Autumn term 2025 newsletters

It was wonderful to welcome all our pupils, staff, and many of our families to our special Harvest Festival assembly this week. These occasions are so important to us at Wincham Community Primary School as they perfectly reflect the values of community, care, and responsibility that we aim to instil in every child.

Our pupils have worked incredibly hard to prepare readings, songs, and poems, all beautifully expressing thanks for the food we have and a keen awareness of those in our local area who may be less fortunate. The standard of their performance and their respectful, thoughtful behaviour was a true testament to their developing sense of empathy and citizenship.

A True Community Effort

Thank you so much to all our families for your exceptionally generous donations. The sheer volume of non-perishable goods was truly humbling and demonstrates the caring spirit of our Wincham community. As we often say, we are a school where every child is known, cared for, and supported, and this extends to how we teach them to care for others in the wider world.

All donations have been passed to a local charity that supports families in Northwich and the surrounding villages. This act of giving is a powerful, practical lesson for our pupils about what it means to be a positive citizen, and it supports our ethos of ensuring our children are happy, capable, and responsible young people.

Our Commitment to Personal Development

Harvest is a brilliant example of how we promote personal development at Wincham—a key strength recognised in our recent Ofsted report. Our commitment goes far beyond the academic curriculum; we strive to ensure our pupils leave us as well-rounded individuals, ready to contribute to their community and to wider society.

It was also very lovely to hear from our friends at Njoro DEB School in Kenya, and to see the work they have been doing planting avocado trees in the school grounds. There have been a lot of photo updates showing the children and staff working to clear ground for their food produce work.

🎃 A Purposeful Pumpkin Patch in Nursery! ⚖️

What a brilliantly busy and engaging week we’ve had in our Nursery class! Our youngest learners have been enjoying some fantastic, hands-on activities all about pumpkins, transforming a simple Autumnal tradition into rich learning experiences.

We firmly believe that learning through meaningful play is the most effective way to build a strong foundation for future learning. This week, the pumpkins have been at the heart of our curriculum, allowing the children to seamlessly develop essential skills:

Communication and Language: A large focus was on our very own Pumpkin Shop role-play area! The children used clear, confident language to ask for specific sizes, negotiate prices, and discuss how they were going to use their 'purchases.' Our expert staff skilfully interacted with the children, extending their vocabulary with words like 'gourd,' 'segment,' 'pulp,' and 'circumference.'
Mathematics: The children were introduced to concepts of size and weight. They used scales to weigh their pumpkins, comparing which was 'heavier' and which was 'lighter.' This is practical, immediate learning that helps them grasp early mathematical concepts, fully supporting our ambitious curriculum design.
Personal Development: The children showed great cooperation while working in teams to clean the pumpkins. This activity, while messy, teaches them responsibility, fine motor skills, and the value of working together. They confidently shared equipment and listened to instructions, quickly learning the expected behaviour for a new task—a testament to how securely they settle into our Early Years provision.

It’s truly wonderful to watch our Nursery children settle in so confidently and quickly master new skills. They are receiving expert instruction and building the strong foundations they need to become happy, capable, and responsible young people.

If you know a family considering a Nursery or Reception place for their child, please direct them to the Admissions section on our school website to see the fantastic start we offer at Wincham Community Primary School.

External Validation Confirms Our Commitment to Excellence

We were delighted this week to host Adam Gatrad and Oli Wilson, School Improvement Partners from Inclusive Improvement. Adam & Oli are experienced headteachers and educational leadership consultants. They visited our school to conduct a full-day quality assurance review, examining our practices, reviewing our curriculum, and, most importantly, observing our wonderful pupils and staff in action.

The purpose of this external review is to provide an honest, objective perspective on our improvement journey. I am thrilled to share that the feedback was overwhelmingly positive and provides powerful validation of the caring, supportive environment we all work hard to create here at Wincham.

