Information for the new school year

Dear Parents and Carers,

It was wonderful to welcome the children back to school last week and to see our school community come together once again.

We have been delighted with the exceptionally positive start to the new academic year. The children have returned to school with enthusiasm, maturity and a real eagerness to learn. We are incredibly proud of how quickly they have settled into their new classes and routines.

Please be assured that we are here to support both you and your child throughout the year ahead, and we look forward to working closely with you to ensure every child feels happy, safe and successful. We are looking forward to reconnecting with everyone and working positively in partnership throughout the year ahead.

For those of you who have just joined us, we would like to extend a very warm welcome to our school family. We are excited to get to know you and are sure that your children will have a fantastic start to their time with us.

Over the summer break, our staff were busy preparing the school for the new academic year. I would like to take this opportunity to thank our Site Manager, Gary, and the cleaning team for all their hard work in ensuring the school looked its very best for the children's return.

Many members of staff have also spent time in school preparing their classrooms and learning environments. Last week, the whole team came together for a range of important training sessions, including safeguarding, first aid and, of course, teaching and learning. As you would expect, there was a strong focus on ensuring the very best learning experiences and outcomes for our pupils.

Staffing Updates

We are delighted to welcome several new members of staff to our team this year. They received a very warm welcome from colleagues during our training days last week and have already made a positive impression within our school community.

Our new staff members are:

Mr Kitchen: Deputy Headteacher
Ms Edoo: PA to the Headteacher/Administrator
Ms Mouzouri: Daisy Class Teacher
Ms Mapleton: Nursery Assistant
Mr Pappas: SEND Teaching Assistant
Ms Schiop: Daisy Class Support Staff
Ms Dalton: Sweet Pea Leader
Ms Rainbow: Teaching Assistant Apprentice

We also have some personal news to celebrate. Over the summer break, Ms Sahbaz got married and is now Mrs Dogan. We are sure you will join us in congratulating her and wishing her every happiness for the future.

We are fortunate to have such a strong team in place and know that our children will benefit greatly from the knowledge, enthusiasm and dedication our staff bring to school every day.

Celebrating Success

We are incredibly proud of our achievements from the summer term, with children across the EYFS, Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2 achieving outcomes above national expectations in the core areas of learning. These achievements are a testament to the hard work, determination and high aspirations of our pupils, staff and families.

We look forward to sharing a full breakdown of these results with our school community later this term and this information will be published on our school website.

Our Values

This year, we will continue to promote and celebrate our school values, with a particular focus on kindness, respect and responsibility. The children were reminded of these values during their Welcome Back assemblies last week

We are proud to be an inclusive and diverse school community, where every child and family is valued and welcomed. We believe that our differences make us stronger and that diversity is something to be celebrated. By encouraging children to show kindness, empathy and respect towards others, we help create an environment where everyone feels safe, supported and able to thrive.

As we prepare to welcome the youngest members of our school community to Earlham over the coming weeks, we will also be reinforcing our positive behaviour expectations.

Attendance Matters

Good attendance is one of the most important factors in ensuring children are happy, successful and able to achieve their full potential. Every day in school counts, and we ask for your support in ensuring that children attend regularly, arrive on time and are ready to learn.

Please remember that requests for holidays during term time will not be authorised. Leave of absence during term time will only be considered in genuinely exceptional or extenuating circumstances and must be requested in writing to the Headteacher in advance.

Unfortunately, some children develop a pattern of persistent absence, which can have a significant impact on their academic progress, confidence and overall outcomes. Frequent absence means missing important teaching, learning opportunities and valuable experiences with peers. It can make it difficult for children to keep up with learning and can be disruptive both for the child and for staff working hard to support their progress.

Where concerns emerge, we will work closely with families to identify barriers and provide support, while maintaining high expectations for attendance and punctuality.

Curriculum and Home Learning

Each year group will be sharing a termly curriculum letter with families before the upcoming Meet the Teacher events which will take place during the week commencing 21 September. These letters will provide an overview of learning for the term ahead, alongside important information about home learning activities and year-group expectations.

We would like to remind all families of the importance of supporting learning at home. Children should be reading every day and learning their weekly spellings, as these are fundamental skills that underpin success across the curriculum.

For children in Year 4, the summer term will include a Multiplication Tables Check. The more opportunities children have to practise their times tables at home, the more confident and successful they will be.

Music Opportunities

We are delighted to confirm that our excellent and special partnership with Wigmore Hall will continue this year. This collaboration has already been a tremendous success and provides our children with enriching musical experiences and opportunities.

Our much-loved singing assemblies, led by our wonderful specialist music teacher, Laura, will recommence later this month.

We are also absolutely thrilled to be introducing Rocksteady Band Lessons this year. These exciting lessons give children the opportunity to learn and perform as part of a real band while developing their musical skills, teamwork and confidence.

A special assembly has been organised during the third week of term to launch the programme. Due to the popularity of the initiative, we have been able to create additional spaces, allowing even more children to take part.

