Infant Newsletter
- Mr Davies
- 4 days ago
- 4 min read
Friday 12th September 2025
Headteacher's Update
Welcome back to school! I hope that you all had a wonderful summer and were able to catch up with friends and family. All of us are looking forward to working with your children over the course of the year and feel honoured to be a part of their education journey.
What a fabulous start we have had to the term! It has been lovely to see lots of smiling faces as they have got started with their work, catching up with friends and exploring their new classrooms. When walking throughout the school and visiting each class, the children are all settled in their work and taking great care with their presentation.
We have started the year with our Meet the Teacher Events. If you miss yours, you can view the PowerPoint presentations here.
Please follow this link to read our new Positive Relationships Policy (formally the Behaviour Policy)
Attendance Matters
There are 190 days in a school year, which leaves 175 days to spend on family time, holiday, appointments and other things.
Persistent Absentees
The government defines persistent absentees as pupils with attendance of less than 90%. This equates to just 2 days off per month. This much absence from school has a negative impact on pupils learning.
Statistics show that persistent absentees are less likely to achieve their full potential, and it can affect GCSE grades and a child’s future prospects. Pupils with no absence at Key Stage 2 are 4.7 times more likely to achieve 'Exceeding' at the end of KS2, than pupils that missed 15-20% of sessions. At Key Stage 4, pupils with no absence are 2.8 times more likely to achieve 5+ GCSEs A*-C or equivalent including English and Maths, than pupils missing 15-20% of KS4 sessions.
Your Legal Responsibility
Parents/carers are legally responsible for ensuring their child attends school on time every day. If your child has five days of unauthorised absence (usually because of term time holiday) the Local Authority can take action against you. This can be through a Fixed Penalty Notice (fine) or a summons to appear at Magistrates Court. The fines have increased to £160 per parent per child; reduced to £80 if paid within 21 days. If the £160 is not paid within 28 days a summons can be issued to appear in Magistrates’ Court. The Local Authority can decide to issue a summons to Magistrates’ Court, instead of a Penalty Notice fine, for families that repeatedly take holiday in term time.
There is a link between good school attendance and high levels of attainment. Regardless of the reason, if your child is absent from school it will impact on their learning.
Pupil Premium
If you are in receipt of any of the following your child may be eligible for Pupil Premium which may provide support to help you with the cost of uniform, school trips etc as the school will receive additional funding from the Government for your child. If you think you may be eligible please click here to check. Thank you.
Income Support
Income-based Jobseekers Allowance
Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
Universal Credit.
Support from NASS (National Asylum Support Service) under part 6 of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
the guarantee element of State Pension Credit
Child Tax Credit (with no Working Tax Credit) with an annual income of no more than £16,190
Working Tax Credit run-on
Your child may be eligible for Pupil Premium which will provide support to help you with the cost of uniform, school trips etc as the school will receive additional funding. If you think you may be eligible please click here
Thank you.
Phonics Workshops
We will soon be holding a parent workshop on how we teach phonics in the federation and how to support your child at home. This will take place on 18th September and is essential for parents in Year R and also very helpful to parents in Year 1. Book your place here:
We have a variety of parent workshops coming up this academic year. Find out more details here.
Starting Infant or Junior School in September 2026?
Does your child start junior school in September 2026? Do you know someone who is looking for a school place starting in Year R at St Thomas' or in Year 3 at Woolton Hill Juniors next year? Come along to our open morning to meet staff and children and to see our brilliant Federation in action.
Tues 23th September @9am
Thurs 23rd October @9am
Weds 26th November @9am
Thurs 8th January 2026 @9am
Coats & Water Bottles & Allergies
Pupils will need these items in school every day. Please note we do not provide cups to children, so they will need their own bottle. We have pupils in school with nut and shellfish allergies, so these items should not be in packed lunches.
Parking Safety
Local residents have contacted the school this week to raise concerns about parents parking too close to the corner of Church Road coming from Woolton Hill Road. This can be dangerous so we ask all parents to park considerately.
Pupil Leadership Roles
We hope children from across each school will apply for Pupil Leadership roles this year. We are lucky to be able to offer a wide range of opportunities. The children have all learnt more about the roles in assembly this week and many are thinking about applying.
Children in Year 1/2 will bring home more details about Leadership roles in their Home Learning folder today and the details for Juniors are attached. We hope lots of children consider applying for a role.
We do explain to the children the process for selection (many are based on the quality/effort put into an application, we also bear in mind if they have had a role previously and some are a democratic vote often with a staff panel discussion too). We also talk with the children about the fact that not all children will be successful, this is all part of life and navigating disappointments plus learning to be resilient. Children in lower years will have opportunities every year to apply.
Harvest Festival
Village Market
Aid for Ukraine
Star Awards
The following children received Star Awards this week! They should all be really proud, well done!
12th Sept: Isla S, Stanley Y, Oscar C, Archie G
Life Learning
Self-Regulation
12th Sept: Eloise & Tereza