Latest News

Keep up to date with all the news happening in school

• What's on in December

  Tue 09 Dec 2025

  Here's a reminder what is on over the next few weeks for parents and families!

   

  Wednesday 10th December

   

  Children's Christmas Shopping Bazaar

  Shopping lists were sent home on Monday for the Christmas shopping event. You can choose up to 6 family members-please write ages next to aunt/uncle/brother/sister to help our shopping helpers. All will be gift wrapped and labelled ready to go under your tree.

   

  Your child will need: A named carrier bag and the correct amount of money secured in an envelope/purse. It is £4 per gift.

   

  Friday 12th December

  
  9.30am Year 1 and 2 Performance

  There is a creche available for this performance, which need to be booked at the office. There are no young children (under 12) allowed in the hall and this includes babies/newborns

   

  Monday 15th December

   

  1.45pm Year 1 and 2 Performance

  (No creche-There are no young children (under 12) allowed in the hall and this includes babies/newborns)

   

  Tuesday 16th December

  
  9.30am Year R Performance

  There is a creche available for this performance, which need to be booked at the office. There are no young children (under 12) allowed in the hall and this includes babies/newborns. 

   

  Wednesday 17th December

   

  Christmas Lunch and Party afternoon

   

  Children can wear party clothes and sensible shoes to school. Playtimes will be happening as normal, so please make sure their clothes are warm enough for this.

   

  Thursday 18th December

   

  1.30pm Grandparents Service at St Peter's Church

  (a reminder that this is for Grandparents only-not parents/aunties/uncles, as there is no room. Please do not turn up, as non grandparents will be politely asked to leave-we have hardly ever had to do this as the majority of our families understand that there is not any room in the church for them.)

   

  Friday 19th December

   

  Christmas Jumper Charity Day

  Our suggested donation is £1. This year's charity is the amazing Naomi House, which supports many Bishops Waltham families.

   

  Just a reminder... 

  We do not charge for our performances (like some schools), but we do have a collection at the end of each performance. This enables us to replenish things for the plays, such as face paint and costumes. We allow parents to record the performance for their own personal use only. Nothing is to be posted on social media, as many children's parents do not want their children on social media/not allowed to be on social media. Parents at Bishops Waltham have been brilliant regarding this, and understand the need to protect children in our school, so please continue with this tradition. 

   

   

• Weekly Update Friday 21st November

  Fri 21 Nov 2025

   

  ❄️ Chilly Weather
  Brrr, it’s been a chilly week! We’re so pleased to see all the children wrapping up warm for school – those cosy hats and scarves are definitely helping to keep the cold at bay.
   

  🔤 Year R Phonics Talk
  Our Year R Phonics Talk was very well attended, and it was lovely to hear that parents left feeling more confident about how our phonics scheme, Little Wandle, works. If you have any further questions, Miss Turner is always happy to help.
   

  🎉 Celebration Assembly
  We shared some truly smashing learning today in Celebration Assembly

  • Year 2 wowed us with their volcano poetry, using alliterative phrases, the power of three for repetition, and incredibly descriptive adjectives – just amazing!
     
  • Year 1 impressed us with their Three Billy Goats Gruff story writing and an excellent troll wanted poster, showing real mastery of using media in learning.

   

  A big well done to all our Stars of the Week for your fantastic efforts.

   

  This week, I would also like to give a special mention to Jesse in Hedgehog Class, who created the most incredible sleigh and reindeer center piece at home with his dad. What a work of art! It will look beautiful in his house at Christmas time – well done, Jesse, for your creativity!
   

  🎄 PTA Christmas Events
  Our PTA are busy behind the scenes preparing for our Christmas events. In December, we’ll have our Children’s Shopping Bazaar Day, where children can buy up to six presents for family members, then wrap and label them ready for under your Christmas tree. A shopping list will come home the week before so you know what to bring.
   

  📚 Reading Matters
  We’d also like to say a huge thank you for a very kind £100 donation from a parent this week, which will help us restock our Home Reader book boxes. We’ve also used commission from the Book Fayre for this. Reading is so important to us as a school, and it was lovely to hear prospective Year R parents comment on our beautiful reading spaces and the ‘real’ books children take home.

  
  Congratulations to Eleanor in Year 1 this week, who was our lucky Reading Raffle winner this week! She was thrilled – it was her first time winning!
   

  📅 Reminder
  Monday is an INSET day for staff training as part of our continuous professional development. School will be closed, and we look forward to seeing everyone back on Tuesday 25th November.
   

  💚 Healthy Hearts Healthy Minds
  Don’t forget, our Healthy Hearts Healthy Minds page Health Hearts Healthy Minds (click link) has lots of links to different agencies that can offer support for parents, families, or children. Please take a look if you need any advice or help.

