Newsletter 17/07/26
cotham gardens primary school
weekly newsletter 17/07/2026
MESSAGE FROM THE HEAD OF SCHOOL
It’s been another wonderful but extremely busy week at Cotham Gardens. There have been lots of events across the school, but it’s a been a particularly big week for Year 6 with three performances of their fantastic show ‘The Wizard of Oz’, the leavers’ disco and the delayed arrival of SATs results.
The production was written from scratch by the amazing Mr Jarman and featured, animations, dancing, singing, wit, humour, wonderful acting, sound and light design, slick stage management and huge amounts of joy. Well done to each and every one of them.
The disco followed straight on, thanks to an incredibly quick transformation of the hall into a party zone. Massive thanks to all the PTAF helpers and organisers, as well as the staff team that also stayed in school until 10pm clearing up.
We are thrilled with our SATs results and are pleased to tell you that academic outcomes are now above national average standards. The results were delayed due to central marking issues so we are still checking some of the scripts and will announce full results to children, parents and carers early next week in the end of year reports.
Finally, I’d like to thank Sarah Williams (Chair) and her loyal Board of Trustees for all their support over the year. We held the final 26/27 Board meeting on Wednesday and one of the reported items on the agenda was the recent governance audit that was undertaken at school. Feedback from the audit team at Bristol City Council was highly positive, confirming that the academy demonstrated effective governance, control and compliance arrangements, clear alignment with the Academy Trust Handbook and DfE guidance. The audit identified a strong governance framework, effective financial management, well-established risk management and internal scrutiny, strong safeguarding arrangements, a high level of statutory compliance across key statutory areas, and improved controls and governance maturity. We are in safe hands!
COMING UP NEXT WEEK
MONDAY 20 JULY
Reception Teddy Bear Picnic
Summer Concert - Cotham School
Children should arrive at the main reception entrance on
Cotham Lawn Road at 6:15pm. The show will then start at 6.30pm.
TUESDAY 21 JULY
Last day of Term 6
Don't forget, there is an INSET day on Wednesday 22nd July.
School will be closed to all pupils.
GOLDEN CERTIFICATE WINNERS
MEET OUR NEW SENDCO
Hello! My name is Dominic Lawrence and I am very much looking forward to joining Cotham Gardens as Inclusion Lead (SENDCo) in September. Here is a little bit about me. I have taught in both KS1 and KS2 and have covered the SENDCO role for my current school at Futura Learning Partnership.
I have a 2-year-old niece, who I love to spend as much time as possible with. I play skittles on a Tuesday night and help with the running of a social club where I live which keeps me busy!
I look forward to meeting all of the children and families of Cotham Gardens in September.
SUMMER ATTENDANCE CHALLENGE
🌞 Summer Attendance Challenge! 🌞
We're 3 weeks into our summer attendance challenge, and there's only 2 days left to go! 🌞
Ash class and Rabbits are leading the way with 97%, but its still up for grabs!
✅ How to Enter
To enter, children simply need to be in school and maintain an attendance streak by being in school, on time, every day from 29 June to 21 July.
🍦 Top Class Treat 🍦
The class with the highest attendance at each site during the challenge will win a special treat on the last day of term... and we're thinking it might be something nice and cold to enjoy in the summer sunshine!
🎉 Individual Prize Draw 🎉
Every child who achieves 97% attendance or above during this period will be entered into a prize draw for the chance to win an exciting prize. Winners will be chosen at random on the last day of term.
Every day counts, and every day gives you another chance to keep your attendance streak going!
NEW MENU UPDATE FOR SEPTEMBER
AND AIP PRICE INCREASE
As we prepare for the new school year, we are pleased to share our Autumn menus with you, ready for September.
Please also note that there will be a slight price increase for school meals provided by AIP. The new price for school meals will be £2.96 a day, effective from 7th September 2026. This continues to offer great value while providing healthy and tasty hot meals for our students.
