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2026 – 2027
Issue 01 – 01.09.26
Easy fundraising here,
My School Fund via ESPO here.
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A Fantastic Start to the New School Year
Dear Parents and Carers,
Welcome back to a new school year at Swavesey Primary School.
We hope that you and your children had a wonderful summer holiday and were able to enjoy some of the fantastic weather over the break. Whether your family is returning to us for another year or joining our school community for the first time, we are delighted to welcome you all.
Now that we have completed our first two days of term, I am delighted to share what a positive and successful start we have had across the school. It has been wonderful to see children settling so quickly into their new classes, meeting their teachers and reconnecting with friends.
Classrooms have been filled with excitement, enthusiasm and a real eagerness to learn. Staff have been incredibly impressed with the way children have embraced new routines, demonstrated our school values and shown kindness, respect and resilience throughout their first days back. The calm and purposeful atmosphere around the school has been a real credit to all of our pupils.
The start of a new academic year is always an exciting time, and these first few days have given us a fantastic foundation for the year ahead. We have many exciting learning opportunities, events and experiences planned, and we look forward to celebrating your children's achievements and successes with you throughout the year.
Thank you to all of our parents and carers for your support in ensuring such a smooth start to the term. Your partnership with us plays a vital role in helping every child thrive.
Please take a few moments to read the key information included in this newsletter to help ensure a successful start to the year.
Warm regards,
Lynsey Ogilvie
Headteacher
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Preschool
We are changing the arrangements for preschool drop off in the mornings to make it safer. From 8.55, preschool children and parents can come onto the site and wait in front of the preschool building until all Reception children and parents have cleared the area. After this time, you can line up in front of the fence.
On days when the weather is wet, you can wait under the red canopy.
Please avoid coming into the school grounds earlier than 8.55 to avoid congestion.
We also ask that you keep your children near you and that they do not access the play equipment.
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PE Days and School PE Kit
From next week, PE lessons will begin across the school. On their allocated PE days, children should come to school wearing their full school PE kit, including appropriate footwear.
PE Days by Class
- Hedgehogs & Rabbits: Thursday and Friday
- Otters: Tuesday and Wednesday
- Foxes: Tuesday and Wednesday
- Squirrels: Monday and Tuesday
- Badgers: Wednesday and Friday
- Swans: Wednesday and Friday
- Kingfishers: Wednesday and Friday
- Owls: Tuesday and Thursday
- Swallows: Tuesday and Thursday
- Ravens: Tuesday and one additional day, which will be confirmed by Mr Pawlett once his release time has been finalised. Next week this week be on Thursday.
Swimming Lessons
We are also pleased to share that targeted swimming lessons for Key Stage 2 pupils will be starting this term.
Parents and carers of children taking part should check their emails for details of their child's allocated swimming session and any specific arrangements or requirements.
Thank you for your support in ensuring children arrive prepared and ready to participate in these important physical education opportunities.
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.png) | 05 Jul 2026 An incredible achievement for Swavesey Primary School once again. |
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Medical Information Update
If there have been any changes to your child's medical information over the summer holidays, please ensure these are shared with the school office as soon as possible.
Parents of children with asthma are reminded that an in-date, clearly labelled inhaler should be kept in school at all times.
Thank you for helping us keep our medical records accurate and up to date.
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Personal Belongings
To help minimise distractions and reduce the risk of items being lost or damaged, we ask that children do not bring personal items into school. This includes soft toys, keyrings, trading cards, personal stationery, pencil cases and fidget toys.
Children do not need to bring their own pencil cases or equipment, as all resources required for learning are provided by the school.
For children with identified needs, any agreed support and resources will continue to be provided in partnership with families and our SEND team.
Thank you for your support in helping us maintain a calm and focused learning environment for all children.
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VOLUNTEER DAY
Can you help clear up the school grounds? We need help with painting, gardening, clearing and organising!
Save the Date - Saturday 26th September
More details to follow.
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Swavesey Primary School Election of Parent Governor
The governing body of Swavesey Primary School has a parent governor vacancy and we are writing to ask if you would be interested in becoming a school governor.
School governance
Governors are responsible for ensuring the strategic direction of the school, its performance and the use of resources to support learning. They help to ensure that our school provides the best education it can for children, parents and our local community. Our parent governors are very valuable members of the governing body, and we rely on them to offer a parent’s perspective. They are on the governing body as representative parents, but they are not delegates and other parents cannot mandate them on how they should vote.
