Saxton Newsletter 15.9.23

Don't talk when someone else is talking

Have you reviewed our school on Facebook yet? If not, it would really help if you could just add a sentence to share your views. This will help our visibility to a wider audience.

Don't forget our Fantastic Physics Day next Wednesday, 20th September. Children can come in their own clothes. They will enjoy a day of exploration and investigation into the world of physics; finding out about forces, light, sound, earth and space, and materials. There will be lots of hands-on activities, and a chance to learn about the application of physics in the real world.

Thank you to the parents who have made the donation to this event via ParentPay.

A reminder that the FOSS AGM will take place on Monday 2nd October at 7pm in Maple class in school. Everyone is welcome to attend.

The school photographer will be in school on Tuesday 3rd October to take your child's photo. They will be taking individual school photos and in-school sibling photos. Please make sure your child is dressed in full school uniform.

Do you know a child starting school in September 2024? We are holding an open morning for prospective families from 9.15am – 11.15am on Friday 6th October. There will be a chance to see our setting and resources, and meet key staff. No need to register, just turn up on the day. Please circulate this invitation to others who might be interested.

Don’t forget that FOSS runs a 100 Club with monthly draws for a cash prize. We are making a change to subscriptions this year, and are only offering annual subscriptions which will run throughout the academic year. These can be purchased on ParentPay. Number for the first draw in September must be purchased by Thursday 21st – please do support us.

The NHS has published guidance for parents to help determine whether a child should attend school if they are unwell. This can be found at https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/is-my-child-too-ill-for-school/

All the menus are available on meal selector via ParentPay

Children can decide daily whether they are having a school dinner or packed lunch.

Please ensure you use our new meal selector to order lunches for your child for up to 3 weeks in advance, see the link below.

Each day there are 4 choices, either the hot dinner, hot vegetarian option, jacket potato with a choice of toppings or a sandwich. The sandwich and jacket potato always come with a selection of vegetables/salad on the side and have the full pudding choice for that day.

Packed Lunches - if you are sending grapes in your child's packed lunch, can you please ensure that these are cut in half.

If you are in receipt of certain benefits, your child could also qualify for free school meals during all school years. To qualify you must be receiving:

• Universal Credit, provided you have an annual net earned income of no more than £7,400, as assessed by earnings from up to three of your most recent assessment periods (£616.67 per month)

• Income Support

• Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance

• Income-related Employment and Support Allowance

• Support under part six of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999

• The guarantee element of Pension Credit

• Child Tax Credit, provided you are also not entitled to Working Tax Credit and have an annual household gross income that does not exceed £16,190 (as assessed by HMRC)

• Working Tax Credit run-on, paid for four weeks after you stop qualifying for Working Tax Credit

Please note that contributions-based benefits, including contribution-related Jobseekers' Allowance do not entitle you to claim free school meals.

Apply for free school meals

You will receive an instant decision on whether your application is successful. If it is, we will fully process the application in 5 working days and notify the school. Once the school has received this your child can begin enjoying free school meals. You should continue to pay until confirmation comes through. Schools may be able to arrange reimbursement of payment made while your entitlement is being confirmed.

Free school meals claims cannot be backdated. They are awarded from the date we receive the application, once eligibility is confirmed. This is because there is a legal requirement for a request to be made, before a free school meal can be provided. If you are not entitled to free school meals, you will be notified in writing.

We are delighted to be able to have volunteers into schools again, and would welcome parents to help us. If you are able to give any time to us, either on an ad-hoc or regular basis, you will need to complete a DBS application. Please contact the office for more information.

Help raise money for FOSS and label your children's school items. The soft plastic labels can be stuck on machine wash-care labels of clothes, but can also be used on shoes, dishwasher items and general school items.

Please order via the website www.stikins.co.uk and quote Saxton school number 17524

Please be considerate when parking near the school crossing. If parked too close it can be very difficult to see if it is safe to cross, particularly at pick up time-thank you.

Please click here to be re-directed to ParentPay, where you can pay for lunches and other school related items.

Email: admin@sp.starmat.uk
Website: http://www.sp.starmat.uk/
Location: Dam Lane, Saxton, United Kingdom
Phone: 01937 557396
Twitter: @SaxtonCE

The STAR MAT website links and twitter page.

Website: web.starmat.uk
Twitter: @CEOTheSTARMAT