Term 5
This term has been a shorter but nevertheless busy term with important learning milestones amongst interesting off timetable learning opportunities.
SATs
Thank you for all your support to ensure pupils were well fed and alert for the SATs that have taken place this term. This was a real opportunity for our pupils to shine and show off the skills they have learnt in school. This is the approach that we took in school which meant that the papers were treated with excitement, as a positive experience. Pupils worked really hard and should be very proud of the effort they put in. Thanks also to the governors and staff who ensured that the sessions ran smoothly and correctly. Work is ongoing in school in relation to science and English writing.
Local Walk
On the Friday, post SATs, Class 5 chose a beautiful day to leave the school building for the day and explore our local surroundings. They honed their orienteering skills, knowledge and appreciation of nature and had plenty of exercise and fun, linked to the work that they had completed in class.
Live Stream Orchestra
Bournmouth Symphony Orchestra livestreamed a programme of music based entirely around the theme of Midnight Magic. Class 2 were able to watch and were taken through a musical journey of the night with a full orchestra. They explored the night sky, the marvellous moon and stars, and some magical film music. There was the premiere of James Redwood’s new participatory piece, created with schools and the piece used Makaton symbols and signs, so pupils could join in.
Chedworth Roman Villa
As part of the Romanisation of Britain studies that class 3 have been participating in studying they visited Chedworth Roman Villa. The class were able to look at the Roman mosaics and imagine what life may have been like in Roman times.
Knex Challenge
Well done to the two class 4 pupils who represented Blockley School at the Knex finals. They made fantastic models against fierce competition.
School Photographers
School class photos will be available to purchase, along with individual year 6 photos. The weather was not favourable on the day so this year’s pictures were taken indoors.
Computing, coding workshops
Classes 3 and 2 are exploring the computing curriculum in an interactive way this week. Workshops have enabled pupils to use algorithms to programme robots (a chicken and a cat) instructing them to move around.
Queen’s Jubilee Bunting
All the pupils were able to participate in the making of Jubilee Bunting with Blockley WI and the help of FOS members. A great opportunity for the community to come together to prepare for this momentous event in the British calendar. We will continue the Jubilee celebration on Friday with a Jubilee Collective Worship and the wearing of red, white and blue items.
Class 5 have continued the celebrations with a collaborative piece of art, with all class members completing a section.
Football Match
The older pupils are looking forward to a football match this week against Temple Guiting School. They also recently played against St David’s. It is wonderful that these inter school competitions are able to take place again.
Clay work
Class 4 took inspiration from their geographical learning about Italy when designing and creating gargoyles.
A great deal of time and effort went in to creating these detailed clay works of art!
Covid
As we are now in a ‘living with covid’ phase, this illness needs to be treated in the same way as other respiratory infections. Please refer to government guidelines:
https://www.gov.uk/guidance/people-with-symptoms-of-a-respiratory-infection-including-covid-19
When children and young people with symptoms should stay at home and when they can return to education
Children and young people with mild symptoms such as a runny nose, sore throat, or slight cough, who are otherwise well, can continue to attend their education setting.
Children and young people who are unwell and have a high temperature should stay at home and avoid contact with other people, where they can. They can go back to school, college or childcare, and resume normal activities when they no longer have a high temperature and they are well enough to attend.
All children and young people with respiratory symptoms should be encouraged to cover their mouth and nose with a disposable tissue when coughing and/or sneezing and to wash their hands after using or disposing of tissues.
Children and young people aged 18 years and under who have a positive test result
It is not recommended that children and young people are tested for COVID-19 unless directed to by a health professional.
If a child or young person has a positive COVID-19 test result they should try to stay at home and avoid contact with other people for 3 days after the day they took the test, if they can. After 3 days, if they feel well and do not have a high temperature, the risk of passing the infection on to others is much lower. This is because children and young people tend to be infectious to other people for less time than adults.
Children and young people who usually go to school, college or childcare and who live with someone who has a positive COVID-19 test result should continue to attend as normal.
Holiday in term time and attendance at school
Unfortunately, some pupils attendance at school is lower than expected. As recent years have shown, time spent learning with their peers is very important and missing school can have a lasting impact on a child’s life. Please see the leaflet regarding school attendance (Attendance Leaflet). We understood, during the Covid Pandemic, that postponed holidays had to be taken but as this has now passed we ask parents to ensure that breaks away are taken in school holidays and pupils attend school punctually to ensure they do not disturb the learning of others.
