Weekly Bulletin:Friday 5th June 2026
Headteacher’s message to parents/carers
Dear Parents/Carers,
STEAM Week has been a fabulous focus for the first week of our final term!
Hopefully you’ve been hearing all about it, as it’s been a week of different lessons and activities in every class, all inspired by David Attenborough and the natural world. Our in-school highlights are too numerous to mention, but some of our favourites include natural sculptures based on the work of Andy Goldsworthy, a brand new luxury five-star bug hotel and an army of origami frogs!
I also need to say a huge thank you to you, our super-supportive parents and carers, for helping your children to film their very own David Attenborough inspired videos to share their knowledge of the natural world. We absolutely love them! Children speak so confidently, with such wisdom and enthusiasm – looks like we have some TV presenters or YouTube stars of the future! Among our many favourites, Miss Germany and Mrs Wooldridge (in the school office) particularly loved the videos on tortoises, Miss Golding-Wood loved the video on black garden ants and I loved the video on Gavin and Stacey the cats. However, every single video is a winner, so great job Team Tunbury – we hope that you enjoyed making your videos just as much as we enjoyed watching them.
For our last day of STEAM week today, we are looking forward to seeing parents/carers this afternoon in class from 3.00 to look at children’s artwork, as well as being able to view the David Attenborough inspired videos. We look forward to seeing you all later on today. (Please remember that children won’t be dismissed on the playground, so you’ll need to go to their classrooms to collect them from there, and see the artwork there at the same time.)
In other news, Opal lunchtimes have been one of the many success stories of Tunbury school life recently, and the opportunities available to children at lunchtime have been truly transformed. Would you like to see what an Opal lunchtime actually looks like? If so, please come to play with your children at our Opal Open Afternoon next week – details below.
Have a lovely weekend everyone.
Best wishes
Ruth Austin
Headteacher
Opal Open Afternoon, Thursday 11th June
To celebrate the International Day of Play, we are delighted to invite you to join us for a special OPAL (Outdoor Play and Learning) Afternoon on Thursday 11th June at 2:00pm.
This event is an opportunity for you to experience the exciting outdoor play opportunities available to our children and to spend time playing and exploring alongside them. Families will be able to visit the different OPAL areas that we have developed across the school site and see first-hand how play supports children's learning, development and wellbeing.
From 2:00pm, children will be dismissed to their parents or carers from their usual points of dismissal. Y6 parents can collect children from the external classroom doors. You will be able to enter the school site from the side gate and the playground gate. Please do not use the main office. The playground gate will then be used to exit the school site when you wish to leave. Following collection, children will remain the responsibility of their parent or carer for the duration of the event. Siblings are very welcome to attend and join in the fun.
Please complete the Microsoft Form using the link below to let us know that you are able to attend. If another parent or carer will be supervising your child during the event, this is absolutely fine. However, you must indicate this on the Microsoft Form.
Opal Afternoon - Celebrating the International Day of Play – Fill in form
As part of our celebration, children may come to school in non-uniform for a £1 donation. Donations should be made via School Money, with all proceeds going towards purchasing additional loose parts and resources to further enhance play opportunities across the school. You will have been emailed a link from SchoolMoney to pay your donation.
If you are unable to attend, your child will still be able to take part in the OPAL afternoon under the supervision of a member of the Tunbury staff team.
Please note that Year 6 children who usually walk home independently will not be able to participate freely in the event without an adult present, nor will they be permitted to leave the school site before 3:15pm unless accompanied by an adult. If no adult is attending, these children will remain under the supervision of Tunbury staff until the end of the session.
Members of the Tunbury staff team will be available throughout the afternoon to answer any questions you may have about OPAL and the opportunities it provides for our children.
For anyone requiring assistance, first aid will be located outside Pink Class. KS1 toilets should be used by all visitors and children during the event.
The play session will finish when the bell rings at 3:00pm, which will signal tidy-up time and the end of the afternoon's activities. You are welcome to leave before this time if you wish; there is no expectation that families stay for the entire session.
