Churchtown Chatter
Don’t forget to follow us on: https://twitter.com/churchtownsch & https://www.facebook.com/ChurchtownPrimarySchool
As we reach the end of another school year, I want to take a moment to reflect on the many achievements and memories we’ve shared together. It’s been a year filled with growth, resilience and joy and I couldn’t be prouder of our children and our whole school community.
From exciting curriculum projects and sporting triumphs to creative performances and community events, this year has truly showcased the spirit, talent and determination of our pupils. I would like to thank the team of dedicated staff and supportive families for the part you have played in making our school such a caring and inspiring place to learn and grow.
Today, every child is coming home with a medal a small but special token recognising their part in something big. Earlier this term, every pupil took to the school field to run and raise money for our Churchtown Playground project. Their enthusiasm, effort and community spirit shone through, and we wanted to make sure that each child knew just how much their contribution mattered. The idea to buy
medals came from Alex and Sergio, who were moved by a moment of pure honesty from a child after a run, asking “Mrs Payne, will we get a medal like you did for running the London Marathon?”
Thanks to their thoughtfulness, today we get to say: “Yes, you will and you’ve earned it.”
To our Year 6 pupils, who are now ready to take the next step on their journey congratulations. You leave us with wonderful memories, and we wish you all the very best as you move on to secondary school.
As always, we look forward to welcoming everyone back in September, refreshed and ready for another exciting year ahead. Until then, I wish you all a restful, safe and happy summer break.
Holidays during term time
Family holidays during term-time are discouraged and will not be authorised.
Mrs Payne will not grant any leave of absence during term-time unless it is due to a very exceptional circumstance.
Applications for leave of absence are made in advance and parents/guardians are asked to complete a leave of absence form which can be found on the school website. Alternatively, paper copies are available at the front office.
Applications for leave need to be made at least 2 weeks in advance and will be refused to parents/guardians who take their child on holiday without seeking approval from the school first. This could consequently result in the absence being unauthorised and a penalty notice being issued by the local authority.
Children are always keen to tell their teachers and friends about holidays so there is a good chance that we know about it before we receive the request!
Has your child missed a vaccination?
It’s not too late, contact the team on 0151 247 6130 to book an appointment.
Various clinic dates are available across Waterloo, Southport, Litherland and Maghull.
Please click here to access further information on our letters page in relation to this.
We have said a sad farewell to our fantastic Year 6 pupils today. They sang emotive songs during their leavers’ service at St. Cuthbert’s Church, to celebrate their time at Churchtown. For lots of families, this is the end of an era. We wish them all well at high school and beyond and look forward to hearing about their future successes.
The children all received a leavers’ certificate and a personalised keyring to commemorate their time with us. We also awarded prizes to the children in the table below – well done to all of them!
“We started out as branches of a seedling oak tree; over the years we grew tougher but now it’s time to break free.
Just as acorns fall, we will make our own way, but in our hearts and our roots, Churchtown will stay”.
Harriet E (Former pupil)
Award for Respect:
For showing respect to all individuals
Award for Love of Learning:
For always showing that passion for learning
Award for Fun & Happiness:
For showing a consistent happy and positive attitude to school life
Award for Friendship & Family:
For being kind & caring and nurturing our safe and friendly environment
Award for Skills for Life:
For showing independence and determination
Award for Growth & Development:
For always trying their best and developing confidence in their own abilities
Award for Courage:
For showing grit and determination
Musicians of the Year (boy/girl):
For outstanding progress and for inspiring others to achieve in music
Sportsperson of the year (boy/girl):
Modern Foreign Languages Prize:
Headteacher’s Prizes for Excellence:
For commitment to their studies and to school and for being role models
Annabelle S – Cedar
Esther B – Sycamore
Harrison H - Aspen
Holly K – Cedar
Pearle J – Sycamore
Bram G - Aspen
Alfie P – Cedar
Sophie H – Sycamore
Matilda H - Aspen
Daisy S – Cedar Rio-Komani J – Sycamore
Willow W - Aspen
Sarah M – Cedar
Sophie C – Sycamore
Nina L - Aspen
Nicholas G – Cedar
Gabby A – Sycamore
Maggie R - Aspen
Ozzy H – Cedar
Hope G – Sycamore
Laura W - Aspen
Hollie M – Cedar
Jake J - Sycamore
Kerem C – Sycamore
Lilly R - Aspen
Oscar E-H - Aspen
Madison C – Cedar
Bailey L – Sycamore
Zofia K - Aspen
Your local Boots Pharmacy that is providing NHS Pharmacy First Service over the Summer Holidays is Southport Cambridge Road 131-135 Cambridge Rd Southport PR9 9SD
Please click here to access copy letter on our website in relation to school being open on: Tuesday 29th July 2025 from 1pm until 3pm for quiet reflection & support for pupils, parents, carers and staff.
