Newsletter 27.3.26

News

27th March 2026

Dear Families
 

As we reach the end of what has been a truly memorable term (my first as official Head), I wanted to take a moment to reflect on all that we have achieved together as a school community.

 This term has been particularly significant for us, as we welcomed Ofsted to our school—being the first school in Warwickshire to be inspected under the new framework outside of the pilot. The process was both rigorous and affirming, and it was a wonderful opportunity to showcase the incredible work happening every day at Alveston. I would like to thank our pupils, staff, and families for their support and positivity throughout.

 We have also successfully introduced OPAL (Outdoor Play and Learning), which has already begun to transform playtimes into richer, more creative experiences for our children. It has been a joy to see imaginations flourish and confidence grow through this initiative.


 

Yesterday’s church service was a truly special moment for our school. It provided a chance for reflection, celebration, and togetherness, and I know many of you who attended will agree it was a beautiful way to mark the end of term.
 

Throughout the term, every class has had the opportunity to celebrate their learning through class assemblies. These have been fantastic occasions, allowing children to share their achievements with pride and excitement. In addition, all classes have taken part in educational visits, enriching their learning beyond the classroom and bringing their topics to life in meaningful ways.

I would also like to take this opportunity to express how incredibly proud I am of our staff. They work tirelessly to create the inspiring and nurturing environment that makes Alveston such a unique place. Each member of our team brings their own individuality and character, and it is this that helps draw out the joyful, vibrant personalities we see in our children every day.

Thank you, as always, for your continued support. I wish you all a restful and enjoyable break, and we look forward to welcoming everyone back next term.

Warmest regards,

Jess Newitt

Headteacher

Half Term Cup Winners!
 
Reception ~ Arianna
Year 1 ~ Arthur
Year 2 ~ Iona
Year 3 ~  Riley
Year 4 ~ Emily
Year 5 ~ Layla (presented last week)
Year 6 ~ Kaisen
 
Congratulations to all of our amazing Half Term Cup winners - what an achievement! Well done for shining so brightly in all that you do.
Team Cup Winners
 
Congratulations to this week's team cup winners, Tudor Reds! And a big "WELL DONE" to anyone who earned team points this week.
Easter Competition Winner!
 
Well done to Maisie, from Year 2, for correctly guessing that there were 137 eggs in the jar! Enjoy your winnings, Maisie.
Percentage Attendance Levels by Year Group (to date)
 
Reception - 94.5%
Year 1 - 95.1%
Year 2 - 97.5%
Year 3 - 95.6%
Year 4 -  96%
Year 5 -  98%
Year 6 -  95%
 
Overall School Total - 96%
 
While the UK government sets an expectation of 100% attendance, good attendance is generally considered 95% or higher, with 97% or above regarded as very good/excellent.
 
Attendance Percentages Explained:
  • 97-100%: Excellent/Very Good attendance
  • 95-97%: Average/Good attendance
  • 90-95%: Cause for concern
  • Below 90%: Serious concern / Persistent absence (PA)
Goodbye Mrs Bonell and Miss Greaves
 
Today we bid farewell to Mrs Bonell who has covered maternity leave for us in Year 1. We wish Mrs Bonell good luck in her next role and thank her for all she has done at Alveston. We also said goodbye to Miss Greaves who has been on teaching placement in Year 4 this term. Year 4 have been so lucky to have had such a wonderful student with them. We wish them both every success for the future.
Reception Class Needs You!
 
In the Reception classroom after Easter, the children's topic is 'People Who Help Us'. We would love for family members to get involved in this! If you feel that your job role falls into the category of helping people - and if you would be willing to come into the Reception classroom to talk about your job role - please do get in touch! Please email the office on admin3002@welearn365.com if you are interested. Miss Arbuckle will then be in touch to discuss a convenient date and time for you to come in. Thank you!
Spring Stroll
 
Year 1 went on a walk around the school grounds to look for signs of spring recently. They discovered trees with blossom and buds appearing, leaves beginning to grow and bees and insects busying themselves. The children also saw lots of daisies and daffodils blooming which was helped by the beautiful and bright sunshine. They spied bird’s nests in trees indicating - all these wonderful things indicating signs of new life. Such a wonderful time of year!
The Day the Chairs Quit!
 

