Dear Parents and Carers,
This week’s newsletter is filled with information linked to attendance, the Friends AGM and ‘BIG BAP Friday’ on the 1st Friday of the month, (pre-order and pre-payment required), read on to find out more!
NEWS
Attendance
At the start of the year I believe it is useful to remind parents of the benefits of attendance and the statistics around non-attendance.
Parents/Carers I am sure you recognise that good attendance is fundamental to academic success, personal growth, and creating a strong sense of belonging within our school community. Being present helps pupils feel part of the school community, build friendships, and engage in enriching experiences. In addition, good attendance provides routine and structure which support emotional well-being and resilience; qualities that are so needed as children develop.
Students who attend regularly are more likely to achieve their full potential. The statistics for one local secondary school highlight the need for high school attendance citing results of students who had 95%+ attendance was nearly 7% better than those who had 90%+ attendance, with no surprise that this trend being reflected in national statistics.
We want to ensure a strong start for all our children at Stower Provost. If a pattern of absence develops, there is normally a reason behind it and as a school we have a duty to find out if there are any issues causing barriers to attendance and in turn provide support. With this in mind, if a student’s attendance falls below 97% (this equates to 6 days out of a possible 184) I will discuss this with you as a parent/carer. If attendance falls below 90%, a team around the family meeting will be held to discuss and mutually agree a forward plan. 90% is a significant figure as this is the level at which the government classes students as being a ‘persistent absentee’.
To help you keep abreast of your child’s attendance, data will sent home at the end of each half-term. We will celebrate exceptional attendance by presenting pupils with 97% and above attendance, in our last Praise and Celebrate assembly. We will also recognise and celebrate improvements; however, these will be more discreet.
We understand that some medical appointments are beyond the control of parents/carers but we ask that any appointments are made outside of school hours whenever possible so as to not impact your child’s attendance figures.
Holiday during term time
Dorset Council issued new guidance last year and a Code of Conduct linked to Absence Penalty Notices. The new guidance was applied from the 1st week in September 2024. Parents are from last September have been asked to complete a new Absence Request Form, when requesting leave in term time.
The Pupil Registration (England) 2006 Regulations state that:
“Head teachers may not grant any approved leave of absence during term time unless there are exceptional circumstances”.
Please note that taking holiday during term time as it is cheaper, is not deemed an exceptional circumstance.
Please also note that the penalty notice team will be contacted when a pupil has been recorded as absent (unauthorised) for 10 sessions and within 10 school weeks. A session is deemed as one morning or one afternoon, therefore a family whose child has three days off school for a holiday, and then a long weekend off which are unauthorised within a 10-week period would be referred to the penalty notice team.
Medication
Should your child require prescribed medicines, we are able to administer this, however we do require your written permission. Please see Mrs Pike, who will prove the necessary forms to be completed.
Illness
Should your child be unwell, the NHS has written guidance for parents/carers to support you making the correct decision as to whether your child should attend school. You can access this guidance using the following link – Is my child too ill for school? – NHS
FREE SCHOOL MEALS AND CENSUS
Our school census is coming up at the beginning of Oct, from which the school receives its budget. Part of the census information links to free school meals, with parents/carers in receipt of specific benefits and/or earning less than £16,140, eligible for free school meals. Please see the attached letter from Mrs Pike which provides further information and details. You may well be eligible, so do please take a look.
FRIENDS (PTFA) OF STOWER PROVOST
The Friends of Stower Provost are in need of support! Both Treasurer and Chairperson positions need to be filled, as well as members to help fundraise and/or support events.
The Friend’s AGM is on Tuesday 14th Oct at 15.30 in the school hall. Please come along and support – you might even win yourself a hamper of wine for your efforts!
Please see the attached flier for further information.
PARENT / GOVERNOR VACANCY
Could you be a parent governor?
Our school governing body is made up of governors from all walks of life and many come to us via a variety of routes and from a range of different backgrounds, skills and experiences. All are volunteers and work together to benefit our school.
We currently have a vacancy for 1 parent governor and if you think this might be of interest to you please see the attached flier OR if you would like to talk further about what the role involves, please speak to either myself, Sam Wattridge (Chair of Governors) or Catherine Dunkley-Jones. Sam and Catherine are probably best contacted by email swattridge@stowerprovost.dorset.sch.uk or clerk@stowerprovost.dorset.sch.uk . It would be lovely to hear from those interested.
