Maybury News
Believe. Achieve. Succeed.
Believe. Achieve. Succeed.
Issue 10
June 2024
I hope this letter finds you well. I am writing to update you on the another exciting month at our school and share what they children have been learning about. I was delighted to celebrate my 20 years at Maybury Primary with the children and staff this month. It has been an honour and a privilege to have been at our wonderful school for 20 years.
Our recent Science Week was a great success, with visits to Horsell Common proving to be a highlight for the children. It was a fantastic opportunity for them to learn about local plants and wildlife right on our doorstep. I encourage you to consider visiting the common as a family to further explore and appreciate this wonderful resource.
We are thrilled to be collaborating with Halstead St Andrew’s School, our local Private Independent school. They have offered our children fabulous opportunities this year, from cricket festivals to African drumming workshops. We are already planning more exciting events for the next school year, including forest school workshops, a choral music festival, and engaging art and science workshops. A big thank you to Halstead St Andrews staff for their support and partnership.
Our recent Family Fun Day was a huge hit! It was heart-warming to see everyone having a great time and enjoying the various activities and games on offer. Together, we managed to raise £1000 for school resources. In additional, I would like to say thank you to everyone who donated to our happy bags collection. We raised £82. Your contributions and support are truly appreciated.
Manta Rays class had a wonderful trip to Wisley Gardens as part of their science topic exploration. It was a fantastic opportunity for them to learn about plants, scientists, and inventors. Class assemblies from Jellyfish and Seahorses showcased their learning and were enjoyed by all this month. Jellyfish class assembly was based on their Florence Nightingale topic, we loved hearing about their learning. Seahorses delivered an assembly about their science topic growing and the weather. We enjoyed listening to what they have been learning about and to the songs their performed.
A big congratulations to Year 6 for tackling their SATs with commitment and resilience. They certainly deserved the breakfast treats provided each day! They are certainly proving themselves to be ready for the next stage in their education journey, when it arrives. They have lots of exciting events to look forward to before they leave including graduation and activity week!
On Tuesday 2nd July, the children will have the opportunity to meet their new teacher and visit their classroom for the next year. Further details about their teachers and support staff in September will be provided in a letter on Monday 1st July.
Our upcoming Sports Day on Wednesday, 3rd July promises to be an exciting event – see more details below.
Thank you for your continued support and involvement in our school community. If you have any questions or require further information, please do not hesitate to get in touch.
Mrs Merritt
Headteacher
Attendance from 15th April to 27th June 2024
This term the class with the highest attendance will win a special pizza making workshop at Pizza Express. Please support your child by sending them to school everyday! Each week in assembly the class with the highest attendance will be awarded with an attendance certificate. The winner for the summer term will be announced next week.
Remember it is vital that your child comes to school every day unless they are unwell, there is some useful guidance from the NHS about when you should or shouldn't send your child to school which can be found here https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/is-my-child-too-ill-for-school/ .
Congratulations to our wonderful Headteacher, Mrs Merritt, who has been at Maybury for an incredible 20 years! The children and staff showed their appreciation in a special assembly where we gave Mrs Merritt cards we had made.
Our sports day will be a multisport event and held at school on Wednesday 3rd July, timings across the year groups will be staggered. We would like to invite parents to come along and watch their child participate. Please see timetable below:
9am – 10am - Years 1 and 2
10:45am – 11:45am - Years 3 and 4
1:30pm – 2pm - Reception
2:15pm – 3:15pm - Years 5 and 6
Please arrive 5 minutes prior to start time and enter via the pupil gate where you will be directed to a seating area in the playground. There will not be any seating but you are welcome to bring along your own chairs.
Please note that if you are watching more than 1 child in different time slots you will need to leave the school site after one event and re-enter via the pupil gate for the next event to enable us to set up.
Your child should come to school wearing their PE kit, remembering to bring a water bottle and sun hat.
As a reminder you are able to take photographs or videos at the event, but these must not be shared on any social media sites, such as Facebook or WhatsApp, these are for your family use only.
Please note that the event may be cancelled or postponed in the event of high temperatures or rain.
This month at Rainbow Fish, the children enjoyed listening to ‘A Good Place’ and had lots of thoughts and discussions on what makes a good place for insects to live in! The children had fun exploring the different continuous provision set up for them, such as designing their own flower using various materials, exploring the flower-themed sensory tray and water tray, going on an insect hunt around the nursery garden and so much more.
