Regular Collection Arrangements 

Following a review of our collection processes, we have decided to create a regular collection form to allow parents to share the names of other adults that have permission to collect their child regularly. The class teacher will hold this list and will release to this person without a phone call or visit to the office.  Please note these are only for regular arrangements and are not for playdates. As is outlined on the form, it is the responsibility of the parent to inform school if this list needs updating.  We follow NSPCC guidance for Age of Responsibility so will not dismiss children to older siblings under the age of 16.

Regular Collections Form

Wishing you a lovely weekend. 

Mrs Murphy

As you know we take our Safeguarding duty very seriously here at St James. All staff have received updated training for the Government's Keeping Children Safe in Education (2023). Our Safeguarding Policy has been updated to reflect the training and this can be found here for parents to read if they wish. 

Our Safeguarding team  remains as Mrs Cowden as DSL and Mrs Murphy, Mrs Watts and Mrs Bubb (for Afterschool club) as Deputy DSLs.   We welcome Andrew Short as as our Safeguarding Governor this year and he will be working alongside Mrs Cowden to continually reflect on our practice here at St James. 

The contact details for Mrs Cowden as DSL is DSL@stjames-weybridge.surrey.sch.uk if you have any Safeguarding concerns.

Parents will have today received a letter from Mrs Cowden about the Safeguarding training required ahead of volunteering with us here at St James.  If you are able to help in school, or on school trips over the next year, please do read this email and complete the training. 

On Wednesday 13th September we will be inviting parents to a short meeting where they will be able to meet their child's teachers. 

We have planned two identical sessions to help families who have multiple children across the school. Whilst some of the key messages will be the same across the year groups, these meetings will provide you an opportunity to ask the teachers any burning questions you may have about the year ahead as well as discuss curriculum content.  The handouts will be uploaded to our website for parents who are unable to attend.

The Meet the Teacher sessions will take place at  4.15 pm and 5pm. 

Parents will enter through the main school gate and make their way to the following classrooms using the external doors. 

Year 1: Wrens classroom

Year 2: Kingfishers classroom

Year 3: Lodge 

Year 4: Main School Hall 

Year 5: Kites Class: walk around the Lodge and up the slope, towards the rear classroom doors. This is the first classroom you come to. 

Year 6: Eagles in Year 6 Annex

At the end of the first session, we will be asking that parents exit via the external classroom doors and move to the next year group meeting.  

Please note that due to the nature of the meetings, the teachers will not have time to have individual parent discussions. If you do have any confidential questions or concerns to discuss, please send an email to the office and the teacher will contact you as soon as they can. 

As there has been further news coverage on Reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete (RAAC) in schools over the last week, and updated Government guidance on this, we would like to provide further information about the situation at St James.

In April 2022, we had our regular condition survey commissioned by Surrey County Council that did not identify RAAC in any of our buildings. Upon the release of the new government guidance, as a precautionary measure, we fully reviewed the survey report and completed a further visual inspection using the DFE guidance as recommended.

In light of the new updated government guidance on this, and the age of some of our school buildings, Surrey County Council have now offered us a further survey. Whilst Surrey do not have any evidence that RAAC is present at St James, we will be arranging this update survey as soon as possible to ensure that all areas in school remain safe for pupils and staff.    Surrey County Council is working at pace to determine whether RAAC is present in their schools, and we will be supporting them in conducting all further checks they require to meet this new Government guidance. It is an absolute priority for both the school and Surrey County Council to keep children and staff safe, and to help children access full time education.  We will provide any updates relating to St James as soon as possible.

Prospective parent tours can be booked here: https://forms.gle/Zxe696VWYbbKEz6z6

Please share with anyone who may be interest in booking a place on the tour. 

See website for more dates. INSET Days have been set for the academic Year 2023/4. More information can be found on the website here: https://www.stjames-weybridge.surrey.sch.uk/term-dates-1/  

If your child has started in Year 3, they will no longer receive a Universal Free School Meal which is provided for all children in Years R-2. If you would like your child to continue to have a hot school meal, please ensure they are ordered through the SCOPAY app/website in advance. The cost of a meals for KS2 pupils is £2.70 per day.  

All KS2 pupils who are having a school meal should book in advance through SCOPAY.