Notices
Apprentice TA vacancy: We are looking to recruit an Apprentice Teaching Assistant for September 2026. For full details, please visit Apprentice Teaching Assistant at Tunbury Primary School – Find an apprenticeship – GOV.UK
New term, new learning: To find out information about what your child will be learning this term, as well as home learning and other relevant notices from their class teachers, please read our Term 6 Topic Newsletters. Please note that these newsletters include information on this term’s PHSE teaching, including elements of RSE (Relationships and Sex Education). The newsletters will be emailed home today and will also be available on our website at Tunbury Primary School - Year groups
Stay and Play sessions: This is for pre-school and nursery children (1.5-4 years old) and their parents – so it includes children who will start school in September 2027 as well as those starting in September 2026. Our next Stay and Play is on Thursday 11th June. The session lasts an hour and will take place in our Reception classrooms and outdoor learning areas. Whether you already have older children with us or are joining us for the very first time, we'd love for you to come along and see what makes Tunbury so special. Please follow the link to get signed up - https://forms.office.com/e/Z2kzSRaxyd
The Big Future – National Survey: Dame Rachel de Souza, Children’s Commissioner for England is inviting children at schools and colleges to take part in a national survey, The Big Future. This is a valuable opportunity for children and young people to reflect on their experiences, share what matters most to them, and tell about their hopes and ambitions for the future in their own words. Children can say what it’s like to be a child or young person in England today. The survey results will be taken to the Government, to help them make life better for children.
Your child can take part here: www.childrenscommissioner.gov.uk/thebigfuture
World Cup Day Lunch: Please see details below. This lunch can be booked and paid for via SchoolGateway in the usual way.
Important information about Free School Meals and Pupil Premium: We want to ensure your child receives the best possible support, and that you are aware of all available benefits.
What are Free School Meals and Pupil Premium? If you receive certain benefits, your child may be eligible for free school meals. Even if your child is in Reception, Year 1, or Year 2 and already receives Universal Infant Free School Meals, registering for this program ensures the school receives extra funding and you can access extra benefits.
Benefits of Registering:
- Freemeals to Year 6 and in secondary school too: Nutritious, healthy school meals for your child.
- Trips and visits: fully funded day trips, fully funded Year 4 swimming lessons and funding for the majority of the payment for the Year 6 residential trip.
- Other in-schoolsupport: fully funded music tuition lessons including singing, piano and iRock.
- Additional support: You may be eligible for further benefits, such as Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) vouchers during schoolholidays provided by Kent or Medway.
Is my child eligible? Your child may be eligible if you receive one of the following:
- Income Support
- Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance
- Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
- Support from National Asylum Support Service (NASS)
- The guaranteed element of State Pension Credit
- Child Tax Credit (with an annual income below £16,190, and not entitled to Working Tax Credit)
- Working Tax Credit run-on (paid for 4 weeks after you stop qualifying for Working Tax Credit)
- Universal Credit (with an annual net earned income of £7,400 or less)
To apply, please visit www.cloudforedu.org.uk/ofsm/kent/
All Tunbury parents/carers should use this form - it doesn’t matter if you are a resident of Medway or Kent.
To fill in this form, you just need your own/your child’s name and date of birth, your national insurance number and your contact details.
Please be assured that registration is completely confidential. The school will not disclose who is receiving free school meals, and the application process is discreet.
If you have any questions or would like help with the form, please contact the school office who will be happy to help.
Strive Holiday Club: Looking for a fun way to keep your child active this Summer holiday break?
Strive PE and Sport August Multi-Activity Camp at Tunbury is now open for booking! https://pbbl.uk/3P4KxRs Designed for children aged 5–11, their teacher-led camps are packed with sports, games, and exciting activities to keep children moving, laughing, and making new friends — exclusively for current Tunbury pupils only.
Why children love Strive Holiday Club camps:
• A huge mix of fun sports and optional themed activities
• A great place to make friends and build confidence
• Sibling & FSM discounts available
Medway Mile 2026: Friday 17 July 2026 – Sign up is now open! Register here: https://medway-sport.eventize.co.uk/.../the-medway-mile...
The Medway Mile returns to Medway Park, Gillingham. Expect sports taster sessions, children’s and mascot races, entertainment, food, and of course the mass Medway Mile. This year’s event celebrates the diversity of sport and physical activity in Medway as part of the Love Gillingham campaign. The new mass mile route finishes inside the Medway Park athletics track, and Medway & Maidstone Athletics Club will host the competitive and elite mile races.
Music lessons, Singing and Keyboard: We are delighted to continue developing the music provision at Tunbury School in partnership with The Math Music Academy, offering both individual singing and keyboard lessons for pupils.
Learning a musical instrument is about far more than music alone. Research from the Department for Education has shown that children who participate in musical learning often develop stronger concentration, faster reaction times, improved memory and greater confidence. Music also supports social development, creativity and self-expression.
Studies have demonstrated that children receiving musical training can perform significantly better academically, with many pupils achieving higher outcomes in subjects such as Maths, English and Science compared with their non-musical peers. Singing and keyboard lessons help strengthen important neurological pathways that support learning across the whole curriculum.
To give children the opportunity to experience lessons first-hand, The Math Music Academy will be offering FREE 15-minute trial sessions during the week beginning 18th June.
