15th April 2026
Dear Parents and Families,
Firstly, welcome back after the Easter break - we hope you were able to enjoy some good
weather and that you and your children have had the opportunity to rest and to spend time
together. As usual we have a busy term ahead of us and we are very much looking forward
to all that has been planned.
Community Involvement
We have received a lovely card thanking us for the Easter cards which the children
designed and signed for residents of local care homes as well as for local people in Ashurst.
If you were unaware, each Christmas and Easter, our children design a card in school for a
competition. The winning cards are then printed, signed by the children and delivered to
local care homes. It is only a small thing for us to do, but it brings great joy to those who
receive them, especially when they may not have very many visitors. We are looking to
extend our delivery service so if you have any personal contact with a local care home, and
you think that they would like to receive Christmas and Easter cards from the children,
please do let Mrs Smith know and she will contact them directly.
FAPS News
I would like to extend a huge thank you to our FAPS team for arranging the splendid Easter
Egg Hunt on the last day of the Spring term; the sun was glimpsed, exercises were
exercised, stamps were stamped, entries handed in and eggs were gleefully received and,
I think, rather quickly eaten! If you would be kind enough to check that you have paid for
your child’s participation, I know FAPS would be very grateful, as there remain a few
payments outstanding
In case you were not aware, as a Church Aided School, 10% of the Devolved Formula Capital
Grant allocation is not provided by state funds; FAPS therefore raise and provide this
amount to the school’s Governing Body. We are very fortunate to have such an
enthusiastic and committed FAPS team who fundraise to support our school in this way. If
any of you missed the announcement regarding ‘Easyfundraising’, please support us if you
can by registering today at http://efraising.org/WtYquPNypZ. There is even a handy
reminder that can be set each time you visit one of the relevant sites!
Governor News
Mr Garnett was recently re-appointed as a Foundation Governor, and we thank him for his
interest and commitment to further supporting our school with his expertise.
Music Tuition
Mr Smith continues to give private flute and saxophone lessons in school on Monday
afternoons and has spaces available. If you would like more information, please contact the
school office. Mr Barrett continues to give guitar, ukulele and piano lessons in school on
Tuesday mornings; if you would like more information, please contact West Sussex Music
or the office.
Website and eSchools Lite App
We have recently updated our website and are aware that it no longer reliably supports
the eSchools Lite App. Technical support have not been able to rectify this, so please do
delete your eSchools Lite App if you have one.
Attendance Reminder
At Ashurst, we firmly believe that regular school attendance is vital for children to thrive
both educationally and personally. The benefits are unmistakable – being in school helps
our children learn how to make friendships, to practise kindness, to become confident, to
work together happily, and to feel proud of their school.
Whilst we do request that children should stay at home if they have experienced sickness
or diarrhoea (they should only return to school 48 hours after their last episode), we have
a growing number of children being kept off school with minor symptoms such as coughs or
runny noses. We recognise these are common childhood ailments, but know that these
absences are beginning to affect some children's overall attendance. We want to reassure
you that we are well-equipped to manage these minor symptoms at school, with plenty of
tissues and paper towels available for children who need them.
Being on time to school is also important, as late arrivals can add up and affect attendance.
Our school day starts at 9:00 am, and arriving on time helps children settle in, enjoy a
smooth start, and make the most of their learning. It also ensures the class is not
disrupted, creating a positive experience for everyone.
We do thank you for ensuring that your recent requests for absence from school, including
late arrivals and early departures due to medical/dental appointments have been
accompanied by an absence request form (these are available to download from our website
or paper copies are available from the school office).
After school Clubs
Once again, I would like to thank you for signing up to and supporting your children to
attend the two afterschool clubs on offer this term.
The after-school gardening and sports clubs do not run in the first or last week of each
full term but continue to run to the end of each half term and the start of each half term
(see dates below).
Mrs Double’s new choir starts next Tuesday 21st April at 8.30am. Thank you to those who
have already signed up.
Parents’ Consultations and reports
This term parents’ consultations are on Tuesday 7th July for those children completing
EYFS and Y6 SATs. Sign up will be available in due course.
As was the case last year, we will be sending children’s annual reports home via email. If
you would prefer a paper copy, please do contact the office and we will arrange this for
you.
Y6 Leaver’s Service at Christs’ Hospital
This year our Y6 Diocesan Leaver’s Service will be at Christ’s Hospital on Monday 6th July
at 10.45. Y6 parents are warmly invited to attend and to join us for lunch afterwards,
hopefully, at ‘Stooks Restaurant’, Newbridge Garden Centre, Billingshurst Rd, Broadbridge
Heath, Horsham RH12 3LN.
If you are unable to attend the service, please bring your child into school as normal and
we will arrange transport to the service and lunch in staff cars. Similarly, if you are only
able to attend the service, we will arrange to transport them to their lunch. Menus and
more information will be available shortly.
Safeguarding
As always, should you have any concerns regarding your child/children, please contact the
school as soon as possible in order that matters may be quickly and effectively resolved.
Should you have any safeguarding concerns please contact the DSL team, Mrs Smith, Mrs
Sansbury or Mrs Welstead direct or via DSL@ashurstcofe-pri.w-sussex.sch.uk.
We would like to thank you for your continued support and hope that this information
proves helpful.
Kindest regards,
Mrs S Smith
Headteacher
Uniform requirements for Academic Year 2025-2026
We ask that all children wear the Ashurst school uniform every day. The requirements
have remained the same and have not changed for over 7 years. We are very proud of our
school and ask for your support in maintaining the correct uniform.
