St Thomas More Catholic Primary School
Inspiration, Celebration and Education
Keep up to date with all the latest news happening in school at the moment.
In Reception, Year 1, 2 and 3 we follow a phonics scheme called Read, Write Ink. It is a fantastic scheme that teaches the children sounds, blending sounds to make words and then read the words in sentences.
Reading is crucial for children to learn well at school and practicing little and often is so important. If you would like to practice these sounds over the summer holidays then we have put some links onto your child's class Dojo page that would help with this.
Cheltenham Rocks is the ultimate what's on guide for families to find things to do in our local area.
With the summer holidays beginning visit Cheltenham Rocks to discover local events, places to visit, playgrounds, day trip ideas, children's classes, kids parties, holiday clubs, and outdoor spaces - it's a one stop shop for things to do in the local area!
If you're looking for some new areas to explore during the summer holidays they have ideas of over 50 Parks, Walks & Play Areas on Cheltenham Rocks!
Please see their website - www.cheltenhamrocks.co.uk
This year’s Summer Reading Challenge is Wild World Heroes – are you a budding Greta, or maybe Attenborough’s your idol? This challenge is for you! Well, it’s for everyone! And the best bit….? It’s FREE!
Pack your bags, we’re headed for Wilderville! It’s a pretty cool place, but there are lots of things that the Wild World Heroes can do to make their town even better for the people and animals that live there. Join the Wild World Heroes for the Summer Reading Challenge and discover how you can make a difference to the environment too. We’re teaming up with WWF for a very special nature-themed Challenge that will inspire you to stand up for the planet! Wild World Heroes will feature amazing books, awesome rewards, and plenty of ideas for taking care of our environment.
Get your hands on stickers, certificates, and golden medals – just for reading! You can read anything you like – fact books, funny books, books about ponies, books about aliens, poetry, graphic novels and comics… anything at all! Whatever you like, whatever your reading ability – this challenge is for YOU! Are you excited to join the #WildWorldHeroes this summer? Pop into your local library from Sat 10th July to sign up for the Challenge.
It’s FREE to join the library, and FREE to join the challenge!
Please see below the amended information regarding the two different schemes that Gloucestershire County Council will be offering for Free School Meal support this summer.
Offer 1: Holiday Free School Meal vouchers
For the first and last week of the summer holiday only (26th – 30th July, and 30th August – 3rd September), parents who have signed up for holiday free school meal vouchers form the County Council will receive their voucher worth £15 per child per week to spend in a chosen supermarket.
A voucher for both weeks will be sent to you between the 14th to 16th July. You do not need to sign up to receive this voucher if you have received them in previous school holidays. This scheme is funded by grant monies.
For more information and to sign up if you haven't already please visit their website:
https://www.gloucestershire.gov.uk/holiday-school-meal-vouchers/
Offer 2: Holiday Activity and Food Programme (HAF)
Between the 2nd August and 27th August, they are co-ordinating the Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) Programme in partnership with district councils, the voluntary sector and other organisations. This programme is funded by the Department for Education (DfE).
This is a four-week programme face-to-face activities in your local area, plus more virtual activities online, with daily meals or food kits being offered dependant on what is available in your district. Each district area (Cheltenham, Cotswolds, Forest of Dean, Gloucester, Stroud and Tewkesbury) will have its own separate section on our website for you to find what is happening in your area.
This July, there will be a leaflet with further information on the HAF scheme that will be distributed to all schools in the Gloucestershire area for children to take home. You must sign up to this programme in order to take part, and they will inform you and schools when applications open. For now, please take a look at the HAF website which contains further information about the programme.
If you do not sign up to the HAF programme, you will not receive vouchers instead.
To make sure you know when and how to make the most of the HAF Programme, sign up to the newsletter.
If you have any queries please contact: childrensfund@gloucestershire.gov.uk