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School Year September 2020 - July 2021

11th September 2020

Dear Parents/Carers

Newsletter 1 - September 2020

Welcome back to our existing parents and a very warm welcome to our new YR children and families. We hope that you had a lovely summer holiday.

The children look very smart in their school uniforms and have settled into their classes very well.

We have a very busy term ahead so please ensure you check and empty your child’s book bag daily or view the school website for newsletters or other important information.

Covid-19 guidance

School has worked very hard to ensure that we adhere to the guidance published by Public Health England and the Department for Education. Currently, the school’s Risk Assessment is being reviewed daily with staff and Governors. Please may we remind you:

· to wear face masks if you need to speak to staff in the school building

· arrive as near to the staggered start and finish times as possible

· avoid large gatherings with other parents

· keep to the 2 metre social distancing

· leave the school site as quickly as possible

Unfortunately, we are unable to permit parents and siblings to use the visitor toilet facilities at any time. If your child develops a cough, a high temperature or loss of taste or smell, please contact NHS 111 directly for relevant advice. Please avoid contacting the office staff for advice as they are not medically qualified.

The DFE have produced a Covid-19 helpline number:- 0800 0468687 which is open between 8.00am and 6.00pm. The DFE have also given the following advice regarding symptoms:-

If your child displays any symptoms of Covid-19 (such as a high temperature/persistent cough/loss of taste or smell) they should self-isolate and get a test. If they test negative and feel well enough they can return to school. If they test positive they should self-isolate for at least 10 days from when they first had symptoms.

Following our site risk assessment it is difficult to social distance on pathways. We, therefore, request that all parents wear a face mask on school grounds unless you are exempt.

Please do not be offended if a member of staff queries why you are not wearing one. Thank you

If someone in your household has symptoms the whole household should self-isolate and the family member who has symptoms should get a test. If they test negative your child can stop self-isolating and return to school. If they test positive your child should continue self-isolating for the full 14 days from when the family member first had symptoms.

In all cases of self-isolation could we please ask that you inform us immediately about the outcome of a test.

Curriculum Newsletters

Each year group will send out information this week about this half term’s topics including suggestions about how you can support your child’s learning at home. Each child will bring home their pink Home School Reading books as a means of communication, especially when staff read with your child and when you access the online Monster to Read website for them to practise reading at home. At present, we will not be sending home our reading or library books.

Parking

Please avoid driving up Romsey Close at all times. If it becomes congested with cars parking and turning it makes it very difficult for emergency vehicles to access the school and therefore putting your child at risk. Please park at Abbey Road shops or Tintern Close and walk the short pathway to school. Police Community Patrol Officers will monitor parking on Romsey Close. The school car park is for staff only and must not be used as a drop-off or pick-up point.

Belongings

Please ensure you label all school uniform including hats, gloves, coats, shoes, PE kits, lunch boxes and water bottles. We are always amazed at the amount of lost property we donate to charity shops so please check the lost property box in the office porch regularly. Children often have the same items and become anxious when they lose something.

Money

All money must be put in your child’s zipped wallet and handed to your child’s class teacher with a note indicating the amount and reason for the money. The office staff are unable to take money across the front desk. Any change will be returned at the end of the day, but wherever possible, please try to send in the exact amount.

However, during the current COVID situation we would prefer that Breakfast club, After School Club and school trips are paid online.

Wednesday 30th September - School photographer (individual photos)

Tuesday 13th October - Parents’ Evening 3.30- 6.00pm

Thursday 15th October - Parents’ Evening 3.30- 6.00pm

Monday 19th October - Parents’ Evening 4.00- 6.30pm

Thursday 22nd October - Flu Vaccine for all year groups

Thursday 22nd October - 3.15pm break up for half term

Friday 23rd October - INSET Day

Monday 2nd November - School re-opens at 8.45am

Thank you for your continuing support, patience and understanding.

Larissa James

Headteacher

School Year September 2019 - July 2020

Coronavirus Story Use this link to access The Coronavirus Story in a range of languages

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Hello Parents/Carers, we hope everyone is safe and well.

June 1st is the provisional date given by the Government for non-essential retailers like Skoolkit to reopen. So, we would like to update you with our plans to help this happen and to hopefully cover any questions.

We have a social responsibility to not attract large numbers to our shops to maintain social distancing measures, so where possible we would like to encourage customers to buy from our website. Please use the FAQ on our website to help answer any questions you may have regarding ordering online.

Regrettably our usual “discount week” has been suspended for this year, however we will be offering free delivery codes for uniforms purchased on-line on specific dates as follows: Just enter the code at the checkout.

26^TH – 28^TH JUNE 2020 – JUNEDEL20

27^TH JUNE – 26^TH JULY – SUMMER2020

29^TH – 31^ST JULY 2020 – JULYDEL20

5^TH – 7^TH AUGUST 2020 – AUGDEL20

If you do need to visit our shops please buy early to help avoid crowds building up through the summer. There will be queues for uniform and service will take longer than usual but we aim to move customers through as safely as possible and we will be observing all Government guidelines including:

Providing staff with PPE as advised
Providing hand sanitiser in-store for use by staff and customers
Installing cough/sneeze guards
Observing 2 metre social distancing rule by using a one-way flow system through stores with floor markings and signage.
Limiting the number of people who can be inside a shop at any given time. With only one adult with their children where possible.
Limiting the use of fitting rooms so that they are only used where absolutely necessary
Limiting customers’ handling of uniform. So, please come prepared with size information (Refer to www.skoolkit.co.uk for size guides)
Encouraging the use of card payment

Can we please ask our customers to be patient with our staff who will be working incredibly hard to help make sure your child has all they need for their return back to school.

If we all help each other stay safe we can survive this challenging time together.

www.skoolkit.co.uk

28^th May 2020

Dear Parents / Carers,

School Phased Return

Following last night’s announcement from the Government, it is confirmed that we will implement our school phased return for all YR children, including key workers, vulnerable and EHCP children in each year group from 1^st June.

Following our survey sent out at the end of last week we have had confirmation that there will be 48 children returning to school. We stress that this is your decision to send your child back to school and we are not insisting that they attend. Parents will not face fines or other sanctions if they do not send their child in. School will not be held to account for our attendance figures during this time. We ask that you make the decision whether or not to send your child into school and keep to that decision. We cannot have children sent in for one day but not the next unless they become unwell. If you have not already informed the school that your child will be attending from the 1^st June and now decide that you want them to return, you must confirm with us first and not just arrive at school. We will need at least a week’s notice in order to ensure correct procedures are in place.

YR and priority Y2 children will remain in their own classes/’bubbles’. Priority Y1 children will be combined as one ‘bubble’.

Session times will be:

Owlets: 8.45 - 2.45pm

Snowy: 9.00 - 3.00pm

Y1: 8.45 - 2.45pm

Wise: 9.00 - 3.00pm

Eagle: 9.00 - 3.00pm

Class bubbles will not be mixing with each other and will remain in their allocated classrooms and designated outdoor areas for the Summer 2^nd half term, with their class teacher and LSA.

We have set tables in rows in each classroom with their own resource packs in zipped wallets e.g. pencils, books, scissors, glue etc to avoid sharing of resources. These will be wiped down at the end of each day. School has also invested in a specialist machine which sanitises all furniture and equipment and this will be done daily.

Children will spend lunchtime in their bubbles with their adults either outside (weather permitting) or in their new classroom. They will be provided with a picnic bag with a red or green option or you can provide their own packed lunch from home. There will be no hot dinners available.

