cotham gardens primary school

weekly newsletter  21/11/2025

 

 

This week, we have been thinking deeply about how we can make teaching and learning the very best it can be for every child. We’re working hard to make lessons consistent and high-quality across the school, so that all pupils—including those with additional barriers to learning—get the support they need to thrive. It’s all about teamwork and making sure no child is left behind.  

Today we held another of our playstreets at Cotham Grove with some quite amazing cakes on sale courtesy of Year 5.  The Right Honourable Lord Mayor of Bristol, Councillor Henry Michallat, was guest of honour and enjoyed getting to know the children. Thanks, as ever to Karen and the team of volunteers for organising this event. And don’t forget our Winter Fair next Saturday (29th November, 12–3pm). It’s always a highlight of the year, and we'd would love to see you there. The Y4/5 choir will be making an appearance ahead of their exciting concert which takes place at Bristol Beacon on 10th December. The choir had an extra rehearsal today with guest conductor, Richard, from Bristol Plays Music. He was very impressed with the children's focus and quality of sound. Tickets are running low, but you can still grab one direct from Bristol Beacon: tickets 

Chris Seaton and I hope to see many of you at our community forums this week. Wednesday at 9am in the CG hall or online at 6pm on Thursday. Full details on Class Dojo. 

Finally, please scroll down to read about our Winter Attendance Challenge. Our Summer challenge was a huge success with some great prizes for the lucky winners. You've got to be in it to win it!

Thank you for your continued support—it really does make all the difference. 

Have a lovely weekend! 

Emmeline Smith 

 

 

MONDAY 24th November

YR5 Swimming - please remember to bring in swimming kits and a snack.

 

YR6 Girls football game - please remember your football kit. Collection from the school office at 15.15pm

 

TUESDAY 25th November

Coffee morning - Drop off until 10.00, all welcome!

 

 

WEDNESDAY 26th November

Community Forum in the Cotham Grove hall - 09.00-10.00

 

THURSDAY 27th November

Online Community Forum 18.00-18.45 - Link will be shared on the morning on ClassDojo.

 

SATURDAY 29TH November 

❄️ Winter Fair Saturday 29th November 12pm-3pm

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This week’s class attendance winners are: 

 Foxes with 99%  - Well done! 

This week’s class punctuality winners are:

Pine with 100%  - Well done! 

 

 

 

⏰ A Reminder About Punctuality

We have noticed that lateness has increased this week, and we would like to remind parents and carers of the importance of arriving on time each morning. When a child arrives late to school, they miss core learning, teacher instructions, and the overview of the day. This can make it harder for them to settle into their learning and may cause them to feel embarrassed when entering the classroom after everyone else. 

The school gates close at 8.55am, and children should be in class, ready for registration at 9am. If your child arrives after this time, please ensure they are signed in at the screens located in the school office entrances.

It’s important to note that if your child arrives after 9.30am (after registration closes), this will be marked as unauthorised absence for the morning session.

If your child continues to arrive late on a regular basis, you may be invited to meet with Ms. Smith or one of our learning mentors to discuss ways we can work together to improve punctuality.

Additionally, persistent lateness could lead to a penalty notice if a child arrives late after the register closes on 10 occasions within a rolling period of 10 weeks.

  

  

🎄 December Winter Wonderland Attendance Challenge 🎄

The Challenge: 100% attendance and perfect punctuality from Monday 1^st December – Friday 19th December

Win: Entry to our Winter Wonderland Prize Raffle + special attendance certificate
Class Prize: Best attendance wins a whole class treat on the last day of term

Why December Matters

Every day counts for learning:

Missing 1 day every 2 weeks = 4 weeks lost per year

December consolidates key learning from the whole term

Good attendance = better progress and achievement

How Parents Can Help

✅ Set routines - regular bedtimes, prepare clothes the night before
✅ Arrive 10 minutes early each morning
✅ Minor sniffles? Send them in - we'll care for them
✅ Book appointments during holidays or after school
✅ Contact us before 9am if your child is absent
✅ Talk positively about school and celebrate their learning

Winter illness guide:

Keep home: High temperature (38°C+), sick/diarrhoea (48hrs), contagious infection

Send in: Minor cold, tiredness, mild headache, "not quite themselves"

When in doubt, call us!

Let's make December our best month yet! Every child, every day. 🎄

 

 

 

 

 

A polite reminder about our school collection times:

 

Elmgrove (Reception-Year 2) - 3:15pm

Cotham Grove (Years 4-6) - 3:30pm

 

We understand that occasionally circumstances mean you may run late, and we ask that you contact the school office as soon as possible if this happens. However, late collections are being monitored and we want to remind all parents and carers of the importance of collecting your child on time.

 

How You Can Help

✓ Arrive a few minutes early to avoid the rush and ensure a calm collection
✓ Contact the office immediately on 0117 3772610 if you're running late
✓ Update collection arrangements to ensure we have details of anyone else who is collecting your child

✓ Keep emergency contacts up to date to ensure we have details of who to call if you child is not collected

 

Need More Flexibility?