If your child has a particular need and would benefit from an adaptation or change to the
school uniform listed below, please make an appointment to discuss this with Mrs Smith.
We understand that for some families this is a daily battle and we would always want to
support you in making the transition from home to school an easier one and that children
are comfortable in school.
Please ensure that all items are named, particularly those that have been acquired
from our pre-loved school uniform stock available through the office.
Whilst the children can sometimes identify their items by smelling them, staff do not
share this skill! Lost property items are kept in a box in the library.
- Grey skirt, culottes or pinafore dress
- Grey tailored trousers (long or short)
- Green sweatshirt with school badge or green sweater/ cardigan (not their PE hoody).
- White shirt/ blouse/polo shirt
- White, black or grey socks
- White, grey or green tights
- Sensible shoes or sandals
- Green and white checked dress/checked ‘playsuit’
- Wellies for the field when it is muddy. These, like all other uniform, should be named.
PE Kit:
- Green or white shorts/skorts, white T-shirt with a round neck, white socks, trainers,
green hoody and green joggers. - Trainers are the preferred footwear as they are more substantial than black plimsoles.
- Leggings, joggers and shorts/skorts in other colours are not permitted unless this has
been previously discussed and agreed with Mrs Smith. We continue to ask that PE kits
be worn to school on days that your child has PE or is attending the after-school sports
club. May we also suggest that they have a spare pair of socks as sometimes children’s
feet get damp earlier in the day, especially in the autumn and spring terms when the
grass is dewy. - Sports Club is on Thursday.
PE: Mouse Class - Thursday & Friday, Squirrel Class -Thursday & Friday, Owl Class -Tuesday
Jewellery/ hair wear
Jewellery should not be worn by children with the exception of stud earrings which should
be removed or covered with tape for PE.
Hairbands/scrunchies are to be green, white, grey, black, navy or brown. Children’s hair
should be completely tied up once it is long enough to do so and this applies to both boys
and girls.
May we also ask that children have a coat, a water bottle and school book bag (order via
the school uniform link on the website) in school every day. These fit in the children’s
drawers and help letters, homework and reading books make the journey home safely!
Ashurst CE Aided Primary School Dates for your Diary Summer 2024-2025
First Half Summer Term -Tuesday 14th April - Friday 22nd May
Half term - Monday 25th May to Friday 29th May
Second Half Summer Term - Monday 1st June – Tuesday 21st July
INSET DAYS - Wednesday 22nd July 2026.
Y6 SATS presentation 3pm - Wednesday 15th April
Mouse Class visit to Steyning Library - Friday 17th April
Mouse class parents Bake Off - Monday 20th April 3.30
Mouse Clas trip to Arundel Castle - Tuesday 21st April
Y5 taster day SGS - Tuesday 28th April
Squirrel class trip to Wakehurst - Tuesday 28th April
BANK HOLIDAY - Monday 4th May
Y5Y6 Tennis tournament by invitation - Tuesday 5th May
Family Service @ St James’ - Sunday 10th May
Y6 KS2 SATS WEEK - Monday 11th -Thursday 14th May
Wellbeing Day - Monday 18th May
Chanctonbury Music Festival for Y5Y6 @ 5.30 SGS - Wednesday 20th May
Eucharist in school 9.15 all welcome to attend - Thursday 21st May
HALF TERM - Monday 25th May to Friday 29th May
Y4 Multiplication Check week - 1st June - 5th June
Whole school photograph 1pm - Monday 1st June
Y3Y4 Tennis Tournament by invitation TBC - Tuesday 2nd June
Y5Y6 Stoolball tournament - Wednesday 3rd June
Y3Y4 Dodgeball tournament - Friday 5th June 4-6pm
Phonics Screening Check week - 8th June - 12th June
Y5 & Y6 RESIDENTIAL VISIT TO SWANAGE with Mrs Smith and Mrs Welstead - 8th June - 12th June
Family Service St James’ Church Ashurst 10.30am - Sunday 14th June
SGS Transfer Day and YR ‘Move up Taster Day’ for APS - Wednesday 1st July
Y6 Leavers’ Diocesan Service @ Christs Hospital 10.45 - Monday 6th July
Y5Y6 trip to Adur and Shoreham - Tuesday 7th July
Y6 SATs and EYFS parents’ consultations - Tuesday 7th July
Y5Y6 Cricket tournament - Wednesday 8th July
Full Governing Body Meet @ 5:00pm with Y6 and YAGS 5:30pm start of Full Governing Body Meeting - Thursday 9th July
Family Service St James’ Church Ashurst 10.30am - Sunday 12th July
Y5Y6 Trip to the Houses of Parliament - Wednesday 15th July
Leavers Service in St James’ Church 2.45pm all welcome - Tuesday 14th July or Thursday 16th July TBC
WHOLE SCHOOL SPORTS DAY (AFTERNOON) Friday 17th July
Y6 ROUNDERS TEA PARTY 1.30pm Monday 20th July
Y6 Leavers Performance in school 9.15am Last day of term for children - Tuesday 21st July
INSET DAY # 5 - Wednesday 22nd July
Extra-Curricular Activities Summer Term 2026
Gardening Y1-Y6 Tuesday 3.30-4.15pm
21st 28th April
5th 12th 19th May
2nd 9th 16th 23rd 30th June
7th 14th July
Sports Club YR-Y6 Thursday 3.30-4.15pm
23rd 30th April
7th 14th 21st May
4th 11th 18th 25th June
2nd 9th 16th July