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23 hours ago
Posted on 05th Nov 2026 by

Headteacher Message

Dear Families,

Welcome back to Autumn 2!  It’s only been 4 days but I already feel like we are properly up and running again.  The 2 week break has refreshed and rejuvenated everyone and I have been so very impressed with the positive attitude and cheerful attitude of everyone this week.

We’ve already had a Greek Day in Year 5 with dozens of excellent costumes, sporting fixtures and I had a fun morning with Year 6 today getting my hands dirty (literally) with a heart & lung dissection.

This half-term is always incredibly busy, so please keep an eye on the website calendar for important dates, including: nativities (week of 7th December) and parent / carer consultation evenings (next week).

There is also our annual parent & carer survey opening on Monday: we value feedback immensely, so please do fill out your surveys and tell us what you think.

Finally, I’m looking forward to seeing many of you at tonight’s Family Bingo – who will win the LUXURY HT Teatime at House Coffee?

Have a lovely weekend!

Tom Larkham

Headteacher

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3 days ago
Posted on 03rd Nov 2026 by

Mrs Porret’s Choir Club- Christmas Events 2026

FOR MRS PORRET’S AFTER SCHOOL CHOIR CLUB PUPILS ONLY

Dear Parents/Carers,

Please find a list of events that your child will be participating in with Mrs Porrett and Coleham Voices Choir.

Friday 11th December – Performance at St. Alkmund’s Church

We have been invited to take part in a prestigious Christmas concert at St. Alkmund’s in town with Shrewsbury’s Phoenix Singers.  This is always a very special Christmas concert and this year; as well as having our own slot, we will be singing two songs with the brilliant Phoenix Singers!  We are so fortunate to be given this exceptional opportunity to sing with trained classical singers.

Your child will need to be dropped off at St Alkmunds Church at 4.50pm for a rehearsal with the choir. The concert starts at 6pm and will last about an hour. The children need to be in smart school uniform.

We will assume your child is attending.  If your child will NOT BE attending this event please can you let Mrs P know by emailing domenica.porrett@col.318education.co.uk

You are welcome to attend the concert or collect afterwards at 6:00pm. 

Every child has 1 ACCOMPANYING ADULT ENTER FOR FREE.  

The Phoenix Singers have given Coleham families discounted tickets for additional family members. 

Tickets are available to purchase through Arbor School Shop ahead of the concert.

Additional tickets for family members are £5 (50% discount)

Tickets purchased on the door cost £10.

Please note no actual tickets are provided but a list of ticket sales will be provided to the organisers for the entrance.

The Phoenix Singers

Tuesday 15th December -Hickory’s Restaurant

We will rehearse after school as usual and then walk to Hickory’s restaurant. We will sing from 5pm. Our singing slot will be approx. 25mins. (Families have previously had a drink in the bar or stayed behind afterwards for a meal) 

The children should wear school uniform and Christmas hats/accessories if they would like too. 

We will hand over your child to you or another adult collecting at around 5.30pm. 

We will assume that all children not collected from school on that day will be coming along to Hickory’s with Mrs Porrett and school staff.  

 

Tuesday 5th Jan 2027 YOUNG VOICES – Birmingham BP Pulse Live Arena

If you haven’t booked audience family tickets for Young Voices yet, here’s the link:

(Please note that families sit in a different area of the arena but there is no obligation for families to attend) Please note that children will be coming home on the school bus as we won’t be able to hand children over to parents at this very large venue.

https://yvmusicroom.com/auth/parent/journey/welcome

Ticket sales for families will close this Sunday, 8 November.  After this time, any remaining tickets will be available through the arena box office at an increased price. 

From the Music Room, you will receive up-to-date information directly from Young Voices. Do encourage and support your child to use the ‘music room’ – this is where all the songs and lyric videos are.

Singing and practising at home is essential!

You can also purchase a concert pack from the Music Room link above which includes a Young Voices white T-shirt and Lanyard.  If you don’t want to purchase this, your child can wear any white top/t-shirt of their own.

Coach details – Transport has been arranged for our trip to Birmingham. The cost for this is £23. Payment for this is through Arbor.  School have paid for the venue cost.

A letter with finer details for the big day will be sent to you at the beginning of December

Thank you to everyone for your excellent enthusiasm and commitment this term. LOTS of wonderful singing!

