Dear Parents and Carers,
Another half term has passed by, where does the time go?
There are plenty of plans for the half term ahead, including:
- Chestnut Class – Tokes Farm visits every Thursday morning from 5th Please note, if your child has a school lunch, a picnic lunch will need to be ordered for Thursdays on Thurs 5th, 12th and 19th March, as we will be returning after lunchtime, with the children eating their packed lunches in the classroom over seen by myself.
- Our new Therapeutic Thinking Behaviour Policy and Behaviour Curriculum shared with parents and carers on 5th March at 14.45.
- Whole School Gym competition 27th March, times to be confirmed for each class.
Bits and Bobs
Lastly, a request from staff – please would all parents and carers remind their children that toys and additional paraphernalia should be kept at home.
Entry at the beginning of the day
Please would all children enter the school via the playground gate entrance, unless specific agreement has been made with myself.
08.30 – 08.50 Games open
08.40 Teachers supervising children arriving on the playground (parents are welcome to leave)
08.45 Staff lead children into classes.
08.50 Registration and gates shut.
If you arrive after 08.50, you will need to sign your child in at the main office and complete necessary paperwork. Children should be in school by 08.45.
THIS WEEK
Reception class took part in the RSPB National Big Bird Watch this week. A certificate of participation will be handed out in our next Praise and Celebrate assembly.
LAST WEEK
PARENT FORUM
A Parent Forum was held last Friday in the hall at 14.20. My thanks to all contributors. Please find below subjects discussed.
- Two parts of the drain are broken at the front of the school. These are due to be fixed over half term.
- Speed of cars driving past the school, and/or pulling away from school, with a request that I send a reminder out to all regarding respect. We all know that the lane is narrow, and we all have places to get to, from drop off or collection of children. I would ask all parents and carers to please be mindful of those walking along the road.
The local residents are requesting a reduction in the speed limit. The school is also supporting this move, with increased signage that there is a school and the increase of the extension of yellow lines in front of the school building.
- School car park. As above please would all parents be mindful of where they park, as there have been some randomly parked cars at times, leaving it difficult for others to utilise the one way system.
- Promotion of the school bus. The school bus is available to all, with those who live in catchment able to obtain a free bus place. Those out of catchment need to pay, however, the bus route can be altered to facilitate new families wishing to use this service.
- Class Dojo – a request that the school utilise the parental communications option on Class Dojo. This would enable parents to sent messages easily direct to class teachers, should the need arise. Information relating to homework and other class messages could also be sent via this method.
- Discussion linked to the PTFA fund raising, including sponsored walks took place.
I outlined that money raised from PTFA events is integral to the school, and is annually spent on facilitating the continued upkeep, use of the swimming pool, including paying for the heating costs, with an annual heating bill of £1500. £1000 is also spent on supporting transport costs, with each class receiving £250, cutting the cost for all. With just these two expenditures a total of £2500 is required to maintain both the use of the pool and support for trips.
Parents and carers, with a show of hands, demonstrated that among ¾ would prefer to make a termly donation to facilitate swimming at school, rather take part in sponsored fund raising activities.
NEXT WEEK
Half term.
Half term events for families
I have been asked to share information on behalf of Dorset’s rural arts charity, Artsreach, about the events that are taking place in partnership with rural community volunteers across Dorset this February half term.
With the support of Dorset Council and Arts Council England, Artsreach provides opportunities for children to experience to professional live performances and creative workshop activities in their local communities. Tickets are available from as little as £6, and events this half term are taking place in:
North Dorset: East Stour, Child Okeford and Sturminster Newton
West and Central Dorset: Cerne Abbas, Litton Cheney and Broadwindsor
East Dorset: Hinton Martell and Sixpenny Handley
You can see all of the events here: https://artsreach.co.uk/whats-on/category/young-people
Half term activity clubs with 15% discount currently!
Please find attached flyers to advertise Prime Sports February Half-Term Camps, where they will be running a plethora of new activities. Please see the attached flyers.
Half term swimming at Coombe House
Please find attached a flyer linked to family fun swims, pool hire and lane swimming at Coombe House Leisure between 30th March – 10th April.
Half Term Arts Afternoon
Please see the attached flyer for an Arts Afternoon on Thursday 19th February 2 – 4.30pm, for £15, at The Friends Meeting House, Shaftesbury. This is being run by Jane Pyrgos (Play Therapist and practising artist).
After Half Term Arts after school club
Please see the attached flyer for an Arts after school club on Thursdays from 26th February 4 – 5.30pm, for 5 weeks at a cost of £15 a session or £70 for the programme, at The Friends Meeting House, Shaftesbury. This is being run by Jane Pyrgos (Play Therapist and practising artist).