For pupils with Education Health and Care Plans (EHCP), it may not be possible to provide the full range of provision set out in the plan, and it may be necessary to make different arrangements if some of the support services are not available in their usual form.

The curriculum planned will focus on Personal Development Learning (PDL), basic phonics, reading, writing and maths per topic per year group. Home School learning packs will still continue for those who remain at home.

Children will be constantly reminded to wash their hands throughout the day. We will encourage social distancing, however, this is extremely difficult with young children and therefore we cannot guarantee keeping children 2 metres apart from each other.

Children must bring in their own labelled water bottles and PE kits but they do not need their book bags.

Staff are not required to wear PPE unless a child or adult becomes ill. However, we have ordered face masks and aprons if staff want to wear them and we will explain to the children why they are wearing them.

Each class will use designated toilets which will not be gender based but supervised by their allocated adult.

We have organised staggered start and finish times to reduce the ‘traffic’ around the school site. There will be markings to indicate a queuing system. We ask that one parent only drops off and collects each day, and leave the school site as soon as possible. Parents can organise telephone or email communication if you have any queries via the school office. Parents will only be allowed to enter the school building in an emergency.

Staff will not be taking children’s temperature each morning. Doors and windows will be open to ensure the classrooms are well ventilated. If anyone in the bubble develops symptoms of coronavirus, they will be sent home and asked to be tested. The entire bubble and siblings will be asked to isolate initially whilst the individual is tested (to be arranged by the parent of that child). If positive, the bubble will need to isolate for 14 days. They will be able to return to school if testing reveals a negative result. If more cases occur in school, we will follow instructions given by PHE (Public Health England).

If a child or member of staff lives with someone who is shielding (clinically extremely vulnerable - those with a Government letter) then they should not be in school.

Breakfast and After School Clubs will not be running until further notice. Teachers will have their weekly entitled Planning, Preparation and Assessment (PPA) time on Thursday afternoons and LSAs will support the children.

We are all learning, so please bear with us. Plans may change due to information given by the Government. Following the first week in school, we will evaluate our procedures and may be able to offer Y1 places in subsequent weeks.

Thank you for your continuing support, patience and understanding.

Yours sincerely,

Larissa James

Headteacher

18^th May 2020

Dear Parents / Carers,

School Phased Return

We are in the process of planning for our school phased return for all YR children, including children of key workers, vulnerable and EHCP children in each year group from 1^st June. Please note it is not for Y1 cohort as per Government advice for Infant Schools.

We stress that this is your decision to send your child back to school and we are not insisting that they attend school. Parents will not face fines or other sanctions if they don’t send their child. School will not be held to account for our attendance figures during this time. We ask that you make the decision to send your child into school or not and keep to that decision until further guidance from the Government. We cannot have children sent in for one day but not the next unless they become unwell.

Following our risk assessments, we plan to split YR into four groups/ ‘bubbles’ of 12. Children of key workers including vulnerable and EHCP children in Y1 and Y2 will also be organised in bubbles of 12 children. The class bubble will not mix with each other and will remain in their allocated classrooms for the Summer 2^nd half term.

Each bubble will be allocated a teacher and LSA but this may not be the adults the children previously had before lockdown.

We have set tables in rows in each classroom with their own resource packs in zipped wallets e.g. pencils, books, scissors, glue etc to avoid sharing of resources. These will be wiped down at the end of each day. School has also invested in a specialist machine which sanitizes all furniture and equipment which will be done daily.

Children will spend lunchtimes in their bubble with their adult either outside (weather permitting) or in their new classroom. They will be provided with a picnic bag with a red or green option or you can provide their own packed lunch from home. There will be no hot dinners available.

For pupils with Education and Health Care Plans (EHCP), it may not be possible to provide the full range of provision set out in the plan, and it may be necessary to make different arrangements if some of the support services are not available in their usual form.

The curriculum planned will focus on Personal Development Learning (PDL), basic phonics, reading, writing and maths per topic per year group. Home School Learning Packs will still continue for those who remain at home.

Children must bring in their own labelled water bottles and PE kits but they do not need their book bags.

Each class will use designated toilets which will not be gender based but supervised by their allocated adult.

We have organised staggered start and finish times to reduce the ‘traffic’ around the school site. There will be markings to indicate a queuing system. We ask that one parent only drops off and collects each day and that parents leave the school site as soon as possible. If you have any queries please contact the school office either by telephone or email. If parents need to speak to the office staff, only one parent will be allowed to enter the building at a time and only if absolutely necessary.

Staff will not be taking children’s temperature each morning. Doors and windows will be open to ensure the classrooms are well ventilated. If anyone in the bubble develops symptoms of coronavirus, they will be sent home and asked to be tested. The entire bubble and siblings will be asked to isolate initially whilst the individual is tested (to be arranged by the parent of that child). If positive, the bubble will need to isolate for 14 days. They will be able to return to school if testing reveals a negative result. If more cases occur in school, we will follow instructions given by PHE (Public Health England).

If a child or member of staff lives with someone who is shielding (clinically extremely vulnerable – those with a Government letter) then they should not be in school.

Breakfast and After School Clubs will not be running until further notice. Teachers will have their weekly entitled Planning, Preparation and Assessment (PPA) time on Friday afternoons and LSAs will deep clean the classrooms and resources. Therefore, children must be collected at 1.00pm on Fridays.

If your child is in one of the groups which are eligible to return to school from 1^st June e.g. all YR children, children of key workers, vulnerable and EHCP children in each year group, we ask you to complete the short survey below to indicate whether you are intending to send your child into school. Please complete by 12.00pm on Wednesday 20^th May. Once we have confirmed numbers, we will allocate your child to their adults and classroom notifying you where and when to drop off and collect each day.

https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/S7W7XDJ

We are all learning so please bear with us. Plans may change due to information given by the Government over the next couple of days.

Thank you for your continuing support, patience and understanding.

Yours sincerely,

Larissa James

Headteacher

11^th May 2020

Dear Parent/Carers,

By now, I am sure you will have watched or listened to the Prime Minister’s address to the nation last night. In terms of the potential for schools re-opening, the Prime Minister said ‘In step two - at the earliest by 1^st June - after half term - we believe we may be in a position… to get primary pupils back into schools, in stages, beginning with reception, Year 1 and Year 6’. It is important to note that the statement makes it clear that this is not a set date, and that this may happen.

Therefore, for schools across the country, at present, nothing has changed.

Until further notice, we are only open to children of key workers, as in the original descriptors set out in March, along with vulnerable children and those with EHCPs. We are not in a position to begin welcoming more children back to school.

We know that this situation still has the potential to cause parents and children some concern, and we are sure you have many questions which you are keen to have answered about what this may mean for you and your family. However, at this present time, we do not have all the answers. We assure you that further information will be provided in the coming days and weeks once the Government has issued more detailed guidance for schools. We are working with the Governing Body to formulate plans as we await further guidance from the DFE and the Local Authority as to when we can admit more children into the school safely.

We will need clear guidance to plan how it is possible to social distance in schools and keep our children, staff and families safe; how we might start to phase groups of children returning and what that looks like. Each school may have different plans according to their own circumstances and staffing levels, many of whom have their own children in different year groups.

In the meantime, we will continue to plan online learning and prepare home learning packs for your child which will be sent out on Mondays for the week, available on the school website or paper copies for collection.

Thank you for your continuing support.

Take care and keep safe.

