No.4-24th October 2025

Headteacher Message - 

 Good afternoon, 

We’ve made it to the half-term holidays. This half term has flown by but it is safe to say we are ready for a break! It’s a great chance for everyone to recharge their batteries before we steel ourselves for the run-up to the end of term and, of course, Christmas.

I had the pleasure of joining Year 4 on their trip to Sayers Croft. It was a wonderfully active, hands-on learning three days, giving the children the chance to explore the amazing outdoors. It was a joy to spend time with them, and they spoke so positively about everything they learned.

Thank you to everyone who attended their Parent Consultation meeting and for bearing with us when there were technical difficulties. These conversations are a valuable opportunity for teachers to share with you how your child has settled into the new school year, their aspirations, and the ways we can work together to help them achieve their potential.  If you missed your appointment, please contact the office to rearrange. It has also been lovely to welcome so many adults to the Great Works – the children really enjoy sharing their learning with you and ‘being the teacher’.

As the evenings grow darker, I’d like to remind parents to explore the resources available on the Clever Never Goes website (https://clevernevergoes.org/). It’s a valuable tool to help you talk with your children—especially older, more independent ones—about staying safe when travelling between school and home.

Wishing you all a lovely weekend and a restful half-term when it comes.

Mrs Ratcliff  

Reminders - 

SCHOOL LUNCHES - Please below the new school lunch menu which will start after half term. If your child/ren normally has a school meal, please can we remind you to order a school meal in advance. Ordering closes on the Friday before and meals cannot be ordered after this time.

ashley primary menu autumn winter 2025 2026 .pdf

 

 

 

Arbor - Please can we ask you to log into  the Arbor app. We ask that you add/check the following information:

• 3 Emergency contacts
• Medical information (including GP surgery and any medical needs)
• Ethnicity
• Religion

Going forward you can change address/telephone or any information through the app directly, the school will receive a notification and your details will be updated accordingly. 

 

 

SICKNESS ABSENCE - Not every illness will require a child to stay away from school. During term time, your child should attend school regularly unless he or she is ill or the school has authorised their absence. If your child is too ill to come to school, you must let the school know before 8.30am on each day of absence. If you are unsure if you should keep your child home from school due to illness, please look at this useful website "Is my child too ill for school? Click here.  If you child will be absent due to illness please report via the study bugs app ONLY. Study Bugs App -Get the app or register now (https://studybugs.com/about/parents)

Dates for your Diary - 

SUBSCRIBE -  To our School  calendar to keep in the loop with all your child/ren's events. 

PLEASE CHECK THE SCHOOL CALENDAR FOR THE CHRISTMAS PERFORMANCE

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                    Scan the QR Code to donate  Or click on this link to donate

Ashley CofE Primary School - Christmas Jumper Day is raising money for Save The Children!

reading cafe invite.pdf

The Past Fortnight - 

 Y6 - 

 

 

What a fantastic Evacuee Day we had in Year 6! It all began when the children had to line up in the playground after being told by Billeting Officer Mrs Bouquet (aka Mrs Murray) what their destination was. The children's costumes and labels really sent us back into the 1940s a period about which our guest speaker, Carole Coller, brought alive for us. Did you know that when food was rationed, children only had 5 sweets per week? Key to understanding life on the Home Front were the artefacts in the Chertsey Museum Box: a gas mask, Air Raid Warden documents and even cigarette cards explaining how to stay safe. Unfortunately, our learning was interrupted by an air raid (Thank you, Head ARP Warden, aka Mr Grace!) Year 6 rounded off the day reading their war poems to parents as part of their Great Works - well done, Year 6!

And... in other Year 6 Sporting News, a huge congratulation to Felix who won his tennis tournament on Wednesday. We look forward to seeing you on Centre Court!

- Miss Bardel 

 Y4-  

   

This week, Year 4 had a D&T afternoon where we used our science knowledge about electrical circuits to design and make a torch.  We thought about the purpose (for use on a night walk at Sayers Croft), the user (children aged 8-9) and the function (to light the way in the dark). The children worked in groups to design their torch and think about how the electrical circuit would work and be connected to the switch that they had to make. The process of making the torches was great; the children innovated, problem solved and worked collaboratively. As engineers, they realised that not everything works and goes to plan 100% of the time so it was good to reflect on this when evaluating their torches. 