Key Highlights from the Review

Our Partners recognised and celebrated many of the strengths you see every day, with particular praise for the children and our dedicated staff. The following are direct quotes from their report:

Ethos and Care: "A caring, inclusive ethos where every child feels safe, valued and supported."
Pupil Behaviour: "Pupils’ behaviour and attitudes are exemplary — children are polite, well-mannered, and demonstrate impressive levels of self-regulation. They move calmly around school, interact respectfully, and show pride in themselves and their learning."
Reading and Literacy: "A rich and well-celebrated reading culture is evident across the school... Phonics and early reading are significant strengths, with Read Write Inc. (Phonics scheme) well embedded and staff demonstrating confidence, consistency, and skill in delivery."
Early Years: "Early Years provision is of high quality, characterised by enthusiastic, self-directed learners and purposeful use of both indoor and outdoor spaces."
Staff and Leadership: "Relationships between adults and pupils are exceptionally positive, creating learning environments where children feel confident and motivated to succeed."

It is clear that the children were our finest ambassadors, demonstrating their strong sense of responsibility and positive attitudes throughout the day.

Our Continuous Improvement Journey

Crucially, the next steps identified regarding our curriculum refinement were already high priorities on our School Development Plan. This reinforces that we have the right priorities and a strong, reflective approach to leadership here at Wincham. As one partner noted: "Calm, reflective and collaborative leadership, setting a positive tone that is mirrored in classrooms."

We are not complacent; we are always striving to be better. This report simply confirms that we know our school well and have the collective commitment to ensure all pupils achieve their best.

To any prospective parents in the Northwich area, we warmly invite you to book a tour and see this exemplary behaviour and high-quality provision for yourself.

Find out more about the high quality of education and care at Wincham Community Primary School by visiting our 'About Us' section online.

Get Spooky, Get Down! The Wincham Halloween Disco is Coming!

We are thrilled to announce that the spectacular annual Wincham Halloween Disco is just around the corner! Get ready for an evening of spooky fun, fantastic dancing, and community spirit, all organised by our wonderful Wincham Family & Friends PTA.

When? Friday, 24th October Time? 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM Where? The Community Centre

This is one of the biggest social events of the school calendar, and it’s a brilliant opportunity for the children (and grown-ups!) to come together for a great night out.

How You Can Support the Fun!

To help make the stalls a great success, we are holding a special fundraising event:

Tombola Non-Uniform Day:

Date: Thursday, 16th October 2025
What to do: Children can come to school in their own clothes in exchange for a donation to the Tombola.
Donations Needed: Please bring in an item for the Tombola stall (e.g., Halloween themed sweets, chocolates, cakes, decorations etc.) Please note: This is a normal non-uniform day, not a Halloween dress-up day.

Here’s a taste of what’s in store at the disco:

Disco & Party Games: Get your dancing shoes on and show off your best spooky moves!
Terrifying Treats: Hot dogs and delicious baked potatoes with your choice of chilli or beans.
The Spooky Stalls: Try your luck at the Tombola, get a gruesome makeover at the Spooky Face Painting station, play fun Halloween Games, and dive into the Lucky Dip. Don't forget to Guess the Sweets in a Jar!
For the Grown-Ups: Our PTA will be running a Licensed Bar and Mocktail Bar for parents and carers to enjoy a catch-up.

Why is this important? Every penny raised from the disco goes directly back into the school to fund resources, equipment, and enrichment activities that benefit all our pupils. By attending, you are supporting our commitment to making Wincham a vibrant and well-resourced learning environment for every child.

Treetops Halloween Party – Book Now Before It Sells Out!

Get ready for a spooktacular afternoon because the Treetops After School Club Halloween Party is here! Due to popular demand (our official naming party sold out incredibly fast!), we are opening bookings for our Halloween extravaganza on Wednesday, 22nd October 2025. Please note, this is a separate event to the WFF event on Friday 14/10/25.

The children are in for an afternoon packed with fun and games, delicious spooky food and treats, and a fantastic festive atmosphere. We have limited places available, and we expect them to be snapped up quickly, so please book soon to avoid disappointment!

A Quick Note on Costumes:

As the children will be coming straight to Treetops directly after the school day, we kindly ask that they do not wear full costumes to school. Instead, they are welcome to bring one or two small, fun, Halloween-themed items to pop on for the party, such as a witch's hat, a themed jumper, or some spooky accessories. We won't be able to help apply face paints! This keeps things safe and sensible during the school day.

