Following the news shared early in March (https://browncleeschool.org.uk/staff-changes-next-year/), we held interviews at the start of last week to appoint two new teachers.

We are happy to announce that we have appointed Mrs. Sherri (for 1 day/week) and Mrs. Norman (for 4 days/week).

We can now share the class structures for next year:

As you can see above, given our variable numbers in year groups (some very large and some smaller), next year, we do need to join some year groups back together to create some mixed-aged classes in Dragonflies, Bees and Scorpions. However, we will be doing the opposite in Fireflies and Grasshoppers.

This means that we will have a pure reception year group in Fireflies, all of Year 1 and Year 2 in Grasshoppers. Year 4s will be split between Dragonflies and Bees – and Year 5s will be split between Bees and Scorpions.

As with previous years, we spend an extensive amount of time in assigning children to their classes. This is, however, not done based on age or academic attainment – but on what we feel is best for each child and the class dynamic. We will be informing children in Year 4 and Year 5 of their classes later next half term.

Next year, we have various different plans – including with P.E., music and French – where all of Year 3/4 will regularly be taught together and the same with all of Year 5/6.

Just to share a recent update from Shropshire Council regarding an update from the DfE regarding “Leave of Absence in Term Time”.

As has always been the case, absence during term time can only be authorised in exceptional circumstances. In any request for absence, this should be made in advance of the absence – whether this will be authorised or not. Requests made after the absence itself is unlikely to be authorised.

The updated statutory DfE guidance (Working together to improve school attendance) has tightened regulations around leave of absence, including stricter penalties (including in extreme cases prosecution). If a penalty notice or prosecution is required, this would be delivered by the Local Authority (Shropshire Council) via the Educational Welfare Officer (EWO).

A significant change in the DfE guidance (is that Local Authorities can now issue a penalty notice where 10 or more sessions (AM session / PM session) have been missed due to unauthorised absence across a 10-week period. This would also include significant unauthorised lateness. This 10-week period can span across terms or academic years.

Shropshire Council have asked to remind parents that “…a leave of absence during term time is prohibited for a family holiday.” In these circumstances, a Leave of Absence request form still must be fill in before the absence occurs.

Honesty and transparency is something that is vital in the working relationship between school and home – and we really do appreciate open communication from parents/carers regarding circumstances like these. We do try to work hard to accommodate situations wherever possible and really appreciate that holidays can be precious family experiences. However, we do have statutory duties that we must fulfil. Parents/carers have a legal duty to ensure their child(ren) attend(s) school regularly and report any reasons for absence accurately and in a timely manner. Therefore, as a school, we are required by the DfE and Local Authority to report situations where we feel there may be a chance that reasons for absence are not accurate (e.g. a child being on holiday when reported as illness) to the Education Welfare Officer. The vast majority of which are likely to eventually come to light. Situations like these (i.e. inaccurately reported absences) are likely to be dealt with by the EWO/Local Authority as more severe than those where parents/cares have been honest.

We feel that we work really hard to try and ensure that the school is open, honest and approachable and will always try to work solutions to situations if we can – but this can only work if parents/carers do the same. If you do wish to discuss anything above or want further information, please get in touch.

Just a quick update on a couple of things on ParentPay.

We have been doing some tweaking with the system – this should hopefully now allow parents to now make a booking for meals up until 09:00 on the day of that meal (i.e. no longer have to make meal bookings 2 days in advance).

If trying to pay a variable amount for a club (e.g. as your child receives FSM), then please contact Mrs. Godfrey (careclub@brownclee.shropshire.sch.uk) – as this term’s payments have been set up slightly differently.

Our U11 girls football team has qualified for the Shropshire Schools & Colleges FA county finals.

Their game will be taking place at 2:30pm tomorrow (Saturday 10th May) at the Acoustafoam Stadium (Shifnal Football Club).

Spectators are welcome to join – so, if you do find yourselves with a spare afternoon, please feel free to come support the girls. Further information below.

Match details from SSCFA:

• Address: Acoustafoam Stadium, Coppice Green Lane, Shifnal, Shropshrie, TF11 8PD
• Parking available at Idsall School
• Food and drink available at the stadium
• Entry by matchday programme: £3 for adults / £2 for children/OAP
• Spectators are welcome

We are celebrating VE Day in school this year.