As the school year draws to a close, we would like to wish the following staff good luck as they move on to pastures new:
Thank you to the staff above who have worked with us over this academic year! You’re work has been invaluable whether it has been teaching classes, supporting whole classes, small groups or individuals or supporting in our school office
The children have thoroughly enjoyed working with you and building good working relationships, which has only led to their success. Thank you for the commitment you have given to Churchtown Primary School.
Best of luck with the next steps in your careers!
Support available over the Summer Holidays
Sefton Children’s Social Care (CHAT) 0151 934 4013 or Emergency Duty Team 0151 934 3555.
Lancashire Children's Social Care 0300 123 6720 or Emergency Duty Team 0300 123 6722. Sefton Family Advice and Support Team (FAST) 0151 934 4545
Sefton Women’s And Children’s Aid - 0151 922 8606 or help@swaca.com
24hr National Domestic Abuse Helpline - 0808 2000 247 Childline - 0800 1111
NSPCC - help@nspcc.org.uk
If you require support for a person under 18 experiencing a mental health crisis please contact CAMHS on 0151 293 3577. If you feel that you need help immediately call for an ambulance on 999 or attend the nearest A&E. If you require support regarding domestic abuse, you can attend a local chemist and ask for ANI (Action Needed Immediately)
ANI is a codeword scheme that enables victims of domestic abuse to discreetly ask for immediate help in participating pharmacies.
Online Safety
https://www.nspcc.org.uk/keeping-children-safe/online-safety/ School Summer Holiday Programmes https://www.sefton.gov.uk/media/8767/be-active-guide-summer-2024-final-digital-010724.pdf
Mrs Finney
Miss Van Der Spuy
Mrs Hunt Mrs Bowling
Punctuality
The school gates open at 8:40am and children are expected to be in school for 8.50am ready for their morning register.
Children are marked as arriving late to school if they arrive after 9am. If they arrive after 9:20am, they will receive an unauthorised absence for their morning mark. Poor punctuality can affect a child’s overall attendance percentage.
Children who arrive late will need to enter school via the front office. Mrs Welsh will sign in any children who are late using the InVentry system, which is located by the front office.
Parents and guardians of children in nursery and reception are expected to wait with their child until it is convenient for the child to be taken to class. Please be mindful that staff will need to leave the class that they are in to come and collect any children who are late. This can be disruptive for other children and we do not always have the capacity to collect children from the office straight away.
Punctuality is closely monitored and if we have concerns regarding a child’s attendance, parents/guardians will be contact by Mrs Welsh (Attendance and Pastoral Support).
We acknowledge that anybody can have a morning when they are late due to unforeseen circumstances. However, persistent lateness is not acceptable and unauthorised absences can result in the local authority issuing penalty notices.
Here is a reminder of how poor punctuality can affect a child’s learning opportunities:
Minutes late per day during the school year
Equal days’ worth of teaching lost in a year
5 minutes 3.4 days
10 minutes 6.9 days
15 minutes 10.3 days
20 minutes 13.8 days
30 minutes 20.7 days
We would like to stress that we are here to support our children and families and we will continue to do all we can to help in situations where we can. If you have any queries or concerns regarding punctuality or attendance in general, please ask to speak to Mrs Welsh who will be based in the main office from September 2025. Thank you for your continued cooperation with this matter.
We would like to stress that we are here to support our children and families and we will continue to do all we can to help in situations where we can.
If you have any queries or concerns regarding punctuality or attendance in general, please ask to speak to Mrs Welsh who will be based in the main office from September 2025.
Thank you for your continued cooperation with this matter.
