First Newsletter

Welcome back! Suddenly we are at the beginning of another academic year wondering where the summer holidays went!

The Autumn term is traditionally a very busy one for us in school and we are looking forward to welcoming you all into school. I would also like to welcome Miss Liz Cottee as our teacher for Class 3 and Mrs Menna Easton and Mrs Emma Faulkner as Teaching Assistants. I am sure you will join me in welcoming them all to William Ransom.

During this week we will be sending home a list of known dates for this academic year. Please keep it handy. We make every endeavour not to change dates once they have been set, but there are times when this is inevitable, however we will try to give as much notice as possible.

Thank you for your understanding with the workers on the railway line this morning. Their site is completely secure from the pupils and there should be no major site traffic at the start and the end of the school day.

We have been advised by County that we are to avoid granting permission for pupils to be absent during term time. The law is quite specific about this and allows for parents to apply for permission for their child to be absent, for UNAVOIDABLE reasons only. It is only the School that can authorise an absence. Attendance Inspection Officers visit all schools regularly to enquire about attendance and inspect registers and letters about absence. This happens once every half term. Therefore I would ask that all requests for absences are made in writing to me and if you are requesting an absence for longer than 2 days please make an appointment to see me so we can discuss the situation. Where possible, doctor and dentist appointments should be arranged for times outside the school day. All holidays should be taken during the official school closures. Could I also share with you that 3 absences every month equals a whole year missed over 5 years!

If your child is ill and unable to come to school:

• Please telephone school and leave a message on option 1 before 9.00am

• Please phone each day to keep us informed of their progress.

• Once your child returns to school please send a letter explaining their absence

• In the case of long term absences we will assume the pupil will be off school unless you tell us otherwise.

• Any unexplained absences will be followed up with a phone call before 9.30am.

• Alternatively you can email any information to the school office on admin@wransom.herts.sch.uk

All of these procedures are intended to keep your child safe, please help us by keeping us informed. I hope these arrangements are clear but if you do have any queries please do not hesitate to contact me.

We have noticed a number of children returning to school with pierced ears. County Guidelines are very specific about this. Earrings must not be worn at school. If the ears have only recently been pierced then the earlobes must be covered with tape however we would ask that earrings are removed as soon as possible. Would you also ensure nail varnish is removed from children’s fingers.

Please remember that all dinner money cheques should be written to Herts Catering Ltd. from now on.

Please return the slips regarding your email address for ‘In Touch.’ We would like to launch this as soon as possible but need an email address for you all.

The first Uniform Shop of the year is on 23rd September 2013 at 3.20.

I look forward to seeing you in school in the very near future.

Yours sincerely

Mary Driver