We are looking for a highly organised Administrative Officer to work alongside our Admin Assistant and School Business Manager in our busy, friendly school. 22 hours per week, term time only. Kindly email the school for more information : admin@neston.wilts.sch.uk
(Closing date: 18.11.2013)
Holidays in Term Time
Dear Parents
I am writing to inform you of the Government’s intention to change procedures surrounding holidays taken in term time.
Previously, as Headteacher, I have been permitted to authorise up to ten days leave of absence for “Special Circumstances”. With effect from September 2013, amendments to the 2006 regulations have come into force. The amendments make it clear that, as Headteacher, I may not grant any leave of absence during term time unless there are “exceptional circumstances”. If this is the case, I should determine the number of school days your child can be away from school.
If a parent were to choose to ignore these regulations then there would be a Penalty Notice issued; the timescale for paying will be £60.00 within 21 days or £120.00 within 28 days. Please be aware that Penalty Notices are issued to each parent/carer for each child.
In the past we have been able to manage the process effectively; the diverse needs of our families have been valued and parents/carers have respected decisions made. My plan is for us to continue to work in partnership, taking account of the new regulations and following the “exceptional circumstances only” criteria. We have adjusted our Leave of Absence Request Form accordingly.
This letter and the revised request form are available from the school office and can be found on our school website, along with additional information from Wiltshire Local Authority plus links to the Department for Education website .
Yours sincerely,
Pam Evans
Head Teacher
Violin Taster
Today, Silver Birch enjoyed a visit from Mrs Tunney the violin teacher.
We all had a go at playing the violin and danced along to an upbeat folk jig.
Lots of Silver Birch class expressed an interest in learning the violin. Mrs Tunney explained she could teach single or group lessons for children – just ask at reception for details.
Chestnut Spellings
Spellings Due in 22nd October 2013
All three groups are in the same word document
Maple Home Learning
FoNS Fireworks Posters
If you missed them in the book bags, or want to go wild and keep drawing, click here to print out more!
Our learning so far...
Class Hazel
We have had an excellent start to our learning this year. The whole school is learning through a cross-curricular topic ‘Enter the Castle’.
Our visit to Berkeley castle was a wonderful experience and I am sure you have found out many new and interesting facts. Some of which are fairly gruesome!
The school display on castles is a joy to look at, a home project that many of you took part in. So many interesting and creative images, as well as a ‘library’ of facts!
Strike on the 17th October
Please click here for the letter explaining the strike on Thursday.
Neston Reading Festival
I am delighted to announce the launch of Neston's very own Reading Festival. We are running this in conjunction with Booktrust's National Children's Book Week and the Travelling Book Fair and we are hoping our Festival will be an exciting celebration of reading for pleasure.
Neston Reading Festival will launch on Thursday 10th October with a Welcome Event for Willow & Oak Class children and their parents at 3.30pm in the hall. This event will include a treasure hunt in the grounds, storytelling with our very own Barefoot Storyteller and hot chocolate and cookies. This fun event is organised by FONS (Friends of Neston School).
On Friday 11th October there will be a book-related whole school learning. More to follow! Also look out for information about Booktrust's 100 Best Books www.booktrust.org.uk/cbw - a chance to vote for your favourite book and win a complete pack of 100 books!
Our festival will continue on Monday as the Barefoot Storyteller hosts an intriguing storytelling assembly for the children ... look out for the lead character ... will you recognise the damsel in distress and who will save her?
On Wednesday 16th October our Book Fair will open after school in the hall. There will be lots of great books to buy at affordable prices. The Book Fair also helps raise funds for us to buy lots more books for school.
The Book Fair will be open at 8.30am every morning and straight after school until Tuesday 22"d October. be open at 8.30am every morning and straight after school until Tuesday 22"d October.
Also, on Friday 18th October we are asking all children (and staff) to "Spend a Day in a Book Character's Shoes". There will be more information about this with the whole school home learning.
Happy Reading! Mrs Pam Evans I Mrs Sheila Stansfield
Under A Spell In Chestnut
In Chestnut class, our cross-curricular topic until Christmas is Harry Potter. This fits the whole school, overarching theme of 'Enter the Castle'.
The children are enjoying the start of our Harry Potter themed topic. In the Summer Holidays I watched all of the films and thought how great it would be to get through a book every fortnight and therefore the whole series would be completed by Christmas. This has turned out to be grossly optimistic but nonetheless what we have done so far has still been very entertaining. It has been great to hear of children reading the stories/watching the films for the first time or rediscovering them.
Just because we are making our way through the first one doesn’t mean they can’t read the seventh, or watch the film to find out what happens next. We are learning from the story; going into the finer details to unpick literary techniques and using the characters to think about the moral and social perspectives portrayed. Also, we will be watching sections of the film to make comparisons and spot differences between the books and the films.
In other words, yes we are reading the books in chronological order but don’t let that get in the way of a child wanting to get lost in the magic at Hogwarts.
Bringing the magic to life
Room with a view
In Chestnut we have absolutely fallen in love with our new classroom. The high ceilings allow the room to feel bright and open, even when it has been dark and dreary outside. One of our favourite features is the amazing doors that line the entire wall facing the playground. Whilst we are slightly conscious that we are on show, we would not change it for anything. We are very lucky that we get this wonderful, inspiring, landscape to send our minds off wandering, day in, day out.
Possible Strike Action Letter
Please click here for the letter sent out to parents / carers today.
Berkeley Castle
Our trip to
Parent / Teacher Meetings
Our Parent / Teachers meetings will be held on Monday 21st and Thursday 24th October. Sign up forms will be put up in the 'glazed link' shortly. If you can't get into school to book your appointment please call the school office and we can try to find a suitable time-slot on your behalf.
A new face in class
As some of you may have noticed, today we were joined in class by Mr Gardner. He is going to be spending time across the school over the next few months as he is at Neston as part of his teacher training placement from Bath Spa University. Please take the time to welcome him to our school if you see him.
Newsletter
Click here for a copy of our most recent newsletter.
After School Clubs
Click here for a copy of the letter that we sent out today outlining the details of all this terms after school clubs.
Warwick Castle
On Friday 4th October, 2013, Beech and Maple classes will be visiting Warwick Castle to bring to life the topic that we will be embracing in Literacy, Science, History, Geography, D+T and Art!
Click here to see all the details and please ensure that you complete and return the permission slip.
Berkeley Castle
On Monday 30th September, Hazel and Chestnut classes will be visiting Berkeley Castle to support our learning in Literacy, Science, History, Geography, D+T and Art.
Click here for the letter to parents