Christmas Newsletter

Head Teacher's Welcome

What a fantastic Autumn Term we have had! The children have all worked really hard and have certainly earnt a well-deserved Christmas break.

The Colston Bassett team wish you all a very Merry Christmas and we are looking forward to an exciting and Happy New Year!

School Staff

We are delighted to let you all know that we have appointed an additional member of staff to the Colston Bassett Team. Following Mr Oldershaw’s retirement in July, we are pleased to welcome Mrs Maria Beck to the team on a full-time basis. She will join us at the beginning of the Spring Term on 6th January 2026.

Mrs Beck has been a primary teacher for the last eight years and holds a Bachelors degree in English and Education. From 2010 to 2016, she worked in a specialist school in Melton Mowbray, working with pupils from 5 – 19 years old and teaching English GCSE to Year 10 and 11 students. She undertook a PGCE in Primary Education at Nottingham Trent University from September 2016 to September 2017.

Mrs Beck will be teaching our Class 3 pupils as a job share with Mrs Newcombe, enabling Mrs Newcombe to have more office time. Mrs Beck is very excited to join the Colston Bassett family and we know everyone will make her very welcome.

Visits and Visitors

We are really looking forward to taking the children to Rand Farm Park on Tuesday 25th November 2025 to take part in their ‘Real Christmas Experience’. We have recently sent a letter out about this trip, but just to confirm a few details.

All the main staff members including Liz and John Miller will be attending, so if you need to contact us during the day, please use the school mobile 07849 666283. If the mobile is unavailable, you can contact Millfield Nursery on 0115 9334085, and they will ensure any urgent messages are passed on. Please ensure that all children wear their school uniform on the trip – as we will be visiting a working farm, we strongly recommend that children wear wellies and waterproofs. No packed lunches will be needed, as each child will receive a Christmas Lunchbox lunch included in the cost of the trip. We have already notified the farm of any dietary requirements and they will accommodate these accordingly. Finally, please note that Creative Club will not be held after the trip.

We do hope that the children will have a wonderful day and benefit from this magical Christmas experience.

Parent Appointments

Thank you to the parents that have already made appointments and have been to see their child’s teachers this term. Engaging with teachers not only keeps you updated on your child's progress but also reinforces the vital partnership between home and school, which we feel is essential for their success. For those who haven’t yet signed up for an appointment and would like one, please get in touch with the office at your earliest convenience. We understand that everyone has busy schedules, and we are more than willing to accommodate your availability when finding a date and time.

Children in Need

We are delighted to share that our Children in Need Pyjama Day on Friday 14th November was a great success! The children thoroughly enjoyed the day's activities, which included our 'Guess the Number of Spots on the Cake' competition and the 'Duck Race Sweep Stake'. Congratulations to Charlie who correctly guessed the number of spots, and to Autumn who backed the winning duck! The children also had great fun having their faces painted, and the Pudsey T-shirt making in Creative Club was also a big hit. Thanks to your generosity and support, we raised a total of £179.30 for Children in Need. A big thank you to all the children, parents and staff for making this a memorable and successful fundraising event.

Remembrance Day

The children commemorated Armistice Day this year by crafting beautiful wreaths from poppies and greenery, symbols of remembrance and hope, and placing them at the bus shelter in Colston Bassett village and at the Memorial Cross outside St John the Divine Church. We then observed a two-minute silence, joining the nation in a moment of collective reflection. It was particularly heartening to see the children understand the importance of the occasion, remembering those who have served and sacrificed for our country.

Charity Christmas Cards

As you know, we are offering packs of Christmas cards featuring designs created by the children in school. Each pack contains five cards with envelopes and is priced at £5.00. Each child is limited to a maximum of two packs. If you would like to order and have not already done so, please email the school office before Friday 28th November 2025. The cards will then be distributed before the end of term. We regret that we cannot accept any orders received after the deadline.

For every pack of Christmas cards you buy, we will donate 70% to PASIC (Parents Association for Seriously Ill Children). PASIC was founded in 1977 by a hospital consultant and parents to meet the needs of families dealing with the diagnosis and treatment of a child with cancer. They felt that whilst children were receiving the very best care from the clinical team, additional support was needed for parents and families dealing with the devastating impact of childhood cancer. This group of parents, with the help of staff, set up a self-help group to support others in the same situation facing treatment for childhood cancer. This pioneering group has developed over the years to shape PASIC which today comprises 4 staff, backed up by a hardworking board of trustees and volunteers. For 40 years PASIC have helped hundreds of children at Nottingham Children’s Hospital and currently support around 300 families.

