Annual Reports

Today, your child will be bringing home their annual report.

We have adapted the format from previous years to reflect the disrupted school year. The report contains key information on progress in reading, writing and maths as well as wider information about the children’s development as a learner and achievements in different aspects of the curriculum and school life.

In some cases, it will be evident that learning has taken a knock this year and that progress is not what we might otherwise have hoped. Other children have been less affected by the school closure. We have concentrated on helping children ‘catch-up’ this term and are making plans to continue to address this next year. We are pleased to tell you that we have created a new role for Mrs Murray to help with this. She will be working in different classes with small groups to support those children who need it most.

I hope you will find the reports useful. They are timed to come to you ready for discussion at next week’s parents’ evening consultations.

Safety guidance to manage parents’ evenings safely

Since way back in the Autumn term, we have wanted to invite you into school to discuss your child’s progress in class. We sent a target-setting report to you in the Autumn Term and are now following this up with an end-of-year report and a parents’ evening meeting. We are still operating within Covid-19 restrictions so please bear with us as we ask that you comply with the guidance below to help keep everyone safe during the meetings.

You should not come into school for the parents’ meetings if you currently need to self-isolate, according to the latest government guidance, for example if you:
• are displaying any coronavirus symptoms (a new continuous cough, a high temperature, or a loss or change in their sense of taste and/or smell)
• have received a positive coronavirus test result
• have been in contact with someone who has tested positive for coronavirus

Once you have arrived at school, we have a number of measures in place to keep everyone safe:
1. Please wear a face covering at all times while you are on the school site, unless exempt
2. Two adults per child maximum please. To minimise numbers of people on site, please do not bring other children unless absolutely necessary
3. Hand gel will be available for you to use as you arrive
4. Teachers will arrange seating so you are at least 2m away
5. The meeting will take place in a well-ventilated area, in most cases close to an open door
6. Parents should access their child’s classroom by walking around the outside of the building and using the fire door. Signage will be put up to help you find your way. Please wait outside and do not come into the building until invited to do so.

Should you experience coronavirus symptoms within 48 hours after leaving the school, you must notify us. You must take a coronavirus test and notify the school of the result.

Public Health England: advice for parents

“It remains important that children do not attend school when unwell, as has always been the case – symptoms can be an indicator of a whole range of infections that can be spread through contact with others. If symptoms develop into one of the three main symptoms of COVID-19 (cough, temperature/hot to touch, or loss of/change to sense of smell or taste), the child should self-isolate and get PCR tested. This advice is under constant review but has not changed. We ask parents to remain vigilant, maintain hands, face, space and follow the national guidance outside of school to help reduce transmission of the virus within our communities”. (PHE 23/06/21)

Dr Bike: free bicycle maintenance

Jonathan Dixon, our friendly Sustrans bike expert, has offered his time to carry out some free bike maintenance and checks for Southill children and parents. All our children and parents will be able to take advantage of this – just bring your bikes into school next Thursday 8th July. Jonathan will check each one over, perform some maintenance where he can and write you a short note to explain what he’s done. Then the bikes will be ready for collection at the end of the day.

Everyone welcome – and it’s free! Please bring your bike along next Thursday.

Dorset Library Summer Reading Challenge

We all met up (online of course) for an assembly yesterday from Dorset Libraries. They told the children about this summer’s Reading Challenge – ‘Wild World Heroes’ – and encouraged everyone to take part. At school, we know the Reading Challenge is a great way to keep children’s reading skills and fluency going well through the summer – and this helps the children make a great start in September. We highly recommend the Challenge and hope as many children as possible can get involved: www.worldheroes.org.uk

Free family magazine

Here is your free e-copy of the UK’s best family magazine, packed full of information to help keep your children busy & entertained during the school summer holidays.

Eat Well For Less

I get some unusual emails sometimes, like this one. I’ll pass it on to you as somebody might be interested…

Hello, I am a researcher writing from the hit BBC One prime time series Eat Well For Less? – I hope you’re well! My reason for writing is that we are currently casting for our 8th series and are looking for families / households who would like to eat well and save some money on their weekly shop. We would love it if you would be willing to tell us about some people you know that may be suitable for the show? I’ve popped some information about the series below for you…

“The show is on a mission to prove that it is possible for families and households to save money on their food budget without scrimping on taste and nutrition.  We hope that by analysing the shopping habits of UK families, we can help to show where they can source the best and cheapest quality food.”

Eating well and to a budget is something we feel affects most of us and we’d be really grateful if you could help us spread the word about the new series by perhaps circulating a flyer with parents and staff at your school or by sharing something on a public notice board or school newsletter? I have attached a copy of the flyer to this email and we can also post paper copies out to you if you would prefer. 

Please let me know if you have any questions about the series or if you require any further information and I’ll be more than happy to help.

Hope to hear from you soon! Many thanks,

The ‘Eat Well For Less?’ Casting Team