A very warm welcome back to the 2025-2026 academic year. The school has been alive with optimism since we returned, and I have been so proud of the way the children have settled into the classes at the beginning of the year. They have shown first-class levels of behaviour and huge commitment to their learning. Thank you to all of our families for preparing the children for a really positive return to school. A particularly warm welcome to our new families of children who have just joined the school in September.

I will continue to record some of the newsletters as videos as well as provide some of them in written form as I have for September. As always, if you have any questions about your child’s class, please speak to the adults who work in the classroom or you are welcome to speak to myself or Mrs Palamidas on the gates before or after school.

A Kingsham Welcome to New Members of Staff

We are excited to welcome two new teaching assistants to the school. Miss Wooding is supporting the learning in Willow class and Miss Shear is supporting the learning in Apple class. They have both contributed beautifully to our team and will be a huge asset to Kingsham.

Congratulations to Staff

A huge congratulations to Mr Crispin who got married at the beginning of August. It was a joy to see them both so happy on the day. We are all delighted for them both.

A massive congratulations too to Mrs Johnson and her husband who are expecting their first child in January. We are super excited for them. We will be advertising shortly for a teacher to cover the Spring and Summer term in Pear class.

School Day

Just a reminder that the school day begins at 8:40. We open the gates at 8:35 so that children can be in class and begin some vital reading at the beginning of the day. Please support us in this by bringing the children in punctually for 8:40.

School Uniform

As we start a new academic year, the children look very smart in their Kingsham Uniforms. For a full list of the required uniforms please click here.

Can we please urge you to name all items of clothing, shoes, water bottles and PE Kit? Every term, we have so much lost property which is so easy to return to the child if it is clearly named.

Extra-curricular Clubs

Clubs are now available to be booked on Arbor and they will begin during the week beginning Monday 22^nd September.

Would you like to sponsor the Kingsham Football Team Kit?  

We will be upgrading our Year 5/6 Football kit in the coming weeks and wanted to offer the chance of any local businesses or groups to sponsor the kit. If this is something that you would like to do please speak to me on the gate.

School Trips Next Year

As I mentioned in my newsletter at the end of term, we had a shortfall of £30 000  in the money we received for the cost of school trips last year. While we can only request a voluntary contribution for trips, we rely on families to make the payments so that we can run them. If we do not receive 70% of the cost of the trip, we will be forced to cancel it during this academic year.

We will let you know in the ‘Meet the Teacher’ meetings which trips will be coming up for your children and an estimated cost for those trips.

‘Meet the Teacher’ Meetings and the PTA Welcome picnic on Thursday 18^th September

We are hosting our Meet the Teacher Meetings for Years 1 to 4 and the PTA Welcome picnic on Thursday 18^th September.

For parents and carers of children in Year 1 and 2 (Pear, Ash and Cherry) the meet the teacher meeting will be at 3pm in the hall.

For parents and carers of children in Year 3 and 4 (Maple, Oak and Willow) the meet the teacher meeting will be at 3:25pm in the hall.

After these meetings, we will host the PTA Welcome Picnic on the field from 3:30pm onwards. This will be an opportunity to bring a picnic, spend some time with other families from the school and talk to the PTA about the events which will be coming up and hopefully get involved to support.

School Council

Next week, children will be given the opportunity to stand for election to our school council. Each class will elect one school councillor to represent them and meet with the other councillors to discuss areas of school improvement like their play times and their learning opportunities.

Breakfast and After School Club

You are able to book sessions of Breakfast and/or After School Club for the Autumn term on a daily basis. Please go to your Arbor app where you can book any of the sessions that you wish. Breakfast club is £4 per session and After School Club is £7.50 per session.

Trim Trail outside Ash Class

Can we please remind our families that children are not permitted to play on the play equipment outside of Ash class before or after school. Our risk assessment is clear that children must be supervised while on the equipment to enjoy it safely. We are not able to supervise your children before and after school and therefore cannot allow them to play on the equipment at these times.

Key dates for Autumn Term:

Thursday 18th September – Years 1 and 2 Meet the Teacher at 3:00pm in the hall and Years 3 and 4 Meet the Teacher at 3:25pm in the hall.

Thursday 18^th September – PTA Welcome picnic on the field from 3:30pm.

16^th – 19^th September – Year 6 trip to Little Canada

29^th September – KS1 trip to the Planetarium

13^th October – Children’s School Photos

17^th October – Just One Tree Day… Dress in Green and make a donation

Open afternoons for new joiners in September 2026 – 1^st October and 11^th November at 1:30 – 3:30pm

October 2-week Half term – Monday 20^th – Friday 31^st October

Parent/Carer Consultations – 13^th and 18^th November

 

Looking forward to another superb year together!

Best wishes

 

 

 

Mr Lee Dallinger