Latest News | Bishops Waltham Infant School

Weekly Update Friday 26th September

Thu 25 Sep 2025

🔥 Year 2- Fire Fire

Year 2 have been learning about fire safety, before they step back in time next week. This project is fantastic to explore how events from the past influence the world we live in today. We cannot wait to go on our trip on Tuesday!

🧠 Year 1 Project Power

Heartstart will be visiting our Year 1 children next week to teach important first aid life skills. The children are really enjoying learning facts about being healthy, their senses and their ‘superpowers’. Well done Year 1- what super learners you are.

🌞 Year R

What a fantastic few weeks Year R have had. They have told me they are enjoying school, and are having lots of fun! Our innovative teachers have been thinking up some brilliant activities to help children develop 1-1 matching, fine motor skills, colours- you name it! The children can’t wait to get started each day!

🧁 PTA News & Events

Please watch this space for our two PTA events this half term. We are fundraising for a new sandpit in the Year R area. Google form bookings will be coming out soon!

📅 Save the Dates!

PTA Quiz Night – Friday 10th October (Teams of up to 8)
Year 1 & 2 Disco – Friday 17th October (Tickets coming soon!)

🚲 Sustainability

Our governors and staff had an informative training evening on sustainability this week, both from a buildings perspective and a curriculum perspective. It was a lovely time to reflect on all the things we already do, and give us a focus for future changes.

One aspect we are very keen to set up is a volunteer group to help maintain our amazing pond. Our pond was developed a few years ago, and is such an important part of our curriculum. If anyone would like to join the group/know of anyone who would like to join the group from the community, please leave your name and number at the school office.

🏃 Year 2 Lunchtime Clubs

Our Year 2 lunchtime clubs are starting over the next few weeks. Each Year 2 child will have the opportunity to participate in two free lunchtime clubs run by the teachers. These clubs follow children’s interests, and we cannot wait to see them.

🗓️ Upcoming Dates

Year 2 Trip to Little Woodham – Tuesday 30th September (money to be paid via Arbor)
Open Morning for Sept 2026 Starters – Wednesday 1st October (Call office to book)

Lastly, let’s all give a big shout out to England’s Red Roses this weekend! Zoe Aldcroft will be leading the team into the final of the Rugby World Cup. What an achievement to get this far! Come on Red Roses! We will be cheering you all the way!

With warm wishes

Mrs Riches

Headteacher

Parent support group

Wed 24 Sep 2025

Weekly Update Friday 19th September

Fri 19 Sep 2025

🚦 Year 2 Road Safety Superstars

This week, our brilliant Year 2 children have been learning all about road safety. They’ve practised how to cross roads safely and how to spot safe places to cross. A huge thank you to Mrs Labram and our wonderful support staff for delivering this essential life skill. We’re so proud of our careful and thoughtful learners!

Year 2 also shone in Celebration Assembly today, showing off their fantastic number square learning. What amazing mathematicians they are!

🧠 Year 1 Health Explorers

Year 1 have started their exciting new project on our bodies and keeping healthy. They’ve been full of curiosity, asking brilliant questions and diving into learning with enthusiasm.

🌞 Year R’s First Full Week

Our youngest learners in Year R completed their first full week of school! It was lovely to end the week with sunshine and smiles. They’ve had a wonderful time settling in.

🧁 PTA News & Events

We held our PTA AGM on Wednesday and welcomed some new faces. A big thank you to Claire, Kath, and Baz, who are continuing in their roles for their final year.

📅 Save the Dates!

PTA Quiz Night – Friday 10th October (Teams of up to 8)
Year 1 & 2 Disco – Friday 17th October (Tickets coming soon!)

We’re fundraising for a new sandpit for Year R, as the current one is no longer safe. The cost is nearly £1000, and every little helps! Extra donations can be made via the Arbor App, if any family would like to contribute more.

🚲 Bike Parking Reminder

A parent kindly raised the issue of adult bike parking. Please lean bikes along the blue gate (which stays locked), near the wooden gate by the grass patch, or under the covered shelter, where some larger bike stands are- all of which are away from the pedestrians accessing our school. The racks are for children’s bikes only. Thank you for helping keep our school safe!

📚 Reading Raffle Winner

Congratulations to our Year 1 Reading Raffle winner today! Children can enter by reading 3 times per week—keep up the great reading!

🏃 After School Clubs

Our clubs started this week and are nearly full!

Gymnastics brought lots of smiles
TaeKwonDo had super listening
Dance Kidz was full of energy
CM Sports Footballers are thriving!

🌟 Special Mentions Needed

Our Special Mentions Book and Celebration of Skills Book need your help! Please send in photos or notes about your child’s achievements outside school—new skills, kindness, awards, or anything that shows our BADGER values.

