Newsletter - Friday 16th October
Issue 3 - Autumn term 2026
Dear families,
We've almost reached the end of the first half of Autumn term! As ever, it has been a very busy fortnight in school. We've celebrated Hello Yellow, several sporting events and partied at discos!
Leaders have been visiting lessons and have seen excellent teaching and learning across all phases of school - well done teachers and children!
Next week we look forward to seeing you at parent consultation evenings. If you haven't yet booked a slot - please do so on Arbor.
A big thank you to children, staff and families who have given me and Mrs Dollery a warm welcome to Pheasey Park Farm Primary School. It has been wonderful getting to know your children over the past few weeks.
Thank you for your continued support. Enjoy your weekends. I hope children have an enjoyable half term break when it arrives.
Miss Foster
Curriculum and Teaching
We are incredibly proud to announce that Pheasey Park Farm is one of 227 schools to have achieved the Primary Science Quality Mark (PSQM) this month! This nationally recognised award celebrates our commitment to providing high-quality science education through excellent leadership, an engaging curriculum and effective teaching and learning. Led by the University of Hertfordshire, the PSQM programme supports schools in developing and strengthening science education, helping children build their scientific knowledge, curiosity and understanding of the world around them. This is a fantastic achievement for our whole school community and recognises the hard work and dedication of our staff in continually improving science teaching and learning. Well done to everyone involved! We are delighted that our commitment to inspiring the next generation of young scientists has been recognised.
Children in Year 1 explored structures by designing and building their own bridges. They practised cutting, folding and joining materials, using their creativity and knowledge of structures to make their bridges strong and stable. Click the link above for more pictures!
We are thrilled to announce that children's author Luke Temple will be visiting Pheasey Park Farm Primary School next week. Luke has written a wide range of popular books for both KS1 and KS2 readers and is passionate about inspiring children to develop a love of reading, writing and storytelling. Through his fun, engaging and interactive workshops, pupils will have the opportunity to learn about the life of an author, discover where story ideas come from and gain inspiration for their own creative writing.
📚 Monday 19th October
Luke will be spending the afternoon in school delivering exciting author workshops to our pupils.
✍️ Wednesday 21st October
Luke will return to school for a special book signing session, giving children the opportunity to meet him and have their books personally signed.
Signed Books Available
Families can browse and purchase Luke's books online at:
Books are available at a special discounted price exclusively for children attending the event. Payment can be made online by card, Google Pay or Apple Pay, or children may bring the correct cash amount into school on the day of the signing.
We are incredibly excited to welcome Luke to Pheasey and know that this will be a memorable experience for our children. Opportunities to meet a real author can have a lasting impact, helping children to see themselves as readers, writers and storytellers. We look forward to sharing photographs and highlights from the visit with you soon!
Thank you to parents and carers who attended the Multiplication Tables Check Workshop. We hope you found it useful. If you weren't able to attend, please see the information by clicking the link above.
Personal Development and Wellbeing
Our Reading Ambassadors have now been chosen for each class! These children have an important role in promoting a love of reading across our school. They will be encouraging their classmates to enjoy books by creating posters, completing book reviews and selecting books for their class reading areas and the school library. Later in the year, they will also help with special events, including World Book Day and Pyjamarama Day. Our Year 5 Reading Ambassadors will be opening the Book Shed each lunchtime, while our Year 6 Ambassadors will be running the Book Swap fortnightly on Thursday mornings before school on the KS1 playground. We look forward to seeing our Reading Ambassadors inspire others to discover new books and share their love of reading. Well done to everyone chosen for this important role!
As part of our work to maintain our Green Flag Award, our Eco Committee is looking for a brand-new Eco Code for Pheasey Park Farm! Our Eco Code is a short mission statement showing how we are committed to caring for our school and our planet. This year, it should focus on:
🌿 Biodiversity 🌳 School Grounds ♻️ Waste 🌎 Global Citizenship
We would love pupils to get creative and design an Eco Code in the form of a poem, rap or song lyrics.
Entries should be bright, informative, carefully checked for spelling and linked to our four Eco topics above.
