Newsletter

 

I trust that you have enjoyed a restful summer break with your family and are feeling rejuvenated. It has been a pleasure to welcome our pupils back to school this week – they have returned looking exceptionally smart in their uniforms and have approached the start of the academic year with enthusiasm and positivity. I would like to thank parents and carers for the support you have given in preparing the children so well for the beginning of term.

A very special mention must also go to the newest members of our Birklands’ family – our EYFS children. They have settled into school life brilliantly and are already showing great promise. We are so proud of the way they have embraced new routines and friendships and we can’t wait to see all they will achieve this year.

There is a strong sense of anticipation for the months ahead; I am confident that this year will be filled with valuable learning opportunities, personal growth and memorable experiences for all. We look forward to working in close partnership with you to ensure the very best outcomes for every child.

Miss Watson 

Attendance Matters

Good attendance is vital to every child’s education. Regular time in school ensures children make the most of their learning opportunities, build strong friendships and develop positive routines that will support them throughout their lives. Research shows that even a few days of absence can add up to significant gaps in learning, making it harder for children to keep up with their classmates. We ask for your support in ensuring that your child attends school every day, on time, unless there is a genuine illness or unavoidable circumstance. Together, we can give all our children the best chance to succeed.

Below you will find information on what constitutes an unauthorised absence:

Holidays

We already have already received a significant number of holiday forms for September and October. Please find below the wording relating to this from the latest Government legislation:

The first time a referral is made for a Penalty Notice for term time leave or irregular attendance, the amount would be £160 per parent per child if paid within 28 days, reduced to £80 per parent per child if paid within 21 days.

The second time a referral is made for a Penalty Notice, the amount would be £160 per parent per child, with no provision for reduction.

The third time a referral is made for a Penalty Notice for term time leave or irregular attendance, a Penalty Notice will not be issued and the case presented straight to Magistrates’ Court. Any legal proceedings would relate to section 444 or 444(1A) of the Education Act 1996. Magistrates’ fines can be up to £2500 per parent per child, and cases found guilty in Magistrates’ Court can show on the parents future DBS certificate due to a ‘failure to safeguard a child’s education. 

Please note that if you had a fine in the academic year 2024-25, this will count as the first referral.

Please be aware that it is the County Council that issues these fines following Government guidelines. 

Should you need to to discuss anything detailed above, please don't hesitate to contact school. 

 

Recognition and Reward

We are currently in the process of reviewing how we recognise and reward attendance. The newly elected School Council will be consulting with our pupils on ideas for this. Once this has been decided, we will share this information with you. 

 

Over the summer holidays, we were delighted to receive a wonderful selection of postcards from our children, sharing their exciting adventures near and far. From seaside trips and countryside walks to visits abroad and family days out, it was fantastic to see the variety of experiences our pupils enjoyed. The postcards will be proudly displayed in school, reminding us of the importance of rest, exploration and spending time with loved ones. Thank you to everyone who took the time to send one in – they will brighten our corridors and give us a joyful start to the new school year.

A huge thank you to everyone who took part in our Reading in a Random Place summer challenge! We’ve loved seeing your fantastic photos – from reading at festivals and by famous landmarks, to enjoying a book abroad, and even in hot tubs! The creativity and enthusiasm from our pupils (and families!) has been wonderful, and we’ve included some of the brilliant pictures in this newsletter for you all to enjoy. Well done, Birklands – you’ve truly shown that reading can take you anywhere!

Heidi - Year 1 (Jay)

Nellie - Year 1 (Dove)

Raven - Year 1 (Jay)

Martha - Year 3 (Woodpecker)

Congratulations to our overall winner: Dominic in Year 3 (Siskin) who not only completed the challenge, but also matched his reading material to his random location! He is the first child in school to redeem a book from our vending machine! 

 

 

 

Birthday Non-Uniform Reminder

We’d like to remind families that pupils are welcome to come to school in non-uniform to celebrate their birthday - provided their birthday falls on a school day. This is a lovely way for your child to mark their special day with a little extra joy.

 

If your child has accomplished something out of school - perhaps in sports, music, art, clubs or beyond - and you’d like to see them featured in a future newsletter, please email the details (and any photographs) to the school office for the attention of Miss Watson. We love celebrating our pupils’ talents and successes with the whole school community!

office@birklandsschool.co.uk

 

This year, we are excited to introduce our new House System at Birklands! Every pupil (and member of staff) will belong to one of our four houses - Thoresby, Clumber, Sherwood and Rufford. We hope this will strengthen the essence of teamwork across the school, encouraging children to work together, celebrate achievements and take pride in their collective successes. Pupils will soon be nominating and electing their house and vice captains. Watch this space for further information...

Alongside this, pupils will also be experiencing democracy in action with our annual School Council elections, providing a valuable opportunity to understand the importance of having a voice and representing others.

Finally, keep an eye out for the return of Birklands’ Recruitment Agency in the coming weeks, where a range of exciting job opportunities will be available for our pupils to apply for. We are looking forward to seeing them step into these important roles and contribute to school life in meaningful ways.

 

Wednesday 10th September: School Photographs 

 

Wednesday 1st October: Harvest Festival 

 

Friday 3rd October: INSET Day 

 

Thursday 9th October: Flu Vaccinations 

 

Tuesday 21st/Wednesday 22nd October: Parents’ Evenings 

 

Thursday 23rd October: Halloween Disco 

 

Monday 27th October - Friday 31st October: Half-Term 

 

*Further details relating to the events listed will be shared over the coming weeks. 

School photos 

These are taking place on 10th September. The photographer will be starting at 8am if you want to bring older/younger siblings, who do not attend Birklands, in for family photos. A reminder that sibling groups in school will be done as a matter of course.

 

Uniform Policy

As mentioned earlier, children are looking so smart in their new uniforms; just a polite reminder that hair should be a natural colour - we are seeing some brightly dyed hair. If you have any queries regarding this, please don't hesitate to pop into school.

 

Free School Meals (FSM) for Year 3 pupils

A reminder that Universal Infant Free School meals finishes at the end of Year 2. If you think you qualify for benefits based FSM, then you will need to apply via Notts County Council https://www.nottinghamshire.gov.uk/education/school-meals/free-school-meals-and-milk. If this doesn't apply to you,  please could you credit your child's MCAS account accordingly. Again, please don't hesitate to pop into school should you need support with this.