Rainbow Fish also really enjoyed listening to ‘Love Our Earth’ and were fascinated to see how animals lived in different ways and how we can take care of our Earth. The children really enjoyed exploring the continuous provision that was set up for them, such as designing their own Earth using paper plates and tissue paper, mixing blue and green dye into shaving foam, playing with arctic animals in the snow Gelli Baff, exploring the interactive globe and many more. We even had the children plant sunflower seeds into small pots to take home and take care of!
Towards the end of the month, Rainbow Fish listened to ‘Mr Gumpy’s Outing’ and ‘Big Red Bath’. The children enjoyed exploring the continuous provision that was set up for them, such as creating their own boats using the junk modelling materials, playing with the red soapy water tray, trying out bubble painting and bubble wrap printing, exploring the messy Gelli Baff, and so much more.
As the weather gets warmer, please ensure you are sending your child in with appropriate clothing and a water bottle. Thank you.
This term we have been learning about insects and spiders. Did you know spiders are not insects? We learnt that insects have 6 legs, but spiders have 8 legs. We learnt a poem about spiders.
We have been watching some tiny caterpillars grow into big fat caterpillars, then hide in a chrysalis changing into butterflies. The children were fascinated to see the changes. It reminded us of the story The Very Hungry Caterpillar, one of our favourite stories.
We also read the story of Sam’s Sandwich and made our own disgusting sandwiches filled with bugs. We tried to trick our teachers to eat them. We also wrote what Sam put in his sandwich using our phonic knowledge.
We have loved going on bug hunts at school, and we are always on the lookout for them.
The children made bugs out of play dough and 'loose parts'.
In maths, Starfish have been exploring what number you need to add to 5 to make 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10 e.g. 5 needs 4 to make 9. The children are good at representing their answers on their fingers, using maths manipulatives and using drawings.
Seahorses have had a busy few weeks since half term. We have started our new Geography topic all about our country and our learning lots of information and facts about England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
In Design and Technology this half term we will be designing and making our own fruit salads. We have already tested lots of different fruit to find out which ones are the most and least popular.
In our Science lessons we are learning about plants. Each of us have planted our own plant that we are taking care of by putting it in a sunny place and by watering it every few days. We have also learnt the names of different parts of a plant and what each parts function is.
We have been looking at the story Dear Greenpeace in our Literacy lessons and have enjoyed finding out about different endangered animals. We made our own tiger posters finding out facts about them on the National Geographic website.
Jellyfish have been learning about lots of fun things this month, In DT, we are learning about nutrition by tasting, planning and making our own healthy sandwiches. We taste-tested lots of different ingredients to see which ones we liked and which ones we didn't like. We then planned what healthy ingredients to include in our own sandwiches. Before making them, we spent time working on they key skills we would need, like spreading, chopping, slicing, grating and peeling.
In Computing we have been working on more skills in Scratch Jnr to making our quizzes. We can now change the backgrounds and start our sequences in different ways.
For our Maths learning, we have looked a money. We set up shops in our classroom for the children to buy different items and use the correct amount of money. We then challenged them to find a different way to make the same amount!
It’s been another really busy and fun month in Year 3 with lots of Science learning and opportunities! We started off the month by completing our Science unit about Light. The children carried out an investigation using torches and an opaque object to find patterns when investigating how shadows change size. It was also Science Week at the beginning of June, and we enjoyed a visit from Michael Jones who works for Horsell Common. We walked along the canal to meet Michael on the Bedser Trail, opposite the Peace Gardens and explored the plants and wildlife that live on heathland, as well as finding out how we can help to protect heathland.
We enjoyed a fantastic trip to Wisley gardens last week as part of our Science learning about plant hunters. It was a beautiful, sunny day and rather hot, but the children had a great time. We started off our morning in the play area before it got too hot and busy. We then explored some of the gardens before stopping to enjoy our picnic lunch under the shade of a tree. After lunch, we took part in a plant hunters workshop. We listened to a talk about plants that grow in the rainforest and plants that grow in the desert. The children got to take a cutting of a plant and plant it in their own pot to take home and grow. We hope the plants are being well looked after at home! We then went into the glasshouse to look at lots of different, amazing plants. There is a rainforest part and a desert part, some of the leaves were as tall as the roof!
In Maths we have spent 3 weeks focusing on Time. We have looked at Roman numerals, and learnt to tell the time to the nearest 5 minutes. We have looked at both analogue and digital clocks and what A.M and P.M mean.