Mrs Porrett

Music Teacher

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3 weeks ago
Posted on 15th Oct 2026 by

Headteacher Message

Seven weeks done, and what a seven weeks it has been!

This newsletter is another reminder of just how much happens at Coleham. Visits, visitors, theme days for Years 3 and 4, sporting opportunities and experiences beyond the classroom have filled another busy week, including some fabulous sporting success and a particularly stellar performance from our netball squad.

Today’s sunshine also provided the perfect backdrop for a lovely visit to the community garden by the Abbey, bringing a really positive first half term to a fitting close.

There is a great deal to feel proud of as we reach the break. The children have made a fantastic start to the year and approached school life with energy, enthusiasm and positivity. Thank you to our brilliant staff, children and families for everything you have contributed.

This week’s picture of me is a compilation effort from the picture round winners of last week’s quiz: well done to Quiztopher Biggins!  The round was to produce a cheerful image representing what I get up to at school after the children h ave all gone home… Sadly not a point scoring round, meaning they finshed a close 3rd and eventual winners: Pigeons In Flight wen thome with full glory.  

Have a fantastic and well-earned half term. We’ll see you all soon!

Tom Larkham

Headteacher

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3 weeks ago
Posted on 14th Oct 2026 by

Silly School Poetry Competition Success

A huge well done to everyone who entered the Michael Rosen Silly School Competition!

We were delighted to shortlist seven fantastic entries, which have now been submitted to the national competition. We wish all of our shortlisted pupils the very best of luck.

All of our winners also earned valuable points for their Houses. Congratulations to Quarry, who were the overall winners:

  • Quarry – 30 points
  • Greyfriars – 20 points
  • Severn – 10 points
  • Darwin – 10 points

Thank you to everyone who took part. It was wonderful to see so much creativity, imagination and enthusiasm on display across the school.

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3 weeks ago
Posted on 14th Oct 2026 by

Drum Performance in KS2 Singing Assembly

As part of our KS2 Singing Assembly, Harvey performed Sweet Child O’ Mine on the drums. It was great to see him sharing his musical skills with the rest of the school and performing so confidently in front of an audience.

Harvey’s live drum performance added something a little different to this week’s assembly and was enjoyed by everybody.

 

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4 weeks ago
Posted on 08th Oct 2026 by

Headteacher Message

Dear Families,

It has certainly been another busy and enjoyable week at Coleham, with plenty to celebrate across the school.

We welcomed visitors from the Trust Central Team this week and a consultant with inspection experience to look over our school and everything we do.  Our School Leaders did a great job at talking about what is on offer fo our children and our visitors were able to see everything put in to action when they looked around, speaking to children and popping into lessons.  They were very impressed with how strong all the provision was in general, but were particularly impressed with the inclusion strategies seen across school in every class and every support group, which is wonderful to hear.  All of our staff do an incredible job every day to make every feel that they belong and that they matter.

The week began our Harvest Festival, where pupils sang beautifully and reflected on the importance of kindness, gratitude and helping others. We were delighted by the generosity shown by families, with a fantastic collection of donations for the Barnabas Food Bank. Thank you to everyone who contributed. Your support will make a real difference to people in our local community.

There has also been lots of sporting action taking place this week. Pupils from Year 3 and Key Stage 1 have represented the school brilliantly in football, dodgeball and netball fixtures, demonstrating great teamwork, determination and enthusiasm throughout. We are incredibly proud of the way our children compete with such positivity and sportsmanship. A special mention must go to our Year 6 Sports Leaders, who have once again done an excellent job supporting events and refereeing matches. They have shown maturity, confidence and responsibility, and they are wonderful role models for our younger pupils.

Away from school, many classes have been out and about on educational visits and experiences. From local trips to wider adventures further afield, children have enjoyed a wealth of opportunities to bring their learning to life. Please do take a look at the news stories and photographs on our website to see some of the exciting experiences that have taken place over the last few weeks.

It is hard to believe that we are already heading into the final week of the half-term. The first half of the autumn term always seems to pass in a flash, and it has been wonderful to see the children settling so positively into their new classes, routines and learning.

Finally, a reminder that our school commnuity quiz takes place this evening – hopefully we will see many of you there, brains ready!

