Updates from Mrs Norden

The spring half term has arrived and we hope this will bring a good rest for all.  After a short but busy half term, the children were quite tired last week.  We know the Christmas holiday break is never really a 'break', so a well earned rest will hopefully reinvigorate us all for what will be an even shorter and busier second half term.

Exciting activities linked to World Book Day begin for us on Tuesday 27th February with a visit from an author, and will continue through to 8th March.  Mrs Sprawson's flyer, detailing information for 27th Feb and 7th March was attached to this newsletter link and can also be accessed by clicking here.  Please have a read as some aspects involve pre-planning from home.  

You can also click here for our World Book Day themed lunch menu, but further activity details will come out after half term.

Below you will find information about two art activities, including an art competition the children can enter.  Mrs Cowburn has already had some entries and looks forward to receiving more after half term.

I would like to say a huge thank you to those who have supported us in writing to Anthony Browne, the school's local MP, about funding and the increasing constraints on us as a school.  If you missed this information last week please click here for the overview in last week's newsletter and click here to access the template from the 'Letter's home' page of the website. 

We have begun to make some changes to our website in the way information is organised to hopefully make it more easily navigated.  This means that some new pages are under construction, which in turn may impact on the view of other pages.  Once all the work has been completed we will let you know and ask for feedback on the changes.  In the meantime, a new page which brings together information parents and carers access most often called 'Parent Information' can be accessed by clicking here.

Finally from me today, I hope you all have a lovely half term and the sun continues to shine as it has done this afternoon, with the rain staying at bay.

                                                                                                              _{Anna-Claire Norden} 

_Headteacher

It's time for art!

Swavesey Primary School Art Competition

Mrs Cowburn has set up an in-school competition for Art.

• Every child is welcome to enter!  
• The theme is 'Spring'.
•  Art works can be any media (colour pencil, painting, felt tip, collage, 3D,etc)
• They must be A4 size or smaller.  
• 3D works must be able to be hung on the wall for display purposes.
• The closing date for entries is the Friday after half-term (1st March)
• Entries can be given to your child's class teacher or straight to Mrs Cowburn in Foxes Class.
• Entries will need your child's name, year group and class written on the back.
• The competition will be judged with the help of a local artist, judging a winner for each phase.
• Mrs Cowburn is looking forward to seeing all the wonderful entries to add to the lovely art she has already been given!

CAYAC Art Competition

Some of our children's art work has been entered into this local competition, which has had a different focus from previous years in that the work was to be from school sessions.

The exhibition of all entries will take place in St Peter’s School, St Peter’s Road,Huntingdon, PE29 7DD on Saturday March 2nd 2024 between 10am and 3.30pm.  Our entries families ahve aready received their invites but  the Huntingdonshire Arts Society and St Peter’s School are delighted to invite all to visit the exhibition.

Prize giving for the best artwork for each Key Stage will be at 3pm.

It will be possible to order greetings cards reproducing any of the artwork in the exhibition. Cards from previous exhibitions will be on sale (£1 each).

Phonics training for Parents/Carers - Supporting Your Child at Home

Dandelion Learning Ik are offerering a free session for parents/carers to support phonics at home.  Whilst this will be a generic session, and not bespoke to Little wandle the scheme we now use, Dandelion trainign ahs always been of good quality and you may find this session useful. 

This training is aimed at parents of children in EYFS and primary school.

Learning to read and enjoying reading is fundamental to children's life chances. Phonics is key to decoding and parental support is a crucial factor in ensuring success in reading progress. The aim of this session is to give parents the confidence to support developing readers and writers so they make great progress in reading...and love it!

In this free 1 hour session the trainers will explore:

• What phonics is and why it is important.
• Phonics terminology.
• How phonics is taught in schools.
• How you can help your child with their phonics at home.

