Newsletter 18.09.26
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Dear Parents/Carers,
We have had a busy fortnight getting stuck into our curriculum across the school for the autumn term and focusing on lots of key areas that we know support the children in being happy and successful. Children have received assemblies on our four rights, the right to be happy, safe, learn and feel included and how our school rules protect the rights. Children will see these rights and rules displayed in their classroom as they feature as a core part of our behaviour policy. Children have also learnt about how children will be rewarded and praised in school for their hard work and have begun to learn about our new House system and how they can earn points for their house- how exciting!
This week we have shared with you a Google form to support us with developing our school values and ensure we have captured parent voice as well as pupils and staff; we look forward to reading the responses.
Next week Year 5 and 6 children are looking forward to taking part in Bikeability where they will learn how to stay safe on the road, a vital skill if they are cycling out and about in the local area.
I hope you all have a lovely weekend, see you on Monday.
Kind regards
Mrs Romina Lang
Attendance-Paddington Bear
Attendance-Paddington Bear
Each week in our whole school assembly we celebrate children's attendance by the winning class for that week receiving Paddington Bear to sit pride of place in their classroom. The class with the highest attendance figure is rewarded with a class prize.
The winning class for this week is:
Week of 7th September: America, Ireland & Wales Class class with 100% attendance
Whole school attendance : 96.5%
Week of 14th September: Ireland Class class with 99.50% attendance
Whole school attendance : 95.8%
Our whole school target attendance for this academic year across all classes is 97%.
Allergy Form- ALL PUPILS MUST HAVE A FORM COMPLETED.
Allergy Form- ALL PUPILS MUST HAVE A FORM COMPLETED.
The health, safety, and wellbeing of all our pupils is our highest priority. We are writing to inform you of important updates to our school's allergy and medical conditions policies following the introduction of the new national statutory guidance under Benedict's Law.
While we have always maintained robust care procedures, these updated guidelines formalise and strengthen our approach into a whole-school responsibility.
To ensure we have the most up to date information of all pupils and any allergies or medication we would ask you to complete this google form at your earliest convenience.
Please complete 1 form per child.
House Points system
House Points system
Launching Our New House Points System!
We are thrilled to introduce our new school-wide House Points System as part of our updated behaviour policy. Children can now earn points for everything including: showing kindness, following our school rules, acting in a way to protect our rights, demonstrating our REACH values around school and many more!
Our four houses are named after truly inspirational figures:
Rutherford (Yellow) 🟡
Donaldson (Blue) 🔵
Kahlo (Red) 🔴
Attenborough (Green) 🟢
At the end of every half-term, all points will be counted, and the winning house will earn a special reward! Be sure to ask your child which team they are representing and help us celebrate their achievements.
School gates- Punctuality
School gates- Punctuality
Taken from our Attendance Policy which can be found here - AHA Attendance Policy
9.50am Morning registration
• Our pupils must arrive by 8:45am on each school day.
• Pupils arriving after 8:45 am will be marked as late (L) – which still counts as present.
• If a pupil arrives after the close of registration after 9:15 am, they will be marked with the unauthorised absence code If a pupil arrives late after the registers close due to a valid reason, such as an unavoidable medical appointment, their absence will be marked with the appropriate authorised absence code.
Effects of Late Arrival
When a pupil arrives late to the academy, they miss important events like assembly, teacher instructions and introductions; this can seriously disadvantage pupils.
5 minutes late per day- equates to 3 days of teaching in one year- which means 15 lessons missed.
10 minutes late per day- equates to 6 days of teaching in one year- which means 30 lessons missed.
15 minutes late per day- equates to 9 days of teaching in one year- which means 45 lessons missed.
Information regarding fines taken from Central Bedforshire Council website- more information can be found here
The issuing of a penalty notice can be considered for all types of unauthorised absences including:
being late after the register has closed
truancy
taking leave of absence (holiday) without permission from the school
if a headteacher isn’t satisfied for the reason for the child missing school
When a school asks us to issue a penalty notice, the following criterion apply:
The pupil has missed at least 10 sessions (equal to 5 school days) due to unauthorised absence during the previous 10 school weeks. The period of 10 school weeks can also span different terms or academic years. We have discretion to issue a penalty notice before the above threshold is met.
