Welcome back to the new school year. I hope you all had a great summer and managed to find some sun! The children have settled back into school very well and clearly benefited from the super transition programme that the teachers prepared.

STAFF NEWS

We are delighted to welcome Miss Vicki Skinner to our team.
Mrs Tracey Difrancescomarino has joined us to take on the role that Mrs Scholes undertook following her departure at the end of the summer term.

We also welcome Mrs Michele Ryan and Mrs Julie New as Learning Support Assistants to Blue Unit.

I’m sure you will join me in wishing them all a happy time with us.

I also have some news of my own. Over the past 18 months I have been working towards achieving the National Professional Qualification for Headship (NPQH) and I am delighted, and relieved, to let you know that I have met all of the standards and have PASSED!

ENRICHING OUR CURRICULUM

We are very proud of our curriculum that we strive to enrich for the children through inviting a variety of visitors and theatre groups. This can be rather expensive and unfortunately our school budget doesn’t stretch far enough to pay for all of these events. Over the past few years we have asked parents to pay a contribution of £10 per year to enable us to continue to provide an exciting curriculum full of first hand experiences.

To give you an idea of the cost:

Cuddle-Me-Do Farm: £200

The Puppeteers: £440
Please help us to continue.

SHADE

At long last the promised canopy has been installed in the playground outside Red Unit. The children have already enjoyed a shady place at playtimes and I’m sure that many of you will be able to shelter there when the rain returns!

Many thanks to the Friends of Maidenbower Infant School for all their hard work in raising the funding for it.

THE FRIENDS ARE ALWAYS LOOKING FOR EXTRA HELP WITH PLANNING AND MANNING THEIR VARIOUS EVENTS. IF YOU CAN SPARE SOME TIME PLEASE CONTACT ELIZABETH WHYMAN (CHARLOTTE’S MUMMY)

MANY THANKS

THANKYOU FOR SUPPORTING OUR FUND RAISING FOR CHARITY.
WE RAISED £477 FOR COMIC RELIEF AND £129 FOR PHAB KIDS

Holidays in Term time

I’d like to remind you of our Governors’ Attendance Policy

If a parent wishes to keep their child away from school for any reason other than medical or religious observance they must apply to the Headteacher in writing. It is then for the Headteacher to authorise the absence or not as she sees fit. The locality of schools has a common policy on holidays taken during the school term.

The Department for Education and Skills guidance, along with that of West Sussex’s Education Welfare Service is that:

Parents should not expect, or be led to expect, that as of right schools will agree to family holidays during term time. Each application will need to be considered on its merits and normally approval will only be given in respect of one application per academic year.

Explanations such as shopping trips, days off for birthdays, visiting relatives, taking long weekends or midweek breaks will not normally be acceptable reasons for absence.

• No holiday absences will be authorised during the first two weeks of the beginning of the school year. It is most important for children to attend school at this time so that they have the same opportunity to settle into their new classes.
• A maximum of one family holiday request per academic year will be authorised irrespective of the length of duration and to a maximum of ten school days in total.
• We strongly discourage holidays for Year 2 children during the first half of the summer term. Essential preparations for End of Key Stage Assessments are planned for this time. Children who miss these learning opportunities will be disadvantaged and therefore any holiday requests will be unauthorised.

There are sometimes very good and compelling reasons why parents need to take their annual holidays during term time (and where there are such reasons these requests are usually approved).
Clearly no policy can cover all unforeseen events or the complexities of family life or individual circumstances and we will always treat each case individually.

Unauthorised absences (i.e. absences for which there are no reasons given by parents or inadequate reasons) will be noted on the annual report to parents and required statistics will be forwarded to the LEA and DFES.

If absence is prolonged or frequent and either no reason or inadequate reasons are given the EWO will be contacted in order to pursue the matter.

YEAR GROUP CURRICULUM TALKS -for Year1 and Year 2

This term we hold meetings to inform you of your children’s curriculum for the coming year and to answer any questions you may have regarding their new year group. I will give you an overview of the National Curriculum requirements and then guide you through the way we deliver the curriculum. Teachers will then talk with you more specifically about expectations in your child’s year group.

I do hope you can join us.

Year 1 Curriculum talk - Wednesday 10th October at 2p.m. in the Studio

Year 2 Curriculum talk - Thursday 11th October at 2p.m. in the Studio

PARENTS CONSULTATION EVENINGS FOR YEAR 1 AND YEAR 2

Thursday 17th AND 18th October

Following some staff discussions we have decided to have our informal evening in the Summer Term and to hold consultation evenings this term so that you can discuss how your child has settled into their new year group and how to support their learning.
Lists for signing up for an appointment will go up in the cloakrooms on Monday 1st October.

Mrs Kirkham will let Reception parents know of the arrangements for their children’s consultation.

MAD HAIR DAY: FRIDAY 23RD NOVEMBER

Details nearer the time!

DROP-IN COFFEE MORNINGS

These mornings have been very well received and have provided the ideal opportunity to get to know one another and to chat informally about school issues.

You are most welcome to join me in the staffroom at 9.00a.m. on the following dates:

Thursday 27th September

Thursday 11th October

Thursday 15th November

REMINDERS

* Please ensure that we have the correct contact details for you.
New mobile? New landline number? New address? New work number?

* PLEASE make sure that your children’s uniforms are named!!

* Please remind your children not to ride their scooters in the playground.

* Lots of children are using the activity trail before and after school. Should an accident happen we are not insured before or after school and therefore I must remind you that the children’s safety at these times is your responsibility.

* Remember every Friday is Car Free Friday! We’re looking for an individual champ!

* Please ensure that teachers have written confirmation of any after school care clubs with days of attendance.

AM Collins

AUTUMN TERM CALENDAR OF EVENTS

September
Thurs 27th 9.00am Drop-in coffee morning
October
Mon 1st International Walk to School Week Wed 3rd Road Safety talk Thurs 4th Individual photos Wed 10th Friends AGM Thurs 11th Drop-In Wed 17th Late consultation Thurs 18th Early consultation Fri 19th INSET day
November
Thurs 15th Drop-in coffee morning Fri 23rd Mad Hair Day
December
Sat 1st Christmas Fair Wed 12th Christmas performance dress rehearsal Thurs 13th Christmas performances a.m. and p.m. Fri 14th Christmas performance a.m. Tues 18th Party Day Fri 21st End of term

Half term is from Monday 22nd October to Friday 26th October.

There will be an In-Service Training Day for staff on Friday 19th October when the school will be closed for the children.