Weekly Bulletin:Friday 30th January 2026
Headteacher’s message to parents/carers
Dear Parents/Carers,
This week, we had our third review meeting with our OPAL mentor, looking at the progress we have made since starting this programme to improve children’s play at lunchtimes 12 months ago. Looking back, it’s hard to believe that we used to have only a few balls, hoops or skipping ropes for children to play with at lunchtime! Now, we have a wealth of options to enrich children’s play, including dressing up, small world play, arts and crafts, the sandpit, digging area and the whole field (even in winter). We’re really proud of how hard staff have worked to make these changes, as they haven’t happened just by magic! Miss Morgan, Mrs Davies and all of the Play Team (ie the adults who work outside at lunchtime) have done an amazing job, which I know children are really thankful for.
The OPAL programme has been fully funded by the TSA, so thank you for your support for TSA events like fireworks or the school discos, where these valuable funds are raised. In the summer term, we’re looking forward to hosting a special OPAL open afternoon, where you’ll be invited to come in and experience our play offer and see what your children get up to! More details to follow nearer the time.
Our OPAL journey continues and the latest area which we are opening on the school field is our brand new Mud Kitchen, which is at the end of the school field and currently looks like this… We’ll share some more photos of children’s play at lunchtimes via facebook next week.
Have a lovely weekend everyone.
Best wishes
Ruth Austin
Headteacher
Young Voices
Lily and Rosa (from Year 6) would like to share their account of the Young Voices concert trip last week:
“After we had our lunch we got into pairs and started to lead onto the coach. About 1 hour later we arrived in London to see hundreds of other schools heading towards the O2. We started walking up to our seats, our school was lucky as we got two boxes near the top. We had a long rehearsal full of meeting our special guests and artists we were going to perform with!
After we had our dinner, parents and guests started to arrive in the large stadium. It was packed with people from other schools and lots of families. Later on, the announcement came and the show was beginning. The first performance was by the urban strides to the song golden, this really hyped up the stadium! Next, we sang all over the world followed by sea shanty and many other songs like pop medley, disco fever, wicked medley and of course the most exciting part, the massive dance battle between the parents and children!
After the show ended we waited for our number to be called so our school could leave, we were all exhausted and ready for a good night’s rest! We walked back to the coach ready to go back to Tunbury. When we got back our parents came to pick us up and most of us got back at 11pm. We had the most fun and had the best day ever!”
The Singing club group that performed at the Young Voices O2 concert will have an extra performance on Monday 2nd February at 3.30 – 4.15 pm in the school’s main hall especially for parents, grandparents and extended family members who were not able to attend at the O2. The children can bring their YV t-shirts to wear over their uniform if they wish.
Please check our facebook page for videos from the Young Voices concert.
Notices
Parents’ Consultation Evenings: Parents’ Evenings are on the last week of this term, on Tuesday 10th February and Thursday 12th February. Bookings will open from 3.30 pm today (Friday 30/1). Please book a meeting with your child’s class teacher using the details in the letter which was emailed to parents yesterday. Appointments with our SENCO, Mrs Abdullah are also available on these days. If you did not receive or cannot find your Parents’ Evening letter, please email us at office@tunbury.kent.sch.uk so that we can help you.
After School Clubs: As advised in the original clubs letter sent out to parents After School Clubs will not be running on the last week of this term, week beginning Monday 9th February, due to parent consultation evenings.
Number Day:
We are delighted to be supporting the NSPCC by taking part in Number Day on Friday 6th February 2026. Everything the NSPCC does protects children today and prevents about tomorrow. By raising money, we can help to fund their vital services such as Childline – the helpline that’s always there for children and young people whatever their problem or concern. On average, a child contacts Childline every 45 seconds.
Number Day is a great way to make maths fun and bring about a positive, ‘can-do’ attitude towards it. On Friday 6th February 2026, we will be having a fun day of maths activities in school. Children will take part in the following activities:
- Fun Maths activity
- NSPCC Rocks Competition on Times Table Rock Stars
- Numbot challenge
- Tunbury Maths mascot competition
We are also encouraging everyone to take part in ‘Dress up for Digits.’ Pupils could wear an item of clothing with a number or pattern on it or be even more creative and design their own outfit.