PASIC is a charity that is based locally and helps local children and their families – it is also important to us personally as one of the staff team at Millfield Nursery had leukaemia as a child and PASIC supported her and her family through some very difficult years.

For more information please visit: https://www.pasic.org.uk/.

Nativity Service

We will be holding our Nativity service on Monday 8th December 2025 at Colston Bassett Village Hall. This year it will be ‘The True Meaning of Christmas’, a traditional telling of the Nativity story that seeks to capture the essence of this beloved season. Accompanying the narrative will be a selection of classic songs you will all know and love. The performance will commence at 2:30pm and is expected to last for approximately 30 minutes.

We have permission to use the paddock to the left of the village hall for parents to park their cars on the afternoon of the Nativity. The gate will remain open until 4:00pm, and there should be plenty of space for everyone; however, should the paddock fill up, School Lane is available as an alternative. After the performance, please walk back to school to collect your child. Staff will accompany the children to ensure they can gather their belongings safely.

Please feel free to extend this invitation to other members of your family and friends. The children will be delighted to share this special occasion with you.  

Carol Concert

Our annual Carol Concert will be taking place on Wednesday 10th December 2025 at St John the Divine Church, Colston Bassett. It will begin at 7:00pm so we ask for the children to be at the church for 6:45pm or thereabouts. This timing allows for those who live further away to return home to eat before joining us, and it also gives Liz Miller ample time to travel from Millfield Nursery to play the organ for the evening. Please be aware that Lego Club will not take place on this day to allow the staff time to prepare for the concert.

Participation for the service is required for all children in Class 2 and Class 3, who should attend in full school uniform, including their blazers. The performance is expected to last approximately 45 minutes. We warmly invite parents to bring younger siblings along to enjoy the concert, and family members and friends are also welcome to attend. For your convenience, we recommend parking on School Lane and walking down to the church, as parking near the church is limited. Please note that the Martin’s Arms pub car park will not be available for evening events.

During the concert, there will be a collection plate for donations to help cover the church's heating costs. Alternatively, a QR code will be available for those who wish to make an electronic donation.

We look forward to seeing everyone there for what promises to be a delightful evening!

Christmas Jumper Day

On Friday 12th December 2025 (the last day of term), we will be hosting a fun Christmas Jumper Day! On this day, the children are required to wear their school uniform as usual but may replace their blazers with festive jumpers. This half term’s winning House Team will have a full non-uniform day – we will inform you at the beginning of the last week which House this will be. As is tradition, Christmas Jumper Day is also an opportunity to support Save the Children. If you would like to contribute, feel free to send in a donation.

We will hold a Christmas party during lunchtime, and we will be providing party food for all the children, so normal packed lunches will not be required that day. We will ensure that dietary requirements are catered for, but if you wish to send a little something in for your child, you are more than welcome to do so. After lunch, our PE teacher, Kat Plimmer, will host a disco for the children to celebrate the end of term and their hard work this term.

Childhood Ailments and Sickness Policy

We are at the time of year when we are bound to see more childhood ailments, so we are providing everyone with a reminder of our sickness policy.

Respiratory infections: These are common in children and young people, particularly during the winter months. Symptoms can be caused by several respiratory infections including the common cold, COVID-19, flu and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). For most children these illnesses will not be serious, and they soon recover. Children with respiratory infections can experience a range of symptoms including a runny nose, high temperature, cough and sore throat. It is not possible to tell which germ someone is infected with based on symptoms alone.

Exclusion: Children with mild symptoms such as a runny nose, sore throat, or mild cough, who are otherwise well, can continue to attend school as they have always done. Children who are unwell and have a high temperature should stay at home and where possible avoid contact with other people. They can return to school when they no longer have a high temperature and they are well enough. We do have an information sheet for you with details about lots of common childhood ailments which can be emailed to you – please let us know if you would like a copy of this.