Have a wonderful weekend, and thank you, as always, for your continued support.

Tom Larkham

Headteacher

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4 weeks ago
Posted on 08th Oct 2026 by

Year 2 RE Visitors from Shrewsbury Muslim Centre

This week, Year 2 welcomed Ian and Ashan from Shrewsbury Muslim Centre to answer some of the questions the children had about Islam.

Rabbits and Owls are really enjoying learning about their current RE topic, ‘What is a Muslim and how do they live?’ Ian and Ashan talked to the children about Mecca and fasting and how Muslims pray. The children enjoyed looking at the prayer mats and traditional clothing. Ian and Ashan showed Year 2 a Qu’ran and how to be respectful when reading it.

Ian and Ashan were really impressed and said they had never met a class of children who knew so much about Islam!

Thank you so much for your visit!

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1 month ago
Posted on 02nd Oct 2026 by

Year 4 Residential Trip to PGL Boreatton Park, 15th -16th April 2027

Dear Families,

For many years, our Year 4 pupils have enjoyed taking part in an overnight residential visit, and it has consistently been a highlight of the school year.

Residential experiences provide children with a wealth of benefits. They help to build confidence and independence, strengthen friendships, encourage teamwork, and give children valuable opportunities to develop resilience and organisational skills away from home.  It is always wonderful to see the growth in confidence that children demonstrate during and after the trip.

The Year 4 residential also provides an important stepping stone towards the Year 6 residential experience, helping children to build the resilience, confidence and practical skills needed for a longer stay away from home. It prepares them well for the two-night residential visit they will enjoy in their final year at Coleham.

We are delighted to confirm that this year’s Year 4 residential will take place at PGL Boreatton Park in Baschurch.  This is an Activity Centre accredited by the Adventure Activities Licensing Authority.

Children will depart from school at 7:30am on Thursday 15th April 2027 and return at approximately 5:00pm on Friday 16th April 2027. Pupils will take part in seven activities over the two days, all designed to develop teamwork, problem-solving skills and confidence within a safe and supportive environment.

The total cost of the trip will be £210 per child, which includes transportation, accommodation, meals, x7 supervised activities with Activity Centre staff, evening entertainment, equipment and insurance.  We would like to make families aware that the cost of the residential has increased again this year due to rising provider and transport costs. However, the school has taken the decision to subsidise this increase so that the cost to families remains at last year’s price of £210.

We fully appreciate that this is a significant cost for families and, with this in mind, we have created a payment schedule that allows the cost to be spread over six months.  A deposit of £42.00 is required by 30th November 2026 to secure your child’s place.  The remaining balance of £168.00 can be paid in six instalments of £28.00 due by Friday, 9th April 2027. 

Please note that these instalments do not need to be paid on fixed dates. Families are welcome to make payments at any time over the six-month period, provided the full balance is made by 9th April 2027.  Our aim is to make the payment process as manageable and flexible as possible.

If the cost of the trip is causing concern, please do get in touch with me in confidence. We are keen for every child to have the opportunity to attend and would be very happy to discuss alternative payment arrangements with families where needed.

If your child feels a little anxious about staying away from home, please be reassured that this is completely normal. Our staff will spend time preparing the children beforehand and providing support throughout the experience. If you have any specific concerns about your child attending, please speak with their class teacher so that we can work together to ensure they feel happy and confident about the visit.

We hope that all children will be able to attend and will therefore assume participation unless the class teacher is informed otherwise.  Further information will be shared closer to the trip, and we will be happy to answer any questions that you or your child may have.

This residential visit is a fantastic opportunity for children to learn, grow and create lasting memories with their friends. We very much hope that every Year 4 pupil will be able to take part in this special experience.

Kind regards,

Miss Othen

School Business Manager

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1 month ago
Posted on 01st Oct 2026 by

Headteacher Message

Dear Families,

Another week filled with activity has flown by and we are already getting towards the end of the first half term of 2026-27!

This week saw the famed House Cup being lifted for the first time this year: well done to QUARRY for winning the KS2 singing competition.  House Captains Flora and Annabel lifted the cup after some amazing singing from everyone on Wednesday.