Please note that all families who received Universal Credit can get free school meals - but you must apply here: https://parent.bristol.gov.uk/web/portal/pages/parents/travel-and-free-school-meals
REMINDER: FREE SCHOOL MEAL CHANGES!
From September 2026, new government changes mean many more families will be eligible for free school meals. Previously, eligibility was limited to households earning under a certain amount, but this income threshold has now been removed. This means that all children in families receiving Universal Credit will qualify for free school meals, regardless of household income.
Important Action - You must apply or re-check eligibility, even if your child already gets free meals:
• All families must be rechecked for 2026/27. This ensures meals continue without interruption.
• Once approved, you’re guaranteed for the full school year
To apply - please visit https://parent.bristol.gov.uk/web/portal/pages/parents/travel-and-free-school-meals
LEAVERS REMINDERS
MEDICINE COLLECTIONS
Please can we remind parents of Y6 children who have medication in school to collect it from the school office on the last day of term. Please note, we are unable to allow your child to take the medication home themselves. All medication must be signed out by an adult. Any Y6 medication left after the 22nd July will be disposed of.
OUTSTANDING DEBTS
Please ensure you have checked not only that your child’s balance is cleared for any camps or lunch payments but also that its not in credit. Accounts in credit can be refunded via Arbor, transferred to a sibling account or donated to the school. Please contact the school office if you need any assistance.
RECEPTION, YR1, YR2, YR3 AND YR4 SPORTS DAYS!
Reception and Year 1 Sports Day
On Wednesday 8th July, Honeybees, Ladybirds and Foxes children had great fun competing in their sports day activities up on the Cotham Grove playground. The children managed marvellously in the bright summer sunshine and were glad of a water break between the activities and the running races! We did wibbly, wobbly, egg and spoon races where the children had to walk in a straight line to a cone and back. We also tackled the tricky business of balancing beanbags on our heads... sun hats may or may not have helped here! In addition, the children leapt like gazelles over the hurdles to race to the cone again. This year, we added running races in as a finale in our classes and the children loved seeing their friends whizzing across the playground towards the finish line! Thank you to all those who were able to attend and cheered and clapped for the children! The children were proud to get a sticker as a big WELL DONE for their efforts!
Year 2, 3 and 4 Sports Day
On Monday 13th July, Year 2, 3 and 4 had a fantastic session at Shine Sports Ground, where they were expertly lead through a range of activities by the Shine team. The children wowed us with their effort and it was so lovely to see them enjoying things like long jump, javelin, hurdles and sprinting on a grass field - it's much kinder on the knees if nothing else! We were lucky with cloud cover for the first half of the morning and the children and staff showed resilience when things heated up towards the end. We were very impressed with the speed and competitive spirit displayed in the parent/carer races! Well done to all! We finished the morning with finals, with the fastest children winning medals in the egg and spoon, hurdles and sprint races. The big finale came when we celebrated Hedgehogs, Starlings and Kestrels for winning the most points overall in their year groups! A big well done to all who took part!
📢 PTAF NEWS 📢
☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️
We would like to say a huge thank you to our Cotham Gardens families for all their support this year. Without your time, donations and help we would not be able to support the school to provide the best enrichments for your children.
This year you have helped us fundraise for trips, sports days, playground markings for the Elmgrove site, the Golden Bookshelf scheme, Chromebooks for the Cotham Grove site….and that’s just naming the big things.
We hope you all have a wonderful summer and we look forward to seeing you at event next year.
Helen, Karen, Ali, Katy, Debbie, Jon and Hannah.
🗓️🗓️🗓️🗓️🗓️🗓️🗓️🗓️🗓️🗓️🗓️🗓️🗓️🗓️🗓️
DATES FOR YOUR DIARY
AGM: September 9th 2026
Spooky Disco: October 16th
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CHRISTMAS TREE SALES
One way you could help out the PTAF in the new academic year is to volunteer to coordinate the annual Christmas tree sales.
We need someone to take the lead in ordering the trees and finding volunteers for the two dates. Saturday 28th November and Saturday 5th December. This is a huge fundraiser for the school but it won’t happen this year unless we can find someone to take it on.