   

  We hope everyone has a lovely weekend with their family. Take care.

   

  With warm wishes

   

  Mrs Riches

  Headteacher
   

  

• Scholastic book fair

  Tue 18 Nov 2025

  Thank you to everyone who came to the Scholastic book Fair. The school got some great new books from the rewards. 

  

• Weekly Update Friday 14th November

  Sat 15 Nov 2025

  We have had a busy week at school this week, with lots going on. The drainage works are nearly fixed at the front of our school, so should be back to normal out by reception soon.
   

  Thank you to all the parents who attended Parent Teacher meetings. These were the first ones of the year, to discuss how your child has settled into the year group, and what targets they will primarily be working towards over the coming months. During our data meetings these last few weeks with year leaders, it has become very obvious that sporadic attendance is severely impacting learning, and children are struggling to keep up with their peers and make good progress, when attendance is an issue. We are also seeing a dip in reading, for the first time ever, and this correlates with the lack of reading entries into our book raffle every week. To be in the book raffle, children have to practise reading at least 3 times at home. Very sadly, only around 40% of children are currently succeeding in this. These formative years are so important for language acquisition, and reading unlocks all learning. We are hoping that all families are now going to be practising reading more regularly and improving low attendance, so that their children can make big strides in their learning journeys. Let’s make a change together!

   

  Thank you also, to all contributions towards ‘Children in Need’. This year we raised £258 for the charity. Well done to our BWIS community. 
   

  There has been an acquisition of Cleverchefs, and it is now known as Cleverchefs Catering. We will be monitoring the new company carefully for good quality and value for money. There will continue to be a choice of 4 meals per day, and these are free for all infant children. Thank you to our current chef for the cake selection on Parents Evening. Many parents were very complimentary about our lovely puddings. 
   

  Lastly, we would like to congratulate Henry in Year 2, for obtaining a Blue Peter Badge for his Rock Steady music achievement of learning to play the keyboard.  Well Done Henry- what a great badge to collect! If you would like your child to have a special shout out in our celebration assembly or online, please write in with their achievements and let us know if we can add here to our latest news section. 
   

  Here’s hoping for a drier weekend, so we can all get out and about!

   

  Warm wishes

   

  Mrs Riches

  Headteacher
   

  

• Weekly Update Friday 7th November

  Fri 07 Nov 2025

  We’ve had a super fizzy week back after half term! It’s been lovely to hear all about the children’s exciting adventures—from pumpkin picking to bonfire night celebrations. Thank you for encouraging them to share their stories; it really helps build confidence and communication skills.

   

  🎇 In assembly, we reminded everyone about firework safety, especially for those attending displays or enjoying garden fireworks. The children listened beautifully and shared some great ideas about staying safe.

   

  🌺 We’ve also been learning about the importance of Remembrance Day. The children showed great respect during our assembly, and we will be observing a two-minute silence on Tuesday 11th November to honour those who have served. We still have poppies at reception, if anyone would like to purchase one.

   

  📚 Year Group Highlights

   

  🧹 Year R have had lots of fun reading Julia Donaldson’s Room on the Broom and exploring rhyming words. They’ve especially enjoyed shining torches in the amazing role play caves—lots of giggles and imagination!

   

  🎭 Year 1 have been working interdependently to develop their knowledge of puppets and plays. They’re loving the fairy stories and are beginning to create their own performances—what budding playwrights!

   

  🌍 Year 2 have been expanding their geographical knowledge, learning about hemispheres and discovering which countries are in the southern hemisphere. This is part of their exciting new project on New Zealand, and they’ve been chatting about it as they pass our big corridor map!

   

  🚧 Important Notices

   

  • On Monday, fencing will be placed around our flower bed due to a displaced sewage pipe. We’re unsure how long the repair will take, so please keep children away from this area while waiting for the gates to open—for their safety.
  • We’ve noticed a few hot drinks being brought into school recently. Please remember we have a no hot drinks policy due to the risk of scalding. We really appreciate your cooperation.

   

  🎉 Upcoming Events

   

  👕 Children in Need Day – Friday 15th November
  This year we’re having a “Come As You Like” Day! Children can wear any outfit they choose—including fancy dress. Just make sure they have a coat and sensible shoes to keep warm and dry.
  Donations can be made in cash on the day or via our online page:
  🔗 Children in Need Donation Page

   

  📖 Parent Teacher Meetings – Tuesday & Wednesday Evenings

  
  Please arrive 5–10 minutes early to look through your child’s learning. A creche will be available during your appointment.

   

  📚 Scholastic Book Fayre – Starts Tuesday
  Parents are welcome to browse the books during the parents' evenings and at drop-off/pick-up times.