We’ve also seen a wonderful author visit to inspire our KS1 children and sporting fixtures in football and dodgeball, giving fantastic opportunities for several children to represent their school with pride and passion.  A highlight of the week has to be Year 1 visiting the United Reform Church where they shared their reading with our elderly neighbours, sharing cross-generational favourite books.  A wonderful experience for our children and a heart-warming afternoon for their older partners.

It’s such a pleasure to be part of such a busy, thriving community!

Have a great weekend!

Tom Larkham

Headteacher

 

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1 month ago
Posted on 24th Sep 2026 by

End-of-Day Playground Plea

Please remind your children that the playground equipment (footballs etc) are left in the black boxes at home-time.  It’s not safe for footballs flying about with lots of people, including babies in pushchairs, and we also ask that families leave the school site after collection so we’re able to get the site locked up safe and secure promptly at 3:30pm for our After-School Club.

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1 month ago
Posted on 24th Sep 2026 by

Headteacher Message

Dear Families, 

One of the real highlights of the past week was our September Social on Saturday. It was great to see so many families, children and staff enjoying time together, and a reminder of the strong sense of community that makes Coleham such a special place.  Well done to Miss Othen, Mrs Edwards & Mrs Jones for getting everything organised!

We’ve also seen the first week of our new librarians in action. They have made an excellent start, approaching the role with enthusiasm, responsibility and pride. Reading sits at the heart of what we do, and it is encouraging to see pupils stepping forward to help promote a love of books across the school.

Another exciting development has been the launch of our Future Leaders Academy. Providing children with opportunities to develop skills beyond the classroom is an important part of our work, and this programme gives pupils the chance to take on additional responsibilities, serve as role models and grow in confidence.

Already, we are seeing the impact: earlier this week, some of our Future Leaders helped me welcome and show prospective parents around the school as they make their choices about September 2027. They were outstanding ambassadors for Coleham, speaking confidently about their experiences, answering questions thoughtfully and demonstrating the values we are so proud of. As a headteacher, there is nothing more powerful than hearing children talk about their school with genuine enthusiasm and pride!

We’re half-way through the first half-term, and there is still so much to look forward to – keep an eye out in the newsletter!

Have a lovely weekend!

Tom Larkham

Headteacher

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1 month ago
Posted on 23rd Sep 2026 by

UK Literacy Association Book Awards for 2027

Looking for some new recommended reads?

The UK Literacy Association has longlisted these books for their 2027 Book Awards, the only national awards judged by teachers and not influenced by sales or expensive marketing campaigns allowing books from smaller publishers to be included.

Longlist Age 3-6

 

Aya Has Never Seen a Bear. Written by Gerelchimeg Blackcrane, translated by Paul Qiao and Helen Mixter, illustrated by Jiu’er (Greystone Kids)

Bear’s Nap Written and illustrated by Emily Gravett (Two Hoots)

Broken. Written and illustrated by X.Fang (Pushkin Press)

Cranky, Crabby Crow ( Saves the World) Written  and illustrated by Corey R. Tabor(Greenwillow Books)

Ellie Has a Secret. Written and illustrated by Amelia Bothe (Clarion Books)

Five Little Friends. Written by SeanTaylor and illustrated by Fiona Woodcock (Walker Books)

George and Lenny Are Always Together. Written and illustrated by Jon Agee (Scallywag Press)

If You Make a Call on a Banana Phone. Written by Gideon Sterer and illustrated by Emily Hughes (Clarion Books)

King School. Written and illustrated by Alexis Deacon (Otter-Barry  Books)

Monkeypig. Written and illustrated by Huw Aaron (Puffin)

Mo’s Stick. Written and illustrated by Fiona Lumbers (Little Tiger Press)

Oh Dear, Look What I Got. Written by Michael Rosen and illustrated by Helen Oxenbury (Walker Books)

Once Upon a Time in the Woods. Written and illustrated by Anthony Browne (Puffin)

Raindrops. Written and illustrated by Robin Boyden (Farshore)

The Lost Robot. Written and illustrated by Joe Todd-Stanton (Flying Eye Books)

The Sleeper Train. Written by Mick Jackson and illustrated by Baljinder Kaur (Walker Books)

The Tour at School. Written by Katie Clapham and illustrated by Nadia Shireen (Walker Books)

