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NEWSLETTER September 2017 Issue 1

Welcome Back!!!! A slightly belated welcome back to everyone after the summer break, which already seems a long time ago; the weather has been very keen to remind us that this is the autumn term! I would like to extend a particularly warm welcome to parents and carers who are new to the school. This term has got off to a very smooth and positive start and the new Year 3 children have settled in very well, along with thirteen new children who have joined Years 4, 5 or 6. We welcome two new teachers, Mr Peter Loughlin (Y5), who has previously taught at Fakenham Junior School and Mrs Ellie Potter (Y3) who is returning to us after a year teaching in Surrey. Over the summer holiday the ICT room was converted into a new Year 6 classroom, which represents the first phase of the mobile replacement project. This work was not without a few stresses and headaches and was completed at the last possible moment-the day before the children returned! However, it does look fantastic and we are very pleased with it. This week about 60 children who successfully completed the Taverham Library ‘Summer Reading Challenge’ were presented with their medals and certificates in the school hall, watched by many parents. It’s lovely to see so many children getting involved and achieving success. Our first trips of the school year are coming up: Year 6 visit Gressenhall Farm and Workhouse this week, as part of their ‘Flicking the Switch’ topic, focussing on the Victorians. Next week a group of children will be going to see a science show at Norwich Playhouse and Year 5 go to West Stow Anglo-Saxon village to launch their topic later this month. I hope that our newsletters give you the information you need about school procedures and what is happening in school. At the end of the newsletter are the diary dates; as usual we have tried, at this early stage of the school year, to schedule as many of our regular events as possible, in order to give maximum notice. Obviously other events will be added and details will be given nearer the time, but I hope that this, along with regular texts and emails along with the school’s website and Twitter (‘@TaverhamJunior’ and ‘@headtaverham’) I hope that you, as parents, as well as your children, feel able to approach me and other members of staff with any questions, concerns or comments about anything. If there is a problem it is almost always best to start with the class teacher, since they are the person who is most closely involved with your child on a daily basis. If you need to talk to a teacher urgently, please let the school office know and they will get a message to the teacher. Please do not enter the school building without signing in at the main entrance. [Please see below for more information about safeguarding, security and communication with teachers]. If you need to see me, I will always do my best to see you, even at short notice, although my days are busy, so it would be helpful if you could email or make an appointment for non-urgent matters. Please do not hesitate to phone the school if there is anything you need to know or wish to discuss. We can sometimes take it for granted when things are going well, but I do hope that you will tell me, or members of staff when you are pleased with the school or the children; success and praise are such strong motivators!

Paul Stanley Headteacher

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A MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIR OF

GOVERNORS…

As the new school year starts, on behalf of the governors, I would like to add my welcome to all children and parents, particularly those who are new to the school. I’m very pleased to welcome Peter Loughlin to the school as well as Ellie Potter, who rejoins us after teaching in London. Peter is teaching in Year 5 and Ellie in Year 3. We are very fortunate in having a highly experienced teaching team and I’m sure that Peter and Ellie will contribute to the very many opportunities available for children. There have been two parent governor vacancies since the spring term. Therefore, I was delighted that two parents approached me at the new Year 3 parents’ evening in June about becoming governors. Now that their children are officially with us, that approach is being followed up. Information for all parents about becoming a parent governor is being sent out separately. As the first meeting of the governors is in early October, with committee meetings soon after, it will be good to have the vacancies filled. The governors have been considering how we can improve our profile. Therefore, Josie Rayner-Wells (parent, Foundation governor and vice-chair) and I will be having a ‘meet and greet’ on Thursday 21st September at the school between 9.00 and 11.00. It is open to all parents and will involve cake! More details will be sent out soon. This term governors will be looking back over the last academic year at our involvement in the school and how our actions and decisions have enabled Paul Stanley and the school team to achieve the school's priorities. I hope that we will be able to publish our Annual Statement on the website after half term. You will have noticed that wooden bollards have been installed on the roadside opposite the school and next to the overflow car-park entrance. This has been done by the Parish and County Council in response to concerns about dangerous parking. We have also been raising parents’ concerns about traffic speeds and general road use. Living locally, I am very aware that, as well as Taverham Road, St Edmund's Road, St Edmund's Rise and the bottom of Penn Road become very busy at start and finish times. Now there is a bus route through the village, congestion can cause significant problems for other traffic. The governors would be grateful if you could ensure that parking and driving on roads by the school is done with care and consideration, not just for other road users or children and parents using the pavements, but for the residents. The new classroom was completed just in time for the formal start of term and whilst we are

disappointed to lose the ICT room, it is good to have another classroom in the main building. Planning permission has been given for the replacement of the mobiles and we understand that initial work could start during half term. We will keep you informed. We plan to use future newsletters and the school website to keep you up to date with what we are doing. In the meantime, if you have any comments about the school's priorities, please let me or Paul Stanley know.