THIS WEEK
OSMINGTON BAY RESIDENTIAL TRIP MEETING
Oak Class children, parent and carers were invited to attend a meeting on 24th September at 15.00, to learn more about the up and coming Osmington Bay residential trip. Parents received information regarding packing and overviews of activities which the children will experience during their visit.
HARVEST FESTIVAL
A short harvest festival was held this morning, with donations of tinned and dried food, along with toiletries kindly donated. These have been delivered to Gillingham Food Bank.
NEXT WEEK
PARENT/CARER MEETINGS
Parent/Carer meetings are being held next week on Tuesday and Thursday. If you have completed your form, then you should have received a ‘time slot’ letter. Children on the SEN register have been invited to meetings on separate dates, which again you should already have received information.
SCHOOL PHOTOS
School photos will take place on Friday 3rd Oct. All pupils should be in full uniform. (Oak Class PE has been moved to Monday to facilitate photos).
CLUBS
LEGO CLUB
This week’s challenge was to build the Parthenon, which I learnt is only held up by the way the stone and marble have been cut – there is no ‘glue’ holding the blocks together. Our winning pair were Jessie and Oli who included a model of Athena in the middle. (Miss Buxton)
A New Club for Year 5 & 6 pupils.
Mrs B will be running a new free Maths Club on a Wednesday 15.30 – 16.30. Any pupil from Oak class would be welcome to attend. This Club is aimed at supporting and developing children’s maths skills, as well as being an opportunity to complete maths homework, with help on hand. Why not come along, have some fun, and get your homework done at the same time! This club will start on 15th Oct, due to previously booked commitments (residential trips and courses). Sign up with Mrs Pike in the school office.
Gardening Club
Unfortunately gardening club will need to have a postponed start. Mrs Pike will contact those signed up for the club and explain the situation.
Fencing and Shooting Club at Leweston School
Fencing and shooting club opportunities are available and open to pupils outside of Leweston School. Clubs run after school on a Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Please see the attached flyer for further information if interested.
Other Clubs
| Clubs | Day & Time | Year Group | Led by | Cost |
| Lego Club | Mondays 15.30 – 16.30
Starting Mon 15th Sept |
Year 1 – 6 | Miss Buxton | Cost per half term (see site on booking) |
| Football Club | Tuesdays 15.30 – 16.30
Starting Tues 16th Sept |
Chestnut and Oak
Key Stage 2 children |
Prime Sports | Free – school supported |
| Maths Club | Wednesdays 15.30 – 16.30 starting 15th Oct | Oak Class | Mrs B | Free! |
| Multi Sports Club | Fridays 15.30 – 16.30
Starting Fri 19th Sept |
Chestnut and Oak
Key Stage 2 children |
Prime Sports | Free – school supported |
Links to sign up for these clubs were sent out earlier this week. Should you required further information or clarification regarding any of the clubs, do please contact Mrs Pike in the school office.
FORTHCOMING EVENTS
This is a big one, and hopefully an idea that will raise money for the school.
I will be offering a bacon bap or sausage bap for £1.50 each on the first Friday of each month. Baps will be available to parents/carers, children and staff on a pre-order and pre-payment basis. Baps will be ready to collect for the first ‘cook up’ at 8.30 on Friday 3rd October. You are welcome to eat your baps in the playground, depositing any rubbish in bin bags provided. If the weather is inclement, I will open up the hall and put out the tables.
Please place your order, along with payment with Mrs Pike by Wednesday 1st October.
Anybody interested in helping with this venture is more than welcome, please let me know if your keen!
CLASS NEWS
OAK
This week Oak Class have continued with their learning linked to place value, extending into negative number territory. In English pupils have written harvest stories with a bit of a twist, and within spelling had specific focuses such as homonyms.
In the wider curriculum, pupils have learnt about mass, weight and friction in Science, maps in Geography and the concept of the Middle Way in Buddihism.
CHESTNUT
What a lovely autumnal week it was been for Chestnut Class! The children have been working hard to perfect their poems for the Harvest Festival and present them in eye-catching ways. Their use of adjectives to create vivid noun phrases has been super impressive!
In French, the children have loved learning to introduce themselves and ask each other how they are. Perhaps they can impress you at home by answering the questions ‘Ca va?’ or ‘Comment tu t’appelles?’.
For RE, Chestnut Class has been learning all about Sikhism and the values that Sikhs uphold. They have impressed me with their enthusiastic curiosity for the Sikh religion and respectful questions about what happens inside a Gurdwara (a Sikh place of worship).
A fantastic week for all – keep it up Chestnuts!