Children can come into school in non-uniform. The theme for this will be red, white and blue.

There will be a themed school meal for the day (menu will stay the same).

Jorge, in Bees, is raising some money with his mum and sister for Make a Wish UK by taking part in the Bridgnorth walk.

If you would like to help Jorge towards his fundraising, please see their JustGiving page here: https://www.justgiving.com/page/issy-erin-jorge-claire?utm_medium=FR&utm_source=CL&utm_campaign=015.

FOBCS are running a an after-school film night this Friday.

This is open to all children from all classes.

Please send your child in with £5 to get a ticket.

Children can arrive from 5:30pm for a film start at 6:00pm.

Please note that the film being shown is a PG.

Welcome Back Letter (April) – PDF Version

We hope everyone has had a great Easter break. Here is some information that we thought would be useful ahead of the new
term.

Wraparound Care: After-school Clubs and “Care Club”

A quick reminder that “Care Club” can be accessed before school (7:30am-08:45am) and after school (3:15pm-6:00pm). If you
wish to book your child(ren) into “Care Club”, please email Mrs. Godfrey (careclub@brownclee.shropshire.sch.uk). You will then
be asked to pay for this via Parent Pay – unless paying via the tax-free childcare payment system. Following a price reduction, the
current cost is £1.25 for every 15 minutes. Please note you can book your child into Care Club up to a term in advance.
Next term is a short one (4 weeks), but we have a range of after-school clubs that your child can be booked onto. As previously,
these can be booked via ParentPay (https://app.parentpay.com/).

If your child is a recipient of “free-school meals”/FSM (Please note that this is not the same as “Universal Infant Free School
Meals”/UIFSM. See here for FAQs: https://next.shropshire.gov.uk/free-school-meals/faqs/), then as part of our Pupil Premium
Strategy, they will only have to pay half the cost of any wraparound care.

Any pupils that receive FSM (not UIFSM) result in additional funding for school. This funding is used for a number of different
benefits for those children (e.g. reduced costs for wraparound care and educational/residential visits and help towards uniform
costs – where required). Please see here (https://next.shropshire.gov.uk/free-school-meals/apply-for-free-school-meals/) on how
to apply.

Celebration Assembly

Just a reminder that all parents, carers, grandparents etc. are invited to attend our weekly celebration assembly (Friday mornings
at 08:55-09:30). Here we give out any certificates for children for activities on TTRS, Numbots and Spelling Shed – as well as
present our weekly trophy to the highest class on TTRS. We also share some of our favourite things from the week, celebrate any
pupils that have received recognition awards, share any other significant events (e.g. sports competitions) and draw our winning
reading raffle tickets.

School Meals – Update

School meals are now under the control of the school – which initially has enabled us to keep to school meals cost at £2.80
(rather than the £3.20 – with a further increase due in June – that the managed service would have imposed). Our new menu is live
on ParentPay. Please remember to book your child’s meal in advance. We will be exploring how we can adapt and improve over
time – so any feedback will be massively appreciated.

School Website updates

As always, key information and dates are regularly updated on the school website. To receive automated email updates from the
school website, you can sign up here (https://browncleeschool.org.uk/home/parents-area/updates/news-subscription/).
A recent post went out regarding upcoming dates: https://browncleeschool.org.uk/provisional-confirmed-dates-for-next-term/.

If you have any questions or queries, please contact your class teacher on their class email or the school office
(admin@brownclee.shropshire.sch.uk).

Isabelle, in Grasshoppers, is raising money for Hope House & Ty Gobaith.

Isabelle is taking part in the Bridgnorth Walk as part of her fundraising.

If you would like to help Isabelle towards her fundraising, please see her JustGiving page (or use the QR code above) here: https://www.justgiving.com/page/isabelle-pugh-1?utm_medium=FR&utm_source=WA.

Just to let you know that the catering and cleaning teams at school are now under direct employment of the school – which will hopefully have number of benefits for use as a school.

We are continuing the existing menus until the end of term. After Easter, we have our new menus. These will be live on ParentPay at the end of this week. These menus will adapt and evolve as we try to see what works well. We are also planning on some other future developments – including more choice/options. Our School Council have already been exploring this withing school, and a questionnaire will be sent out to parents/carers next term.