We’re now well and truly into the second half of the school year and we hope it’s a happy and healthy one for your child at St James’ CE Primary. Positive relationships between home and school have a key role to play in ensuring this. We welcome your questions, comments and concerns. Do catch us at the start or end of the school day for any quick conversation, and for anything longer or more sensitive, please call us or arrange a meeting.
School dinners
Our school dinner menus have been updated. Check out the updated menus.
On the same website page, please check out the information about free school meals, too. Free school meals are available to all children in Reception, Year 1 and Year 2. They’re also available to some older children according to family income. It’s important to register for entitlement to free school meals, even if your child has a packed lunch or is in a younger class – this is so we can receive additional funding (called the pupil premium) which we can use to help your child.
Early reading – myth busting!
‘My child’s reading practice books are too easy.’
In Reception, Year 1 and Year 2, we use reading practice books that are matched to your child’s phonic knowledge. We read a physical book in school at least four times over the week in Reading Practice sessions. Your child is then set this book as an ebook. They should be able to read this book fluently and independently – giving them a chance to show off their amazing reading to you, sharing their success!
We also send home a ‘Love of Reading’ book – this is a library book for sharing. This is the most important homework you can do at home. Developing your child’s love of reading so they become a lifelong reader is a wonderful gift. Find out more on the Little Wandle website or watch this video about reading at home.
Attendance matters
For the first half of the year, from September right up to the Spring half-term, out whole school attendance figure was 95.3%.
- that’s higher than the national figure for primary schools (94.8%)
- it means we’re in the top 30%-40% of schools nationally
- it’s much higher than the full 2023-24 attendance figure (93.7%)
Here’s the attendance figures for each year group:
- Reception: 94.7%
- Year 1: 96.1% – great to see a high figure here, so children don’t miss crucial phonics learning
- Year 2: 95.1%
- Year 3: 96.4% – a close second!
- Year 4: 94.5%
- Year 5: 96.9% – brilliant!
- Year 6: 92.3%
Thank you for making sure your child attends school as much as they can.
Today is the last day for parents/carers of children in Reception to complete a short survey – it’ll only take 5-10 minutes. Your feedback helps us to explore ways we might be able to improve the Reception year. It’s also an opportunity to let us know any specific questions or concerns you might have – we’ll try to respond to all of these (leaving your name will help, but that’s optional).
Thanks to everyone who’s completed the survey so far.
Next week, look out for our Key Stage 1 and 2 Topic update for the Spring 2 term…