   

  Arriving Promptly at Home Time

  If you are unable to arrive promptly at picking up time (3.10pm), please make alternative arrangements with family/friends/After School Club. The end of the school day is 3.10pm, and schools are not insured to have children on site after this time. We are having more  children brought to the office at the end of the school day due to parents regularly arriving later.  We cannot accommodate this and advise all parents to have a Plan B ready to put into action, in case an emergency happens. If children are not picked up on time, we will now be in discussions with our After School club (CM Sports) to help us accommodate children who haven't been picked up, and if they can, payment will need to be made to them for childcare.

   

  🎄 Christmas Card Orders
  Order forms went out this week—please return them promptly if you’d like to purchase packs.

   

  🔥 PTA at BWIS Community Fireworks – Saturday
  Our amazing PTA will be there selling sweets—please pop by and support them!

   

  Wishing everyone a lovely weekend

   

  With warm wishes

   

  Mrs Riches

  Headteacher

  
   

   

   

   

   

• Support for a Former Pupil Facing Serious Illness

  Wed 05 Nov 2025

  We are reaching out to share news about a fundraiser for one of our former pupils, who is still a young teenager and is currently facing a  cancer diagnosis.

   

  Olivia was a valued member of our school community, and we know many families will remember them fondly. Their journey is incredibly difficult, and we hope to offer support in any way we can.

   

  A poster with more details about the fundraiser is attached. If your family is in a position to contribute, any donation—big or small—would be deeply appreciated. Even if you're unable to donate, sharing the fundraiser with others can make a meaningful difference.

  Thank you for your kindness and support.

   

  https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/doratheunwantedexplorer?utm_medium=CR&utm_source=FB&fbclid=IwdGRjcAN4MpdjbGNrA3gyjWV4dG4DYWVtAjExAHNydGMGYXBwX2lkDDM1MDY4NTUzMTcyOAABHi3K2vNE9vGw9C4X8NEx2FfPfkSkRJ-qFpBtU3f-3I-gE2F12NmVL18FfeGc_aem_AA6BUtJlBk7cvd-R3jY5gg

  

• Christmas cards

  Wed 05 Nov 2025

  Children designed their own Christmas cards and the proofs have been sent home today.  The deadline for ordering is the 19th November.  

  

• Weekly Update- Friday 24th October

  Fri 24 Oct 2025

  As we wrap up this first half term, we want to say a huge well done to all our children for their brilliant start to the school year!

   

  Reception
  Our Reception children have now completed their very first half term at school – and what a fantastic start they've had! They've loved exploring the signs of autumn, especially spotting colourful leaves during outdoor learning. Making new friends and learning through play has been a joy to watch. Some children have told us they’re feeling “a little bit tired” this week – a well-earned rest is definitely in order!

   

  Year 1
  Year 1 have been busy bees with their exciting project work this half term. This week, they’ve channeled their creativity into designing Christmas cards – we can’t wait to see the final prints! These will be sent home shortly after the break, so please get your orders in quickly once they arrive.

   

  Year 2
  Year 2 wowed us all with their Great Fire of London Exhibition this week. Their historical knowledge and persuasive writing to the Mayor of London were truly impressive. What a wonderful way to round off their learning!

   

  PTA Highlights
  A huge thank you to our amazing PTA for all their hard work this half term. The Year 1 and 2 disco with Crazy M was a blast – and yes, we even had snow! ❄️
  Congratulations to Elsie, our Spooky Cat winner, who correctly guessed the name Pickles! Pickles will be heading home today.
  Don’t forget to visit the Spooky Sweetstall in the turning circle at the end of the day – fingers crossed for sunshine!

   

  Harvest Festival
  We’ve received a lovely thank you from the Meon Valley Foodbank for your generous donations. Your support makes a real difference to local families in need – thank you!

   

  Reading Reminder
  We’ve been reviewing our data this half term and noticed that reading at home, especially in Year 1, needs a boost. Only 16 out of 60 children read at home three times last week from Squirrels and Robins. Please help us by reading with your child over the break and recording it in their diary. It’s a special time together and helps unlock a lifelong love of learning.

   

  School Lunches
  Menus will change after half term – Mrs Palmer has sent them out and they’re also on our website. Children can try a hot lunch and bring a lunchbox if needed. Remember, all infant school children in England are entitled to a free two-course hot lunch every day – with four options to choose from, they’re truly spoilt!

   

  School Photos

  Our individual school photos were sent home this week. Please make sure to order promptly, so that orders come back in time for Christmas presents.

   

  ⏰ Don’t forget – the clocks go back this weekend!

  We wish all our families a relaxing and restful half term. Thank you for your continued support – we look forward to seeing everyone back, refreshed and ready for more learning adventures!

