Newsletter 8 - Spring Term
5th March 2026
Embedded Files
-Our calendar-
You can add our Google Events calendar to your device - scroll to the bottom of the calendar and click/tap 'Add to Google Calendar'
-Attendance-
Year 3 - 97.2%
Year 4 - 97%
Year 5- 97.2%
Year 6 - 94.9%
Whole school - 96.6%
-Don't forget-
Family Hub tomorrow (Friday 6th March) -Belong - come for a coffee and a chat at 8:45am
Next week (w/c 9th March) is Year 6 assessment week
- This Week -
Headteacher for a Day
Headteacher for a Day
Last Friday, SASM was under new management as Vinnie stepped into the role of Headteacher for a Day. Vinnie reflects on his time as Headteacher:
Today I have taken on the role of being a head teacher for a day. It has been an exciting day and may help my decisions on what career I would like to have. It also helped me overcome fears of being in front of lots of people. Being a head teacher is very hard, and the day began by coming to school early and greeting everyone in our community as well as running the assembly. We also turned the playground in to a disco blasting music from songs like 'Another One Bites the Dust' or 'Ordinary' to songs like 'Dynamite'. I also set up a treasure hunt about all different facts from topics they have learnt in the year then quizzing them to see what they have learnt.
It has been a very fun experience, from writing my speech to competing against 6 over candidates aftering our meeting with Mr Gates about what we will do. This has helped me understand how much teachers really do and what I would like do (or not do) as a career.
World Book Day
World Book Day
What a legendary day we had celebrating World Book Day today! The school became a vibrant hub of Ancient Civilisations as pupils traded their everyday uniform for incredible costumes ranging from fearsome Gorgons and Greek gods to clever DIY togas. It was incredible to see how the event captured the imagination of so many pupils.
We were particularly honoured to welcome authors Jon Lock and Nich Angell, who captivated our budding writers and graphic artists with an interactive talk centered on their graphic novel, Tiny Hercules. Beyond the fantastic outfits, the heart of the day remained our love for reading; it was wonderful to see so many children sharing their favourite stories from home during our Book Talk and reading sessions.
Romeo and Liam (5JW) reflected on the event: I really enjoyed the author talk by Jon Lock and Nich Angel because they really made the talk exciting and all the detailed facts made me feel inspired. I also liked the way Jon and Nich were interactive and humourous, which made the talk wonderful to watch. 10/10
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Your child has been provided with a £1 book token, which they can swap for one of the exclusive, free World Book Day 2026 books, or use it to get £1 off any book or audiobook costing £2.99 or more. There is also a digital token attached here which you can print or show the barcode on your phone/tablet at participating retailers. We highly recommend visiting our wonderful friends at Regency Bookshop on the high street to redeem your vouchers!
The token is valid from now until 15 March 2026. For more information, you can visit the World Book Day FAQ page.
Thank you for all the effort you put into the children's costumes and for supporting their love of reading at home.
Happy reading!
School Planner Competition
School Planner Competition
We are incredibly proud to announce the winners of this year’s School Planner Competition, which saw an overwhelming display of creativity with over 50 entries from across the school. After much deliberation, the winning entry was a collaboration between Claire, Evelyn and Summer from 6G - an outstanding design! The selection process was rigorous, starting with an expert judging panel led by our Art Lead, Mrs Hamilton, alongside a talented group of past art competition winners. The final, difficult decision was then made by the senior leadership team—Mr Gates, Mrs Crowther and Miss Woodward—who were blown away by the high standard of work submitted. The result was announced by Vinnie during his Headteacher for a Day.
A huge thank you to everyone who entered; your artistic talent continues to make SASM a more beautiful and inspired place to learn. We will be displaying some of the incredible entries outside the hall soon.
Screentime and online safety
Screentime and online safety
Our SASM Family Hub continued its mission of community support this half term with an insightful session on Friday, 27th February, focusing on Screen Time & Wellbeing. A huge thank you to the parents and carers who joined us to discuss the challenges of setting healthy digital boundaries in an increasingly connected world. As screen time remains a significant national topic of conversation, we encourage all families to visit our dedicated Online Safety page for further resources and practical tips. Additionally, we publish our online safety curriculum, which you can access here.
