Diary Dates

Term Dates

Dear Parents and Carers,

Welcome back and a warm welcome to all of our new families! We have reflected on what a wonderful year last academic year was with so much achieved across the school for our children. Last year, our Year 6 outcomes were the highest they have ever been since we became a primary school with 80% of children achieving the expected standard across Reading, Writing and Mathematics, well above the national standard of 61% which will set them up well for the next phase of their educational journey. We are delighted with these results as well as all of the other national assessments including Phonics and the Multiplication and Times Table Check which were also well above the national average. Our plans for this year will ensure our children's continued academic success and I am proud to have such an incredible wealth of experience amongst the Lark Rise team who are passionate about ensuring that all children can reach their full potential.

This week the atmosphere across the school has been extremely calm with all children keen to immerse themselves in the learning opportunities. Children have spent time getting to know one another in their classes and their familiar adults. Our whole school assemblies have focused on expectations, embedding routines and our value for this half term of Friendship and Love. We want the very best for our children and it is important that they know this; our whole school vision will be shared with them next week. In assemblies this week we all enjoyed the book 'The Rainbow Flamingo' by Catherine Emmett to explore the idea that we are all different and wonderful in our own ways; we also reflected on the quote, 'don't compare your feathers to another's, your wings are perfect for your sky'. Then in today's assembly we read the story, 'Giraffe Problems' by Jory John to discuss our value of Friendship and how we can show that we are a good friend to someone just as the characters Edward and Cyrus did towards each other in the story.

This newsletter contains details of our parental involvement and communication dates for the year. We recognise the importance of working with you and sharing your child's academic achievements; this will show you when these opportunities occur throughout the year as well as opportunities for you, our parents and carers, to be involved in specific training so that you can understand how best to support your child at home. Working together really is key to ensure the success and happiness of our children at school.

If you are new to the school and do not already follow us on our social media channels then please look us up. We regularly share photos of whole school news and 'magic moments' where we use trips, visitors and hands-on experiences to enrich the learning and expose our children to the wider world.

I hope you all have a lovely weekend with your children after their first week, they are ready for a rest already! Enjoy some family time if you are able to and I will see you all next week.

Mrs Romina Lang

Headteacher

Staff News

We are delighted to welcome Miss Ridout (Trainee Teacher) to the Lark Rise team.

Homework

Homework for all children will start from 20th September - further details will be sent out in due course. In the meantime, we hope the children can rest over the next two weekends while they settle back into school routines. They should of course be reading every day and can log onto Numbots or TTRockstars to practise their times tables if they already have their usernames and passwords.

Google Classroom

We have now moved the children over into their classes for Google Classroom. You will have received an email notification to join the new class, please could you confirm this as soon as possible, if your child has not already done so in school, so your child can access their learning in class next week.

School Photos

The school photographer will be in school on Wednesday 11th September to take individual and sibling photos of all children from Nursery to Year 6. Please ensure that your child(ren) is in full school uniform on this day (if your child has PE on a Wednesday, they should come into school in their uniform and bring their PE kit to change into once their photograph has been taken).

PE Days

Please see below for a reminder of the PE for your child for this academic year.

Swimming for children in LKS2 (Macaws, Peacocks & Red Kites) will start on Tuesday 10th September.

Data Collection Sheets

You will shortly be receiving a data collection sheet which details the information we have about your child on our school information management system. Please ensure that you check the details carefully, make any necessary corrections and return to the school office by Friday 13th September. Should there be any changes to these details over the course of the year, please notify us accordingly as it is imperative we have up to date contact details in the event of an emergency. A reminder that we need at least 3 emergency contacts for your child(ren).

Parental Contributions

We will once again be requesting (via Parentmail) the annual parental contribution of £10 per child. This contribution covers annual insurance, science, art & design technology costs. Thank you in advance for your prompt payment.

School Meals

A reminder that all school meals need to be ordered in advance via Parentmail. The cost of school meals has been reduced to £2.53 per meal with effect from 4th September. To avoid any confusion on the day, please could you remind your child which meal has been chosen for them. For children in Years 3-6, it would be useful if parents/carers could make a note in the childrens' planners which meal has been chosen.

Class Assemblies

The class assemblies to which parents/carers are invited have been added to the school calendar which can be accessed via the Diary Dates tab at the top of the newsletter.

The assemblies planned for the Autumn term are:

Eagles : Friday 4th October

Hawks : Friday 11th October

Falcons : Friday 22nd November

Holidays in Term Time

As you are aware we are unable to authorise holidays during term time unless there are exceptional circumstances; this is in line with the Department for Education (DfE) guidance which we must follow. It is particularly important that children are NOT taken out of school during the months of May and June when national testing is undertaken.

The Department for Education (DfE) has made a number of changes to legislation and guidance related to school attendance that came into force on 19th August 2024.

Under the new national framework, all schools will be required to consider a fine when a child has missed 10 or more sessions (5 days) for unauthorised reasons.

From August 2024, the fine for school absences across the country will be £80 if paid within 21 days, or £160 if paid within 28 days.

