As part of the National Curriculum your child will be going to the Quarry Swimming Baths for swimming lessons.  Each lesson will take place on a Tuesday morning for 5 weeks, starting 24^th October and ending 28^th November (excluding 31^st October, which is half term week).

Miss Lewis will walk her class to and from The Quarry Swimming Baths: not only will it provide pupils and staff with a pleasant walk through our lovely local park, but also no funding need be sought from parents to cover transport costs.

Please could you ensure your child remembers to bring their swimming costume (no bikinis please), goggles and towel in on the day they go swimming, as they will only be disappointed if they have to stay behind or sit and watch! Thank you.

Dear Parents and Carers,

As part of the Government’s Universal Infant Free School Meal (“UIFSM”) Scheme, Coleham School provides all pupils in Reception, Year 1 and Year 2 with school meals free of charge.

As your child will be progressing to Year 3 in September 2023, their entitlement to UIFSM will come to an end on Friday 21^st July 2023 and you will be required to pay for school meals going forward. A school meal costs £2.40 per day and is payable by your child’s Arbor account (the school will cease using ParentPay at the end of the Summer term). You will be able to pay in September once we have set up the new system.

If your child would like a school meal they let the teacher know when they call out the register in the morning.

If you think you may be eligible for the Benefit-based Free School Meal Scheme please click on the link below to be directed to Shropshire Council’s FSM page where you can find information about eligibility and an online application form:

https://next.shropshire.gov.uk/education-and-learning/free-school-meals/

Yours sincerely,

Jane Hilbert

Administration Manager

Dear Parent/Carer

As part of this term’s History curriculum work on the Ancient Egyptians, we have arranged for Year 3 to visit Liverpool Museum and The Walker Art Gallery on Friday 9^th June.   We will be leaving school at 8.15am in order to get there at a reasonable time so ask that children arrive at 8.00am that morning. We will return at approximately 4:30pm. If we encounter any significant delay on our return journey, we will do our best to keep you informed.

Your child will need to bring a packed lunch and plenty to drink for this trip – no glass bottles or fizzy drinks please. Those pupils entitled to free school meals will be given a packed lunch by our school meals provider before departure. Please also ensure that they wear school uniform and have a lightweight coat with them. We will not be visiting the souvenir shop so no additional spending money is required.

The cost of the trip is £15.15, which includes entrance fees/workshops and transport.  Payment for this trip should be made via your child’s ParentPay account prior to the date of the trip. Although costs for trips are voluntary, in reality the school has no other means of funding these trips. We hope that everyone can contribute to the trip in some way.

Please note that this visit is covered by the Annual Consent Form for Trips/visits & Medical Information. Please notify the school immediately if there are any changes to your contact/emergency contact details or medical information.

Yours sincerely,

Jane Hilbert

Administration Manager

Dear Parent/Carer

Our school is to receive Free Bikeability Level 1 & 2 Cycle Training which takes place on the following dates:

• Giraffes – Tuesday 6^th and Wednesday 7^th June
• Elephants: Thursday 8^th and Friday 9^th June

What is Bikeability?

Bikeability is the national cycle training programme supported and funded by the Department for Transport. The skills your child will learn will help boost confidence and independent thinking thus helping them to be a safer road user. Learning the rules of the road when young is a real boost to confidence and a very positive experience of true travel independence. So, whether your child cycles regularly or not, the course will prove beneficial. Shropshire’s Bikeability Scheme is delivered by Learn Cycling, a national training company who employ qualified, professional, DBS checked National Standard Instructors. Visit www.bikeability.org.uk for more information.

This course develops the cycling skills and confidence of children who can already cycle. For group and individual learn to ride courses please contact Bikeability via admin@learncycling.com

To sign up for the Bikeability training taking place at Coleham School please click on the link to the virtual form below (please note, the replies are being collated on our behalf by Coleham School Admin) by no later than Thursday 25^th May:

https://forms.office.com/e/3ntgpY1auu

The school will confirm your child’s place on the course on Monday 5^th June.

Dear Parent/Guardian

The children in Year 6 have been fortunate to be accepted for the Crucial Crew which takes place at the Nesscliffe Training Camp on Monday 22^nd May.  This is a very popular event which all schools in Shropshire would like to take part in but for which places are very limited.

