the new school year it has been!

   

  Our youngest members of the school, Year R, have now completed their first whole week with us. We have seen lots of happy faces, and it has been wonderful watching them begin to settle into school life. They all came to visit me during their tour of the school and were keen to tell me how much they are looking forward to having lunch next week!

   

  To help with this exciting next step, please take a few moments each morning to look through the lunch menu together and chat about the choices available. This can really help children feel more confident when they are first starting to make their own lunchtime decisions.

   

  Year 1 and Year 2 have also had a very busy week, with welcome meetings and class opening events taking place. Thank you to all the parents and carers who attended. Mrs McIntyre has also asked me to thank everyone who responded to her email and tried signing in to our electronic system using the QR code. Your support is very much appreciated.

   

  Year 2 children had Road Safety Training this week. They learned how to cross roads, how different types of crossings work and how to keep safe when out and about. Thank you to Mrs Labram for coordinating the training, and to our fantastic learning support team, who braved every element with the children this week as they taught them!

   

  This week, we held our first Governor meeting of the academic year. Governors met to agree their roles and responsibilities and to approve the necessary school policies. They are looking forward to working alongside our school community throughout the year ahead.

   

  We also held our first lunchtime staff meeting of the year. One of our key targets is to teach and encourage even more playground games at lunchtime, helping children to stay active, develop friendships and enjoy their playtimes even more.

  Our staff have also asked if families might be able to help with donations for our outdoor role-play area. We would be very grateful for any of the following items:

   

  • Dolls (please no rag dolls)
  • Dolls' clothes
  • Toy cars
  • Dressing-up clothes
  • Plastic or wooden role-play items

  If you have any of these items that you would be willing to donate, please bring them to the school office. Thank you for your support.

   

  Finally, our first PTA meeting of the year will be the Annual General Meeting, where several key PTA roles will need to be filled. The meeting will take place at 6.00pm on Wednesday 16th September in school. We would love to see as many people there as possible and welcome any support you can offer.

   

  Thank you for helping us make such a positive start to the new school year.

   

  Wishing everyone a lovely weekend.

   

  Kind regards,

  Mrs Riches
  Headteacher