8th September 2026
Dear Parents and Families,
Firstly, a very warm welcome back to the new academic year to all families, especially those
new to the school. We are also looking forward to welcoming Miss Evans-Clarke later in
September as an additional Teaching Assistant in Squirrel Class.
We also thank all staff and those (including the Diocese, PH Beck and Martyn Abbott) who
have worked so hard to redecorate the outside of our school, and complete the building
work for a new door ahead of our canopy installation which is scheduled for October half
term. It really is an amazing project that will enable our younger children to have a larger
area for continuous provision which is sheltered and safe. I would also like to thank the
Cove family for building the most wonderful ‘mud kitchen’ in Kings Grove, again for our
younger children, although actually we all want to play in it!
We hope that all families and children are safe and well and are looking forward to all that
is planned for 2026-2027. This term Mouse Class (EYFS/KS1) children will be finding out
‘What happens in the Enchanted Woods’ and ‘Why did London burn?’, Squirrel Class (Y3&Y4)
is learning all about ‘The Dawn of Man’ and the wise Owl Class (Y5&Y6) will be exploring
‘The Romans’ and ‘Reaching the Peak’.
New Beginnings’ Service
We would like to invite you to join us at our ‘New Beginnings’ Service this year.
School will attend a church service at St. James’, Ashurst on Wednesday 9th September.
The service will be from 2.45-3.30pm. If you are able to attend, you may take your children
home with you at the end of the service, but please notify us of this so that they have
their belongings. If you are unable to attend, we will walk back up to school in time for
3.30pm collection as usual. If the weather is unkind the service will take place in school at
the same time, and you will be very welcome to join us. During the service, children will be
invited to come and collect some wildflower seeds to link with the ‘New Beginnings and
Growing’ theme.
Annual Sponsored Walks
This year the Mouse class (EYFS/KS1) walk will be on Thursday 17th September with
Squirrel & Owl classes’ (Y3/Y4/Y5/Y6) walk on Tuesday 15th September. Children should
wear suitable footwear and may wear home clothes. We recommend long trousers, a couple
‘ Achieving Together with Love, Hope and Joy ’
of layers in case the weather changes, a plastic bag to sit on and certainly a raincoat. All
Juniors will require a packed lunch for Tuesday 15th which they will carry, so we recommend
a small rucksack. Sponsor forms and details of how to support our chosen beneficiaries will
be emailed to you.
After/ before School Clubs
This term, thanks to the generosity of staff, we are delighted to be able to offer a morning
choir group (8.30-8.55am) and range of afterschool clubs from 3.30-4.15pm. Details of the
clubs and how to sign up have been sent to you ahead of this newsletter.
Tuesday am: Choir (Y2-Y6 )
Tuesday pm: Gardening Club (Y2-Y6)
Wednesday pm: Dance and Drama (Y3-Y6)
Puzzle Club (Y3-Y6)
Thursday pm: Sports Club (Y1-Y6)
Friday pm: Construction Club (Y1-Y4)
Swimming Sessions
We are pleased to continue our partnership with Steyning Grammar School and MXT
Swimming to offer swimming sessions in the first half of the Autumn term for Y5/6 and
in the second half of Autumn term for Y4. Sessions for Y3 will be in the Spring term.
Please remember your child will need a verruca sock if they have a verruca and a swimming hat
(they will not be permitted to swim without a hat). Those children swimming in shorts should
not wear loose fitting ‘beach shorts’, and those children wearing an all-in-one costume
should ensure that they can put them on themselves.
Transport will be by minibus, and a packed lunch will be required on these days.
FAPS (Friends of Ashurst Primary School)
We hope that new families will join us for the FAPS AGM. The date for this is to be
confirmed and we will let you know as soon as possible. As a Church of England Aided school,
Ashurst is required to provide a contribution of 10% of the school’s annual building work
and maintenance costs. The Friends of Ashurst Primary School (FAPS) was set up to help
provide this funding and also support the school with any additional needs. Over the past
couple of years FAPS were able to fund a trip to the theatre for the whole school and
purchase additional art materials for our Wellbeing Days.
