Weekly Newsletter

Key Dates

• Wednesday 16th September - Phonics Workshop for New Starters (09:00 - 10:00)

• Friday 18th September - Year 4 Quad Kids (at school) as part of PE

• Tuesday 22nd September - Avon Fire and Rescue in with children

• Wednesday 23rd September - Year 6 Camp meeting and SATs Meeting (5:15 - 6:15)

• Thursday 24th September - PTFA AGM (6:00 at school)

• Tuesday 29th September - Cross Country Event (after school)

• Wednesday 30th September - Kingfisher Class Stone Age Workshop

• Monday 5th - 9th October 2026 - Year 6 Camp

• Wednesday 14th October - Wiltshire + Bath Air Ambulance - AWARE+ Training Y5 Pupils

• Week Commencing 19/10 - Parents' Evening (dates to be confirmed)

• Wednesday 21st October - End of Term 1 for Pupils

• Thursday 22nd October and Friday 23rd October - Inset Days

Mr Lyle's Weekly Update

What a marvellous first week back at Welton! The classrooms have been abuzz with energy, learning and the joyous sounds of our school family returning for another exciting year. On a personal note, I have absolutely loved my very first week as your Headteacher. It has been a true privilege to welcome the children through the gates each morning, and I cannot wait to see all the wonderful things this year holds for us.

We spent the start of the week exploring the theme of new beginnings. Starting a new school year often brings a mix of eager anticipation and a few understandable butterflies. To help process these feelings, we shared the delightful story The Worrysaurus. Together, we explored how talking about our worries—and filling our minds with all the wonderful things that make us happy—can help chase those fears away.

Building Foundations in the HEART of Our Community

This week, we also launched our inspiring new school values. Centred around our tagline—building foundations in the HEART of our community—these core values will shape our daily life at school:

• H – Honesty: Always choosing truthfulness, integrity, and openness.

• E – Empathy: Showing kindness and caring deeply about the feelings of others.

• A – Aspiration: Aiming high, dreaming big, and trying our best in everything we do.

• R – Resilience: Bouncing back from setbacks with determination and a positive attitude.

• T – Togetherness: Working as one supportive team across our school and local community.

On a similar note, a huge shout-out must go to our fabulous Reception children who have officially embarked on their school journey this week. We have been so impressed with how smoothly and confidently they have all settled into the nest! I know myself, Mrs Blackmore and the rest of the team have loved getting to know you and cannot wait to build your learning foundations throughout your time at Welton. 

To top off a fantastic week, we are all looking forward to this evening’s Welton Bounce! A massive thank you to our brilliant PTFA for organising such a wonderful event for us all to enjoy.

We are so lucky to be part of the special community here at Welton. Wishing all of our families a relaxing and enjoyable weekend!

Allergy Updates on Arbor

We thought at the start of a new school year it would be helpful to summarise how to add medical info to Arbor and give some general info around illness.

Arbor: Add all medical conditions, events, notes, diagnosed allergies, intolerances (eg, cannot eat egg but can eat cake containing egg), and preferences (eg won't eat a strawberry but likes strawberry jam/jelly). Upload supporting documents (eg, doctor/clinic letters), list medications taken (in or out of school), and details of symptoms. Please add a medical condition and then add any dietary need within that medical tab, rather than just using the dietary tab.

School Grid: Add all food allergies and intolerances (please note that this will limit the meal choices available to you)

Medication & Condition Management

• Anaphylaxis: Provide 2 auto-injectors to be kept in school.

• Asthma: Provide a reliever inhaler (preferably with a spacer) to be with your child daily, plus a spare inhaler to be held in the main office.

• ADHD / Controlled Substances: Inform the school immediately if your child takes medication at home or school (eg, Melatonin, Methylphenidate Hydrochloride) so strict storage protocols can be followed.

• General Medication: Hand all prescribed medication directly to the office and complete the required paperwork. Do not send non-prescription items (e.g., throat sweets, Bonjela) or any medication containing aspirin with your child.

• Antibiotics: Note that school will only administer a dose if prescribed for 4 times daily (3 times daily must be managed at home).

• Healthcare Plans: If your child has an existing Individual Medical Healthcare Plans and you have a copy handy, please note any amendments/updates and give to the office (the school will reach out within the next week where this is not the case).

Infection Prevention Control & Absences

• Sickness / Diarrhoea: Keep children home for at least 48 hours after the last episode.

• General Anaesthetic: Keep children home for at least 24 hours following a procedure, subject to medical advice.

• General Illness: Notify the school office of the specific diagnosis for any standard childhood illness.

If you have any questions or queries please let the Office know.

Building Foundations in the Heart of Our Community - Well Done Leo S

Building a strong community starts with quiet, practical acts of care at its very HEART. Recognising how long the summer break can feel for families, Leo demonstrated genuine empathy for local children by looking for simple, engaging ways to make their holiday better. Partnering with Hayley (Norton’s resident face painter), Leo turned that care into action.