Expectations of governors
Governors do not need to be experts to tackle the range of responsibilities expected of them. Help, advice and training are available from various sources. If you are interested in being part of the team and have time to commit to this role, we would like you to consider becoming a parent governor. The Governing Board meets around twice per half term on Wednesday evenings and also visit during school time for monitoring visits.
Eligibility
Anyone who has parental responsibility for a pupil on the school roll at the time of the election can self-nominate, stand for election and can vote in the election. A parent who works for the school for 500 hours or more or a parent who is an elected member of the local authority (County Councillor) is not eligible to stand for election, but they are permitted to vote. If insufficient parents stand for election the governing body can appoint nominated parents to the governing body. The term of office for a parent governor is 4 years.
How to apply
Nomination forms should be sent to the school office by Monday 14th September 3.30pm (email or paper copy). The candidate should write a few words about themselves and why they would like to be a governor – this will be shared with the parent body if we have more than one candidate and a ballot is required. Please ensure your form is presented in an envelope or email marked ‘Parent Governor Election September 2026’.
On Wednesday 16th September we will provide parents with the details of our parent governor nominations. If a ballot is necessary, we will send a link to an electronic ballot form (paper copies will be available on request) with the names of the candidates and their details. Each parent will have one vote as there is one vacancy - further details will be provided. All votes must then be submitted by 12 noon on Monday 21st September 2026 when they will be counted.
If you would like more information, please contact the school and we can put you in touch with a member of our governing body for an informal chat. If you require a copy of this letter in a language other than English or in large print format, please contact the school.
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Parent Information Sessions - Autumn Term
We are looking forward to welcoming parents and carers to our year group information sessions. These sessions will provide an opportunity to meet your child's teaching team and learn more about the curriculum, classroom routines and expectations for the year ahead.
If you are unable to attend, please do not worry. All information shared during the sessions will also be made available on the school website and through future newsletters, ensuring that everyone has access to the key information.
Session Dates
- Year 5 & 6: Tuesday 15th September, 2:30pm to 3:00pm
- Year 1 & 2: Wednesday 16th September, 2:30pm to 3:00pm
- Year 3 & 4: Thursday 17th September, 2:30pm to 3:00pm
New Parents Tea and Chat
We would also like to extend a warm invitation to families who are new to Swavesey Primary School to join us for a Tea and Chat Morning on Monday 7th September from 9:00am to 10:00am in the school hall.
This informal gathering is a great opportunity to meet members of the school team, connect with other parents and carers, and ask any questions as your family settles into life at Swavesey Primary School. We look forward to meeting you and helping you feel part of our school community.
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We are delighted to have launched our new catering service this term and have been pleased to see children enjoying the range of options available.
Please note that the week beginning 31st August is Week 3 of the menu cycle. The menu has been slightly updated from the version shared before the summer holidays.
Each day, children can choose from:
- A hot meal option
- A pasta option
- A jacket potato option
Parents can continue to book meals through SCOPay, including:
- Hot school meals
- Cheese packed lunches
- Ham packed lunches
- Tuna packed lunches
Please ensure that meal choices are booked in advance through SCOPay. The latest menu can be found attached to this newsletter and on the school website.
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🎄 Cauliflower Cards – Christmas is coming! 🎄
We know it feels very early to be mentioning the C-word, but Christmas will be here before we know it! 🎅 Cauliflower Cards artwork will be coming home with the children from Monday 21st September. If you would like to order Christmas cards or other products featuring your child’s artwork, all the ordering instructions will be included with the information coming home.
If your child would like to take part, please make sure all completed artwork is returned to school by Wednesday 30th September so we can get everything sent off in time. ✏️🎨
Thank you for your support — we can’t wait to see the children’s festive creations! ❤️
💃 School Disco – Friday 25th September 🕺
Our first school disco of the new academic year is coming up on Friday 25th September! As this is the first time we have held a return-to-school disco so early in the academic year, we’ve decided that it may be a little too soon for our Reception children. Rather than miss out altogether, they will be invited to join us at our New Year Disco instead. 🎉
More information about the disco, including timings, will be coming out next week, but for now, please save the date!📅
📢 PTA AGM – Thursday 1st October, 7pm
Finally, we have our PTA AGM on Thursday 1st October at 7pm. This will be held both in person at the school and online, so there’s an option to suit everyone.
Everyone is very welcome to come along — you don’t need to be a regular PTA member or have lots of time to spare. We really value new ideas, suggestions and support, and even a little bit of involvement can make a huge difference to what we are able to do for the children. ❤️
We’d love to see you there!