You can have your say and contribute to the national dialogue by sharing your views on social media use and phone safety at kidsonlinesafety.campaign.gov.uk. We look forward to seeing more of you at our upcoming sessions as we work together to support our children’s digital and emotional health.
Eco Refill Shop and Blub Sale Success
Eco Refill Shop and Blub Sale Success
Our Eco-Refill shop opened again on Friday, 27th February, as we hosted our latest ECO Shop and Plant Sale! Thanks to the generous bulb donations from our families and the hard work of children across the school who planted them weeks ago, our spiritual garden has been blooming with life. These "mystery" plants were a huge hit at £2 each, with the recent wet weather clearly giving them a legendary head start!
Beyond the greenery, we reached a staggering milestone in our sustainability mission: we have now saved 212 containers from waste. We are officially on the countdown to 225, then 250, as we continue to champion the importance of reducing plastic pollution. By choosing refills over new bottles, our pupils are actively preventing plastic from ending up in landfills or harming our oceans—proving that at SASM, we don't just talk about change, we grow it!
Y5/6 Netball tournament
Y5/6 Netball tournament
On Monday, 2nd March, our Year 5 and 6 netball stars traveled to the Surbiton High School grounds for an exciting tournament. The team displayed fantastic sportsmanship and skill as they competed against other local schools and representing SASM with pride throughout the day. It was wonderful to see our athletes putting their training into practice on such a competitive stage. A huge well done to all the players who participated—your teamwork and dedication were truly impressive!
Y5/6 Tag Rugby
Y5/6 Tag Rugby
On Wednesday, 4th March, our Year 5 and 6 Mixed Tag Rugby team showcased their skills and speed at the Kings Rugby Ground in Motspur Park. The squad competed in an action-packed 7-a-side tournament. The day was filled with high-energy games, where our pupils demonstrated a fantastic understanding of the rules, from rolling the ball back in a 'Play-the-Ball' to tactical tagging. We are incredibly proud of the teamwork shown by our players, who all represented SASM with great enthusiasm. It was a brilliant morning of sport that highlighted both the athletic talent and the wonderful sporting spirit within our school community.
Family Hubs
Family Hubs
The SASM Family Hub continues this half term. This dedicated space brings parents and experts - including Educational Wellbeing Practitioners and school leaders - together to share practical strategies and build a supportive community. Whether you’re looking for expert advice or just a friendly coffee and chat, all families and friends are welcome. Please express your interest via our online form to attend in person (meeting in the playground at 8:45 AM) or to receive an online link.
Upcoming Family Hub Sessions
Upcoming Family Hub Sessions
Fri 6th Mar (8:45–9:45 AM): "Belong" – Coffee, cake and community chat
Fri 13th Mar (8:45–10:00 AM): SEND Parent Champions – Peer-to-peer support (SEND parent/carers only)
In the news this week
Brynteg School in Wales has said that from September, skirts will no longer be part of the school uniform. Instead, all children will wear trousers or shorts. The school says this will make the uniform more practical and fairer for everyone, but some parents and pupils have different opinions about the change. This announcement has added to discussions about school rules, fairness, and whether uniforms should be the same for all children.
Things to talk at home…
Talk to someone older at home about your and their experiences of school uniform. Have they changed over time?
Share your thoughts on the changes Brynteg School is making. Do you feel they are positive changes?
If you could create your own uniform, what would it look like?
- Repeat notices -
Neurodiversity Celebration Week
Neurodiversity Celebration Week
Monday 16th - Friday 20th March
Monday 16th - Friday 20th March
SASM will be celebrating how all our brains are wired differently during this national celebration week. Activities will include: a Collective Worship sharing different examples of neurodiversity and the lived experiences of both adults and children with diagnoses; games and "Bust the Myth' activities at lunchtimes and staff room displays. On the Friday, parents and carers of our SEND pupils are invited to meet the AfC SEND Parent/Carer Champion and to share their feedback on SASM's support for pupils with barriers to learning.
