Newsletter 28/03/25
cotham gardens primary school
weekly newsletter
Message from the Head of School
Last week’s play street at Cotham Grove was a great success. It was so lovely to see the children (and adults!) being able to play freely in the street. It was also great timing for the Big Walk and Wheel initiative to encourage conversation and action regarding active lifestyles and sustainable travel. Well done Honeybees class for recording the most active journeys in our school this week.
The eagle eyed amongst you will have noticed four new bike racks in the playground at Cotham Grove. These racks are not sheltered but offer another option for storing bikes and scooters without having to go around to the front of the school. Some additional racks will be installed near the playground gates in the coming weeks.
Next week, those bike racks will be in good use as we are hosting the first of several level 2 Bikeability courses to our year 5 children. This is the first time we have been able to offer the course since before COVID and we are thrilled to support children to learn to ride safely on the roads as part of our personal development curriculum.
In staffing news, we are sad to say to goodbye to Mr Jordan O’Brien and Miss Shirin Cooper as their maternity cover contracts come to an end at Easter. In their place, I am pleased to announce that Mrs Fiona Hughes will be returning from maternity leave in Dragonflies class next week and Miss Miranda Dinwoodie will follow soon after to join Miss Bayat in 4PB. From all the staff, I'd like to say a big thank you to Mr O’Brien and Miss Cooper and we all wish you good luck in your new schools.
Finally I’d like to wish all our Muslim families Eid Mubarak. School will be very quiet on Monday and we look forward to celebrating with the children at our class parties on Thursday. I also hope that all the mothers in our community are well looked after on Sunday for Mother's Day.
Best wishes
Emmeline Smith
GOLDEN CERTIFICATE WINNERS
ATTENDANCE WINNERS AND REMINDERS
This week’s class attendance winners are:
4OB with 99% - Well done!
This week’s class punctuality winners are
Dragonflies, 4OB and 5MC and with 99% Well done!
Whole school attendance this week was 94%
We have also seen a huge improvement in the number of pupils arriving late for school. Thank you for your continued support.
Scroll further down the page for information about our exciting EGGcellent Attendance Challenge!
Punctuality Reminder
When a child arrives late to school, they miss important events like assembly, teacher instructions and introductions. Children often also feel embarrassed at having to enter the classroom late. Gates close at 8.55am and children should be in class, ready for registration at 9am. Children arriving after the gate closes should be signed in late via the screens in the school office entrance.
If your child arrives after 9.30am, the morning session will be marked as unauthorised.
EGGcellent Attendance Challenge
On Tuesday 1st April, we will be starting our Easter attendance challenge – ‘EGGcellent Attendance’ in the last few days of term!
To enter, children simply need to be in school and maintain an attendance streak - being in school on time, every day between 1st – 3rd April.
Individual lucky winners will be chosen at random on Thursday, and the class from each phase with the best average attendance will also receive a treat for their Eid party.
The Department for Education recently released the staggering statistic that on average the last week of a half term reduces in attendance by 15%. This is a large portion of the academic year - 30 days, equating to 150 lessons. Therefore, we will be encouraging all children to take part to help improve whole attendance across the school.
Thank you for your continued support!
COMING UP NEXT WEEK
MONDAY
Eid - please make sure you have completed an absence request form in advance if your child will not be in school.
YR5 Swimming - please remember to bring in your swim kits 5B and 5MC
TUESDAY
EGGcellent Attendance challenge starts today!
Coffee Morning at Elmgrove hall after drop off 9am-10am
Big Brush Club will be attending coffee morning at Cotham Gardens primary on the 1st April along with Sirona Nurse drop in session. There is still a space for the nurse drop in if you would like to attend, there is further information in the Community section.
YR5 Bikeability
For those children taking part in bikeability, please remember to bring in your bike in today.
Celebrating EID with a special lunch menu
Spring lunch menu taster
The event will take place between 3-4pm in the hall at Cotham Grove Hall for parents.