Larissa James

Headteacher

20^th April 2020

Newsletter 6

Dear Parents/Carers,

This newsletter would normally be welcoming you back after the Easter holiday! We trust that you had a lovely holiday and enjoyed the wonderful sunshine over the Easter weekend.

On Thursday 16^th April the Government announced the continuation of the national lockdown for at least another three weeks. Currently, there is not a projected date for schools to re-open for all children. School will only be open for the children of key critical workers and vulnerable children for example those who have a Social Worker involved with the family and those with an EHCP (Education, Health Care Plan) only where it is absolutely necessary. If there are childcare arrangements at home, then children MUST remain at home.

Staff will attend school on a rota to supervise any children. Teachers will continue with weekly phone welfare checks including myself and Mrs Durbajlo, our Inclusion Manager. Phone calls will obviously vary on different days if there are siblings depending on which teachers are in school.

As usual, year group curriculum newletters will be put on the school website this week to detail the new topics for this half term and ways you can support your child at home. Please continue to explore online resources for your child to continue their learning at home. These are listed on our school website and class pages. We will update these pages regularly.

There will be another Home Learning pack available for collection by the end of the week. They will be in labelled boxes along the car park pathway. Please remember social distancing rules of keeping 2 metres apart. We suggest the following collection times:

YR = 9.30 - 10.30am Y1 = 11.00 - 12.00 Y2 = 1.00 - 2.00pm

Please collect and leave the school site as soon as possible. If you are unable to collect, please contact the school office and we will arrange postage. Please can you also communicate whether you have limited access to technology at home so that we make sufficient packs and avoid over photocopying.

There will also be a box of reading books alongside the learning pack boxes if you would like to take any for your child.

Today there will also be daily lessons for primary home schooling on the BBC website https://www.bbc.co.uk/bitesize/dailylessons

Staffing

At the end of last term, we sadly said goodbye to Miss Cooper, Y2 teacher. She decided to take a part time position in a school in Newbury following the birth of her son last June. We also said goodbye to Miss Foster, Y1 LSA, who has taken a new position at St. Bernard’s Nursery in Oakridge. It was not our usual send-off for both staff! But I am sure that you will join me in wishing them well in their new jobs.

On 13^th May, we are expecting Mrs Wisken, Deputy Headteacher, to return from her maternity leave.

Mrs Knight, Special Needs Assistant, and Miss Neilsen, our ELSA, continue their self-isolation and we wish them both well.

We miss you all very much. I light a candle every night for hope and would love for you to join me. Please keep sending us your pictures, your stories, your news, your letters, your love, your examples of our MERTON values.

Take care MERTON family.

Larissa James

Headteacher

3^rd April 2020

Dear Parents / Carers,

I hope that you are all safe and well. A strange day today because we should be finishing school for the Easter Holidays!

It has been lovely to see and hear all your news and work this week via your class pages and teachers. It is very strange having to communicate in this way but please still continue to do so to keep us all sane!!

Please keep checking the school website and text message service for up-to-date information after Easter for the week commencing Monday 20^th April. We will shortly be contacting parents of vulnerable and key worker children to ascertain their childcare requirements for after the Easter holidays. If you need to contact the school urgently over the Easter break please do so via email - adminoffice@merton-inf.hants.sch.uk.

Staff have volunteered to keep the school open during Easter for children of key critical workers and our vulnerable children. A HUGE thank you to them. Parents, who have absolutely no other alternative arrangements, have now been informed of the plan for the week. For those parents, on behalf of our school community and beyond, we applaud you; our thoughts and best wishes are with you.

Easter is a sign of New Life so perhaps the children can draw a picture to cheer us all up. I continue to light a candle every night for hope and would love for you to join me.

Stay safe. Don’t be a stranger and contact us at any time for anything and we will try our best to help you.

Happy Easter and take care.

Larissa James

Headteacher

24^th March 2020

Dear Parent / Carer,

Following the Prime Minister’s announcement last night, please can we remind you that children must only attend school if it is absolutely necessary, for those children of key critical workers or considered as vulnerable children. Where you possibly can, please make alternative childcare arrangements if you are required to work.

The list of key critical workers from the Government are:

Health and Social Care
Education and Childcare
Key Public Services
Local and National Government
Food and other necessary goods
Public safety and national security
Transport
Utilities, communication and financial services

Please access this link if you are unsure whether you fit into one of these categories:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-maintaining-educational-provision/guidance-for-schools-colleges-and-local-authorities-on-maintaining-educational-provision

Online materials and learning

Please continue to explore online resources for your child to continue their learning at home. These are listed on our school website and class pages. We will update these pages regularly.

We have created Resource packs (e.g. pencils, glue, books) for collection from Thursday 26^th March. We are also making hard copies of work/activities for collection for those who need it. Please can you inform us if you have limited access to technology so that we can make sufficient packs and avoid over photocopying.

Make this your daily walk! But in line with Government advice about social distancing, we suggest the following collection times from the school car park gates:

Y2 = 9.30am -10.30am Y1 = 11.00am - 12.00pm YR = 1.00pm - 2.00pm

Please collect your pack and leave the school site as soon as possible and avoid large social gatherings! Please be sensible and stand back where necessary.

In addition, the BBC has said that it will be increasing its range of resources to support children’s education.

Joe Wicks, The Body Coach, has created a link to his YouTube channel to support children’s physical education:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAxW1XT0iEJo0TYlRfn6rYQ

You should be able to stream the workouts live each day at 9.00am.

Please do share any work/activity your child has completed with staff via our Facebook class pages.

We will contact parents who qualify for the Free School Meal vouchers as soon as possible once the Government has agreed to the national voucher scheme.

Please see our Safeguarding details on our school website should you have any concerns about a child.

We would like to take this opportunity to thank you all for your continuing support through these unprecedented times. Please be assured that we will continue to update you as the situation changes as soon as we can and that we will continue to work for the best interests of the children at our schools.

Please do contact us for anything. Keep yourself and your family safe. We will be thinking of you. Go TEAM MERTON!

Yours sincerely,

Larissa James

Infant Headteacher

March 2020

Dear Parents and Carers,

With the school closed except for children of key workers and vulnerable learners because of the COVID-19 outbreak, we are emailing regarding our safeguarding procedures during this time. The usual safeguarding protocols will be in place for on-site activity.

In addition, to maintain our safeguarding duty for children not in school:

If you have any safeguarding concerns then please contact Mrs James, the school’s Designated Safeguarding Leader via the normal school email address: adminoffice@merton-inf.hants.sch.uk and mark it as ‘confidential and FAO MRS JAMES’. The school office will then send this information on.

Alternatively, you can contact Children Services directly on 0300 555 1384 or email childrens.services@hants.gov.uk (office hours - Mon to Fri 9.00am until 5.00pm). There is also an out of hours contact number - 0300 555 1373.

If you are in any way concerned that a child is at an immediate risk then you

should call 999 without delay.

Thank you for your continuing support,

Larissa James

Headteacher

20^th March 2020

Dear Parent / Carer,

We are sure that you will have heard the Prime Minister’s announcement on Wednesday 18th March about general school closures but continuing provision for children of key workers and vulnerable children. We are writing to give you an update on our plans for this, following advice from the Local Authority.

Both schools will close at the end of Friday 20th March and there is no expectation that pupils will then attend school until the advice from Government changes.

