School News - 6th February 2026

sarnold932
21 minutes ago
6 min read

Spring Term 2026

Dear Parents and Carers

Busy times ahead in school as we welcomed February this week and hopefully the start of Spring!

We have quite a few events coming up in school over the next week including our annual Dance Festival, parents/carers consultation evenings and Internet Safety Day. Please take a minute to look at the dates for your diaries below and also please check messages when they come through as that's the best way to give reminders so that you don't end up missing anything.

Mrs Arnold

Key dates for your diary - Spring Term

Monday 9 February - 4:00pm - 6:20pm - Parents Consultation Evening

Tuesday 10 February - Safer Internet Day

Wednesday 11 February - 3:40pm - 5:40pm - Parents Consultation Evening

Thursday 12 February - Dance Festival

Friday 13 February - School Closes for pupils

February Half Term Monday 16 February 2026 - Friday 20 February 2026

Monday 23 February - School closed to pupils - INSET Day

Tuesday 24 February - Reception Walks this week

Wednesday 25 February - Year 6 Residential (2 nights)

Monday 2 March - Secondary School Offer Day

Thursday 5 March - World Book Day

Wednesday 11 March - Photographer in for class photos

Friday 20 March - Comic Relief/Red Nose Day

Monday 23 March - 5:00pm - Year 4 Residential Meeting for parents

Tuesday 24 March - Easter Bonnet Parades

Friday 27 March - Year 3 Easter Service

School closes for Easter

Staffing Update

Just to let parents know of a few changes in school this academic year:

Mrs K Knight, one of our Assistant Headteachers, has started her maternity leave
Mrs E Watson, another of our Assistant Headteachers, will be starting her maternity leave after February half term.
Mrs R Nelson, one of our Year 6 teachers, will be taking her maternity leave with effect from 2nd March.

In all cases, handovers have been planned so that there is a smooth transition for the children and for individual roles in school.

We wish these staff and their families all the very best.

Timings of the School Day for Years 1 to Year 6 - lateness

We are taking the opportunity to remind parents of the timings of the start of our school day.

Our class doors open at 8:40am - this is when we expect the majority of children to come into school. We have toast available for all children and there are classroom activities for the children to complete.

Doors remain open until 9:00am at which point they are closed and registers will have been taken. Children arriving after 9:00am must come into school through the main entrance so that the registers can be completed by Office Staff. Children are recorded as 'late' with an 'L code'.

At 9:30am, children are marked with a different late code - 'U code' - and this affects their attendance as it it is recorded as a half day session of absence.

Swimming Gala - Winners!

Last week our Swimming squad, made up of children from Year 5 and 6, took part in the Walsall Swimming Gala. The competition was strong, however our children managed to show their competitive spirit and won every race - therefore finishing in First Place with 226 points. There were 17 schools in total who took part which are record numbers and we are extremely proud of our squad and the way in which they took part, supporting an cheering for each other. Well done to Aria, Ella Rose, Yoanna, Esmae, Juliette, Hayden, Ryan and Jacob. Thank you also to Harvey who was unable to swim on the day but is still part of this amazing squad!

Thank you to Mrs James and Mrs Casey for training, accompanying and supporting the swimmers!

Football News

Girls Football

The girls won 2 - 0 in a game that they controlled. Alumwell were rarely in possession and any threat they caused was easily snubbed out by Evie and Isla-Rose. It was a welcome return for Isla-Rose after missing all the previous games this year due to injury. Shelby and Addison were the goal scorers.

Boys Football

The boys won 3 - 1 in a game that was very close until just after half time when they scored the second goal, which was closely followed by their third goal. It was a close game although Pheasey would have been disappointed if they hadn't come away with a win.

Year 6 - Split Second Workshop

Year 6 took part in the Split Second workshop, an engaging and thought-provoking session that encouraged pupils to think carefully about the choices they make and the consequences those choices can have. Through age-appropriate discussion, interactive activities and real-life scenarios, the workshop helped pupils explore how decisions made in a “split second” can impact themselves and others.

The workshop was a valuable learning experience and strongly supported our commitment to helping pupils develop confidence, resilience and good decision-making skills both in and out of school.

Online Safety

Next week we will take part in Safer Internet Day along with many other schools across the country. Children will have an Online Safety Assembly and then complete Internet Safety activities at different points in the week.

Internet Matters

Internet Matters supports parents and professionals with comprehensive resources and expert guidance to help navigate the ever-changing world of child internet safety.

Set up safe: layer up parental controls | Internet Matters

Your-ABC-online-safety-checklist-_-Internet-Matters.pdf

There is also a digital toolkit, which gives tailored advice, particularly for parents who may not be up-to-date with what different apps are and how they might be used:

My Family's Digital Toolkit - tailored online safety advice | Internet Matters

Screen time

Know the risks and what you can do to help keep your child safe.

Miquill Tasting Session - Wednesday 11th February

Throughout our Parent and Carer Consultation Evening on Wednesday, 11th February, Miquill, our new catering company, will be providing a tasting session for our parents and carers in the KS2 dining room. Samples of our menu will be provided and staff will be available to answer any queries. We hope parents and carers will take advantage of this opportunity to see and taste the quality of the food we are now able to provide to the children.

E-scooters

As you are aware, we have previously send out information to explain to parents that e-scooters are not permitted on site. We have now been asked by Walsall Local Authority to share the following information:

There is an increasingly pressing safety issue across Walsall: the rising number of children using e‑scooters in ways that place them, and others, at significant risk.

Legal Position on E‑Scooters

West Midlands Police guidance confirms that privately owned e‑scooters are illegal to use on public roads, pavements, parks, cycle lanes, and any other public spaces. They are legally classified as motor vehicles under the Road Traffic Act 1988, meaning they require a driving licence and insurance—neither of which is available for privately owned e‑scooters. As a result, children riding private e‑scooters in public are doing so unlawfully, and the vehicles can be seized under Section 165 of the Act.

The only lawful use of e‑scooters in public places is through approved rental trial schemes, which require riders to be at least 18 and hold a valid driving licence—making them inappropriate and inaccessible for school‑aged children.

Safety Concerns

Police and safety services report a growing number of collisions involving e‑scooters, with some resulting in serious injury. West Midlands Police highlight that if a rider causes harm to others, incidents are investigated in the same way as collisions involving cars or motorcycles.

In addition, West Midlands Fire Service and national road safety bodies emphasise the following risks:

Lack of protective equipment (many children ride without helmets or pads)
Use on unsuitable surfaces and in busy pedestrian areas
Rising reports of children riding without insurance and in unsafe conditions, contributing to increased enforcement concerns nationally

We hope that raising awareness will help ensure that families clearly understand both the legal restrictions and the dangers associated with e‑scooter use.

Further Information

West Midlands Police guidance on e‑scooters can be found here:https://www.westmidlands.police.uk/advice/advice-and-information/rs/road-safety/advice-escooters/