Saxton Newsletter 15.12.23
The School Target for Next Week is:
Nativity and Christingle - Thank you!
Thank you to everyone who came to the nativity and Christingle service on Tuesday. The children were, as usual, amazing! Your contributions towards the Children’s Society totalled £40.20, which is very much appreciated.
Christmas dinner day
Don’t forget that next Wednesday is our Christmas dinner day. There will also be a range of different activities happening throughout the day. Children can wear their Christmas jumpers along with normal uniform.
Christmas singalong
The Christmas Singalong will take place at 2.30pm in church next Friday, to which everyone is invited.
Big Ambition survey
The Children’s Commissioner has decided to extend the closing date for the ‘Big Ambition’ survey to Friday 19th January 2024 to allow even more children the chance to have their say. Children and parents can complete the survey here: www.childrenscommissioner.gov.uk/thebigambition
Feast activities
We have issued vouchers to all families whose children are eligible for free places on FEAST activities this Christmas. You should have received this via email or text, from a platform called Holiday Activities. Follow the link in this email/text to redeem your voucher and book your child’s place on some of the fantastic activities on offer across North Yorkshire. If you believe your child is eligible and you have not yet received your voucher, or you have lost it, please contact the school office. To learn more about FEAST, and for information on activities, eligibility and how to manage your bookings, visit the website.
Starting School Sept 24 - apply for a place before the January deadline.
- We have been delighted to have shown a large number of families around our school who are interested in sending their children next September, If you know someone with a child who is due to start school in September 2024 please encourage them to apply for a place online before the deadline in January in order to secure their place.
Is my child too ill for school?
It can be tricky deciding whether or not to keep your child off school, nursery or playgroup when they're unwell. Please click the link below for some guidance from the NHS.
Diary Dates
20th Dec - Whole school RE Day
20th Dec - Christmas dinner and wear a Christmas jumper/top day (along with normal uniform)
22nd Dec - Christmas singalong in church 2.30pm - 3.15pm
22nd Dec - Break up
8th Jan - Training day - school closed to pupils
9th Jan - School re-opens
Feast
FEAST is open to all children and young people across North Yorkshire. Places on these school holiday activities are free to eligible children and young people. Learn more about who is eligible for a free place in our Frequently Asked Questions.
School Lunches
All the menus are available on meal selector via ParentPay
Children can decide daily whether they are having a school dinner or packed lunch.
Please ensure you use our new meal selector to order lunches for your child for up to 3 weeks in advance, see the link below.
Each day there are 4 choices, either the hot dinner, hot vegetarian option, jacket potato with a choice of toppings or a sandwich. The sandwich and jacket potato always come with a selection of vegetables/salad on the side and have the full pudding choice for that day.
Packed Lunches - if you are sending grapes in your child's packed lunch, can you please ensure that these are cut in half.
Free school meals for all years for pupils whose families receive financial support
If you are in receipt of certain benefits, your child could also qualify for free school meals during all school years. To qualify you must be receiving:
Universal Credit, provided you have an annual net earned income of no more than £7,400, as assessed by earnings from up to three of your most recent assessment periods (£616.67 per month)
Income Support
Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance
Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
Support under part six of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
The guarantee element of Pension Credit
Child Tax Credit, provided you are also not entitled to Working Tax Credit and have an annual household gross income that does not exceed £16,190 (as assessed by HMRC)
Working Tax Credit run-on, paid for four weeks after you stop qualifying for Working Tax Credit
Please note that contributions-based benefits, including contribution-related Jobseekers' Allowance do not entitle you to claim free school meals.
You will receive an instant decision on whether your application is successful. If it is, we will fully process the application in 5 working days and notify the school. Once the school has received this your child can begin enjoying free school meals. You should continue to pay until confirmation comes through. Schools may be able to arrange reimbursement of payment made while your entitlement is being confirmed.
Free school meals claims cannot be backdated. They are awarded from the date we receive the application, once eligibility is confirmed. This is because there is a legal requirement for a request to be made, before a free school meal can be provided. If you are not entitled to free school meals, you will be notified in writing.
Parent Volunteers
We are delighted to be able to have volunteers into schools again, and would welcome parents to help us. If you are able to give any time to us, either on an ad-hoc or regular basis, you will need to complete a DBS application. Please contact the office for more information.
Diary Dates
Stikins
Please order via the website www.stikins.co.uk and quote Saxton school number 17524
Car Parking reminder
ParentPay
Saxton C of E Primary School
Email: admin@sp.starmat.uk
Website: http://www.sp.starmat.uk/
Location: Dam Lane, Saxton, United Kingdom
Phone: 01937 557396
Twitter: @SaxtonCE
The STAR Multi Academy Trust
Website: web.starmat.uk
Twitter: @CEOTheSTARMAT