How to Book:

Book your child's place online now at: https://wincham.hivelink.co.uk/ Please remember, usual Treetops session prices apply.

Don't miss out on what promises to be a wonderfully spooky and exciting afternoon!

Treetops News: Get Ready for our Autumn Movie Night!

We are delighted to announce the next exciting event from our popular Treetops After School Club – a special Movie Night for the children!

When: Monday 20th October 2025

What: We'll be showing the family-friendly adventure, "K-Pop Demon Hunters", complete with popcorn and refreshments!

Time: 3:30 pm – 6:00 pm

Booking is Essential!

Places for the Movie Night are limited and must be booked online. Please secure your child's spot as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.

👉 To book and pay for your child's place, please visit the https://wincham.hivelink.co.uk/

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:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/winchamprimaryschool/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/winchamprimaryschool/

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

This week's gratitude award

Butterflies Nursery - Amelie Blakeley-Gott

Foxes Reception - Ren Williams

Rabbits Year 1 - Rosa Pickering

Grasshoppers Year 1 & 2 - Rory Gibbons

Bumblebees Year 2 & 3 - Saffir Evans

Hedgehogs Year 3 - Morgan Venter

Badgers Year 4 - Finley Burns

Magpies Year 5 - Maddie Silva

Dragonflies Year 6 - Summer Brown

Reader of the week

Butterflies Nursery - Arthur Garner

Foxes Reception - Ivy Harris

Rabbits Year 1 - Ali Khan

Grasshoppers Year 1 & 2 - Lucie Earl

Bumblebees Year 2 & 3 - Oakley Wells

Hedgehogs Year 3 - Becca Heesom

Badgers Year 4 - Harry Johnson

Magpies Year 5 - Alice Kerr

Dragonflies Year 6 - Alexander Newman

Writer of the week

Butterflies Nursery - Neveah Bentley

Foxes Reception - Charlie Finnerty

Rabbits Year 1 - Juliette Salmon

Grasshoppers Year 1 & 2 - Emily Chilvers

Bumblebees Year 2 & 3 - Sienna Chin

Hedgehogs Year 3 - Hoorain Bibi

Badgers Year 4 - Rio Singh

Magpies Year 5 - Orla Harwood

Dragonflies Year 6 - Oliver Earl

Mathematician of the week

Butterflies Nursery - Sammy Watkins

Foxes Reception - Altaf Gohar

Rabbits Year 1 - Alfie Lane

Grasshoppers Year 1 & 2 - Molly Cegielski

Bumblebees Year 2 & 3 - Harriet Marshall

Hedgehogs Year 3 - Chloe Salmon

Badgers Year 4 - Albie McGuiness

Magpies Year 5 - Marilyn Oakes

Dragonflies Year 6 - Francesca Evans

Useful Information For Parents

Smartphone Safety Tips for Young People

According to Ofcom, 69% of under-18s use a smartphone as their main method of going online. Additionally, 49% of children use them for online gaming – putting smartphones only behind consoles (59%) as the device of choice for playing games on. Most people won’t require such statistical evidence, however, to acknowledge the huge importance of phones to young people.

That makes it essential to help children use their phones responsibly – and, above all, safely. From passcodes to parental controls, and from screen time to scams, our #WakeUpWednesday guide has the essential advice.

Support for Families Struggling with 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.

The Live Well Newsletter will be published bi-monthly to provide you with latest updates and information. It is also your opportunity to get involved, have your say and improve our Live Well/Local Offer Cheshire West Website.

Live Well Newsletter September 2025

Dates for the rest of the school year

Calendar

Please keep up to date by adding this calendar to your personal device so you don't miss out.

Standing items...

Previous newsletters

All previous newsletters can be found using the navigation bar at the top of the page under 'Home'

Previous letters for all classes

This folder is embedded in the newsletter each week. It contains all of the information sent out from school, so you can access anything you may have missed.

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.

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.

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

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.

Staying Safe Online - resources for parents and carers

Below are some useful links to help parents and carers:

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)
Net-aware (support for parents and carers from the NSPCC)
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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