Please get in touch at cgpsptaf@gmail.com
💰💰💰💰💰💰💰💰💰💰💰💰💰
YOUR SCHOOL LOTTERY
One very easy way you can help raise money is to buy a lottery ticket through our school lottery system.
One winner from our school is guaranteed every week!
Click on the link below to buy tickets!
SHINE / ZEBRAS SUMMER HOLIDAYS!
Last chance to receive 20% off Shine Summer Holiday Clubs! Book by this Sunday 19th July using the code: Early Booker.
We have loved seeing so many children come along to Shine Holiday Clubs and look forward to welcoming more of you.
For children at any school from Reception – Year 6, days run from 09:00-15:30 with (early and late hours) available if you need them.
There are loads of different activities such as; Mini and Mega Mash Ups, Pop Dance, Creative, Cookery, Gymnastics with Cheer, Make a Musical Football, Crazy Science Creations, Forest Adventure, Cricket, Netball, Athletics and Tri Golf and - there really is a day your child will love.
Shine are Ofsted Registered so you can pay via Childcare Vouchers and the Tax-Free Childcare Scheme.
Click here to see what’s on; Henleaze, Horfield, Westbury on Trym to see what’s on and use the code Early Booker to get 20% off.
See you at Shine!
AFTERSCHOOL CLUBS
Shine September to December Club bookings now open!
Link to book: Shine | Cotham Gardens Primary School
After School Club Cancellation: If your plans or requirements change after booking any clubs, you can cancel any booking with 6 days notice for a credit or refund. This can be done via your Shine account.
Childcare Vouchers: Shine accept Childcare Vouchers and the Government Tax Free Voucher Scheme. You can choose your method of payment via your Shine account.
Contact: Shine can be contacted by 01174 033 033 or info@MyShine.co.uk.
Places are limited and can sell out, so book early to avoid disappointment.
See you at Shine!
PS – Don’t forget to book your Summer Holiday Clubs by Sunday 19th July to save 20% using our Early Booker offer! Shine Holiday Clubs | Sports and creative activities
Sept Info: Chandos Ateliers Creativity Club
Chandos Atelier’s Creativity Club is bookable for September now! Tuesdays at Cotham Grove for years 3-6. Devised and delivered by professional makers with years of experience, these are an hour of creative exploration using art materials. Enriching and imaginative, they develop skills and resilience, teaching techniques and methods rather than giving follow-along instructions - perfect for creative kids and art adventurers!
https://www.chandosatelier.co.uk/bookings
“His creativity at home and his attitude to materials and projects has exploded, which includes scientific endeavours, inspired by your materials and attitude to creativity.”
COMMUNITY NEWS
FAIRFIELD HIGH SCHOOL
Open Events, Year 5 families (going into Year 6 in September) . Open Events - Fairfield High School
We will also be publishing new Magic Morning dates soon, these sessions allow children to come into school and take part in a few lessons to see what secondary school is like. Booking will be available on our website soon: Transition/Magic Mornings - Fairfield High School
COTHAM SCHOOL - OPEN DAY
City Church Kids Summer Party
Kids' summer party hosted by City Church this coming Sunday, July 19th, starting at 10:30am at the Elmgrove site hall.
Full details and registration information can be found at the following link: https://citychurchbris.churchsuite.com/events/9nqpysjs
Pizzarova -Little Rova Pizza Making Workshops
We know it can be hard to find fun, free activities during the holidays, so this year, we're hosting pizza making workshops in all our neighbourhood sites.
Aimed at children aged 5-11, all you need to do is reserve a space online (for free) and come along for a morning of sourdough pizza making. Hosted by our Pizzarova team, we want to help young people understand where food comes from, how it’s made and how to eat well.
We are sitll confirming dates, but to register interest, fill out this form and be the first to hear about dates and locations.
INTEREST FORM: https://talkbox.impactapp.com.au/contacts/form?foid=E6CqexVOaI7yrrIU4l2vbg==
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