Emergency Service

While our schools will be closed for general admissions, all schools across the country are being asked to run an emergency service for the children of key workers in essential services so that they are able to continue to work. We have now received the definitive list of key workers from the Government which are:

Health and Social Care
Education and Childcare
Key Public Services
Local and National Government
Food and other necessary goods
Public safety and national security
Transport
Utilities, communication and financial services

Please access this link if you are unsure whether you fit into one of these categories:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-maintaining-educational-provision/guidance-for-schools-colleges-and-local-authorities-on-maintaining-educational-provision

There is no expectation that children of these key workers have to attend school. If you fall into this group and wish to make other arrangements, then you are welcome to do so.

The Government is also asking that we continue to provide education and support for children who have an Education and Health Care Plan (EHCP), children who have a social worker assigned to the family, those from families receiving Early Help and children receiving support from the Primary Behaviour Service.

Again, there is no requirement that children in these groups have to come to school, but they will be welcome should parents or carers choose this option. The Government are asking schools to remain open only for those children who absolutely need to attend.

Home to School Transport

The County Council will continue to make home to school transport available to those children that are eligible to receive it. In some instances, that might require some changes to be made which may take a little time. We expect further information from the Local Authority if this is the case and will provide further information as soon as we have it.

Online materials and learning

For those children who will be at home from Monday morning, there will be online resources available to support children to continue to learn.

Infant School

We have already sent packs of work home but if you have not collected them due to being self-isolated then we will post them tonight.

We have listed websites on our school website on the Children’s pages.

We have sent you a log-in for ‘Teach your monster to read’ website.

We have sent you a link to twinkle: www.twinkl.co.uk/offer and enter the code UKTWINKLHELPS.

We will create Resource packs (e.g. pencils, glue, books) for collection or staff will drop them to your houses next week.

Junior School

We have sent packs of work home to some children and exercise books to other children – if your child has an exercise book then please access the work packs on our website and children can write their answers in their exercise book.

Further work will be updated on the website each week.

Please access a list of websites which can be found on the Year Group pages.

Please take advantage of the free subscription offer on Twinkl’s website (https://www.twinkl.co.uk/offer) and enter the code CVDTWINKLHELPS.

We will keep you informed of any updates on our school Facebook page.

In addition, the BBC has said that it will be increasing its range of resources to support children’s education.

We would like to take this opportunity to thank you all for your support through these unprecedented times. Please be assured that we will continue to update you as the situation changes and that we will continue to work for the best interests of the children at our schools.

Breakfast and After-School clubs will be cancelled. Please do contact us for anything. Keep yourself and your family safe. We will be thinking of you.

Yours sincerely,

Larissa James Kayleigh Reading

Infant Headteacher Junior Headteacher

Newsletter 5: 2^nd March 2020

Welcome back. We hope that you all had an enjoyable holiday!

We have another busy term at school so please check your child’s book bag every day for any newsletters or visit our school website.

Year group Curriculum newsletters were sent out last week detailing the topic for this half term and suggesting ways you can support your child’s learning at home.

Please ensure your child practices reading every night. We are finding many children who are struggling due to lack of home support. As we say ‘Reading is the most important skill’!

Staffing

We welcome back Mrs Jones, Y1 Barn Owls teacher, following her successful second teacher training placement at Hook Junior School. She was so successful that she was offered a teaching position for September 2020. Well done Mrs Jones!

Miss Cooper shall be leaving on 2^nd April in order to start a part time teaching position after Easter following the birth of her baby son.

Attendance

I am pleased that school attendance was 96% again for last half term and therefore continuing to meet our school expectation. I hope that it will continue to rise especially with the warmer weather coming.

Please remember that there are 2 attendance sessions per day (am & pm). If your child is absent in the morning e.g. to attend a medical appointment or due to some exceptional circumstance, please send them in for the afternoon session, which begins at 1.00pm, so that they can have a mark for their attendance. If there is no valid reason given for the absence it will be unauthorised.

Breakfast Club and After School Club

Just a reminder that all Merton Infant and Junior school children can attend our Breakfast Club and After School Club. Breakfast Club is open from 8.00 - 8.45am each day and costs £2.70. ASC runs from 3.15 - 5.45pm and costs £7.50 for regular booked sessions and £9.50 for ad-hoc sessions. Forms are available from the school office.

Parking

Key Dates

4^th March - Parents’ Evening (3.30-6.00pm)

5^th March - World Book Day: Dress up as a book character

9^th March - Parents’ Evening (4.00-6.30pm)

25^th March - Easter assembly at St.Bede’s Catholic Church at 9.30am (parents welcome)

1^st April - Class Photos

3^rd April - Easter Egg Hunt & Raffle - details to follow

3^rd April - Break Up at 3.15pm

School re-opens at 8.45am on Monday 20^th April

27^th February 2020

Dear Parents/Carers

National advice for travellers from areas affected by the Coronavirus (COVID-19) has changed this week, and we understand that parents and carers may have questions about this. The school is following national guidance that has been issued for educational settings.

The latest accurate information on Coronavirus (COVID-19), including the current situation in the UK and details about the virus and its symptoms, can be found at www.nhs.uk/coronavirus. This is updated regularly and includes the most recent advice in relation to travel from certain parts of Italy - so we encourage you to visit the website for the latest information.

The UK’s Chief Medical Officer continues to advise that the risk to individuals in the UK remains low.

As a school, the most important action that we can take to protect against Coronavirus and other germs is to promote good hand and respiratory hygiene. We continue to encourage the children and staff to do the following and ask that you support this at home too. The advice is to:

wash hands often - with soap and water or using alcohol sanitiser if handwashing facilities are not available
cover coughs and sneezes with a tissue, then throw the tissue in a bin

We are following national advice and the school is operating as normal. Should the situation change or if we are given different advice, we will contact you.

If you believe you are at risk, then please contact NHS 111 for advice.

Yours sincerely

Larissa James

Headteacher

26^th February 2020

Dear Parents/Carers

As part of our ongoing commitment to ensuring that our children are kept healthy and safe, I thought I would share with you advice from Hampshire County Council regarding the Coronavirus outbreak. Please be assured that everything contained in it is a precautionary measure, rather than a response to any local concerns.

Updated information from HCC regarding the Coronavirus outbreak

There are a small number of confirmed cases of Coronavirus in the UK and understandably, there is some concern among local school communities.

However, there have been no confirmed cases in Hampshire.

The Government’s Chief Medical Officer continues to advise that the risk to the public is moderate, with risks to individuals remaining low.

The current advice is:

If you have travelled from Wuhan or Hubei Province to the UK in the last 14 days you should immediately:

Stay indoors and avoid contact with other people as you would with the flu, whether you have symptoms or not
Call NHS 111 to inform them of your recent travel to the area

If you have returned to the UK from any of the other specified areas, https://www.gov.uk/guidance/wuhan-novel-coronavirus-information-for-the-public in the last 14 days and develop symptoms of cough or fever or shortness of breath, you should immediately:

Stay indoors and avoid contact with other people as you would with the flu
Call NHS 111 to inform them of your recent travel to the country

If you believe you have had close contact with a confirmed case of Coronavirus, and you haven’t been contacted by Public Health England, you should contact NHS 111 for further advice.

Otherwise, if you have not been contacted by Public Health England in relation to a known case of Coronavirus, you do not need to take any action at this time. This means that everyone else should continue to go about their daily routine, e.g. going to work or school as they would normally.

We will continue to promote good hand hygiene among our staff and pupils, as well as ensuring they know to Catch it, Bin it, Kill it if they have a cough or cold.

We will provide further updates should the situation change

Newsletter 4: 7^th January 2020

Welcome back and best wishes for your health & happiness in 2020. Thank you for all your Christmas cards and kind gifts, they were much appreciated as it was a long term!