A notice to improve may be issued as a final opportunity to avoid a penalty notice being issued and this will give a 30-school-day period, when should the child have no further unauthorised absences then no penalty notice will be issued. A notice to improve will not be issued where the penalty notice is for leave of absence (holiday during term-time) and the absence has not been authorised by the school.
Where a penalty notice is issued, then over a 3-year rolling period the sanctions are:
first offence – fine of £160 reduced to £80 if paid within 21 days.
second offence – fine of £160
third offence – court hearing and up to £2,500 fine, or up to 3 months in prison and a criminal record
Once a penalty notice has been issued, there is no right of appeal, although there are circumstances in which we may withdraw the notice.
Toys in classroom
Toys in classroom
We kindly ask that children are not bringing toys from home into school. They pose as a distraction to their learning as well as the issue of them getting lost.
Parent curriculum overviews
Parent curriculum overviews
You would have recieved an email this week with your child/ren learning overview please check your emails as these detail the topics the children will be covering.
Starting School 2027
Starting School 2027
Parents can now make a Starting School 2027 application online via the website at www.centralbedfordshire.gov.uk/admissions
Transfer to Secondary School 2027
Transfer to Secondary School 2027
Parents can now make a Transfer to Secondary School 2027 application online via our website at www.centralbedfordshire.gov.uk/admissions.
Application Deadline: 31 October 2026 (National closing date for on-time secondary and upper school applications for September 2027 entry).
National Offer Day: 1 March 2027
Secondary open evenings
Secondary open evenings
Queensbury Academy- Thursday 1st October 5pm-8pm- Principal presentations take place at 5:15 PM and 6:45 PM.
All Saints Academy- Wednesday 7th October 5pm-7pm- The Principal’s talk is at 6:00 PM in the Main Hall. You can book "Academy in Action" tours during the evening.
Priory Academy- Thursday 8th October 5pm-7:30pm
Manshead Academy- Date TBC
School Photos
School Photos
School photos will be taking place on Monday 2nd November, this will include sibling photos.
If your child/ren normally have P.E on a Monday please send them to school in their full winter uniform with their P.E clothes to change into.
If your child is not normally in Preschool/nursery on a Monday they are still able to have their school photo taken. If you come to the main school office for 9am.
Friends of Ardley Hill (FOAH) Annual General Meeting (AGM)
Dear Parents and Carers,
You’re warmly invited to the Friends of Ardley Hill (FOAH) Annual General Meeting (AGM).
Date: 21/09/26
Time: 19:45
Location: The Glider Pub, Lowther Road
Our AGM is a chance to look back at everything FOAH has achieved over the past year, share what we’ve been working towards, and talk about our plans for the year ahead.
Most importantly, it’s a great opportunity to find out more about FOAH and how you can get involved. You don’t need to be a regular volunteer or have any previous PTA experience - we’d love to see anyone who would like to find out more, share ideas or simply come along and hear what we’re up to.
FOAH plays an important part in supporting the school and its pupils, and we’re always keen to welcome new faces and fresh ideas.
We hope you can join us!
Best wishes,
Friends of Ardley Hill
Operation Encompass
Our school/educational setting is part of Operation Encompass which is a national scheme that operates jointly between schools and police forces.
Operation Encompass is the reporting to schools, prior to the start of the next school day, when a child or young person has experienced domestic abuse.
As a school/educational setting we have ensured that a member of our staff, (Designated Safeguarding Lead) known as a Key Adult, has been trained in the Operation Encompass procedures allowing us to then use the information that has been shared, in confidence, to support the child/ren in our care.
The Domestic Abuse Act 2021 identifies children who experience domestic abuse as victims of domestic abuse in their own right.
On 24 May 2024 Royal Assent was granted to The Victims and Prisoners Act. The Act placed Operation Encompass into Law. This places a statutory obligation on police forces to share Operation Encompass notifications with schools/educational settings.
We are keen to offer the best support possible to all our pupils and through Operation Encompass we will be able to provide the best possible support to our children.
Houghton Regis Library Activities for Pre-Schoolers
Houghton Regis Library Activities for Pre-Schoolers
Weekly Bulletin for Families in Dunstable and Houghton Regis
Weekly Bulletin for Families in Dunstable and Houghton Regis
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