WEDNESDAY
Special Spring Lunch Menu
THURSDAY
EID Class parties
Your child can bring in some party food to share with their classmates if they wish but please ensure that the items are nut free. Please also note that we have no available refrigeration facilities, so sadly cannot take cooked food no matter how delicious!
FRIDAY
INSET DAY - SCHOOL CLOSED TO PUPILS
REMINDER - PARENT CONSULTATIONS
Parent consultations will be taking place on the following dates:
40B
- Tuesday 1st April between 3:45 -18:30pm (Virtual online or face/face)
- Wednesday 2nd April between 3:45 -18:30pm (Virtual online or face/face)
5WL
- Tuesday 22nd April between 3:45 -18:30pm (Virtual online or face/face)
- Wednesday 23rd April between 3:45 -18:30pm (Virtual online or face/face)
ALL OTHER CLASSES
- Wednesday 23rd April between 3:45-18:30pm (Virtual online or face/face)
- Thursday 24th April between 3:45-18:30pm (Virtual online or face/face)
This is an important meeting and provides you with an opportunity to talk to your child’s class teacher about school and the progress that your child is making.
You can book a parent consultation appointment via your child's Arbor account from Friday 14th March at 19.00pm until Monday 21st April at 22.00pm.
- Your child’s consultation will take place in your child's class room (or online).
- Please ignore the note that states staff room when you go to book.
- The appointments will last strictly 10 minutes, whether they are online or face to face.
- Please only book one day.
- When you are booking your Childs Consultation, please state if you would like this to be a face to face appointment or a virtual appointment in the notes section. If this is left blank, we will assume you will be attending in person (face to face)
This guide will help you with booking your time slot but should you need any assistance or have any other questions, please do not hesitate to contact the school office.
We look forward to seeing you there
EID-UL-FITR
The school can authorise a one-day of absence for religious observance. If your child will be absent from school for Eid-ul-Fitr, please complete an absence request form as soon as possible:
https://www.cothamgardens.co.uk/Forms-and-Letters/
Paper copies are also available from the school office.
If you have any further questions or queries regarding Ramadan, please get in touch as soon as possible.
CHANGE IN DATE - EID MENU - 1ST APRIL
On Tuesday 1st April 2025, we will be celebrating EID with a special lunch menu.
Unfortunately we are unable to add this special lunch onto Arbor now that our menu is live – so please can we kindly ask you to book your child’s meal choice for the day according to the options below:
EID Meal Options
If your child would like:
• Chicken Curry– please select the BBQ Chicken with Mashed Potatoes and Gravy
• Halal Chicken Curry– please select the - Halal BBQ Chicken with Mashed Potatoes and Gravy
• Chickpea and Spinach Curry– please select the Vegan Quorn Loaded Masala and Rice
The above options are all served with vegetable samosa and rice.
Jacket potato options will still be available.
Thank you for your cooperation and we look forward to celebrating with the children!
EID-UL-FITR PARTIES
As with previous years, we would like to celebrate Eid al-Fitr with a class party on the afternoon of Thursday 3rd April. Your child can bring in some party food to share with their classmates if they wish but please ensure that the items are nut free. Please also note that we have no available refrigeration facilities, so sadly cannot take cooked food no matter how delicious!
Thank you for your cooperation and we look forward to celebrating with the children!
SPRING LUNCH - WEDNESDAY 2ND APRIL
If your child would like:
• Roast Chicken, Roast Potatoes, Seasonal Vegetables and Gravy– please select the Roast Chicken with Roast Potatoes.
• Halal Roast Chicken, Roast Potatoes, Seasonal Vegetables and Gravy–.– please select the Halal Roast Chicken, Roast Potatoes.
• Vegetable Quiche with Seasonal Vegetables– please select the Broccoli and Cauliflower cheese with Roast Potatoes.
Jacket potato options will still be available.
MENU TASTER SESSION
We are excited to invite you to a special taster session hosted by our caterers, AIP, on Tuesday 1st April. The event will take place between 3-4pm in the hall at Cotham Grove. This is a wonderful opportunity for parents and carers to sample some of the delicious food from the new Spring/Summer menu that will be served to children at both sites after Easter.