Sporting Opportunities

We are proud of our sporting achievements and are committed to providing even more opportunities for children to be active this year.

Participation in sport supports physical health and wellbeing while helping children develop confidence, resilience, teamwork and determination. We are very keen to expand our sporting offer through additional clubs, competitions, partnerships and enrichment opportunities.

If you have any connections with local sports clubs, organisations, coaches, facilities or sporting bodies, or feel that you could support our sporting provision in any way, we would love to hear from you. Please contact the school office.

Careers Week

This academic year, we will be organising a Careers Week and would love to welcome parents, carers, family members and members of our wider school community into school to talk to the children about their careers and professional experiences.

Hearing first-hand about a wide range of careers can be incredibly inspiring for children. It helps them understand how the skills they are developing in school can lead to exciting opportunities in the future, while broadening their understanding of the many career paths available to them.

If you would be interested in taking part, please look out for a form that will be shared later this term.

Breakfast Club and After-School Clubs

Our Breakfast Club continues to provide a calm, positive start to the school day is open from 8am Monday to Friday during term time. Our After School Club also runs each day until 6pm. Should your child require a space in either club, please contact the school office.

Our programme of after-school enrichment clubs offer children a range of exciting opportunities to develop new skills and pursue their interests beyond the school day. For more information, please contact the school office.

Healthy Eating and Lunchtimes

At our school, we are committed to promoting healthy lifestyles and positive eating habits.

Our school meals continue to be freshly prepared by our catering company 'Lunchtime’ and we are fortunate to offer a wide variety of delicious and nutritious options each day. Menus are designed to cater for the needs, preferences and dietary requirements of our diverse school community. The food is so popular that many members of staff regularly enjoy school lunches too! Who knows, we may even inspire some future budding chefs along the way.

If you have any questions, concerns or suggestions regarding school meals, dietary requirements or allergies, please do not hesitate to contact the school office.

If your child brings a packed lunch, we ask that it supports our commitment to healthy eating. Packed lunches should contain healthy choices and must not contain nuts, nut products or fizzy drinks.

Fresh drinking water is available throughout the school day. Children should bring a named water bottle to school each day that can be refilled as required.

Chewing gum and sweets are not permitted in school.

Allergies and Medical Needs

The safety and wellbeing of our children is always a priority. If your child has any allergies, medical conditions or dietary requirements, please ensure the school is fully informed and that all relevant medical information is up to date.

If your child requires medication in school or has a medical condition that may affect them during the school day, please contact our Welfare Officer as soon as possible so that appropriate arrangements can be put in place.

Please also keep us informed of any changes to your child's health, wellbeing or family circumstances and ensure that all contact details remain up to date.

Uniform, Presentation and Personal Appearance

We take great pride in our school uniform and the way our children present themselves. A smart appearance helps to promote a sense of belonging, reflects our high expectations and ensures that children are ready to learn.

To support this, we ask that:

Earrings are limited to one pair of plain stud earrings only.
No other jewellery should be worn to school unless there is a specific religious or cultural reason that has been discussed with the school.
Children with long hair should have it tied back, both for safety and hygiene, and to help reduce the spread of head lice.
Nail varnish, false nails and make-up should not be worn in school.
Clothing is labelled.

We recognise and celebrate children's individuality and want them to express themselves in positive and appropriate ways. There will be plenty of opportunities throughout the year for children to do this through themed days, performances, special events and non-uniform occasions.

By maintaining a consistent approach to uniform and presentation, we can help ensure that the focus remains on learning while continuing to promote a sense of pride, equality and belonging across our community.

Thank you for your support in upholding these expectations.

PTFA

Our PTFA continues to be a tremendous support to the school, and we are incredibly grateful for the time, energy and commitment that members give to our community.

They have already planned a number of exciting events and fundraising activities for the year ahead. The PTFA is always looking for new members and fresh ideas. Whether you can offer regular support or simply help out occasionally, your involvement would be greatly appreciated.

If you are interested in joining the PTFA, please contact the school office.

Important Reminders

PE kits should be in school from tomorrow.
Assemblies will take place on Monday and Friday afternoons.
Information regarding Year 5 swimming lessons, Year 4 music lessons and Forest School sessions will be shared separately.

Arrival and Collection

Please ensure children arrive and are collected on time. We ask all families to be considerate and safe when dropping off and collecting children.

We are fortunate to enjoy positive relationships with our neighbours and local residents. Please help us maintain these by:

Not parking across driveways.
Avoiding blocking roads or access points.
Parking a little further away and walking to school where possible.
Waiting behind the carpark gates on Newnham Road until your child is dismissed by their class teacher. The same rules and procedures apply to all parents and carers.
Scooters and bikes should be walked along the path and not through the carpark where the children are being dismissed.

For safeguarding reasons, children under the age of 16 will not normally be permitted to collect pupils from school. We understand that exceptional circumstances occasionally arise. In such cases, arrangements must be communicated to the school in writing and authorised by the Headteacher or a member of the Senior Leadership Team.

