Newsletter No 4 / 5th February 2010

School Term & Holiday Dates for 2010 - 2011
All families should have received a colour-printed A4 sheet with the school term and holiday dates for the next school year via pupils’ book bags, earlier this week.

Family Holidays during term time
It is an appropriate time to clarify the situation regarding holidays in term time.
Families are reminded that holidays should be avoided during term time and we thank the majority of families who arrange their holidays accordingly. The Education Social Work Service have provided a document entitled ‘Taking Holidays during School Terms’ which clarifies the situation regarding the law and school attendance. A reference copy of this documentation is available to parents in the school office. The document points out that if a child is absent from school for two weeks every year, the child will miss more than six months education during the time they are of statutory school age. There is clear evidence that pupils who have significant periods of absence progress less well than their peers. In essence the law says:-
• That parents/carers do not have a right to take a child out of school for holiday leave during term time.
• Schools have discretionary powers in exceptional circumstances, to grant up to 10 days holidays during term time.
Where holidays during term time are unavoidable, a Holiday Report Form should be obtained from, and returned to, the school office with details of the reason(s) for the exceptional circumstance, so that the Headteacher can carefully consider the application. Absence statistics are monitored by our Local Authority Education Officers and by OFSTED. Indeed, absence figures are one of the key factors that are considered by OFSTED when making their inspection judgments (i.e. a school cannot be judged ‘good’ overall if their absence data is not categorised as ‘good’.)

Mid-Year Summary Reports and Pupil Work Viewing Evening for Parents
Following our well-received introduction of Mid-Year Summary Reports and a mid-year Pupil Work Viewing Evening last year, we now intend to make these annual events. This year Mid-Year Summary Reports for each pupil, including the Foundation Stage, will be issued on Friday 5th March. These identify pupil progress towards key objectives in Literacy, Maths and Science.

The Pupil Work Viewing Evening for Parents will take place from 3.30 to 6pm on Monday 15th March. During this time parents are invited to view the work their child/ren have carried out during this school year. Pupils are welcome to accompany their parents and look through their own work together – pupils are often proud to do this! Although there will be no formal appointment system, teachers will be available in their classrooms for parents to consult with, briefly. In addition, during the evening, tea and coffee will be available in the Hall, served by some of our School Governors. This provides an opportunity for parents to meet and chat with governors on an informal basis.


UNICEF Day for Change
Thank you to everyone who brought in loose change today for this annual fundraising event. We shall let you know how much money was collected for this cause in next week’s newsletter.

Haiti Appeal
Thank you to everyone who made cakes and bought cakes today for the Haiti Appeal. We shall let you know in next week’s newsletter how much money we raised for this appeal. Thank you also to everyone who bought a china doll (kindly donated by Mrs Hopkins’ daughter, Clare). The sale of dolls raised £60 to help the people of Haiti.

National Storytelling Week
To link with National Storytelling Week, this week, we have been reading additional stories in each class. We have posted some information about National Storytelling Week onto the Learning Platform. If you are unable to access the Learning Platform, please let Mrs Hopkins know. Storytelling, of course, is not confined only to a specific week; it forms an integral part of our Literacy Curriculum and on Tuesday next week we will be working with educational staff from the Creation Theatre Company dramatising well-known myths and legends.

Watlington Partnership Spring 2010 Information Sheet
A copy of this valuable information sheet was sent home earlier this week to each family via book bags. Details are provided of our after school clubs, as well as information about local childcare, community clubs and activities, and events for children and their families this term.

Little Bears News
The Little Bears have had another busy week. We have made binoculars and bird feeders to support our bird watching week. We went into the Foundation Stage class with Miss Mould again on Thursday for a singing session using the interactive whiteboard. We went last Thursday too, and the children really enjoyed this and we hope to be able to do this every week. We say a sad goodbye and a huge thank you to Lisa Scragg for all the support she has given during the many years she has been associated with Stadhampton Pre-School and Little Bears.

DIARY DATES:
Sunday 7th February Christingle Service at St John the Baptist Church, Stadhampton at 4.00pm
Tuesday 9th February Drama Workshop for Class 1 pupils 3.15-4.15pm with Creation Theatre Company with parent participation
Friday 12th February “Jian-zi” competition
Break up for February Holiday at 3.15pm
Monday 22nd February Return to school after the February Holiday
Swimming sessions begin for Class 3 pupils (6 sessions in total)
Tuesday 23rd February First “Little Cooks” session for participating pupils
Wednesday 24th February Year 5 pupils visit ICC for an English lesson
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