Merry Christmas!

As we bring this busy and joyful term to a close, I’d like to wish all our families a very Happy Christmas. In line with our COGs values, our pupils have continued to aspire to be their very best, making us proud in so many ways. This term has been packed with enriching experiences—from the magic of music concerts and Victorian museums to exploring wind farms and enjoying carousel rides.

Our "Reading for Pleasure" culture has truly blossomed, with Faster Reader sessions becoming a highlight of the week for many pupils. Beyond the classroom, our pupils have shone in dance competitions, martial arts, and writing contests, showcasing their incredible talents and determination.

Above all, our hearts have been warmed by the kindness and respect that our pupils consistently display toward one another and their community. It’s a privilege to watch them grow not just academically but as thoughtful, compassionate individuals.

Wishing you all a peaceful and joyful Christmas. We look forward to welcoming you back in the New Year!

Mrs B x

'The seed on good soil stands for those with a noble and good heart.'

A huge thanks you from our Collective Worship team. 10 bags full of groceries and toiletries are on the way to help our community.

Congratulations to Joseph in Y5, awarded at the TCC Community Creative Writing Competition, for his marvellous, seasonal poetry.

The Unexpected Gift

By Joseph Box - Year 5

On a tiny lane in a tiny house

Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse

A boy named Jack slept peacefully in bed

Until he awoke and joy filled his head

He looked at his clock, 12 o'clock it said

Then he crept downstairs looking for a man in red

He snuck behind the christmas tree

He looked around his eyes full of glee

He grabbed the I-pad off the sofa

And played a youtube video of a funny gopher

Then Jack heard a soft jingle

He put the video on silent and began to tingle

With a struggle and a shuffle…

Santa fell down the chimney! His voice in a muffle!

“Ho! Ho! Ho!” bellowed Santa

Then the Big Man leant over and drank Dad’s Fanta

Jack burst out from the tree

And shouted, “Santa do you have presents for me?”

Santa stared at Jack in interest

Next, he grabbed Jack’s I-pad and went on Pinterest

Santa spoke, “Your Mum and Dad have presents for you,

But I wonder if I do too.”

Santa beckoned Jack nearer

He moved closer and Santa’s face became clearer

Underneath the hat and deer hide

Was a truly lovely person with kindness inside

Saint Nicholas took Jack by the hand

And spoke a foreign command

Suddenly, Jack flew up the chimney

Along with Santa who was drinking tea

They landed inside a sleigh

And soon Jack heard a neigh

In front of him were reindeer a plenty

Were there two, ten or twenty?

“These are my trusty helpers,” said Santa proudly.

Then the reindeer barked extremely loudly.

Santa reached into a nearby sack

He pulled out a present and said, “For you Jack,”

Jack unwrapped the gift and to his delight

Three tickets lay in the package labelled ‘Flight’

He loved his present because he’d always mourned

How he’d never seen the place he was born

“Thank you Santa for a trip to Madrid,”

And this story is why everyone loves an unexpected gift.

Information from Suffolk County Council:

Where can parents find information about how to apply?

All of the information parents/carers need to help them make their decision is available on our website at www.suffolk.gov.uk/admissions including information about the School Travel Policy and some School Travel Scenarios. They will also find on our website:

• Information on how to apply for a school place, including the steps to follow and what to do if they have any queries. This information can also be found in the Admissions to Schools in Suffolk 2025/2026 guide on our website which can also be downloaded.
• Details of all primary (including infant and junior) schools and how places are offered when a school gets too many applications.

Parents/carers should apply for a school place online at www.suffolk.gov.uk/admissions. Only those who are unable to apply online should complete and return to us a paper CAF1 application form which is available to download from www.suffolk.gov.uk/admissions or by contacting us on 0345 600 0981.

Pupils will not be allocated a school place automatically. All parents/carers must make an application for a full-time school place even if their child is already attending a nursery class in an infant or primary school, a pre-school or a family hub next to a school site. This is because a place in a nursery class, pre-school or family hub does not guarantee their child a full-time place at that school.