If your work or other commitments make it difficult to collect your child at the regular time, there are a range of wrap-around care clubs that may help. For more information, please visit: https://www.cothamgardens.co.uk/Pre-and-Post-School-Care/

 

Please note: Parents who are persistently late collecting their child will be invited to meet with Ms Smith to discuss this further and explore solutions together.

 

Thank you for your cooperation in ensuring all our children are collected promptly and safely at the end of each school day.

 

 

We’re excited to welcome all parents and carers to our upcoming 

Community Forum

📍 In-Person Forum 

📅 Date: Wednesday, 26th November
🕘 Time: 9:00 AM – 10:00 AM
📍 Location: Cotham Grove Hall 

 

💻Online Forum

📅 Date: Thursday, 27th November
🕕 Time: 6:00 PM
📲 Platform: Link will be shared via ClassDojo

 

 

Thank you to those who have already filled out the form for us, if you have not already please fill out over the weekend!

 

We’re thrilled to be introducing a new plan to support independent reading at home for all KS2 children! 📖

Regular reading outside of school helps build confidence, fluency, and a lifelong love of books—and we want every child to feel successful and inspired. As part of this initiative, each child will be given a book that’s carefully matched to their reading level. This ensures they can enjoy stories that challenge and excite them—without feeling overwhelmed. You will receive more details about this in the coming weeks.

To get the ball rolling on this plan, we first need to check that every child has a book bag to safely carry their reading materials between home and school. Could you please let us know whether your child already has a book bag, or if you’d like to order one by filling out this quick form -  https://forms.office.com/e/0gBsEhjqHi

  

    

  

The Golden Bookshelf initiative launched last week and has already been an incredible success! It’s been inspiring to hear children excitedly share their thoughts on the books they’ve read and the ones they can’t wait to dive into. The whole school is buzzing about books! In the photo, you’ll see some of our Golden Bookshelves proudly on display, along with several students gleefully holding some of the wonderful titles on offer.

 

A heartfelt thank you to everyone who has purchased additional copies of books for our children. We are truly overwhelmed by the generosity shown through the Wish Lists! Your support is making a real difference, helping children enjoy a rich reading experience both at school and at home. The Wish Lists remain open, and we’ve added a few exciting new titles. If you’d like to contribute further, please use the links below to select and purchase books for the children.

 

Reception: https://amzn.eu/9Z0i8bX
Year 1: https://amzn.eu/9oCp5wN
Year 2: https://amzn.eu/a99sTIe
Year 3: https://amzn.eu/7rk57Vi
Year 4: https://amzn.eu/1nOhvjc
Year 5: https://amzn.eu/b1yD73b
Year 6: https://amzn.eu/2JFD8zt

 

 

 

 

Following the two Community Forums which have taken place so far, we've prepared a FAQ sheet on the PAN consultation, which you can find here: https://www.cothamgardens.co.uk/Pupil-Admission-Numbers-PAN-Consultation/

 

Exploring Bristol During World War II

On Tuesday, 11th November 2025, students delved into the local impact of the Bristol Blitz, part of World War II, on the people of Bristol. The session focused on how the city worked to protect its residents during the war, highlighting the vital role of Air Raid Wardens and the importance of air raid shelters. Through engaging activities and discussions, participants gained a deeper understanding of the resilience and community spirit that defined Bristol during this challenging period.

 

 

 

 

This term, Ash class have been reading Secrets of a Sun King by Emma Carroll. It is a twisty novel set concurrently in London, 1922 and Egypt 1323BC. Lil is shocked to find a parcel from a famous archaeologist, one that has just been found dead that very morning, according to every newspaper in England! The story follows Lil and her friends embark on a journey to return its package to its resting place, protect those they love and break the deadly pharaoh's curse. So far, Ash class have loved reading Lil's story and predicting what might happen next. We're only on p93 so we'll be sure to let you know the ending when we get there! 

 

 

 

 

Please see below some of the trips that are happening over the coming terms. If you have not yet consented for your child to attend, please head over to Arbor to give consent as soon as possible.

 Need help? Pop in or call the office at any time. 

 

• Y1 - Bristol Old Vic Theatre to watch Antarctica - Thursday 11th December
• Y3 - Starlings - Pantomime trip - Tuesday 9th December
• Y4 - Bristol Beacon Winter sing - Wednesday 10th December
• Y3 - Kingfisher - Tuesday 16th December
• Y6 - Residential Camp - Monday 1st June - Wednesday 3rd June

 

 

At Cotham Gardens Primary School, we understand that keeping track of school communications can feel overwhelming - especially if you're new to the school or have multiple children with us. We also know that every family is different: some parents want detailed updates, while others prefer just the essentials.

That's why we've created this handy guide: 

https://www.cothamgardens.co.uk/Communications/

It explains all the communication platforms we use at school, including those run by our parent community (PTAF), so you can choose what works best for your family.

We're constantly working to improve how we communicate with you. This guide reflects our current approach and we'll update it as things evolve.