Important Information About the Start of Term
It is important to inform you about the first day back in September, Wednesday 3rd September. Following the success of having children attend in smaller groups last September, we are recreating the same welcoming atmosphere but this time with all children in school for the full day, instead of just coming in for an hour.
All children will be met on the yard at 8:30am on the first morning by their class teacher. Children will be expected to wear full school uniform for their first day back in school. Look out for your child’s class and their class name, which will show you where to line up. The classes will then begin to enter the building from 8:40am.
Once the teachers have taken the classes into their classrooms, the children will be registered for the morning. They will then do three activities in smaller groups:
• One third of the class will stay with their teacher and teaching assistant to do “get to know me” activities.
• Another third will go to the hall for a welcome back assembly to discuss class and school expectations.
• The final third will be able to play on the new school playground after we have shown them all the areas and discussed how they are to be used.
We will be emphasising that the children use the playground for its intended purposes. For example:
• The stage can be used for acting, singing, and dancing
• The climbing area is for climbing
• The picnic tables are for sitting, colouring, and reading
• The seating areas are for sitting
Wednesday 3rd September will be the first day the children get to see the new playgrounds, and it will be very exciting! The only rule we ask for the new yard is that children do not play on the climbing areas in the main yard before school, between 8:30 and 8:40 am. They can use the whole yard at break, lunch, and after school between 3.10 and 3.20pm (if you are waiting to collect a sibling).
After school, if children want to use the climbing areas, this is at the discretion of parents or guardians, who are responsible for their children’s safety at that time. However, before school, climbing on the climbing areas is not allowed.
Staff will be on the yard in the mornings to ensure children are not on the climbing areas, but please help us by reminding your children of the rules and encouraging them to stick to them. The reason for this rule is that not all children have an adult with them before school, so we cannot ensure they are being properly supervised. In preparation for the exciting new playgrounds, we will also be talking to the children before we break up for summer.
From the second day onwards, teachers will no longer come out to collect the children. Instead, children will go into class as normal, using the playground doors from 8:40 am.
Finally, we really appreciate that children ride their bikes or scooters to school, as this helps with parking around the school thank you! However, once children reach the school gates, we ask that they walk their bikes and scooters to park them safely in the bike shed until the end of the school day.
Some of our pupils in Year 4, Amelia B, Nylah, Cian, Roman, Eliza, Amber, Etta, Cosima and Maya have all been busy making bracelets and other crafts to sell and raise money for Bebe’s Hive and Elsie’s Story.
They have raised the grand total of £160! Well done to you all!
Date
Tuesday 29th July 2025
Monday 1st September 2025
Tuesday 2nd September 2025
Wednesday 3rd September 2025
Thursday 4th September 2025
Wednesday 10th September 2025
Thursday 23rd October 2025
Friday 24th October 2025
Monday 3rd November 2025
• Text in red is a new addition to the calendar
Event
Churchtown Primary School open for quiet time & reflection from 1pm until 3pm
INSET Day (whole school closure including Butterflies Holiday Club & Snowdrops Nursery)
INSET Day (whole school closure including Butterflies Holiday Club & Snowdrops Nursery)
Back to school – rise and shine, school starts at ten to nine!
Parent/Guardian Y6 Robinwood Meeting in the Early Years Hall –3.30pm-4.00pm
Meet the Teacher Meetings – 3.15pm, 3.45pm & 4.15pm
Break up for half-term (normal times)
INSET Day
Back to school – rise and shine, school starts at ten to nine!
Snowdrops (open 51 weeks of the year) – closure dates (2025)
CLOSED – Monday 25th August 2025 (Summer Bank Holiday)
CLOSED – Monday 1st September 2025 (INSET Day)
CLOSED – Monday 2nd September 2025 (INSET Day)
Butterflies Holiday Club…………. will be open to Churchtown Primary School Children on the following dates:
Monday 21st July 2025 – INSET Day Tuesday 22nd July 2025 – INSET Day
Wednesday 23rd July to Friday 29th August 2025 – Summer Holidays
CLOSED – Monday 25th August 2025 (Summer Bank Holiday)
CLOSED – Monday 1st September 2025 (INSET Day)
CLOSED – Monday 2nd September 2025 (INSET Day)