Chris Wilson-Town Chair of Governors

SCHOOL PRIORITIES FOR 2017-18 Every year we create a simple set of bullet points to summarise our main focuses for continuing school improvement and development over the next academic year and share these with parents.

Taverham VC CE Junior School’s priorities for 2017/18 are as follows:

Ensure that Pupil Premium funding is used creatively

and effectively to help all disadvantaged pupils achieve well.

Continue to improve standards and progress in maths.

Improve teaching, learning and assessment in science; develop assessment in non-core subjects.

Ensure that SEND pupils are fully included and have the support they need to make good progress.

Ensure that planned and focussed monitoring takes place regularly, to establish and maintain high expectations and standards throughout the school.

Access and develop effective and innovative approaches to staff professional development.

Involve parents and pupils more in ensuring that the school’s Church of England character is distinctive and effectively contributes to the achievement and development of all pupils. [continuing from 16/17]

Ensure that the school buildings are suitable for a school that aspires to be outstanding in all areas. [continuing from 16/17]

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OPEN EVENING

We will holding learning reviews again this year,

in January and May (see diary dates below). For

this term, we are holding ‘open evenings’ for each

year group, starting with a Year 5 open evening

on Wednesday September 20th. The format will

be similar for each year group: parents/carers will

meet in the hall at 6pm, where the year group staff

will be introduced and the Year Group Leader will

talk about the curriculum and expectations for the

year group. They will also cover areas such as

uniform, communication, healthy snacks, home

learning, trips and activities etc. There will be an

opportunity to ask questions and then each class

teacher will be available in their classroom to

meet parents/carers on an informal basis to answer

any questions, share information, discuss how

your child has started the year and so on. The

open evenings will finish at 8pm.

BREAKTIME SNACKS

As a national ‘Healthy School’ we have a healthy snacks policy. Break time snacks should be fresh/dried fruit or veg only (No cereal

bars, fruit winders, cheese straws etc). These can be brought from home or in school (the kitchen sell fruit or veg bags and fruitbread at breaktime, priced between 20p and 30p.

SCHOOL DINNERS

Hot dinners or packed lunches can be ordered for

any day, at a cost of £2.20.

Children order their lunches on the

day at registration.

You can either pay as you go or

load an amount onto your child’s account so it is

there as and when you need it. We will be holding a

‘Families Week’ in the week commencing Monday

October 9th, giving parents the opportunity to

sample our school meals and spend lunchtime with

their children. Details to follow.

ATTENDANCE AND HOLIDAYS

We are currently in the process of reviewing our

attendance/holiday absence policy following new guidance from the Local Authority. We

are keen to agree a cluster-wide approach and, as part of this process,

cluster headteachers are meeting on September 15th with a representative from the Local Authority to discuss the issues

around attendance, term time holidays, fixed penalty notices etc.

Following this meeting, information will be given to parents and we will be able to

make an informed decision about any holiday requests. It is still the case that

term time holidays will not be authorised unless there are ‘exceptional circumstances’ but, until the new policy has

been agreed, we will not be in a position to tell parents whether a term-time holiday

will automatically result in a fixed penalty notice or not.

ROAD CLOSURE

We have been contacted by the

company building a new property at Taverham Mill who

have given us the following information: ‘in order to facilitate the

new sewer and water connections, we will need to close Costessey Road

between 18th October and 3rd November

2017. We appreciate that some of this period is outside of school holidays and

will therefore cause disruption to parents during peak times. We would

appreciate it if you could notify parents and help us by giving them advanced

notice of the works. If you would like more information, the traffic

management layout including diversion routes can be seen

on https://roadworks.org/ or call our office on 01263 735884.’

