September 2025

9^th September 2025

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 delighted to welcome Miss Webster as our second Teaching Assistant in Mouse Class, and Mrs Sansbury has taken on the SENDCo role in addition to her teaching duties.

We also thank all staff and those (including the Diocese and the teams from ReEnergise, Elite Renewables, Danfire, Entrust and UK Power Networks) who have worked so hard to support the required building, IT and power upgrades that have been necessary for the installation of our new air source heat pump system and prepare our school for the new academic year.  It really is an amazing project that enables our school to be heated without relying on fossil fuels. We are delighted that we are now further on our journey towards decarbonisation and, working with the Net Zero project, we are looking at more ways that we can reduce our carbon footprint.

We hope that all families and children are safe and well and are looking forward to all that is planned for 2025-2026.  This term in Mouse Class (EYFS/KS1) children will be answering the questions ‘How have toys changed over time?’ and ‘How do we celebrate?’. Squirrel Class (Y3&Y4) is learning all about ‘Mighty Metals’, and the wise Owl Class (Y5&Y6) will be exploring ‘How has conflict impacted our lives?’ and ‘Why is ‘fair trade’ fair?’.

‘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 17^th 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; 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 a bookmark.

Annual Sponsored Walks

At the end of last term, the YAGs and Y6s agreed to make a change to the charities we will support this year, including for our sponsored walks. Our charities will be Chestnut Tree House, The Wholesome Warehouse and The Etches Collection. Last year’s Y6 children, having visited the Etches Museum in Dorset, were very keen to support the work they do. This involves the challenging work of the excavation to rescue the remaining body of the Pliosaur. This year the Mouse class (EYFS/KS1) walk will be on Wednesday 17^th September with Squirrel & Owl classes’ (Y3/Y4/Y5/Y6) walk on Tuesday 16^th September. Transport to and from the start and finish of the KS2 sponsored walk will be by minibus and private car. Children should wear suitable footwear and may wear home clothes. We recommend long trousers, a couple of layers in case the weather changes, a plastic bag to sit on and certainly a raincoat. All Juniors will require a packed lunch (which they will carry, so we recommend a small rucksack) for Tuesday 16^th. Sponsor forms and details of how to support our chosen beneficiaries will be emailed to you.

After School Clubs

This term, thanks to the generosity of staff, parents and friends in the local community, we are delighted to be able to offer a range of afterschool clubs from 3.30-4.15. Details of the clubs and how to sign up have been sent to you ahead of this newsletter.

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 buy 14 new Chrome books and provided funds for the proposed refurbishment of the playground as well as for the less glamorous, but vital, toilet refurbishment, sewage systems and windows!

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.

Music Tuition

Mr Smith continues to give private flute and saxophone lessons in school on Monday afternoons and has spaces available. Guitar and ukulele lessons will continue this year with Mr Barrett on Tuesdays; he will be contacting 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!

INSET Days

This year our INSET days are enabling school staff to undergo Safeguarding training, to attend locality workshops and training, including moderation of children’s learning and ‘Improving the Outcomes for Disadvantaged Children’. 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.

eSchools Lite App

Did you know that a very quick and easy way to access school dates and information is by downloading the eSchools Lite App? It has links to the school calendar, latest newsletters, online safety information and school contact details.

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