Headteacher’s Newsletter – 6th February 2026
Dear Parents/carers,
Rain, rain go away and unfortunately I can’t say come back another day unless it is a while away! The forecast is set to be like this next week so please ensure your child has a suitable coat and shoes.
Great sports skills at CNS on Wednesday
As always, the children of St. Mary’s were praised for their teamwork and superb behaviour. Life skills that are valued wherever you are in the world. Well done, everyone!
Year 5 workshop
We had a fantastic singing workshop on Tuesday with our visitors from the Chipping Norton Music Festival and the children sang really well! We will be taking part in the event with other schools on the 12th March in Chipping Norton Town Hall, during the school day and parents are welcome to watch the performance and details have been sent out on ParentMail.
Another Strive For 5 Winner
If you read at least five times a week at St. Mary’s your name is placed in the weekly book raffle. Kayla was a very lucky winner and got to read to Isla. Reading opens whole new worlds and gives us such great opportunities. We love a good book at St. Mary’s! What’s your favourite read?
Safeguarding
During Collective Worship, this week, we have been talking about Safeguarding and keeping ourselves safe. We talked with the children about trusted adults and the fact the children can talk to any staff member about a worry they may have.
If you have a concern or would like further information about safeguarding, please contact:
- Mrs. McQueen – Designated Safeguarding Lead
- Mrs Taylor – Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead
- Miss Wakefield – Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead
SAFEGUARDING?
You will have likely heard the work ‘Safeguarding’ talked about at school or other settings, but not all parents are really clear on what it actually means or looks like for their child. In education settings, the term Safeguarding refers to the process of protecting children from harm. This includes protecting them from abuse, neglect, and exploitation. Safeguarding processes, polices and procedures are put in place to ensure that children are safe and happy, and that they have the opportunity to reach their full potential and thrive.
As a parent, you have a vital role to play in safeguarding your child. You are the first line of defence against harm. By being aware of the risks and taking steps to protect your child, you can help to keep them safe.
Safeguarding is not just about protecting children from physical harm. It’s also about protecting them from emotional harm. This includes protecting them from bullying, cyberbullying, and other forms of emotional abuse. Parents and carers also play an enormous role in teaching children about personal safety, online safety, and dangers they may encounter in their everyday lives and by being proactive, informed, and involved, parents can significantly contribute to their children’s safety and wellbeing.
WHAT DOES SAFEGUARDING LOOK LIKE?
Safeguarding is the proactive process of planning, minimising risk and putting into place strategies to keep children safe. As a parent, you will do this every day without even thinking about it- you hold your child’s hand as they cross the road, teach them about trusted adults and make sure that they are safe in all that they do – but it goes beyond that.
Schools and education settings will have policies and procedures that set out the measures in place to keep children safe, but how can you do this as a parent? For parents, safeguarding should be a combination of proactive measures and vigilant awareness, many elements of which we will complete naturally, but it is always useful to take a step back and consider how you are maintaining the key elements of safeguarding your own children:
- Building strong relationships with your children
- Teaching essential safety skills
- Awareness of potential and changing risks that you children may encounter
- Trusting your own safeguarding instincts
- Adapting your safeguarding rules as your child grows and matures
Attendance
| Whole school attendance this week | 94.06% |
| Class with the highest attendance this week | Year 4 – 97.6% |
| Whole school attendance (year to date) | 96.1% |
| National average | 94.6% |
Get Ready for a Friday Treat!
Have a lovely weekend and we look forward to seeing you on Monday.
Kind regards,
Mrs McQueen