We have another busy term at school so please check your child’s book bag every day for any newsletters or visit our school website.

Year group Curriculum newsletters will also come out this week detailing the topic for this half term and suggesting ways you can support your child’s learning at home

Staffing

We welcome back Miss Cooper from Maternity Leave. She will be supporting Y1 & 2 groups including covering for teachers when they attend courses.

Mrs Jones, Y1 Barn Owls teacher, has started her 2^nd teacher training placement at Hook Junior School. We welcome Miss N who will cover Barn Owls for this half term. I will also cover her non-contact days.

Children starting School in September 2020

Will your child be celebrating their 4^th birthday between 1st September 2019 and 31^st August 2020? If so, you will be able to apply for a school place from 1^st November, preferably online at www.hants.gov.uk/admissions.

If you are unable to apply online, you will be able to collect a paper application form from the school.

The application deadline is Wednesday 15th January 2020.

Breakfast Club and After School Club

Parking

Key Dates

29^th Jan - Gymnastics competition at the Active Life Centre

7^th Feb - YR Nurse screening

12^th Feb - Open Box Theatre visit for Years 1 & 2

13^th Feb - Fire Service visit Y1

14^th Feb - Break Up at 3.15pm

24^th Feb - School re-opens at 8.45am

School Website update

The new school website went live on Tuesday 7^th January 2020. This new website is mobile friendly and information will be easier to access and see from now on. Later in the school year a photographer will be visiting the school to take photos of the children in their surroundings to populate the website with and, thus, make it more personal to us. We look forward to hearing what you think of the new site.

4th December 2019

Dear Parent / Carers,

Following our e-Safety and Clever Never Goes theme day on Monday, I am writing to inform you that several children explained that they play Call of Duty and Grand Theft Auto games at home.

Please can I remind you that these are not age appropriate and are actually rated for 18+ years old. It is a criminal offence to allow younger children to play such games. Schools have a duty of care to children and can report concerns to Children Services.

Children also report that they have their own Facebook and Instagram accounts. The official age to join these sites is 13 years old.

Please ensure that you use the necessary parental controls on your home devices to keep your child safe. There is advice on our school website about Internet safety or alternatively speak to a member of staff who can advise you of the dangers and safety solutions.

Thank you for your co-operation on this matter.

Yours sincerely,

Larissa James

Headteacher

Newsletter 3: 6th November 2019

Welcome back. We hope that you had a lovely half term holiday.

This is traditionally the busiest half term of the year with many festive activities taking place so please ensure you check and empty your child’s book bag daily and view the school website for newsletters or other important information.

Let’s Explore Theme Week

The ‘O’ in MERTON stands for ‘Opportunities’. This week we will explore a different subject each day and stimulate the children’s curiosity as they challenge themselves to open ended problems, learn new skills or try new experiences.

The school will visit the Winchester Science Centre and Planetarium on Wednesday 6^th November.

Curriculum Newsletters

Each year group will send out information this week about this half term’s topics including suggestions about how you can support your child’s learning at home.

Parents’ Evening

It was lovely to see you last half term and thank you for your positive comments regarding your child’s learning and progress. Attendance per class was:

Owlets - 96%

Snowy Owls - 100%

Tawny Owls - 86.21%

Barn Owls - 82.76%

Wise Owls - 96.55%

Eagle Owls - 85.19%

Overall whole school attendance 90.85%

If you were unable to meet the class teacher, please make another appointment via the school office.

Attendance

Overall attendance last half term was good – 96.5%, although Barn Owls & Eagle Owls were slightly below the Government expectation of 96%. Our persistent absence figure was 9.5% - above national average. Please remember to inform the office if your child is absent, otherwise it will be recorded as unauthorised. If a child incurs 5 days of unauthorised absence within 10 weeks parents may be issued with a penalty notice.

Breakfast Club & After School Club

Just a reminder that all YR, Y1 & Y2 children can attend our Breakfast Club and After School Club. Breakfast Club is open from 8.00 - 8.45am each day and costs £2.70. ASC runs from 3.15 - 5.45pm and costs £7.50 for regular booked sessions and £9.50 for ad-hoc sessions. Forms are available from the school office.

Parking

Key Dates

14^th Nov - Family Reading Evening @ 5.30 - 6.45pm

15^th Nov - Children in Need - wear something spotty

19^th Nov - Family Photo session @ 4.30 - 7.00pm

29^th Nov - INSET Day

6^thDec - Family Bingo @ 2.30 - 3.30pm

6^th Dec - Yr R Super Hero dress up day

9^th Dec - Panto visit

9^th Dec - Flu immunisations – all year groups

10^th Dec - School choir singing at Tesco

11^th Dec - Christingle Assembly at St.Bede’s Catholic Church @ 9.30am - all welcome

13^th Dec - FOMs Christmas Market @ 3.15 - 4.30pm

13^th Dec - Christmas Jumper Day

13^th Dec - Yr 2 Art Gallery @ 2.45pm

16^th Dec - Christmas lunch

17^th Dec - Dress Rehearsal for Christmas Play @ 2.00pm

18^th Dec - Christmas Play @ 9.30am

19^th Dec - Christmas Play @ 5.30pm

20^th Dec - Special visitor in school

20^th Dec - Break Up at 3.15pm

Details for above events to follow, where applicable

Newsletter 2: 10^th October 2019

Walktober

We sent home the Walktober challenge cards last week so we hope that you are rising to the challenge and walking as much as possible. It is based on the NHS’s “Five Steps to Wellbeing”. Evidence suggests that these are five steps we can all take to improve our mental wellbeing:

Connect– Have a fun day out, walking with family and friends, playing games together on your walk and collecting up treasures from nature to take home with you
Be active– Make activity part of your everyday – walk, cycle, scoot or Park and Stride to school or work, go for a lunchtime stroll, play ball in the park or walk a friend’s dog with them
Keep learning– Go for a walk somewhere you haven’t been before, perhaps around a park, garden or historical site
Be mindful– Think about your surroundings during your walk and be at one with nature
Give to others– Take a friend for a walk, volunteer at a local garden or do a sponsored walk for charity.

You could win

Connect: Vouchers for a family day out at the Hillier Gardens, near Romsey
Be Active: A climbing voucher for up to nine people at Calshot Activities Centre
Keep learning: A voucher for a family day out at the Winchester Science Centre
Treasure Trails vouchers (treasuretrails.co.uk) for runners up

Please search www.myjourneyhampshire.com/walktober for further information.

Parking

We are still receiving complaints from residents living on Romsey Close and Glastonbury Close about inconsiderate parking.

Please avoid driving up Romsey Close at all times. If it becomes congested with cars parking and turning, it makes it very difficult for emergency vehicles to access the school and therefore putting your child at risk. Please park at Abbey Road shops or Tintern Close and walk the short pathway to school. The school car park is for staff only and must not be used as a drop-off or pick-up point.

Harvest Festival

We are still collecting food items for the Food bank. Please make sure that they are in date!

We are planning our Harvest Festival at St.Bede’s Catholic Church on Friday 18^th October at 9.30am. All are welcome to join us.

Admissions

Starting school in September 2020

Will your child be celebrating their 4^th birthday between 1^st September 2019 and 31^st August 2020? If so, you will be able to apply for a school place from 1^st November 2019, preferably online, at www.hants.gov.uk/admissions. If you are unable to apply online you will be able to collect a paper application form from the school. The application deadline is Wednesday 15^th January 2020.

