‘Learning For Life’

2017 March

Dear Parents/Carers

I am writing this as the intended final newsletter as the end of term is Friday 31st March. The Spring holiday, which incorporates Easter runs for a fortnight plus Easter Monday, with Summer term commencing on Tuesday 18th April.

This issue contains:

  • Vision 2022
  • Easter Activities
  • Changes in the new financial year
  • New Parent Governor
  • School Meals
  • Guilder Trophy Winners
/
  • World Book Day success
  • Red Nose Day
  • PGL Residential
  • SEND Local Offer
  • Health Services

Vision 2022

The vision for our school remains at the heart of our drive to ensure our on-going success and sustainability. During this academic year I have been sharing with you a different aspect of our shared vision and the final aspect is drawn from our value that says we should ‘Strive for the best’. This has long been part of the aim of the school which encourages excellence in all children. It is not about a ‘that’s not good enough’ approach, but rather about encouraging every child to realise their potential, celebrating steps in achievement as they progress through the school.

In day-to-day activities much of the feed-back is verbal; encouraging and praising the children. We also use written feed-back, stickers, ‘Star of the Day’ and other awards and certificates in order to acknowledge the effort children are making in striving for the best. The ultimate accolade is the Guilder Trophy (usually awarded from Year 2 onwards) for continued perseverance and/or achievement in academic and/or social interaction in school.

I’m sure you appreciate though, this is a whole community aim and all the staff also ‘strive for the best’ as I know you as parents will want to do.

Easter Activities

A reminder that we will be celebrating Easter as usual through our assemblies and enjoying some traditional Easter activities.

Dates for your diary:

Weds 29th March-Egg decorating

Thurs 30th March-Easter Bonnet Parade and Egg rolling

Changes in the New Financial Year

As I mentioned in the February newsletter, we are working hard to balance our budget for 2017/18 in an effort to future proof our school. We have made cuts in order to do this by terminating temporary hour contracts, looking for further cost savings in bought in services and by reducing the hours of our French teacher. From April, KS2 will have French together for one session as it was felt it was not the best use of resources having French taught to just 7 pupils. Miss Smith will teach KS2 for the first session of the day on a Monday. When KS2 are together there are still only 19 pupils.

New Parent Governor

As you will be aware we are currently asking for nominations for a new parent governor. We have ONE position vacant. You should have received nomination papers. Nominations need to be returned this Friday 17th March by 10:00am. If there is more than one nomination an election will take place.

School Meals

Universal Infant Free School Meals will continue to be provided, but for older children the cost of a school meal sees a slight rise of 7p per meal from Tuesday 18th April. The new cost of a meal will be £2.29 or £11.45 per week (based on a meal every day).

Guilder Trophy Winners

It is always a difficult decision as to who to award the trophy to week by week as there are so many hard working and deserving children in our school. The latest winners of the Guilder Trophy are:

10/2/17Natalie F (Y3)3/3/17Zachary A (Y3)

24/2/17Alfie W (Y4)10/3/17Hannah F (Y6)

World Book Day Success

We enjoyed a great week of book-related activities in school to celebrate the 20th Anniversary of World Book Day. I do hope your child took the opportunity to get a new book. The week culminated in our dressing-up as book characters, which was enjoyed by all.

Thank you for helping provide something for your child to dress up in to make it a memorable day. Thanks to School Council who organised the ‘Where’s Wally?’ search during playtimes and congratulations to all our winners for finding him!

Red Nose Day

Our next dressing up day will be on Friday 24th March in order to raise money for Comic Relief, a British charity founded in 1985 by Richard Curtis. Money raised goes to support vulnerable groups both in the U.K. and Africa. School Council voted unanimously to support this with a minimum donation of £2 to dress up … but bring as much as you wish. The theme for dressing up this year (that they have decided), is to ask that all children come dressed up like the teachers (adults) and the teachers dress up as children (kid’s clothes, doesn’t have to be uniform). I hope you feel able to support this vital work.

PGL Residential

If your child is currently in Year 4 or Year 5 they will be the next group that will soon be invited to an amazing residential activities trip to the PGL Centre at Caythorpe! For information the dates to make a note of in your diary are Wednesday 25th April to Friday 27th April 2018. Further details will be provided later and a letter with timetable for payments.

SEND Local Offer

Nottinghamshire’s Local Offer: Supporting families with children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities aged 0 - 25

If you’ve ever struggled to find the right information or service for a child or young person with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND), then check out the SEND Local Offer website.

The Local Offer brings together information across education, health, social care and the voluntary and independent sectors and is designed specifically for children and young people with special educational needs and/or disabilities and their families.

Use the Local Offer for ideas for things to do; details of nurseries, schools and colleges; help with getting around; advice and access to health and social care; employment and training; advice on Independent Living, and more.

It’s free and impartial and will help you find information about what services are available, or signpost you to somebody who can provide you with the information you need, through one easily searchable web site. Visit Accessible through a PC, tablet or smartphone.

Health Services

Nottinghamshire Healthcare is delivering the new Integrated Healthy Child and Public Health Nursing Programme for 0-19 year olds contract from 1st April 2017. For more information please follow this link:

I do hope you enjoy the Spring holiday and Easter festivities. Don’t eat too much chocolate!

Yours sincerely

Alan Guilder

Head Teacher