We have had a really positive start to school this academic year. I have been very impressed with the children's attitudes to being back in our school environment and their efforts with the new challenges the teachers are providing for them. It is a really busy time for the teachers as they get to fully know their new class and start them on the new years' curriculum and I am delighted with what I have seen across the school.
In my assemblies this week I have talked about community. A school is the heart of it's community and we are all aiming to make our community a wonderful place to be, a place where we work cooperatively with each other to achieve our full potential. The riots in parts of our country were shocking to us all, but the way many communities came together to correct the wrongs of a minority were an inspiration to us all. During the assembly we explored ways in which the children can be the shining light in their own communities - whether this be in their own homes, their new classrooms or the school and its immediate vicincity. Hopefully you may have found your children were slightly more helpful around the home - I must share my assembly with my own children!
Early in the week our chair and vice-chair of governors, Sue and Michael, met with myself and two members of the local authority connected to travel. We met to dicuss our school street and the road markings which have created huge confusion and ultimately undermined the school street and its aim to create a safe and healthy way for our children to get to and from school. I am delighted to report that this will be corrected soonand we should get clear road markings and signs by the time we return after the October Half-Term. These will be monitored so please do not park on the double yellow lines unless you have a blue-badge as you will end up with a parking ticket.
Our school-led clubs start next week and it is wonderful to see at least half of the school population sign up for at least one club. We hope that all of our children can benefit from what is on offer and there are spaces in lots of our clubs and those run externally by Sportacus. Pupil premium children can get access to these clubs at heavily reduced rates and if there is a club your child wishes to attend you can contact me to see if the school can help. The pupil premium is for children who qualify for free school meals. All children in London get a free school meal regardless of income and as such many parents do not apply for the pupil premium/free school meals. This means that Poverest is not receiving funding it could and limits what we could provide for our children. If you think you may qualify please let me know or contact the school office and they will help you with the application. The criteria is:
Your child may be able to get free school meals if you get any of the following:
- Income Support
- income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance
- income-related Employment and Support Allowance
- support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
- the guaranteed element of Pension Credit
- Child Tax Credit (provided you’re not also entitled to Working Tax Credit and have an annual gross income of no more than £16,190)
- Working Tax Credit run-on - paid for 4 weeks after you stop qualifying for Working Tax Credit
- Universal Credit - if you apply on or after 1 April 2018 your household income must be less than £7,400 a year (after tax and not including any benefits you get)
Thank you for continuing to support your children at home and we all wish you a lovely weekend.
