Welcome Back to School
Dear Parents and Children,
I hope you have all enjoyed a wonderful summer break. We are excited to welcome everyone back to school on Wednesday 2nd September and look forward to beginning another successful year together. A particularly warm welcome goes to the children and families joining our school community for the first time this September. We are delighted to have you with us and hope you quickly feel part of the AECPS family.
To help families settle into the new academic year, we have arranged a series of Meet the Teacher sessions. These meetings will provide useful information about classroom routines, curriculum expectations, assessment arrangements and homework. Details of the meetings can be found later in this letter and were also included in the July newsletter.
Start of Term Arrangements
All children return to school tomorrow on Wednesday 2nd September. On the first morning, pupils in Years 1 to 6 should go to the playground where they will be greeted by their new class teacher shortly before 8.45am and accompanied into school. All children should wear their school uniform until PE arrangements have been communicated by your class teachers.
From Thursday onwards:
Children in Years 3 to 6 should enter through their usual playground entrances from 8.45am.
Children in Years 1 and 2 will continue to be met by their class teachers in the KS2 ball pen before being escorted into school.
Reception children should arrive at their classroom entrance for 8.45am where they will be welcomed by Miss Platt and the Reception team. Families should refer to their starter information pack for the arrangements during the first week.
Welcoming New Staff
We are pleased to welcome two new members of staff to the school:
Mr Cunningham - Year 4 Teacher
Miss Hindson - Learning Support Assistant
We are delighted that they are joining our team and know they will make a valuable contribution to school life.
Important Reminders for the New School Year
Attendance and Punctuality
Regular attendance and punctual arrival are vital. The school day begins promptly at 8.45am, and learning activities start immediately. Arriving just five minutes late each day results in a significant amount of missed learning time over the course of a week and year.
School Holidays During Term Time
Please ensure any family holidays are booked during official school holiday periods. Holidays taken during term time cannot be authorised and may result in a Fixed Penalty Notice from Cheshire East Local Authority.
Families should also be aware that attendance guidance and Fixed Penalty Notice introduced in August 2024, remain in force. Further information will be shared during the term, but we strongly encourage parents to avoid booking holidays during term time.
Daily Essentials
Children should bring the following items to school every day:
A water bottle containing water only
A healthy snack (No Nuts Please)
Their reading book and reading materials
Nut-Free School Reminder: To help keep all children safe, we are a nut-free school. Please check all snacks and packed lunch items carefully, including ingredients and allergy advice. All snacks should be labelled to prevent children sharing inadvertently. Any items containing nuts will not be permitted in school and may be replaced with a healthy nut-free alternative. Thank you for your support in protecting children with severe nut allergies.
School Library Books
If you discover any school reading books at home, please return them to the school office. With school budgets under increasing pressure, recovering lost resources is greatly appreciated.
Uniform Expectations
Children are expected to wear full school uniform each day. PE clothing, including trainers, should only be worn on designated PE days. All children should attend school in their normal uniform on Wednesday 2nd September.
SMART Phones and Watches
As outlined in the letter shared during the summer term, pupils should not bring mobile phones, smart watches or other devices with communication or internet-enabled functions onto the school site. These devices can present safeguarding concerns and are not required during the school day. Any smart phone or watch brought into school will be confiscated by a member of staff and must be collected by a parent from the school office. We appreciate your support in helping us maintain a safe and focused learning environment for all children.
Meet the Teacher Events
We are looking forward to welcoming parents and carers to our Meet the Teacher sessions. These meetings will provide an opportunity to learn more about classroom routines, curriculum expectations, homework and key information for the year ahead.
All meetings will take place straight after school in your child's classroom.
Thursday 3rd September 2026 - Year 1 Meet the Teacher
Friday 4th September 2026 - Year 2 Meet the Teacher
Tuesday 8th September 2026 - Year 4 Meet the Teacher
Wednesday 9th September 2026 - Year 3 Meet the Teacher
Thursday 10th September 2026 - Year 5 Meet the Teacher
Friday 11th September 2026 - Year 6 Meet the Teacher
Reception Parents Reception parents should continue to arrange individual meetings with Miss Platt and make a note of the Reception information events planned throughout the term.
Keeping in Contact
If you need to contact your child's teacher, the most effective method is through the school office, either by telephone or email. Messages will be passed on and teachers will respond as soon as possible, although please remember that they are teaching throughout the school day.
For urgent matters, please ask to speak with me or another member of the Senior Leadership Team.
Working Together
Strong partnerships between home and school are essential. If you have any concerns, questions or feel something could have been handled differently, please contact us directly as soon as possible. Open communication allows us to address issues promptly and work together to achieve the best outcomes for every child. We kindly ask parents to speak to school first rather than sharing concerns on social media.
Thank you for your continued support. We are very much looking forward to welcoming everyone back and making this another enjoyable and successful year at school.
Kind regards,
Lindsey Walsh
Headteacher
