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Our Spiritual, Moral, Social and Cultural focus for the week... World Book Day
Our Spiritual, Moral, Social and Cultural focus for the week... World Book Day
What a spectacular World Book Day we had! The corridors were a vibrant tapestry of characters, and I want to extend a huge "thank you" to all our parents and carers for the incredible effort put into the costumes.
The highlight of our special assembly was undoubtedly our rendition of The Book With No Pictures by B.J. Novak. Hearing the entire hall erupt in giggles as Mr Boot was forced to say "Blork" and "Gluggy-wug" reminded us all that reading isn't just a skill—it’s a joy.
The children also took part in our 'Staff Favourite Book Trail.' It was wonderful to see them hunting for clues and discovering which stories shaped the adults who teach them every day. At Wincham, we don’t just teach children to read; we invite them to fall in love with stories.
Creative Ways To Encourage Reading
Creative Ways To Encourage Reading
With reading for pleasure in decline, this practical guide offers ten thoughtful ways to reignite children’s enthusiasm for books. From valuing all forms of reading to broadening access to diverse materials, it explores how adults can nurture positive reading habits both at home and in school. Digital tools, audiobooks and augmented reality are also considered as engaging ways to support today’s readers.
It also highlights the power of social connection – recommending books, reading together and meeting authors – alongside the importance of modelling reading ourselves. With expert insight from literacy specialist Carl Pattison, this edition provides supportive, achievable ideas to help young people reconnect with reading and see it as a meaningful part of everyday life.
Upcoming WFF Events
Upcoming WFF Events
Non Uniform Day
Non Uniform Day
Friday 20/3/26 is a non uniform day in school in return for donations to the World Famous WFF Chocolate Tombola at the Easter Eggstravaganza
Yes Day
Yes Day
Friday 27/3/26 is Yes Day! Teachers will be saying Yes to some different and unusual things for the day! £1 donation to take part.
Jacob's Pizza will be serving in the car park from 3.25pm onwards
Easter Eggstravaganza
Easter Eggstravaganza
27/3/26 Our annual Easter Disco is back! Fun, games and choclate from 6pm onwards.
Supporting Our Families: Free School Meals and Pupil Premium
Supporting Our Families: Free School Meals and Pupil Premium
At Wincham, we are committed to ensuring every child has the fuel they need to learn and thrive. We want to make sure no family misses out on the support available through Cheshire West and Chester (CWAC).
Support for Your Family For our older pupils, eligibility for free school meals is based on household income and specific benefits (such as Universal Credit or Income Support).
Why Apply? (Even if your child prefers a packed lunch!) Registering for benefits-related free school meals does more than just provide a daily meal. It unlocks vital Pupil Premium funding for our school, which we use to provide extra staff, resources, and support for our students. It also grants your family access to:
Holiday food vouchers.
The Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) Programme.
How to Apply: The process is quick and confidential. You can apply:
Online: Via the Cheshire West and Chester website.
By Phone: Call 0300 123 7021.
By Email: Contact benefits@cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk.
If you have any questions or need a hand with the application, please pop into the office for a private chat. We are here to help!
Master Maths in Just 60 Seconds!
Master Maths in Just 60 Seconds!
Boosting Number Confidence at Home
As part of our commitment to ensuring every child at Wincham feels capable and confident in their learning, we want to highlight a brilliant (and free!) resource: the White Rose 1-Minute Maths app.
Who is it for? The app is primarily aimed at Key Stage 1 (Years 1 and 2) and Foundation Stage (Reception), but it is also a fantastic tool for older pupils who want to sharpen their "mental gymnastics" and speed up their recall, including times tables.
Why we love it:
It’s Quick: As the name suggests, tasks last just one minute. It’s perfect for that "in-between" time—while waiting for tea to be ready or during the drive to swimming lessons.
No Stress: There are no logins, no passwords, and no adverts. Once downloaded, children can jump straight in.
Builds Fluency: It focuses on the basics—adding, subtracting, subitising (recognising groups of objects), and even multiplication.
Helpful Hints: If a child gets stuck, they can tap a "hint" button that shows the problem in a visual way, just like we teach it in class.
We want our children to "dream big" with their education, and having a solid foundation in number fluency is the first step. Why not give it a try this week?
How to get started: Simply search for "1-Minute Maths" in your app store or visit the link below: [Insert Link: https://whiteroseeducation.com/1-minute-maths#download]
Can You Spare a Story? We Need You!
Can You Spare a Story? We Need You!
At Wincham, we know that being a confident reader is the key to unlocking the entire curriculum. While our staff provide expert phonics and reading instruction, there is nothing quite like the magic of a child sitting down and sharing a book one-on-one with a friendly adult.