Choice of dates and times:

• Thursday 22nd February 2024 6pm - 7pm
• Friday 26th April 2024 10am - 11am
• Monday 17th June 2024 7pm - 8pm

Click here to access the booking page

Spring Term Admin

Cambridgeshire Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) Programme

The Cambridgeshire Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) Programme is available over the February half term school holidays. Please click here for the LA parent/carer letter and click here for their FAQs.

Themed lunches for World Book Day 7th March  - Click here for the Lunch menu

Guitar lessons -  Mr Cory, may now have some available 30min slots (£19.25 per session) and/or 15min slots (£9.62 per session). If your child is interested in learning the guitar, please contact Mr Cory via email at jimmypagefans@hotmail.com. Please include:- pupils name, parent/guardian name, school name, class teachers name for 23/24 term, home address & mobile phone number. Please book early to avoid disappointment. Please note if you have already been added to my waiting list, you will be the first to be offered any spaces that become available.

Admin General Information

Office hours - 8.30am to 4pm except Wednesday which is 8.45am to 4pm

EY and P Payments - a reminder these are due at the start of the month and all balances should be paid on receipt of payment request.

Diary Dates - can be accessed on the website by clicking here

Chicken Eggs - If you would like a pack of our chickens' eggs please complete the very short form accessed by clicking here.

PTA News - access their website page here for ways to support our fundraising

Next Events

Smarties Challenge - The children will have brought home on Friday a free tube of smarties for them to enjoy ......and hopefully share. See the poster below for more details.

Quiz 15th March - Please see details below and click here for the entry form.  This is a great adult event and is always thoroughly enjoyed by all, so please join us to get your little grey cells active and have some fun.  Bring cash on the night for a raffle and games.

Community News

EIFA Team workshops (Jane Rogers' team) -

To book onto their online workshops for February and March please sue the link below : Support your child with worried feelings, support your child with angry feelings, sleep and internet safety.

https://forms.office.com/e/djfjcGEzf6

Read our School Council, Eco-Committee and Rights Respecting School Committee Blogs below:

SEND, Safeguarding, Health and Wellbeing Links

SEND (Special Educational Needs and Disabilities) information can be accessed through our SEND website pages here

Safeguarding Information - please click here for our Safeguarding page especially should you have concerns relating to the safeguarding of our children and families.  Please click here to go directly to our Safeguarding policy.

Attendance Policy - please click here for the school's attendance policy. It is vitally important parents and carers are aware of their responsibilities and the formal processes for attendance matters.  The NHS have created a useful webpage to support decision making when children are unwell - you can click here for the link.

SEMH (Social Emotional Mental Health) resources for parents - Please click here to access an overview sheet with signposted resources for you to use at home to support your children.  The overview sheet can also be found at the bottom of the SEND page on our website here.  

H.A.Y Cambridgeshire Community Wellbeing support -  How Are You South Cambs? | Home (haysouthcambs.co.uk)

NHS Mental Health Services - www.keep-your-head.com and SHOUT - a new Text service on 85258 which provides real-time support to people of all ages who are struggling with their mental health (text the word HEAR to 85258).

Chat Health is a NHS confidential NHS service for help and advice. It’s safe and easy for you to speak to a qualified health professional. Just send a message, you don’t have to give your name. Discreet and quick. It only takes one message to start making a difference. You’ll get confidential advice from trained health staff in your area. Click here to access the site to start a web chat today.

Could you foster? 

At Nexus Fostering based in Lolworth, we’re looking for local people like you to become foster carers. By providing a loving and stable home environment, you can support the increasing number of children and young people in the local area who cannot live in their family homes. Not all children require long-term care. We also need foster carers for short-term placements, respite care, and to provide temporary homes to support young parents and their babies. So, if you have a spare room and are ready to change lives, please give us a call on 01223 903 503 or email Leanne on leannea@nexusfostering.co.uk.

Please access their poster here

To find out more about Pupil premium and Free school meals, please visit our Pupil Premium page by clicking here. 

Links to each Phase page under the Curriculum tab on our website.

                                Reception    Yr1/2    Yr3/4    Yr5/6