Newsletter 21st November 2025
Dear parents and carers,
It has been a successful week in school with lots to celebrate! Our new EYFS outdoor area is taking shape; we won the “large schools” cross country trophy again; Y6 presented their fantastic World War Two learning in an exhibition to parents and carers; some fantastic sewing in Y3 and wonderful exploration of seasonal changes in YR.
Celebration Assemblies
It was a pleasure today to give out certificates to our Stars of the Week for a variety of reasons including children voluntarily completing or improving on work at home as well as budding historians and mathematicians. Also, more silver house point certificates for those children who have been awarded 150 house points this school year. As always, a highlight of my week was having Hot Chocolate Friday with the selected children who were chosen for consistently demonstrating our school values.
Cross Country
A huge well done to our 47 Key Stage Two cross-country runners who, once again, came back to school with the winners’ trophy – for the fourth consecutive year! Despite the bitterly cold and windy conditions, the children were determined and showed real resilience and excellent teamwork; cheering each other and motivating each other to stay positive! Our team won (by a significant margin!) the large schools competition. Some of our runners have also qualified through to the next stage which is the county finals in January at Abington Park. The squad certainly deserved their hot chocolate in the school hall when they returned to school.
Special thanks also to the staff who led this event: Mrs Chapman was the trip leader and was ably supported by coach Ryan, Mrs Murphy, Mrs Stafford and Mrs Skinner.
Book Fair
We are looking forward to our annual book fair which is always successful and comes just in time for stocking up for Christmas! Please try and visit on the days below from 3:30-4pm to allow everyone to enjoy the fair with sufficient space to browse (if you have children in multiple year groups, please just come to whichever of their days is most convenient). Card payments are preferred and some of our Y6 House Captains will be on-duty each day to assist with purchases. The school receives a significant commission from book sales which helps us to constantly refresh and update our school library stock. Thank you.
Wednesday 26th November - EYFS
Thursday 27th - Years 1 and 2
Friday 28th - Years 3 and 4
Monday 1st December - Years 5 and 6
Local Academy Committee (formerly Local Governing Body) news
We say a fond farewell and huge thanks to Ruth Palmer who has stepped down as Chair of Governors, and as a member of the Local Academy Committee, after serving nearly eight years. Ruth has been a huge support over the years, and the school recognises all her hard work, especially supporting us through the academisation process. Following her departure, Paul Murphy has been elected as chair of the LAC and we look forward to continuing to work together to drive improvement.
Also, following the election, which finished this week, we are pleased to announce that Mrs Barrick has been appointed as our new parent governor to the Local Academy Committee.
Individual and sibling photographs
A reminder that on Thursday next week, 27th November, all children will have their individual and sibling (only siblings in school) taken. Please send your child in smart school uniform on that day even if it is their PE day. There will be no PE on this day. (After school clubs will continue; children should bring appropriate sports kit to change into for girls’ football and gymnastics.)
PTA events / reminder
Our wonderful PTA have requested donations of bottles - anything from alcohol to shampoo - for the bottle tombola and any unwanted/unused small toys/gifts that they could use on the children's tombola. Please bring any items to the school office. Thank you.
The Christmas Fayre is on Saturday 6th December at The Working Men's Club in Earls Barton from 11am-3pm with performances from both of our school choirs. Also, any outstanding sponsorship money can still be handed in to the office on Monday or paid through our new just giving page https://www.justgiving.com/charity/earlsbartonpspta
MND Fundraising Stall
We are very pleased to share that Evie in Year 4 raised over £200 for Motor Neurone Disease by hosting a stall after school on Monday. Both Evie’s family and the school are very proud that she took this initiative and Evie’s family want to say thank you to all the people who supported the stall by buying something.
Cycling and scooting safety
A reminder that all children who cycle or scoot to school should wear a helmet and not ride on school grounds but walk alongside their bike / scooter. Please also remind your child to take extra care when riding outside of school, especially on dark evenings when they may not be seen by pedestrians, and more worryingly, by cars if they are on the road.
Food allergies
Please ensure you have completed the annual medical form we sent out earlier this year AND that your child’s allergies are also stated on School Grid as this is the only system catering staff check / comply with when preparing and serving meals.
Staffing
Unfortunately at the moment, we are slightly short-staffed as three members of the team are off work unwell for a variety of reasons. This has necessitated some swaps to the adults which cover each class for our teachers’ PPA (planning, preparation and assessment) time each week and some timetable changes. We always try to keep routines and staff consistent for children as much as possible and use familiar staff wherever we can, however, this is not always possible particularly when staff absence levels are high.
Please note one of the staff members who is unwell is Mrs Martin (our ELSA) and her role cannot be fulfilled by any other staff members as they are not trained. Any child who would usually receive ELSA sessions will be informed and their support will be on-hold for the time-being. Thank you for your understanding.
Christmas Lunch Ordering
The school’s Christmas lunch is on Thursday 11th December. If you would like to order a Christmas lunch for your child please do so by midnight Wednesday 3rd December. Please see the attached flier for further details of the menu and also a special December competition which HAT catering are running for every child who orders a school lunch between 1st and 16th December with the chance for one lucky winner to win a Nintendo switch and another person to win a Crayola art set.
Attendance
Attendance this week was 97.4% . The top three classes were Bluebell and Snowdrop both with 99.3% and Daffodil with an unbeatable 100% attendance. Well done!
Wishing you a lovely weekend.
Miss Lally & Mr Morris
Letters home this week
Excellence in Everything Certificate – winning pupils
Celebratory certificates
KS2 Cross Country reminder – Selected KS2 pupils
EYFS Nativity
Choirs singing at PTA Christmas Fair
Attachments
Online safety – tracking devices
Book Fair Flyer
Christmas lunch menu
Christmas competition
AIR
Earth
FIRE
WATER