This morning, the children in Year 2 arrived in class to a big surprise… all of the chairs had QUIT! In their place was a letter from the chairs, explaining that they were tired of being mistreated over the past few weeks. To make matters worse, they even threatened to convince the tables to quit too! The children were quick to take action, putting their writing skills to the test by composing persuasive letters to the chairs, encouraging them to stay. They used fantastic arguments, thoughtful ideas and powerful language to apologise and promise to treat the furniture with more care. It was a fun and engaging way to develop their persuasive writing skills, and the children showed great creativity and enthusiasm throughout the activity.


 

Bridge the Gap
 
Year 5 have been working brilliantly together in DT this week to design and build their own wooden truss bridges. They have developed their practical skills by safely using tools such as hacksaws and bench vices, showing great care and responsibility throughout the process. The children carefully measured, cut and assembled their pieces of wood, working collaboratively to ensure their bridges were strong and sturdy. It has been wonderful to see their problem-solving skills in action, as well as their perseverance and teamwork. We are very proud of the effort Year 5 have put into this project and the impressive structures they have created—well done.
Celebrating Shakespeare Week!
 
This week every class has been learning about Shakespeare as part of National Shakespeare Week. Activities have included making potions, writing poems and acting out plays. Each class had a specific play to focus on.
 
Reception - A Midsummer Night's Dream
Year 1 - Macbeth
Year 2 - The Tempest
Year 3 - Romeo and Juliet
Year 4 - The Taming of the Shrew
Year 5 - Macbeth
Year 6 - Shakespeare's Sonnets
 
Check back after the holidays for a round-up of what the children got up to!
 
Place2Be Parenting Smart
 
Place2Be, our in-school mental health support service, has a variety of free resources to support your child's wellbeing and help them deal with childhood challenges. We do this through:

Parenting Smart  - our website full of practical advice and tried and tested tips for parents and carers of primary-age children.

Parenting Smart - Online Course - for parents and carers of children at Place2Be schools, our free online course offers extra parenting tools to support children’s wellbeing and help them deal with childhood challenges. You can find out more in the leaflet linked here.


 

DON'T FORGET: SEND Coffee Morning/Parent Workshop
 
We will be holding our next coffee morning on Thursday 16th April at 9am in the Community Room. Please do join Mrs Rogers for a cup of tea and a chat. We continue to want to build a friendly group of parents available to talk, share concerns and support each other. 
 
At 9.30am on this day, we will be joined by Jaki Ryan, Family Support Worker, from the Children with Disabilities team. She will be running a Communication workshop for parents/ carers 9.30-11.30am. This will be a relaxed and friendly session looking at visual communication, visual timetable and how "now and next" boards can support children and young people at home. Click here for more information and how to book your free space on Eventbrite. 
Click here to read the latest edition of the Warwickshire School Health Newsletter
Learn-to-Ride Club
 
We have been very lucky to have Simon from Cycle Infinity return to Alveston to continue his learn-to-ride bicycle club. Several Year 1 and Reception children signed up…and after gaining their confidence on Alveston’s playground, they can all now ride their bikes. How brilliant is that?! A huge thank you to Simon for his enthusiasm and hard work with the children. This really is such a lovely success story! If you would like your child to learn to ride or improve their cycle skills, get in touch with Simon from Cycle Infinity CIC at hello@cycleinfinity.co.uk to find out how.

 

A Note From Our Friends

Thank you to everyone who attended our Easter Bingo on Thursday night – it was a huge success! It was wonderful to see so many people having such a great time. Congratulations to all our bingo winners who took home some fantastic prizes! And a huge thank you to all the volunteers who helped make the event possible, as well as to our brilliant bingo caller, Steph. We wish you all a wonderful Easter holiday!


Don’t forget to book your place at our next family event – Family Art with Artbase! Come along and paint a cute panda on Thursday 16th April in the school hall. Doors open at 6:15pm, with painting from 6:30–7:45pm.

Prices:
        •       Adults painting: £15
        •       Children: £10
        •       Adults not painting: £5

Snacks and drinks will be available. Spaces are limited, so book now via PTA Events to avoid disappointment!

Friends of Alveston Primary


 

Bonjour!
 
French Club bookings for the Summer term - for Reception through to Year 5  - are now open! Please click here for more information and instructions on how to book.
 
Joyeuses Pâques!
Community Interest 
 
We post community events and projects on our website under 'Our Community'. For more information about activities open to you, your family and your local community, please do check the pages regularly:
 
Art Base is back at Alveston this Summer Term! Sign up here
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
You can also find a list of Stratford Food Bank's "MOST WANTED" items right here. Please do take a look and help to support those in need in our local community.
General Reminders
 
Parking at Drop-Off and Pick-Up
We are so lucky at Alveston that the Football Club allow all our parents who drive to school to use their car park for drop-off and pick-up. This makes it safer for all our children. Please continue to use the Football Club car park. Please note: Parking is only available if there are spaces free and we can only park in the allocated bays. Once all the marked bays are full each day, parents will need to find alternative parking when dropping off and collecting their children. Please do not park in any other areas of the car park going forward. Please do not park on any double-yellow lines for pick-up or drop-offs. Please also ensure that you do not stop or park within the zig-zag "Keep Clear" markings at the main entrance to school. This area is marked to keep the flow of traffic moving and to ensure the safety of all pedestrians. 
 
Sickness and Absence
Please let the school office know each day your child is absent from school by calling 01789 293412, option 1, and leaving a message. You may also email parents3002@welearn365.com. You do not need to contact us daily if your child is sick/vomits. Absences for sickness/vomiting will be recorded 48 hours from the end of the day your child was last sick (i.e. if sick on Sunday, come back on Wednesday; if Tuesday come back on Friday). 
 

Medicines in School
We cannot accept medicines in school without a prescription label and a medical form completed by a parent or carer.  Please ask the school office for more information and/or a form via:
parents3002@welearn365.com


 

Forest School Dates* 
 
Below are Forest School dates for your diary. The children will need to wear PE kit to school with tracksuit bottoms or leggings and have a long sleeve top, such as a hoodie. Wellies and a rain coat will also be required: 

*Forest school dates are Fridays, unless otherwise stated

 

Summer Term (1)   

 

Date

 

Year Group

17/4

 

Reception

24/4

 

Year 6

1/5

 

Year 5

8/5

 

Year 4

15/5

 

Year 3

22/5

 

 Year 2

Important Dates* to Remember  

Key dates for Summer Term (1) are HERE!  

*
 Please note that all dates published are subject to change/cancellation - please check this page and/or the website calendar regularly:
 

 

 

END OF SPRING TERM (2): 30th March to 10th April

 

 

 

Summer Term (1)

 

Celebration / Star of the Week Assemblies

 

 

(17/4), 24/4, 1/5, 8/5, 15/5, *18/5 (Half Term Cup)

 

 

Teacher-Led Clubs – 4 weeks

 

 

13th April to 4th May 2026

 

 

 

13/4

 

Children back in school

15/4

 

Reception call trip to Oversley Hill Farm

15/4

 

Year 6 Parliament Trip (London)

16/4

 

Friends’ Family Art Class (6:15pm onwards)

22/4

 

Connect4Health: Heights & Weights (YR & Y6)

 

 

 

 

 

HALF TERM 25th to 29th May

 

 

 

1/6

 

INSET DAY – no children in school

2/6

 

Children back in school

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