Overall, there were some great successes and the children understood just what it means to be a design engineer!

  - Mrs Ready

 Y2- 

In Year 2 we really enjoyed presenting our Great Works to you all. The children did so well, reading their lines so clearly, with some children learning them off by heart and partaking in the comparison activity with their learning partners. We hope the song about Florence Nightingale is still being sung at home alongside the actions. 

- Miss Williams  

Y1 - 

Year 1 thoroughly enjoyed sharing this term's learning with their parents and carers last week. The children performed a beautiful poem before taking their parents on a snap shot tour of each subject in the curriculum, engaging together in their learning zones. The art was especially admired by all. Thank you parents and carers for allowing us to share this special afternoon with you.

- Mrs Lewis  

 

Reception -  

This week we have been finding out about the celebration of Diwali and made our own Diwali Diyas!  What an amazing first half term we have had! It has been so lovely to get to know all the children and start them on their school journey.  They have shown good motivation and a positive approach to the learning opportunities they have encountered.  They have explored and developed friendships,  continued to develop sharing and turn taking skills, they have learnt lots of routines! We have learnt about each other, learnt about autumn, conker rolled, celebrated harvest, had achiever's assemblies, smiled for school photographs, visited the school nurse, sang songs, learnt about phonics and reading and developed our counting skills and knowledge in numerous ways to name but a few things!

We also celebrated our 'Great Works' to each other in class, this involved singing and sharing special work that we have done this half term.  We are very excited that our learning enquiry after half term will be, 'People Who Help Us'.

- Mrs Lulham 

 Community Notice Board - 

 

Many of you will have heard of the local charity Smiles2Smiles. They support those in the local community who need a little extra support, especially at Christmas.

Last year, with huge help from Ashley school, the team at the charity gave many more ‘Smiles’ by sending out just short of 450 hampers and making 65 bags for the children and women in our 4 local refuges. The charity receives their nominations from churches, schools, doctor’s surgeries and local children’s services. Their aim is to compassionately and discreetly help support those in Elmbridge who may be feeling vulnerable and need an extra hand.

This year, the charity expects the number of referrals to rise significantly. They rely heavily on donations from the local community and the Ashley School faith group are proud to announce that Ashley School will once again be having a collection to support them on Friday 21^st November 2025. For many families in a refuge, this may be the only present they receive so the Smiles2Smiles team would be extremely grateful to receive NEW and UNUSED:

 Christmas sweets, treats, biscuits etc

~ Toiletries/bath bombs/bubble bath/gift sets

~ Hats/scarves/gloves/socks

~ Lunch boxes/water bottles

~ Back packs

~ Arts and crafts sets

~ Stationary

~ Games

~ Lego

~ Toys for boys and girls – all ages

The donations can be dropped off at the gates on Friday 21st November 2025, either at drop off in the morning or at pick up in the afternoon where our lovely faith group will be on hand to assist you. If you are unable to drop off on that day, then you can contact Mrs Murray via the School Office and she will be happy to arrange another convenient time with you.

Most importantly, if there are any families you think would benefit from the charity’s help, you should contact Clare on smiles2smiles45@yahoo.com by 24^th November. You can also follow them on their Facebook page Smiles2Smiles.

 - Mrs Murray 

Senco - 

Family Voice Event

Friday 14th November: 9-10am

We are creating a Parent/Carer Participation Group with Family Voice Surrey (FVS), the Parent Carer Forum for Surrey. The group is for all parent carers of children with Special Educational Needs and Disability.

Join us for a tea or coffee and a discussion! Please email Victoria Bailey at Family Voice Surrey on surreyheath@familyvoicesurrey.org to let them know you'll be attending.

 

 Building Confidence – Identifying and Supporting Additional Needs

Fridays 7th, 21st, 28th November & 5th, 12th December: 9.15 - 11.15am

A free 5-week workshop for Parents & Carers. This workshop is aimed at families with a young person registered at Ashley C of E Primary School, and provides an opportunity to discuss your child’s development. Your child does not need to have a diagnosis, or be on the SEND register to attend. Each session will include tea/coffee and chat. To book your place, please contact your school’s SENCO: Mrs Athersuch: senco@ashley.surrey.sch.uk

Or self-refer here: https://forms.office.com/e/as4wiM2vud

 Toddlers of Ashley - 

toddlergroup.pdf

church.pdf