This rate is in line with inflation and is the first increase since 2012.

In the case of repeated fines, if a parent receives a second fine for the same child within any three-year period, this will be charged at the higher rate of £160.

Fines per parent will be capped to two fines within any three-year period. Once this limit has been reached, other action like a parenting order or prosecution will be considered.

Further information can be found in the DFE Parent Hub at the following weblink.

Fines for parents for taking children out of school: What you need to know – The Education Hub (blog.gov.uk)

Sports Competitions

We are really excited to be taking part in this year's inter-school sports competitions. There will be a number of events throughout the year and different children will be chosen over the course of the year to take part in events as appropriate.

Term Dates 2024/2025

Autumn Term

Wednesday 4th September to Friday 20th December 2024

Half Term: week commencing 28th October.

Spring Term

Monday 6th January to Friday 4th April 2025

Training Days: Thursday 2nd & Friday 3rd January 2025

Half Term: week commencing 17th February

Summer Term

Wednesday 23rd April to Friday 18th July 2025

Training Day : Tuesday 22nd April 2025

Half Term: week commencing 26th May

School Uniform

May we remind you that children should be wearing the correct school uniform (including plain grey, black or white socks). We have seen a variety of brightly coloured and branded sports socks appearing on both PE and non-PE days which are not part of our uniform. PE t-shirts should also be plain (dark blue or white) and tracksuits should be plain navy or black (not any other colours eg grey).

Any hair accessories should be small (no large bows) and any earrings should be small studs, no hoops, which need to be removed or taped by yourselves at home if your child cannot do so themselves for PE days.

Thank you in advance for your continued support.

Parking

A reminder that the school car park is for staff use ONLY with the exception of disabled drivers (whereby use will be agreed with Mrs Lang). Please also park with consideration to our neighbours when parking in the vicinity of the school (this includes not parking over neighbours' drives) and keeping the top of the cul-de-sac as clear as possible where our new UKS2 exit is. Thank you in advance for your support

Piano Lessons

Jemma Graham, our piano teacher, will once again be offering piano lessons to children from Year 3 upwards. These are 1:1, 20 minute weekly lessons which take place during the school day exploring music notation and early piano and musicianship skills.

If you are interested in your child having lessons, please contact Jemma to get started, spaces are available now.

Tel: 07961 553741

Email:jemmagrahammusic@yahoo.com

Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/jemmagrahammusic?igsh=cXA3dXM5azQ3eThl&utm_source=qr

Free School Meals - Pupil Premium

As you will be aware, all children in Reception, Years 1 and 2 receive a free school meal under the Government's "Universal Infant Free School Meals" initiative. However, some children will also qualify for Income/Benefit Related free school meals due to their personal circumstances. Whilst this does not affect your child's receipt of a free meal, if you are registered for free school meals via Central Beds Council, the school will receive additional funding. This funding is known as Pupil Premium and brings in up to an additional £1320 per child that is registered.

We can use the extra funding in any way we choose to improve the quality of our children's education. This could include intervention and support for individual and small groups, additional training for staff and financial support for parents for educational visits and after school provision.

If you think you may be eligible, please visit the following www.centralbedfordshire.gov.uk/info/53/benefits/4/free_school_meals/3 and apply accordingly on the Central Beds Council website. If you apply and find out that you are eligible for the extra funding, please contact the school office when you receive notification that your child qualifies for Free School Meals. Whatever the outcome of your application (whether you qualify or not) it will not affect any other benefits that you may receive.

If your child is new to the school and is eligible for free school meals, you will need to contact Central Beds Council so that your child is linked to Lark Rise.

Music Lessons

In addition to piano lessons with Jemma Graham, Miss Hardy also offers lessons on keyboard, violin, ukulele and recorder (which can also progress onto learning the flute and alto saxophone) on Fridays at Lark Rise. If you would like your child to start music lessons or would like any more information, please contact Miss Hardy (jhardymusictuition@gmail.com).

For those children who already have music lessons; you will be receiving an email regarding starting up our lessons up again very soon with dates and further information.

Miss Hardy has been teaching music for over 20 years and, since then, has taught pupils of all ages up to and beyond Grade 8, which is the highest grade in the Associated Board of Music.

Children will have the opportunity to learn all about the different elements of music, including; musical notation, tonality, rhythm, volume, structure, melody, instrumentation, texture, tempo, timbre and harmony.

There are a number of different options available for buying new, second hand or hiring musical instruments which Miss Hardy can help with.

Lessons are in small groups and will take place during the school day on Fridays during term time. The cost of each lesson is £5 and will be invoiced at the beginning of every term. If you are interested in your child starting to learn a musical instrument, please contact Miss Hardy ( jhardymusictuition@gmail.com ) to register your interest.

Opportunities for Parental Involvement

2024-2025

Children’s progress

Autumn 1

17.10.24, 3.45pm-7.00pm Learning Review Meetings (Class Teacher)

16.10.24, 3.00pm - 3.30pm Stop, Drop and Read: Come into school and share a book with your child(ren)

End of half term : Year 4 Multiplication check mock results