Sickness and or diarrhoea: We follow a strict policy as advised by the NHS with regard to exclusions for vomiting and diarrhoea bugs. These bugs spread extremely rapidly and because of this, we do ask that children are kept at home for 48 hours (two days) after the last time they were either sick or had the diarrhoea. We appreciate that this does seem a long time, however due to the nature of how young children play together with lots of close contact with each other and members of staff, we do need to ensure that everyone at school remains fit and healthy, including the whole staff team, so that we can remain open at all times. See the link below for the latest NHS guidelines for everyone: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/diarrhoea-and-vomiting/.

Easter Service and Open Morning

Just to inform parents that we have decided to separate our Open Afternoon from the Easter Service originally scheduled for Thursday 2nd April 2026. The Easter Service will still take place on this same date at 2:30pm as planned, and while it will be a low-key performance, parents are welcome to attend if they choose. Please note that attendance is not compulsory.

Instead, we will hold an Open Morning on Wednesday 6th May 2026, at 9:00am. We hope this change allows for a more meaningful experience for both events. Please make a note of these arrangements, and feel free to contact the office if you have any questions.

Collection for the Homeless

Just to remind parents about an important initiative that has been organised by Mrs Margaret Crooks, our Teaching Assistant and Midday Supervisor.

Mrs Crooks is currently co-ordinating a collection to distribute essential items to the homeless community in Nottingham. As the colder months are approaching, the need for warm clothing and basic necessities is becoming increasingly urgent. The items needed for this collection include adult clothing, toiletries, hats, scarves, sleeping bags, socks and blankets. Each item, no matter how small, can make a significant difference in the lives of those who are struggling during these challenging times.

If you are able to contribute, please bring any donations to the school office before the end of January. We would greatly appreciate your support and involvement, and we know that our local community will be thankful for your generosity.

School Grounds

As winter is now upon us, we want to ensure that we are all prepared for the season ahead. We will continue to supply rock salt to keep the school drive and playground safe, but please be aware that other areas of the grounds may remain icy during periods of severe weather. We kindly ask everyone to exercise extra caution. We understand the significant impact that school closures can have on working parents, and we will do our utmost to keep the school open whenever possible. However, should the weather become particularly severe during the school day, we may contact parents to suggest an earlier pick-up to ensure everyone's safe return home. If you feel uneasy about travelling to school in extreme weather conditions, please feel free to inform us, and we will make the necessary arrangements. We will notify parents by 8:00am should adverse weather affect the school's operations.

Labelling Clothes

Please can parents ensure that all items of your child/ren’s school uniform are clearly labelled with their names. This is particularly important for items that they may remove frequently during the winter months, such as coats and hats. We strive to help the children manage their belongings, especially during PE when they change in designated areas. However, we often encounter several unnamed garments that are the same, making identifying the rightful owner a little difficult. We are always happy to assist in returning items to their correct homes whenever possible.

Colston Bassett Village Events

Please see below for some details of upcoming events in Colston Bassett village, should any parents be interested in attending. 

Christmas Market
You may be interested to know about the upcoming Christmas Market being held at Colston Bassett Village Hall on Friday 28th November 2025, from 6:00pm to 8:30pm. The market will feature a variety of local stalls offering artisan foods and crafts, along with a barbecue, mulled wine, and other refreshments. A raffle will also be held. Both cash and card payments will be accepted. Charity stalls this year will be supporting The Smile Train and the Peter Le Marchant Trust. All proceeds from the evening will go towards supporting Colston Bassett Village Hall, which our school uses regularly. 

'A Christmas Carol'
We are pleased to inform you that the village hall will be staging ‘A Christmas Carol’, a one-man show performed by award-winning actor Craig Cowdray, on Thursday 11th December 2025 at 7:30pm. The performance has received very good reviews. Tickets are priced at £12.00, and complimentary Christmas treats will be served during the interval. If you are interested in purchasing tickets, please contact either David Lambert on 07879 475440 or John Fletcher on 07809 299917.

Village Breakfast
A reminder that the village breakfast café is held on the last Sunday of the month, so the next one is Sunday 30th November 2025, from 10:00am – 12:00pm. Come and try the Full English Breakfast for £6.00 or other lighter options, or just call by for a coffee. There will be no breakfast at the end of December but it will restart at the end of January 2026.

Curriculum

Dates for your Diary

Please refer to the ‘Calendar’ on the school website:

www.colstonbassettschool.com/parent.php#parent_calendar