Updates from Mrs Norden

It has been an eventful week with pre-empting the impact of weather conditions on activities, dealing with the impact of yesterday's phishing email (see detail in Spring Admin below), as well as, the power outage.  Thank you for your support and patience with everything.

Alongside this, classes have taken part in National Handwriting Day, including engaging with the Queen Mother's handwriting competition, and a group in KS2 joined in with the SCSSP Panathlon event (you can see details of the event on their website here).

A huge well done to a group of Swavesey children who entered last weekend's County Cross Country Championship, see the news article below to see how they did.

Don't forget if you would like some of our chicken's eggs - they are still laying despite the weather and shorter days - please complete the very short form accessed by clicking here. 

Last week's newsletter contained information about changes to parking enforcement in South Cambs which I hope you have read (this can still be read below).  We receive regular complaints from our neighbours who are affected by parental/carer parking at the beginning and end of days, as well as at times outside the school day when we have events. This is because of illegal parking or inconsiderate parking, including causing our neighbours to not be able to leave or enter their property and pedestrians to have difficulty accessing the pavements.  Please be supportive, to all in the village and ensure that you walk, if at all possible, and if not, that you park with consideration of all. 

Please see in our Spring term update section a request from one of our parents who is raising money for the Rhabdomyosarcoma Research Fund by 'braving the shave'.  Please also check out our Eco-committee's latest recycling tip.

There are lots of activities for us to enjoy this term including: NSPCC Number day, World Book day, our PTA quiz and National Science week.  Details for these will be provided through our news and updates each week - some are here today.

                                                                                                          _{Anna-Claire Norden} 

_Headteacher

Spring Term Updates

NSPCC's 2024 Number Day - Friday 2^nd of February is the NSPCC's 2024 Number Day, which we will be taking part in as usual. As part of the 'taking part' we will be having a 'Dress up for Digits' day, where the children are invited to bring in a donation for the NSPCC and dress up as a Digit or number. This could be as simple as just having a number on a piece of clothing or it can be as creative and as imaginative as you like. See poster above.

Fundraising for Rhabdomyosarcoma Research Fund - We have a message from one of our parents - please help if you can by clicking here for the Just giving page. 

"I will be 'braving the shave' to raise money for the Rhabdomyosarcoma Research Fund because this is something that has recently and suddenly affected my partner's daughter and our lives. This needs more research into it and the money goes directly into a research fund specifically for Rhabdomysarcoma which I think is brilliant."

Spring Term Admin

Phishing email - If you have received an email purporting to be from Lucy Poskitt with a secure document attached, be aware that it is spam. Do not attempt to open it. If you have opened it, please do not attempt to log in. If you have attempted to log in, reset your password and contact your IT support.

Midday Supervisor Vacancies - We have several vacant hours for midday supervisors.  The advert for this role can be found here.

Admin General Information

Office hours - 8.30am to 4pm except Wednesday which is 8.45am to 4pm

EY and P Payments - a reminder these are due at the start of the month and all balances should be paid on receipt of payment request.

Diary Dates - can be accessed on the website by clicking here

Chicken Eggs - If you would like a pack of our chickens' eggs please complete the very short form accessed by clicking here.

PTA News - access their website page here for ways to support our fundraising

Next Event

Quiz 15th March - Please see details below and click here for the entry form.  This is a great adult event and is always thoroughly enjoyed by all, so please join us to get your little grey cells active and have some fun.  Bring cash on the night for a raffle and games.

Community News

EIFA Team workshops (Jane Rogers' team) - please click here for details of workshop sessions entitled 'Argue better', which is an online workshop designed to help parents manage their stress and communicate with one another in ways that are helpful to their relationship and their children.

Update from South Cambs District Council

Parking enforcement changes – please think about where you park

From 1 February anyone parking on restrictions such as double yellow lines or zig zag lines near the school are far more likely to receive a parking ticket than before.

Cambridgeshire County Council was given Civil Parking Enforcement powers by the Government late last year and are doing a final push with South Cambridgeshire District Council to remind people of the change before tickets, with fines attached, begin to be issued by Civil Parking Enforcement Officers.

The safety of pupils and everyone in and around the school is really important and inconsiderate parking can make it more dangerous for people. Please use this change as an additional reminder to think about where you park.

In the past only the Police could issue tickets for illegal parking, but the changes mean it is now a civil matter and Council Civil Parking Enforcement Officers can issue the tickets for some matters.

For more details about Civil Parking Enforcement please visit Cambridgeshire County Council’s Civil Parking Enforcement page of its website.

Read our School Council, Eco-Committee and Rights Respecting School Committee Blogs below:

SEND, Safeguarding, Health and Wellbeing Links

SEND (Special Educational Needs and Disabilities) information can be accessed through our SEND website pages here

Safeguarding Information - please click here for our Safeguarding page especially should you have concerns relating to the safeguarding of our children and families.  Please click here to go directly to our Safeguarding policy.

Attendance Policy - please click here for the school's attendance policy. It is vitally important parents and carers are aware of their responsibilities and the formal processes for attendance matters.  The NHS have created a useful webpage to support decision making when children are unwell - you can click here for the link.

SEMH (Social Emotional Mental Health) resources for parents - Please click here to access an overview sheet with signposted resources for you to use at home to support your children.  The overview sheet can also be found at the bottom of the SEND page on our website here.  

H.A.Y Cambridgeshire Community Wellbeing support -  How Are You South Cambs? | Home (haysouthcambs.co.uk)

NHS Mental Health Services - www.keep-your-head.com and SHOUT - a new Text service on 85258 which provides real-time support to people of all ages who are struggling with their mental health (text the word HEAR to 85258).

Chat Health is a NHS confidential NHS service for help and advice. It’s safe and easy for you to speak to a qualified health professional. Just send a message, you don’t have to give your name. Discreet and quick. It only takes one message to start making a difference. You’ll get confidential advice from trained health staff in your area. Click here to access the site to start a web chat today.

Could you foster? 

At Nexus Fostering based in Lolworth, we’re looking for local people like you to become foster carers. By providing a loving and stable home environment, you can support the increasing number of children and young people in the local area who cannot live in their family homes. Not all children require long-term care. We also need foster carers for short-term placements, respite care, and to provide temporary homes to support young parents and their babies. So, if you have a spare room and are ready to change lives, please give us a call on 01223 903 503 or email Leanne on leannea@nexusfostering.co.uk.

Please access their poster here

To find out more about Pupil premium and Free school meals, please visit our Pupil Premium page by clicking here. 

Links to each Phase page under the Curriculum tab on our website.

                                Reception    Yr1/2    Yr3/4    Yr5/6