BPS Newsletter

Please report absences using the absences@byfleet.surrey.sch.uk email by no later than 9am.

This Week

This half-term has flown by! This week has been Children's Mental Health Week: the week was begun with an assembly to introduce this year's theme of 'This is My Place' with classes discussing and producing work around 'belonging'. Thank you to Mrs Hurford for organising this. As well as this, Safer Internet Day was earlier this week on Tuesday 10th February. Thank you to Mrs Kay for organising assemblies and activities for such an important day, and ongoing approach. 

Thank you to Miss Thomson for organising our involvement in the Big Schools' Birdwatch this half-term. Each class has spent some time outside trying to spot different birds. 

Last week saw Year 2 face the day as Romans! The Year 2 'Wow Day' was based on their current topic of 'Layers of London' and ended in a feast for all. Thank you to the Year 2 team for organising this and an especially big thank you to the parent volunteers who came in to help. A huge well done to Year 2 for their class assembly as well, which focussed on the National Year of Reading. 

As always, thank you for your continued support and have a great half term.

Mr Bowman

Over the past two weeks in Reception, we have been very busy learning lots of new and exciting things. In Understanding the World, we have been learning about meteorologists and what they do. The children enjoyed finding out how meteorologists observe the weather and help people plan their day. We had a go at being meteorologists ourselves and practiced giving our own weather forecasts, using weather words and speaking clearly and confidently to the class.

We have also been learning about Lunar New Year and how it is celebrated around the world. The children created lanterns using their cutting skills, and we talked about the different animals in the lunar zodiac. We wrote about which animal we are according to the year we were born, and learned that this year is the Year of the Horse.

In maths, we have been learning about doubling, as well as exploring mass and capacity through practical activities. The children enjoyed comparing objects, weighing items, and filling containers.

In phonics, we have been learning the sounds ow, oi, ear and air, and practicing reading and writing words that use these sounds. 

It has been a very busy couple of weeks in Year 2.  Here are the highlights.

Roman Wow Day

Last Friday was our Roman Wow Day.  The children arrived at school in wonderful outfits and spent the morning making shields, painting Roman buildings and preparing Roman style food ready for our afternoon feast.  The children had a wonderful time bringing this exciting topic to life.  A big thank you to the parents who came in to help with the event.

Class Assembly

On Wednesday we had our class assembly, which was all about The National Year of Reading.  The children spoke about their love of fiction, non-fiction and poetry.  They recited two poems as a class with wonderful enthusiasm and shared their top tips for choosing a book.  The children came to school in wonderful outfits ranging from burglers to ladybirds, astronauts to Harry Potters!  Thanks again to the parents for providing them. 

Roman Museum

This week we borrowed a Roman artefact box from The Chertsey Museum.  The children spent time being history detectives, observing closely and making predictions about the objects that were on display.  They  then drew one of the artefacts and wrote a prediction about what it might have been used for.  They were very respectful with the artefacts and thoroughly enjoyed the afternoon spent at our Roman Museum!

This term, we have been developing gymnastic skills through performing sequences with control, linking movements together and using the apparatus. 

Just to remind parents/carers that if they take their children out of school without authority for 5 or more days (which do not have to be consecutive), they will be liable to receive a penalty notice. The issue of a Penalty Notice will also be actioned where a pupil has incurred 10 or more unauthorised sessions during the preceding 10 school weeks. These also included 'lates' after the register has closed. 

**Changes to the National framework for Penalty Notices came into force for Penalty Notice Fines on 19th August 2024**

• First offence within a 3 year rolling period will incur a charge of £80 per parent, per child if paid within 21 days, Increasing to £160 per parent, per child if paid within 28 days.

• Second offence within a 3 year rolling period will incur a flat rate of £160 per parent, per child if paid within 28 days. 

• The third time an offence is committed within a 3 year rolling period for term time leave or irregular attendance the case will be presented straight to the Magistrates Court. 

Please view the letter from Surrey Inclusion Services and our Attendance Policy for further information. 

We welcomed Rachel from the Surrey Family Information Service on Monday for our coffee morning. She went through how to access support on the Family Information Service website and the Local Offer. 

Surrey Family Information Service - https://www.surreycc.gov.uk/children/support-and-advice/families/support-and-advice/healthy-living 

There is also a link to Parent courses and advice - https://www.surreycc.gov.uk/children/support-and-advice/families/support-and-advice/parenting/3-to-11 

The Local Offer provides a wealth of information and advice in particular for families where a child may have additional needs - https://www.surreycc.gov.uk/children/support-and-advice/local-offer/parents-and-carers 

At our parents evening sessions in March we will be welcoming a representative from Barnardos who will be available to talk about any concerns and hopefully be able to offer advice or sign post to support.