Throughout the year they organise and run both small and large events and are able to not
only provide the school with the extra funding it needs, but to go over and above their
fundraising target whilst creating exciting events we can all enjoy.
RE Curriculum update:
From September 2026, we will be including Humanism as one of the worldviews our children
learn about in RE lessons. I want to reassure you that this addition strengthens our RE
provision while maintaining our strong Christian foundation.
We are making this change so that we comply with the statutory guidance that our school’s
RE curriculum should reflect the diversity of beliefs in modern Britain and that we should
teach non- religious worldviews in RE. Many people across the UK identify as Humanist or
hold similar non-religious beliefs. By learning about different worldviews, including non
religious ones, children begin to think critically about big questions such as;
What makes life meaningful?
How do we decide right from wrong?
What happens when we die?
Understanding Humanism helps children respect and understand people with different
beliefs, preparing them for life in diverse, modern Britain.
Our Christian Distinctiveness does not change, and I want to be clear: we are adding
Humanism, not removing Christianity. Our Christian foundation remains strong:
Christianity remains 50+% of RE curriculum and daily collective worship continues as usual.
Our Christian values underpin our ethos and everything we do and our close links with St
James's Church remain central to our school life. We will continue to celebrate
major Christian festivals (Harvest, Advent, Christingle, Christmas, Easter, Pentecost,
etc.) School prayers and grace will continue, and our Worship Warriors and Picture News
Worship will stay exactly the same.
Parent Workshops: 23.09.2026 and 25.11.2026
This term we are delighted to be able to offer two parent workshops; The series is
intended to empower parents with practical knowledge and strategies to support their
children's emotional, social, and physical development. Each session focuses on a specific
topic to support parents, offering insights, tools, and opportunities for discussion.
The first of these is on Wednesday 23rd September at 2.30pm and is on ‘Supporting my
Child to Emotionally Regulate’.
This workshop explores the importance of emotional
regulation and what is developmentally appropriate for children at different ages. It
supports parents in recognising behaviour as a form of communication and introduces
healthy, constructive ways to respond and manage behaviour effectively.
The second one is on Wednesday 25th November at 2.30pm and is on ‘Healthy Relationships
and Friendships’.
This session will help parents support their child in navigating friendships
and relationships. It emphasises the importance of ongoing conversations about the
connections children are forming, and guides parents in helping them distinguish between
healthy and unhealthy friendships. The session also addresses the influence of social media
and explores the dynamics of unhealthy relationships.
Sign up sheets for these will be coming out shortly.
Music Tuition
Mr Smith continues to give private flute and saxophone lessons in school on Monday
afternoons and has spaces available. Guitar, ukulele and piano lessons will continue this year
with Mr Barrett on Tuesdays; he will be contacting existing pupils’ parents directly.
If your child is interested in having instrumental lessons and you would like more information
on music tuition in school, please contact the school office.
School Website
http://www.ashurstcofe-pri.w-sussex.sch.uk
The school website is updated regularly (at this time of year, some areas are under review)
and is where the most up-to-date information can be found including: Newsletters,
OFSTED and SIAMS reports, PE/Sports Funding statements, Statutory School Policies
and Pupil Premium and Local Offer statements.
Celebration Assemblies
This term we would like to invite parents and carers to our Celebration Assemblies. These
are an opportunity to recognise our children’s achievements both in and out of school. It is
the forum for awards, certificates and birthdays and you are all very welcome to attend!
Details are in the calendar of dates at the end of this newsletter and you will also find
them on the weekly Ashurst Diary email from the office.
INSET Days
This year our INSET days are enabling school staff to undergo Safeguarding training,
Managing Medicines training, RE subject training, to attend workshops and training with
our locality schools and moderation of children’s learning. We will also be reviewing and
updating our curriculum planning and assessment as well as reviewing and evaluating our
progress against our School Development Plan targets.
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.
Thank you once again for your continued support.
Kindest regards,
Mrs S Smith
Headteacher