Dear Parents/Carers,

Welcome back and Happy New Year!

I wanted to start the New Year by saying a huge thank you for the warm welcome I have received at Kingsholm. It is always a little daunting starting a new role in a new school but the staff, parents and children have been so kind and supportive.

It is clear that Kingsholm school is a really special place with so many hardworking staff that are truly committed to the development and education of the children. The children are kind supportive and well mannered and really do reflect the school values of being respectful, being kind and being your best.

This week I have tried to immerse myself in school life and look at the wonderful things that are going on. The classrooms I have visited have been calm and purposeful; I have seen amazing Forest School sessions and children experiencing a range of learning from sculpture work in Y1 through to maths, English and science in Years 5 & 6. What is clear is that the children are keen to learn and enjoy the experiences provided.

Over the next few weeks I will be working with the team to continue to understand the systems and processes in school whilst looking at the long term plans for development.

In February we will be looking to gather your views as parents/carers, through a questionnaire, to help shape the direction and focus for the school's ongoing development.  

However, please do continue to come and talk to me; share your opinions and say hello whenever I am on the playground in the morning/afternoon.

Kind Regards

Tony Larner

Snow and Ice

This week has seen the weather take a particularly cold turn and has meant that the pathways and playground have become increasingly icy. 

Whilst our site team will try their best to salt/grit the main pathways there will be large areas of the playground that will not be able to be treated due to the size. In future we will be looking at making the areas that are treated more visible to help guide people to the building.

Please could we encourage all parents/carers/children to stick to the marked pathways and steer clear from the icy areas of the school to keep everyone safe.

Mr Larner's Joke of the Week

What do you get if you cross a vampire with a snowman?

Frost-bite

This term our value is Humility.  Once again we asked the children to design a logo about what this means to us at Kingsholm.

We received so many wonderful designs and as always it was very difficult to choose.

Well done to Zayne Rashid who designed our lower school logo ( KS1) and to Dottie Dobbs who designed our upper school logo( KS2).  These will now be displayed on the website and our values displays.

The next value will be shared in due course and we will ask the children to design a new logo for this value. 

At Kingsholm, we recognise the importance of regular attendance. All pupils should attend school for every session that is available to them, unless the reason for their absence is one that meets the school’s criteria for authorising absences, e.g. illness, non-routine medical/dental appointments, religious observance.

Please ensure your children are in school every day, on time and ready to start learning.
We thank our Kingsholm family for all of your support and understanding of the importance of good, regular and punctual attendance.  

To help to improve attendance, here are some important key facts and reminders of how we can work together to be our best:

What is ‘regular’ attendance and why is it important?

• Being in school every day gives your child the best chance possible to achieve their potential.
• It is the local and national expectation that children attend school 100% of the time. However, it is important to note that we understand exceptional circumstances and that illness happens. 
• Children should attend school unless they are genuinely too ill to attend, or have the absence authorised by the Headteacher. 
• Parents and carers should only ask for a leave of absence from school in exceptional circumstances. These are defined as those that are rare, significant, unavoidable and short.

Lateness

Pupils who are late for school miss vital learning time and disrupt the start of the day for others in the class and teachers. All pupils should be at school before the gate closes at 8:50am.

• The morning register is taken in the classroom at 8.50am. Any pupil arriving after 8.50am will be registered as late (L code) and the minutes of lateness will be recorded in the register.
• Any pupil who arrives later than 9.20am, without a legitimate reason, will be coded with a U code which is unauthorised. Regular unauthorised lateness can lead to a fixed penalty notice being issued.

Authorised absence

You have informed the school that your child will not be in and the reason you have provided is acceptable. 

Unauthorised absence

Your child does not attend school and you have not informed us of the reason why, or the reason provided is not acceptable. 

What parents / carers can do to help promote good attendance:

• Make sure your child arrives at school on time every day.
• Follow the school’s procedures for notifying absence, and always let the school know of any days that your child is unable to attend.
• Take an interest in your child’s education.
• Ask them about their day and praise and encourage their achievements at school.
• If your child is missing school or is seemingly unhappy, you should discuss your concerns with your child.
• Make sure your child understands that you do not approve of them missing school, but be on the alert for any particular reasons for non-attendance, such as any problems with school work.
• Contact the school as soon as possible when a concern is identified so that we can work together to resolve any difficulties.
• Be willing to engage with any support offered by the school.

Legal Duty as a Parent / Carer

Once a child is registered at a school, the parent / carer has a legal duty to secure the regular attendance of that child. Failure to secure the regular attendance at school of a registered pupil is a criminal offence which can lead to a fixed penalty notice being issued or prosecution of the parents/carers in a magistrates’ court.

What should I do if I am struggling to get my child to school?

Please let us know. Your child’s health and wellbeing are important to us. We will work with you to offer appropriate support.

However, if you do not engage with the support the school has put in place and your child continues to have unauthorised absences you are at risk of a fixed penalty notice being issued by the Local Authority.

Thank you for your support and understanding.

How to contact the school office: Telephone 01452 530777 or email virtualoffice@kingsholm.gloucs.sch.uk

Weekly Year Group Attendance

Week beginning 9th January

Reception  87.3%
Year 1        94.1%
Year 2        94.8 %
Year 3        94.3%
Year 4        92.2%
Year 5        93.9%
Year 6        92.9%
Whole School 92.9%   

Hello Forest School families and friends and Happy New Year,

It's been a lovely first week back and the snow was an added bonus!

We warmly welcome you to visit us at the Forest School next Wednesday (14th January) from 3:30 - 4:00 where you can take part in some Forest School art.

Have a lovely weekend all,

Kate Shepherd, Forest School Leader

Forest School Plea -  We are still in need of volunteers to help with our Forest school sessions.... If you could spare a few hours ( morning sessions - 9am - 11:45) ( afternoon sessions - 1:30pm - 2:55pm) we'd love to hear from you, please contact the school office.

• All day Tuesday
• Wednesday Morning
• Thursday morning
• Friday All day

Happy New Year to all our families and welcome back.

We are extremely happy to be back at school and the children are too.

It has been an exhilarating week as we have been doing our school work and the Year 6 have been moving around in sections for maths.

We have been working hard on our art display which features some of our amazing art work. We hope you can come and see it on Wednesday 14th January after school from 3:30 -4pm.

We hope you have had a wonderful Christmas holiday.

Dhruv and Isabelle 

Kingsholm C of E Primary School and Nursery - Policies