In Literacy we finished our ‘Stone Age Boy’ text by writing our own amazing Stone Age adventure stories. We have now started our unit about non-chronological texts and we have been learning and writing about Stone Age tools.
The children really enjoyed a circuit fitness session last week in the hall. They had the opportunity to try boxing, trampolining, step ups and balance balls.
In DT the children have been tasting and designing their own bread. They have learnt how to knead the dough and have chosen their own shape, type of bread and additional ingredients to make their own later this week!
In Angelfish, the children are learning about electrical circuits in both Science and DT. They have explored how bulbs, buzzers, and motors work in circuits. The children have investigated how to create circuits that include a combination of these components to make them work together. They have also learned about safety measures and the importance of following instructions when working with electricity.
In Computing, the children have been using micro:bits as data loggers to study sound and light in various locations around the school. They listened attentively to the different levels of sound and observed the varying intensities of light. With a keen eye for detail, they recorded their findings carefully, ready to analyse and draw conclusions from the gathered data.
In Maths lessons, the children have been learning about the 24-hour clock. They grasped the concept well, understanding the difference between AM and PM. However, some children have found it challenging to tell the time to the nearest 5 minutes or even the nearest minute. Practising at home is encouraged to reinforce their learning and boost their confidence in telling time accurately please.
This term in PE lessons, the Year 4 have been learning how to sprint faster and throw with precision. They practised pushing off on their feet to run faster and throwing the discus and javelin with aim. Everyone had fun challenging themselves to improve their skills. Some found sprinting easier than throwing, while others excelled at both. The children have become more confident in their athletic abilities and were eager to keep practising to get even better.
On Tuesday we visited Tuesley Farm in Godalming for a wonderful fruit-picking experience. The children had a fantastic time learning about how fruits grow and had the opportunity to pick their strawberries, blueberries, and raspberries. It was not only educational but also a lot of fun for everyone involved.
In computing lessons, we have been exploring the fascinating world of programming using Lego WeDo kits. The children have been engaged in programming these kits to make them move, fostering their problem-solving skills and creativity in a practical, hands-on way.
As we are getting closer to Year 6, we have been actively participating in various transition activities to prepare for the next academic year. The children have also been applying for their Year 6 job roles, which is an exciting opportunity for them to take on responsibilities within the school community.
In geography, we have delved into the topic of rivers, particularly focusing on the River Thames. The children have learned about various features of a river, including meanders, Oxbow lakes, sources, estuaries, deltas, and more. We are eagerly anticipating our visit to Teddington Lock in July to further enhance our understanding of rivers and their significance.
This month has been so busy for Year 6. We have been focusing on our writing and written some amazing stories! For our 'Before Sunset' stories we were looking at how to build suspense and tension; to help with this we did our writing by candle light and listened to some tense background music to help get us in the mood! It worked well and the stories were fantastic!
In PE, we have been swimming on Wednesdays. The children have been working on their front and back strokes and trying to use the correct breathing technique during these. The children have been using aids to build their confidence and some have even moved to unaided swimming! We have also been learning water safety to make sure we are all staying safe and enjoying our lessons.
In RE, we have moved onto our thematic unit all about how to live a good life. The children have been researching different religious views on this topic and are creating a mini-presentation for their chosen religion. They have enjoyed comparing the religions they chose to their own views and beliefs. It has been interesting to look at similarities and differences and think about why these differences might exist.
In PSHE, we have been focusing on transitioning to our new schools in September. Most children have met with their new head of years and will soon be enjoying transition days at their new schools. Some children have been at Maybury for their whole school lives, so this move is daunting and the children have many questions. Engage came in and we had a workshop all about what to expect at our new school, advice on how to cope with some of the changes and tips for what we can do to help with these changes. The children loved the activities and took home a very handy book with more tips and advice.
Please can we remind parents that school dinners should be paid for in advance. Please ensure that payment for the week ahead is made by the Monday morning, the cost for one week is £14.50 (£2.90 per day). Please also note that it is also possible to pay for more than one week at a time.
Please click here to view the menus via our school website - School Meals
Please note that from school meals will be increasing in September to £2.95 per day ( 5p increase ) or £14.75 per week.
During the summer term and with the warmer weather we have been experiencing, please ensure that you include a small ice pack to keep food in your child's lunchbox fresh.
A gentle reminder of the uniform policy:
In addition to the above no extreme hairstyles are permitted including overly spiked, sculptured, shaved areas and razor lines/pictures. If in doubt, please ask before a visit to the hairdresser/barbers.