📅 Closing date: Monday 2nd November 📍 Please return written or typed entries to class teachers or the school office, with your child's name and class clearly included.
We can't wait to see your fantastic Eco ideas!
We are also excited to be taking part in the Cut Your Carbon campaign from Eco-Schools. Children will be encouraged to complete simple eco-friendly challenges at home and at school, learning how small everyday actions can make a big difference to our planet. We look forward to working together with families to reduce our carbon footprint and make a positive impact! Please check ClassDojo for further information and details of how your family can get involved.
We had a wonderful time celebrating Hello Yellow Day in support of World Mental Health Day. The children and staff brightened up the school by wearing yellow alongside their uniforms and helping to raise money for YoungMinds, a charity supporting young people's mental health. Throughout the day, the children took part in a range of wellbeing activities suggested by our Wellbeing Champions, promoting kindness, friendship and positive mental health. Thank you to everyone who donated and helped us spread the important message that no young person should feel alone with their mental health.
Mrs Hannan led an exciting KS2 assembly to launch Black History Month. As part of our learning, we explored the music and life of reggae legend Bob Marley. The children listened to some of his famous music and even had the opportunity to create their own reggae-inspired beats, bringing the rhythm and energy of the genre to life. We also learned about Bob Marley's early life and the challenges he faced growing up. Through his story, children explored important messages about resilience, perseverance and believing in yourself, even when faced with change or difficult circumstances. His determination to follow his dreams and use music to spread positive messages inspired us all. The assembly was a fantastic start to our Black History Month celebrations, and we look forward to continuing to learn about the achievements, contributions and stories of influential Black individuals throughout the month.
"The greatness of a person is not in how much wealth they acquire, but in their integrity and their ability to affect those around them positively." – Bob Marley.
As part of our Black History Month celebrations, we are delighted to welcome The Mighty Jamma, a talented steel pan soloist, to Pheasey Park Farm Primary School on Tuesday 20th October.
Children will enjoy a lively and interactive musical experience as they are introduced to the vibrant sounds of the steel pan and the rich musical heritage of the Caribbean. Throughout the performance, pupils will be ‘jamming’ along to traditional and contemporary Jamaican music, discovering the rhythms, melodies and cultural influences that have shaped this much-loved genre. The visit will provide children with a wonderful opportunity to celebrate Black History Month through music whilst developing their understanding and appreciation of different cultures and traditions. We are sure the infectious energy of the steel pan will have everyone tapping their feet, singing along and embracing the joy of Caribbean music. To help make this exciting experience possible, we are asking families to consider making a voluntary contribution of 50p per child, payable via Arbor. Contributions will help support the cost of the event and enable us to continue providing enriching opportunities for our children. Without the generous support of our families, experiences such as these are not always possible. We are incredibly excited to welcome The Mighty Jamma to Pheasey and look forward to an unforgettable day of music, learning and celebration. Thank you for your continued support in helping us bring memorable learning experiences to our children.
Over the last couple of days, our children have spent time in assemblies thinking about children and families who may be less fortunate than themselves. Mrs Francis introduced our “Donate a Toy” appeal and explained how we can help bring a little extra joy to children who are facing difficult and traumatic circumstances. Children have been invited, if they are able to, to bring in a new toy, book or wrapping paper to school. All donations will be collected and taken to Beacon Church, where Reverend Chris will help coordinate the appeal. The donations will then be taken to Birmingham Women’s Refuge, helping provide gifts for children and families who may not be able to spend Christmas in their own homes. We are incredibly grateful for any donations and for the kindness and generosity of our school community.
Children from Years 3, 4, 5 and 6 took part in a Cross Country event at Aldridge Airfield on Wednesday 14th October. Each year group competed in a separate race, with younger pupils running just under a mile and the older children tackling a course of just over a mile. There were some fantastic individual performances, with Hayden finishing an impressive 2nd place in the Year 6 race and his brother Freddie achieving joint 1st place in the Year 4 race. All the children gave their best, showed great determination and thoroughly enjoyed the experience. Well done to everyone who took part!