We hope you can join us to explore the tasty options and provide your feedback.
Looking forward to seeing you there!
RED NOSE DAY - THANK YOU!
Thank you to everybody that donated for Red Nose we raised £247.76
COMMUNITY FORUM - SAVE THE DATES!
The next Community Forum Meetings will be held on the following dates - all welcome!
- 23rd April in the Cotham Grove Hall at 9am (after open classrooms)
- 24th April online at 6pm
TRIP REMINDERS
Please see below some of the trips that are happening over the coming terms. If you have not consented for your child to attend, please head over to Arbor to give consent as soon as possible.
- YR6 DT Trip - Look Draw Build - 24th April
- Y1 Bristol Zoo Project - Tuesday 13th May
- Y2 Aerospace museum - Thursday 15th May
- YR Farm Trip - Tuesday 20th May
- 5B Tudor Boat trip - 12th June
- 5WL Tudor Boat Trip - 17th June
- 5MC Tudor Boat Trip - 20th June
- YR5 Children's Theatre Trip - 27th June
- Y6 Residential Camp - Wednesday 2nd July - Friday 4th July
NEW SPRING MENU
Our new Spring Menus are up and ready for you to pre order your children's
lunches for Term 5.
Please find the link below for the Spring Lunches
https://www.cothamgardens.co.uk/School-Meals-12082020162846/
ABSENCE REQUESTS & TERM DATES
As stated in our school attendance policy, only exceptional circumstances warrant an authorised leave of absence. Generally, a need or desire for a holiday or other absence for the purpose of leisure, recreation or visiting family would not constitute an exceptional circumstance.
If seeking permission for exceptional circumstances leave of absence, the parent/guardian should complete a Leave of Absence Request form. The request should be submitted as soon as it is anticipated; and wherever possible, at least four weeks before the absence. Leave of absence cannot be approved retrospectively.
The school will consider each application individually, considering the specific facts and circumstances. Parents may be required to provide the school with additional evidence in order to support the request. The expectation of the school is that term time holidays should not be planned or booked as a matter of course, as they are likely to be unauthorised.
1. A Penalty Notice
The penalty is £80 per parent, per child payable within 21 days, rising to £160 per parent, per child if paid between 22 and 28 days. (Failure to pay will result in prosecution.) If a second Penalty Notice is issued within a rolling 3-year period the penalty is £160 per parent, per child if paid within 28 days. There will be no option to pay a lower amount.
2. Prosecution
Prosecution could lead to fines up to £2500 and /or up to 3 months imprisonment. (See DfE’s statutory guidance on School attendance parental responsibility measures for more information and Bristol City Council’s Penalty Notice Code of Conduct, available here).
Further information can be found in our Attendance Policy and in the Penalty Notice Leaflet from Bristol City Council.
Term Dates
Term 4: Monday 24 February 2025 - Friday 4 April 2025
Term 5: Tuesday 22 April 2025 to Friday 23 May 2025
Term 6: Monday 2 June 2025 to Tuesday 22 July 2025
INSET days remaining this year
Friday 4th April 2025
Monday 2nd June 2025
INSET days for next academic year are now confirmed as follows:
Tuesday 2nd September 2025
Friday 24th October 2025
Monday 3rd November 2025
Monday 5th January 2026
Monday 23rd February 2026
Friday 3rd July 2026
Wednesday 22nd July 2026
CONSENT REMINDER
As previously communicated, we want to remind you that there is now a new CONSENT section within your child’s Arbor account.
If you have not already done so, please take a moment over the weekend to log onto the Arbor ParentPortal or App and review these sections to ensure we have the most up-to-date information for your child:
- PHOTO/VIDEO CONSENT
- LOCOAL TRIP CONSENT
- CLASSDOJO CONSENT
- SCHOOL PHOTOGRAPHER CONSENT
- LOCAL MEDIA CONSENT
Thank you for taking the time to review and update your consent preferences.
AFTER SCHOOL COLLECTION REMINDER
If your child normally walks home from school but you book them in to attend a Shine or Zebras after school club - please let the office know, so they can inform the teacher before the end of the school day.
