Weekly Newsletter

Upcoming Dates

Wednesday 6th May

• Year 2 visit We the Curious, Bristol

• Year 5 Planetarium experience (in school)

• 2pm, Mini Police Graduation Assembly

• PFSA Rainbow Group

Monday 11th May - Thursday 14th May

• Year 6 SATs

NB No Stay and Play this week

Thursday 14th May

• Reception New starters Meeting 5pm

Monday 18th May

• PSA Disco, 5pm - 6pm, Reception

• PSA Disco, 630pm - 730pm, Years 3 & 4

Tuesday 19th May

• 5pm, meeting about Year 6 residential for parents

Wednesday 20th May

• Class photos

• PSA Disco, 5pm - 6pm, Years 1 and 2

• PSA Disco, 630pm - 730pm, Years 5 & 6

Friday 22nd May

• Sports Day (Reception - Year 6)

• End of Term 5

Monday 1st June

• Start of Term 6

Tuesday 2nd June

• Writhington School uniform try on (For Y6 to Y7) after school

Some key dates for the final term...

Thursday 11th June - Friday 12th June

• Year 4 Base Camp

Thursday 18th June

• Nursery Sports Day 2pm - School field

Sunday 21st June - Wednesday 24th June

• Year 6 Residential, Osmington Bay

Saturday 3rd July

• 11am - 2:00pm, PSA Summer Fayre

Friday 17th July

• End of term for pupils

Message from Mrs Noall

I hope you all enjoyed the Bank Holiday weekend. We now have a very busy 3 weeks ahead of us with trips, visitors, SATs, PSA Discos and Sports Day to look forward to. Let's hope the weather is kind to us for the remainder of this term!

News and Events

Sports' Day - Friday 22nd May at Peasedown Cricket Club (Reception -Year 6)

Sports Day will follow a similar format to last year. It will be a whole-school event, with children rotating around a carousel of 10 activity stations and competing in their house teams. There will be a rest station after every 3 / 4 activities. Each station will include adaptations to ensure suitability for both Reception/KS1 and KS2. 

When the circuit is finished, the children will be able to have an ice cream provided by the PFSA and a picnic with their families/friends.  After lunch, there will be an optional KS2 long race and, for the first time at PSJ, we will be holding a fun parents' race. 

We will aim to begin Sports Day at 9.45 with the picnic beginning at 12noon. We will then begin the afternoon activities at 1pm with children returning to school once these are complete.

As ever, Sports' day will be weather dependent and we will endeavour to give as much notice as possible for any changes/amendments to the day. 

Reminders

School Uniform

A reminder that children should wear their full school uniform each day, with a full PE kit on PE days. Trainers and tracksuits are for PE days only. Children should not be wearing jeans or combat trousers. Children need to dress appropriately on Forest School days.

Anyone who has hair longer enough to go lower than their shoulders should have this tied up.

We sell school-logo items via the school office and also keep a large stock of pre-loved uniform which is free of charge. Please ask if you need something specific.

A reminder of our uniform expectations can be found on our website: https://www.psjprimary.co.uk/school-office/school-uniform/

Here is a reminder of clothes that are suitable for forest school: Forest School Clothing 

Class News

Find out what we have been up to on our class pages and on Face Book.

Home Learning

The button below will take you to this week's home learning for every year group. Home learning is designed to enable children to practice skills they will need in school and so it is really important that they spend some time over the week on this home learning. 

PFSA Updates

You can find a range of support services on the Support for Families page on our website by clicking this link Support for Families - Peasedown St John Primary School. 

Information on upcoming events will be in the weekly newsletter and noticeboards in the office waiting area and playground. 

If you would like to speak with Catherine about any concerns you have you can call the office or email her directly at pfsa@peasedown.mnsp.org.uk.  My usual working days are Mon-Wed 9:00-3:00.

Preloved Uniform

Don't forget with the nicer weather fast approaching, if you need any summer uniform we have a large selection of preloved shorts, skirts and dresses.  Just pop to the office and a member of staff can help you.

Rainbow Group Tomorrow

Just a reminder that this term's Rainbow Group is tomorrow morning straight after drop off in the small hall.  We have Jazz Nash from SASS (Specialist Autism Support Service) coming to share how they support children and families. 

Helpful links:

Young Carers Spring Newsletter:  Click here

Register here for free activities for young carers

Supporting your child with SATS

EYFS Updates

PSJ BITESIZE Term 5 - Transitions

Starting Reception – Growing Independence

Independence is important for children when starting school as it fosters self-esteem, confidence and problem-solving skills. Independence also prepares children for new experiences, encourages responsibility and helps them cope with challenges. Children who are able to manage tasks independently gain a sense of accomplishment and confidence in their abilities. This positive reinforcement strengthens their self-esteem, making them more likely to try new things and persevere through difficulties.

