Over St. John's CE Primary SchoolHead Teacher Blog: Friday 6th September 2024
Date: 6th Sep 2024 @ 2:35pm
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, despite the fact that some if it was a washout! 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 Aria, Harper, Noah, Jackson, Gracie-Mai, Kinsey, Lilyarna, Isaac, Freya, Ryan, Olivia-Rose, Emily, Alessia, Harper, Cameron, Nala, Teddy-Thomas, Nancy-May, Elliott and Freya in to Reception. They have 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 letters 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 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.
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.
Attendance
This year, we are going to continue our focus on attendance as you will have seen in the media that it is a high priority with the new government. We made some improvements with our attendance last year, going from 93.42% to 94.1% but we still have some way to go to get back to our pre-COVID levels of around 96%
The magic number that we are aiming for is 96% and above and for the children who achieve this, we have some special rewards. At the end of each term there will be certificates for all children who have attendance at 96% or more and a special prize draw of a £15 Argos voucher for those children with 98% attendance or more. Each term will be a ‘new start’ so if someone didn’t manage to make the percentage in one term, there will be future chances.
Children understandably get ill from time to time and it can be easy to wonder whether they should be in school or not, so to help, please find some guidance from the NHS around Is my child too ill for school?
Absence During Term Time – New Regulations including Fine Increase
As shared towards the end of last term, there have been some changes to the way that Penalty Notices are issued for absences during term time. Penalty Notices are issued for irregular attendance, with days off here and there throughout the term including holidays.
The new National Framework for Penalty 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 (£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).
Extra-Curricular Clubs
Once again this year, we will be offering a range of extra-curricular activities led by our talented staff and sports coaches, which may vary each term depending on staff availability. It is very important that you speak to your children about making a commitment to the club for the full term/ half term before signing them up. Our clubs are very popular and get booked up quickly so if your child does not attend, then we have children on the waiting list who would love to take their place. Usually, if a child misses two sessions, we offer the place to someone else. Please keep your eyes peeled for information coming soon with regards to these and if you would like your child to attend, sign up as per the instructions on the letter. Places are limited and will automatically close when all the places are taken, so if you are trying to sign them up and cannot, it will be because the club is full.
Uniform
The children have all looked so smart as they returned to school on Monday, 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 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 2025
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 2024, otherwise your application will be classed as a late application and could have a severe impact on your preferred school choice. Results are available from 12.30am on 3rd March 2025. 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 Transferring to Secondary School Guide to 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 ‘Transferring to Secondary School’ information booklet in the link above.
Currently, I am aware of the following secondary school Open Evenings.
Saturday 14th September 10am-12pm Middlewich High School
Thursday 19th September The County High School, Leftwich
Thursday 3rd October 4.30pm – 6.30pm The Winsford Academy
If I receive information from other secondary schools, I will share this with you
Applying for Primary School Places for September 2025
If you have a child who is turning 4 years old between now and 31st August 2025, 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 2025, but like the secondary school place, before making your application, it is important you view the Starting Primary School Booklet. Results are available from 16th April 2025. 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.
#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.
September is here and children and young people are returning to settings across the country, ready to start the new school year. While plenty of children will be thrilled to reunite with friends and continue their education, this can be a stressful time for some youngsters, who may be feeling unsure about a number of incoming changes. Research commissioned for Children's Mental Health Week has found that 65% of UK children have felt anxious, nervous, or stressed because of school.
This highlights the important role played by trusted adults when helping young people get excited to return to education and it’s vital that parents and educators understand how best to ensure those first days back go as smoothly as possible. This week’s #WakeUpWednesday guide offers expert advice on how to do exactly that, letting you know how best to support children and young people going back to school.
Free Monthly Film Club
I have received some information Winsford Library with regards to a free monthly film club (creating animation as opposed to watching movies) for children and young people being held at Winsford Library. Please see the flyer attached below for more information.
School Dinners
School dinners cost £3 per day, £15 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 2024 – new dates highlighted
Thursday 3rd October: Whole School Nasal Flu Vaccines
Friday 11th October: Individual Photographs
Monday 21st October – Wednesday 23rd October: Chester Zoo workshops in school for Oakmere, Linmere and Blakemere
Tuesday 22nd October: Pupil Consultation Evening 4pm – 6pm
Thursday 24th October: Trip to Chester Zoo for Oakmere, Linmere and Blakemere
Thursday 24th October: School closes for half term at 3pm
Thursday 24th October: Pupil Consultation Evening 3:15pm – 5:15pm
Friday 25th October: INSET Day – School closed
Monday 4th November: School opens at 8:35am
Friday 15th November: Children in Need Non Uniform Day
Thursday 12th December: Whole School Pantomime Trip
If you've managed to read this far - well done! They're not usually this long!
Have a lovely weekend.
Take care,
Mrs E Snowdon