Celebrating Different Minds
New to SASM - the Times Table Olympics!
New to SASM - the Times Table Olympics!
At SASM, we recognise that times tables automaticity, the ability to recall facts instantly, is essential for reducing cognitive load. By mastering these basics, students free up mental energy for complex problem solving and higher level mathematics.
To support this, Miss Husband launched our new Times Tables Olympic Challenge during this morning’s Collective Worship. Each week, children will tackle a short, timed quiz. Those who achieve 100% for three consecutive weeks will master their level and be celebrated with a certificate during our Friday celebration Collective Worship.
Top Tips for Home Practice:
Top Tips for Home Practice:
Little and Often: Short daily bursts (5–10 mins) are far more effective than one long weekly session. Practising times tables can be done on-the-move: a great walk to school activity!
Visualise the Maths: Use Lego bricks, fruit, or counters to show multiplication as groups (e.g. 3 rows of 4).
Skip Counting: Build the foundation by counting in steps (2, 4, 6, 8...).
Interactive Games: Use apps like "Hit the Button" for high energy, quickfire recall. DoodleTables is a great way to practice our times tables!
Get Active: Try "Times Table Tennis" by batting a ball back and forth
Make it Musical: Use times table songs or rhymes
Doodle: the 'green zone'
Doodle: the 'green zone'
We have receieved a couple of questions regarding how the 'green zone' on Doodle Maths and Doodle Tables is calculated. Doodle's algorithm creates every child a weekly target number of stars to earn each week. This target is designed to keep children on track in their learning.
This is a 7-day rolling target. This means that if a child completes a significant amount of Doodle learning on a Monday, and does not complete any learning for the rest of the week, the indicator will remain in the green zone until the following Monday, when the target will reset and the indicator will show that they are behind their target.
You can also see if your child is on track to reach their goal by following these steps:
Log in to the Parent Dashboard
Hover over Analyse and select Progress
Adjust the time scale and subject accordingly
Places available on a number of parenting groups starting in Kingston
There are places available on free parenting groups which will be starting next term in the Kingston borough.
The Parenting Puzzle/Nurturing Program for parents and carers of primary school aged children.
Workshops for parents of children aged up to 10 years
Teen Life for parents and carers of children aged 10-16 years with a diagnosis of ASD
Please see attached posters for more information about each group.
Please contact Karen Williams for further information.
Smartphones
Whilst this article has been included in the newsletter weekly this year, we have had a number of enquires from families about smartphones following Christmas.
Pupils are not be permitted to bring a phone to school unless families have attended Smartphone Awareness Training. If your child brings in a smartphone, we will ask for it to be collected from the office by an adult.
The aim of the training is to explain the school's approach and some emerging concerns about smartphone use for young people and to provide key tips about how to keep your child safe online. The training video will run in the Science Lab at key school events and your next opportunity to view this will be at the Spring Term Parent Consultations, where the training will be on shown on a loop in the Lab. The flowchart below explains the process:
SASM has been working with parent representatives from the Smartphone Free Childhood Movement. You may wish to sign the SASM Parent/Carer Smartphone Pledge , where 135 families have pledged to not give their children a smartphone until at least they are in Year 9.
-Community opportunities-
Fostering opportunities in Kingston
New Opportunities in Kingston
Kingston Community Fridge Simply turn up and collect surplus food from local supermarkets gathered that day.
Square one cafe - Square 1 Cafes are safe and inclusive spaces. Everyone is welcome and everything is free.
More information about community support can be found here: https://www.sasm.kingston.sch.uk/parents-carers/community-support
Think Pharmacy First
Most pharmacies in England are now providing the Pharmacy First service.
This free NHS service allows you or your child to get quick access to healthcare advice for the following seven conditions:
Earache (aged 1 to 17 years)
Impetigo (aged 1 year and over)
Infected insect bites (aged 1 year and over)
Shingles (aged 18 years and over)
Sinusitis (aged 12 years and over)
Sore throats (aged 5 years and over)
Urinary tract infections (UTIs) in women (aged 16 to 64 years)
If you or your child has symptoms that suggest you may have one of these conditions, you can walk into a pharmacy and be offered a consultation with a pharmacist in a private consultation room.
