Summer term 2026 – Newsletter 15
Summer term 2026 – Newsletter 15
Somercotes Infants School – Newsletter 15
Dear Somercotes families,
The academic year seems to be moving on quickly now as we move into the final term of the academic year! The Summer 2 term in school brings with it the ‘Changing Me’ Jigsaw PSHCE topic, as children and adults begin to prepare for the new academic year. Changes in classes, year groups, rooms, entrances to school and new curriculums can bring with them a feeling of worry and excitement, especially for our year 2s who will be leaving us in the Summer. This term also brings with it the final push towards the end of year attainment goals for the children, ensuring that they have the necessary knowledge and skills required to be READY and to be successful.
Reminder: Parking
We have received a visit from a neighbour to school who is reporting having their car blocked in during school drop off and collecting times. Please ensure that you are parking considerately at all times, even if just dropping off for ‘a few minutes’.
Transition Plans
This year we are delighted to say that we have an extended transition offer for our new Reception children, alongside our continued work with Somerlea Park Junior School for our Year 2 leavers.
The new Reception cohort have their first transition stay and play session on Tuesday 2nd June as part of the Little Learners Programme.
Our whole school transition day is Thursday 9th July, where all children will move up to their new classes. Furthermore, this term’s Sunflower group will complete additional nurture visits to Somerlea Park with Mr Lillie and Miss Minshull.
Year 2 Leavers events
As with previous years, the year 2 leavers assembly will take place on Wednesday 21st July (morning). The hall will be open from 9:00 for parents to browse the gallery, then to take their seats. The assembly will begin from 9:15.
The afternoon of this day will then be the year 2 leavers disco. Bring your dancing shoes year 2s!
Expected Standards
In our previous newsletter we discussed the plan to host a parents support session detailing the expected standard for each year group, including some simple ways that parents can support their child’s learning at home. Whilst this is still the plan, I wanted to take this opportunity to share these with all parents, allowing all to contact either Mr Rowland or your child’s class teacher to discuss ways in which you can support your child and all of the HARD WORK that they are doing at school.
Reception
Year 1
Year 2
Jigsaw RSE lessons
As you will be aware, the Summer term includes the Jigsaw topic of ‘Changing Me’ including all of the national curriculum objectives for Relationships and Sex Education. As an infant school these range from identifying areas of their body such as their knees and elbows in Reception, to a simple understanding of the correct medical terms for body parts in year 2.
The ‘Changing Me’ unit is taught over a period of 6 weeks in the second half of the summer term. Each year group will be taught appropriate to their age and development stage. Please note: at no point will a child be taught something that is inappropriate; and if a question from a child arises and the teacher feels it would be inappropriate to answer, the child will be encouraged to ask his/her parents or carers at home, and the question will not be answered to the child or class if it is outside the remit of that year group’s programme.
- Reception – Growing up: how we have changed since we were babies
- Year 1 – Boys’ and girls’ bodies; body parts
- Year 2 – Boys’ and girls’ bodies; body parts and respecting privacy (which parts of the body are private and why this is)
We hope you will be in agreement with us that this work is vitally important for children, that it needs to be done age-appropriately and that the Jigsaw Programme gives us a secure framework in which to do this.
We do as always want to work in partnership with parents and carers, and also wish to inform you of your legal right to withdraw your children from some aspects of this work, whilst Relationships Education and Health Education are statutory for all primary schools.
Breakfast club
As part of our continued preparations for next academic year we are seeking to assess whether there will be the appropriate demand for a Before School Breakfast Club at Somercotes Infants School. Previously demand for this provision has been low resulting in school being unable to offer this service. Should you like to register your interest in this club, please complete the form below. Click here
Active Lives Survey
Somercotes Infant School has been selected by Sport England to complete the Active Lives Survey: Children and Young People. This survey has been developed in conjunction with the Department for Education, the Department of Health and Social Care, and the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport.
Schools are chosen at random each term to complete the survey to help us gain a better understanding of young people’s attitudes and behaviours towards physical activity.
As a thank you for completing the survey, school will receive a Healthy Schools accreditation, as well as a detailed individual report and some free sports equipment!
You will also be contributing to the local and national picture of children’s physical health and wellbeing, particularly how much sport and physical activity they do, and their thoughts and feelings towards it.
The deadline for the summer term completion is Friday 24th July. Click Here
School Reward Badges
A reminder that if you have any badges at home, then please do bring them back, as there is a cost to families of £1.50 for a lost badge.
We have so many children now moving through the badge colours from Bronze, to Silver, to Gold and even a few who have made it all the way to Platinum for 300+ dojos. When the children earn their next badge colour, they should be trading in their old badges, but unfortunately, this is often not the case.
Beat the Heat
Once again, thank you for your continued support. We now look forward to the amazing time that we have ahead of us this academic year, full of learning and lots of fun! As always, should you have any questions or wish to discuss anything further please do not hesitate to ask.
Warm regards,
Mr Rowland
Headteacher
“Working together to enable our children and families to achieve their full potential and be successful in our diverse world”