Back again! We hope you all had a wonderful summer, whatever you were doing. The children have been amazing about settling back into everything this week, getting used to their new classes and our new staff. Another change has been lunchtimes, where STAR Eats have introduced more meal choices each day, including STAR bakery and STAR Spuds options.
Unfortunately building work never goes to plan, and we are still waiting for some of our works to be completed, but Venus class have been enjoying their new room and we welcome all the new Reception and Nursery children back next week.
Staffing update Welcome also to our new staff who have joined us this week: Mrs Cameron (deputy headteacher), Miss Parkin (Neptune), Mr Pooley (Meteor), Mrs Sheppard (Asteroid) and Miss Wood (Constellation) as well as our new teaching assistants Miss Suhajda (EYFS), Mrs Wright (Galaxy), Mrs Hudson (Mars), Mrs Hogg (Jupiter) and Mrs Abbott (Meteor).
Leave in term time The DFE guidance around attendance in schools has changed, with a tougher approach to leave in term time. Some of the categories which would have been considered as 'exceptional circumstances' in the past have now gone, and others have been made much clearer. The STAR MAT policy is below, along with the leave form which has been updated in line with this.
Across the MAT and the LA, applications for Fixed Penalty Notices can be made for ANY 10 unauthorised absences (1 day would count as 2 absences) in a 10-week rolling period of time.
New from St Wilf's Alive@5 is relaunching in September! This is a (roughly) forty minute, informal session for young families. There'll be fun songs, craft activities and light refreshments. While the poster (below) states "Ages 5-7", families with younger or slightly older children are welcome to bring those too.
Tesco Stronger Starts: please keep voting! Mrs Mead has applied for us to be part of the Tesco Stronger Starts scheme to gain some more equipment for the EYFS area. This is the scheme where you can have a small blue token every time you buy something, and then drop it into the collection slot for the project you are supporting. Voting will be open from the beginning of July to the end of September so plenty of time to help us out! You can vote at the main Tesco in town, and at the Tesco Express on Doncaster Road. Thank you so much.
Safeguarding newsletter The July Spotlight on Safeguarding parent newsletter is available here https://primarysite-prod-sorted.s3.amazonaws.com/brayton-cofe-primary-school/UploadedDocument/a6f00626-1fdf-4c44-9956-a97620202764/spotlight-on-safeguarding-september-2024.pdf Please take the time to look over it: this week there is advice on Snapchat, sleep and first phones.
School day timings Just a reminder that the main gates now open at 8:45am and children should go straight to their classes ready for school to start at 8:50am. If the gates and doors are closed, please go to the school office where you can sign your child in.
Contacting school Messages about absence, medicine, appointments & changes to after school picks ups must come through the school office either by phone 01757 704308 or email admin@bp.starmat.uk. Messages through Dojo don't work if a member of staff is absent, and also staff do not have their phones with them in the classrooms while they are working with the children so they can't always pick them up.
Term dates 2024-25 The term dates for this year are on the school website at https://brayton-cofe-primary-school.secure-primarysite.net/term-dates/
Jewellery No necklaces, bracelets, rings or other jewellery should be worn to school. If your child has earrings, these must be removed for PE sessions, or earrings can be left at home on PE days. Earrings for school should be small stud types so they don't get caught and cause any injuries.
