Issue 9 - Spring 2025

Proud to be ELSTON! Empowered, Listeners, Successful, Together, Open-Minded, Nurturing
Dear families,
We've had a wonderfully busy fortnight with lots of exciting activities happening across school. Early Years have been learning about Chinese New Year! Year 2 Welcomed families in for DT workshops: Year 2 DT Workshop. Year 3 welcomed Humph's Histories in for Year 3 Greek Day as part of their Athens v Sparta topic: Year 3 Ancient Greek Day. Please click the link for more information and pictures!
On Monday, KS2 pupils marked Holocaust Memorial Day in assembly and reflected on the importance of following British Values to ensure difference is celebrated and respect is shown for others' beliefs and culture. British Values are woven into our curriculum and whole school ethos:
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Next week, we are thrilled to be hosting 16 trainee teachers from the University of Wolverhampton for special training on the use of technology in schools. They will observe technology in action and then plan activities for pupils to take part in with the support of school and university staff. Other Trust schools - Pheasey Park Farm Primary School and Edward the Elder - will also be hosting trainees in their schools.
We look forward to another busy fortnight before the half term break. Can I remind families that Monday 24th February is an INSET day and school is closed to pupils. We look forward to their return on Tuesday 25th February.
Have a great weekend,
Miss E Foster
Headteacher
Attendance
We track attendance weekly and monitor any pupils falling below 96%. School attendance has increased back to 95.4% which currently puts us in the top 40-50% of schools - well done! This is above the most recent national average published (94.8% - 10.1.24). We'd love to see our attendance increase above 96%. Well done to Year 4 who continue to have the highest attendance so far!
Please could we remind families to inform school of any absences before 9am. Please call 01902 558866. If you are calling before 8am, please leave a voicemail and this will be picked up and reasons for absence recorded on Arbor. Families can now also email attendance@elston.org.uk to report any absences. Families may now also report absences on the Arbor app!
If your child has a medical appointment, please bring them to school before and after wherever possible.
Year group  | Up to 30.1.25 |
Whole School (Without Reception) | 95.4% |
Reception  | 94.4% |
Year 1  | 95.5% |
Year 2  | 95.7% |
Year 3  | 94.6% |
Year 4  | 96.3% |
Year 5  | 95.3% |
Year 6  | 95.0% |
Children's Mental Health Week
Next week (3rd – 7th February) we will be celebrating Children’s Mental Health Week in school. Children will have an assembly on Monday about the week and will participate in a range of activities in lessons and during break times.
On Friday, all children are invited to ‘Dress to Express’. Children can wear their favourite colour, a range of colours or a whole unique outfit to express themselves (please come in shoes sensible for outdoor play). This day will support the charity Place2Be with a £1 donation, this will be accessible to pay on your child’s Arbor account (under trips).

Number Day
Next Friday is also Number Day and Cook has prepared a special menu to celebrate!

Uniform
One of our school rules is: 'We show pride in our school and the uniform we wear!' We'd like to thank families for ensuring that all pupils are wearing the correct uniform. Earrings should be removed for PE. Can we remind families that children should wear white or black trainers with their PE uniform wherever possible.
Safer Internet Day
Tuesday 11th February is Safer Internet Day. The use of technology is celebrated within school and a range of devices are used to support learning. However, the internet can be an unsafe place and its important that adults and children are aware of the dangers in order to stay safe online. Internet safety is taught through our Computing and PSHE lessons as well as in assemblies and through visits from our PCSO. There are a range of resources to support you at home to ensure that the use of devices is closely monitored and you are aware of the current risks to our young people.

Sporting news
Last week, a team of our Y1/Y2 children attended the ‘All Aboard’ festival at Aldersley Stadium where they tried basketball, tennis, football and a dance with drumsticks! The children  worked well together and represented school brilliantly.
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Another team of Y2 children also attended a Multi-skills competition at Moreton where the children finished in first place with a huge score – they scored 200 points ahead of the other teams.
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Our boys football played against Bantock Primary School last week with an impressive performance winning 9-1. Well done boys!
Our girls took part in the Premier League Primary Stars tournament on Friday, winning 2 games and drawing 2. Unfortunately, they went out in the quarter final to a penalty shoot-out. Well done girls!

