Welcome back to the new academic year. An exciting time for myself, as I take up my first Headship at Abbeys. It has been a wonderful Summer and I hope your children are back and raring to go! We are certainly looking forward to getting back into the swing of things. A warm welcome to our new Early years families and many new staff members.

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Learning and the curriculum

Later this week, you will receive a curriculum newsletter for your child's year group. This will outline the learning for the term and how you can support at home. You will also receive a Pick and mix homework sheet for the half-term. All these documents are available on our website.

Homework

Whilst we know that homework can be challenging, it plays an important part in securing the learning from the classroom. Please support your child by helping them to complete all tasks!

Reading is the most important part of the homework we set in school. Children who read daily, become fluent and this will help them excel in all areas of learning. So snuggle up with a book at every opportunity!

MEET THE NEW STAFF

There are many new faces around school.

Mrs Louis White- Deputy Head teacher and Inclusion lead

Mrs Way- 3 /4 Class teacher

Miss Cahill- 3/4 Class teacher

Miss Tierney- 1/ 2 Class teacher

Mr Godfrey- HLTA- PE/ Sports

Miss Craig- 1:1 Teaching Assistant- EYFS

Mrs Fathima- Teaching Assistant- KS2

Mrs Jamieson - Learning mentor

Abbeys is trending!

If you haven't already please follow Abbeys on Facebook. As well as via email and text message, we will post events and photos on Facebook.

If you have objections to us sharing photos of your child on Facebook, please inform the office and they will update our records.

SCHOOL UNIFORM

It is important that the pupils at Abbeys look smart and represent their school with pride. Please ensure that your child is wearing the correct school uniform and appropriate footwear. More information is available on our website- https://www.abbeysprimary.milton-keynes.sch.uk/attachments/download.asp?file=40

REASONABLE ADJUSTMENTS- All schools are expected to make reasonable adjustments for pupils with SEND. If your child has a diagnosis of ASD or Sensory processing disorder, they may find some textures difficult to wear. Please speak to our SENCO- Mrs Louis- White or myself, should reasonable adjustments to the school uniform be required.

PE KIT-For the Autumn term, we are trialling something new and allowing the children to wear their PE kit to and from school on PE days. PE kit consists of black shorts/ joggers and a white T-Shirt. Your child's PE days will be in their planner or displayed in their classroom window.

SCHOOL UNIFORM EXCHANGE

We are establishing our school uniform exchange. Before you go shopping please come and see if there is anything suitable for you child. We will also take donations of good quality uniform that your child has grown out of. The uniform is all clean and ready to be relabelled for your child. And it is totally FREE!

We have jumpers, coats, trousers, shirts and skirts. We'd like to ask for more donations and want to include wellies, plimsolls and school shoes. If you have any questions please speak to Mrs Hickmott in the main office.

Safeguarding

Meet the team

All the staff at Abbeys are trained in Safeguarding and Child protection. Disclosures are dealt with immediately and confidentially. Sometimes a part of our duty of care is to contact the Multi agency Safeguarding Hub [MASH] for advice and meet with Families/ Carers.

If you have any concerns about the welfare of a child in school or outside of school please contact the MASH on 01908253169.

A Designated safeguarding Lead is always available in school should you have any concerns- please ask at the office.

The Designated Leads are as follows:

Mrs Fellowes and Mrs Louis- White

Miss Dean, Miss Wright, Mrs Lisanti, Mrs Jamieson and Mrs Hickmott.

FRENCHIE

Meet Frenchie the school dog! Following on from our success with the Bark and Read programme and our work with Diesel the dog, Frenchie will become part of the school community, reading with pupils and supporting those with Social emotional, mental health challenges. She will come into school a couple of days a week. If your child is not keen on dogs and should you have any concerns please email me directly- Jfellowes@abbeysprimary.org

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Dates for your diary

Wednesday 7th and Thursday 8th September - Individual photos and website photos

Thursday 8th September 2.30pm- Coffee and Cake meeting with SLT and Governors

Friday 23rd September- Genes for Jeans day

Monday 3rd October- Harvest festival

Tuesday 4th and Wednesday 5th October- Parent's evenings

Friday 7th October- Wear yellow for Mental Health awareness day

Wednesday 14th December 2pm and 6pm- EYFS and KS1 Nativity

Thursday 15th December- Whole School Pantomime

HALF TERM- Break up Thursday 20th October- Re-open 31st October

CHRISTMAS BREAK- Break up Friday 16th December and

reopen Wednesday 4th January

_{CELEBRATING SUCCESSES OUTSIDE OF SCHOOL}

It is important to celebrate the success of our pupils outside of school. This section of the Newsletter is dedicated to life outside of Abbeys. I'd like you to email me if your child has achieved something outside of school that deserves a special SHOUT OUT. Gymnastics, football, music or charity work! We want to know about it, share it and celebrate it!