We have several parent viewings planned. Please check our website for the dates available and contact the school office to make an appointment.

Key Dates

11^th Oct - School closed: INSET Day

15^th Oct - Parents Evening @ 3.30 - 6.00pm

17^th Oct - Italian themed day (wear red/white/green)

18^th Oct - Harvest Festival at St. Bedes @ 9.30am

21st Oct - Parents Evening @ 4.00 - 6.30pm

23^rd Oct - FOM Halloween Disco 3.30 - 4.30pm

24^th Oct - Yr 1 parents in to view end of topic work 2.30pm (details to follow)

25^th Oct - Non-uniform day in exchange for £1.00 donation

25^th October - Year R Art Gallery @ 2.45pm

25^th Oct - Break Up

4^th Nov - School starts @ 8.45am

6^th Nov - Whole school trip to Winchester Science Centre and Planetarium

Monday 7th October 2019

Dear Parents/Carers,

As part of our celebrating languages project we will be holding an Italian themed day on Thursday 17th October 2019. On this day we invite the children to wear a coloured T-Shirt that represents the Italian flag (green, white and red). They are welcome to wear their normal school white polo shirt.

During the day the children will take part in a range of creative activities to learn about the Italian culture which will include making pizza with Mrs Alfano, one of our parent volunteers. At the end of the day the children will meet for an assembly to sing an Italian song they will have learnt during the day.

To make this day as authentic as possible we have arranged for our school dinners to be Italian themed. Red dinner will be Pasta Bolognaise and green dinner will be Margherita Pizza, these dishes will be substituted with an alternative for the days they would usually be served on the menu.

We hope that the children enjoy our special themed day and learn lots about the Italian culture.

Yours sincerely

Larissa James Sophie Durbajlo Miss Fellhauer

Headteacher Inclusion Manager Year R Teacher

Newsletter 1: 9^th September 2019

Welcome back to our existing parents and a very warm welcome to our new YR children and families. We hope that you had a lovely summer holiday.

The children look very smart in their school uniforms and have settled into their classes very well.

We have a very busy term ahead so please ensure you check and empty your child’s book bag daily or view the school website for newsletters or other important information.

Staffing

Miss Whitney, Y1 teacher, got married during the summer holiday and is now known as Mrs Hill. Congratulations to the newly weds!

Mrs Wisken, Deputy Headteacher, and Miss Cooper, class teacher, are continuing their maternity leave this term. All are doing well and settling into new routines.

Curriculum Newsletters

Each year group will send out information this week about this half term’s topics including suggestions about how you can support your child’s learning at home.

Belongings

Please ensure you label all school uniform including hats, gloves, coats, shoes, PE kits, lunch boxes and water bottles. We are always amazed at the amount of lost property we donate to charity shops so please check the Lost Property box in the office porch regularly. Children often have the same items and become anxious when they lose something

School’s 50^th Birthday

Merton Infant and Junior Schools opened their doors for the first time in September 1969.

We are hosting many celebratory occasions including a Dress-Up Day (anything from the last 50 years) on Friday 13^th September for £1.00 donation and a Fun Day on Saturday 28^th September at 12.00 - 2.30pm.

Please pass the word on to your friends, neighbours and families as we celebrate within our fantastic community.

Parking

Please avoid driving on Romsey Close at all times. If it becomes congested with cars parking and turning it makes it very difficult for emergency vehicles to access the school and therefore putting your child at risk. Please park at Abbey Road shops or Tintern Close and walk the short pathway to school. Police Community Patrol Officers will monitor parking on Romsey Close. The school car park is for staff only and must not be used as a drop-off or pick-up point.

Key Dates

9^th Sept – Y2 Swimming starts

11^th Sept – YR Full time

13^th Sept – Dress-Up Day

16^th Sept – Y1 Welcome Meeting @ 2.45pm

18^th Sept – Y2 Welcome Meeting @ 2.45pm

24^th Sept – Y2 trip to the Titanic Museum

28^th Sept – School’s 50^th Birthday Fun Day @ 12.00-2.30pm

3^rd Oct – Y1 Trip to Beaulieu Transport Museum

8^th October – Individual school photos

11^th Oct –School closed: INSET

15^th Oct – Parents Evening @ 3.30- 6.00pm

21st Oct – Parents Evening @ 4.00-6.30pm

25^th Oct – Year R Art Gallery

25^th Oct – Break Up

School Year September 2018 - July 2019

Newsletter 6: 26th April 2019

Welcome back

We trust you had a lovely Easter with some fantastic weather.

Sadly, some youths attempted to break into our school during broad daylight during the holidays!

Please contact the Police if you notice anything suspicious after school hours or the weekends.

Staffing

Mrs Wisken will start her maternity leave on Monday 13th May. We are currently recruiting her cover for the remainder of the year.

I will continue to cover Hawk Owls Monday to Thursdays with Mrs Durbajlo covering on Fridays.

Curriculum Newsletters

Each year group will send out information this week about this half term’s topics including suggestions about how you can support their learning at home.

Attendance

I am pleased that school attendance was 96% again for last half term and therefore continuing to meet our school expectation. I hope that it will continue to rise especially with the warmer weather coming.

There were 59 children who had 100% attendance for last term. They will attend the party with SAM Bear in the hall on Friday, 3 May – well done to all of them.

After School Club

We welcome two new supervisors, Mrs Haddington and Mrs Bond, to manage our After School Club.

The club runs from 3.15 - 5.45pm and costs £7.00 per session for regular booked sessions (£9.00 ad hoc sessions).

EMTAS Coffee/Tea Afternoon

Come along and meet parents/carers and professionals who work alongside your children and discover ways to help your child with their learning.

Monday 29^th April @ 2.00pm.

Key Dates

29.4.19 - EMTAS Coffee/Tea afternoon at 2.00pm

6.5.19 - Bank Holiday School closed.

8.5.19 - Y1 trip to Beaulieu Motor Museum

23.5.19 - 1.00pm Y2 Space buggy parent workshop

24.5.19 - Non-uniform day for £1.00 Break Up for half term at 3.15pm.

Newsletter 5: Tuesday 26th February 2019

Local Authority Visit

We had our annual visit from the Leading Learning Partner on Thursday 7th February. He was very complimentary about the school. Some of the strengths include:

Standards of education are higher than National figures.
Warm relationships are established between staff and children
Learning objectives meet the needs of the children
Work is clearly differentiated with stimulating resources
Topics are engaging and led by non-core subjects e.g. History, Geography, Science
Strong monitoring of learning by all Curriculum Managers
Strong evidence of the MERTON values in books, what children say and what actions staff take
Children demonstrated excellent behaviour and good work ethic

Well done everybody!

Curriculum Newsletters

Each year group will send out information this week about this half term’s topics including suggestions about how you can support their learning at home.

Attendance

Vacancy

We have a vacancy for an After-School Club Supervisor. The hours are 3.00 - 5.45pm every day, term time only. Salary details are available on request. Candidates will need a DBS check and hold an appropriate childcare qualification I e: NVQ. Please see the office for further details and an application form.

Staffing

I am delighted to announce that Miss Whitney has become engaged! Congratulations to the happy couple.

