Dear Parents and Carers,

Happy New Year to you all! It has been wonderful to welcome the children back to Ascot Road this month; their energy and enthusiasm have certainly brightened up these chilly January mornings.

We have a wealth of information to share with you in this newsletter. You will find important signposting from the County to support our families, as well as some very exciting updates regarding our outside garden area, which is transforming beautifully in preparation for spring.

As we look ahead, we are eager to further strengthen our partnership with you. There are many ways you can support the school community this term—whether it is joining the PTA to help fundraise, volunteering your time in the classroom, or working alongside us to tackle local litter issues to keep our environment safe and clean for the children. Your involvement truly makes a difference, and we look forward to working together to make this a fantastic term.

Natalie Beere
Headteacher

January Newsletter

Exciting Project - Forest Hill

We are absolutely delighted to share a wonderful photo of our developing Forest School area! This project has been made possible through the incredible ongoing support of Croxley Business Park, whose generosity is helping us create a vibrant outdoor learning space. Our team is working hard to ensure the area is fully ready for the children to enjoy just in time for Spring, providing them with a unique environment to explore, discover, and grow. A huge thank you to Croxley Business Park for investing in our children’s outdoor education!

DSPL9 (Delivering Special Provision Local - District 9) is pleased to share the latest SEND information and support for local families. Please see below for a list of upcoming services and sessions available for you to attend.

Key Dates Coming Up

Attendance

Whole School Attendance - 94.6% VS National - 94.6%

Persistent Absence 18.6% VS National 16.6%

Consistent attendance is key to your child's success, both in the classroom and beyond. Each day spent in school is a chance to spark a new interest, master a skill, and build strong friendships. We know that missing even a few days can make it harder to keep up, so let's work together to make sure every pupil is here and ready to learn. Your support in prioritising school attendance makes a world of difference!

Lost Property

A reminder that lost property is located at the front of school by the wall next to the school office. Any unnamed items will be placed in the box.

At the end of each half term, any unclaimed items will be disposed of.

Please ensure you label all of your children's items. Please refrain from sending your child in with toys/unnecessary belongings.

The school accepts no responsibility or liability for the loss or damage of pupils personal property and belongings.

Keeping Our Site Clean

We take great pride in our school grounds, but we’ve recently noticed a significant increase in litter across the site. Being situated between a busy housing estate and a supermarket puts us in a high-traffic area, and unfortunately, much of the resulting waste is ending up on our playground and pathways. To help tackle this, we kindly ask that children refrain from eating packaged snacks immediately before and after school while on the grounds. Disposing of wrappers at home or in the supermarket bins would go a long way in elevating this problem.

We Need Your Help!

We are looking for a few dedicated volunteers to assist with occasional litter picks to keep our environment safe and welcoming. If you have an hour to spare and would like to join our "Green Team," please contact the front office at: office@ascotroad.herts.sch.uk

Recruitment - PTA

We’re looking for fresh faces and new ideas to join our PTA! You don’t need to be a "professional volunteer" to make an impact—whether you can give thirty minutes a month or lead a project, your contribution matters. Joining the PTA is the best way to stay connected, meet other parents, and support our school to raise money for all pupils.

Want to learn more?

We are holding an online informational meeting to explain what we do and answer any questions you might have. It’s a low-pressure way to see how you can help!

Look out for a google invite to our online forum......coming soon!

Praise for Ascot Road School

We are thrilled to share some wonderful news with our school community. Following the results of the 2024/25 academic year, we received a letter of commendation from Bridget Phillipson, the Secretary of State for Education, recognising our school’s excellent student outcomes.

Our performance now places us among the very best schools nationally. In her letter, the Secretary of State noted that this success reflects the "ambition and commitment" of our staff and the hard work of our pupils. She also encouraged our school to continue leading the way and sharing our best practices with others to help raise standards across the country.

This is a proud moment for all of us, and we want to thank you for your ongoing support in making our school a center of excellence!