Whole School Newsltter September 2026
Dear Parent / Carer , 8 September 2026
The children have settled into the school’s patterns and routines very quickly this term. There is a real buzz and energy around the school with lots of activities already booked in for the year.
Dates for the term are included in this newsletter but can also be found on the school website. This is regularly updated and lists events for each year group.
Free School Meals
Under new regulations all parents will need to apply for Free School Meals this year. All parents, regardless of accessing school meals in the past, will need to re-apply. It is not automatically renewed.
Your child may be able to get free school meals if you get any of the following:
Universal Credit - if you apply on or after 1 April 2018 your household income must be £7,400 a year or less (after tax and not including any benefits you get) income-related Employment and Support Allowance support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999 the guaranteed element of Pension Credit
Children who get paid these benefits directly, instead of through a parent or guardian, can also get free school meals.
From the start of academic year 2026 to 2027, your child will qualify for free school meals if you get Universal Credit, regardless of household income.
Apply for free school meals by following this link. BCP - Start service · Customer Self-Service
School Disco
The school disco has been booked for Wednesday 16th September. All children are invited for their year appropriate disco.
Tickets will be £3.00 each and include a drink and packet of crisps. You will be able to purchase your child’s ticket on Iris ParentMail from Thursday 10th September.
Year 3 and 4 Disco 5.00 – 6.30pm.
Year 5 and 6 Disco 6.45 - 8.15pm.
Friday Morning Cardio Tennis, Health and Wellbeing Session for Parents
As it was so popular last year, Cardio tennis for parents will begin again on Friday 11th September 8:50am 9.50am. All Parents of Mudeford Junior School children are welcome. Ally and Adam will be offering a fun morning of cardio tennis, fitness and fun for parents. Enjoy a morning of great activities in a fun, friendly environment, all abilities welcome for an inclusive session. These sessions will be FREE of charge – just turn up on the day if you want to participate in any of these sessions.
After School Clubs
Teacher led school clubs will begin on week beginning Monday 21st September and finishing during the week ending Friday 4th December. A letter offering club options will be sent out later this week.
There will no clubs held during the week beginning 19th October as this is parents evening week.
Outside providers such as TeamTheme and Christchurch Tennis have sent out their own relevant information.
Absence
We need to know why your child is absent from school. Please telephone (from 8.30am onwards) or email the school office office@mudefordjs.co.uk on the first day of absence. In every case a note is required on return to school. It is essential that we are given a reason for every absence as Government legislation requires that we report any unauthorised absence. We may be required on occasions to discuss a particular absence with you and it may be necessary for us to refuse to authorise the absence and record it as unauthorised. We are also required to contact parents if the school has not received a reason for absence.
Holidays in Term Time
BCP continue to allocate an Attendance Officer to all schools. She has asked us to remind parents that Government legislation makes it clear that headteachers may not grant any leave of absence during term times unless there are exceptional circumstances. It is extremely unlikely that time out of school for a holiday will be considered exceptional circumstances. As a school we are committed to ensuring that pupils miss as little time as possible.
Dates for your Diary
All dates for the term can be found on the school website in the school calendar section.
Thursday 10 September – Year 3 and Year 4 Parents invited into school to attend meeting - regarding information and discuss expectations regarding spelling journals, reading journals and home learning - 2.30pm start
Monday 14 September – First Aid for Year 5 children
Wednesday 16 September - School Disco for all children
Thursday 17 September & Friday 18 September - Life Space visit (previously Wessex LifeBus) will be working with all year groups over a two day period. They will be educating the children about making healthy life choices as part of the schools PSHE Policy - which can be found on the school website.
Thursday 24 September – Year 6 Visit to New Forest as part of the Rivers Unit (Geography Curriculum).
Thursday 8 October – School Photographer – Individual portraits
Monday 19 October – Friday 24 October - No teacher led after school clubs this week
Tuesday 20 October – Parent’s Evening 4.00 – 7.00pm
Wednesday 21 October – Parent’s Evening 4.00 -7.00pm
Monday 19 – Friday 23 October. Community Cohesion Week - The children will be off the normal class timetable and exploring local, national and global issues. During these weeks the children will learn about the lives of others, find out about different cultures and at the same time evaluate aspects of their own lives
Thursday 22 October - Online Safety Briefing for Parents of all year groups 2.40pm - 3.10pm. A Safety Briefing Discussing Online Risks, Trends and Data. All parents invited to attend.
Monday 26 – Friday 30 October – Half term
Friday 6 November - Year 3 Family Assembly - Family Workshop Introductions 09:00 - 11:00 All year 3 parents invited to attend.
Monday 16 November – Last swimming session for Year 3 children
Saturday 28 November – Christmas Fair 12-2pm
Tuesday 8 December – Year 3 and Year 4 Christmas Performance 10am
Wednesday 9 December – Year 3 and Year 4 Christmas Performance 10am
Thursday 10 December – Year 3 and Year 4 Christmas Performance 10am
Thursday 10 December – Year 5 trip to Winchester Science Centre
INSET Days 2026 - 2027
Friday 25 September 2026 Friday 9 October 2026
Friday 27 November 2026 Friday 22 January 2027
Friday 18 June 2027
As always, the dates of activities, including term dates 2026 - 2027, can be found on the school website in the News and Events, Calendar section.
Yours sincerely
Kind regards
Mr Partridge
Headteacher