BPS Newsletter

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

• We continue to seek two parents to join our BPS governor team as Parent Governors. Previous experience is not a prerequisite. We are looking for two enthusiastic parents who are keen to attend a handful of meetings in the evening, a year, to help our Governors and Headteacher, Mrs Meyrick, continue to improve our school. Please email Mrs Scott (info@byfleet) to arrange to meet informally with our Chair of Governors, Joy Considine, who will provide you with some information about how you can make a difference at BPS!

• We are fortunate to have Mrs Sullivan, the SENDCo from Maybury Primary School (one of our EEEA Trust schools) work for us over the next 10 weeks this summer term, for one day a week. For anything pressing, please reach out to the admin team who will pass on any messages related to SEND. Class teachers are always on hand to help so please share any queries with them too. We welcome our new SENDCo, Mrs Hurford in September. Mrs Hurford has been a SENDCo for over 12 years and comes with a wealth of experience in SEND and pastoral care. We look forward to her joining the team.

• Happy St George's day for our families who celebrate this. 

• Stranger Danger: We have been made aware of several reportings of an isolate white male approaching young children in parks around Byfleet. Please take time to talk to your children about 'Stranger Danger' and the importance of supervision to help them keep safe.

• We are looking forward to our annual Family Picnic, that is taking place on Thursday 22nd May 12.15 to 2.30. Our theme will be linked to VE Day (80th Anniversary of the end of WWII). All children can come dressed in red, blue and white on the day (adults too!) and we will host a street party style picnic. The children will showcase some wonderful singing! This year, will we allow children to go home with their adults at 2.30 if they have attended. For families who are not attending, please collect your child at the usual 3.15 timing. Everyone is welcome so please come along...

• Our library refit has finally been completed. See photos below of this new, enticing space for our children to enjoy.

• If you are interested in hiring our school hall, a classroom, our outdoor hive or swimming pool (summer term only for the pool) for an event you may have in mind, don't hesitate to speak to Mrs Scott in the office who will be able to share our pricing details. 

Dear Parents

It hardly seems five minutes since we were unwrapping presents and wishing each other a Merry Christmas and here we are at the start of our summer term, after another busy term. I do hope that you are managing to get out to enjoy this unseasonably warm sunshine that seems to bring out the best in our fellow community members.

I am pleased to be able to report that school leaders and staff are working hard to realise the key targets in the school development plan. Apart from success in writing, gaps between some groups of children, including those who are disadvantaged, are closing as teachers strive to ensure that they receive the help and support they need to keep up with their classmates.

One of the most impressive aspects of the school is the development of the wider curriculum known as The 3 ‘P’s – People, Place and Point. This has been very well planned so that children build their skills and knowledge across all subjects as well as in English and mathematics. Children gain a deep understanding of people, places and time in their local and wider community that enables them to be reflective learners who have a good understanding of their place in the world. I was fortunate enough to be able to view the detailed plans as well as to look at work in pupils’ books to see how well the wider curriculum is being taught.

I know that I mentioned attendance in my previous letter but it is really important that you keep up the good work. Current attendance figures show Byfleet Primary attendance to be above both the local and national average so thank you very much for your diligence in making sure that your children attend school every day.

As you know, reading is perhaps the most important skill in shaping children’s future lives, perhaps even more so in the digital world in which we live. It is delightful to see the refurbishment of the library, which will provide a really exciting environment for all children to read for pleasure, to find information and to sink into a world beyond their imagination. Thank you very much for all of you who made this possible. I am also very pleased to see how many of you read with your children on a regular basis. By doing so, you are giving them a really big step up to their future success.

In my last letter, I indicated that as a governing body, we are reviewing the way in which we engage with parents. To that end, I was very pleased to have been invited to attend the recent Parent Evenings with my colleague, Janet Stainer (although unfortunately we were only able to attend the Wednesday event). We were very pleased to be able to meet with you and this is something we plan to do again at this event as well other events planned across the year. However, next time, we will be wearing ‘Governor Badges’ to help to identify us more clearly. If you are interested in becoming a governor, please get in touch at acchair@byfleet.surrey.sch.uk. I would be delighted to hear from you.

In the meantime, on behalf of the governors, I would like to wish you all a happy bank holiday weekend and I do hope that this wonderful weather holds out.

With warmest wishes,

Joy Considine

Chair of Governor

Year 4 participated in a session conducted by Surrey Wildlife Trust that focused on classifying animals. The children engaged in pond dipping and looking through a magnifying glass. Additionally, they played some games around classification. 

As part of our Computing unit, Year 6 have been learning about AI.  We've looked at what it is and how it's gradually being seen more in day-to-day life - last week, we even had a go at 'AI-assisted coding' for a webpage!

Yesterday, the children showed great communication and teamwork skills in taking part in a debate: 'AI Robots should replace human teachers'.  

The class worked in groups to generate ideas, before planning their key 'arguments' and 'rebuttals'. It was great to see them all giving it a go! 

A huge thank you to Friends of Byfleet Primary School who have organised Year 6 to have brand new equipment for the playground - go karts!

Another huge thank you to the Year 6 parents who worked very hard baking and selling cakes for the Year 6 cake sale - the money raised in the Year 6 Cake Sale is what has been used buy this equipment.  

Year 6 have loved playing on these in the sunshine this week!

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 our Attendance Policy here for further information.

A huge thank you to Mrs Mumby, our Reading/Phonics Lead, who has created a wonderful space for our children, with our library now being refitted. She has coordinated staff to help her overhaul this area, and it really does look great!

The new library is now an enticing, vibrant and exciting area, with a new fresh look! There are many new books too, that we hope your children will enjoy. Every class has the opportunity to visit the library and books may be borrowed weekly. We look forward to seeing our children continue reading for pleasure and getting hooked by the terrific books available to them.