Newsletter – 15-Dec-23 Happy Christmas!

Dear Parents and Carers

As we come to the end of Term 1,  I would like to take the opportunity to wish a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to everyone in the school community from all of the staff at The Priory.  Thank you for your support this term.  I hope you all have happy holidays with your children and we look forward to seeing the children back at school at the start of Term 2 on Wednesday 3rd January 2024.  Tuesday 2nd January is an INSET day for school staff. 

Admissions consultation

We periodically need to consult on our admissions arrangements, even if our policy has not changed.  The below message has been sent to all stakeholders. 

The Priory Primary School, in accordance with statutory requirements, is consulting on proposed changes to its admission arrangements for 2025/26 and would like to hear your views. 

You can view the full consultation on our school website here. 

If you would like to share your views about this consultation, please email the school at office@priory.hants.sch.uk .

The consultation will run from Friday 15th December to Friday 26th January 2023. 

Christmas Lunch thanks

Christmas lunch this year was a fantastic occasion.  The cooked lunch was thoroughly enjoyed by 160 students

(as well as all of t he school staff!).  I would like to say a big well done and thank you to our amazing kitchen team led by Mrs Clitheroe.

I would also like to thank the members of our school Governing Board and 6 PTA members who kindly volunteered their time to help supervise the children to allow the staff to enjoy a Christmas lunch together.

We are lucky to have such a great team to cook meals mostly from scratch on site every day. 

Lunch Payments

Thank you to all parents who have kept their children’s school meal account credited. Please note that we request that all children’s accounts are kept in credit so that parents have paid in advance for the meals that their child(ren) will enjoy. 

We will send reminders to this effect through the term, so please do not take offence if you receive a reminder that your child’s account is coming close to zero credit. 

Christmas singing performances

Thank you to all of the parents and grandparents who attended our short but sweet singing performances this week. 

Clubs for Term 2

Next term all of our clubs with external providers will continue. (see details on Curveball Coaching below).  Our school-led clubs of lego club (Mr Cripps), choir club (Mrs Hughes)  and craft club (Mrs Britt) will stop. We will offer some new staff-led clubs for term 2. These will be 

First half of term:

Board games for YR, Y1 and Y2 with Mrs Ewins

Art & Craft for Y3, Y4, Y5 and Y6 with Mrs Heathcote

Second half of term: 

Fun club for YR-2 with Mrs Adams

SATs club (Y6 only) with Mr Walsh

They will be targeted at different age groups (except SATs club).  Full details will follow.  Parents will have time during the holiday to sign up and these clubs will start in week 2 of term 2 (week commencing 8th Jan 2024). 

The clubs will continue to run from 3.30-4.15pm, and continue to be charged at £4 per child per session except for SATs club which will be free of charge.  These funds will go to the school. 

SATs club (Y6 only) with Mr Walsh – second half of term 2

They will be targeted at different age groups (except SATs club). Full details will follow. Parents will have time during the holiday to sign up and these clubs will start in week 2 of term 2 (week commencing 8th Jan 2024). 

The clubs will continue to run from 3.30-4.15pm, and continue to be charged at £4 per child per session except for SATs club which will be free of charge. These funds will go to the school. 

Bikeability Y6

On Wednesday, Thursday and Friday of the first week back, Year 6 will have Bikeability, which is a training course to educate our Year 6 children in road safety when cycling. 

Safeguarding and Wellbeing

Family Support  – over the festive period

Over the Christmas period there are local agencies and organisations that can offer help to anyone needing support.

Over the holidays the Basingstoke Food Bank is still available for accessing supplies apart from  Christmas day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day. For further information go to – https://basingstoke.foodbank.org.uk/

Christmas Day Lunch

Several years ago some people from one of the Tadley churches thought it would be a good idea to run a Christmas Day lunch.  From small beginnings this has now grown into a big annual event organised by the churches of Tadley (CTAT).  Volunteers from our church make up a significant proportion of those organising this event.

Church volunteers provide a Christmas Day at the Ambrose Allen Centre for anyone who wants to join in.  This includes a freshly-cooked Christmas Dinner, games, and activities.  There is also time and space to just relax and chat for those who wish to do so. Last year over seventy people enjoyed this annual highlight.

https://tadley.church/activities/christmas-day-lunch/This appeals to many who would be alone at Christmas, or simply want to spend Christmas in a larger group.

If you would like to know more, please email tadleychristmasday@gmail.com

https://fish.hants.gov.uk/kb5/hampshire/directory/advice.page?id=XRlTDNF8hhM

You will now find the details of providers who are offering free places for eligible children over the holiday period. These are being provided through the DfE’s Holiday Activity and Food Fund scheme.

We have sent out details about how to access support and information about these schemes previously from Connect4communities.

Safeguarding Over the Christmas Holidays

If you have a concern about a child over the Christmas period…. remember that you can act

Key actions to take if you have a concern that a child is in danger, may suffer harm and maltreatment.

MAKE A REPORT IF…

• If you fear that a child is in immediate danger CALL 999 and report the concern
• IF YOU HAVE CONCERNS AND YOU ARE NOT SURE WHAT YOU SHOULD DO – report your concerns to the DSL and team at school

Alternative options – as a member of the public you can report a concern to Hampshire’s Child Protection Services directly – information about the services is available here – this site provides useful information and learning about a range of abuse as well as what will happen when concerns are reported –

https://www.hants.gov.uk/socialcareandhealth/childrenandfamilies/safeguardingchildren/childprotection

If you are a member of the public and wish to report any welfare/safeguarding concerns DIRECTLY TO CHILDREN’S SERVICES,you can complete Hampshire’s  online enquiry form.

You can report a concern over the telephone and via email –

Phone 0300 555 1384    Monday to Thursday 8.30am to 5pm
Friday 8.30am to 4.30pm

Email childrens.services@hants.gov.uk     Please note: Emails are dealt with during normal office hours Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm. At other times phone our out of hours number.      

Out of hours – Out of hours contact telephone number for Children’s Services Phone 0300 555 1373 

REMEMBER – SAFEGUARDING IS EVERYONE’S RESPONSIBILITY

The next Star of Wonder Awards will be held next year!

Special mentions to Poppy, Eloise and Henri, for their brilliant hand writing and creativity with their poems this term:

If Winter Was a Boy, Eloise Paice If Winter was a Boy, Poppy Taylor If Winter was a Boy - Poppy Taylor