During the trial sessions:
Singing
- Basic vocal warm-ups and exercises
- Note recognition activities
- Introduction to songs and repertoire
Keyboard / Piano
- Introduction to the keyboard
- Basic fingering and hand positioning
- Simple musical activities and exploration
Students who choose to continue lessons will also have opportunities to:
- Perform in school concerts and performances
- Build confidence through live music-making
- Work towards graded examinations with the ABRSM and Trinity examination boards
To arrange your child’s free trial lesson, or if you would like any further information, please contact our music teacher, Sophie Hyde sophiehyde@aol.com
We look forward to helping your child discover the joy and benefits of music.
Music lessons, iRock: We are pleased to share that spaces in iRock bands are available now to book for September! At iRock, children experience the excitement of being in a real band, learning instruments, playing songs they love and building confidence through music. Led by passionate and professional Band Coaches, the fun and inclusive in-school sessions help children develop teamwork, resilience and musical skills in a supportive environment.
Every term ends with a live concert performance for family and friends, giving children the chance to shine like real rockstars and celebrate everything they’ve achieved.
Full details on how to sign up can be found here.
You can also contact iRock at info@irockschool.com, or 0330 174 2655, if you have any questions.
Weekly Class Attendance: This is a weekly feature on our bulletin to highlight and celebrate good levels of attendance. This week our KS2 winners are Emerald class with a brilliant 99.44%. Our KS1 winners are Bears class with an amazing 100%. Absolutely brilliant work from Emerald and Bears class! Keep up the great work everyone!
|
Class |
Weekly Attendance Percentage |
|
Bears |
☆100%☆ |
|
Emerald |
☆99.44%☆ |
|
Red |
98.33% |
|
Magenta |
98.21% |
|
Ruby |
98.00% |
|
Lavender |
97.78% |
|
Pink |
96.67% |
|
Indigo |
96.55% |
|
Azure |
96.15% |
|
Owls |
95.51% |
|
Violet |
92.47% |
|
Crimson |
91.67% |
|
Lilac |
91.30% |
|
Blue |
91.11% |
|
Sapphire |
90.67% |
|
Scarlet |
90.32% |
|
Turquoise |
89.29% |
|
Amber |
82.05% |
Tunbury Primary School Facebook: This week we’ve posted about our Year 6 trip to Kent Life. Please take a look at Tunbury Primary School | Chatham | Facebookand follow us to keep up to date with all things Team Tunbury.
Team Points: The first totals for the new term will be in next week’s bulletin.
Dates for your Diary
Term dates for 2026/27: www.tunbury.kent.sch.uk/Parents/Term-Dates-26-27/
Term 6
Thursday 11th June - Stay and Play sessions for pre-school/nursery children (1 ½ -4 years old) / parents, 9-10 am
Thursday 11th June – UN International Day of Play – Opal Open Afternoon 2 pm
Monday 15th June – New Entrants meeting (for parents of children due to start in Year R in Sept) 3.30-4.30 pm
Tuesday 16th June – Year 5 visit to Wildwood
Tuesday 16th June – Year 4 Open afternoon
Tuesday 16th, Wednesday 17th June – Gifts for Him Present Room (TSA)
Thursday 18th June – Year 2 Open afternoon – 2 pm
Wednesday 24th June – Tempest Photographers: Class group photos
Thursday 25th June – Year 3 Open afternoon – 2 pm
Friday 26th June - Sports Day
Monday 29th June – Tuesday 7th July – Bikeability Cycle training for some of Year 5 pupils
Wednesday 1st July – Stay and Play session for New Entrants 12.45 or 1.45
Friday 3rd July - Reserve Sports Day
Monday 6th July – Year 5 Open afternoon – 2 pm
Wednesday 8th July – Whole school transition day, followed by Open Classroom sessions
3.15-3.45
Wednesday 8th July - New Entrants transition sessions at 9.30 or 1.00
Thursday 9th July – Year 3 visit to Wingham Wildlife Park (please note 4 pm return time)
Friday 10th July - End of Year Reports sent home
Saturday 11th July - TSA GlasTunbury
Wednesday 15th July – New Entrants class visits / parents’ phonics workshop: 1.45 pm
Thursday 16th July – Year 6 Production: 2pm and 6pm
Friday 17th July – Dare to be Different Day (TSA)
Friday 17th July – Year 6 Prom
Monday 20th July – Year 6 Open afternoon – 2 pm
Tuesday 21st July – Year 6 Leavers' assemblies: Emerald - 9am / Violet - 9:45 am / Crimson - 10:30 am
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 12th June – Magenta Class Assembly
Friday 19th June – Bears Class Assembly
Friday 3rd July – Owls Class Assembly