Crucial Crew is run by the West Midlands Police Force and the aim of it is to give older children an insight in how to deal with safety hazards, such as fires and accidents, and also to make them aware of the dangers of drug/alcohol abuse.

The children will be transported by coach, leaving school at 8.55am sharp, so if they can arrive a little earlier than usual – 8.40am would suffice – that would be very helpful. They will return to school at approximately 3.00 p.m.

Please ensure that your child wears their school uniform – especially their sweatshirts/cardigans – as this will enable them to be identified more easily whilst there. As many of the activities take place outside, they will also need a waterproof, lightweight coas in case of inclement weather.

Children will need to bring a packed lunch. Those entitled to free school meals will be provided with a packed lunch by our caterers but you may want to supplement this with additional refreshments.

Crucial Crew request that parents ensure that their children have had something to eat before they embark on the day’s activities, especially if it is hot: children will not have a mid-morning break at this event so the earliest they will get to eat will be approx. 12.15pm. Over the years a number of children have had to attend the first aid centre because of feeling faint, which has usually been because of lack of food or dehydration. They are allowed to carry a bottle of water around with them during the day, which they will be able to top up during their lunch break.

The cost of the trip is £4.00 per child including transport, insurance and activities.  Payment should be made via your child’s ParentPay account, in the usual way prior to the date of the trip please.

This trip is covered by our annual consents procedure.

Yours sincerely,

Jane Hilbert

Administration Manager

Dear Parents,

During the next two weeks, we will be going through Pioneer arrangements with the children.  Here is some additional information and clarification to help you prepare your children for what we are sure will be a very positive and exciting experience for them.

Packing & Preparation – kit list provided separately

• CLEARLY NAME ALL CLOTHING AND PROPERTY
• If possible, choose a soft hold-all rather than a rigid case as this makes storage in the dorms easier and gives the children more space. Please DO NOT WORRY if this is not possible
• Please allow your children to be as involved in the packing of their bag as possible; this will help them to be more aware of what they have and where it is – it will also help them when packing for the return home
• Please help your child to practise putting on a duvet cover as this will be their first task when they arrive at the centre
• Include a NAMED plastic bag for the children to put wet clothes in as some groups will be doing a wet activity on the last morning
• Your child will need an easily accessible reading book in their bag
• Please provide a refillable plastic or metal water bottle
• If necessary, give your child travel sickness tablets for the journey and provide us with the return journey tablets

Packed lunch for Monday

Your child will need to bring their own packed lunch with them to school on Monday morning (Monday 15^th May) as the first meal provided by The Pioneer Centre will be tea on Monday evening.

If your child is eligible for Free School Meals, we can provide a packed lunch, plese order via the following link by 9^th May please.

https://forms.office.com/e/CfwSta7hLp

Medical Information and Medication

Please let us know as soon as possible if your child has any medical conditions that we may not already be aware of/ prescribed medication that is normally managed outside of school by clicking on the link below and completing the Medical Update form.

 https://forms.office.com/e/Fjk2TELLhW

 Any medication to be taken on the trip should be put in a container with your child’s name written clearly on the front along with clear instructions and dosage and handed to the school office or class teacher in advance of the day of departure.

Monday morning departure

• We will ask the children to do the ‘big’ hugs and goodbyes at home before leaving for school
• Please allow your child to bring their own bag into the classroom
• Only come into class if you have to provide us with your child’s medication or if you have to tell us some new information
• Please be aware that if you wish to wave off your child, the coach will not be leaving until 10.15 am at the earliest

Wednesday afternoon return

• The coach will return at approximately 3:30 pm and we will phone ahead if delayed for any reason. Please watch the noticeboard outside school for any changes
• PLEASE WAIT INSIDE THE SCHOOL GATES UNTIL ALL BAGS HAVE BEEN UNLOADED – you will be able to greet your children before collecting bags
• Be aware that your child’s wellies/wet clothes bag may have become separated from their main bag – please ensure that you collect ALL your child’s belongings

Please remember that the follow items are not permitted

• Mobile phones
• Electronic games/devices e.g. PSP
• Extra snacks/sweets
• Cameras – school will be taking plenty of pictures/videos

Hopefully, this information will help avoid any last-minute worries, questions or queries.  Your cooperation in these matters will be greatly appreciated and will contribute to the smooth running of the week.

Many thanks in anticipation,

Mrs Morgan, Mr Edwards and the Year 6 team