Dear Families,
We are so pleased to welcome the pupils and families back to school for the 2023-2024 academic year. The first two weeks of the academic year focus on supporting the pupils with the routines, structures, and expectations with learning alongside their class. Thank you to every family for supporting the transition of your child into the new school year. This week’s newsletter is sharing key information about this half term to help us work together.
Week 1: 6th – 9th September: Transition back into the school environment last week. You received a printed newsletter with key information.
Week 2: 11th – 15th September: You will receive important learning information: your child’s Curriculum Pathway and Overview of classmates and teaching team, Class Timetable, Autumn Term Targets (known as Personal Learning Intention Map). The ‘Data Collection Sheet’ is also in your child’s pack. Please check the information and return on Monday, 18th September. Your child’s Evidence for Learning Journal will have photos of the classroom environment and visual timetables.
Week 3: 18th – 22nd September: You will receive the Medium Term plan sharing the themes and focus for learning across this term. You will receive the date and time of your child’s ‘Family Learning Week’ lesson which is scheduled to take place during Week 6. ‘Evidence for Learning’ journal upload into the family portal this week.
Week 4: 25th – 29th September: The school is holding the new academic year Information Session. This provides you with information on the School Provision, Curriculum Pathways, Multi-Agency Provision with NHS Therapists, and an opportunity to meet the Leadership Team and other parents/carers. The session is optional and will run three times across the day. Register your place using the electronic link.
Week 5: 2nd to 6th October: ‘Evidence for Learning’ journal upload into the family portal this week.
Week 6: 9th – 13th October: Family Learning Week: This is an opportunity for you to join your child in their class for a learning activity, and to meet the other parents. The date and time is confirmed on Week 3.
Week 7: 16th – 20th October: ‘Evidence for Learning’ journal upload into the family portal. During the last week of the half term, we will celebrate the successes from the half term across both Lower School, Upper School, and Sixth Form through an End of Half Term Newsletter for all families.
Home – School Communication: Day to day communication between the home and class teacher is through the ‘home-school communication book’. Every pupil receives their Swiss Cottage School home-school communication book today.
Teachers and the class team are preparing the day’s learning activities from 8:30-9:30 and teaching from 9:30-3:30. The teacher is able to pick up phone call messages and emails from the school day at 3:45-4:00pm. If you email after school hours (4:30pm to 8:30am) it will be picked up by the class teacher at 3:45pm the next day. We also communicate with you through a weekly newsletter. This is sent via email, text, and through the school website.
Autumn Term Family Workshops: We have already enjoyed an Evidence for Learning workshop and a Speech and Language workshop with parents/carers. On Monday 2nd October there is an optional workshop on the Annual Review process at 10.30am. Our weekly Tuesday coffee mornings continue this half-term, starting on 19th September at 10.30 as usual.
Curriculum Pathways: Your pack includes an overview of our 5 Curriculum Pathways and the curriculum pathway that your child is following this year. The names of each pathway has changed this year to reflect our focus on a personalised curriculum for the complex special educational needs profiles at Swiss Cottage School.
Data Collection Sheet: We need to ensure the information for your child is correct. This letter includes your child’s Data Collection Sheet. The school holds this pupil / family information securely through a protected system. Please complete this and return it on Monday, 18th September. If any of the information changes in the year, please inform us by emailing admin@swisscottage.camden.sch.uk or with a phone call to reception on 02076818080.
Free School Meals: The Mayor of London has confirmed that all pupils aged 5 to 11 will receive a free school meal for this academic year. https://www.london.gov.uk/who-we-are/what-mayor-does/priorities-london/free-school-meals Our Finance Team are providing a letter and survey to you so that you can inform us of your plans for your child’s lunch if they are aged 5 to 11 (you may wish to continue with a packed lunch from home and that is fine). If your child is aged 12-19, you will receive a letter from the Finance Team explaining the Free School Meals application process and criteria which is defined by the government. Please feel free to contact us if you have any questions.
Term Dates: The school term dates are located on the school website: https://swisscottage.camden.sch.uk/parents/termdates
16th October: Training day for staff – no school for pupils
20th October: Last day of the half term
23rd – 27th October: Half term break – no school for pupils
Wishing all of our families an enjoyable weekend.
Yours Sincerely,
Swiss Cottage School
