PTA funded play equipment installed!

Our amazing PTA have been able to pay to extend the balance trail on the school field, much to the delight of the children. All those discos, Christmas fayres and film nights have meant that we have added a rope bridge, a wobble plank and a swing-step bridge (all technical terms, of course!).

Year 6 Study Club

We now have clubs running every day except Fridays. The latest is the Year 6 SATS Study Club run by Mr Culff. This runs on a Tuesday after school and allows Year 6 to revise what they have learnt in the English and maths primary curriculum before the SATS tests in May. It is part of the programme that sets them up to succeed in the tests as well as to be ready for secondary school. It is great to see a good take up of places and some great focus from Year 6. 

🌙 World Book Day Theme Announcement: Bedtime Stories!

This year, our World Book Day (Thursday 5 March 2026) theme celebrates the magic, warmth and wonder of bedtime stories - those cosy moments that help children drift into the world of dreams and build essential early literacy skills.

As Julie Taylor, Education Lead at the children’s literacy charity, reminds us:

“The routine of reading at bedtime offers a slow wind‑down at the end of a busy day. It creates a reading environment that allows both adult and child those precious moments to get cosy and slip into the magical world of books. Shared reading is not only fun, it is also a wholly worthwhile activity… An investment of a few minutes a day has the power to create a lifelong love of books and reading.”

Bedtime stories are far more than a nightly routine. According to recent research and guidance:

• Reading aloud is the first stage in helping children become independent readers.

• Listening to patterns, rhymes and simple stories prepares children for the rhythms of language and the structures of text.
• Discovering the joy of books early on boosts imagination, language, listening skills and vocabulary.

• Bedtime reading nurtures children's ability to question, predict, describe and explain; skills they will use across the curriculum.

• It offers children comfort, reassurance and connection, creating a safe and nurturing end to the day.
• And crucially, research suggests that just twenty minutes of reading each day supports improved performance in school, strengthens concentration, supports healthy sleep, and builds self-esteem.

As Taylor explains:

“A bedtime story is so much more than reading a story, it’s an activity that everyone can share and enjoy.”

📚 How We’ll Be Celebrating in School

To shine a spotlight on the magic of bedtime reading, children are invited to:

🌟 Bring in their favourite bedtime story book

Whether it’s a cherished classic, a much‑loved picture book, or a family favourite, we want to see the stories that make nighttime special.

💤 Come to school dressed in their pyjamas!

Slippers, dressing gowns, bedtime socks - all welcome! (Please ensure footwear is safe for school.)

☕ Enjoy a cosy treat

We may even share a warm hot chocolate and a biscuit to complete the bedtime‑story atmosphere.
More details will follow nearer the time

School Cook Vacancy

The closing date for applications to be our new school cook is fast approaching but there are still a few days if you are quick!

If you know of anyone who is suitably qualified and might like to be part of the Manor team, working alongside our wonderful staff and putting smiles on the children's faces each day with tasty food, then please do point them our way!

No Nuts!

Staff have all completed their annual anaphylaxis training this week. This is about preventing and treating the results of severe allergic reaction, something that can be a killer. We have also renewed our emergency epi-pens to replace our nearly out-of-date ones that have thankfully remained unused.

Of course the most severe reactions can tend to be to nuts and we have two people in school with severe nut allergies who carry their own epi-pens. While we can never guarantee that school is 'nut free', we would like to take this opportunity to politely remind you to please avoid sending anything containing nuts into school to reduce the risk as far as possible. 

While eating nuts is how the most severe reactions generally occur, there can still be dangerous reactions to nuts on someone's clothing or breath if they have recently eaten nuts. We hope to keep our new epi-pens until they run out of date too, and intend to do everything we can to reduce the risk of ever needing them.

Governor Vacancies

We continue to run with vacancies on our Local Governing Committee. We have an excellent select group of governors currently, but we have spaces for one more parent governor and another co-opted governor if anyone is interested.

Email about 'Adventure Days' from Standon Bowers

I’m reaching out from Standon Bowers Outdoor Education Centre to share an exciting opportunity for your families. We’re running a series of Adventure Days during February Half Term to get young people outdoors, active, and inspired.

Packed with an array of thrilling activities such as high ropes, BMX, bushcraft, climbing, and more, our Adventure Days offer an unforgettable experience. Drop-off is at 9:00 AM and pick-up is at 3:00 PM. For those requiring a later pick-up, we provide an option until 5:00 PM.

Ideal for children aged 5–16, these Adventure Days will take place at the Standon Bowers Outdoor Education Centre, Weston Lane, Stafford, ST21 6RD.

To book, please visit: https://www.trybooking.com/uk/eventlist?aid=14998 

Tickets are currently 20% off until 30^th January - no code needed!