Inclusive Play
On Tuesday, 30 Year 6 pupils received Play Leader training from Helen Bourton and Wayne Clark from ConnectEd. They were taught how to work collaboratively to support and include all pupils in PLAY at lunchtime.
They will soon launch a range of activities on KS2 playground - a mixture of structured and semi-structured activities to encourage the application of our ELSTON values including nurturing, together and listening.
Their aim is to provide an environment that pupils feel safe and able to PLAY outside enabling every pupil to be active and social.
30 children from Year 5 will receive their training in a couple of weeks time to enable them to develop inclusive PLAY on KS1 playground.
Extra-Curricular clubs
Details have been sent out this week about some additional after school opportunities that we have for children in Y5 and Y6. Places for Cheerleading club (girls only) and Choir will be able to be booked via Arbor from 6pm on Monday 3rd February.
Lockdown drill
Last week, we held a lockdown drill. Pupils behaved excellently and sat sensibly in their classrooms while adults checked everyone was accounted for. Next time, we will practice during break/lunchtime so that pupils know what to do when they are outside.
Morning and After-School club
Please could we request that payment for morning and after school club sessions is made weekly in advance and any arrears are addressed in order to maintain your child's place in club. Thank you for your support.
Year 6 Laches Wood
Please could parents ensure they have returned all Laches Wood medical forms to school by 7th February to ensure sufficient time to collate these before the visit.
Lunch menus
Our regular lunch menus can be found here: Lunches | Elston Hall. Please review these with your children so that they know what is on offer each day. Thank you.
Key Dates
Spring term 2025
Monday 3rd February - Children's Mental Health Week
Wednesday 5th February - Year 5 Music workshop
Friday 7th February - Dress to Express Day / Number Day
Tuesday 11th February - Safer Internet day
Wednesday 12th February - Y4 DT workshop
Friday 14th February - Year 5 Parent workshop
Monday 17th February—Friday 21st February—Half term
Monday 24th February—INSET DAY—School closed to pupils
Tuesday 25th February - Pupils return to school
Wednesday 26th February - Y3 Art Workshops
Thursday 27th February - Y4 Mosque visits
Thursday 6th March - World Book Day
Thursday 13th March - Year 1 Dinosaur Day
Tuesday 18th March - Class photos
Friday 21st March - Comic Relief
Monday 24th March - last week for boosters and clubs
Thursday 27th March - Reception Mother's Day assembly
Monday 31st March - Wednesday 2nd April - Y6 Residential to Laches Wood
Friday 4th April - Animal Man to visit Year 2
Tuesday 8th April - Parent consultations 4-6pm
Wednesday 9th April - Parent consultation 3:30-5pm
Monday 14th April—Friday 25th April—Easter break
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Summer term 2025
Monday 28th April —Pupils return to school. Swimming resumes.
Monday 5th May - Bank holiday - school closed to pupils
Monday 12th May—Thursday 15th May—Year 6 SATs
Monday 19th May - Wednesday 21st May - Y4 Conwy residential
Monday 26th May—Friday 30th May—Half term
Monday 2nd June—Friday 6th June - Year 4 Multiplication Checks
Monday 9th June—Friday 13th June - Year 1 Phonics screening and Year 4 Multiplication Checks
Monday 16th June - Y2 Beaudesert residential
Friday 20th June—INSET day—School closed to pupils
Friday 18th July—Last day of summer termÂ
Community Links
Wolves Women v Manchester United Women
Wolves Women will face the current FA cup holders Manchester United at the SEAH Stadium, AFC Telford, on Saturday 8th February. Tickets can be purchased here:

