Over St. John's CE Primary SchoolHead Teacher Blog: Friday 11th September 2026
Date: 11th Sep 2026 @ 1:03pm
Welcome back to our new school year! It has been a real pleasure to see all the children back in school again, looking so smart, hearing their stories from the summer and we are really looking forward to the journey ahead as we go through the school year. I hope that you all had a lovely break over the summer, which was officially the hottest summer on record.
Personally, I would like to thank everyone for all your kind thoughts, cards and gifts at the end of the last academic year as it is always very much appreciated – thank you.
A special welcome to all our new children this year as we welcome Taya, Reuben, Thomas, Sofia, Faith, Tommie, Elliott, Aras, Arlo, Enzo, Zach, Kayden, Faye, Molly, Arabella, Reggie, Axel, Aubrey, Matilda, Hallie-Grace, Ivy and Maddison in to Reception. We also welcome Emilia into Year 5. Everyone has been busy getting stuck in to all that school life has to offer and have settled really well, as if they have always been here! We are sure that they will all be very happy.
Communication via School and Home
For those of you who are unfamiliar with my blog, this is something to keep your eye on every Friday (or the majority of Fridays, depending on my calendar!) This is my main form of communication with you all and I provide updates as to what has been going on in school, information about forthcoming events as well as other information that I think you may find useful.
In terms of class communication, please keep your eye on our website as teachers update the class pages with information and blogs, generally on a weekly basis. We may also send texts or e mails home as quick updates and reminders of information that has generally already been shared with you via e mail or the school website. If you think that you have not had the information in the text previously, please do check the website and School Spider messages that have been sent home.
If you need to pass a message on to a teacher, I am always available at the start of the day so you can do so via myself, an e mail (admin@overstjohns.cheshire.sch.uk) or a phone call (01606 592608) and the class teacher will get back to you if needed.
Morning Routine
The school gate opens each morning at the beginning of the day at 8.35am. The children are able to go straight to class and get on with the activities that are there for them. Our register is taken at 8:45am promptly and as such, if your child is not here at 8:45am, they will be marked late on the register. Please ensure that your child is in school a few minutes before 8:45am so that they are on time for the register as I close the gate a couple of minutes before this time. If you arrive before 8.35am, please remind your children that they should stay by your side as it is not a play area - Delamere Street is a very busy road and traffic also turns into our car park – they should not be playing and running around outside whilst waiting as it is a car park and not a playground.
The whole school goes in to Collective Worship each morning at 8:50am and if children are late, it can be unsettling for them to have to walk in to Collective Worship late in front of the whole school as well as distracting for the children that are already there. Your support with this would be greatly appreciated.
Our School Vision: Let Your Light Shine
As we begin a new school year, I thought it would be a good opportunity to remind everyone of our school vision: "Let your light shine before others." (Matthew 5:16).
As a Church school, this vision sits at the heart of everything we do. For us, it is about recognising that every child is unique, valued and has something special to offer. We want all of our children to grow in confidence, embrace challenges, develop their talents and use them positively to make a difference to others.
You will often hear us talking about children "letting their light shine" in school. Sometimes this might be through showing kindness to a friend, persevering with something they find difficult, performing in front of others, helping in the community or simply trying their very best. We believe that every child has their own God-given strengths and qualities, and our role is to help them discover, nurture and share them with the world around them.
Our PTA Needs You!
I would like to take a moment to talk about something that is incredibly important to our school community: our PTA.
Over the years, our PTA has worked tirelessly to organise events and raise funds that directly benefit our children. From fairs and family events to funding resources, supporting educational visits and providing those little extras that make school life even more special, their contribution has been invaluable.
However, our PTA currently has a very small number of members who are volunteers and, unless more people are able to get involved, there is a real possibility that it may not be able to continue in its current form. This would be a huge loss for the school and, most importantly, for the children.
Being part of the PTA does not mean committing huge amounts of time. Whether you are able to help plan events, volunteer occasionally, share ideas or simply lend a hand when needed, every contribution makes a difference. The more people we have involved, the more opportunities we can provide for our children and the stronger our school community becomes.
In the spirit of our vision to 'Let your light shine', this is a wonderful opportunity to use your talents, time and ideas to make a positive difference for the children and families of Over St. John's.
Please take a look at the attached poster for further information and consider whether you might be able to help. Together, we really can make it happen.
Absence During Term Time – Government Regulations including Fines
Penalty Notices are issued for irregular attendance, not just holidays, with days off here and there throughout the term.
The National Framework for Penalties includes:
- A Penalty Notice must be considered for 10 sessions (5 days) of unauthorised absence within a rolling 10 school week period – these days do not have to be all at the same time, they can be a couple of days here and a couple of days there; they can be a combination of a couple of days holiday and a couple of days absence at other times too.
- An increase to the amount of a Penalty Notice is now £160 if paid within 28 days, and £80 if paid within 21 days. This fine is issued to each parent separately for each child, so both parents receive the £80 fine, meaning that for one child it equals £160 (e.g. £80 for Mum and £80 for Dad) if both parents take the child.
- A second Penalty Notice could be issued to the same parent for the same child within a rolling 3 year period being charged at a higher rate of £160 with no option for this second offence to be discharged at the lower rate of £80.
- A national limit of 2 penalty notices that can be issued to a parent for the same child within a rolling 3 year period, so at the 3rd (or subsequent) offence(s) another tool will need to be considered (such as prosecution or one of the other attendance legal interventions).
Benedict’s Law and Allergy Awareness
Many of you may have seen recent media coverage of Benedict's Law, which has been introduced in school’s in September, to strengthen allergy safety in schools following the tragic death of five-year-old Benedict Blythe after an allergic reaction at school. As a result, schools are now required to have enhanced measures in place to help protect children with allergies, including a dedicated allergy policy, staff training and clear procedures to reduce risk and respond to emergencies.
To support this, our updated Allergens Policy is now available on the school website for all families to read. We would encourage parents and carers to take a few moments to familiarise themselves with it.
Earlier this week, I spoke to the children in Collective Worship about the importance of keeping one another safe. We discussed simple but important habits such as not sharing or swapping food and washing hands before and after eating. These are small actions that can make a significant difference in helping to keep everyone safe.
We also talked about the lovely tradition of children bringing treats into school to celebrate birthdays. Since the introduction of Natasha's Law in 2021, we have asked families not to send birthday treats into school, as items such as cakes are cut up and shared, making it difficult to track ingredients and potential allergens. With the introduction of Benedict's Law, and our collective responsibility to create the safest possible environment for all children, this message has become even more important.
I completely understand that some children and families may feel disappointed, as these gestures are always made with kindness and generosity. However, the safety and wellbeing of all children must always come first. By working together and following these expectations, we can help ensure that every child is able to enjoy school safely and confidently.
Thank you, as always, for your understanding and support in this important area.
Uniform
The children have all looked so smart as they returned to school last week, thank you for your support with this. A gentle reminder that our school uniform consists of grey trousers or grey skirt, a light blue polo top (does not need the logo) and a sweatshirt/ cardigan with the school logo. The sweatshirt/ cardigan is the only branded item that is required in order to keep costs as low as possible for families. Socks should be grey or white and tights should be grey or black. Children can also wear grey shorts or blue and white checked dress/ playsuit in the warmer weather. Children should wear black school shoes, not trainers. I do understand that circumstances sometimes mean that trainers may need to be worn and I do not mind this if adults have had a conversation with me.
Operation Encompass
As a school, we participate in a police-led initiative called Operation Encompass, a scheme which ensures that we can better support any child where a domestic incident has been reported to the police from their home.
Following a domestic incident, the police will make contact with the school and communicate relevant information to nominated, fully trained school staff. This will ensure that we are made aware early enough to support children and young people in a way that means they feel safe, supported and listened to.
Each school has a member of staff called a key adult who is trained to liaise with the police, when required, whilst ensuring support is available to the child. If you would like to speak to someone further about the initiative, or require any additional information, please do not hesitate to contact either myself or Mrs Bettley as the key adults for Over St. John’s.
We are committed to working in partnership with local relevant organisations to safeguard and protect children across Cheshire and provide the best possible care and support for our pupils.
You can find out more about Operation Encompass via the following site: http://www.operationencompass.org/
Applying for Secondary School Places for September 2026
If you have a child in Year 6, the application round has now opened for you to apply for a secondary school place. It is very important that you do this before the deadline, which is 31st October 2026, otherwise your application will be classed as a late application and could have a severe impact on your preferred school choice. Results are available on 1st March 2027. To apply, you will need to create an account or log in on this link. Before making your application, it is important you view the chrome- Secondary School Booklet 2027 help you with your choices.