To Activate Space Portal Lift Here. Written and illustrated by Antoinette Portis   (Scallywag Press)

Unexpected Guests. Written and illustrated by Mariajo Illustrajo (Frances Lincoln Childrens Books)

When Tad Kicked Vlad Written by Julian Gogh and illustrated by Ross Collins (Faber)

 

Longlist Age 7-10

 

Birdlands. Written by Anthony McGowan (Rock the Boat)

Boy Vs Reality. Written by James Fox (Scholastic)

Cabin Head and Tree Head. Written and illustrated by Scott Campbell (DK Flip)

Everything In Between. Written by  Shagufta K.Iqbal (Troika Books)

Gloam. Written by Jack Mackay and illustrated by Ben Joel Price (Rock the Boat)

I Am Ray’s Imaginary Friend. Written by Brian Moses and illustrated by Bethan Welby (Scallywag Press)

Korobá The Case of the Missing Kolo. Written and illustrated by Àlàbá Ònájìn (Scallywag Press)

Letters From the Upside. Written by Katya Balen (Bloomsbury)

Minotaur Boy. Written by Shane Hegarty and illustrated by Ruby Fresson (DK Flip)

Nate Yu’s Blast from the Past. Written by Maisie Chan (Piccadilly Press)

Runaways. Written by E.L.Norry (Bloomsbury)

Small Wonder. Written by Ross Montgomery (Walker Books)

The Blitz Sisters. Written by Judith Eagle (Faber)

The Dawn of Adonis. Written by Phil Earle (Andersen Press)

The Experiment. Written by Rebecca Stead (Andersen Press)

The Feathered Book. Written by Charlie Nutbrown (Everything with Words)

The Lions’ Run. Written by Sara Pennypacker (Hodder) 

The Monsters at the End of the World. Written by Rebecca Orwin.(Puffin)

The Night I Borrowed Time. Written by Iqbal Hussain (Puffin)

Two is a Crowd. Written by Cath Howe (Nosy Crow)

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1 month ago
Posted on 23rd Sep 2026 by

The benefits of Graphic Novels

We know that some of our children LOVE Graphic Novels, so we’ve introduced more Comic Carts in school.

They can be a gateway into reading for children who struggle to stay motivated by text.

Don’t worry if your child ONLY WANTS to read graphic novels or comics.  Key research studies have found these benefits:

Visuals can boost comprehension across all subjects

Eye-tracking research shows graphic novel readers read faster with no loss in understanding.  Pictures build the story and words fill it in.

Comprehension, vocab and motivation for reading all improve

The visuals can help some children remember the content longer

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2 months ago
Posted on 22nd Sep 2026 by

Gorilla by Anthony Browne

Mrs Rank recommends..
I love Gorilla by Anthony Browne. It combines beautifully evocative artwork with a charming and heart-warming story about a lonely little girl who embarks on an amazing adventure with a gorilla on the eve of her birthday. The book captures the power of imagination and friendship, making it a truly memorable read for children and adults alike.
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2 months ago
Posted on 22nd Sep 2026 by

Show and Tell by Rob Biddulph

Mrs Stennett’s picture book recommendation:

This book is a favourite for me both at home and in the classroom. Illustrator Rob Biddulph (who you might know from Draw with Rob) has cleverly taken the idea of a classroom Show and Tell and turned it into a funny and chaotic picture book with a brilliant message of how the simple things are often the most special. Come and ask to borrow it if you haven’t already tried it.

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2 months ago
Posted on 22nd Sep 2026 by

A welcome from the reading team

Mrs Stennett and Mrs Rank welcome you warmly to a new year at Coleham where exciting things are already happening for reading in our school.

Each month, we will bring you a reading newsletter where we will share favourite books from our staff and pupils, book reviews, author events, competitions, ideas and so much more…

We hope you enjoy what we have to share with you today and are inspired to read a new book. Don’t forget, you can always ask to come and borrow a book that you would like to try!

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2 months ago
Posted on 17th Sep 2026 by

Yr 1 Family Lunch

Come and Have Lunch with Your Child

We are delighted to invite families to join their children for a school lunch.

         

  • Squirrels Class – October @11.30 am

    •      

  • Hedgehogs Class –October @11.30am

To help us manage numbers, we kindly ask that a maximum of two adults per child attend.

