Welcome To
Regents Park Community Primary School
Believe in Yourself - Anything is Possible!
Dear Parents/ Carers,
We are now into the final half of the Summer term and the weather is currently very hot and sunny which can be both a good and a bad thing! We also have lots to do during this final half term so below are a list of key dates for you as well as a reminder of other important things for you to be aware of.
Supporting and protecting children during hot weather
This weather week is predicted to be hot and sunny with temperatures above 25 degrees celcius. Whilst it's lovely to see some sunshine, it can be a cause for concern and we want to make sure we support children and protect them from any dangers associated with extreme heat and sunshine.
In school we will do everything we can to make sure children keep hydrated, don't overexert themselves and temperatures in school are managed as best as possible.
As parents, you can help the children by making sure they dress appropriately for the hot weather, e.g. wearing shorts/ skirts/ dresses and come to school with sun hats to wear outdoors (please make sure all clothing that may be taken off has your child's name and class written inside them, including jumpers and hats, etc).
Last year, all children were given small bottles of sunscreen which were donated to us. If children still have them they can bring them into school or a similar small bottle/ tube of Factor 50 sunscreen. Children should be taught to apply the cream to their exposed skin themselves although staff will help the youngest children in school. Parents should make sure children have applied cream before school and staff will then encourage them to top up just before lunchtime.
Cars around school - traffic and air pollution
We always work hard to try and reduce the amount of traffic around school by discouraging parents from driving children up to the school gates. The traffic caused by this is dangerous but it also impacts on air pollution around school.
In hot, summer weather when many children are already suffering breathing problems due to hayfever, air pollution caused by traffic makes these problems worse. It could be resolved by parking away from school and walking to the gates or, better still, by leaving the car at home and walking/ cycling/ scooting to school.
If you do have to drive to school to drop off or collect children, please do not leave your engine idling as this will also impact on the quality of air around school.
Trips abroad in school term time
We have worked hard to improve our overall school attendance this year to what it used to be before the COVID pandemic. We used to regularly have attendance that was either at or above the national average of 96.5%. Since the pandemic, our attendance has not been so good - our overall attendance for 2022-23 is currently 93.8%.
A significant issue is the impact of families taking children abroad during term time, often before or after school holidays. Whilst I understand the issues families have visiting extended family abroad and the cost that this involves, any absence will have an impact on children's learning and affect school attendance data.
I have to remind all parents that trips abroad in term time will not be authorised unless it is an absolute emergency that requires immediate travel. Booking a trip abroad in advance to visit a relative will not be authorised even if it means being absent for a few days before or after a holiday.
There are penalties which the Local Authority will issue to parents who take their children out of school during term time no matter what their previous attendance has been and unfortunately a number of these have been issued to parents of children from Regents Park this year.
We finish this term on Friday 21st July and children will be taking part in learning activities right up until the last day of term. There will also be important events that all children should take part in such as tranisition days when children meet next year's class teacher, sports days, parents afternoon, assemblies, etc. as well as reports to share with parents.
Please support school and your child's learning by not requesting to take trips abroad during term time. Thank you.
Lateness
Another issue we continue to have is the lateness of a few children into school who miss the start of lessons.
As you know, school starts at 8.40am and this is the time that we expect ALL children to arrive at school. We keep the gates open for 10 minutes in case there are any stragglers but the gates are closed at 8.50am and any child arriving after this time is marked late.
Some children often arrive just before or just after the gates close - it's important that the parents of these children are reminded that children should arrive at 8.40am.
It is also important that parents know that if your child is late, you should bring them into the office to sign them in and explain the reason for their lateness. It is often not the child's fault they are late but they have to suffer the embarrassment of walking late and having to explain to the office staff what the reasons are.
Please make sure you get your child into school by 8.40am and if you are late, please bring them to the office to get them signed in.
School uniform
As I've mentioned above, parents must make sure that children wear appropriate clothing for the weather during this half term. However, this does not mean that children do not continue to wear school uniform on PE days and on non-PE days.
On non-PE days, children are still expected to wear school uniform, i.e. white shirts, black shoes (not trainers), etc. Our school uniform colours are white, bottle green, grey and black - please do not send your child into school in any other colours.
On PE days, children are expected to wear their PE kit, i.e. white t-shirt, grey or black tracksuit bottoms or shorts. They may wear trainers for outdoor use but should have plimsolls in school for when they so PE indoors or they will have to do PE in bare feet. If they need to wear a top, they should wear their school jumper or sweatshirt. Children should not come to school in tracksuit tops or hoodies.
Upcoming school events: