A busy week this week which saw the school operating at full capacity, with pupils in all years groups from Year R through to Year 6 attending full time.  We certainly do have a confident cohort of Early Years children this year, keen to dive right into everything on offer in the Reception classrooms and outdoor learning areas.  Indeed, they fit the bill of being perfect newcomers to school life as they are only ever quiet on 2 occasions during the school day – story time and lunch time!

We have been able to make use of all our outdoor areas this week for break and lunch time play, giving pupils valuable opportunities in their year group bubbles to socialise and exercise in the fresh air.  It is something of a miracle that we were able to dodge the downpours that beset us in the middle of the week.

Average attendance over the first 3 weeks of term sits at just over 96%.  This is above the Government expectation of good attendance (measured at 95%) but short of our school minimum expectation of 97% over the course of the full school year.  Information from the NHS and Public Health England has been shared by the school to help families distinguish between common seasonal ailments and Covid-19 symptoms, and as we get used to learning together in a school community again I look forward to our attendance figures rising over the coming weeks.

Don’t forget that Friday 2^nd October is a staff Inset day and the school will be closed to pupils.  They will be able to enjoy a 4 day week and, I am sure, a much needed long weekend to get over the hectic start to a busy autumn term.

Mr R Cunningham
Headteacher

It’s great to be back at St Peter’s, and back with a full house across the age groups.  Children in Years 1 to 6 started this second week of term in fine fettle and raring to go.  From Monday, they were joined by our new entrants in the Reception Year, who were gradually building up their school days before going full time next week.  Staggered drop-off and collection times have been streamlined to benefit families and make the school learning day even more efficient, and we are in a position now to move to year group ‘bubbles’ to help with learning support and interventions.  Each year group bubble will continue with different break and lunch times, and designated outdoor spaces in which to play.  All of the pupils have been superb in seamlessly adapting to the new way of doing things in school – they are a credit to their families and the staff at St Peter’s.  And in a great sign of a return towards our usual customs and practices, pupils in Year 4 celebrated our first Liturgy of the academic year with Fr Jeremy and Miss Keogh, Oaklands’ lay chaplain, in attendance.  The beautiful display material used by the children is pictured below.  Sadly, for the moment, we cannot invite families into school to share in these year group worships, but they were remembered in our prayers.

Mr R Cunningham
Headteacher

It was just fantastic to open our doors and welcome back the children from Years 1 to 6 this week.  Attendance was excellent at 99%, and we are braced for more next week as the Year R pupils begin their half day taster sessions.

The pupils have settled into lessons and school life exceptionally well, all hungry to learn and work hard for their new teachers.

Perhaps the greatest excitement was in Year 1 with the opening of a new outdoor learning area for Mrs Layton’s Puffer Fish class to complement the Secret Garden outdoor learning area used by Mrs Jonas’ and Mrs Knight’s Turtle class.  Now each Year 1 class has their own area to continue with discovery led learning outdoors and make the transition from the Early Years to Key Stage 1 seamless and successful.  Enormous thanks go to the Friends of St Peter’s for their fundraising efforts which went a very long way to financing this project.  I hope you enjoy the pictures as much as the children are enjoying their outdoor learning.

Mr R Cunningham
Headteacher