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School Charities 2017-18 Each year we select one or two charities which will be the focus of our fundraising throughout the year. Last year was an exception due to our focus on raising money for a new minibus. This year we have chosen three charities to support, all of which have a connection with and/or supported pupils or staff at the school. These charities are:

Little Hearts Matter This is a national UK charity

offering help to anyone affected by the diagnosis of single ventricle heart condition. From initial antenatal diagnosis, through treatments and into life at home, the charity works with children, young adults and families to reduce the isolation, fear and lack of understanding created when a child is diagnosed as having half a working heart. (https://www.lhm.org.uk/)

The Breck Foundation raises awareness of playing

safely whilst using the internet. Breck Bednar was a 14 year old boy, from Caterham, Surrey who loved technology and online gaming. He was groomed via the internet and murdered on February 17th 2014 by someone he met online. This foundation has been set up in his memory to help other young people enjoy playing online but crucially to be aware of some simple rules to stay safe; to always remember that the friends that are made online are not like your real friends. (http://www.breckfoundation.org/)

Nelson’s Journey Nelson’s Journey are a Norfolk

charity that supports children and young people up to their 18th birthday who have experienced the death of a significant person in their life. They offer one to one support and opportunities to meet other children of a similar age who have also experienced a bereavement. (http://www.nelsonsjourney.org.uk/)

Trainee Teachers in School

This year, we will once again be working with SNITT (Suffolk and

Norfolk Initial Teacher Training) and hosting placements for two trainee

teachers, Jason Day and Nick Phillips.

SNITT has a well-established track record of training excellent teachers

and is highly regarded by schools and headteachers. Mr Day and Mr Phillips

will be working in 3WM (Netherlands) and 5P (Brazil) respectively and have

been in school this week. They will be returning later this month to carry out

the first of two longer placements (the second being in the summer term) and

we look forward to working with them both.

Online Safety

Eighty-seven per cent of children aged five to 15 are now regularly going online, and one in five of 12 to 15-year-olds say they have seen something online in the past year that they found worrying or nasty.

Online safety is an ever-grow ing concern for parents and carers; a report by Ofcom in 2016 found 30 per cent of parents of five to 15-year-olds are concerned about online content. The ease with which children can access the

internet has both benefits and drawbacks.

E-Safety is part of our school curriculum and there is a whole school E Safety assembly every half term. However, it is obviously vital that parents have an understanding of the issues and are aware of what their children are accessing online.

Guidance and resources for parents and carers

Digital Awareness UK– online safety videos and resources for parents/carers on a range of online safety topics, including cyberbullying, relationships, security and privacy: https://www.digitalawarenessuk.com

UK Safer Internet Centre– tips, advice, guidance and resources for parents and carers. The website includes information on understanding the issues, a guide to technology and how to have a conversation about online safety with your child: https://www.saferinternet.org.uk/

Get Safe Online – general guidance about online safety and the safeguarding of children along with advice for parents/carers that's broken down into age appropriate sections: https://www.getsafeonline.org/

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School Shop The school shop sells a wide range of stationery items at very low prices (pens, pencils, rulers, sharpeners, folders, whiteboards, whiteboard pens etc.) and is run by Year 6 children, supervised by Mrs Lacey (on Wednesday lunchtimes) and Mr Stanley (on Wednesday before school). In order to allow parents a chance to buy items for and with their children, the shop opens before school, on Wednesday mornings from 8.20-8.40am, in the Food Tech/Cookery room, which can be accessed from the path linking the Year 3 and Year 4 playgrounds. School shop will start in the next week or so.

SCHOOL PHOTOGRAPHS

Please be aware that

Van Cols will be

coming into school on

Tuesday 26th

September to take individual and sibling

photographs.

Lost Property

Lost property is kept in

the large cupboard

opposite the food tech/cookery room, in

the corridor leading up to ‘The Studio’. Please ask at the office

to have a look and see if there is anything belonging to your child. Much

of the lost property has been around for a while; at some point soon, we will

have to dispose of it

After the success of the last few years, thanks to the generosity of parents, we will be continuing with our ‘traditional’

approach to harvest this year, in that we will be asking parents for donations of food

items, which we will then send to Norwich Foodbank. More details will follow in the next few weeks. As always, Rev. Seabrook

will be leading a harvest assembly for the children, on October 9th.

HEALTH AND SAFETY Guidance from the Local Authority recommends that parents should be made aware of the following section of their Health and Safety Manual, which expects pupils to: a. Exercise personal responsibility for the health and safety of themselves and others b. Observe expected standards of dress to ensure safety and hygiene. c. Observe all the rules of the school and instructions given by staff. d. Not wilfully misuse, neglect or interfere with things provided for his/her health and safety.

