Newsletter 3 - 6th November 2026

Drop off and dismissal 

From Monday, the gate across the path running next to the Secret Garden and Forest Fun area that connects the KS1 and KS2 playgrounds will be locked at drop off and pick up times and families will not be able to access the KS2 playground directly from the KS1 playground. This is to safeguard KS2 children who are present and active in the KS2 playground at these times. The staggered dismissal times for Reception, KS1 and KS2 allows for movement between both playgrounds via the pedestrian path between Fern Hill and The Kingston Academy.  

Punctuality & Planned Absence

Please may we remind you of the importance of children being on time and settled in their classrooms before the start of the school day. The first 10–15 minutes of the morning are used for revisiting key skills such as handwriting, spelling, reading, times tables and arithmetic, which pupils start before the registers are taken.

Children may go straight to class once their playground gates are opened at 8:40 am; class registers are taken at 8:50 am when the playground gates are locked. Children arriving after the gates are locked should go directly to school reception to be signed in. Arrivals after 8:55 am are marked as late. Further information on the timing of the school day can be found here.

All planned absences, including those for religious observance, examinations and term-time holidays, should be requested in advance using the relevant request for absence form. These forms are online and are linked on the school website here. 

If your child has a dental or medical appointment, you do not need to complete a form but please do inform us in advance by emailing the school office and attaching evidence of the appointment, for example a screenshot of the confirmation text.

Lost Property

A lost property box is located just inside the entrance of the school. Please check this box for lost items before contacting the school office. We will always endeavour to return items to their owner, so please make sure everything your child brings to school is clearly named (first name and surname), including water bottles and packed lunch containers. Items not collected by the end of every half-term are sent for recycling or disposed of.

School Book Fair

We will be hosting a Scholastic Book Fair during the last week of November, just in time for your Christmas shopping! And, as usual, all purchases will earn rewards towards buying new books for our school. The fair will be open from 3:30 - 4:30 pm in the Junior Library on Tuesday 24th, Wednesday 25th and Thursday 26th November. You can browse the books that will be available on the Travelling Books website here. 

Book Fair Poster Competition

We also have some book fair vouchers available to win for the best posters advertising the fair, including the details above and showcasing your child's favourite books and book characters. Posters can be delivered to class teachers or left on Mrs Rouillard's desk in the Junior Library and all entries must be handed in by 9:00 am on Tuesday 17th November. Please remind your children to put their name and class on the back of their poster. Good luck!