Well done to our Year 5/6 boys’ football team, who secured an impressive 4–0 victory against St. Anne’s Catholic Primary School! Despite the very bumpy pitch making ball control tricky, the boys showed fantastic teamwork, determination and skill to score some brilliant goals. A fantastic team performance – well done, boys!
Attendance and Behaviour
Attendance
Our overall attendance has increased to 96.0% - in line with the most recently published national average for primary schools - 95.9%.
Well done to Years 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 whose attendance has increased! Year 3 have the highest attendance so far this term.
Year Group | Attendance (up until 30.9.26) |
Whole School (Aged 5+) | 96.0% |
Nursery | 88.4% |
Reception | 92.0% |
Year 1 | 96.0% |
Year 2 | 96.5% |
Year 3 | 96.9% |
Year 4 | 96.1% |
Year 5 | 96.0% |
Year 6 | 94.9% |
Punctuality is vital to ensure that pupils have a calm and organised start to the day, and can make the most of every minute in school! Lessons and activities start from the moment children arrive - handwriting, reading, fine motor activities, spelling practise and visual timetables are shared first thing!
Our doors open from 8:40 until 9am. Anyone arriving after this time should enter through the main office where a Late mark will be recorded. Please note that any pupils arriving after 9:30am will receive a 'U' mark which affects their attendance.
If you haven't already seen it, watch our wonderful video here where children explain why they enjoy coming to school every day! Attendance Video
Behaviour
Can we politely request that children refrain from bringing in any personal items from home including toys, squishies, fidgets, key-rings or pokemon cards. This can cause issues within school and we'd hate for any personal items to be lost or damaged. Thank you.
Inclusion
Safeguarding
Mobile Phones
A reminder that children are not permitted to bring mobile phones to school. Any phones bought on site will be confisctaed and will need to be collected from the school office.
Safety alert issued for baby sleeping bags
The Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS) has issued an important safety alert warning parents and carers about certain baby sleeping bags that could pose a serious risk of overheating, suffocation and potentially death. The alert applies to baby sleeping bags designed for unsupervised sleep in a cot or crib that either:
Do not have armholes, and/or
Include a hood.
Without armholes, babies may slip down inside the sleeping bag, increasing the risk of overheating, suffocation or potentially death. Hooded sleeping bags could also cover a baby's nose and mouth, and cause similar harm. The warning follows nearly 50 product recalls or safety reports involving dangerous baby sleeping bag products in the UK since 2023.
OPSS is advising parents and carers not to buy or use these products and to contact the supplier if they already own one, as they may be entitled to redress. Further information is available in the OPSS Safety Alert.
Be Cautious of Online Baby Product Claims
The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) has also urged parents and carers to be vigilant when viewing online advertisements for baby products claiming to help with colic, reflux, sleep or soothing.
Following a large-scale monitoring exercise, the ASA identified advertisements promoting products and practices that could put babies at risk of serious harm or death. Parents and carers are encouraged to seek advice from trusted health professionals and ensure products meet recognised safety standards before purchasing.
Flu vaccine
From West Midlands Police
As Halloween and Bonfire Night approaches, West Midlands Police would like to encourage you to talk to your child about staying safe and sensible during this time.
Remember…
Stay visible at night by wearing fluorescent clothing or head torches
Supervise children with sparklers and at firework displays
Warn your children about stranger danger and only trick or treating in well-lit, known areas
It is illegal for anyone under the age of 18 to possess a firework, flare or smoke bomb.
You can download our free parents’ guide of safety tips here: Darker Nights | West Midlands Police
If you want to report something suspicious call 101 or 999 in an emergency. For more information about how West Midlands Police are helping keep you safe this Halloween,
search ‘WMP Darker Nights’.
Arbor
99% of families are using our parent portal - thank you!
Some families have reported issues logging in. This article may help: Troubleshooting Login Issues for Arbor Parent Portal and App – Arbor Help Centre
Please note: parents cannot use the same email address, each user needs a unique email address in order to be able to login and receive emails. Please add email addresses to any parent/guardian's profile on Arbor in order to receive emails and to gain access to the parent portal.
If you are able to login via login.arbor.sc but not into the Parent App, you may not be using the latest version of the app. Please update the app and try again.