SPECIAL EDUCATIONAL NEEDS

At Abbeys we pride ourselves in our inclusive provision, we have many children at Abbeys with additional needs and we work hard with Parents/ Carers to meet their needs. All teachers have SEN training and many Teaching Assistants also have specific SEN training.

If you have concerns regarding your child please contact your child's class teacher in the first instance. There is more information regarding our SEN provision and Local offer on our website- https://www.abbeysprimary.milton-keynes.sch.uk/page/?title=Policies+%26amp%3B+Documents&pid=27

SENDIAS can also offer more support and advice if you need it- https://mksendias.org.uk

COFFEE AND CAKE

Please come and join us for Coffee and cake- an opportunity to ask questions and meet the Senior Leadership team and Governors.

The uniform exchange will be up and running and there will be support available to access Parentpay and order school lunches.

We will all be there to answer any questions you may have about the year ahead.

Thursday 8th September 2.30pm

Pink Drip Cake: Easy Recipe and Tutorial

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Melish Court Update......The destruction of Melish Court will start this week. Melrose Avenue will be very, very busy. Please be cautious when arriving and leaving the school premises and supervise your children when crossing the road.

PARKING, PARKING ,PARKING

I am aware that parking around the school site, particularly at pickup times can be challenging. However, parking on Glastonbury Close and Banburies Close should be avoided. Parking over the drives of residents and using these spaces as turning points is unsafe and unacceptable. I am working closely with MK Council to come up with a solution- so watch this space! In the meantime, please park thoughtfully and consider access for emergency vehicles at all times.

The Role of the Governing Body

The Governors of a school provide a strategic oversight and support the leaders within the school to improve education and raise standards. Governors support with specific areas of the curriculum, recruitment and policy. Some Governors are representatives from the Local authority and community whilst some are Parent Governors. The role of a Governor is vital and we are lucky to have an active Governing body who are often in school.

If you are interested in becoming a Parent Governor please contact myself in the first instance- JFellowes@abbeysprimary.org

Volunteer Readers

Can you spare an hour a week? We'd love to create an army of reading volunteers to come and hear the children read.

You will have a short training session and will be subject to DBS check.

Reading, is the key to learning in all subjects, at Abbeys we really value reading for pleasure and the importance of regular reading and how this impacts fluency and confidence.

If you are interested, and think you would be able to help please contact me.

Library Books | Barnet and Southgate College Online Store

Relationships and communcation

Relationships are very important-we value partnerships and working with our families. It is vital that we have effective, respectful communication at all times.

Teachers are available via email, telephone or face to face meetings can be arranged.

Before school and at home time it is can be very busy. Quick messages can be passed on at this time and through the school planner, however more in-depth discussions should be avoided. If you have an urgent matter to discuss please call the School office.

The School office is open from 8.30pm until 4pm.

Daisychain Children's Centre

The core purpose of Children's Centres is to improve outcomes for young children and their families and reduce inequalities between families in greatest need and their peers. We are lucky to have Daisychain onsite to support with child development and school readiness, parenting skills, child and family health and life chances. The Centre is a fantastic resource and the staff have a wealth of knowledge. If you are experiencing hardship, fuel poverty or financial difficulties, Kelly and the team will be able to signpost you in the direction of support. Please drop in!

Last but not least... Social Media!

At the end of the Summer term, we dealt with some incidents of cyberbullying and found that many pupils were accessing APPS that were not age appropriate.

Please remember most APPS are 13+. Snapchat, Instagram and Tiktok are all for over 13 years old. What'sapp is a messaging App for 16+ years.

Instagram - Wikipedia TikTok - YouTube

During the school day all pupil's phones are kept in the main office. Pupils are responsible for handing them in and collecting them. We understand that if your child walks to and from school you may want them to have a phone, however please be cautious about these Apps and regularly check your child's online communication.