It is important that parents/carers consider how their child will travel to and from school before they apply for a school place. The following information is very important:

1. We will provide Suffolk County Council (SCC) funded school travel to the Nearest Suitable School that would have had a place available for a child when they are: a) aged under 8 and live more than two miles from the school; or b) aged 8 or older and live more than three miles from the school. This would be whether or not an application was made for a place at that school. The distance in a) and b) above is called the statutory walking distance.
2. We will only provide SCC funded school travel to the child’s catchment area school when it is the nearest suitable school to their home that would have had a place available for them and they meet the distance criteria.
3. It is important that parents/carers check which school is their child’s nearest suitable school on our Nearest School Checker for the 2025/2026 school year. They can find out which are the three nearest Suffolk schools (based on the statutory walking distance including Public Rights of Way) by putting their child’s postcode into the Checker which can be found at nearestschool.suffolk.gov.uk. We update this each year to include new roads and developments.
4. Parents/carers School Preferences and the order in which they put them on their admissions application could affect their child’s eligibility for SCC funded school travel. Our School Travel Scenarios can help parents/carers work out when their child might be eligible for SCC funded school travel to their school when the age and distance criteria are met. These can be found in Step 4 of the ‘Applying for a primary school place’ page online at www.suffolk.gov.uk/admissions.
5. Full details about SCC funded school travel, including the School Travel Policy, additional arrangements for low income families and those with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND), can be found at www.suffolkonboard.com/schooltravel.

The Admissions Oversubscription Criteria for Community and Voluntary Controlled schools gives priority to siblings. This means that it is very important that parents/carers include details on the application form of any other child in the school or a child who has already been offered a place at the school. Failure to provide this information may affect the offer of a school place.

The Admissions Oversubscription Criteria for Voluntary Aided, Free Schools and Academies may be different from Community and Voluntary Controlled schools.

Any applications made after the closing date may not be dealt with until after places have been offered to those who applied on time. This means that all available places at a parent/carer’s preferred school(s) may have been filled and it could be some time before the outcome of the application is known.

Parents/carers can keep up-to-date on school admissions by:

Liking us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/SuffolkCountyCouncil/

Following us on Twitter: twitter.com/suffolkcc

If parents/carers have any questions, they can email us at admissions@suffolk.gov.uk or call us on 0345 600 0981 (local rate).

The dates below have been set for the full academic year but are subject to change. Please keep an eye on this newsletter, the online calendar on the website and your email for any date/time changes and for additional events.

Spring Term 2025

6th January, PD Day 4 of 5. School closed for pupils, staff in.

Wednesday 8th January, prospective starters, YR 2025 taster session, 4.45pm. Last session for YR 2025 prospective starters to look around the school

15th January, pre-school children. SCC deadline for primary school applications.

3rd March, National offer day (secondary), Y6,

6th March - World Book Day

16th April, National offer day (primary), pre-school children

Summer Term 2025

Swimming lessons Y2-Y6, Thursdays

22nd April, PD Day 5 of 5. School closed for pupils, staff in.

9th/10th July - Thurston Community College intake (transition) days and evening parent meeting

Please could we ask school leaders to share the below information with their staff and wider school community.

Join us at Thurston Community College on 16 January 2025 (5.30-7.30pm) for an Initial Teacher Training Recruitment Event.

What to Expect:

• Program Insights - Discover our innovative Initial Teacher Training programmes across Norfolk, Essex, and Suffolk.
• Meet the Team - Chat with programme leaders, current trainees and Early Career Teachers about what it takes to thrive.
• Application Tips - Get expert advice on the application process and what makes a strong candidate.
• Q&A Sessions - Ask questions and get advice from those who know the journey best.

Don’t miss out on this chance to kickstart your teaching career.

Register for event

Contact: Anna.richards@suffolk.gov.uk

We have shared with all families of children on Free School Meals information about the Discretionary Grant funding for supermarket vouchers and the Council's EEQU system for accessing Holiday Activity and Food activities.

We actively discourage children bringing mobiles to school, however we recognise that for those children who have permission to walk home unaccompanied from school, a mobile phone gives you peace of mind.

We are therefore happy to store a child's mobile phone in the office on the days they need to bring it into school. We will lock the phone in the safe when we can, but please be aware that this is not always possible. Your child's phone could therefore be stored in the office which is unlocked and occasionally unstaffed through the standard school day. We do not take any responsibility for loss or damage to phones that are at school.

Please let your child know that their phone needs to be switched off before entering the school premises (from the gate) and must not be switched back on until they have exited the gate. Mobile phones must not be used on the school premises.

We encourage you to look at this NSPCC/Vodafone toolkit and recommend that you discuss phone and online safety with your child as well as setting up the relevant parental controls.

If you would like your child to bring a mobile phone into school, please complete this waiver form.

Thank you,

Mrs Boyd

On the 24th August 24, the DFE changed how holidays or time away from school are authorised. Headteachers are no longer able to authorise term time absences for family holidays. There are a few exceptions but these will need to be discussed with school before holiday forms are submitted. Please note, that holiday absences are now dealt with directly by the local authority who will issue fines for term time holiday absences. If you would like any more details, don't hesitate to come and talk to Mrs Boyd.