All hair bands/ clips/ bows must be plain and in school colours only which are black, white, navy or sky blue, grey, or matching the school summer dresses.
As a reminder if children wish to wear a headscarf to school please ensure it is a short pullover plain navy blue or plain black scarf.
A gentle reminder earrings are not permitted.
Lastly, a reminder that all children in Reception, Year 1 and Year 2 should only have bookbags not rucksacks in school.
If your child has recently borrowed spare clothing from school, in particular children in Reception class, year 1 and year 2 please can we ask that these are returned. We have a washing machine onsite so you can be assured that any items returned are washed as needed.
We are also looking for donations of spare clothing such as underwear, leggings, jogging bottoms in small sizes such as ages 4 - 8. Please either hand into the office or to the class teacher. Thank you for your support.
Please note new guidance:
If you consider that there are exceptional circumstances relating to your request, please let the school have full details. Each application for a leave of absence will be considered on a case by case basis.
Penalty Notices to Address Poor Attendance at School
A Penalty Notice may be issued as an alternative to the prosecution of a parent/carer for their child’s unauthorised absence from school (absence without the agreement of the school or not covered by a medical note) and willbe used by Surrey County Council in the following circumstances :-
Pupils identified by police and Attendance Advice Officers (formerly Education Welfare Officers) engaged on Truancy Patrols and who have incurred unauthorised absences.
Leave of absence in term time (5 days or 10 sessions or more).
Please be aware that The Education (Pupil Registration)(England)(Amendment) Regulations 2013, which became law on 01 September 2013 state that Headteachers may not grant any leave of absence during term time unless there are exceptional circumstances.
The Headteacher is also required to determine the number of school days a child can be away from school if leave is granted.
In such cases the Headteacher/Governing Body must decide whether there are exceptional circumstances. They may request that Surrey County Council issue Penalty Notices when the absence is not authorised.
Warnings will not be given where it can be shown that parents have been notified that such absences will not be authorised.
Finally, the issuing of a Penalty Notice will also be considered where it is judged that a parent is failing to ensure their child's regular school attendance.
This will be considered when a pupil has incurred 10 or more unauthorised sessions in the previous 10 school weeks, which may include a pupil arriving late after close of registration.
If you believe at any stage that your child’s absence from school may leave you liable to receive a Penalty Notice, it is extremely important that you act without delay to secure their regular attendance.
If you have any questions or require further support to achieve an improvement in your child’s attendance, please contact your child’s school or the Attendance Advice Officer.
Penalty Notice relating to Exclusions
If a child is excluded from school, Section 103 of the Education and Inspections Act 2006 places a duty on parents/carers to ensure that their child is not in a public place without justifiable cause during school hours.
This duty applies to the first five days of each exclusion. Failure to do so will render the parent/carer liable to a Penalty Notice. (Alternative education provision will be made available from the sixth day of any exclusion.)
Amount Payable for a Penalty Notice and Consequences for repeat uauthorised absences
If you have not incurred a penalty notice relating to this child/children in a rolling 3 year period since 19 August 2024, then the penalty notice will be charged at the rate of £160.00, per parent/carer per child, if paid within 28 days. This will be reduced to £80.00 if paid within 21 days of receipt of the notice. Failure to pay the Penalty Notice will result in Surrey County Council considering legal proceedings against you in the Magistrates Court.
If you have incurred a penalty notice relating to this child/children since 19 August 2024, the rolling 3 year period will be activated from the date of the first penalty notice and the second penalty notice will be charged at the flat rate of £160.00, per parent/carer per child, if paid within 28 days. There will be no reduction for payment within 21 days. Failure to pay the Penalty Notice will result in Surrey County Council considering legal proceedings against you in the Magistrates Court.
If you have incurred 2 penalty notices relating to this child/children in the rolling 3 year period since the first penalty notice was issued, then you will NOT receive a third penalty notice – Surrey County Council will have no option but to consider a prosecution, per parent/carer per child, in the Magistrates Court under s 444 Education Act 1996.
Surrey County Council is not responsible for authorising pupil absence and therefore cannot withdraw any Penalty Notice requests without the written permission of the Headteacher.
