Good afternoon,
We look forward to welcoming all of the children back to school tomorrow, here are a few important reminders.
Reminders:
All inhalers and epi-pens MUST be in school on the first day of term. Can I remind parents that although we do our best to look out for expiry dates, it is the responsibility of parents to ensure that these items are in date. If your child is registered as asthmatic, you should complete the form that has already been sent home with your child. Please send the completed form into school with two inhalers and a spacer. These must be labelled clearly with your child’s name. Please send into school on Tuesday 6th September 2022. If your child has been diagnosed with asthma during the holiday please email info@blanford.dudley.sch.uk with your child’s name, year group and the subject as asthma. We will then email you the appropriate form for you to complete and return with your child in September.
Children are not allowed to take part in PE unless all jewellery/earrings have been removed. If you wish your child to have their ears pierced, can I suggest that you have this done at the very beginning of the of the summer holiday so that their ears have the full six weeks to heal.
Hairstyles: it is not suitable to return to school in September with shaven heads, tramlines or extreme colours. Please remind your children of the rules. Children who have long hair must tie it up.
Could you please make sure that your child has all of their PE kit available in school every day from the first day of term as our timetable starts immediately. Although staff will let you know when the planned PE sessions are, there are often times when we have PE for classes or when teachers take advantage of good weather to do PE.
Dogs are not allowed on the school premises at any time, and if you have a dog please do not obstruct the pathway/gate as a number of children, who are frightened of dogs, find this intimidating.
In September, children may return in either summer or winter uniform depending upon both the weather and your preference. They should also wear black ‘leather style’ shoes not trainers.
Children should not bring any money to school – there is nothing to buy.
Dinners should be pre-paid, where applicable online using School Grid. All lunches should be preordered on School Grid, regardless of year group.
All children in Reception Class and KS1 receive free fruit each day for tuck and therefore do not need to bring any food from home. A reminder that all children in Year R, 1 and 2 will be entitled to a free school meal, we would like all children in these year groups (Universal Free School Meals) to take this option from September. Children entitled to Free School Meals through benefits should also take this option. Please remember to apply for free school meals if you are eligible as some of school funding depends on it.
Children in KS2 should also bring a piece of fruit for break – there will be no tuck on sale. (No crisps or chocolate please.) KS2 children: May we remind you that we operate a ‘healthy tuck’ policy. Since schools are now subject to strict guidelines about the type of food that is allowed/ available during the school day, we hope that parents will support our efforts to encourage children to make healthy choices. For parents of current Year 2 in particular, this is a real opportunity to continue the good habits established in KS1 where fruit has always been offered as the only choice at playtime. We also encourage children to bring in healthy lunchboxes.
Children should only bring a filled water bottle (not squash – see healthy tuck policy on the website). This needs to be named please so that children can easily recognise their own bottle and do not touch or drink out of bottles belonging to other children.
Attendance/Absence and Holidays in Term Time:
Attendance in school is compulsory.
Don’t forget that our policy on attendance, reporting children’s absences and holidays in term time is on the school website. If children are too ill to attend school then parents must phone the school office by 9.00a.m. to let us know the reason why children are not in school—unexplained absences are recorded as “unauthorised”. It is then your responsibility to ring school before 9.05am on any future days of illness, so our registers are kept up to date. Our policy reflects the government’s stance on holidays in term time.
We have been informed by Dudley Investigation Service that they are issuing Fixed Penalty Notices (fines) for a leave of absence in term time which is for a period of 5 days (10 sessions) or more.
Please can parents be aware of this information when booking any holidays, trips etc.
Please familiarise yourself with the information about start/end times and entrances/exits for your child(ren), that was sent out to all parents in a newsletter on Thursday 14th July 2022 and today. This can be found on the website in the ‘Newsletter’ pencil.
Dates for next academic year
Autumn 2022
Term starts – Monday 5th September 2022
Half term – Monday 24th October to Friday 28th October 2022
Term Ends – Friday 16th December 2022
Spring 2023
Term starts – Tuesday 3rd January 2023
Half term – Monday 20th February to Friday 24th February 2023
Term Ends – Friday 31st March 2023
Summer 2023
Term starts – Monday 17th April 2023
Half term – Monday 29th May to Friday 2nd June 2023
Term Ends – Tuesday 25th July 2023
Bank Holiday
Monday 1st May 2023
INSET Days 2022 / 2023
Monday 5th September 2022
Friday 21st October 2022
Friday 17th February 2023
Friday 26th May 2023
Tuesday 25th July 2023
Polling Day
Thursday 4th May 2023 (to be confirmed)
We value the partnerships between Home and School, which makes sure that children make the most of their learning opportunities.
Best wishes,
Blanford Mere Nursery and Primary School