In the interest of safety, the outside gate will be locked until just before 4.30 pm. If you would like to collect your child earlier than this, please ring the office before 3 pm. After school club leaders do not answer the phone during the session as this would mean leaving the children unattended. Many thanks for your cooperation.

Please make sure that your Dojo account is working. Class teachers will share weekly information regarding your child's learning as well as reminders about school events, trips and dressing up days. Please talk to your class teacher if you are having difficulties logging on. Please note that we do not pick up messages from parents via Dojo. If you need to get an urgent message to your child's teacher please telephone the office.

• Walking home unaccompanied form (Y5/6)

If you would like to give permission for your Y5 or Y6 child to leave the school unaccompanied at the end of the day (including after ASC sessions) please download and complete this form, or contact me to ask for a hard copy to be sent home with your child. We recommend reading this advice from the NSPCC before making the decision. They offer guidance on walking home alone, being at home alone (not recommended for under 12s), being cared for by siblings and important facts to discuss with your child.

• Arbor contact details

Please take the time to check that all your details on Arbor are up-to-date. For example: Do we have the emergency contact details for at least two parents/guardians? Is/are your phone number(s) correct, including any work number? Is your doctor's surgery information still correct? You should be able to make changes via the Arbor website or app. If you have any problems, please don't hesitate to ask.

• Asthma medication & healthcare plans

Please ensure that you have provided your child's medication (e.g inhaler) to be kept in school - check with the class teacher if necessary. We also need an up-to-date allergy or asthma healthcare plan. it is so important that we have a plan that is 1yr old or less so that we can work with you to keep your child safe in school. Please ensure you speak to your medical practitioner ASAP to obtain an updated plan.

Breakfast Club - daily from Wednesday 4th September. £1 per session.

After School Club - Mon to Thurs, from Monday 9th September. £2 per session.

Wraparound Care is free of charge for pupils on income-related Free School Meals.

If you book a place for your child and do not then need it, please let us know in advance otherwise we will still charge you.

Please book your child(ren)'s place(s) via Arbor. You will need to add a credit payment to 'other clubs' first.

Bardwell is an inclusive school where children are treated with equality and their individuality celebrated. Our school’s active uniform plays a key role in promoting pride, self-confidence, and a feeling of belonging. We strongly believe that this contributes to the children's well being, removing the additional pressures of deciding what to wear and the added stress of meeting the expectations of peers. In an ever increasing world of social pressure for young people, our uniform removes the points of difference between students and provides a greater focus on school based activities and learning. Therefore, in the interests of equality;

● Active uniforms should be worn at all times

● Spare clothes should be our active uniform NOT home clothes

● Hairstyles must not attract undue attention

● No make-up

● Piercings and jewellery should be discreet and safe to wear, e.g. single studs in ears.

Your child can wear any one of the six Cog colours (red, royal blue, navy blue, green, yellow, purple) as their polo shirt, OR a white one. These are the only acceptable colours for the polo shirt. Please note that the polo shirts do NOT need to have the Bardwell logo on but the sweatshirts MUST.

Colourful polo shirts are available in the school uniform ranges of all the major supermarkets. Logo'd polo shirts (white) and sweatshirts (all colours) are available only from our uniform supplier, Gooddies.

As always, children are also welcome to wear gingham dresses, in any of the six Cog colours, during any term.

PLEASE LABEL EVERYTHING! It is almost impossible for us to reunite you with 'lost' property without a name in it.

Cool Milk have asked us to circulate this information letter to parents/carers.

In short, if your child is under the age of 5 they are receiving funded milk in school under the Nursery Milk Scheme and there is no need for you to take any further action.

If you pay for your child to have milk after their 5th birthday, there will be a price increase - please see the letter.

The December issue of the Knowsley newsletter is available here with useful information about new tech that your child might receive for Christmas and Roblox, amongst other topics.

We have been asked to share this information:

My name is Harry Reidy, and I am the Club Development Manager at Bury St Edmunds Hockey Club. As part of our mission to promote hockey and provide more opportunities for young people to engage with the sport in our local area, we are reaching out to schools to collaborate on some exciting initiatives.

We would greatly appreciate your support in sharing our "New to Hockey" flyer with parents via your upcoming Christmas round-up emails. This flyer is included as an attachment and introduces a fun and inclusive opportunity for children to try hockey for the first time.