You can let us know by either calling on 01173772610 or emailing office@cothamgardens.co.uk
COFFEE MORNING - 1ST APRIL
BIG BRUSH CLUB!
Big Brush Club will be attending coffee morning at Cotham Gardens primary on the 1st April. They provide valuable information on how to support children aged 0-11 years to have the best oral health start.
Big Brush Club are also hosting several live oral health improvement webinars for parents/guardians. These sessions will provide valuable information on how to support children aged 0-11 years to have the best oral health start.
During each session there will be two dental care professionals presenting and on hand to answer any questions you might have throughout the webinar. We do not require any cameras or microphones to be used, however there will be a chat box to ask any questions you might have throughout.
NURSE DROP IN SESSIONS
The school nurse will be dropping in for some sessions with parents and carers on the dates below, please click on the date you would like to book:
The sessions will be about offering support and information around topics such as emotional support and relationships, sleep, healthy eating, exercise, being healthy, smoking/vaping.
The sessions will be running between 9am-10am and are held in the hall at Elmgrove. There are four slots available per session and are offered on a first come, first serve basis. You will be able to join in with coffee morning whilst you wait to be seen.
If you do book a slot with the Sirona Nurse and are then unable to attend, please let us know in advance so we can offer out that sessions to another family.
PTAF NEWS
Play Street and Bake Sale
Another fun event thanks to Karen and Jon, the Active Travel group and Year 3, made £370, an amazing amount!
Board Games Evening on Monday, 31 March
This event is for adults and is held at Chance and Counters on Gloucester Road, 7-11 pm. Tickets are available on Classlist. Make up a team with other parents or your friends.
Next PTAF meeting on 1 April
Everyone is welcome to attend in Cotham library at 7.30 pm.
AFTER SCHOOL AND HOLIDAY CLUBS
Please find all information on the below link for all the afterschool clubs and Breakfast Clubs that take place at Cotham Gardens.
https://www.cothamgardens.co.uk/Pre-and-Post-School-Care/
New programmes which will be running after Easter, until the end of the school year - BOOK ONLINE NOW!
Shine are running cricket sessions this summer for children in Reception – Year 8, starting after the Easter Holidays.
CREATIVITY CLUB
Term 5 is open for booking now!
COMMUNITY NEWS
Year 6 Family Camp
Year 6 Parents are organising a Family Camp over the weekend of
16th and 17th May.
All year 6 families and siblings are welcome. We are renting a private site just past Lydney (approx 30 mins drive) for Friday and Saturday nights. Day trippers are also welcome!
For more details and to be added to the WhatsApp group, please contact:
Sarah: 07747 773 321
Victoria: 07710 499 485
Drumming Lessons at Cotham Gardens Primary School
Bristol Beacons now have a drumming instructor coming into school on Tuesdays. for YR2 -YR6.
Please head over to their website if you feel your child would be interested in having drumming lessons.
https://bristolbeacon.org/learn-to-play/
Bikeability Easter Holidays 2025
Booking is open for our Easter holiday course at The Ardagh Community Trust.
Bikeability Level 2
This course is for children who can already cycle and control their bikes. Training begins off-road, then moves onto quiet roads to build skills and confidence. School year 5,6 & 7. Places are £25 per child.
Bikeability Level 3
This course builds on the skills learned at Level 2 and teaches young people the skills to tackle challenging junctions, negotiate multi-lane roads, roundabouts, route planning and other complex on-road activities. School year 7,8 & 9. Places are £40 per child.
Day: Thursday & Friday
Date: 10th & 11th April
Location: Ardagh Pavilion, off, Kellaway Avenue, Bristol BS6 7YL
Course: Bikeability Level 2 & 3
Day: Weds & Thursday
Date: 16th & 17th April
Location: Ardagh Pavilion, off, Kellaway Avenue, Bristol BS6 7YL
Course: Bikeability Level 2
School Holiday Cycle Training Courses
Strengthening Families Strengthening Communities Parenting Programme - starting in April!