If you continue to experience difficulties logging in, or are not receiving any emails from school, please contact the school office.
Transition
Primary school applications are now open for September 2027
Parents and carers are advised to submit applications before 15 January 2027 for entry to reception or to move from infant to junior school in September 2027. Children born between 1 September 2022 and 31 August 2023 are due to commence reception in September 2027. Children in year 2 and on roll in an infant school will be due to transfer to junior school in September 2027.
Parents and carers will need to submit their application to the home Local Authority where their child lives. We always advise parents and carers to list up to the maximum of three preferences available and include at least one local school they believe their child would have qualified for in previous years.
The applications process is online, and our Admissions and Education Sufficiency team are hosting drop-in sessions to support parents and carers with any questions they have, so please do make use of the support available.
Primary school drop-in sessions
1 December 2026 - Lichfield Street Hub – 9am-5pm
3 December 2026 - Willenhall Library – 1pm – 5pm
8 December 2026 - Blakenall Village Centre- 1pm – 4pm
10 December 2026 - Brownhills Library – 1pm – 5pm
7 January 2027 - Darlaston Library – 1pm – 5pm
12 January 2027 - Lichfield Street Hub – 9am-5pm
Offers will be sent by email to on-time applicants on 16 April 2027 for reception and junior school places.
School tours for parents new to our school will be held on:
Wednesday 21st October - 10am
Thursday 12th November - 1:30pm
Thursday 3rd December - 4pm
Please share this with any families you know who are considering Pheasey Park Farm for their children next September.
Secondary school applications for September 2027.
Parents and carers are advised to submit their applications before the 31 October 2026 closing date.
Children born between 1 September 2015 and 31 August 2016 are due to start Year 7 in September 2027.
As always, we recommend that parents and carers make use of all five preferences available to them.
The application process is online, and the Admissions and Education Sufficiency Team will be hosting drop-in sessions throughout the autumn term to support parents and carers with any questions they may have.
School Admissions drop-in sessions
Tuesday 29 September 2026 – Lichfield Street Hub, 9am–5pm
Wednesday 7 October 2026 – Willenhall Library, 1pm–5pm
Tuesday 13 October 2026 – Blakenall Village Centre, 1pm–5pm
Tuesday 20 October 2026 – Brownhills Library, 1pm–5pm
Thursday 22 October 2026 – Darlaston Library, 1pm–5pm
Friday 30 October 2026 – Lichfield Street Hub, 9am–5pm
On-time applicants will receive their secondary school offer on 1 March 2027.
Further information and support with school admissions can be found on the council’s website: https://go.walsall.gov.uk/schools-and-learning/school-admissions
School Meals
Our school new menus can be found here: School Meals | Pheasey Park Farm
The school meal cost from September is £2.66 per meal.
For parents who pay for school meals, please could payment be made the week before meals are taken to prevent debts accruing. Please be aware that, should your child's debt reach £30, then school will no longer provide school dinners until the debt is cleared.
Please can we remind families to cut up grapes if they are sent into school for lunch or snack time.
A reminder that nuts should not be bought into school to protect pupils with allergies.