If parents/carers are working you are very welcome to send the grandparents or another someone special.

The cost is £3.50 per adult, payable via the Arbor School Shop.

We are really looking forward to welcoming you into school and sh

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2 months ago
Posted on 17th Sep 2026 by

Headteacher Message

Dear Families

We seem to be fully into the swing of the school year now and we’re still enjoying a wonderful atmosphere across school!

This week has seen safety afternoons across the school where children have learned about rail, water, home, fire safety and more! Trips and workshops are being organised!

We’ve also been in full-swing organising tomorrow’s September Social – we hope to see you there! Make sure you invite everyone you know. It’s a great way to meet more staff across school, especially for our new families.

Next week we have our open classrooms after school on Wednesday where you will have the chance to pop in, meet your child’s teacher for a chat and see their classrooms.

Don’t forget to book your place for the event of the year – the Community Quiz on Friday 9th October! Come and see me on the road if you have any ideas for special rounds or even the theme for the famous drawing round. It’s a whole lot of fun; prizes to be won…

If we don’t see you tomorrow, have a lovely weekend!

Tom Larkham

Headteacher

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2 months ago
Posted on 17th Sep 2026 by

September Social

We are looking forward to seeing you all tomorrow!

The field gate will be opened at 12 o’clock for entry.

Spread the word and bring your family & friends

* Burger Kitchen
* Cafe
* Garden Bar

*Crafts

* Badge Making

* Tombolas & games

* Donkey Rides

* Exotic animals and snakes galore

* Soak the Coach

Live Music from The Belle V’ukes @ 12, Mr William’s choir @ 1.30pm and Mr Latham’s rock band @ 2pm

 

 

 

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2 months ago
Posted on 17th Sep 2026 by

Young Voices Trip 2026-Tuesday 5th January 2027

THIS LETTER IS FOR PARENTS OF CHILDREN WHO ATTEND MRS PORRETT’S AFTER SCHOOL CHOIR CLUB

Dear Families,

Young Voices 2027

As a member of the Coleham Young Voices after school club your child is invited to take part in the amazing ‘Young Voices’ concert on Tuesday 5th January 2027, at BP Pulse (previously known as Resorts World), Birmingham, where children from many schools come together in one concert venue to collectively sing.  You can find out more about this event by clicking on the following link: The Largest Children’s Choir in the World | Young Voices  There is a video clip part way down the page which gives you a taster of what the children are likely experience if they take part.  It is an experience not to be missed!

Due to the nature of the event, we expect full commitment from everyone taking part: both in attending the after school club for rehearsals and in learning the words – both at school and at home (if you have SPOTIFY, search for Young Voices 2027 and you’ll find the playlist or scan the QR code at the bottom of this page).

Taking part in the event means that the children will have quite a long day and a late night on 5th January: they will be travelling to and from the venue by coach, leaving school around 11.30am/noon, and returning to school around 10.30pm.

The Trip will cost around £30.  This includes the cost for your child’s place and the coach travel, payable via your child’s Arbor account.  Other sign up costs have been paid by the school.  Exact details will be included in a follow letter in November/December.

At this point in time, we need to know trip numbers to purchase tickets.  We will assume your child is attending.  IF YOU DO NOT WANT YOUR CHILD TO GO ON THIS TRIP please let the school office know by Friday 25th September 2026. Many thanks for your cooperation.

Further details will be shared once we have final numbers.  This will include information about tickets that parents are able to purchase if they also wish to go (there is no expectation that families come along and please note that that children will be coming home on the school bus as we won’t be able to hand children over to parents at this very large venue)

We really hope that your child will be able to join us for Young Voices, it is a terrific day out and one that the children will never forget.

 

Yours sincerely,

Mrs Porrett

Music Teacher

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2 months ago
Posted on 11th Sep 2026 by

Headteacher Message

Dear Families,

Well done everyone (including grown ups!) on managing a full week of early get-ups; uniform sorting and generally having some sort of routine again!  It’s been tiring for all of us, but especially tiring for our EYFS children who have completed their first full week of school!  They’ve done brilliantly and I’m really excited to see what they will achieve.

The positive energy I talked about last week is still very present, and it already feels like we are properly stuck into this academic year.