Advice and support is available from an Attendance Advice Officer by contacting Surrey Attendance Service as follows:-
North West - Tel: 01483 518130 South West - Tel: 01483 517179
North East - Tel: 01372 833588 South East - Tel: 01737 737777
Please see below for PE days for the Summer Term
The children will need to wear their correct PE kit on their PE day. Correct PE kit consists of:
· Sky blue Maybury t-shirt
· Navy blue or black hooded jacket
· Navy blue or black jogging bottoms
Trainers (only lace up if your child can tie their own laces please)
It's nice to be nice and if a member of Maybury Primary staff made you smile then let us know and we will pass on your comments to them. It can be for absolutely anyone in school and for any reason - we'd just like to know! Maybe someone in the office was super helpful, someone made your child smile, your class teacher or support staff went the extra mile, or you were helped by the Home school Link Worker, Inclusion Leader or Senior Leadership Team or you just want to say thankyou. Please click on the link and fill out the form it will take you to, then just add in the information about the Maybury Hero. We will share these nominations with staff each week in our staff meeting!
The form can be found here: Maybury Heroes Form
Your child is invited to sign up for this year’s Summer Reading Challenge. Sign up for FREE at your local library!
What is the Summer Reading Challenge?
The Summer Reading Challenge encourages children to keep reading during the school summer holidays – and to enjoy reading anything they like! Children aged 4-11 are invited to set a reading goal and collect rewards for their reading. It’s completely FREE to take part.
It is an amazing way to boost children’s confidence – last year 72% of children taking part felt more confident reading.1
Why should my child sign up?
· They will be better prepared to return to school in the autumn.
· The Challenge supports the move into a new year group.
· Becoming more independent in their reading boosts children’s confidence and self-esteem.
· The library provides free access to books and fun family activities all through the summer.
· Library staff are on hand to offer support and book recommendations.
Your child will be part of a UK-wide programme developed by The Reading Agency and delivered in partnership with the public library network.
How can my child take part? (Library OR online)
In the library. Visit your local library and sign up. Your child will:
· Set a reading goal for the summer and borrow and read any books, eBooks and audiobooks.
· Receive a Challenge poster and collect special stickers and rewards for reading.
Online. Take part online at summerreadingchallenge.org.uk
· Sign up on the official Challenge website.
· Set a reading goal and get book recommendations and tips.
· Unlock digital badges and online rewards, including a printable certificate.
When?
The Challenge will launch on 22 June in Scotland and online; in England and Wales it will launch 6 July. Local variations apply so please check with your library to find out start & finish dates near you. Unsure where your closest library is? Use the Library Finder to check.
Head to your local library this summer and sign up!
Please bear in mind that all of these dates are subject to change
Autumn Term 2023
1st September 2023 to 15th December 2023
Half Term 23rd October 2023—3rd November 2023
(Please note October half term will be for 2 weeks)
Spring Term 2024
2nd January 2024 to 28th March 2024
Half Term 12th February 2024—16th February 2024
Summer Term 2024
15th April 2024 to 23rd July 2024
Half Term 27th May 2024 - 31st May 2024
INSET Days (School closed for training)
Friday 1st September 2023
Thursday 28th March 2024
Friday 24th May 2024
Monday 22nd July 2024
Tuesday 23rd July 2024
Autumn Term 2024
2nd September 2024 to 20th December 2024
Half Term 28th October 2024—1st November 2024
Spring Term 2025
6th January 2025 to 4th April 2025
Half Term 17th - 21st February 2025
Summer Term 2025
22nd April 2025 to 22nd July 2025
Half Term 26th May 2025 to 6th June 2025
(Please note May half term will be for 2 weeks)
INSET Days (School closed for training)
Monday 2nd September 2024
Monday 6th January 2025
Friday 4th April 2025
Monday 21st July 2025
Tuesday 22nd July 2025
Respect
This half term’s value is Respect. Children will talk about recognising, appreciating and valuing the rights and differences of other people, animals and the planet. Respect is more than accepting or tolerating other people, it is about valuing everyone’s contribution, including their own. Ways you can develop children’s understanding at home include:
· Being a good role model. One of the best ways’ children learn is by watching you.
· Encouraging them to help you with household chores to look after your home.
· Praising respectful behaviour when they show good manners and respect others.
Books you could share at home:
Early Years
Key Stage 1
Key Stage 2
Independence
This half term’s value is Independence. Encouraging children to be independent promotes their self-confidence and self-esteem. They are many ways you can support independence at home, for example by:
Involving your child in household chores such as laying the table, putting away some shopping, unloading the washing machine or tidying up.
Giving opportunities for your child to make their own choices.
Allow your child to make mistakes when they are trying to be independent.
Books you could share at home
Early Years
Key Stage 1
Key Stage 2