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PTFA The Annual General Meeting of the school's Parent Teacher and Friends Association will take place on Wednesday 27th September, at 7.30 p.m., in the staffroom. Fund raising is vitally important in helping us to enhance the quality of education and experiences we provide at our school. Funds raised over a period of time through the PTFA have been used in the last few years to develop the school grounds, paid for mains-fed water coolers, furniture and books for the library and outdoor and wet break play equipment, athletics vests, musical instruments, magazine subscriptions, a PA system and gardening equipment. The PTFA also subsidises most of our school trips and visits. Last year, the focus was raising money to buy a new minibus; this was a huge success and enabled us to buy a new minibus in July! The PTFA provides an opportunity to meet other parents, get involved and to make a real difference to your child’s school, so we hope to see many of you at the meeting. There is not a huge commitment required (e.g. the half-termly meetings are only a maximum of an hour long) and you will be helping make a real difference to the children and the school. Alternatively, and just as importantly, the PTFA have a ‘helper’ list. If you are unable to attend meetings you can still be of valuable help by giving some time to help out at an event i.e. disco, quiz, barbecue, to serve refreshments or help on a stall etc. If you would like any more information or have any questions please leave your contact details with the school office, who will ask a member of the PTFA to get in touch with you.

PE/Games

Getting ready for school each day isn’t

always that easy, particularly if you have more than one child to organise!

For this reason, we advise pupils and parents to bring their P.E. and Games

kit into school every Monday (and take it home for washing each Friday).

Pupils who forget their kit do not miss P.E. or games as they will be issued

with spare kit, which we keep in school. Please also note that pupils are not

excused from P.E. and games without an explanatory note from their parents.

Games lessons for all year groups take

place on Wednesdays; these are led by coaches from CSF (NCFC’s Community

Sports Foundation)

REMINDER

We are a

Nut-free school

Because we have a number of children with severe (i.e. potentially life-threatening) nut allergies, we are a nut-free school, and have been for a number of years. Please ensure that your children do not come to school

with any nuts or products containing nuts (e.g. ‘Nutella’ or other

chocolate/hazelnut spreads). Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.

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Uniform It’s great to see the children looking so smart in their new uniform. Thank you to parents for

their continued support with our uniform, particularly the rules about shoes. There are a few children who are not coming to school with correct uniform and we would be grateful if this

could be addressed as soon as possible. A reminder of the uniform guidance: BOYS

Mulberry sweatshirt with school logo

Mulberry polo shirt with school logo

Mid/dark grey or black trousers (Smart, tailored knee-length shorts as a summer alternative)

Flat, black shoes

Plain white/grey/black socks

GIRLS

Mulberry sweatshirt (or cardigan) with school logo

Mulberry polo shirt with school logo

Mid/dark grey or black trousers or mid/dark grey or black knee-length skirt (Smart, tailored knee-length shorts or

red/white striped or checked dress as a summer alternative.)

Flat, black shoes

Plain white/grey/black socks or plain white/grey/black tights

All pupils should wear a baseball cap, or similar, outside to protect them during hot and sunny weather.

THE FOLLOWING ARE NOT ALLOWED:

Denim, cords, leggings or track suit bottoms

Short or long skirts or shorts

Boots (of any kind)

Jewellery (other than small, plain studs)*

Extreme hair cuts or dyed hair

Nail varnish or make up

Cardigans

Tattoos

*Studs must be removed for Games and P.E. lessons.

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DATES FOR YOUR DIARY

September

Weds 20th Yr 5 Open Evening (6-8pm)

Thurs 21st Governors coffee morning for parents (9-11am) Yr 6 Open Evening (6-8pm)

Mon 25th Year 5 to West Stow

Tues 26th Individual Photographs

Weds 27th Year 5 to West Stow Yr 4 Open Evening (6-8pm)

Thurs 28th Yr 3 Open Evening (6-8pm)

October

w/b Mon 9th Families week (parents/carers invited in for lunch)

Mon 9th Harvest Festival assembly

Weds 18th PTFA Halloween Disco (provisional)

Thurs 19th End of half term

Mon 30th Beginning of new half-term for staff and children

November

Thurs 2nd Flu vaccinations for Yr 3 and 4 children

Fri 17th Children in Need day

Mon 20th - Thurs 23rd Open mornings for Yr 2 parents (tours at 10:30am each day)

December

Thurs 7th Carol Service at St Peter Mancroft Church; rehearsal at 11:30am, service at 7:30pm

w/b Mon 11th Christmas Lunches (Yr 3 to Yr 6)

Mon 18th PTFA Christmas Disco (provisional date)

Tues 19th End of Autumn Term

Tues 6th Carol Service at St Peter Mancroft Church; rehearsal at 11:30am,

service at 7:30pm

January

Weds 3rd INSET day

Thurs 4th Spring term starts for children

Fri 12th Interim reports out to parents

Weds 17th Learning reviews (3-6pm)