To support NSPCC, we are asking for a voluntary donation of £2 which can be made using the link below: justgiving.com/page/tpsnspccnumberday
We’re really looking forward to all the fun of Number Day, and we really appreciate your support. All the money we raise at Tunbury Primary School will make an enormous difference to children today and help the NSPCC be there for children tomorrow.
Thank you for your continued support.
The Maths Team
School Lunch Provider: We are pleased to announce that following a thorough review of our catering company at Tunbury we will be partnering with a new catering contractor, Peacock Schools Catering Ltd, effective from the start of Term 4, Tuesday 24th February 2026.
Our priority is always to ensure that our children receive high-quality, nutritious meals in a positive dining environment. Over the past few months, we have been increasingly concerned with irregularities in the service provided by our current contractor. We recognize that inconsistencies in the menu and availability have been frustrating for both pupils and parents. We are excited about this new chapter and look forward to hearing your feedback.
The new menu will be published on our website for the start of next term.
Strive February Half Term Club: Our Strive PE & Sport Multi-Activity Camp is returning to Tunbury Primary this February half term break for one day only! Children will enjoy a fun-filled and active day, including games, sports, and themed activities - all led by qualified staff.
Weekly Class Attendance: This is a weekly feature on our bulletin to highlight and celebrate good levels of attendance. Our KS1 class winners are Lavender class, with a fantastic 100% attendance. Great work from Lavender class! Our KS2 winners are once again Ruby class with a brilliant 99.04%. Keep up the amazing work everyone!
|
Class |
Weekly Attendance Percentage |
|
Lavender |
☆100%☆ |
|
Red |
99.17% |
|
Ruby |
☆99.04%☆ |
|
Sapphire |
99.00% |
|
Indigo |
98.28% |
|
Blue |
97.50% |
|
Bears |
96.63% |
|
Crimson |
95.54% |
|
Owls |
95.54% |
|
Pink |
94.79% |
|
Violet |
94.76% |
|
Scarlet |
94.64% |
|
Magenta |
93.75% |
|
Turquoise |
93.75% |
|
Amber |
93.52% |
|
Emerald |
92.50% |
|
Azure |
91.83% |
|
Yellow |
88.19% |
|
Lilac |
86.98% |
Tunbury Primary School Facebook: This week we have posted about our pupils who took part in the Young Voices Concert. 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, Holmes team remain in the lead, but all of our teams are over 3000 points already. Great work everyone, keep it up!
|
Rowling |
Attenborough |
Holmes |
Hawking |
|
3326 |
3121 |
3493 |
3340 |
Dates for your Diary
Term dates for 2025/26: www.tunbury.kent.sch.uk/Parents/Term-Dates-25-26/
Term 3
Monday 2nd February - Azure Visit to the Co-op 1.15pm - 3.00pm (5 parent/carer helpers, please )
Monday 2nd February – Singing Club / Young Voices performance, main hall, 3.30-4.15 pm NEW
Wednesday 4th February - Sapphire Visit to the Co-op 1.15pm - 3.00pm (3 parent/carer helpers, please)
Thursday 5th February - Amber Visit to the Co-op 1.15pm - 3.00pm (3 parent/carer helpers, please)
Friday 6th February - Number Day
Friday 6th February – Bingo Night (TSA) – Postponed (refunds will be sent from TSA for any bookings made) NEW
Tuesday 10th February - Safer Internet Day
Tuesday 10th February - Spring Parent Consultation (3.30 – 6.30)
Wednesday 11th February - Year 1, 'Tiger who came to Tea' tea party at 2pm NEW
Thursday 12th February – Year 2 visit to Dockside
Thursday 12th February - Spring Parent Consultation (3.30 – 6.30)
Friday 13th February – Last Day of Term 2
Thursday 19th February - Strive February Half Term Club
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 21st April – NHS Vision Screening Year R
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
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 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