BEECH
This week’s book focus has been on ‘Jack and the beanstalk’ which the children have been pretending they are Jack and writing about the events of the story in the first person. In Maths this week, Year 1’s have been looking at tens and ones linked to numbers up to 100. Year 2’s have been adding and subtracting multiples of ten up to 100.
In other learning, the children thoroughly enjoyed making their own stages of life timelines with photos of themselves (thank you for sending in pictures!), whilst in computing the children had a whole afternoon exploring how to log on to a computer and use the trackpad independently. The children also thoroughly enjoyed exploring outside for our ‘Outdoor Learning’ session this week we have been making spiders webs out of sticks and string, whilst discussing the complexities of webs and why they should be preserved.
HAZEL
This week has been another busy week with the children adding to their growing phonics knowledge and learning another 5 sounds. I have uploaded videos to Tapestry to help you support your child. In Literacy we have been reading Super Duper You, the children have been talking about what makes them unique, they then drew and labelled their emotions. We also talked about sequencing the story and looking at the beginning, middle and end of the story. We talked about the characters and which was our favourite.
In Maths we have looked at counting and how we can help Jim, our counting bear, to count as he sometimes gets muddled.
In Understanding the World and Expressive Arts and Design, we have drawn maps for others to follow to find treasure, sequenced our day, built mazes, built maps of our local area using wooden blocks and drawn our homes.
DIARY DATES
Dates in red have been added to the diary list this week.
| Date | Time | Information |
| 26th Sept | 14.55 | Praise and Celebrate Assembly |
| 29th Sept | All day | Oak class children to come to school in PE kit |
| 30th Sept | 15.30 – 17.30 | Parent/Carer Meetings
Parents with children on the SEN register will be invited to meetings on a separate date tbc |
| 2nd Oct | 15.30 – 17.30 | Parent/Carer Meetings
Parents with children on the SEN register will be invited to meetings on a separate date tbc |
| 3rd Oct | 14.55
All Day |
Praise and Celebrate Assembly
School Photos |
| 6th Oct – 8th Oct | 08.50 | Oak class residential to Osmington Bay (ST/AB/JH/LD) |
| 10th Oct | 14.55 | Praise and Celebrate Assembly |
| 17th Oct | 14.55 | Praise and Celebrate Assembly |
| 23rd Oct | All day
09.00 – 10.30
After school |
SCARF workshops for all classes
PINS Coffee Morning in Hall
Disco Hazel and Beech – 15.30 – 16.15 Chestnut and Oak – 16.15 – 17.00 |
| 24th Oct | 14.55
15.20 |
Praise and Celebrate Assembly
Half Term – NO ASC / NO HOBBIES |
| HALF TERM | ||
| 3rd Nov | 08.50 | Second half of term starts |
| 7th Nov | 14.55 | Praise and Celebrate Assembly |
| 14th Nov | 14.55 | Praise and Celebrate Assembly |
| 21st Nov | 14.55 | Praise and Celebrate Assembly |
| 28th Nov | 14.55 | Praise and Celebrate Assembly |
| 1st Dec | All Day | INSET DAY (No school for children) |
| 5th Dec | 14.55 | Praise and Celebrate Assembly |
| 12th Dec | 14.55 | Praise and Celebrate Assembly |
| 18th Dec | After school | Disco
Hazel and Beech – 15.30 – 16.15 Chestnut and Oak – 16.15 – 17.00 |
| 19th Dec | 14.55 | Praise and Celebrate Assembly |
| 19th Dec | 15.20 | End of Term – NO ASC / NO HOBBIES |
| HOLIDAY | ||
| 5th Jan | All Day | INSET DAY (No school for children) |
| 16th Jan | 14.55 | Praise and Celebrate Assembly |
| 23rd Jan | 14.55 | Praise and Celebrate Assembly |
| 30th Jan | 14.55 | Praise and Celebrate Assembly |
| 3rd Feb | 15.30 – 17.30 | Parent/Carer Meetings
Parents with children on the SEN register will be invited to meetings on a separate date tbc. |
| 5th Feb | 15.30 – 17.30 | Parent/Carer Meetings
Parents with children on the SEN register will be invited to meetings on a separate date tbc. |
| 6th Feb | 14.55 | Praise and Celebrate Assembly |
| 12th Feb | 15.20 | Half Term starts |
| 13th Feb | All Day | INSET DAY (No school for children) |
| 16th Feb – 20th Feb | HALF TERM | |
| 23rd Feb | 08.50 | First day of second half of term |
| 27th Feb | 14.55 | Praise and Celebrate Assembly |
Best wishes,
Ailsa Boardman-Hirst