Club Development Manager
Bury St Edmunds Hockey Club
bseclubdevelopmentmanager@outlook.com

We'd like to remind you that stopping on the zigzags is not allowed between the hours of 8am and 4.30pm.

The Dun Cow pub on Up Street has a new landlord and landlady! Polly and Kevin warmly invite you to use their car park at drop off and pick up times - marked green below. The walk from there to school is under 5 minutes.

You may also park near the Church porch from where there is a footpath that comes out to School Lane next to the Windmill.

Please ensure that if you park along School Lane you do not block any driveways and avoid the residents' parking spaces at 25-43 School Lane (marked red below, parking in the green spaces is fine).

Term dates for 2024-25 are now available - ask in the office for a hard copy. They are also available from the school website (scroll down for 2024-25).

Download PDF

Download Google Docs/Word

We have been asked by the trustees of the Bardwell Charities fund to encourage our local families to apply for financial support. They've said,

"There is money available whether for trips, music lessons, uniform or other need.
Please DO encourage parents/carers to apply."

You might, for example, wish to request some help with the Y5/Y6 residential, or with transport costs for HAF holiday programme activities. All you need to do is write a short email explaining:

• that you are resident in Bardwell
• what the need is and why it is important for your family/child.

Please note that, contrary to previous information, we have recently been informed by Bardwell Charities that this information only applies to Bardwell residents.

Send your email to bardwellcharities@btinternet.com

If you would like any help with your request, please ask Mrs Allman who is happy to help and will keep all information you share with her confidential.

To find out more, please visit our webpage at:

http://bardwellcharities.onesuffolk.net/

• Sunday 15th - Carol Service, 4pm. Do stay for mince pies and mulled wine!
• Wednesday 18th - Carol singing in the village. 5.30pm at the Church or join us at the Dun Cow from 6.30-8pm.
• Tuesday 24th - Crib Service, 4pm. Come dressed as Angels, Shepherds, Kings, Mary, Joseph!
• 24th - 'Midnight Eucharist', 10-11pm
• 25th - Family Christmas Worship, 10-10.30am

We look forward to seeing you!

Please see the church website for more information.

Bardwell Church is open every day from 9am to dusk.

You may wish to consider setting Kiddle as your default browser on your home devices. They say:

Kiddle is a kid safe visual search engine. Kiddle returns results for each query in the order shown:

1. Safe sites and pages written specifically for kids. Handpicked and checked by Kiddle editors.
Typically, results 1-3.

2. Safe, trusted sites that are not written specifically for kids, but have content written in a simple way, easy for kids to understand. Handpicked and checked by Kiddle editors.
Typically, results 4-7.

3. Safe, famous sites that are written for adults, providing expert content, but are harder for kids to understand. Filtered by Google safe search.

Typically, results 8 onwards.

Since Kiddle results are either handpicked and checked by our editors or filtered by Google safe search, you know you get kid-oriented results without any explicit content. In case some bad words are present in a search query, our guard robot will block the search.

We are very keen to have children attending school if they are well enough. Please have a look at this NHS advice if you are unsure.

https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/is-my-child-too-ill-for-school/

If your child is ill, you must phone into the school before 9am, giving a reason for the absence ('unwell' is not sufficient), leave a voicemail if you need to. Please do not email in for absence.

We recommend that you are familiar with the Tilian Attendance Policy.

Suffolk County Council has asked us to share with families their updated 'Cost Of Living Support' information.

Your child may be eligible for free school meals throughout primary school. This could save you approximately £480 per year.

​

To check or apply online, visit: https://www.suffolk.gov.uk/children-families-and-learning/schools/school-meals-uniforms-and-trips/apply-for-free-school-meals/

​

Check if you're eligible

Your child will get free school meals if you receive any of the following:

• Income Support
• Income-based Job Seeker's Allowance
• Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
• Guarantee element of State Pension Credit
• Child Tax Credit but no element of Working Tax Credit and have an annual income (as assessed by HM Revenues & Customs) that does not exceed £16,190
• If you are supported under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
• Working Tax Credit during the four-week period immediately after your employment finishes or after you start to work fewer hours per week
• Universal Credit (provided you have an annual net earned income of no more than £7,400 (£616.67 per month), as assessed by earnings from up to three of your most recent assessment periods).

We encourage you to apply, because the school receives additional funding (Pupil Premium) for all children on income-related Free School Meals.

​

Email: bardwell@tilian.org.uk
Website: https://www.bardwell.org.uk/
Location: School Lane, Bardwell, Bury Saint Edmunds IP31 1AD, UK
Phone: 01359 250854
Twitter: @BardwellPrimary