Headteacher Update

As we come to the end of another busy half term, it is hard to believe that we are already halfway through the academic year. The weeks have flown by, and it has been a pleasure to see how much the children have enjoyed their learning and made progress.

This week pupils have taken part in a range of exciting trips and experiences that enrich our curriculum. Year 1 thoroughly enjoyed their visit to the Toy Museum, while some children attended an athletics event. We also marked Internet Safety Day, where the children learnt about artificial intelligence and discussed how it can be used safely and responsibly.

Thank you to all parents who took the time to complete the Parent Questionnaire. Your feedback and continued support are very much appreciated. We will be discussing actions arising from the questionnaire at the Parent Forum on Tuesday 3rd March at 2.30pm. Please also take time to look at the slides shared yesterday from last week’s Parent Forum, which outline our school priorities and provide information about the new Ofsted Framework.

We look forward to welcoming you to our Sharing Afternoon later today.

Staffing Update:
Miss Chapman begins her maternity leave today. We wish her all the very best and hope she is able to enjoy some rest before her baby arrives.

Finally, we wish you all a lovely and restful half term break and look forward to welcoming the children back to school on Monday 23rd February

Denise Coady

Safer Internet Day: Smart Tech, Safe Choices

This week, our school joined millions of others worldwide to celebrate Safer Internet Day. To mark the occasion, we held a special assembly and led interactive classroom sessions focused on this year’s theme: "Smart tech, safe choices – Exploring the safe and responsible use of AI".

With many children already hearing about or using Artificial Intelligence (AI) online, we focused on giving them the skills and confidence to make safe choices. In class, we explored how AI shows up in daily life—from voice assistants to chatbots—and discussed the importance of using these tools responsibly.

Staying Safe Over Half-Term

As we approach the half-term holiday, many children will spend more time using technology. Here are some tips to help your family stay safe with AI and other digital tools:

• Talk About AI: Use the holiday to ask your child what they know about AI. Exploring "smart" technology together is a great way to help them understand how it works and how to use it safely.

• Manage Screen Time: With extra free time, it can be helpful to agree on a healthy balance for screen time in advance.

• Check Parental Controls: Ensure that parental controls are updated on all devices, especially for gaming and social media platforms.

• Encourage Critical Thinking: Help your child recognize misinformation and remind them to always talk to a trusted adult if they see something online that makes them feel uncomfortable.

• Stay Safe While Gaming: If your child is gaming over the break, remind them of the importance of staying kind and avoiding online bullying.

By staying involved in your child's digital world, you can help them navigate new technology like AI with confidence and safety. For more guides and "top tips" for parents, you can visit the UK Safer Internet Centre website

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.