Headteacher Update

Welcome back to the second half of the Spring Term. I hope you all enjoyed a restful and happy half term break with family and friends.

Although this half term is a short one at just five weeks, it promises to be a very busy and productive period for our school community. As always, you can find all upcoming events listed on the school website calendar as well as in our weekly newsletter. We carefully plan activities and events throughout the year to align with learning timetables and to minimise disruption to teaching and learning.

It has been wonderful to see how quickly the children have settled back into their routines. This week, we welcomed a visit from our Director of Education, who carried out learning walks, book looks and data reviews. I am pleased to share that she recognised the positive progress we are making on our school improvement journey.

We are also incredibly proud of our choir, who represented the school at the Dorking Halls Music Festival this week. They performed beautifully and were excellent ambassadors for our school. My sincere thanks go to Mrs F for her dedication in preparing the children, and to parents for supporting practice at home and helping the children learn their lyrics.

Finally, I look forward to seeing many of you at the Parents’ Forum on Tuesday 3rd March at 2.30pm, where we will be discussing the results of the recent Parent Survey. Your feedback is invaluable, and I appreciate the time you take to share your views.

Wishing you all a lovely weekend.

Denise Coady

Dear Parent/Carers,

As you are aware we have a regular online safety feature in each of our weekly newsletters. 

All these articles are available to view on the link below:  

Tandridge Learning Trust - Online Safety for Parents.   

We add to this support by sharing any important online safety news and we also share some upcoming online courses for parents that are being offered by Surrey County Council, together with a link to find and book the courses. We have attached the latest edition which you may find useful, by clicking the image below.

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.