We are looking for volunteers to join our "Reading Army" to hear children read in school. Whether you are a parent, grandparent, or a friend of the school, just 30 minutes of your time can make a world of difference to a child’s confidence and fluency. If you would like to support our pupils in this rewarding way, please contact the school office or speak to your child’s class teacher. Let’s help our children "Grow and Dream" through the power of reading!
All volunteers must be DBS checked, and this can be done by the school admin team.
Small Steps, Big Change: Joining the Smartphone Free Childhood Movement
Small Steps, Big Change: Joining the Smartphone Free Childhood Movement
At Wincham, our motto "Together, we learn, grow, and dream" extends far beyond the classroom walls. We are increasingly mindful of the challenges posed by the digital world and the impact early access to smartphones can have on children’s mental health, sleep, and social development.
We are proud to support the Smartphone Free Childhood movement—a parent-led initiative aiming to protect our children from the pressures of the online world until they are older and more resilient.
How can you help? There is a national conversation happening right now about raising the legal age for smartphone ownership. We are encouraging our Wincham parents to lend their voices to this cause. It takes less than 60 seconds to write to our local MP using this simple, pre-written tool:
👉 Raise the Age: Contact Your MP Here
By working together, we can ensure that our children enjoy a childhood filled with real-world play, face-to-face friendships, and the space to grow without the distractions of a smartphone. For more information on the movement, visit www.smartphonefreechildhood.org.
Follow on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/smartphonefreechildhood/
Good Attendance - The Foundation For Your Child's Best Start!
Good Attendance - The Foundation For Your Child's Best Start!
Looking for a Nursery place?
Looking for a Nursery place?
Our Butterflies Nursery is a happy and exciting place for your child to start their educational journey.
We can support you with a smooth transition from being at home to learning through play in a safe environment with high quality resources to facilitate play, staffed by qualified teachers who care about the children and will support them to achieve their very best.
We offer a flexible package using the government's 15 (or 30 if eligible) hours of free childcare for 3 & 4 year olds, with additional hours if required.
Please read our prospectus, or contact a member of the team by ringing 01606 288060 or emailing nursery@winchamcp.cheshire.sch.uk or to express interest in a place, please complete the online form.
Never Miss an Event: Your School Calendar is Online!
Never Miss an Event: Your School Calendar is Online!
We understand how busy family life can be, and ensuring you have all the dates for school events, holidays, and key class activities is a priority for us. To make this easier than ever, we have made our full, up-to-the-minute school calendar a central feature on our school website.
Every term date, every PTA event, every assembly, and every school trip is uploaded here, and it is the single most accurate source of information. You can even subscribe to the calendar from your phone or home computer so the dates automatically appear in your own personal calendar app!
Calendar Links:
Calendar Links:
We're on social media!
We're on social media!
We are really excited to share more of our school life with you and the wider community. You can find us on:
We will be using these pages to share all the good things happening in school, celebrate pupil successes, and give you a sneak peek into our daily adventures. It's a great way to stay connected and see what your children are getting up to!
Do give our pages a 'like' and a 'follow' to see our posts pop up in your feed. We would love for you to comment and share our posts too, to help spread the word about our amazing school.
Please remember, the weekly newsletter will always be the best place for detailed information and key updates. Our social media pages are there for sharing all the good news and showing off our brilliant community.
All of our posts will follow our school's social media policy and the permissions you granted when your child started school. If you have any questions, please do get in touch.
Stars of the Week
Stars of the Week
This week's gratitude award
Butterflies Nursery - Jaxson Eyre
Foxes Reception - Alfie Harrison
Rabbits Year 1 - Alfie Lane
Grasshoppers Year 1 & 2 - Devan Gibbons
Bumblebees Year 2 & 3 - Albie Travis
Hedgehogs Year 3 - Billy Edge
Badgers Year 4 - Teddy Newman
Magpies Year 5 - Oliver Newman
Dragonflies Year 6 - Niamh Tracey
Reader of the week
Reader of the week
Butterflies Nursery - Ruby Oorloff
Foxes Reception - George Greatorex
Rabbits Year 1 - Umaima Azmat
Grasshoppers Year 1 & 2 - Emily Harris
Bumblebees Year 2 & 3 - Harriet Wilson
Hedgehogs Year 3 - Emily Robinson
Badgers Year 4 - Azlan Khan
Magpies Year 5 - Orla Harwood
Dragonflies Year 6 - Annabelle Sutton
Writer of the week
Writer of the week
Butterflies Nursery - Oliver Oldbury
Foxes Reception - Lucy Chilvers
Rabbits Year 1 - Harper Trevett
Grasshoppers Year 1 & 2 - Cillian McCullough
Bumblebees Year 2 & 3 - Umi Ryan
Hedgehogs Year 3 - Holly Chilvers
Badgers Year 4 - Charlie Merryhedges
Magpies Year 5 - Arlo Burton
Dragonflies Year 6 - Luis Welby
Mathematician of the week
Mathematician of the week
Butterflies Nursery - Zaviyah Khan
Foxes Reception - River Jones
Rabbits Year 1 - Ali Khan
Grasshoppers Year 1 & 2 - Miya Garner
Bumblebees Year 2 & 3 - Lily Waldron
Hedgehogs Year 3 - Lily Gildea
Badgers Year 4 - Harry Johnson
Magpies Year 5 - Maddie Silva
Dragonflies Year 6 - Cameron Parker
Top Tips for Parents & Educators: Adult Animated Content
Top Tips for Parents & Educators: Adult Animated Content
Adult animated content is increasingly visible on platforms such as YouTube, TikTok and streaming services. While the bright visuals and cartoon style may seem harmless at first glance, many of these shows and clips are created specifically for mature audiences, featuring strong language, sexual references, graphic violence and unsettling themes.
