Dear Parents and Carers,
We have had an incredibly busy past couple of weeks, packed with fun experiences that have really boosted the children’s engagement and learning.
If you heard Police sirens in Bampton last week, it was probably because of us! We always enjoy our educational visits from our local police, and PCSO Rachel Lake’s visit last week was no exception. She and PCSO Selina Gray, arrived in a Police Van which was very exciting - especially when the children were shut in the cells! We value the work of the police and the relationship that our PCSOs have with our school. After investigating the van, the children were able to ask PCSO Lake and PCSO Gray questions about their role in our community.
We also welcomed Exmoor Game School to work with Fox and Stag class last week. The children had a very informative and practical introduction into where some of our food comes from and why we should respect all food sources. They learned how to gut a fish and how to breast out a partridge in order to make the most delicious partridge burgers. They had first hand opportunities to observe the fish and partridge close up and to understand how important it is to know exactly what goes into our food. The Exmoor Game School will return after half term to work with children in Squirrel Class.
We were delighted to invite Kara, a representative of Edukid into school to give us an update on Stephen, our sponsored child in Africa. The children got to experience first hand the hardship that other communities in the world live out daily, such as having to walk miles to fetch a heavy container of water and carry it back home. The children asked very pertinent questions and were commended by Kara.
We also heard from Planet and People, who are organising a wonderful project based on the River Exe in conjunction with other local schools. Our School Council worked with Planet and People to make an Environmental Action Plan for us to carry out at school.
Over the next couple of weeks, I will have further meetings with ACE Academy regarding how we can improve our curriculum and the learning experiences of the children as well as welcoming Jays Aim in again to teach children in Stag Class about First Aid.
Phew - Never a dull moment!
Attendance
Attendance up until Monday 22nd Sept 2025. Please note the Trust target is 97% attendance.
Whole school:96.5%
This weeks attendance percentage
| Hedgehogs | 97% |
| Squirrels | 97% |
| Fox | 98% |
| Stag | 94% |
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
After School clubs
There is a paid after school club every night which will run from 3.30pm until 4.30pm. Primary Education will be running a paid club on Wednesday and Thursday evenings. In addition to this below is a list of clubs run by Teachers from 3.30pm until 4.40pm. These clubs are subject to change at any point depending on staff illness or training.
Monday |
Fitness Club - Mr McCutcheon Yr 2-6 |
Tuesday |
No Clubs |
| Chess Club - Mr Narramore KS2 | |
Thursday |
Netball Club - Miss Halloway KS2
Woodland/Craft Club - Miss Johnstone Reception/KS1 |
Friday |
Martial Arts Club -pay and book via Youles Martial Arts https://www.eventcreate.com/e/5-week-martial-arts-course-bampton-sep25 |
- Thursday 7th October 3:45pm Reception parents phonics meeting
- Monday 13 thOctober Children’s First Aid training in school – Stag Class
- Tuesday 21 st October – Assembly for children from Mental Health Support Team
- Thursday 23rd October - Harvest Festival in Church (TBC)
- Friday 24th October – Inset day – no children in school
- Monday 27th October – 31 st October – Half term
- Monday 3rd November - MHST talk for parents regarding supporting children’s mental health 3.30 - 4.30pm
- Monday 17th November - Dulverton Literary Festival Lauren Child KS2 (TBC)
- Friday 21st November - Children in Need day
- Monday 24th November - KS1 School based Museum visit
- Monday 1st December (Week Beginning) - Parents evenings this week
- Thursday 4th December - Nativity and Christmas concert in the Church 2.00pm
- Friday 19th December - End of term
| Results coming soon | ||
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
-Hedgehogs have been continuing to learn lots of phonic sounds. We are up to 18 now! We have also been talking about feelings, with a focus on the story The Colour Monster. We created our own colour monsters, focusing on how we are feeling. We talked about what things make us feel different emotions. A highlight was hugging a tree to make us calm!
Squirrel Class
We have been building on our oracy skills over the last few weeks and have now learnt five poems by heart! We have been enjoying our daily stories and talking with partners about the problem in the story and the solution. We are also adding sign language into our day to learn an additional communication tool which we can apply in every area of our learning. In maths we have been looking at groups of numbers and identifying greater than, fewer than and equal too. We know in Squirrel class that smart learners use resources so we encourage Year 2s to select from a range of resources such as rekenreks, bead strings, number lines and counting cubes to help us work more independently, In Year 1 we are being introduced to all these resources in our maths activities and learning how they can support our learning.
