Dear Parents and Carers,
Welcome back to the Summer term! I hope you all had a wonderful break.
I would like to thank the PTFA team for the wonderful events they organised at the end of last term. From the teas and cakes sale in the Church after our Easter Service, to organising the Easter Egg Hunt for all the children in the school on one of (the many!) wettest days of the year! The funding you raise through them provides a wealth of additional resources and enrichment opportunities for our children and we are most grateful. Their next event will be the Preloved clothing sale on Friday the 26th, please do support this if you can.
We are looking forward to a wonderful range of enrichment for the children this term - a visit to Taunton Cricket Ground for children in years 3-5, the Exmoor Challenge for yr 6, KS1 visits to Dunster Castle and Tiverton Canal, various sporting events at THS, the Wilcombe Wobbler and Tiverton Swimming Gala as well as the residentials at Hooke Court (Fox) and Brixham (Stag). I am also looking for a Theatre company to visit the school before the end of term. These opportunities are so important to extend the children's horizons and I am very grateful for your support with these.
I am delighted to let you know that Sally Pagett has been appointed to cover Sharon Davey's absence until the end of term. Sally is fantastically creative and I am sure she will make a great addition to our wonderful staff team. Once all the safeguarding checks are in place, Sally will be working with children across the school supporting 1:1, small groups and in class provision. We also have a class teacher vacancy advertised.
Sally's appointment has left a gap in our parent volunteer pool, so if you feel that you could give some of your time to support children with reading, swimming, on trips or other activities, please let Emma or Caroline know. Additional adult support is worth its weight in gold! I would like to especially thank Gill and Xanda, two of our community volunteers, for giving up their time to come into school so regularly. The work they do to support the children is so valuable and very much appreciated!
It was great to have Caren Dickenson, our SENDCo, in school on Thursday. For those of you who were unable to attend her informal drop in session but have questions for her, please do get in touch - she will be coming to Bampton regularly but will mainly be conducting her meetings virtually. Her next visit is 25th April.
Attendance
Please see below the attendance percentages for each class, calculated from the beginning of the term up to and including 8th Feburary 2024.
| Hedgehog Class | 91.2% |
| Squirrel Class | 94.7% |
| Fox Class | 95.4% |
| Stag Class | 92.6% |
A reminder that breakfast club can be booked via the school app and is open every day of the week from 8 am.
After School Clubs
Monday |
KS2 Tennis with Premier Education |
Tuesday |
KS1 Swimming run by Miss Johnstone - Book via school app - could be subject to change depending on the swimming pool |
Wednesday |
R, KS1 & KS2 Eco club run by Mrs NewmanKS2 Football run by Mr McCutcheon - Book Via School App |
Thursday |
KS2 Art club run by Laura Grant - book on the school appYear 6 Cuppa club run by either Mrs Chant or Mr McCutcheon - book on the school appR, KS1 and KS2 Forest School run by Primary Forest Education - Parents need to book directly |
Friday |
KS1, KS2 - Striking and Fielding – Cricket, Rounders run by Premier Education - Book direct |
26th April - PTFA Preloved Clothes Sale 3.30pm - 4.30pm
1st May Year 3,4,5 Trip to Taunton Cricket Ground
| Stag Class | Highest Score | John |
| Stag Class | Amazing Effort | Bobby |
| Fox Class | Highest Score | Jack |
| Fox Class | Amazing Effort | Brayden |
| Squirrel Class | Highest Score | Maybel |
| Squirrel Class | Amazing Effort | Edith |
Here are this week’s Times Table Rockstars, Superstars! We would like everyone to celebrate our top scorers and those who have made amazing efforts. All staff have been so impressed with children’s enthusiasm and determination to improve their times tables knowledge. If your child’s name is mentioned in the newsletter, then there is a 3 house point reward! Your child has a Times Table Rockstar login, which can be used at home too.
Good luck everyone!
Fieldmice and Hedgehog Class:
We have had a super start back to school this week with a focus on the life-cycle of a butterfly. We have learned some really interesting facts and made beautiful artwork to help us with our learning.
Hedgehogs also had our first swimming session this week. It was lots of fun and our excellent listening ensured that we learned a lot as well.
Squirrel Class:
have got straight back into their learning with enthusiasm this week after the Easter holidays. It has been fantastic to see the progress everyone has made in reading which is reflected in speed and fluency in phonics lessons. In History we have started our learning about castles. We have been looking at various types of castle and this week have focussed on Motte and Bailey castles and Concentric circle castles. It has also been great to get the swimming pool open this week with KS1 swimming club being the first ones in the pool on Tuesday and all of Squirrels now swimming on Friday afternoons.
Fox Class:
have demonstrated the Character virtues of determination and creativity. This has been a very fun two weeks since the last newsletter! Before the Easter break, Fox class created fantastic Easter bonnets and thoroughly enjoyed the PTFAs Easter egg hunt. This week, Fox class have amazed me with their effort and enthusiasm to learn. We have started to learn about decimals and everyone has been incredibly determined to improve their knowledge and understanding.
Stag Class:
have shown fantastic cooperation this week in their drumming workshop with Mr Fellows. This was the first of six weeks of class lessons in djembe drumming, and they impressed me so much with their ability to listen and repeat the rhythms they were shown. We learned how to play different notes in the middle and on the edge of the drum, and how to play a flam. It was a joy to see how quickly their skills improved in just one session! Shout-out to Year 6, who have sat a mock SATs this week with real maturity and focus. A huge thank you also to all of the adults in school who have helped with the SATs this week. It has really helped Year 6 to feel prepared for the real thing!
Hedgehog
Harry in Hedgehog Class
For showing the character virtues of motivation and resilience. Harry has started the new term with a new-found maturity which has helped him to settle in well with his new phonics group. He has been a pleasure to teach and also been a kind friend. Well done Harry!
Squirrels
Edith in Squirrel Class
For demonstrating fantastic resilience this week. You have managed some big changes really positively and we have been so proud of you. You have continued to show fantastic commitment to learning and as always your conduct is impeccable. Well done Edith.
Foxes
Isla in Fox Class
Everyday, Isla demonstrates the character virtues of determination and motivation. She has super, self-motivation to improve and extend her understanding. This is especially evident in Science where Isla will complete extra research at home. Isla asks superb questions and has a fantastic have-a-go attitude. Well done!
Stags
Elizabeth in Stag Class
For showing the character virtues of determination and resourcefulness in everything she does. Elizabeth is an excellent role model in the classroom, always working to the best of her ability and making good choices. She has also absolutely wowed me this week in passing a mock Year 6 Reading SATs – she is still only in Year 5! Amazing, Elizabeth!
Well done Everybody
The PTFA is made up of parents, carers, teachers, and friends of Bampton School with a shared interest in raising funds for equipment, resources, and activities to enhance the children’s learning experience.
We meet monthly to discuss how we as a school community can develop and improve school facilities and students’ opportunities, through planning fundraising events such as Bingo events, the Christmas Community Evening, Easter Extravaganza etc.
We welcome new and old members and are hoping for more support in the coming months.
If you can help in any way, or would like more information on the work we do then please contact bamptonptfa@gmail.com or look out for meeting dates on the school website, posters around the school or for notes in your child’s book bag.