Independence allows children to handle the transition to school and new environments with more ease. They are better equipped to manage routines, understand expectations and navigate social situations. Children who feel a sense of control over their lives and are able to manage tasks independently experience increased self-esteem and mental well-being. This can help reduce feelings of anxiety and stress when faced with challenges.

Starting Reception - Your child's journey to school starts at home 

Skills for Growing independence

The Starting Reception guidance is a useful new resource for parents of children starting school and is available online at: https://startingreception.co.uk. The first section looks at independence and the skills that children need to help them make a smooth transition into school. Reception classrooms are a busy learning environment, therefore, independence is an important skill. Here are some skills to practice with your child:

Taking care of themselves

Putting on/taking off their coat and shoes

Using the toilet and washing their hands 

Getting dressed with little help, e.g. after using the toilet or doing PE

Using cutlery and drinking from an open cup

Spending time away from you, learning they can be looked after by caring adults

Play, creativity and curiosity

Taking part in imaginative play (e.g. role play)

Drawing, painting, colouring and sticking

Sharing story books with caregivers, looking at pictures and talking about the characters

Exploring the world around them (e.g. looking closely at the natural world or playing safely with objects at home)

How this supports your child in the classroom

When your child comes into school in the morning they need to put their coat on their peg, place their book bag in the book bag box, put their water bottle on a trolley then find their seat at the table to begin the morning activity. This is a lot to remember! The Reception team is on hand to support children with this in the first few weeks of school. However, children need to quickly learn how to be responsible for their own belongings so that they are ready to begin their learning.

Children also need to be able to put on their coat and zip or button it up and be able to put on their shoes. Children change into welly boots to play in the sandpit and at lunchtime where they play on the field which can be wet and muddy, especially in the winter. Organising children to be ready for hometime is another busy time. Children need to find their water bottles, empty their drawers, find their book bag, put on their coat and do it up.

Toileting - children in Reception should be independent in the bathroom. We talk about flushing the toilet, remembering to wash our hands and turning the tap off as well as putting our paper towel in the bin. Although adults do not supervise children when they go to the toilet we do help children when they have an accident with reassurance and bringing them their change of clothes. 

Lunchtimes - The school lunch hall is a busy and noisy place. Reception children are first into the dinner hall when it is quiet. Children line up at the counter to collect their lunch and carry their plate to the table. They also need to be able to cut up their food and use a knife and fork to eat. The Reception team is on hand to help children and we have a class dinner lady. 

Play, creativity and curiosity - Children who are experienced with these activities will feel more confident in the classroom environment to engage in activities of their choosing as well as engage and make new friendships with their peers and adults. Play, creativity and curiosity supports children’s communication and language skills which will help them hold conversations, ask and answer questions and engage in their learning.

The Starting Reception guidance has lots of useful information and activities ideas for you to try to help support your child to get ready for school. There are also some useful links to websites with information on topics such as toilet training, what to expect when your child starts school and how to prepare for starting school.

PSJ BITESIZE Challenge 

Can you put your shoes on?

Parent information

Parents of children starting Reception with us in September should have received a welcome letter from our school. The Reception Team are looking forward to meeting parents on: 

New Reception Parent Meeting - Thursday 14th May @ 5pm

This will be a short meeting in which we will further explain the process of joining our school and the practicalities of day to day life here, as well as meeting school staff and Reception class teachers.

Starting Reception - Your child's journey to school starts at home https://startingreception.co.uk

OPAL and Forest School Updates

We need sticks and branches please!

We are hoping to build a dead head within our Forest School area. If you are pruning your garden over the coming weeks and can gift us your sticks and branches, we will be very grateful. Let us know when you are able to bring them to school and we will arrange to meeti you at the front gate for delivery!

Images below to give you an idea of what we are aiming for:

Community News and Events

Walk of Life - Saturday 23rd May, in support of the Royal United Hospital Bath

This promises to be a fun filled, family friendly day out and a perfect plan for the bank holiday weekend and the start of half term! Walk of Life offers 10, 16 or 26.2 mile routes along the canal path which is pram friendly, dog friendly, and suitable for all ages.

Entry costs £8 per child and £20 per adult which includes:

• A tasty lunchtime BBQ in Bradford on Avon

• Refreshment stops along the way

• A Walk of Life t-shirt and medal

• A finishers’ celebration at the Holburne Museum

Our website mentions suggested fundraising targets of £100 for adults and £50 for children, but please don’t let that put anyone off as these are just targets, and we’d love participants to raise whatever they can while enjoying this special 20th anniversary Walk of Life.

Website: Walk of Life 2026 | RUHX | Official NHS Charity of RUH Bath