As a school, we are a partner primary with both The Winsford Academy and Hartford CE High School which means that applications for children from our school are considered above some other categories, should the school be oversubscribed. However, you have the option to apply for 3 secondary schools of your choice. Further details with regards to this can be found in the ‘Secondary School Booklet 2027’ link above.
Currently, I am aware of the following secondary school Open Evenings:
Wednesday 9th September 5pm to 8pm Hartford CE High School
Tuesday 15th September 4pm to 7.30pm Weaverham High School
Thursday 17th September 4pm – 7pm Middlewich High School
Thursday 17th September 4.30pm – 7.30pm Tarporley High School
Thursday 17th September 5pm – 7pm The County High School, Leftwich
Thursday 24th September 4pm – 6pm St. Nicholas Catholic High
Thursday 24th September 4.30pm – 7pm Rudheath Senior Academy
Applying for Primary School Places for September 2026
If you have a child who is turning 4 years old between now and 31st August 2027, or know of a child who is, then the application round is also open for them to apply for their Reception place. The timescale is slightly different for this and you have until 15th January 2027, but like the secondary school place, before making your application, it is important you view the Primary Booklet 2027 . Results are available from 16th April 2027. To apply, you will need to create an account or log in on this link.
If you would like to visit Over St. John’s with a view to a Reception place next September or know of someone else who would, please do just ring the office and we will arrange a time to suit yourselves and us. We do not hold an open morning as I prefer people to see us as we are on a daily basis and have more personal time during a look around with me to ask any questions that they may have.
Free Family Movie Night at Town Park, Winsford
Families across the local area are invited to enjoy a special free outdoor Movie Night hosted by Winsford Town Council this September.
On Saturday 12 September 2026, Town Park will be transformed into an open-air cinema for a screening of the popular family musical The Greatest Showman. This free community event promises a fantastic evening of entertainment for all ages, making it the perfect opportunity for families and friends to come together and enjoy a movie under the stars.
Everyone is welcome to attend, so bring your blankets, camping chairs, and picnic treats and settle in for an unforgettable family evening.
Winsford Town Council would love to see as many local families as possible enjoying this community event, so please help spread the word.
For more information and event updates, visit the Facebook event page: https://fb.me/e/84pHoJXJV
We hope you can join them for what promises to be a wonderful evening of family entertainment.
#WakeUpWednesday
National Online Safety believe that all parents, carers, teachers and trusted adults should be empowered with all the information needed to have informed and age-appropriate conversations about online safety and mental health, with children and so every Wednesday, they produce practical, easy to follow guides which focus on specific risks that they think adults and children need to be aware of. I will share this information with you on a Friday.
Character.AI lets users create and chat with AI-powered characters that can behave like friends, mentors, fictional favourites, or romantic partners. While these conversations can feel engaging and supportive, their convincing human-like responses can blur important boundaries. Young people may encounter inappropriate content, misinformation and privacy risks, or begin forming an unhealthy emotional attachment to an AI companion.
For parents and educators, understanding these risks can make conversations about AI companionship more constructive. This #WakeUpWednesday guide explores warning signs such as secretive or excessive use and withdrawal from real-world activities, while offering practical advice on checking age restrictions, protecting personal information, questioning chatbot advice, and responding appropriately when safeguarding concerns arise.
School Dinners
School dinners cost £3.20 per day, £16 per week. Children in Reception, Year 1 and Year 2 receive free meals as part of the government’s Universal Infant Free School Meals (UIFSM) scheme. Dinner money must be paid in advance via School Spider.
If you are in receipt of benefits and think that you may be entitled to free school meals, please click here for more information and support and how to apply. It is very important to apply for free schools meals whatever year your child is in, even if you receive the UIFSM in Reception, Year 1 and Year 2, as the school receives a sum of extra money to further help support your child and their education.
Confirmed Dates for the Autumn Term 2026 – new dates highlighted
Tuesday 15th September Year 5 violin lessons start
Friday 2nd October Individual photographs
Friday 9th October Flu vaccinations
Tuesday 20th October Pupil Consultation Evening 5pm -7pm
Thursday 22nd October Pupil Consultation Evening 5pm -7pm
Friday 23rd October School closes for half term at 3pm
Monday 2nd November School closed for INSET day
Tuesday 3rd November School opens at 8.35am
Wednesday 16th December Carol Service in St. John’s church at 1.30pm. Collection from church
Thursday 17th December Whole school pantomime visit
Friday 18th December School closes at 2pm
Tuesday 5th January 2027 School opens at 8.35am
Have a lovely weekend.
Take care,
Mrs E Snowdon