News & Events

Babraham Church of England (VC) County Primary
Newsletter Summer Term 2008 No.1

Dear Parents and Friends,

The children have returned to school in such a positive frame of mind and we are all looking forward to learning together.  We started the term by celebrating who they are as individuals, through the theme of our SEAL unit, Good to be Me.  During our Friday assembly it was a joy to listen to Class 1 telling us what they were proud of, watch fabulous plays from Class 2 and marvel at Class 3's learning fact files.  You should soon be receiving the latest termly curriculum letter from your child's teacher to help you keep track of their learning.  Don't forget that you are always welcome to pop in after school to speak to one of us.  Please don't hesitate our priority will always be your concerns and the children's wellbeing.  We would much rather solve a worry than an issue.

Swimming
Swimming at Sawston Village College will happen on a Wednesday after half term for Years 1 - 6.  We have booked the swimming pool from 9am until 11am.  We would like to register the children in Years 1, 2 and 3 at 8.50 so that they can be ready in time for the bus to leave at 8.55.

The cost for the coach for years 1 - 5 will be £16.80 or £2.80 per lesson.

The cost for Year 6 children going to SVC will be £14.00 or £2.80 per lesson.  This is because one of the sessions coincides with their Induction Day.  I regret because we are now a bank account school we cannot accept cash, please make cheques payable to Babraham Primary School.  We can also take postal orders.

Family Support Worker
Jentie Weaver is available to talk to parents privately and confidentially about any concerns you have which may be impacting on your children's education and learning.  She will be on the playground at 8.45 on Friday 18th April, 9th May, 13th June and Thursday 10th July, when you can make an appointment, get her phone number or find a quiet and private place to talk.

School Development Plan
Last term we put together our revised school development plan.  This is the document which details all the things that we would like to improve upon in the school, and comments on the progress we have made in the previous year.  We use the answers you gave us to the parent questionnaires to inform some of our priorities.  We also consult with the children through the school council and regular subject focused interviews with groups of children.  We look at National and Local Authority policies and initiatives and we use our own self evaluation to inform the school development plan.  This year our main priorities are:

• Promote effective communication and closer partnership between home and school, teachers and parents and the wider community
• To raise standards in Literacy and Numeracy; specifically raising the expectations of more able children
• To develop a more cohesive curriculum with opportunities for creativity
• To develop / extend teachers strategies to track and monitor pupils achievements
• To maintain high standards of behaviour and motivation
• To develop the new build and ensure the refurbishment of the toilets.

Sex and Relationships Education
Thank you to the governors, parents and teachers for their input into this important document.  It will be published shortly on our website and if any parent would like to borrow it as a hard copy, they would be most welcome.  I am enclosing a copy of Talking to children about sex and relationships, so that you will see that it is not an area left only to the older children but an aspect of children's lives that is taught throughout their time at Babraham.  The knowledge of body changes at puberty are taught on a two year rolling programme to years 5 and 6, and parents will be invited into school later into the summer term, to preview any videos which might be shown.

Friends of Babraham School News
Congratulations to the winners of the 50:50 March Draw:

1st Prize (£38) - J. Harvey.  The 100 Club is a mini lottery organised by The Friends of Babraham School.  Join for only £12 per number, per year (12 draws) and next month it could be you receiving a very welcome cheque. If you're not in it you can't win it!

Breakfast Club
If you would like your child to go to the Breakfast Club at the Nursery, please will you also tell us.  It is important that Mrs Carpenter knows how many children she is escorting to school.  It is part of her contract as a teaching assistant.

Parking
Last week we met with a member of the Highways Department to discuss both extending the parking facilities and the fact that some drivers speed past our school.  Unfortunately he could not promise anything.  In order to acquire a 20mph speed reduction we would need severe traffic calming measures and currently there is no funding for this.  Might I suggest that as summer is on its way, you might like to park in the centre of the village and walk through the Pocket Park.  Walk to School week is on its way, and we will be talking to the children about this in assemblies.

What's in a Newsletter?
If you would like to make suggestions for what you would like to read in the newsletter we would love to hear them.  Please phone the office or email any suggestions to office@babraham.cambs.sch.uk marked for the attention of Mrs Berry.


Yours sincerely,


S.J. Berry

Dates For The Summer Term