Weekly Bulletin:Friday 17th October 2025
Headteacher’s message to parents/carers
Dear Parents/Carers,
Thank you for attending our Autumn parents’ evenings this week. Lovely to see so many smiles on the way out of school! If you missed this, please do make an appointment with your child’s class teacher for after half term, as we are always keen to catch up with all of our parents/carers.
One of my favourite things this week was my visit to our new Reception children to read them a story. I read Supertato (watch out for the Evil Pea!) and was so impressed by children’s listening and positive attitudes. Our first days in September seem like a long time ago now, as children have already come so far! We are so proud of them. For Reception parents/carers, remember that we have invited you all into class this afternoon from 2.30-3.05 to share in some of your children’s learning so far. First steps in an exciting journey through primary school….
Does your child know their number bonds and times tables? We use TTRS (Times Tables Rockstars) as a fun way for children to practise this maths knowledge at home. All Tunbury children have their own login details for TTRS, so if you can’t locate this please ask your child’s class teacher for a reminder. Children in Year 1 and Year 2 can log into TTRS and use Numbots, where they can practice number bonds to 5, 10, 20 or 100, before children start to learn times tables later in Year 2. (‘Number bonds’ just means addition and subtraction facts, like 17+3=20 and 20-3=17 for number bonds to 20.) Children in Reception will be given their TTRS logins later on in their Reception year.
So, for children in Years 1-6, please visit https://ttrockstars.com over half term to help, encourage, incentivise or reward your child’s use of TTRS at home. The National Curriculum expectation is that all children should know their times tables up to 12 x 12 by the end of Year 4, but we know that children need regular practice to maintain recall of their tables, right up to (and beyond) the end of Year 6. This knowledge will always be important - all children need strong foundations in maths knowledge, so that new learning can be built on top of previous learning, like a cake with a lot of layers. Alongside reading at home, practising number bonds and times tables is also one of the simplest ways in which you can regularly support your child’s education. Thank you!
Finally, a quick message for parents/carers in Year R, 1 and 2 – please scroll down to our diary dates for our Christmas events including nativities, as these are new today.
Have a lovely half term break everyone. Remember that we have an INSET day on Monday 27th October, so we look forward to seeing all children back in school on Tuesday 28th October.
Best wishes
Ruth Austin
Headteacher
Notices
Staffing update: We are very sorry to be sharing the news that our wonderful Year 1 Teaching Assistant Mrs Ruck is retiring in November. Mrs Ruck has been a member of Team Tunbury as a TA for 18 years, and prior to this she was part of our school community both as a parent and a TSA member. Many, many Tunbury children and colleagues have benefited from Mrs Ruck’s support, so we will be planning a special goodbye for Mrs Ruck after half term.
TA vacancy: As a result of the above news, we are seeking to appoint a new TA to work in Year 1 or Year 2. This new position will be working 4 days per week or full time, initially on a temporary basis from November to the end of this academic year. Full details are at Teaching Assistant, Full Time or 4 Days Per Week Teaching/Child Support at Tunbury Primary School, Walderslade
New Entrants for September 26: Information on admissions for children starting school in September 2026: applications for a primary school place should be made via your ‘home’ local authority.
- Kent residents apply at www.kent.gov.uk/education-and-children/schools/school-places
(Please see the leaflet in the Parents>letters and forms section) - Medway residents apply at www.medway.gov.uk/admissions
Please come and visit us for one of our presentations / school tours. Our evening presentation evening is straight after half term at 6.00pm on Wednesday 29th October. See further details below:
The dates of all our events are on our website at www.tunbury.kent.sch.uk/New-Entrants/
To book onto any of these events, please email newentrants@tunbury.kent.sch.uk
October Half Term Activity Club: Unfortunately, the sessions planned for Tuesday and Wednesday next week have been cancelled due to a low uptake. We are sorry for any inconvenience this may cause. The Thursday session will be running as planned, exclusively for Tunbury pupils from 8:30 AM – 4:00 PM on Thursday 23rd October. Bookings can be placed at: Tunbury Primary Multi-Activity Camp - Current Students Only | Pebble
Data Collection Sheets: This document has been handed out via class teachers at this week’s parent consultations (printed on yellow coloured paper). It is vital that we have correct phone numbers and e-mail addresses if we are to communicate with you effectively. When you are satisfied that the information on the Data Collection sheet is correct, please sign and date the form and return to your child’s class teacher or to the school office. Please sign and return the form even if there are no alterations to be made. Please return by Friday 31st October 2025. Thank you for your help with this matter.