Well done also to our new Year 6 House Captains and Sports Leaders this week – I was so impressed to see over 40 Year 6 children put themselves forward for election and the chance to lift the coveted House Cup over the course of this year.  They all wrote a speech and then presented themselves to their entire House for election.

There are only ever two Captains per House and it is doubly impressive how well everyone has taken winning and losing.

We have lots of roles in school to help develop leadership and Years 3 4, 5 and 6 will all have Pupil Jobs assigned so everybody has a responsibility and opportunity to participate in school life.

We’ve appointed four sports leaders in Yr 6 who have an exciting job organising lots of sporting events over the year – watch this space for news of Council Elections and Pupil Jobs!

Keep an eye out for lots of exciting upcoming events, including our September Social on the 19th September!

Have a great weekend!

Tom Larkham

Headteacher

 

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2 months ago
Posted on 09th Sep 2026 by

African Drumming Workshop for Years 1, 4 & 6

Exciting RE news! Years 1, 4 and 6 will each be taking part in an African Drumming workshop on Thursday 8th October. This will be a fun way of linking their knowledge and developing an understanding about different global cultural practises and traditions. This is an important part of their overall RE learning journey. The workshop will also make a nice cross-curricular link to the Black History month which beings on 1st October.

To cover the cost of the workshop we are asking for a donation of £3.00 per child, to be paid via your child’s Arbor account. Many thanks.

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2 months ago
Posted on 03rd Sep 2026 by

Spare School Jumpers

Our Drop and Swap trolley in Reception Foyer is over whelmed with spare school jumpers!

Please help us recycle these by popping in and helping yourself to extras.

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2 months ago
Posted on 03rd Sep 2026 by

2027-28 Term Dates

The Term Dates for 2027-28 for The 3-18 Education Trust are out!

27 – 28 Term Dates

Please only check these on our website as we have different term dates to other schools in Shropshire.

 

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2 months ago
Posted on 03rd Sep 2026 by

Lunch Payments

The price of a school meal is £2.66. Children in EYFS, Yr 1 and Yr 2 all receive a free school meal and we encourage all children to take this.

Parents should top up their Arbor Meals Account for each child. Parents can top up their account, any time, with any amount but accounts should always remain in credit.

Children tell their teacher each morning at registration if they are having school dinners or packed lunch.

The daily charge is then deducted from your Arbor Meals balance.

 

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2 months ago
Posted on 03rd Sep 2026 by

Healthy Packed Lunches

If you prepare your child a lunchbox, then please see the recommended guidance below.

Children need a balanced diet rich in calcium and vitamins from foods like dairy, leafy greens, fruits, and vegetables, alongside water, to build strong teeth and healthy bones. It’s important to limit sugary foods and drinks and avoid snacking on them between meals, as frequent exposure to sugar increases the risk of tooth decay.

Lunchboxes are unable to be refrigerated in school.  Please consider whether your child requires an ice-pack in their school lunch box to keep the food fresh until lunchtime.

For more Healthy Lunch Advice & Inspiration click HERE

 

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2 months ago
Posted on 03rd Sep 2026 by

Allergens & Food in School

Our School Menus are on the website HERE

Dietary Requirements

If you would like support regarding your child’s allergies or special dietary requirements then please email the Catering Manager, Mel Perry at:  ca.colehamprimary@ocs.com.   Alternatively, you can contact the School’s Business Manager and School’s Allergen Lead, Tracy Othen, at: tracy.othen@col.318education.co.uk.

‘Sesame, Celery and Nut Free’ School Kitchen

Our catering team does not order, accept, nor serve sesame, celery and nuts due to specific pupil anaphylaxis risks in our school.  This means that our caterers have agreements in place with suppliers so we cannot order products that “contain nuts, sesame or celery” or “may contain nuts, sesame or celery” for school meals served at lunchtime.

There is no restriction on any foods regarding packed lunches.  We foster a culture of strong allergy awareness in school.  All staff are allergen-trained and we have safeguards and control measures in place to protect at-risk children.  We regularly remind children that they must not share food and only eat the food that has been provided to them by staff or Parents/Carers.