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Sporting Clubs Update
We are pleased to share that a number of our sporting clubs and activities, including the popular Golden Mile, will be resuming soon.
Please keep an eye on future newsletters, ParentMail communications and our school website for information on start dates, how to sign up and how children can get involved.
We are looking forward to seeing as many children as possible taking part and enjoying the wide range of opportunities available to stay active, develop new skills and have fun with their friends.
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School Garden Club
The school garden club has been going from strength to strength as the plants given to us by Oakington Garden Centre have been planted, watered, nurtured and some ready for harvest. The plants were mostly those that had visual interest, e.g. different coloured beetroot and some interesting herbs, like a tree spinach plant. The herbs also had some interesting smells, with chocolate mint, pineapple mint and red basil amongst them.
We have some regular members who have become excellent water monitors and I would like to give them a huge shout out for keeping the plants going during the heatwaves and while I was on holiday.
We had some exciting news this week when we heard the we had been awarded a grant so that we can purchase a greenhouse, water butts and compost bins. Negotiations will now happen to agree where these can be installed so that we can make good use of them over the winter and next year. We will be asking for parental hep with installing these items so please watch out for further updates.
During the summer we are asking for help with watering from those on the chicken rota. A big thank you if that is you!
Produce that becomes available during the summer will be available at Compass Café, the weekly community café held at Bethel Baptist Church every Thursday from 1030-1200. All are welcome and on Thursday 30 July, the proceeds are for the garden club. Please do support this if you can, either by making a cake, helping to serve, buying produce and telling your friends and neighbours. If you and any children, with their parent or carer, would like to get involved for that morning, please contact me by email sueollive@solomail.co.uk
If you have not seen the garden recently (or at all!) please do go and look at what the children have been doing and how tall their sunflowers are!
We look forward to your continued support and interest next schoolyear and if any of you or any grandparents would like to get involved as a volunteer for an hour or so a week, you would be very welcome. Please contact me by the email address above.
Have a great summer!
Sue Hope
Garden Club Volunteer
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Drum Lessons
A reminder that drum lessons will resume on Monday 7th September.
Parents and carers of children who are signed up for lessons should receive information directly from the provider regarding their child's lesson time and any additional arrangements.
If you have any questions about drum lessons, please contact the provider directly. We look forward to seeing our young drummers back in action!
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Guitar Lessons
Our resident guitar teacher, Mr Cory, may have some available spaces for guitar lessons for the upcoming term. If your child is age 7 or above and interested in learning the guitar, please contact Mr Cory via email at jimmypagefans@hotmail.com.
Please include:- pupils name, parent/guardian name, school name, class teachers name for 26/27 academic year, home address, mobile phone number and whether you require 30min (£20.25) or 15min (£10.12) lessons.
Please book early to avoid disappointment. Please note if you have already been added to my waiting list, you will be the first to be offered any spaces that become available.
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Meridian Magazine Children's Competition
We have been asked to help promote a local children's competition being run by Meridian Magazine.
The competition deadline has now been extended to 10th September, giving children extra time to take part. The winning entry will receive a £25 Amazon voucher and will also be published in the next issue of Meridian Magazine.
As the competition was launched during the summer holidays, there have been fewer entries than expected, so this is a great opportunity for children to get involved.
Completed entries should be handed in at the Swavesey Newsagents.
We wish all entrants the very best of luck!
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Bourn to Run 2026
Join us on Sunday 27th September for Bourn to Run 2026, a multi-terrain 10km and 3km race through the Cambridgeshire countryside. Parents and children can take part side-by-side in the 3km run, while those aged 15 and over can challenge themselves with the chip-timed 10km route. On the day there is also a toddler dash for the youngest runners, a BBQ, raffle and activities for everyone to enjoy. Save 10% on registration fees if you sign up before 17 July - https://bourntorun.com
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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.
NHS Pharmacy First Service - the NHS Pharmacy First Service enables children and adults to get convenient access to healthcare advice and treatment where appropriate, for seven common conditions without the potential delay of having to wait for a GP appointment. There is no need to make an appointment; parents or carers can pop into their local Pharmacy with their child and ask for help under the service.
Support for the following conditions can be accessed under the service, free of charge (unless NHS prescription charges apply):
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Common condition
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Patient eligibility
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Earache
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1 to 17 years
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Impetigo
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1 year and over
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Infected insect bites and stings
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1 year and over
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Sore throats
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5 years and over
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Sinusitis
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12 years and over
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Uncomplicated urinary tract
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Women 16 to 64 years
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Shingles
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18 years and over
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