No.12

Headteacher Message!

Good afternoon,

As we move towards the end of term, I can hardly believe we are already two-thirds of the way through the school year. Time has certainly flown, and it has been wonderful to see our pupils continuing to learn, grow, and flourish each day.

As we head towards Easter, the most important time in the Christian calendar, we have some special moments to look forward to: our Easter Pause Day and our Easter Church Services. Another highlight will be seeing the children’s fantastic Easter bonnets during our parade as we sing 'Spring Chicken' very loudly! It's always such a joyful and creative event.

Ashley has been lucky enough to be given 10 places in the London Mini Olympics. This is an exciting opportunity for our pupils, and we are thrilled to be taking part. You will find more details about this further on in the newsletter.

Throughout this term, our Academy Trust has carried out several quality assurance visits, including safeguarding, Early Years, and an inclusion review. I am pleased to report that the feedback from these visits has been very positive, reflecting the dedication and hard work of our staff team. Below are some quotes:

'The headteacher, with the DSL and a strong team of DDSLs, have established an open culture in which safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility. Pupils are kept safe and feel safe. All staff are vigilant and carry out their responsibilities effectively to keep pupils safe.' Safeguarding Health Check

'The SENDCO and other inclusion staff are experienced and committed, and form an intrinsic part of school leadership. They draw in external support and advice frequently and to good effect. Leaders work effectively with parents and carers to ensure productive and positive relationships.' Quality assurance: Inclusion

'Leaders demonstrate a clear and accurate understanding of cohort needs, with effective systems in place to support children with additional needs. As a result, progress is improving, particularly within the prime areas and early reading.' Early Years Moderation

Finally, please see below is a letter, from Surrey Secondary Phase Council, offering guidance for families ahead of the transition to secondary school. It is intended for families of pupils approaching the transition to secondary school (Years 4, 5 and 6) and encourages parents/carers to consider delaying smartphone ownership for their children until at least age 14. Secondary schools across Surrey are increasingly seeing the impact that early smartphone use can have on pupils’ wellbeing, sleep, and readiness to learn.

Eid Mubarak to all of our families celebrating the end of Ramadan today - wishing you and your loved ones a joyful and blessed celebration!

Have a wonderful weekend!

Mrs Ratcliff

Smartphone Free Childhood Letter

Reminders

SCHOOL LUNCHES - Please below the new school lunch menu for the summer term which will start after Easter. 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.

Please see the new Spring/Summer Menu -

spring summer 26 menu

PERSONAL APPEARENCE

Hair should be neat and tidy and tied away from the face. Shoulder-length hair must, for safety and hygiene reasons, be tied back daily. Hair accessories should be plain in style and in school colours. Dyed, gelled, highlighted hair or braiding with coloured cotton and beads is not allowed. Patterns should not be shaved into hair.

Nail varnish, make up and temporary tattoos etc. should not be worn in school.

No jewellery should be worn to school. We prefer no earrings at all, but if necessary small flat, plain, metal stud earrings should be worn. There should only be one earring in each ear. On PE days, children should leave their earrings at home and not wear them to school.

If a child has just had their ears pierced, they should wear their earrings to school but must remove them by themselves for PE and should replace them immediately afterwards. Staff members at Ashley will not attempt to remove earrings.

Watches may be worn (not smart watches) although Ashley accepts no liability for any items that are lost or damaged.

A smart uniform is part of the culture at our school and an important aspect of our pastoral care. Some items are only available from the school’s supplier, County Schoolwear: www.countyschoolwear.co.uk/ashley

We would really appreciate your co-operation in ensuring your child is wearing the correct uniform to and from school.

The Friends of Ashley also sell and accept donations of preloved (second-hand) uniform. Please click here for more information

Friends of Ashley Uniform

All items should be clearly labelled with your child’s name, including shoes and trainers.

Mini London Marathon

We are delighted to be taking part in the Mini London Marathon on the Saturday 25^th April. If your child would like to take part and represent Ashley in the mini marathon please complete the attached online form by midday Tuesday 24^th March. Click here Mini London Marathon 25th April 2026 – Fill out form

It starts at Horse Guards Parade and the finish Line The Mall. It is a one-mile route for children in Reception to Year 7. We have been allocated 10 places so it is important that you complete the form to ensure your child has a chance to represent Ashley. If we receive more than 10 applicants we will put all names into a hat and they will be chosen at random. Deadline is midday Tuesday 24^th March.

The Past Fortnight

Y6 -

Year 6 have been busy designing, making and - best of all - tasting and evaluating seasonal soups this week. Not only were they chefs, they also designed packaging for their soups, some of which were very creative indeed!

- Miss Bardel

Y5 -

In Art, year 5 have created symmetrical Rangoli patterns and will paint them next week. They were extremely patient creating the intricate designs using compasses. They are going to look stunning on display in the Year 5 corridor.

-Miss May

Y4 -

The past two weeks have been wonderfully busy and full of memorable learning experiences for the children. One of our events was a visit to St Mary's church, where the children learned about the meaning and traditions of Communion. They approached the experience with curiosity, and it sparked some thoughtful discussions back in the classroom. A heartfelt thank you to the parent helpers who joined us. We also had the excitement of welcoming an inflatable planetarium into school. The children were captivated as we explored the stars, learned all about our changing seasons and the phases of the moon.

Mr Denman

Reception -

This week, our Reception children have been learning all about patterns. We took our learning outside to see what we could find! The children had a great time using shape tiles as well as things found in nature —like leaves, sticks and stones—to make their own repeating rows. It was a lovely way to practise Maths skills while being creative together in the fresh air."

-Mrs Semec

Sports News

Year 5 took on Cardinal Newman in a Netball match last week and whilst we lost, they showed great sportsmanship and teamwork during the blustering winds. They have improved so much and should be very proud of themselves!

Year 5/6 mixed team faced Grovelands last week and were very resilient against a strong opposition. Harvey scored a fantastic goal that created immense elation. Well done team! Thank you to everyone who came to support

Mini Dance Performers

A Delightful Performance at Assembly!

Our Mini Dance Performers took to the stage during Monday’s assembly, and what a spectacular job they did! It was wonderful to see their hard work and energy shine in front of the whole school. Join the Fun on Wednesdays led by Anna Berryman—former Head Girl at the Royal Ballet School—Mini Dance Performers offers dynamic dance fitness classes every Wednesday lunchtime. These sessions combine the latest hits with confidence-building exercises in a fun, supportive environment. Each class features energizing warm-ups and exciting routines designed to get children moving while supporting their overall wellbeing.

Expert Coaching & Wellbeing "Mrs. B" uses a unique approach that leverages dance to boost self-esteem and help students develop healthy coping skills. Her expert teaching techniques ensure that every child feels empowered through movement. Let’s dance!

Celebration

March is a busy month for religious festivals and special days. We are in well into our Christian Lent time leading up to Easter. Holi - Hindus' vibrant celebration of colour and triumph of good over evil was at the start of the month. To our Muslim families we would like to wish you Happy Eid Ul Fitr marking the end of fasting period Ramadan this Friday.