Fox Class
Have had a fantastic start to half term. We started off this half term looking at metacognition. The children had opportunities to think about their thinking in a variety of ways. From spaghetti bridges to multilink cubes it was brilliant to see the children getting stuck in. We are now looking at plants. Thinking about how they grow and why they are important to humans. The children really enjoyed their trip to Rosemoor Gardens and getting up close and personal with the plants. In maths the children have been looking, most recently, at numberlines.
Stag Class
have been writing like scientists about their cress experiment. We were very surprised to find out that our ‘over-watered’ cress grew the tallest. The children also came up with some impressive theories as to why our ‘soapy water’ cress didn’t grow as tall as the other cress plants. In maths we have been looking at rounding numbers to the nearest 10, 100 and 1000.
Hedgehog
Yoana in Hedgehog Class
Yoana has been a star in literacy, especially with her writing. Yoana always goes the extra mile, practising until it’s permanent. Well done Yoana, keep it up!
Mitsy in Hedgehog Class
Mitsy has been such a star in Hedgehog Class right from the start of the year. She has excelled in reading, writing and maths, as well as exploring all the other activities set up in the class. Well done Mitsy, keep it up!
Squirrels
Rafe in Squirrel Class
We have been so impressed with how independent Rafe is becoming since moving into Year 1. Rafe comes to school on the bus and does so well organising his things in the morning, putting his bag, diary and book away with less support. In maths we have been really impressed with his reasoning skills. We have been looking in detail at the different ways of making 5 using dice patterns and rekenreks. Rafe always has an excellent explanation when he is spotting pattern in number and recollecting number bonds.
Dory in Squirrel Class
All staff have been very impressed with Dory’s attitude to learning all day, every day in Squirrel class. Dory takes the initiative and always takes the lead, being a fantastic example to others when it comes to working as a small group. Dory listens carefully on the carpet and always has her hand up to answer questions and demonstrates well thought out reasoning skills in maths. In P.E she listens carefully to instructions and has demonstrated fantastic gross motors skills in our balancing and team work sessions.
Foxes
Freya in Fox class
Freya has been truly fabulous in Fox class. She is an excellent role model showing the virtues of independence in her work. She puts her full effort into her presentation across her work, earning her the title of presentation star. She has also been fabulous in football throwing herself into the games and being an excellent team player.
Mabel in Fox class
For putting her full effort into everything she does. I have been really impressed with how Mabel seems to take everything in her stride. Mabel, although slightly worried, pushed through her concern around the Exmoor Game school and ended up really enjoying the session. When something goes wrong Mabel is keen to try again showing her determination towards her work.
Otters
Sylvie in Otter Class
Sylvie is a superb student - always pushing herself to meet her own high standards, always striving to understand and apply any new learning that she encounters. She is kind, patient and a wonderful friend to all. Super job, Sylvie!
Ruben in Otter Class
For showing real motivation and determination, Ruben throws himself into every lesson and the growth he has shown as a learner and as an increasingly confident and lovely young man reflects this. He loves to read, which is showing in his written work and his vocabulary; he has a huge curiosity for the world around him and he is keen to share his enthusiasm, which I love! Ruben, you are a super part of our class and you make me proud every day!
Stags
Ella in Stag Class
Ella has had such a fabulous first few weeks back in class and I am so proud of how well she is doing in all areas. She is wonderfully helpful around the school, always volunteering for jobs and showing a huge amount of compassion towards others, particularly the younger children. On top of that, her work has taken a huge step forward and she is challenging and pushing herself every day.
Maggie in Stag Class
Maggie has been fantastic in her approach to her work as she is so determined to do her best. She shows great courage in trying new things and doesn’t let her nerves get in the way. She really showed this in her writing over the last week as she kept trying to improve it through editing and ended up with a very professional scientific information text. If she keeps this up then she will have a fantastic year and will hopefully start to realise just how good a job she is doing.
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 [email protected] or look out for meeting dates on the school website, posters around the school or for notes in your child’s book bag.