This #WakeUpWednesday guide helps parents and educators understand the risks, from misleading visuals and algorithm-driven recommendations to desensitisation and edgy humour. It also offers practical advice on platform settings, open conversations and building children’s critical thinking, so young people can navigate online animation safely and confidently.
Wincham Family & Friends news
Wincham Family & Friends news
Our wonderful PTA make a fantastic difference to the lives of the children by providing resources that enhance their learning. If you think you could help with an event, or have ideas about new events, please get in touch.
Contact us on -
email - wffcommittee@gmail.com
whats app - 07800837859
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/WinchamSchoolFamilyandFriends/
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/winchamschoolfamilyandfriends/
Twitter - https://twitter.com/WinchamWFF
Financial & Wellbeing Support for Families
Financial & Wellbeing Support for Families
There are a range of services we can signpost to, including financial support. There is a wide range of information available on the school website. This includes the Foodbank, free uniform, wider support with rising cost of living, and a range of other things.
If you are struggling financially, please don't hesitate to speak to Mr Boot or Ms Boag-Munroe.
Very Green Grocery - Northwich & Winsford
Very Green Grocery - Northwich & Winsford
If you're looking to eat well for less, be sure to visit The Winsford Community Hub and Very Green Grocery Northwich for discounted bags of food.
For just £7, you can fill up a shopping bag of essentials as well as lots of treats. Check out their Facebook pages to see what they have on offer.
This is especially helpful as we approach Christmas, where we know money can be tight.
In Christmas week there is always lots of fresh food - including turkeys - and they often run extra sessions with lots of goodies at extremely affordable prices that boost anyone's budget (past offers for example, 2 fresh chickens for £1 and 5 CoOp Irresistible Pizzas for £5)
All offers and extra sessions are posted on the Very Green Grocery Facebook pages.
Heating Costs - Information from Citizens' Advice
Heating Costs - Information from Citizens' Advice
Many families are struggling with rising energy bills, and some risk fuel poverty. Citizens Advice Cheshire West, funded by CWaC’s Household Support Fund, runs a Heating bank to provide emergency help with heating costs.
The Heating Bank is designed for families and individuals who may be struggling to keep their homes warm this winter. By offering temporary relief with heating costs, the service aims to reduce the health risks, stress, and hardship caused by cold homes.
Last year, we supported around 1,000 households with an average of £233 each towards energy bills. The service is free, confidential, and offers quick assistance to households on benefits who are struggling to stay warm.
How to access the Heating Bank:
Families can apply directly https://www.citizensadvicecw.org.uk/heatingbank/
Support is available to households who are in receipt of benefits and struggling to meet their energy costs.
The service is free, confidential, and designed to provide quick assistance.
By working together, we hope to make sure no family has to choose between heating and other essentials.
Staying Safe Online - resources for parents and carers
Staying Safe Online - resources for parents and carers
Below are some useful links to help parents and carers:
https://kidsonlinesafety.campaign.gov.uk/ Government website to support families and encourage regular conversations about what they’re seeing online, asking simple questions, like “who shared this” and “why?”. Based on parents’ main concerns and needs, it provides tips for parents’ conversations with their children, actions to support each stage of their child’s life & parental controls information. The website also signposts to trusted resources from charities and third parties, where parents can access other forms of support (like speaking to an expert).
Supporting Families from Google Parenting today involves raising the first generation of children growing up with technology all around them — at school, at home and in their pockets. As you chart the path that feels right for your family, Google is here to help.
Thinkyouknow (advice from the National Crime Agency to stay safe online)
Internet matters (support for parents and carers to keep their children safe online)
Parent info (support for parents and carers to keep their children safe online)
LGfL (support for parents and carers to keep their children safe online)
Let’s Talk About It (support for parents and carers to keep children safe from online radicalisation)
UK Safer Internet Centre (tips, advice, guides)
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