Key Dates
Monday 19th October | Parent consultations 4-6:20pm Luke Temple author visit |
Tuesday 20th October | Mighty Jammer |
Wednesday 21st October | Parent consultations 3:40-5:40pm |
Friday 23rd October | Y1 Harvest assembly 9am |
Monday 26th October – Friday 30th October – Half term | |
Wednesday 4th November | Year 1 Phonics workshops |
Thursday 5th November | Reception Phonics workshops |
Friday 6th November | Y1 History workshops |
Monday 9th November | EYFS Nursery Rhyme week begins |
Wednesday 11th November | Remembrance assemblies |
Friday 13th November | Children in Need |
Monday 16th November | Anti-Bullying week – Odd Socks Day |
Tuesday 17th November | Photographer – individual / family photos |
Thursday 19th November | Sibling photos |
Monday 23rd November | Christmas Fayre donation day |
Wednesday 25th November | Y1 trip |
Thursday 26th November | Photographer retakes Reception eye tests |
Friday 4th December | Christmas Fayre |
Wednesday 9th December | Parent Book Look |
Thursday 10th December | Reception production 2:30pm |
Friday 11th December | Reception production 9am Christmas dinner day Wear a Christmas item |
Tuesday 15th December | KS2 achievement assembly |
Wednesday 16th December | Y5 Carol service KS1 achievement assembly |
Thursday 17th December | Nursery breakfast with Santa |
Friday 18th December | Christmas party day – own clothes |
Monday 21st December – Friday 1st January – Christmas break | |
Spring term 2027
Monday 4th January | INSET day – school closed to pupils |
Tuesday 5th January | Pupils return to school Y2 Victorians history workshop |
Wednesday 6th January | Y5 Trip |
Week beginning Monday 1st February | Children’s Mental Health Week |
Wednesday 3rd February | Y2 Trip |
Monday 8th February | Y3 A* Training |
Tuesday 9th February | Y3 A* Training |
Thursday 11th February | Y3 A* Training |
Monday 15th February – Friday 19th February – Half term break | |
Tuesday 23rd February | Y4 Romans history workshop |
Monday 15th March | Reception A* walk |
Thursday 18th March | Reception A* walk |
Friday 19th March | Reception A* walk |
Friday 19th March | Comic Relief – Red Nose Day |
Friday 26th March – Friday 9th April – Easter break | |
Summer term 2027
Monday 12th April | Pupils return to school Y6 WWII history workshop |
Tuesday 13th April | Y3 Egyptian workshop |
Monday 3rd May | Bank holiday |
Tuesday 4th May | Y4 residential |
Wednesday 5th May | Y4 residential |
Monday 10th May | Y6 SATs – GPS Papers 1 and 2 |
Tuesday 11th May | Y6 SATs - Reading |
Wednesday 12th May | Y6 SATs – Maths Papers 1 and 2 |
Thursday 13th May | Y6 SATs – Maths Paper 3 |
Friday 28th May | INSET Day – school closed to pupils |
Monday 31st May – Friday 4th June – Half term break | |
Monday 7th June | INSET Day – school closed to pupils |
Tuesday 8th June | Pupils return to school Y4 Multiplication Checks – week 1 Y5 Viking Workshop |
Monday 14th June | Y4 Multiplication Checks – week 2 Y1 Phonics Screening |
Thursday 17th June | Y4 Bikeability |
Friday 25th June | Y6 Trip |
Monday 28th June | Y5 Bikeright week 1 |
Monday 5th July | Y5 Bikeright week 2 |
Monday 5th July | Y1 Scootability |
Monday 12th July | Y5 Bikeright week 3 |
Thursday 22nd July – Wednesday 1st September – Summer break | |
Community Links
Walsall Best Start Family Hubs - FREE Activities
Walsall Best Start Family Hubs has a fantastic programme of FREE activities, groups and support services running across the borough from October to December 2026 for expectant parents and families with children aged 0-5 years.
Families can access a wide range of support, including:
Baby Massage Courses
Bump to Baby Antenatal Sessions
Stay & Play Groups
PEEP Learning Through Play Sessions
Sensory Stars
Breastfeeding Support Groups
Introduction to Solid Foods Workshops
Speech and Language Support
Tots Talking Programme
Parenting Programmes and Workshops
Activities and Support for Dads
SEND and Developmental Support
Family Voices and Parent Participation Opportunities
We also have a number of seasonal events taking place, including Halloween and Christmas family activities, as well as our flagship Bump to Baby and Beyond event during National Baby Week.
⭐ Bump to Baby and Beyond 2026
📅 Tuesday 17 November 2026 ⏰ 10:00am - 2:00pm 📍 The Locker, Bescot Stadium
This free event will bring together local services, support organisations and family activities for expectant parents and families with young children.
Families can view and book activities via our online booking system:
Dear Parents and Carers, we’re excited to welcome children to our Sporting Elite October Half Term Camp. All the key details are on the flyer attached — including dates, times, prices and venue. It’s a fun, safe and active week for boys and girls aged 4–11.
If you’d like to book a place, simply scan the QR code on the flyer, click the link attached, or get in touch with us directly. We look forward to seeing your child there!
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