While we are always keen to support families, safeguarding will always remain our highest priority.

Collection Times:

Reception 3.10pm (please collect from classrooms)

Years 1 & 2: 3.15pm (please collect from classrooms)

Years 3 to 6: 3:20pm (please collect from the hall)

Years 4 to 6 (please collect from the main gates on Newnham Road)

Birthdays

Birthdays are very special occasions, and we enjoy recognising and celebrating them with children during the school day.

However, we kindly ask that party bags, cakes, sweets and other treats are not brought into school. Whilst we appreciate the generosity behind these gestures, we want to ensure that all children feel included and that no family feels under pressure to provide gifts or treats for classmates.

Children celebrating their birthday will still be recognised with a birthday cheer and a special birthday acknowledgement in class.

Families are very welcome to distribute party invitations or treats after school once children have been dismissed from the school site.

Thank you for your support in helping us maintain an inclusive and consistent approach for all families.

Communication

Open, respectful and constructive communication between home and school is key to ensuring the best outcomes for every child.

A member of the Senior Leadership Team is on duty each morning and afternoon and will be available to support where needed.

Please note that staff meetings take place every Monday after school from 3.30pm. The best time to speak with teachers is usually at the end of the school day once classes have been dismissed. If a matter is urgent, messages can be passed on and appointments arranged through the school office.

For welfare-related concerns, please contact the Welfare Office.

Mobile Phones, Smart Watches, Photography and Online Safety

Only Year 5 and 6 pupils are permitted to bring a mobile phone to school if they travel home alone and this must be with written parental permission.

Any mobile phone brought to school must be switched off before entering the school site and remain switched off until the pupil has left the site at the end of the day.

Phones must be handed into the school office upon arrival and will be stored securely before being collected at the end of the school day.

For safeguarding reasons, smart watches should not be worn in school.

Throughout the year there will be opportunities for families to attend performances, assemblies and celebrations. We understand that parents and carers may wish to take photographs of these special moments.

However, to protect the privacy and safety of all members of our school community, photographs and videos taken at school events should not be posted on social networking sites or shared online.

Please also remember to complete the relevant permissions form if you do not wish your child to appear in school photographs or publications.

Community Lettings

We are fortunate to have some excellent facilities within our school and are pleased to offer these spaces for community use outside school hours.

If you are interested in hiring our school hall or dining hall for classes, events, meetings or community activities, please contact the school office for further information.

Mental Health and Wellbeing

The wellbeing and mental health of our children, families and staff remain a key priority at Earlham Primary School.

We recognise that children can sometimes experience worries, anxieties or challenges that may affect their happiness, confidence or ability to engage fully in school life. We are committed to creating a nurturing environment where every child feels safe, valued, listened to and supported.

Our pastoral, welfare and safeguarding teams work closely with children and families to provide early support when concerns arise. This may include emotional wellbeing support, mentoring, regular check-ins, referrals to specialist services and signposting families to external agencies where appropriate.

We know that children are most successful when home and school work together. If there is anything happening at home or in your child's life that may be affecting their wellbeing, please do not hesitate to let us know. Information that may seem small can often help us better understand and support a child during the school day.

Throughout the year, pupils will take part in activities, assemblies and learning opportunities that promote positive mental health, resilience, self-esteem, emotional regulation and healthy relationships. We are committed to helping our children develop the confidence and skills they need to thrive both in school and beyond.

If you have any concerns regarding your child's emotional wellbeing or mental health, please speak to your child's class teacher, a member of our Welfare Team or a member of the Senior Leadership Team. We are always here to listen, help and work alongside families to ensure that every child receives the support they need.

Please remember that no concern is ever too small to share. Together, we can ensure that every child feels happy, supported and able to flourish.

Supporting Our School Community

As many of you will be aware, there have been a number of sad and distressing events reported in the news over the past few weeks while the school was closed for the summer holiday.

Such events can affect individuals and families in different ways and may cause worry, anxiety or sadness for both adults and children.

If your child or family has been affected by any recent events, please do not hesitate to reach out to us. Our pastoral, welfare and safeguarding teams are here to help, and any concerns shared with us will be treated with sensitivity and care.

Thank You

Thank you in advance for your continued partnership and support. Working together is one of the greatest strengths of our school community, and your encouragement, cooperation and commitment make a real difference to the children's success, wellbeing and overall experience at Earlham.

There is certainly a lot of information to take on board at the start of a new academic year. However, these shared expectations help us create a safe, welcoming and successful environment in which every child can thrive. Should you have any questions about any aspect of this letter, please do not hesitate to contact the school office or speak with a member of staff.

Please be assured that we are here to support both you and your child every step of the way. By working together, maintaining open communication and sharing high expectations, we can ensure that every child experiences a happy, successful and fulfilling year.

Here's to another busy, productive and successful year ahead. We are excited about all that lies before us and look forward to working alongside you to ensure that every child feels safe, happy, valued and inspired to achieve their very best.

Yours sincerely,

Natasha Rezai
Headteacher