Key Dates

1st March - YR trip to Wellington Country Park

6th March - Parents Evening 3.30 -6.00pm

7th March - World Book Day - dress up as your favourite book character

12th March - Parents Evening 4.00 -6.30pm

25th March - Y2 trip to The Titanic Museum

3rd April - Y1 iMovie cinema to parents

5th April - Easter Assembly at St. Bede’s Church at 9.30am

5th April - Break up at 3.15pm

School re-opens on Tuesday 23rd April at 8.45am

Dear Parents / Carers,

9th January 2019 - Newsletter 4

Welcome back and best wishes for your health & happiness in 2019. Thank you for all your Christmas cards and kind gifts. They were much appreciated as it was a long term!

We have another busy term at school so please check your child’s book bag every day for any newsletters or visit our school website. Year group Curriculum newsletters will also come out this week detailing the topic for this half term and suggesting ways you can support your child’s learning at home.

Children starting School in September 2019

Will your child be celebrating their 4th birthday between 1st September 2018 and 31st August 2019? If so, you will have been able to apply for a school place from 1st November, preferably online at www.hants.gov.uk/admissions. If you are unable to apply online you will be able to collect a paper application form from the school. The application closing date is at midnight on Tuesday 15th January 2019.

Y3 Applications

Please note that all Y2 parents will need to apply for a Y3 place at junior school in September 2019. If you have not yet done so you have until midnight on Tuesday, 15th January to apply. If you do not apply by the closing date there is no gurarantee that your child will be allocated a place in your preferred school. Please apply preferably online at www.hants.gov.uk/admissions. Otherwise paper forms are available from the school office. For parents wishing to apply for a Y3 place at a primary school rather than a junior school this will need to be done on an In-Year application form.

Staffing

Mrs Darby Y1 Tawny Owls LSA, will be having an operation on Monday 21st January and therefore will be recuperating for at least 2 weeks. Mrs Bartholomew will be covering in her absence. We will be welcoming Mrs Martin this Friday and she will cover Mrs Wisken on Fridays from now on. Miss Cooper will cover me on Fridays in Y2 Hawk Owls class until she starts her maternity leave then Mrs Durbajlo will cover. Miss Cooper will also continue to teach Y1 and 2 groups, including covering teachers when they attend professional development courses.

Attendance

Our attendance continues to be good overall and was 96% in the Autumn term. There were also 57 children who had 100% attendance for the whole of last term. To celebrate, they will be attending SAM Bear’s party in the school hall this Friday, 11th January at 2.45p.m. Well done to all of them!

There are however some children who continue to have absences without any reason being given. Please remember to contact the school by 9.30a.m. on the first day of absence. You must also fill in a leave of absence request form if your child is going to be absent for any reason other than illness or medical appointments. We require copies of any letters confirming medical appointments. If no valid reason is given for absence it will be recorded as unauthorised and you could be issued with a penalty notice if your child incurs 10 or more sessions of unauthorised absence within a 10 school week period. This entails a fine of £60 per parent per child.

Clubs

Karate and Football after school clubs will start during the week commencing 14th January. Letters have already gone out to all Y1 and Y2 children regarding after school Football club. All other clubs will commence in a couple of weeks when staff have sorted out the new groups of children and these will run up to the Easter holidays – details to follow shortly.

Key Dates

9th January Local Authority Maths Advisor monitoring visit

25th January Governor Monitoring Day

1st February Open Box Theatre Visit to Y1

7th February Local Authority Lead Learning Partner monitoring visit

15th February Break up at 3.15pm

E-Safety & NSPCC PANTS Day

Yours sincerely,

Larissa James

Headteacher

Dear Parents / Carers,

12th December 2018 - Newsletter 3

Christmas events are now in full swing! The children have been working very hard rehearsing their lines, actions and songs. We look forward to seeing parents at the remaining performance this week.

Staffing

I am delighted to announce that Mrs Wisken is expecting a baby in June. The Governors and I are working on plans for her maternity cover.

We are hoping that Miss Cooper will return to work on Tuesday 18th December. However, I will continue to teach Hawk Owls class for the remainder of the year as she is also expecting a baby in May. As I have been covering the class for this term I believe this will ensure consistency for the children.

I am sure you will join me in congratulating both staff.

Children starting School in September 2019

Will your child be celebrating their 4th birthday between 1st September 2018 and 31st August 2019? If so, you will have been able to apply for a school place from 1st November, preferably online at www.hants.gov.uk/admissions. If you are unable to apply online you will be able to collect a paper application form from the school. The application deadline is Tuesday 15th January 2019. Please pass this information to any families in the local community with 4-year-old children.

Safeguarding

In the new year, we will be introducing the new ‘Clever Never Goes’ scheme to replace the ‘Stranger Danger’ programme. The new scheme is a fun, engaging and positive way of teaching the children to be cautious about specific situations, rather than to fear the worst of everyone they don’t know. It will help the children to keep themselves safe and make good choices/decisions. It has been fully endorsed by Hampshire’s Safeguarding Children Board and Hampshire Constabulary including the Home Office. There are free home packs for parents and carers at www.clevernevergoes.ord

Vacancies

We are currently looking for an additional Breakfast Club assistant and Lunchtime supervisor. If you are interested in either or both roles please see the office for more information.

Dropping off in the morning

We have received some complaints from parents about not being able to drop their children into class in the mornings due to other parents blocking door ways whilst talking to the teachers.

Please can we request that if you need to speak to the teachers briefly, you wait until all the children are in, or if it requires a longer conversation please arrange to speak to the teacher at the end of the day.

Mathletics

As you know the school subscribes to the Mathletics online software package for which all children have a username and password. To date half the school have yet to sign in to the software and use it. This online way of learning maths is fun and does form part of our Maths homework policy, so please sit with your child and take a look at it.

Key Dates

th December - 5.30pm Christmas Play. Children to return to school at 5.00pm.

17th December - Christmas lunch and Christmas jumper day

19th December - 10.00am Choir singing at Tesco’s in Chineham

21st December - Special visitor in school - break up at 3.15pm

7th January - School re-opens at 8.45am

Yours sincerely,

Larissa James

Headteacher

Dear Parents / Carers,

30th October 2018 - Newsletter 2

Welcome back. Traditionally, this is the busiest half term as we prepare for Christmas, so please ensure you check your child’s book bag daily and the school website for up-to-date information.

We are always looking for volunteers e.g. to make costumes, props, hear readers etc. Please see your child’s class teacher if you can spare any time.

You will receive a copy of year group curriculum newsletters detailing the topic for this half term and suggesting ways you can support your child’s learning at home.

History Theme Week

this week will explore the 100th anniversary of the end of the First World War in November 1918. Children will learn about the historical events through stories, dance, music, art, photographs and a visiting Storytelling workshop on Wednesday 31st October and Open Box theatre visit on Tuesday 13th November. Please talk about this historical occasion with your children and encourage them to wear poppies with pride and remembrance. The School Council will be selling poppies to each class each day for a minimum of 50p. If any families have any interesting stories or medals of great-grandparents who served in the First World War, please share them with your class teacher.

Attendance

I am so pleased that school attendance for last half term was 97.5%. Last half term was the best ever attendance with all classes meeting the school’s expectation in the final week. Please ensure this continues especially with the colder weather approaching. The more your child attends school the better progress they will make.

Please note that if your child has a medical appointment in the morning we would expect them to be back in school for the afternoon session starting at 1.00pm, unless medical staff advise otherwise, or if the appointment runs into the afternoon. Likewise, if your child has an appointment in the afternoon we would expect them to be in school in the morning, unless there are exceptional circumstances. Otherwise the absence will be recorded as unauthorised. If your child has 10 or more sessions of unauthorised absence within a 10 school week period they could incur a penalty notice. The office staff need to see evidence of any medical appointments.