Families can help us maintain a culture of allergy awareness in school by:

  • informing us of your child’s allergies and keeping us up to date with any changes
  • regularly reminding your child not to share any food you have provided in their packed lunch.
  • to only send in fruit as a healthy breaktime snack. (EYFS & KS1 children each receive a free portion of fruit at break)
  • be responsible for what your child eats at any school community events where families are responsible for the supervision of their child.

We carefully control food coming into school for allergy and nutrition reasons, therefore we do not allow birthday treats to be shared with the class.  Instead, we recommend donating a book to the classroom book corner to be shared before home time.

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2 months ago
Posted on 03rd Sep 2026 by

School Street – Daily Road Closure

School Street

We are fortunate to have one of the few operating School Street schemes.  This means that Greyfriars Road is shut to traffic between Longden Coleham and Salter’s Lane each day, twice a day:

  • Start of the day: closed at 8:30 am; reopened at 9:00 am
  • End of the day: closed at 3:00 pm; reopened at 3:30 pm

To keep this safe and smooth for our community, including our neighbours, there are some important points to note and remember:

  • Please do not move the cones yourself to enter or leave the road, or to allow others to enter or leave the road
  • Please do not drive out of the closed road until it is reopened by school staff
  • Please do not use Salter’s Lane for parking: several parents have blocked drives, lanes and houses which has caused upset and significant disruption
  • Remember that residents in the closed section are permitted to leave & enter their properties carefully – school staff will move cones and advise

Please pass this information on to any other adults that collect or drop off your children.  We will always respectfully challenge anyone driving in the closed road in the interests of everyone’s safety, so please treat staff with respect if you are challenged.

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2 months ago
Posted on 03rd Sep 2026 by

School Timings

Morning Fitness

The school day starts with a wake up at 8:30 am.  This is an opportunity for children (and families!) to get an active start to the day with a refreshing run around our playground track or other sports activity supported by our Sports Coach, Mr Halford.  At this time, parents are still responsible for their children.

  • Monday: Daily Dash
  • Tuesday: Daily Kick
  • Wednesday: Daily Bounce
  • Thursday: Daily Skip
  • Friday: Daily Dance

Please only enter the site between 8:30 – 8:40 if you are taking part in the Daily Sports activity

Start of the Day

The school gates open for all pupils and families at 8:40 am and the school day officially begins at 8:50 am when classes go inside for registration.  EYFS and Year 1 children are able to enter through their classroom doors on arrival: all other years will line up with staff supervising.  A swift drop off is encouraged as staff are on hand to supervise.  The school site must be fully locked by 9:00 am.

Late Arrivals

For arrivals after 8:50 am, (once classes have gone inside) your child will need to enter through the main front door.  Here, they will be greeted by office staff who will assist them to sign in electronically.  This sign-in is required as it feeds into our registration system.  We record a late mark from 9:00 am to 9:15 am, and if you arrive after 9:15 am, this is recorded as an absence for the morning session. If you are finding being on time a challenge, please get in touch, and we can offer some support.

End of the Day

  • EYFS and KS1 finish school at 3:10 pm.
  • KS2 finish school at 3:20 pm.
  • School Gates need to be locked at 3:30 pm

We are really grateful to everyone for clearing the school site quickly at the end of each day.  For safeguarding reasons and so extra curricular clubs can begin safely, we must have the site locked up by 3:30 pm and the road opened to traffic, so please do remind your children not to stay and play for too long on the equipment.

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2 months ago
Posted on 03rd Sep 2026 by

How to know what’s going on?

Website

Our website is live and up-to-date and the first port of call for any query you may have.  The Parents’ Area section contains all Letters Home, Weekly Newsletters, Term Dates and a Calendar of events; and the Classroom pages show you trip dates, etc.  Please do check as it really is our virtual office; we post to the website daily.

Email

To keep communication streamlined for parents we aim to send one weekly newsletter and any other letters each Friday so you are not overloaded with adhoc emails.

Dojo/Tapestry

Teachers will use Dojo (Tapestry in EYFS) for any class-related messages and updates re: PE days or other tweaks to their timetables.  Sometimes there is the need to adjust a weekly timetable to allow for other activities or unplanned events, meaning PE days can change.  Please do not worry if these messages are missed and your child is not in their PE kit!

Teachers will send a weekly message of a roundup of the week.

Social Media 

Our Facebook will advertise our community events or share community news.

Our Instagram celebrates our creative curriculum.