The pharmacist will provide advice and, if clinically necessary, a prescription medicine to treat the condition (the normal NHS prescription charge rules apply to people aged 16 and over).
Think Pharmacy First!
Find out more by watching the Pharmacy First animation or visiting nhs.uk/thinkpharmacyfirst
'Helping children with....' Webinars for parents 2025-2026
Achieving for Children’s Mental Health Support Teams are delivering a series of webinars for parents of primary-aged children. The ‘Helping Children with …’ series of webinars will cover a range of common difficulties experienced by children and will aim to share evidence-based strategies to help parents and carers support their children with these difficulties. We have included a list of webinars on offer over the coming months. Click here to book your place
Copy of 2025_26 - Helping children series flier.docxAutumn 2 25_26 Parent information leaflet.pptx.pdfFUEL Flyer Easter 2026.pdf
Supporting Our Families
Supporting Our Families
We don’t think anyone in our community should have to face going hungry. That is why we are pleased to be able to offer our families support in partnership with Kingston Foodbank.
Kingston Foodbank provide three days’ nutritionally-balanced emergency food and support to local people who are referred to them in crisis. They are part of a nationwide network of foodbanks, supported by The Trussell Trust, working to combat poverty and hunger across the UK.
Foodbank clients bring their vouchers to a foodbank centre where they can be redeemed for three days of emergency food. Volunteers meet clients over a warm drink or free hot meal, and are able to signpost people to other agencies that may able to them solve the longer-term problems.
Vouchers can be issued any day and at any time during the school week. These can be either printed or sent to you electronically via your mobile phone. This is a confidential service and vouchers are only allocated by Mrs Miller - School Community Worker.
Our nearest food collection points are listed below - please note the opening times.
Monday (6.00pm - 7.00pm)
Surbiton New Life Baptist Church
1 Balaclava Road
Surbiton
KT6 5PW
Tuesday and Friday (11.00am - 12.30pm)
Kingston Everyday Church
46 Union St, Kingston upon Thames
KT1 1RP
What is HENRY?
What is HENRY?
What is HENRY? HENRY is a UK charity working to give children a healthy, happy childhood so they thrive now and in the future. There are loads of useful ideas and resources for parents on the HENRY website.
Is the HENRY programme for me? The HENRY programme can help everyone with a primary-school aged child. Every parent who joins learns something new and useful. If you have at least one child of primary school age and can answer yes to any of the questions below then HENRY is for you...
Would you like to feel more confident as a parent?
Would you like support and ideas for helping your family be healthier?
Do you wish your child would eat a wider range of foods or more fruit and vegetables?
Would you like to reduce mealtime stress?
Would you like your children or family to be more active more often?
Are you interested in some ideas to get children away from screens?
Free School Meals
Free School Meals
If your child is eligible for free school meals but you prefer to provide them with packed lunches, it's still important to register. By doing so, the school receives additional funding called Pupil Premium which helps support your child in other ways.
Once you have registered for free school meals and we have received confirmation that you are eligible, your child will then be able to attend an enrichment club after school free of charge, as well as one session at our after school club. They will also qualify for the Holiday Activity and Food Programme, this is also known as FUEL (which stands for ‘Feed Ur Everyday Lives’) This programme offers free places at holiday clubs during the Easter, summer and Christmas breaks.
Children can enjoy 4 sessions during Easter, 16 sessions over the summer and 4 in winter, with lunch provided at the club. There are lots of clubs and activities to choose from across a range of dates, time and locations. Some activities include: cycling; film-making; yoga; technology and coding; skateboarding; art and crafts; cooking; indoor climbing; and lots of sports such as cricket, football, netball and rugby.
Your child may be able to get free school meals if you get any of the following:
Income Support
Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance
Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
Support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
The guaranteed element of Pension Credit
Child Tax Credit (provided you’re not also entitled to Working Tax Credit and have an annual gross income of no more than £16,190)
Working Tax Credit run-on - paid for 4 weeks after you stop qualifying for Working Tax Credit
Universal Credit - if you apply on or after 1 April 2018 your household income must be less than £7,400 a year (after tax and not including any benefits you get)
Please speak to Mrs Miller if you would like help to apply.