Children starting School in September 2019

Will your child be celebrating their 4th birthday between 1st September 2018 and 31st August 2019? If so, you will be able to apply for a school place from 1st November, preferably online at www.hants.gov.uk/admissions. If you are unable to apply online you will be able to collect a paper application form from the school. The application deadline is Tuesday 15th January 2019. There are parent viewings of the school on Thursday 1st November at 9.15am and Friday 2nd November at 1.30pm. If you wish to book on to one of these viewings please contact the office. Please pass this information to any families in the local community with 4-year-old children.

Y1 Outside Area

Work will start on renovating the grounds outside the Y1 classes this week. Artificial grass is being laid and new play equipment will be installed. Barn Owls class will need to enter and exit via the Speckled Owls classroom door, which is just before the usual gate, until further notice. Tawny Owls should enter and exit via the main Year 1 entrance. Tawny Owls should enter and exit via the main Y1 entrance.

Safeguarding

On the last day of half term we planned a day exploring e-Safety and the NSPCC PANTS rule.

Parents can access nspcc.org.uk/pants for downloadable guides to support discussions at home about how children can keep themselves safe from sexual abuse. There are also parent guides about keeping children safe on social networks, apps and games via nspcc.org.uk/shareaware. We will be revisiting key messages each term in school.

Parent Coffee/Tea Morning

We are hosting our first parent coffee/tea morning of this year on Wednesday 14th November from 8.45am until 11.00am. This is a ‘drop in’ style session which provides an ideal opportunity for parents to come and have coffee/tea and biscuits and discuss any concerns or ask questions regarding their child’s sleep patterns with Mrs Durbajlo, School Inclusion Manager and Michelle from the School Nursing Team. In order to ensure that we have enough refreshments available please either inform the school office, complete the reply slip on the invitiation letter which will be in the letter stand in reception or available to download from the website or add a comment underneath the invitation on Facebook if you think you will be attending. We look forward to seeing you.

Key Dates

31st October - Bags4Schools

31st October - Halloween Disco: 3.30pm - 4.30pm

1st November - September 2019 YR parent viewings – 9.15am

2nd November - September 2019 YR parent viewings – 1.30pm

12th November - Non-uniform for hamper gifts

14th November - Tea/coffee morning with Mrs Durbajlo & School Nurse – 8.45am to 11.00am

20th November - Contemporary Family Photo Session: 4.30pm - 7.00pm

23rd November - Non-uniform for bottles

26th November - School Closed INSET: Pupil Progress

29th November - Non-uniform for chocolate

29th November - 3.30pm - 5.00pm Christmas Fayre

6th December - 3.30pm - 5.00pm Merton Cinema

7th December - 9.30am Christingle Assembly in St.Bede’s Church. All parents welcome.

2.45pm Y2 Art Gallery to parents

10th December - 9.45am Christmas Pantomime in School

11th December - 2.00pm Christmas Play Dress Rehearsal for Grandparents and young siblings

12th December - 9.30am Christmas Play

13th December - 5.30pm Christmas Play

17th December - Christmas lunch and Christmas jumper day

19th December - 10.00am Choir singing at Tesco’s in Chineham

21st December - Visit from Father Christmas

Break up at 3.15pm

Yours sincerely,

Larissa James

Headteacher

Dear Parents / Carers,

7th September 2018 - Newsletter 1

Welcome back to our existing parents and a very warm welcome to our new YR children and families. We hope that you had a lovely summer holiday. The children look very smart in their school uniforms and have settled very well into their classes.

From Monday please can all YR parents leave their children at the door rather than coming into the corridor. Seeing lots of adults crying can make the children more anxious. Trust us!!

We have a very busy term ahead so please ensure you check and empty your child’s book bag daily and view the school website for newsletters or other important information. You should have received a year group curriculum newsletter this week which will outline the topic and main learning objectives for this half term including ways you can support your child at home.

Staffing

Miss Fellhauer, our YR Snowy Owls class teacher, is expecting a baby in December. The Governing Body is trying to recruit a teacher for maternity cover for the Spring and Summer terms. Please keep the school informed if your child or sibling have chicken pox or other illnesses.

Homework Booklets

have produced new homework booklets for Y1 and Y2 which include a weekly literacy and maths task. They will complement work being taught during that week. Homework will be explained to the children on a Friday to be completed and handed in on the following dnesday. The booklet will consist of homework for the half term. If any booklets are lost, we will ask for a donation of £3 for a replacement. are also planning a Homework Club from next week. Details will follow.

After-School Club

Please can I remind parents that we have an After-School Club each day from 3.15 – 5.45pm. It is £7.00 per child, per session for regular customers or £9.00 for ad-hoc sessions and must be booked and paid for in advance. It is for infant , Y3 and Y4 junior children. It is managed by two qualified members of staff, Miss Thane and Mrs Brown. Please see the office for further details.

Clubs

Karate and football club begin next week for Y1 and Y2. We are planning to start other after school clubs the following week. Teachers will be asking children about any clubs they are interested in.

Parking

Please avoid driving up Romsey Close at all times. If it becomes congested with cars parking and turning it makes it very difficult for emergency vehicles to access the school and therefore putting your child at risk. Please park at Abbey Road shops or Tintern Close and walk the short pathway to school. Police Community Patrol Officers will monitor parking on Romsey Close. The school car park is for staff only and must not be used as a drop-off or pick-up point.

Belongings

Please ensure you label all school uniform including hats, gloves, coats, shoes, PE kits, lunch boxes and water bottles. We are always amazed at the amount of lost property we donate to charity shops so please check the Lost Property box in the office porch regularly. Children often have the same items and become anxious when they lose something.

Money

Absence and Sickness

If your child is going to be absent from school please call the office before 9.30am on 01256 324507. You can leave a message with the reason for absence. If no reason is given the absence will be recorded as unauthorised, which could incur a penalty notice. If your child has vomiting or diarrhoea they must be clear for 48 hours before returning to school.

If your child is going to be late in the morning, please call the office to let us know their choice of lunch as school dinners have to be ordered by 9.30a.m. .

Please try to arrange any medical appointments outside of school hours wherever possible. If your child has an appointment during the school day we would like to remind you that we need to see evidence of any appointments.

Y2 Swimming

Sessions begin next week. Please ensure that your child has a towel, swimsuit and swim hat in order to participate. Eagle Owls class will have their swimming sessions on Mondays and Wise and Hawk Owls swimming sessions will be on Wednesdays.

INSET days

Please note our planned staff training days for this academic year and focus for each day:

26th November - Pupil Progress

21st June – Data Analysis

22nd July – Transition

23rd July - SEN

Key Dates

11th September – 2.45 – 3.15pm Y1 Parents Welcome meeting

13th September – 2.45 – 3.15pm Y2 Parents Welcome meeting

24th September – Individual Photos

27th September - Sponsored ‘work-out’ event

2nd October – 3.30 – 5.30pm Merton Cinema

4th October – Y1 trip to Marwell Zoo

9th October – 3.30 – 5.30pm Parents’ Evening

11th October – Flu vaccine for all children

12th October – 2.15pm Y2 Wizard Convention to parents

16th October – 4.00 – 6.00pm Parents’ Evening

19th October – e-Safety Theme Day & PANTS Rule

Break up for half term at 3.15pm

Please note we would prefer that no children/siblings attend any Parents Evenings in order that you may fully hear the information given.

Yours sincerely,

Larissa James

Headteacher

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