Junior Newsletter

Mr Davies
Jan 30
5 min read

Friday 30th January 2026

"Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight" Proverbs 3

Headteacher's Update

We have a few staffing updates to share across the Federation.

Miss Villis will be leaving us at the end of this term to take up a well‑deserved promotion as a teacher at a local Special School, and we wish her every success in her new role.

We are pleased to welcome three new members to the team: Cheryl Surridge, who will be joining Hazel Class; Jayde Stimpson, who will be working in Rowan; and Sophie Walker, who will be part of the Hedgehogs Class team. We look forward to all they will bring to our school community.

Items from Home

We know how much children enjoy sharing their favourite toys and new creations with their friends. However, we have recently seen an increase in personal items - specifically toys and 3D printed models - being brought into school. We are requesting that these items remain at home to reduce the risk of loss, damage and distraction. This will ensure a focused learning environment and avoid unnecessary upset, we kindly ask that these items remain at home.

We understand that some children may require a fidget toy or comforter to help them feel secure or to maintain focus. We are more than happy to support this. If your child has a specific need for one of these items, please speak directly with their class teacher. We will work with you to facilitate this in a way that best supports your child's needs within the classroom.

Thank you for your continued cooperation in keeping our school a productive and happy place for everyone.

SATS Meeting for Parents and Year 6 Pupils

Year 6 SATS Information Meeting

12 February 2026, 15:45–16:15Woolton Hill

Parents Evening

Consultations will take place on Tuesday 3rd March and Thursday 12th March. Details on how to book your appointment will be out soon.

Safeguarding Matters

Smartphone Free Childhood

You may have seen recent media coverage of the Smartphone Free Childhood campaign, which highlights growing concerns about the impact of smartphones and social media on children’s wellbeing, attention and development. As a Federation we support the objectives of this campaign and last year we hosted one of their representatives at a Parent’s Workshop.

We would like to reassure parents that The Schools of Woolton Hill already operate a phones‑free policy during the school day, ensuring that pupils can focus on learning, relationships and play without distraction. We continue to promote safe, age‑appropriate use of technology and work closely with families to support children’s wellbeing. We encourage parents who would like to learn more about the campaign to explore the Smartphone Free Childhood website for guidance and resources.

Attendance Matters

Hampshire County Council has recently updated how Fixed Penalty Notices (FPNs) are issued for unauthorised absences, including term‑time holidays, in line with the national framework.

Under the updated arrangements, schools are required to refer cases to the local authority where a pupil has 10 or more unauthorised sessions (the equivalent of 5 school days), which includes taking a holiday during term time without permission. Headteachers may only authorise leave in exceptional circumstances, and family holidays do not usually meet this threshold.

What does this mean for parents?

A first penalty notice is £80 per parent, per child if paid within 21 days, rising to £160 if paid after this period.
If a second penalty notice is issued for the same child within three years, it will be charged at £160, with no reduced rate available.
After two fines within three years, further unauthorised absences may result in prosecution rather than another fine.
Hampshire guidance states that a penalty notice may be issued where a parent has deliberately arranged a term‑time holiday during a week that includes an INSET day, so that fewer than 10 sessions appear on the register.
In practice, this means:
- 4 days of missed lessons + 1 INSET day can still trigger a fine.

Hampshire County Council has confirmed that money collected through penalty notices is ring‑fenced for attendance services, helping to fund support for schools and families as well as the administration of the system.

We appreciate that families may face challenges when planning time together, particularly due to rising holiday costs. However, regular school attendance remains vital for children’s learning, wellbeing and friendships. We strongly encourage parents to speak to the school before making any plans that may affect attendance.

Further information can be found on the Hampshire County Council website and the Department for Education’s Education Hub, which provides a clear overview of the national rules and expectations.

Friends Of The Schools of Woolton Hill

Our current fundraising focus this year is to build a wildlife pond. Once complete this project will transform an underutilised area into a thriving habitat, directly enhancing our outdoor learning curriculum and boosting biodiversity on site.

The pond will serve as a dynamic, hands-on classroom, allowing students to engage with science, nature, and environmental stewardship in a meaningful and memorable way. This project has now been approved by Greenham Trust and we have a Good Exchange fundraising page.

Please click on this link to donate or please share the link with friends and family or businesses that you know who may be willing to contribute.

On Friday 13^th February, to celebrate Shrove Tuesday which is during half term, we will be selling pancakes in the juniors playground after school. £2 per pancake with a choice of topping and hot chocolates will also be available.

Please join our Facebook page

Dates For Your Diary

Pancake Friday – Friday 13^th February

Pre-loved uniform

We have a stock of second hand uniform that you can buy for a small donation. Just message Rachel Ryan on 07833 767793 who can advise on what we have. If you have out grown items that are in good condition, please let us know and we can arrange to take these from you.

Save The Date

Woolfest – Friday 26th June 2026

Get Involved

As a friendly group of volunteers we are always looking for people to join our team, whether it is to help out with one off events or more regularly, any help is greatly appreciated. Support the Friends so that we can support our schools.

Email us at Friendsofwhjs@gmail.com