Headteacher Update

The Lodge

As many of you will already be aware, we recently experienced water damage in the Lodge, which unfortunately affected a large number of our After School Club resources. I would like to say a heartfelt thank you to those families who have very kindly donated toys, books and other items – your generosity has been greatly appreciated and has made a real difference.

While repairs are underway, the After School Club will be held in the Reception Classroom until further notice. Thank you for your understanding and flexibility during this time.

School Fund

We recognise that this is a challenging financial landscape for schools nationally, and we are no exception. In common with many schools, we would be very grateful if parents and carers could contribute whatever they are able to afford to the School Fund. Every donation however much makes a difference.

Funding from the Department for Education covers core costs such as staffing, general premises costs, supplies and services, and essential curriculum resources. However, donations to our School Fund enable us to provide additional services, equipment and opportunities that are not covered by government funding. Contributions to the School Fund are used to enhance the resources, experiences and learning environment for all children at Bletchingley Village Primary School.

We kindly ask that any parent or carer wishing to make a donation does so via Arbor, selecting Donations. This allows us to correctly code the payment to the School Fund once it comes through the Arbor system.

If you know of, or work for, a company that may be able to support the school through donations of money, resources or services, we would love to hear from you. Please get in touch with us by email info@bletchingleytlt.co.uk

Parent Forum

A reminder that next Wednesday at 5.00pm we will be holding a Parent Forum. This meeting will focus on school improvement priorities and the new Ofsted Framework. We look forward to welcoming you and hearing your views.

School Dinners on Arbor

This is just a reminder that the SD (Special Diet) option on Arbor should only be selected if your child has dietary needs. If it's selected, and your child has no known dietary needs, option 1 will automatically be selected for them.

This half-term we are collecting responses from parents and carers to give an opportunity to share your views, celebrate what is working well, and let us know how we can continue to improve our school. We warmly encourage you to add comments where invited.

Parent Survey

This half-term we are collecting responses from parents and carers to give an opportunity to share your views, celebrate what is working well, and let us know how we can continue to improve our school. We warmly encourage you to add comments where invited.

Please see the link below for the parent survey.

https://forms.cloud.microsoft/e/CWfixP5yb3

Have a lovely weekend

Denise Coady

Digital Safety Update: Keeping Our Children Safe Online

As the digital world continues to evolve, we want to share the latest updates and practical steps you can take to protect your child.

What’s New in 2026?

• The Online Safety Act: Platforms are now legally required to actively block harmful content (including bullying, self-harm, and violent material) from children.
• New Age Checks: Platforms like Snapchat and Instagram are introducing stricter age-verification tools.
• School Phone Consultation: The government has recently launched a national conversation regarding children's access to mobile phones and social media to further safeguard wellbeing.

Top Tips for Home:

1. Check the "4 Cs": Be mindful of Content (is it age-appropriate?), Contact (who are they talking to?), Conduct (how are they behaving?), and Commerce (avoiding in-game purchases).
2. Parental Controls: Ensure safety filters are active on home Wi-Fi and gaming consoles like PlayStation and Xbox.
3. Shared Spaces: Keep devices in family areas rather than bedrooms to encourage open supervision.
4. Talk Regularly: Ask your child to show you their favourite games. Building a culture of "no-blame" reporting ensures they come to you if something feels wrong.

Trusted Resources for Parents:

• NSPCC Online Safety: Expert advice on popular apps and games.
• Internet Matters: Step-by-step guides for setting up parental controls.
• Childnet: Fun activities to help you start the conversation at home.

Penalty Notices to Address Poor Attendance at School

A Penalty Notice may be issued as an alternative to the prosecution of a parent/carer for their child’s unauthorised absence from school (absence without the agreement of the school or not covered by a medical note) and will be used by Surrey County Council in the following circumstances :-

Just to remind parents/carers that if they take their children out of school without authority for 5 or more days (which do not have to be consecutive), then the following will apply:

1. If you have not incurred a penalty notice relating to this child/children in a rolling 3 year period since 19 August 2024, then the penalty notice will be charged at the rate of £160.00, per parent/carer per child, if paid within 28 days. This will be reduced to £80.00 if paid within 21 days of receipt of the notice. Failure to pay the Penalty Notice will result in Surrey County Council considering legal proceedings against you in the Magistrates Court.

 2. If you have incurred a penalty notice relating to this child/children since 19 August 2024, the rolling 3 year period will be activated from the date of the first penalty notice and the second penalty notice will be charged at the flat rate of £160.00, per parent/carer per child, if paid within 28 days. There will be no reduction for payment within 21 days. Failure to pay the Penalty Notice will result in Surrey County Council considering legal proceedings against you in the Magistrates Court.

 3. If you have incurred 2 penalty notices relating to this child/children in the rolling 3 year period since the first penalty notice was issued, then you will NOT receive a third penalty notice – Surrey County Council will have no option but to consider a prosecution, per parent/carer per child, in the Magistrates Court under s 444 Education Act 1996.

Surrey County Council is not responsible for authorising pupil absence and therefore cannot withdraw any Penalty Notice requests without the written permission of the Headteacher.