Return to school

After our first full week at school for Years 1 to 4 and with our Early Years classes back in from Tuesday it feels like we are back to normal. Hopefully everyone has settled in well and enjoying their new classes. The weather has been a bit up and down and I think we experienced every season last week. Even on sunny days, it is worth sending children in with a coat because the temperature drops quickly when the sun goes in and a rain shower never seems to far away. 

Please remember to name school uniform, especially jumpers / cardigans and coats, hats and gloves etc. It is very hard to return clothing without names. Our lost property box is situated inside the school near the KS2 doors. If you need to have a search through, please ask a member of staff at the KS2 doors who can pass it out to you.

New Fixed Penalty Notice fines

The  Department for Education has introduced new rules regarding the application of Fixed Penalty Notices for absences. These are the fines that are given to parents when they have 10 sessions (5 full days) of unauthorised absences. These are usually given for term-time holidays but can also be used for parents whose children are persistently absent.

The fines charged to parents will rise from £60 to £80 if paid within 21 days. After this time, the fine increases to £160. Schools still decide whether to issue fines, but Central Bedfordshire Council administer them.

A significant change is that from this term, only two fines can be issued to the same parent for the same child within a three-year rolling period. Any second fine will automatically be charged at £160. 

Only two fines can be applied in a 3-year period. Once this limit has been reached, if parents once again reach the threshold for a fine, other action like a parenting order or prosecution will be considered. 

For more information, I recommend reading the blog post from the DfE:

https://educationhub.blog.gov.uk/2024/08/19/fines-for-parents-for-taking-children-out-of-school-what-you-need-to-know/

Reading Team

Last year we were very lucky to have some really dedicated parents give up some time to come in and hear children read. It is such a valuable experience because the opportunity to read at length for 10 - 15 minutes really helps children build up the bank of words that they can read automatically. The impact on their reading was significant and they made faster progress than other children in their class.

Understandably, we would like to replicate and build on this success and so I am asking for more volunteers to join our Reading Team. To make it convenient, we ask you to come in at 3.10pm on a Wednesday and Thursday so that you can read with one child (the same one each week) and then collect your child at 3.25 / 3.30pm. This should mean it is more convenient as you will be heading to school around this time anyway.

We are also happy to have volunteers who come in for a longer period on different days and times to read with more than one child. 

We have to do a criminal records check which is free and requires minimal personal information, e.g. name, DoB, address and 3 forms of ID.

If you would like to volunteer, please email or pop into the school office and enquire. 

Music Lessons

Would your child like to play the violin, cello or piano? Central Bedfordshire Inspiring Music Service are able to offer musical instrument tuition during the day at Watling. There is a cost to parents depending on the length of the lesson. 20 minutes is the usual length of time and they cost £15.99. More information and the other price options can be found at:

https://www.inspiringmusic.co.uk/lessons-schools/overview

Makaton - Sings of the week

Diary Dates

Wednesday 18th September - Year 3/4 boys football event

Friday 20th September - Year 3/4 girls football event

Friday 27th September - MacMillan Coffee Morning

                                                     - Year 1/2 mixed football event

October - Black History Month

Friday 4th October - Harvest assembly and collection

Friday 11th October - Black History Day

Wednesday 17th October - Priory Open Evening for Year 4s

Wednesday 23rd October - Parent Consultation Evening

Thursday 24th October - Parent Consultation Evening

Friday 25th October - Golden Apple Assembly

                                               - Class Dojo Treat

                                                - Last day of half term

Week beginning 28th October - Half term holiday

Monday 4th November - Return to school