   

  Have a lovely break!

   

  With warm wishes

   

  Mrs Riches

  Headteacher

  

• Weekly Update Friday 17th October

  Fri 17 Oct 2025

  🌟 What a super week of learning we’ve had!

   

  📚 Year 1
  Our brilliant Year 1 children had a fantastic time showing their parents all the amazing things they’ve learned in their ‘Project Power’ workshop. It was wonderful to see so many proud faces and enthusiastic learners!

   

  🔤 Year R
  Reception have been zooming ahead with their phonics! They love showing off their learning when I pop into their classroom – such confident little learners already!

   

  🔥 Year 2
  Year 2 have been exploring eye witness accounts from the Great Fire of London. Their curiosity and thoughtful questions have made this a truly exciting topic.
  🧁 Clubs have been buzzing too – thank you to our teachers who are loving running them!

   

  🎉 PTA Quiz Night
  What a fantastic evening we had at the PTA Quiz Night! Huge thanks to our amazing PTA for organising such a fun event, and to Andy for stepping back in as quizmaster – you were brilliant!

  
  🐶 Who knew naming famous dogs could be so tricky? We’re already looking forward to the next one!

   

  🕺 Year 1 & 2 Disco – TONIGHT!
  As I type, Crazy M is cranking out the tunes in the hall and the disco is in full swing! Staff are ready to join the children for a boogie – it’s going to be a blast!

  👻 Spooky Sweet Stall – Next Week
  Don’t forget – The PTA will be rounding off next week with their spooky sweet stall. Yum!

  🐱 Name the Cat Competition
  Have you entered yet? Pop by the front desk to choose a name – the winner will be drawn next Friday!

   

  🍂 Harvest Festival at St Peter’s Church
  This week we celebrated our children-only Harvest Festival at the beautiful St Peter’s Church.
  🙏 Reverend Hunt shared fascinating veggie facts and we enjoyed music, poems, songs, prayers, and a story. For many children, it was their first time in a church – a truly memorable experience. Thank you, Reverend Hunt!

   

  📅 Coming Up Next Week
  Year 2 will be inviting parents to their Great Fire of London Exhibition – we can’t wait to see their work on display!

  
  ⏰ School will finish at the normal time next Friday.

   

  Wishing you all a lovely weekend

   

  With warm wishes

   

  Ginene Riches

  Headteacher

  

• Weekly Update-Friday 10th October

  Fri 10 Oct 2025

  🍁 A Beautiful Autumn Week!

  We’ve had a lovely autumnal week in school — and no rain! The trees around BWIS are looking absolutely stunning with their changing colours. Year R have been busy collecting colourful leaves and proudly showed me their leaf caterpillars 🐛 — they looked fantastic!

   

  ❓ PTA Quiz Night – Tonight!

  We’re all set for a fun evening of quizzing with the fantastic Andy and co. A huge thank you to our brilliant PTA and CleverChefs for organising and catering for this event. Good luck to all our quiz teams! 🧠🎉

   

  💃🕺 Year 1 & 2 Disco – Friday 17th October

  Get your dancing shoes ready! Our PTA have organised a fabulous disco next Friday with the one and only Crazy M! Don’t forget to buy your tickets 🎟️ — it’s going to be a night of fun and funky moves!

   

  🧩 Year 2 Lunchtime Clubs

  Our Year 2 lunchtime clubs are in full swing and the children are loving them! These are run by all of our wonderful teaching staff who give up their own time to share new skills and passions. Thank you to all our lovely staff 💖 — what lucky children we have!

   

  💰 Budget & Payments Reminder

  Next week we’ll be reviewing our mid-year budget. As many of you know, times have been lean and we’ve had to make tough cuts. If you have any outstanding payments for school trips or Early Bird, please do pay promptly — every little helps. 🙏

   

  🌾 Harvest Festival – Tuesday 14th October

  We’re heading to St Peter’s Church for our school-only Harvest Festival. Classes may need help walking to the church — please check with your child’s teacher.
  We’re collecting tins, packets and cereal for the local foodbank. Please donate generously so we can support families in need. 🥫🍞

   

  📸 School Photo Day – Wednesday 15th October

  Individual school photos will be taken during the day, with evening slots available for family/group shots. Make sure those uniforms are looking smart! 👔📷

   

  🦸‍♀️🦸‍♂️ Year 1 Project Superpower Outcome – Thursday 16th October

  Parents are warmly invited to join us at 2.30pm to celebrate Year 1’s learning journey. We can’t wait to see what superpowers they’ve discovered!

   

  Thank you for your continued support and involvement in school life. Have a wonderful weekend!

   

  Warm wishes,
  Mrs Riches

  Headteacher