Mon 22nd Flu vaccinations for Yr 3 and 4 children who were absent in

November

February

Fri 9th End of half-term

Mon 19th New half-term starts for staff and children

w/b Mon 26th Book week

March

Thurs 1st World Book Day

Tues 13th Cake Concert

Mon 19th - Fri 23rd Sport relief

Weds 21st - Fri 23rd Yr 6 Caythorpe Residential Trip

Weds 28th End of Spring Term for children

Thurs 29th INSET day

April

Mon 16th Summer Term starts for staff and children

May

Weds 9th Learning reviews and Yr 6 open evening (3-6pm)

w/b Mon 14th SATs week

Thurs 17th Learning reviews (4-8pm)

Thurs 24th PTFA BBQ (provisional date)

Fri 25th End of half-term

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June

Mon 4th Start of half-term for staff and children

Weds 13th Summer concert (6pm)

Thurs 15th Summer concert (9am)

Thurs 21st Multi-sports run-through

Fri 22nd Music showcase to Yr 2/Yr 3 children

Tues 26th Yr 2/Yr 3 multi-sports event

Weds 27th New Yr 3 parents meeting (6-8pm)

Thurs 28th Yr 3/Yr 4 sports day

Fri 29th Yr 5/Yr 6 sports day

July

Fri 6th Transfer Day (provisional date)

Mon 16th End of year reports sent out to parents

Tues 17th Yr 6 show (6pm)

Weds 18th Yr 6 show (9am)

Mon 23rd Yr 6 awards assembly (9am)

PTFA disco and leaver’s BBQ (provisional)

Tues 24th Leaver’s breakfast

Leavers service End of Summer Term

Fri 6th Transfer Day (provisional date)

Mon 16th End of year reports sent out to parents

Tues 17th Yr 6 show (6pm)

TERM DATES 2016-2017

2017 / 2018 First day of term Last day of term

Autumn Term 1 Wednesday 6th September Thursday 19

th October

Autumn Term 2 Monday 30th October Friday 19th December

Spring Term 1 Thursday 4th January Friday 9

th February

Spring Term 2 Monday 19th February Wednesday 28

th March

Summer Term 1 Monday 16th

April Friday 25th May

Summer Term 2 Monday 4th June Tuesday 24

th July

INSET DAYS 4th and 5

th September 2017

3rd

January 2018

MAY DAY BANK HOLIDAY Monday 7th May 2018

Job Vacancies

MSA

We are looking for another MSA (Midday Supervisory Assistant) to join our lunchtime team as

soon as possible. The successful applicant will be working with children in every year group for five

lunchtimes a week (5 hours 25 mins a week). Pay is £8.43 a session.

For more information and an application form, please ask at the school office.

IMPORTANT NOTE: Dates for Staff Training Days may need to be altered. Notice will be given if this proves to be necessary.

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AFTERSCHOOL CLUBS YOU WILL RECEIVE A TEXT MESSAGE INFORMING YOU WHETHER

YOUR CHILD HAS BEEN GIVEN A PLACE OR NOT.

TIMETABLE FOR LUNCHTIME & AFTER SCHOOL ACTIVITIES

AUTUMN TERM 2017

LUNCHTIME AFTER SCHOOL

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Y5/6 GYM (Hall) – limited spaces

3:10pm – 4pm

Mrs Green (starting 25th Sept)

Y6 Maths Club (invite only)

3:10pm-4pm

Mr King

Cookery Club–limited spaces

3:10pm – 4pm

Mrs Potter (starting 25th Sept) – COST £10

(Only pay when your child has a confirmed

space) – Letter attached

T School Shop (not a club)

12:45pm – 1:15pm(in 6LP)

Mrs Lacey

All Years – Choir (Hall)

3pm – 3:45pm

Mrs Eaton & Miss Comfort

Y6 Boys Football

3.10pm - 4pm

Mr Hughes & Mr Henman

Y5 Boys Football

3.10pm - 4pm

Mr Hollidge & Mr Loughlin

W

Y3 Dodgeball (Hall)

BEFORE SCHOOL

8am – 8:30am

Mr King

School Shop (not a club)

(Food Tech Room)

8:15am – 8:40am

Mr Stanley

STAFF MEETING

Y4 CSF Football Club

3:10pm – 4:10pm

Please see application form which was handed out previously

Th

Y5/6 Girls Football

3.10pm – 4pm

Mrs Moulton / Mrs Green / Mr Hall

F

Y4/5/6 Cross Country

12:30pm – 1.10pm

Mr S Jones & Mrs Green (a packed lunch is required)

Y3 Running Club

12:30pm – 1pm

Mrs Moulton & Mrs Potter (a packed lunch is required)

Homework Club (Library)

1pm – 1.20pm Mr Henman

Y5/6 CSF Dance Club

3:10pm – 4:10pm Please see application form which was handed out previously.