Friday 4^th September 2026

 

Dear Parents,

 

What a fantastic start to the new school year we have had! Although we have only been back for two days, it has already been wonderful to see how positively the children have returned to school. They have come back prepared, confident and ready to learn and we are incredibly proud of them.

 

A huge thank you to all of our parents and carers for your support in getting the children ready for the new school year. Your encouragement, routines and preparation have made such a difference and it has been lovely to see the children settle so quickly into their new classes. They have already begun building relationships with their new teachers and classmates and have embraced the year ahead with enthusiasm.

 

We are also delighted to welcome Mr McNicholas to St Mary’s as our new Assistant Headteacher. Mr McNicholas will be teaching in Year 6 as well as working alongside me on whole-school development. We are very excited about the experience, energy and ideas he will bring to our school community.

 

This Sunday’s Gospel reminds us of the importance of listening to one another, supporting one another and putting things right when difficulties arise: “If he listens to you, you have won back your brother.” As we begin a new school year, this is a particularly fitting message for us. School is a community, and successful learning and personal growth happen when children, staff and families work together with kindness, respect and a willingness to listen.

 

After just two days, we are already feeling very optimistic about the year ahead. We are confident that, together, our children will have a successful year of learning, growth and discovery, both academically and personally.

 

What a lovely start… and there is so much more to come.

 

Dates for your diary

• 14/09/2026 – Year 5 Parent Meeting at 9am
• 15/09/2026 – Year 3 Parent Meeting at 9am
• 21/09/2026 – Year 6 Parent Meeting at 9am
• 22/09/2026 – Year 4 Parent Meeting at 9am
• 23/10/2026 – Wear it Pink Day – Fundraising for Breast Cancer

Year Group Parent Meetings

We are delighted to be holding Year Group Parent Meetings during September. These meetings are a great opportunity for parents and carers to find out more about what their children will be learning this year, hear important information about their year group and meet the teachers who will be working with their children.

 

They are also an opportunity to ask any questions you may have and to begin building those important relationships between home and school. We strongly encourage parents and carers to attend where possible.

 

The meetings will take place at 9.00am on the following dates:

 

• Monday 14 September – Year 5 Parent Meeting
• Tuesday 15 September – Year 3 Parent Meeting
• Monday 21 September – Year 6 Parent Meeting
• Tuesday 22 September – Year 4 Parent Meeting

We look forward to welcoming you into school and working together to make this a happy, successful and rewarding year for your child.

 

School Uniform Reminder

As we begin the new school year, we kindly remind all parents and carers to ensure that children are wearing the correct school uniform each day, in line with our school’s uniform policy. The full details of the policy can be found on our website here: St Mary's Catholic Primary Schools Trust - Uniform

 

We also ask that all clothing and personal items are clearly labelled with your child’s name to help us return any lost property as quickly as possible.

 

Please ensure that PE shorts are of an appropriate length, ideally around knee length, to maintain modesty and comfort during physical activities.

 

Thank you for your continued support in helping our children take pride in their appearance and represent our school so well.

Breakfast and Breaktime Snacks

 

We would like to let parents and carers know that the National School Breakfast Programme has now come to an end and unfortunately, we will no longer receive funding to provide breakfast bagels at school.

 

We have enough supplies to continue providing bagels during the week beginning Monday 7 September, but from Monday 14 September, children will need to have breakfast before coming to school.

 

We appreciate that mornings can be busy, but having breakfast before school is really important in helping children to feel ready to learn and have a positive start to the day.

Children are also welcome to bring a fruit snack from home for breaktime. Please remember that all snacks must be completely nut-free, as we are a nut-aware school.

 

Thank you, as always, for your support and understanding.

Benedict’s Law – Keeping Our Children Safe

As we begin the new academic year, we would like to remind families about some important changes to allergy safety in schools.

 

From September 2026, new statutory requirements, commonly known as Benedict’s Law, are in place across schools in England. The law is named in memory of five-year-old Benedict Blythe, who tragically died following an allergic reaction at school. The new requirements are designed to make schools safer and ensure that staff are confident and prepared to respond to serious allergic reactions.

 

At St Mary’s Catholic Junior School, the safety and wellbeing of every child is at the heart of what we do. We have reviewed our procedures and are putting the requirements of Benedict’s Law into practice across school.

 

This includes:

 

• Allergy awareness and emergency response training for staff, including recognising the signs of anaphylaxis and knowing how to respond.
• Clear procedures for managing allergies and supporting individual pupils with known allergies.
• Emergency adrenaline auto-injectors (AAIs) available in school where required.
• A clear process for recording and learning from allergic reactions and near misses.
• Working closely with parents and carers to ensure that children's allergy information and healthcare plans are accurate and up to date.
• Continuing to promote an allergy-aware culture throughout our school community.

How can parents and carers help?

Parents and carers have an important role to play too. Please:

• Tell us immediately if your child develops a new allergy or if their existing allergy changes.
• Make sure your child’s allergy information is up to date.
• Ensure that any prescribed medication, including adrenaline auto-injectors, is in school, in date and clearly labelled.
• Talk to your child about their allergy, where appropriate, and encourage them to tell an adult if they feel unwell or think they may have come into contact with something they are allergic to.
• Please continue to send only nut-free snacks into school. St Mary’s is a nut-aware school, and avoiding nuts in packed snacks and treats helps us to reduce unnecessary risks for children with allergies.

 

Most importantly, please don't be worried if your child has an allergy. Our aim is not to make children feel different or restricted. It is to create a school environment where children with allergies can learn, play and take part in school life safely and confidently.

 

Benedict’s Law is an important step forward in making allergy safety a shared responsibility, and we thank you for helping us to keep all of our children safe.

Happy Bag Collection on Friday 9^th October

If you are having a clear out at home or sorting through your wardrobes, we are holding a Happy Bag Collection on Friday 9th October. We welcome donations of unwanted clothing, shoes, sheets, duvets and covers and jewellery. Items can be brought into school at any time from now until the collection date.

 

The more donations we receive, the more funds the school will raise, helping us to purchase new resources for our children. At the same time, all donated items go on to support people in need across the world.

 

This collection reflects our commitment to Catholic Social Teaching, encouraging us to think of others, act generously and support those less fortunate than ourselves, while also benefiting our own school community.

 

Thank you, as always, for your continued generosity and support.

 

Yours faithfully,

 

Sarah Fizul

Headteacher