Fairfields Primary School

Dear Fairfields Community,

 It has been another busy week in the school, with children making the use of the outside area as much as possible. 

The doodle book time has helped to calm children ready for the afternoon sessions and as a result, lessons start on time and the class are more settled.  We will continue with this approach throughout the rest of this term!

Thank you to all the parents who attended the communication meetings over the last two weeks.  A number of changes will be introduced over the next few months. We have decided that WhatsApp groups cannot be supported as the main means of communication and so would urge that parents take time to download the School Jotter App or check their emails each week. 

We have also heard that some of the features on the APP are not fully understood.  For example, the calendar can be synched to your main calendar and notifications can be filtered so that you only receive those for your year group.  We will also put more information on the calendar so that parents can quickly check information for event. 

Cycle Helmets

Please ensure that your child wears a helmet on scooters as well as bikes.  We will be monitoring this in the playground, and you will not be able to store bikes or scooters without evidence of a helmet being worn.

Diversity Party – Monday 3^rd July 3:15-4pm

We look forward to seeing you at the Diversity Party on Monday.  Please do come along to find out more about our school community.  If you would like to set up a table for your country or religion, please do come to the school office at 2:30pm.

Children arriving late in the morning

 Thank you to the parents for the huge improvement in the number of children arriving late to school.  Our focus on punctuality will really help children to understand the need for this in the working world.  To help parents with knowing when the classes are going in, we will ring a bell at 8:40am (Foundation stage, year 1 and 2) and 8:45am(Years 3-6).  These are the times when children should arrive at school.

Unfortunately, we cannot let children walk into the school without an adult as they may not reach the classroom and the teacher would not know that they went missing.  

Strike Day Update

The NEU have announced two days of industrial action on Wednesday 5th and Friday 7th July.  After careful consideration we have made the decision to again prioritise the Year 6 classes and will also be open to classes where the teachers are not taking industrial action.  Unfortunately, we will not know this until 7:45am on the day. 

We will send an email at this time to confirm which classes are open. If your child’s class is closed on the day, you will be able to access learning via the Oak National Academy:  All subjects by key stage - Oak National Academy (thenational.academy). 

 We understand that this does not give a lot of notice and that you may want to make alternative arrangements for childcare.  For this reason, attendance on this day is non-compulsory. The Year 6 disco will go ahead as planned as will the new Foundation Stage Stay and Play sessions. 

 Parenting Support

The Mental Health in School team are coming in for an informal coffee morning in the cabin from 8.40- 10 on Monday. Any parents are welcome to pop in and chat to them. They cover issues such as sleep difficulties, low mood, worry, single event trauma, anxiety, phobias, challenging behaviour, OCD and panic.

 PTA Updates

 Fairfields Circus and Fair 21st July 

Circus Ticket Swap & Toy Donations

On Thursday 6th July we will be doing a Circus ticket swap and sale after school. If you haven't already picked up your tickets for the Circus on 21st July yet then this is the ideal time to do so. Tickets are also still available at https://fairfieldspta.uk/product/circus-ticket/ 

Asa reminder, we are also happy to collect the following donations on Thursday too (please ensure expiry dates are after 21 July) as well as good condition second hand toys.

Year R, Year 1, Year 2: Wrapped Chocolate/Biscuits (no nut) 

Year 3, Year 4: New toys/dolls/Alcohol/non-alcohol bottle (for game prizes) 

Year 5, Year 6: Alcohol/non-alcohol bottles 

We need volunteers for Fairfields Circus and Fair 2023.

(All our efforts are for our children to have fun and raise money for our school. So please help)

These volunteer roles are still available. Please help.

• Year 2 parents: Money tree, Pick a lolly
• Year 3 parents: Splat the rat, Hook a bottle
• Year 5 parents: Spin the wheel, Punch a cup

These below activities are  available for any year group:

1. Bottle tombola
2. Chocolate tombola
3. Second hand toys tombola
4. Prize table

Volunteers will receive fast track to the Circus and a drink/ice cream token and can sign-up at https://fairfieldspta.uk/summer-fair-volunteer-sign-ups/ 

Diversity Fair & Year 2 PTA challenge

Year 2 parents will be combining their PTA challenge with the diversity fair on Monday afternoon (3 July), selling cup cakes and ice lollies so please come and see them to support their efforts and raise money for the school.

 I hope that you have a wonderful weekend.

Miss Kelly Dillon

Headteacher