Free school meals: If your financial circumstances have changed recently, you may now be eligible for free school meals and Pupil Premium support. A benefit of Pupil Premium funding is that this can be used to pay for the cost of your child’s school visits. Also families of children eligible for free school meals will be receiving a £10 supermarket voucher to use during the October break. To check if you are eligible for Pupil Premium support, please visit www.kent.gov.uk/education-and-children/schools/free-school-meals#tab-1. To apply, please visit www.cloudforedu.org.uk/ofsm/kent/.
Individual/Sibling group Photos: On Wednesday 5th / Thursday 6th November, Tempest photographers will be visiting school to take individual/sibling group photos. All children will have an individual photo taken, unless you tell us otherwise. Tempest will also be able to take photos of sibling groups of in-school Tunbury children. However, if you do not require a sibling group photo, please send an email to the school office.
Opal Programme: To help with the next stage of our opal programme we are looking for offcuts of tarpauling. We would appreciate any donations of this.
Weekly Class Attendance: This is a weekly feature on our bulletin to highlight and celebrate good levels of attendance. Our Ks1 winners are once again Red Class for the fourth week running! With a brilliant 98.33%. Amazing work from Red Class. Indigo Class are our KS2 winners with a fantastic 98.21%. Keep up the great work everyone!
|
Class |
Weekly Attendance Percentage |
|
Red |
☆98.33%☆ |
|
Indigo |
☆98.21%☆ |
|
Amber |
98.21% |
|
Emerald |
97.08% |
|
Blue |
96.25% |
|
Sapphire |
95.83% |
|
Magenta |
95.69% |
|
Ruby |
95.19% |
|
Azure |
94.23% |
|
Violet |
91.94% |
|
Crimson |
91.07% |
|
Turquoise |
90.42% |
|
Lavender |
89.88% |
|
Lilac |
89.13% |
|
Yellow |
88.24% |
|
Pink |
86.46% |
|
Scarlet |
85.23% |
|
Owls |
85.19% |
|
Bears |
84.50% |
Flu Immunisation: Friday 7th November 2025 for all year groups. Please see the letter which was emailed last week and published in the Parents – Letters and Forms section of our website: www.tunbury.kent.sch.uk/Parents/Letters-Forms/. Please note the e-consent portal closes at 4 pm on 4th November, and NHS cannot accept late consents or consents on the day of vaccination.
If any parents/carers are having issues completing the online consent form, please call the immunisation team via: Text chat: 07700140385 Live chat via website: www.kentcht.nhs.uk/imms Email: kchft.cyp-immunisationteam@nhs.net Telephone: 0300 123 5205
Tunbury Primary School Facebook: This week on Facebook, we’ve posted about our TSA firework display, learning with Amber class, Red class learning Makaton and much more! Please take a look at Tunbury Primary School | Chatham | Facebookand follow us to keep up to date with all things Team Tunbury.
Team Points: This week’s Golden Team Points were awarded for handwriting and presentation (in Year 1-6) or great school beginnings (in Year R). A Golden Team Point is worth a huge 50 points and they are always awarded in the last week of term, for three children in each class, chosen by class teachers and awarded by senior leaders. Well done to this week’s recipients!
It’s been an exciting team point race in Term 1, with the lead changing hands throughout the term. In the end, and after this week’s Golden Team Points, it was Rowling who emerged victorious. A special mention to Holmes team too for moving into second place. Rowling had their reward time this morning – congratulations Red Team!
|
Rowling |
Attenborough |
Holmes |
Hawking |
|
7000 |
6511 |
6561 |
5900 |
Dates for your Diary
Term dates for 2025/26: www.tunbury.kent.sch.uk/Parents/Term-Dates-25-26/
Term 1
October - Black History Month
Friday 17th October – Last Day of Term 1
Term 2
Monday 27th October - INSET Day - School Closed for pupils
Tuesday 28th October – First Day of Term 2
Wednesday 29th – Friday 31st October – Year 6 PGL Windmill Hill Residential visit
Wednesday 29th October – New Entrants for September 2026: Presentation and School tour 6 pm
Tuesday 4th November - Start of Bikeability cycle training for Year 6
Tuesday 4th November – New Entrants for September 2026: Presentation and School tour 9.15 am
Wednesday 5th / Thursday 6th November – Tempest photographers, Individual/Sibling photos
Wednesday 5th November - TSA Fireworks
Friday 7th November - Flu Immunisations (whole school)
Monday 10th November - Y5/6 Open Afternoon
Monday 10th November– New Entrants for September 2026: Stay and Play session for pre-school children with their parents/Carers 3.30 – 4.30 pm
