Welcome Back from Mrs Fussell

Dear Parents, Carers, and Friends,

I would like to extend a very warm welcome back to All Saints’ following the summer break. I hope you were able to enjoy some precious family time and make the most of the weather when it was on our side.

To those of you joining our school community for the first time, an especially warm welcome. All Saints’ is a very special place, with a dedicated team of staff who work tirelessly to give every child the very best start in life. Like many schools across the UK, we face daily challenges, but I am incredibly proud of how our talented staff consistently go above and beyond to support our pupils and families. We truly value our relationship with parents and carers — please know that our door is always open should you need to speak with us.

I’m genuinely excited about the year ahead. There is a real buzz of enthusiasm among staff, and everyone is eager to get back into school life.

So, what’s been happening at All Saints’ over the summer?

• Holiday Club
  We were delighted to host Jo Wilson’s holiday club on our school premises. Feedback has been overwhelmingly positive, and we’re pleased to confirm that the club will return during additional school holidays throughout the year. Further information will follow.

• KS2 Toilets Refurbishment
  A significant renovation of the Key Stage 2 toilets has taken place. These have been completely refurbished, with new cubicles and washing facilities in both the boys’ and girls’ toilets, and the urinals removed from the boys’ side. We’re extremely grateful to the John Taylor MAT for supporting this much-needed work, which is a valuable step in our long-term programme of improving school facilities.

• Nursery and Wraparound Room Improvements
  Our Nursery and Wraparound Room have also undergone a much-needed update. The old carpet has been replaced with modern, durable laminate flooring, and the walls have been freshly decorated. Huge thanks go to Mr Christensen for his hard work over the summer. As I’ve mentioned before, small schools like ours continue to face significant financial pressures, so we are especially grateful for Mr Christensen’s ongoing support with maintenance and improvements — these upgrades simply wouldn’t be possible without him.

A Few Reminders and Updates:

• Staffing Update
  Sadly, Mrs Semple remains unwell following her illness at the end of the summer term, and she is unlikely to return during the first half-term. Mrs Tilley and Mrs Jones will continue to work tirelessly to keep the office running smoothly. If you are waiting for a response to an enquiry, please contact us by phone or email me directly and I will ensure it is resolved.

  Mrs Stanley is also currently unwell and will return later in the term. We have arranged cover for her work with specific children, and those families will be contacted directly. We send our very best wishes to both Mrs Semple and Mrs Stanley for a full and speedy recovery.

• Herons Wraparound
  Places for Herons Wraparound will be confirmed this week. We don’t anticipate any issues and will be happy to confirm your child’s place as soon as possible.

• Communication & Website Updates
  As you may know, we’ve had several staff changes this year. The class pages on our school website will be updated shortly — please look out for these changes early next week before the children return.

  As part of a Trust-wide decision, all JTMAT schools will be moving away from Twitter (X) and switching to Instagram. Consent forms for using children’s images on Instagram will be sent home during the first week of term. No images will be shared without consent. Teachers are now equipped with high-quality tablets, which will allow us to share photos of the fantastic things happening in school more regularly and reliably — something we know hasn’t always been possible in the past due to technical limitations. Please note, Instagram will ONLY be used for sharing photographs - the main school website will continue to be used, particularly Latest News, to communicate regular messages, as well as the school text service.

  Please be reminded that we do share teachers' email addresses with parents and teachers are happy to communicate in this way where needed. In most cases, a reply can be expected within two working days. Please remember, however, that emails should be professional and polite.

• Uniform
  Please remember that school uniform is expected. While branded uniform is not required, it is available from Uniforms Plus in Lichfield for those who wish to purchase it. The PTFA also sell pre-loved uniform HERE.
  Children in Years 1–6 should wear their PE kit to school on PE days.

• School Calendar
  The full calendar for the year — including class assemblies, parent consultations, and other key events — will be uploaded to the website shortly. We hope this helps you plan ahead.

If you have any questions or concerns before the start of term, please don’t hesitate to get in touch. As always, we are fully committed to working in close partnership with you.

The start of a new school year is always a busy time, but seeing the children’s faces on that first day back — and how much they’ve grown — is such a privilege. I hope you enjoy the final days of the holiday and we look forward to welcoming you all back next week.

With best wishes,

Mrs Ellie Fussell
Headteacher