16th June 2023
Dear Parents and Carers,
Despite the hot weather the children have enjoyed all their learning this week. A number of children have made progress in their engagement; one in an art activity and another when building with playdough. In literacy, one child read a red coloured reading book and others did some terrific writing. It is wonderful to see the increase in writing stamina, complexity of sentence and improved letter formation in the work of some of our oldest pupils. In Maths, a pupil has been doing great work looking at full and empty, less and more, etc. I have also really enjoyed seeing the progress of a number of pupils in their social skill development and independence. Several children played so nicely together, sharing and turn taking. One child has been interacting well with other people and has been successfully transitioning between activities. Another has been able to explore other people’s feelings. Another gave a warm welcome to their class partner governor. One child performed The Very Hungry Caterpillar to their class from memory this week too. As the children immerse themselves in musical theatre, school is filled with the sounds of many familiar musical songs and I am looking forward to the children’s performances later in the term. They have also enjoyed their community experiences this week with a number of classes attending Mencap Funday and our Year 6 pupils joining many other Year 6s at Chessington World of Adventures for the annual celebration of the end of primary school. We have a number of daredevils who love the thrill of the fast rides! I am not sure all the staff felt quite the same way but braved them nonetheless and it was joyful to hear the children talk with such excitement and enthusiasm!
Beach Safety
Following the deaths of two children at Bournemouth beach last week and three teenagers that needed to be rescued by the RNLI on Saturday off Littlehampton East Beach, it is crucial for all of us to be aware of how to keep safe when enjoying the water.
The RNLI’s Float to Live campaign aims to help inform all of us, young and old alike, of what to do should they find themselves in trouble.
When taking a trip to the beach, the advice is;
- Chose a lifeguarded beach
- Know the risks and what to do from rip currents to tides and cold water shock to waves
- When you go to the beach, always carry a means of calling for help. If you are going in the water, carry your mobile phone in a waterproof pouch.
- In a coastal emergency, call 999 or 112 and ask for the coastguard
- Know your flags; if you visit a lifeguarded beach, there will be flags on the beach to show you where it’s safe to swim. For swimming or bodyboarding, stay between the red and yellow flags. For surfboards, stand-up paddleboards or other non-powered craft, go between the black and white chequered flag. You should not swim there.
If a red flag is flying, the water is dangerous. Do not enter the water under any circumstances.
Attendance Focus
For the week commencing 5th June, the classes with the best attendance were;
- Explorers hub – Pelican class & Llama class both with 100%
- Investigators hub – Husky class – 100%
- Engineers hub – Owl class
Date reminders
- Wednesday 21st and Thursday 22nd June: Summer Parents Evening
- This will be a great opportunity to see your child’s learning and talk to the teacher about the progress they have made this year. There will also be the opportunity to talk to some of our other professionals in school and to see the new build.
- Friday 23rd June: INSET day – school closed to pupils
- Thursday 20th July: Last day of term for pupils
Holiday Activity and Food (HAF) Programme
The HAF Programme is fully funded by the Department for Education and offers children who are entitled to benefits related free school meals the opportunity to attend participating holiday activity clubs and have a free meal.
Benefits-related free school meals (FSM) are available to children if their parents are in receipt of one of the qualifying benefits and have a claim verified by West Sussex County Council. For further information on how to apply for FSM, click here.
Eligible children can attend their chosen HAF provision for a maximum of four days per week during the summer – 16 sessions. From 12 June, a new online booking system for all HAF bookings across West Sussex is in place. Families will need to register for an account using their existing HAF codes.
The new booking link is https://haf.bookinglab.co.uk/westsussex/37147/login
Alternatively, there is a QR code that you can scan on the letter sent out to parents/ carers today (16/06/2023). The sessions remain free of charge if you are accessing benefits related free school meals and each session will include a free nutritious meal. The new booking system allows you to amend/cancel your booking. Due to high demand and limited availability, please cancel your space if you can no longer attend in order to free up the space for another child.
To find out more, please follow #HAF2023 or visit the West Sussex HAF programme website here or at https://www.westsussex.gov.uk/education-children-and-families/support-for-families/holiday-activities-and-food-programme/
Symptom vigilance: We continue to have a fast spreading sickness bug in school at the moment. Please do not send your child into school if they have been sick or had diarrhoea. If your child is unwell and not themselves please keep them at home. Children should not be in school for 48 hours from their last episode of vomiting or diaarhoea.
The sign of the week is dad!
Have a lovely weekend!
Very best wishes,
Catriona