Newsletter For Friday 09 January 2026
Please see our news from across the week!
Newsletter for Friday 09 January 2026
We would like to wish you all a very happy new year! The children have made a great start this term.
Cold Weather Conditions
Please ensure that your child is dressed warmly for school over these next few weeks. Despite the cold weather, it is important the children have breaks outside for some fresh air. Additionally, please be mindful when walking up the path to school; it may be a little slippery. We do ensure that we grit the pathway and playground, but please do take extra care.
After School Sports Clubs
After-school sports clubs will commence during the week beginning Monday, 12th January 2026.
The clubs available are as follows, along with the year groups they are open to:
- Monday: Gymnastics – open to Years R–2
- Tuesday: Football – open to Years 3–6
(Football boots and shin pads must be worn) - Wednesday: Multi Skills – open to Years R–2
- Thursday: Multi Skills – open to Years 3–6
The Multi Skills clubs will include activities such as dodgeball, golf, archery, and basketball. These sessions are child-led, allowing children to explore and enjoy a variety of sports based on their interests.
All sports clubs will finish at 4:15 pm, and all children must be collected by an adult from the school office.
Please book as soon as possible, as places are allocated on a first come, first served basis. Please call on 01304 202651 or email offcie@aycliffe.kent.sch.uk.
Celebration Assemblies
Jaya for settling in so well and having a brilliant week.
Clay for fantastic effort and participation in all learning.
Alessia for working confidently and independently when learning about shapes.
Melisa for working independently and with purpose in all areas this week.
Dylan for working with purpose and trying his best in most areas.
Jet for his participation across all areas of the curriculum.
Ajay for his perseverance and resilience in mathematics.
Dates for your diary
Term 3
Friday 09/01/2026- Class 4 swimming started for 6 weeks.
Friday 16/01/2026- Indian Dance workshop for all classes.
Friday 06/02/2026- Number Day- Dress up as digits- information to follow.
Monday 09/02/2026 at 2:30-Class 4 Exhibition – parents are invited.
Friday 13/02/2026- Last day of term.
Term 4
Monday 23/02/2026- First day of term 4
Bikes and Scooters on the school site
Could we ask that children who ride their bikes or scooters into school, push them up to the bike rack once they are on the school grounds and push them back down to the pedestrian gate after school. We have had a couple of instances whereby younger children have nearly been hit by children riding their bikes and scooters down the hill.
School Uniform
Please ensure that all children return to school in the correct school uniform.
The school uniform is as follows:
Black/Grey Trousers/Shorts/Skirt/Dresses
Blue/Red/Marron/Green Polo T-shirt
Blue/Red/Marron/Green logoed Jumper/Hoodie/Cardigan
Black/Grey Socks/Tights
Black Shoes (no heels, boots or trainers)
These items can be purchased from any retailer or through The Schoolwear Centre.
You can order the uniform through ‘The Schoolwear Centre’ by calling them on 01843 293555 or visiting their website www.schoolwearcentre.net.
A Polite Reminder
Please can you ensure that if your child brings a water bottle into school, that it contains only water to be sipped throughout the day. Of course, children may bring in juice/squash to have at lunchtime to have with their lunch.
Breakfast Club
We shall be operating our breakfast club as normal from 7:45-8:45 am. We would like to remind parents to book their child’s place the day before. We have had a number of children arrive at the club without notice.
We also ask that you accompany your child/ren to the breakfast club entrance.
Reading Incentive
The children continue to engage in our new reading incentive to encourage reading for pleasure, both at home and in school. Please see our Facebook page for photographs of children selecting their gifts. We should be grateful if you could remind children of the incentive and encourage them to read for a period of time in the evening and weekends. Books read at home will need your signature please. Once your child returns to school, they will be given a raffle ticket for each book they have read which will be posted in the class raffle box.
School Dinners
Please activate your parent pay account on www.parentpay.com .
All meals have to be ordered before 8am every morning, otherwise your child will not receive dinner. Please contact the office if you haven’t received the activation code.
Driving onto the School Site
Under our safeguarding rules, we have a duty to control the public access to our site.
Under our risk assessment, we have a duty to control the movement of vehicles on our site.
For insurance purposes, we are required to limit vehicular access to staff, essential visitors and – under certain circumstances - blue badge holders. Access to the school is clearly signposted to notify all non-essential visitors that they must not drive on site.
Essential visitors are required to make prior arrangements with the school.
Any parent/guardian driving their vehicle on to our secure site, without prior agreement, is trespassing, and their insurance will be invalid. Knowingly ignoring our rules is therefore putting staff and pupils at risk. Should an accident occur, the driver will not be covered by their insurance.
Finally, the school gates and car park are checked periodically by our caretaker. Anyone ignoring our rules, could find themselves delayed for some time and inconvenienced by not being able to leave the site. We would therefore appreciate your cooperation in keeping our staff and pupils safe whilst they are at school.
Home packed lunch
Just a polite reminder that no sweets, chocolate bars or fizzy drinks are permitted in children’s packed lunches. If your child has a yoghurt in their packed lunch, please remember to pack a spoon in there too.
Wellington Boots
Please can you ensure that all children have a pair of wellington boots in school with them. Every class will attend the Woodland Area for a weekly planned lesson and it can be muddy depending on the weather.
Free School Meals
If you have access to the internet and would like to apply online for Free School Meals, please use the following website:
http://www.kent.gov.uk/education-and-children/schools/free-school-meals .
Late arrival at school
When your child arrives late at school, he/she misses the teacher's instructions, their morning task and possibly the introduction to the mathematics lesson. Your child may also feel embarrassed at having to enter the classroom late. School begins at 09.00am. Please help your child to be punctual.
School opening hours School Office opening hours
08.45am - 3.15pm 08.30-12.30 and 13.00-15.30