Tuesday 11th November - Y3/4 Open Afternoon
Wednesday 12th November - Y1/2 Open Afternoon
Thursday 13th November - Reception Open Afternoon
Friday 14th November – New Entrants for September 2026: School tour 9 am and 10 am
Wednesday 19th November – New Entrants for September 2026: School tour 12.45 and 1.45 pm
Friday 21st November - Y3 Stone Age Day, dressing up (optional) NEW
Thursday 27th November – New Entrants for September 2026: School tour 9 am and 10 am
Monday 1st December – New Entrants for September 2026: Stay and Play session for pre-school children with their parents/Carers 9 – 10 am
Tuesday 2nd, Wednesday 3rd, Thursday 4th December – Christmas Present Room (TSA)
Tuesday 2nd December – New Entrants for September 2026: School tour 12.45 and 1.45 pm
Thursday 11th December – Year R Christmas Nativity, 2.30 pm NEW
Friday 12th December - Christmas lunch – wear a Christmas jumper day
Friday 12th December – New Entrants for September 2026: School tour 9 am and 10 am
Wednesday 17th December: Year 2 Christmas Performance, 2:15 pm NEW
Thursday 18th December: Year 1 Christmas Poem, 2:30 pm NEW
Thursday 18th December - Carols on the playground Y3 / Y4 - 2.50 pm
Friday 19th December - Carols on the playground Y5 / Y6 - 2.50 pm
Friday 19th December – Last Day of Term 2
Term 3
Monday 5th January - INSET Day - School Closed for pupils
Tuesday 6th January – First Day of Term 3
Tuesday 13th January - Swimming lessons start, Year4, Lilac Class
Wednesday 21st January - Young Voices @ the O2
Friday 6th February - Number Day
Friday 6th February – Bingo Night (TSA)
Tuesday 10th February - Safer Internet Day
Tuesday 10th February - Spring Parent Consultation (3.30 – 6.30)
Thursday 12th February - Spring Parent Consultation (3.30 – 6.30)
Friday 13th February – Last Day of Term 2
Term 4
Monday 23rd February - INSET Day - School Closed for pupils
Tuesday 24th February – First Day of Term 4
Monday 2nd – Friday 6th March - Book Week
Monday 2nd March - Reception Open Afternoon
Tuesday 3rd March - Y1/2 Open Afternoon
Wednesday 4th March - Y3/4 Open Afternoon
Thursday 5th March - World Book Day
Friday 6th March - Y5/6 Open Afternoon
Tuesday 10th, Wednesday 11th, Thursday 12th March – Gifts for Her Present Room (TSA)
Friday 13th March - Science Day
Thursday 26th March – School Disco (TSA)
Thursday 2nd April - Last Day of Term 4
Term 5
Monday 20th April – First day of Term 5
Tuesday 28th April – Swimming lessons start, Year 4, Scarlet Class
Monday 4th May - BANK HOLIDAY, School Closed
Monday 11th – Thursday 14th May - KS2 (Y6) SATs Week
Friday 15th May – Colour Run (TSA)
Thursday 21st May – Tunbury’s Got Talent (TSA)
Friday 22nd May – Last Day of Term 5
Term 6
Monday 1st June - INSET DAY – School Closed for pupils
Tuesday 2nd June – First Day of Term 6
Tuesday 2nd – Friday 5th June - STEAM Week
Tuesday 16th, Wednesday 17th, Thursday 18th June – Gifts for Him Present Room (TSA)
Friday 26th June - Sports Day
Friday 3rd July - Reserve Sports Day
Friday 10th July - End of Year Reports sent home
Saturday 11th July - TSA GlasTunbury
Friday 17th July – Dare to be Different Day (TSA)
Friday 17th July – Year 6 Prom NEW
Tuesday 21st July - July end of term/ academic year
Class Assemblies
Class assemblies will be held in the school hall on Friday afternoons. Parents/carers and family members from each class are warmly invited to join us in school for these events, as our children love to share their learning with you. Please come to the front of the school and wait outside the hall entrance doors. You will be invited in at just before 2.50pm. The assembly will begin at 2.50pm and last for about 10 minutes, finishing in time for you to collect your children at the end of the school day, as normal.
Friday 21st November - Turquoise Class Assembly
Friday 28th November - Amber Class Assembly
Friday 5th December - Crimson Class Assembly
Friday 16th January - Lilac Class Assembly
Friday 23rd January - Indigo Class Assembly
Friday 30th January - Pink Class Assembly
Friday 6th February - Emerald Class Assembly
Friday 13th February – Scarlet Class Assembly
Friday 27th February – Violet Class Assembly
Friday 13th March - Lavender Class Assembly
Friday 20th March - Azure Class Assembly
Friday 27th March - Red Class Assembly
Friday 24th April - Ruby Class Assembly
Friday 1st May – Sapphire Class Assembly
Friday 8th May - Blue Class Assembly
Friday 22nd May - Yellow Class Assembly
Friday 12th June – Magenta Class Assembly
Friday 19th June – Bears Class Assembly
Friday 3rd July – Owls Class Assembly