Additional Funding for low-income households
The Department of Work and Pensions has made additional funding available for low-income households in Kingston who meet the criteria and are struggling to afford food, fuel, utility bills and other essentials. The expectation is that the fund should be used to support households in the most need; particularly those who may not be eligible for other government cost-of-living support. For more details click here.
If your household has received help through any of the previous rounds of the Household Support Fund, we may not be able to issue any further funding.
However, we may be able to provide you with information about other support
available so please email: householdsupportfund@kingston.gov.uk
Activities and Opportunities
Skylarks is an independent charity that are expanding their outreach. We recommend parents and carers of pupils on the SEND register to sign up with the charity to stay up-to-date on a range of fun activities and opportunities. For more details and to register, please click here.
Together Thursdays
What are Together Thursdays sessions? These sessions deliver opportunities to socialise and gain new skills, self confidence and make friends.
All activities are free, all refreshments and lunch are free, community larder with free food supplies. Conversations, fun and social interactions are free. Visiting Together Thursdays is free.
Achieving for Children, Kingsnympton Youth and Community Centre,
Kingsnympton Park, Kingston KT2 7RP
Thursdays, 10am to 2pm.
Drop in term time only.
Kingston Young Carers' Project
Who is a young carer? A young carer is someone aged 18 or under who helps to look after someone at home who needs extra support or care. This may be a sibling, parent/carer or other relative that lives at home with you.
We have a team dedicated to supporting the needs of young carers (aged 5-18), with a wealth of experience and expertise in issues which affect their lives. We provide:
information and advice, including 1-to-1 support
opportunities to meet other young carers
fun activities, outings and breaks away from home
regular drop ins
awareness raising of the needs of young carers, particularly in schools
advocacy and whole family support
quarterly newsletter
If you would like to know more information, please contact the School office and ask to speak to Mrs. Miller - School Community Worker.
-Repeat Notices-
Safer Schools App
Safer Schools App
Safer Schools App
We would encourage all parents/carers to download the Safer Schools app for free push notifications about online safety and helpful advice. You can download the app using the instructions here.
Worried about a child?
Worried about a child?
Do you have concerns about a child?
Adults - you can contact the Single Point of Access to request support, or to report a concern about a child or young person. Click here to make a referral. You can also call for advice. Opening hours: From 8.00am to 5.15pm, Monday to Thursday, and 8.00am to 5.00pm on Friday - call 020 8547 5008 (Out of hours, phone 020 8770 5000). If you think a child or young person is in immediate danger call 999. Referrals are not limited to safeguarding. The Single Point of Access acts as a signposting service to other services, including mental health. Matt Gates is our Designated Safeguarding Lead.
Children with SEND
Children with SEND
How to support children with SEND
Please follow this link for further information and support. For Kingston & Richmond the number is:0800 028 8000
Winter Care
Winter Care
Winter Care
With flu and norovirus cases on the rise, here are some simple steps to help keep your child healthy this winter.
1. Teach good hygiene habits: Encourage children to wash their hands regularly and use a tissue to catch coughs and sneezes to stop the spread of germs.
2. Know when to keep your child at home: Children can still attend school with symptoms such as a runny nose, sore throat or slight cough, but should stay home if they have a high temperature, diarrhea and vomiting. Read NHS guidance to help you decide. Click here to read more.
-School Reminders-
Healthy School Snacks
For our break time snack, we ensure pupils only have fresh fruit or a savoury snack which is full of goodness and will keep pupils full until lunch!
Whilst our team makes every effort to check and speak to pupils about snacks, our healthy approach places trust in parents and carers working with us to ensure this takes place.