End of the School Day
To ensure the safety of your children we will only hand them over to the person collecting the child if they are named on the data collection sheet or if the parents/carers of the child have given prior permission. If someone else is collecting your child please remember to let the class teacher or school office know admin@blockleyschool.gloucs.sch.uk . Regular arrangements can be put in writing and we allow year 6 pupils to walk home on their own with parental permission, as a preparation for secondary school.
With the younger pupils, please could you ensure that you come close to the gate when they are being let out so the staff member can hand them safely over to you.
September 2022
The new government white paper on the education system stipulates the length of the school week as 32.5 hours. To ensure we have the opportunity to deliver the best possible education for your child we are altering the school day slightly from September 2022.
Pupils will need to arrive in school for 8.40am and registration will take place at 8.45am. Pupils will need to be collected at 3.15pm.
Uniform
We are very grateful to parents for supporting our uniform policy, which can be found on our school website: https://blockleyprimaryschool.co.uk/school-life/uniform/
This uniform has been created to ensure that it is accessible for all and second hand uniform is available as an environmentally friendly option!
The school logo is optional but we have a number of suppliers that stock logoed items.
Brigade: https://www.brigade.uk.com/
My Clothing: https://myclothing.com/blockley-church-of-england-primary-school/6246.school
Wreal Sports (currently PE kit but the range may be expanded): https://wrealsports.co.uk/shop/my-school/blockley-c-of-e/
Please ensure that your child attends school in the correct school uniform, including footwear. From September pupils not in correct PE kit will have phone calls home to ensure it is fair to all.
Kitchen
Pupils and staff have all welcomed Andrea back with open arms! It is wonderful to be able to have fresh food cooked on site in our own school kitchen. Food is an important part of your child’s learning experience. Establishing healthy eating habits early on and knowledge about cooking and food can ensure your child grows up with the understanding to develop into a healthy adult, able to manage to feed themselves healthy and cost effectively. We are very lucky to have this fantastic facility as highlighted by the environmental health visitor who completed a spot check visit this week. He arrived during lunchtime and gave a thorough inspection of our premises. We are pleased to announce that we retained our 5 star hygiene rating, the highest rating allocated.
Unfortunately the cost of living crises is also having an impact on our school finances, with the energy, consumables and food prices rocketing. We are therefore having to increase the price of a school meal to £2.75 for pupils in KS2. If you think that you may qualify for Free School Meal Status (all year groups) please apply through Gloucestershire County Council https://www.gloucestershire.gov.uk/education-and-learning/school-transport-and-free-school-meals/apply-for-free-school-meals/
We encourage all pupils to have a cooked meal at lunchtime but if you wish to send a packed lunch with your child please ensure that it is healthy with no nut products.
Parent Governor Elections
Another vacancy for a parent governor will exist on the governing board from July 2022 as the term of office of a current governor comes to an end. Governors are welcome to stand again but the position is open to all parents to apply and elections will be run as necessary. More details will be issued next term.
FOS
As always, but particular as prices increase, we are very grateful to the financial and practical support offered the school by our Friends of the School group. They are able to support most school trips, paying for the coach, thus keeping the cost down for parents. Please continue to offer your support to ensure we can continue with the excellent provision of facilities and educational opportunities at Blockley.
Music
Peripatetic Music lessons are on offer in school if parents wish to take up this for their child. Lesson prices vary but currently we have a woodwind and brass teacher visit school. We have not had enough interest for a guitar teacher or violin teacher to attend at present. If you are interested in your child learning a musical instrument please let the office know.
Pokémon cards
These cards have provided a great deal of fun and excitement for the pupils. However they are now causing some problems with issues of ownership. It has now been decided that these cards should be played with and swopped outside of school. Please can all cards be kept at home and swopped outside of school.
Term 6
Term 6 is set to be a busy and exciting term. Alongside focused subject learning we have many enhanced learning opportunities planned including Bikeability training for year 6 pupils, class 2 visit to Hatton Adventure World, sharing assemblies, welcome days for reception pupils 2022, Longborough Opera Workshop, Bishops visit, Royal Three Counties Show Visit, class 1 visit to Warwick Castle, year 6 leavers service at Gloucester Cathedral, sports day, first aid training for pupils, art day, KS2 musical production and a year 6 residential. We are looking forward to it already but in the meantime enjoy a well-deserved break.
Blockley C of E Primary School