NEXT HALF TERM
New KS2 sporting activities for the new half term, run by Prime Sports are outlined below. Please book online through Prime Sports.
KS2 ORIENTEERING @ Stower Provost Primary School
Day: TUESDAYS
Cost: FREE! (SCHOOL FUNDED FOR 4 WEEKS)
For: Years 3/4/5/6
Time: 3:30 – 4:30pm
Dates: Tuesday 24th February 2026 – Tuesday 17th March 2026
KS2 TRI-GOLF @ Stower Provost Primary School
Day: FRIDAYS
Cost: FREE! (SCHOOL FUNDED FOR 4 WEEKS)
For: Years 3/4/5/6
Time: 3:30 – 4:30pm
Dates: Friday 27th February 2026 – Friday 20th March 2026
Contact Us: 07714351433 prime-school@outlook.com
SPORTS
A reminder that all children should be wearing school PE t-shirt and school jumper, along with dark leggings or tracksuit bottoms for PE lessons. I have noticed a number of brightly coloured, non uniform tops and t-shirts being worn of late by some.
PE days are:
| Oak | Thursday | Friday |
| Chestnuts | Monday | Thursday (Tokes Farm) |
| Beech | Monday | Tuesday |
| Hazel | Monday | Tuesday |
CLUBS
Please book slots using the links provided or via the school office
| Clubs | Day & Time | Year Group | Led by | Cost |
| Lego Club | Mondays
15.30 – 16.30 |
Miss Buxton | Cost per half term (see link for cost) https://kwbclubs.ecwid.com/Stower-Provost-Community-School-Monday-Dorset-Spring-Term-1-2026-Monday-p624603022 | |
| SPAG & Reading SATs Club | Mondays
15.30 – 16.30 |
Year 6 | Mrs Clasby | Free |
| Orienteering Club | Tuesdays
15.30 – 16.30 |
Chestnut & Oak
KS2 children |
Prime Sports | Free – school supported
|
| Maths SATs Club | Wednesdays
15.30 – 16.30 |
Year 6 | Mrs Clasby | Free |
| Tri-Golf Club | Fridays
15.30 – 16.30
|
Chestnut and Oak
KS2 children |
Prime Sports | Free – school supported
|
FORTHCOMING EVENTS
World Book Week Events and Dress Up Day
We are planning a week of activities for the children linked to World Book Day including some Scholastic World Book Day events shown below.
On Thursday 5th March, we suggest children come into school in costume linked to their favourite character from a book. Children should bring the book featuring their character, as there will be time in the afternoon for sharing stories.
Parents would be most welcome to come in and share a book, or section of a book (of their choice) with their child or their child’s class between 8.40 – 9.15 on Thursday 5th March.
| Monday 2nd March
10am |
KS2 | Celebrate 15 Funny Years of Tom Gates with Liz Pichon |
| Tuesday 3rd March
2pm |
KS1 | Double the Drama, Double the Fun: Nora Nightsky with Rebecca Lewis-Oakes |
| Wednesday 4th March
11am |
EYFS | Squirrel Storytime Fun with Kael Tudor |
| Thursday 5th March
10am |
EYFS | A super spring story-time and draw-along for The Flower Thief |
| Thursday 5th March
11am |
KS2 | Solve a mystery at the Ivy Hotel with Emily Hourican! |
| Friday 6th March
10am |
KS1 | A slug-tastic time with the creator of Beastie Bros |
| Friday 6th March
11am |
Whole School | The Velveteen Rabbit with David Litchfield – Story time and draw-along |
DIARY DATES
Dates in red have been added to the diary list this week.
| Date | Time | Information |
| 16th Feb – 20th Feb | HALF TERM | |
| 23rd Feb | 08.50 | First day of second half of term |
| 27th Feb | 11.00 | Let’s Talk Teeth! Dentist visit – Beech and Hazel Class |
| 27th Feb | 14.55 | Praise and Celebrate Assembly |
| 4th March | 15.30 | Orders for Big Bap Friday to be in |
| 5th March | AM | Chestnut Class to Tokes Farm |
| 5th March | 14.45 | Parent Forum – Behaviour Policy and Curriculum |
| 6th March | 8.30 | Big Bap Friday |
| 6th March | 14.55 | Praise and Celebrate Assembly |
| 12th March | AM | Chestnut Class to Tokes Farm |
| 13th March | 14.55 | Praise and Celebrate Assembly |
| 19th March | AM | Chestnut Class to Tokes Farm |
| 20th March | 14.55 | Praise and Celebrate Assembly |
| 27th March | All day | Whole School Gymnastics Competition (class times tbc) |
| 27th March | 14.55 | Praise and Celebrate Assembly |
Best wishes,
Ailsa Boardman-Hirst