Monday 13th July 2026
Dear Parents and Families,
It has been a wonderfully busy term filled with learning, growth, and personal, academic and sporting achievements. Our children have demonstrated huge resilience and creativity in many areas, and a strong commitment to their friends, families and school.
Looking back, highlights of the term have included:
The Y6 Diocesan Leavers’ Service and lunch was such an enjoyable occasion and enabled our children to join with other church schools in the Diocese to celebrate together.
Y6 Residential trip to Swanage – Mr Julian and I had a wonderful week away with the Y5 and Y6 children. We had the privilege of meeting some inspiring people, imagining ourselves in different roles at Corfe Castle and fossil hunting along the Jurassic Coast. We made some lovely memories, dodged grey clouds and only got wet once! We played new games together as well as eating a lot of food, ice-creams and some highly unusual flavoured jellybeans!
Looking towards the end of term, we have a number of important events:
· Thursday 16th July Leavers’ Church Service at 2.45pm St. James Church Ashurst; all welcome.
· Friday 17th July Y6 parent consultations during the morning – delayed from earlier in the month due to DfE technical issues nationally; please book your appointment online or contact the school office.
· Friday 17th July Whole school sports afternoon on the field 1.00 to 3.30pm - the end time may be subject to change depending on how fast your children run! We all look forward to this annual event and eagerly await the totting up of the scores to see our individual and house team winners.
· Friday 17th July FAPS BBQ and fun filled celebration from 3.30pm. Your FAPS team has been working extremely hard to organise and run this - please support them if you can. FAPS is keen to welcome new members, and their AGM will be held at the start of the Autumn term. Please see Mrs Smith or Mrs Sheldon if you are interested in joining FAPS - we would love to hear from you.
· Monday 20th July 1pm Rounders Tea Party on the field. This is an annual event in which two teams compete. One team comprises Y6 children, their parents, staff, Governors and any previous pupils at Ashurst. The second team comprises all the children in Y3, Y4 and Y5 and their parents. Families lucky enough to have children in both teams may choose which team to play for. There are two innings with a break for tea and refreshments (provided by Y6 parents) in between. Children in Mouse class can come to the field for tea and cake with their parents when they have been collected from school at 3.30pm. Mouse class children are not permitted to join in the rounders match and are the responsibility of their parents.
· Tuesday 21st July In-school Ashurst Y6 Leavers’ Performance at 9.15am and additional awards. This is the special one written by our Y6 children with Mrs Uff. As always, it is Top Secret until the event, but you can be sure it will include lots of memories and there is rarely a dry eye in the house!
May I remind you that there are no clubs in the last week 13th – 17th July or Tuesday 21st July 2026.
Looking Ahead to September:
Whilst we are excited about the Autumn term and the opportunities it will bring, we will be sad to wave goodbye to our Y6 children at the end of this term. We would all like to wish them the very best of luck and hope that they take a little of Ashurst CE Aided Primary School with them into their new adventures and remember that they are always welcome back.
In September we look forward to welcoming our YR children and with them their families, two of whom are new to our school.
You will notice several changes happening at the start of the autumn term. We are able to move forward with constructing a door to provide access to a new covered structure which will enable us to enhance the continuous provision for our younger children with year-round use.
May I remind you that there is an INSET day on Tuesday 1st September and there are no after-school clubs the first week of term - sign up details will be available online at the start of term.
School Website
http://www.ashurstcofe-pri.w-sussex.sch.uk
This is where you need to log in to book Parents’ Consultations. The school website is updated regularly and is where the most up to date information can be found including Newsletters, OFSTED and SIAMS reports, PE/ Sports Funding statements, calendar details, Pupil Premium and Local Offer statements and School Policies. You can also watch our school film there too!
FAPS News
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
Music Tuition from September
Mr Barrett will continue to give guitar and ukulele lessons in school on Tuesdays; if you would like more information, please contact West Sussex Music or the office.
Mr Smith will continue 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.
Reports
This year, as you will be aware from the previous newsletter, 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.
Annual Parent Evaluation
This year, to embrace environmental sustainability, we will be sending you your Annual Parents Evaluation form via a link to a Google form. We really do value your comments and discuss them with the Governors, to further inform the school’s decision making.
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.
I would like to wish you all a very good summer break and to thank you for your continued support.
Kindest regards,
Mrs S Smith
Headteacher