Newsletter 16/10/26

This Week at Wincham School

This week’s whole school assembly took us on an incredible journey for World Food Day as we counted down to the big event on Friday, October 16th.

We dived headfirst into this year’s theme: "Innovate Today. Nourish Tomorrow." Everyone had the opportunity to share their favourite foods—before we took a moment to reflect deeply on what hunger really means and why it matters. We fired up our ambition around the global mission to achieve Zero Hunger, realizing that every single one of us holds the power to make a difference. Here is how we are stepping up to change the world:

Honouring Our Food Heroes: Celebrating the tireless farmers who work day in and day out to bring food to our tables.
Taking Action Together: Rolling up our sleeves to support local food banks and fuel our community.

Small actions lead to massive change—let’s innovate, nourish, and make Zero Hunger a reality.

Beat the Bugs!

Sickness and diarrhoea bugs are especially prevelant at this time of year.

To try to restrict the spread of these nasty bugs we have a "48-Hour Rule": If your child has vomited or has diarrhoea, they must remain home for 48 hours after the last episode to prevent the spread of infection.

Is Your Child Eligible to Receive Free School Meals?

We want every child to have access to a healthy, nutritious meal during the school day. Free School Meals can provide valuable support for families and may also enable the school to access additional funding to support children's learning, wellbeing and wider opportunities.

Universal Infant Free School Meals

All children in Reception, Year 1 and Year 2 are automatically entitled to a free school meal through the Government's Universal Infant Free School Meals scheme. Families do not need to apply for this entitlement.

Changes to Free School Meal Eligibility from September 2026

From 1st September 2026, all children living in a household that receives Universal Credit are entitled to Free School Meals. There are two types of benefits-related Free School Meals:

Targeted Free School Meals

Children may qualify for Targeted Free School Meals if their household receives Universal Credit and has an annual income of £7,400 or less. Children receiving Targeted Free School Meals can also:

Help the school receive additional Pupil Premium funding.
Access the Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) Programme during school holidays.

Expanded Free School Meals

Children whose household receives Universal Credit but does not meet the criteria for Targeted Free School Meals may qualify for Expanded Free School Meals. These pupils are entitled to free school meals but do not receive the additional benefits linked to Targeted Free School Meals.

Other Qualifying Benefits

Targeted Free School Meals may also be available where a child or parent receives:

Universal Credit
Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance
Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
Support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
The guaranteed element of State Pension Credit.

Pupil Premium

If your child is eligible for Targeted Free School Meals, Wincham School may receive additional government funding through the Pupil Premium Grant. With the funding we receive, we can buy resources and run intervention to support your pupils and others. Your child can also access individual benefits such as discounted school trips and access to one free enrichment club per term e.g. Multiflex, music lessons, athletics etc.

Why Register?

Even if your child is in Reception, Year 1 or Year 2 and already receives a free meal through Universal Infant Free School Meals, it is important to apply if you think you may be eligible for Targeted Free School Meals. By registering, you could help secure additional funding that directly benefits your child and other pupils across the school.

If you think that your child may be eligible for Pupil Premium support, please click here to apply.

Forthcoming Events in School

WFF Halloween Disco, tonight!

Monday 19th October

Please bring in a pair of shoes that you no longer need and £1 donation for Sal's Shoes to begin our global learning week.

If you think your company or employer might be able to help with charity donations, sponsorship or matched fundraising, please speak to Mr Bounds or the Office team.

Monday 19th October

Join the spooky fun at Treetops on Monday afternoon.

You can find out more about Treetops here

School Photo Day, Thursday 22nd October

We have arranged for the Academy School Photographer to visit school on Thursday 22nd October to take individual and sibling group photos for our children in Nursery all the way up to Year 6.

If you have a younger child (0 - 3 years) that you would like to include in your children's sibling photo, you are welcome to come into school with them from 8.30am to see the photographer.

In order to ensure that everyone is photo-ready, all children should come to school in full school uniform. If your child has a PE lesson on Thursdays, please send them into school wearing their uniform and PE trainers rather than school shoes.

Shortly after the photo day your child will be given a proof card which will enable you to log on to the secure Academy on-line ordering service and make an order. The deadline date for ordering will be shown on the photo proofs. The ordered photos will then be delivered to school and we will distribute the photographs to the children.

Stay and Do Global learning, Friday 23rd October

Everyone welcome to come into school from 2.45pm and watch a short celebration of our global learning in each class before heading out onto the Wincham mile for a lap or two to remember the valuable charitable work of the organisation Sal's Shoes.

Please see the school story on class dojo for more details.

Happy Half Term!

Half term break - Monday 26th October - Friday 30th October

INSET day - Monday 2nd November - school closed for staff training.

Help During Half Term

Families receiving Free School Meals

Support with food during the school holidays through the Crisis and Resilience Fund is now open again for applications. This support is available for £30 per week per school age child that receives income based Free School Meals if families are struggling to meet these additional costs during the school holidays. This payment will cover the combined October half term and Christmas holidays period of 3 weeks, and therefore if successful, an award of £90 will be given per eligible child, which will be paid via a payment to your bank account.

To apply or find out more details, you can visit School Holiday Support Payment | Cheshire West and Chester Council

If you're not in receipt of Free Schools Meals but need help with a sudden financial crisis, you can apply for our Crisis Payment scheme Crisis payments | Cheshire West and Chester Council

Multiflex Holiday Club

Multiflex October Holiday Clubs and Halloween Party Days are now available to book.

Please click on this link to book a place https://multiflex.hivelink.co.uk/6/

After School Clubs

We are delighted to be able to offer music lessons in school through our partnership with Music Squad.

Please click here for further information and to sign up for lessons.

We are very pleased to confirm that Athletics Club will continue this term, run by our fantastic athletics coach Claire Spurway.

It will take place on Mondays from 3.30pm - 4-20pm starting from September 21 and it is open to children from Reception up to Year 6.

Please visit https://five-star-athletics.classforkids.io/ for more information and to book a place.

This new club will run of Mondays after half term and is available for Year 4 and Year 5 children.

The ever popular Multiflex Club runs on Tuesdays after school.

Please click here for more information and to reserve a place.

Craft club runs on Wednesdays for KS1 children and Thursdays for KS2 children.

If you would like more information, or would like to book a place, please email coolkcrafts@gmail.com

This club will run on Fridays after the half term holidays.

2027 Reception Places

We would like to remind all parents of children due to start primary school in September 2027 that the Reception admissions process is now open. Please remember to submit your application before the 15th January deadline.

https://www.cheshirewestandchester.gov.uk/residents/education-and-learning/school-admissions/reception-admissions/making-an-application

If your child is starting school in September 2027, you are very welcome to tour the school during one of our open days.