Dear Parents/Carers,

Welcome back to the start of our new school year, I hope you all had a good Summer break.

This year we have been joined by not only new pupils but also new staff. We are pleased to have Mr Norman Booth who will be providing us with part time teacher cover during the week, Mrs Angela Smith will be leading play activities during the lunchtime break and Mrs Fatima Jogee will also be joining our lunchtime supervisor team.

Listed below are dates and times for events that will be happening in school during the Autumn term:

Holiday dates for this year are to follow but I ask you to remember that you need to arrange an appointment with myself to discuss any pupil absence during term time for further family holidays. We have an excellent record of school attendance and wish this to be maintained for the sake of the children.

May I take this opportunity to thank those of you who support us in looking after your child’s property by naming their clothes and other belongings. Please remember that we also have a requirement for any medication and inhalers etc to also be named and that our medication policy requires parents to complete a health care plan for children needing any medical support in school. However when at all possible please ask doctors to prescribe medication for your child that can be taken during the children’s time at home as staff cannot be expected give children medicines in school. May I also draw to your attention that it is not the school’s responsibility to check pupils for headlice and that we ask parents/carers to support each other in being vigilant, however we are able to offer advice and support from the school nursing services if especially  changes in mobile phone numbers.

We have planned an exciting curriculum for the children to study this year and many events and trips will go ahead over the year. Teachers will be sending home curriculum information termly to help you in supporting your child at home. New guidance has been issued by the government who has at last realised that the amount of health and safety paperwork expected of schools isn’t always necessary and often a nuisance for parents. Hopefully we can soon issue a permission slip for parents to sign that will cover all trips in the nearby locality and possibly beyond during the time your child attends our school, saving yourselves the trouble of repeating information you already give us. The Governing body health and safety committee will be investigating how the proposed changes will become school policy in future.

 Finally, I look forward to working together with you all this year and hope you will remember that we have an open door policy and any concerns that you might have at any time about your child’s welfare, education and happiness at our school are also our concerns so please feel free to contact us whenever you feel the need,

Yours Sincerely,

Mrs L J Gallagher

(Headteacher)