🗓️ Upcoming Dates

Flu Vaccines – Wednesday 24th September
Year 2 Trip to Little Woodham – Tuesday 30th September (money to be paid via Arbor)
Open Morning for Sept 2026 Starters – Wednesday 1st October (Call office to book)

Wishing everyone a lovely weekend! 😊
Let’s keep learning, growing, and celebrating together.

With warm wishes

Mrs Riches

Headteacher

Open Morning September 2026 Year R

Mon 15 Sep 2025

To book a slot on our open morning for Year R September 2026 please call the school office

Weekly Update Friday 12th September

Fri 12 Sep 2025

🌈Friday 12th September

Hello everyone!

It’s been absolutely lovely to welcome the whole school back this week. The children have come in with big smiles and lots of enthusiasm, and it’s been a joy to see them settling into their new classes.

🧸 Reception
Our youngest learners have been busy getting to know their new classrooms, the grown-ups who will be helping them, and the routines of school life. Next week, they’re looking forward to choosing their lunches and staying all day – how exciting!

📖 Year 1
Year 1 have been enjoying their new corridor area, especially the cosy reading nooks where they’ve been snuggling up to share books. They’ve also started their phonics learning in the dedicated phonics areas.

🎨 Year 2
Year 2 have been working cooperatively to make choices about their classroom setup, ready for their grand class opening. It’s been wonderful to see their teamwork and creativity in action.

👋 Thank You to Parents
A big thank you to all the parents who attended the Year 1 and Year 2 Welcome Meetings this week. For those who couldn’t make it, information will be sent out shortly.

📅 Upcoming Events in September

After School Clubs start next week for all year groups.
PTA AGM – Wednesday 17th September at 6pm in school. Everyone is welcome, and we’d love to see some new faces!
Flu Vaccines – Wednesday 24th September. Please follow the instructions in your emails from the admin team to give permission.

🚸 End of Day Pick-Up Reminder
Please let the office or your child’s teacher know who will be picking up your child each day. We will not let children leave until we’ve received the message – thank you for helping us keep everyone safe.

📧 Attendance Updates
This year, parents will receive a weekly attendance email showing their child’s attendance. You can also view their full attendance record via the Arbor App.

🧑‍🏫 Governor News
We had our first full governor meeting last night and were delighted to welcome Stephanie and Alison to the team. We discussed roles, responsibilities, and agreed key school policies.
We also said a fond farewell to Roy Birch, who has stepped down due to family commitments. Roy has been a valued governor, offering strength and expertise, and we wish him all the best in his future adventures.

🌤️ Wishing You a Lovely Weekend
Fingers crossed for some nice weather! Thank you for a fantastic first week – we’re looking forward to all the learning and fun ahead.

With warm wishes

Mrs Riches

Headteacher

Local football club

Fri 05 Sep 2025

Welcome Back

Wed 03 Sep 2025

Welcome back to our Year 1 and 2 children today. Everyone started back with the biggest smiles! It has been lovely to see you all again and already feels like we've never been away! Year R Staff have been visiting our new Year R children at home and we look forward meeting them next week.

We have had a very large refurbishment of windows and doors in Year R, Year 1, the corridor, the office and Lilypads. As with most building projects, it has over-run (we've all seen 'Grand Designs'), and this aspect is being overseen and managed by Hampshire Property Services who are in charge of the project. The staff have been superstars and worked very hard to get classrooms ready amid the building works and delays. There are still some bits to finish off, and hopefully everything will be completed by the end of October half term. We have also had our new corridor refurbishment fitted, which has been done with money raised by the PTA and a donation from a local education charity. It looks fantastic and the children will enjoy learning in the space, and snuggling with a book.

Some of you may have seen the announcement by the Rt Hon Bridget Phillipson MP regarding behaviour and attendance, last week. Good habits start from the moment children come into school, and we want our children to achieve their best and enjoy school, working in partnership with parents. If you have not seen it yet, and would like to read it, please follow the link below:

Government to crackdown on bad behaviour and boost attendance - GOV.UK

In our school assembly today I talked about staying safe online. Nearly all children have been online at some point during the summer break. I definitely shocked them when I told them there was no online when I was their age and only three channels on the television (what a simpler world it was, and yes I am very old!). We discussed the importance of breaks, not giving information out, and most importantly who to talk to-who are their trusted adults. The assembly is available on Childnet and you can look at it via the link below (age 3-7):

https://www.childnet.com/resources/back-to-school-assemblies/

The weather looks as if it is picking up a little, and we have managed to dodge the showers for most of the day. Fingers crossed for a sunny weekend!

Warm wishes

Mrs Riches

Headteacher