After collecting and painting an initial set of rocks, they established a 12-stone trail at the Somer Centre. Leo’s initiative shows how simple thoughtfulness lays the real foundations of togetherness, giving local kids a fun, active project to enjoy close to home. Take a moment to check out the trail on your next walk past the Somer Centre and celebrate the everyday kindness that keeps our community connected.

Phonics Workshop

Join us this Wednesday from 9:00 AM – 10:00 AM for a practical Phonics Workshop tailored for parents and carers of Reception, Year 1, and Year 2 children.

This interactive session is a fantastic opportunity to:

• See phonics in action: Discover exactly how phonics is taught in the classroom and how children build their decoding skills.

• Understand the impact: Learn why reading together at home is vital for your child’s confidence, vocabulary, and overall progress.

• Take home simple strategies: Gain easy, effective ideas to support your child's daily reading habits without any stress.

No need to book in advance—just sign in at the office on the morning and enjoy! We look forward to seeing you there.

Safeguarding Updates - DSLs and Mobile Phones

At Welton, the safety, well-being, and protection of our children and families is our highest priority. We maintain an open-door policy, so please know that our team is always available to offer support, guidance, or a listening ear whenever you need it.

Our Safeguarding Team

• Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL): Mr Phil Lyle

• Deputy DSLs: Ms Cindy James and Mrs Alex Allen

• Safeguarding Governor: Mrs Sarah Lemmon

While myself, Ms James, and Mrs Allen manage daily safety and support, Mrs Lemmon works alongside us to ensure our policies and practices strictly align with government guidelines.

Mobile Phones in School Guidance

In response to updated guidance regarding mobile phones in schools, we are asking for your cooperation with the following safety measures on site:

• Parents & Visitors: Please ensure your mobile phones are put away and kept out of sight at all times while on school grounds.

• Students: Children who bring a mobile phone to school must hand it directly into the main office upon arrival each morning.

Thank you for your ongoing support and partnership in keeping Welton a safe environment for everyone.

Bath Parent Carer Forum

On Thursday, last week, we were joined by Bath Parent Carer Forum who are looking at ways that we can support our families. 

From this, we have arranged for members of the forum to join us during our Parent/Carer Evening on the Wednesday. If you would like to meet them on the 21st October, they will based in The Snug and will be available for drop ins. 

Similarly, they are always willing to help. If you would like us to put you in contact with them, please let us know and we would be happy to do so. 

We can't wait to continue our partnership with them and make our school even more inclusive for our children and families.

Online Safety - ChatGPT Parental Controls

ChatGPT has parental controls which allow a parent or guardian to link their account with a teenager's account and manage a range of settings.

Parents can control things such as:

• additional safeguards around sensitive content;

• Voice Mode;

• image generation;

• memory;

• quiet hours;

• and some other ChatGPT features.

Importantly, linking the accounts does not allow a parent to read their teenager's conversations or monitor their chat history.

This could be a useful link to share with parents, particularly those whose children are already using ChatGPT.

Link: Managing parental controls in ChatGPT

Welton Bounce

Our pupils had a fantastic time at the Welton Bounce, filling the playground with energy and laughing nonstop as they bounced on the trampolines. It was a magnificent event, and seeing the children enjoy themselves so much made it a huge success!

Help Us Keep the Magic Going – Join the PTFA!

Events like the Welton Bounce only happen thanks to the dedication of our Parent, Teacher and Friends Association (PTFA). We have our Annual General Meeting (AGM) coming up soon, and we warmly invite new parents and carers to get involved.

We need your help to ensure we can continue creating memorable experiences and making Welton the best school it can possibly be. Whether you can lend a hand at events, share fresh ideas, or help behind the scenes, every bit of support makes a genuine difference.

If you are interested in joining or simply want to find out more, please let the school office know or pop in for a chat!

Parents' Evenings

Our Autumn Term Parent/Carer Evening will take place during the week commencing 19th October.

This is a wonderful opportunity to meet with your child's teacher, discuss how they have settled into their new year group, and review their progress and target areas for the term ahead.

• Dates & Times: Specific day choices and appointment times will be confirmed shortly.

• How to Book: You will be able to book on Arbor - this will go live this Friday.

We look forward to connecting with you to celebrate your child's learning and support their ongoing progress.

Clubs

Please remember to log into the Arbor Parent Portal or App to book your child's after-school clubs for the upcoming term.

• Where to book: Go to Activities > Clubs within the Arbor App.

• Availability: Spaces are allocated on a first-come, first-served basis, so we encourage early booking to secure your child's preferred choices.

Need help? If you have any trouble logging in or navigating Arbor, please contact the school office for assistance.