Autumn Term 2023
Dear Parents and Carers,
We know that at this time of year, children often have sniffs and snuffles and parents are unsure whether or not to send them into school. Regular attendance is really important for your child's academic and social progress and we re aiming for children to have over 96% attendance. The NHS have published information for parents which you may find helpful if you are wondering whether or not your child is well enough to come to school - Is my child too ill for school? - NHS (www.nhs.uk)
Please can I stress to all visitors to the school about road safety - this includes safe parking, safe crossing and safe driving. We have written to the Council again this week asking for support with traffic management in the roads around school as we are still seeing cars mounting parents near children, performing up to 7-point turns in the road and parking on the yellow zigzags.
We have painted yellow ‘zig-zags’ road markings outside our entrances for a very good reason: the safety of pupils. You must not park or stop even for a short moment on these markings.
Any cars stopped or parked in this restricted area can hide small children who are about to cross the road. The children may not see approaching cars, and approaching motorists may not see the children.
We all want to keep your children safe. You can help – keep the zig-zags clear.
Thank you for support in the matter and have a safe and happy weekend with your children.
Mrs Arnold
Visit from the Animal Man
Last week the Animal Man Company paid us their annual visit. Children were able to see first hand a range of animals including a honey bear, silver corn snake, a bearded dragon and the most popular - a guinea pig!
BoomReader
Boomreader is the facility we use to record children’s reading both in school and at home. It is an award winning app designed to support teachers, parents and children with logging reading and books. Feedback from our parent survey asked for more information about this app and therefore we are relaunching it so that parents and carers are fully aware of how we use it in school and how it can be used at home.
Here is a brief list of the benefits of using Boomreader instead of paper reading diaries:
- No lost reading diaries!
- Reading diaries are never left at home on the busy school run!
- Log reading in seconds
- just 4 or 5 taps of your phone to log reading
- Easy to see all reading for all of your children in one place
- Saving needless paper usage
- No damaged/ruined reading diaries
- School gains powerful insight into reading for every child
- Reading records move with your child through school
- Parents/carers can log in separately for each child
- Parents without smartphones can login via the website: boomreader.co.uk/parents
- And the app is completely free for parents to download and use!
Parents can set up a parent account within the App which then easily allows you to record when your child reads at home. If parents do not have a smart phone, or wish to continue to use the website, there is also the option for a parent account on there.
Boomreader has an area of its website dedicated to parents that includes guides and further information and they are always there to support parents who have any questions.
A Parent Guide to help with the process of setting up an account, and information on how to navigate the app/website can be found on our website. We hope this will be useful to all parents, as Boomreader is a very useful tool. Individual login details for Boomreader have been sent home with children this week.
Tudor History Workshop for Year 6
Year 6 children enjoyed a Tudor workshop on Tuesday last week. They learned about games that the Tudors played, armour and weapons from Tudor times, took part in archery and became archaeologists and discovered artefacts in sand. Please encourage your child to share their favourite part of the day on our year group pages.
Police - A Letter to Parents
Please see the letter below which West Midlands Police have asked us to share with families:
Dates for your Diary
Community Events and Family Support
Families Magazine
Here is the link to the Families magazine which contains lots of information for parents and carers.
Holiday Activities for children who are Eligible for Benefits related Free School Meals
Families will receive a code through the post from Walsall Council which can be used to book children onto activities in school holidays. You can also visit the website to find out more information about how to sign up for these opportunities.
Stay & Play for Dads with children 0-5 Years.
A Stay & Play for children between 0-5 years gives Dads time to spend with their children to enable them to share with other Dads their journey as a Dad. The group is for Dads to be able to play with their children and build upon the bond between them as well as accessing information in respect of services and support networks.
The Stay & Play is being run in partnership with MindKind, who run a dad’s peer support group.
Dates and times;
30.09.2023 11-1 pm at the West Family Hub, in Darlaston. Illmington House, Crescent Road, Darlaston, WS10 8AE.
7.10.23 11- 1 pm, North Family Hub, Blakenall
21.10.23 11- 1pm East Family Hub in Brownhills, Silver Court, Brownhills, Walsall WS8 6HA.
Additional information and flyers which parents and carers may find useful
Sandwell Aquatics Programme would love to give your children the opportunity to join the amazing sport of Diving. Sandwell Aquatic Centre holds the only specialised 10m diving facilities in the West Midlands.
They are eager to carry on the amazing legacy that the Commonwealth Games created in Birmingham, by setting up a fantastic dive programme in Sandwell for all ages (even adults can join in too).