Examples of permitted snacks include:
Fresh fruit and vegetables
Plain rice cakes
Plain breadsticks
Pure fruit, such as 'Yo-Yo Bears'
Plain crackers
Ryvita crackers
Bagels
Cream cheese
Marmite
Hummus
Babybels/Cheese triangles
Examples of snacks not permitted are:
Cereal bars
Cakes, biscuits or sweets
'Lunchbox' chocolate bars
Crisips
'Belvita' biscuits or 'Go Ahead' Bars
PE Kit
School PE kit to be worn only on PE days.
Red PE sweatshirt with the school logo
OR
Plain red PE sweatshirt with NO visible branding.
White t-shirt with the school logo
OR
Plain White t-shirt with NO visible branding.
Red Shorts
Plain black jogging/tracksuit bottoms with NO visible branding.
White or Grey Socks
Black Trainers. NO football studded shoes.
PE Days
3B - Thursday (indoor and outdoor)
3H - Wednesday (indoor), Friday (outdoor)
3N - Tuesday (indoor and outdoor)
4M - Wednesday (indoor), Thursday (outdoor)
4R - Tuesday (indoor and outdoor)
4S - Monday (indoor and outdoor)
5J- Thursday (outdoor), Friday (indoor)
5L - Wednesday (outdoor), Friday (indoor)
5S - Monday (indoor and outdoor)
6G - Wednesday (indoor and outdoor)
6M - Thursday (indoor and outdoor)
6MC - Tuesday (outdoor), Friday (indoor)
Pupil Premium Grants
All pupils at SASM are entitled to receive a free school lunch. To enable your child to access this, you must book your child's lunch via ParentPay.com.
If you were previously eligible for means tested free school meals or are in receipt of any of the following benefits...
income support
income-based job seeker's allowance
income-related employment and support allowance
the guarantee element of state pension credit
support under part 6 of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
child tax credit (but not working tax credit) and have an annual income of less than £16,190
working tax credit run-on – paid for four weeks after you stop qualifying for working tax credit
Universal Credit - if you apply on or after 1 April 2018 your household income must be less than £7,400 a year (after tax and not including any benefits you get)
...your child maybe eligible for a Pupil Premium Grant. This will gives your child access to:
This gives your child access to:
A free after school club every half term
A free 'stay and play' session in our Wrap Around Care each week
A free place at Breakfast Club every day
A discount on school residential visits
... and much more!
Please contact the school office if you have any issues with activating an account.
Lost Property
Please remember to label your child’s uniform, lunch box and water bottle. All named lost property will be returned to your child by the next school day. Unlabelled property will be kept for one week only in the school office.
Please send a water bottle with your child
It's important to ensure that our pupils stay hydrated throughout the day. Please remember to send your child to school with a water bottle. To avoid any mix-ups, kindly label the bottle with your child's name.
Thank you.
Parking outside SASM
If you are driving to drop your children off or pick them up from school, please park considerately on the surrounding roads. Please don't park over driveways or over the zig zag lines. This helps keep everyone safe.
Whilst the school is not responsible for enforcing street parking, we have advised our local community to report all instances of poor parking or behaviour to the police.
Uniform donations warmly welcomed!
If your child has outgrown their school uniform over the summer break (including shoes, plimsolls or trainers) and they are still in good condition, please consider donating them to our uniform shop. You can drop off any unwanted school uniform or shoes at the office.
Thank you for your continued support and generosity.
No toys in school please!
No toys in school please!
We would like to remind parents and carers that pupils are not permitted to bring their own toys or collectables into school. Not only do toys provide a distraction from pupils' learning, there is a potential for personal items to be misplaced. Please be aware that any lost toys, collectible cards or other play items are beyond the responsibility of the school.
No jewellery in school please!
No jewellery in school please!
Children can wear watches to school but the wearing of jewellery and earrings of all types is not permitted on safety grounds. Any child wearing earrings to school will be asked to remove them. If they are unable to remove them, they will be required to stay inside during break and lunch times and will not be able to participate in any PE or physical activities.
No smart watches in school please!
No smart watches in school please!
Fitness trackers without smart watch capability are permitted but St Andrew’s and St Mark’s accept no responsibility for the loss or damage of these items. Smart watches, including iWatches, are not permitted due to their messaging capabilities.
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