East Wickham Primary Academy
Wickham Street, Welling, Kent, DA16 3BP
www.ewp.tkat.org
KS1 Department: 020 8854 0698
KS2 Department: 020 8854 3637
admin-KS1 @EWP-TKAT.org
admin-KS2 @EWP-TKAT.org
Head Teacher: Mrs S. Manzi Head of KS1 and EYFS: Mrs J. Whiley Head of KS2: Mrs M .Moore School Business Manager: Mrs C. Conner
9th September 2015
Dear Parents/Carers
Welcome back for the new 2015/16 school year. I hope you had an enjoyable summer
break, even if the weather was a little disappointing at times.
We have welcomed all of our children back for the new term and look forward to admitting our Nursery entrants
soon. Our Year 3 children have settled happily into Key Stage 2 and we now ask for parents to stay back behind
the playground lines so as to give us a clear view of the children coming in and going home.
Staff
We welcome several new staff to our school this year. Alongside Mrs Daly and Mr McAlinney who join the senior
lead team as Assistant Heads, our new class teachers are Mr Burns (Y6), Miss McDonald (Y6), Miss Jones (Y5),
Mr Pearson (Y5), Mr Ali (Y4), Miss Evans (Y2), Miss Nicholson-Wright (Y1) and Miss Bagot (Y1).
We also welcome a new teaching assistant in Nursery – Miss Goldswain and two teaching assistants in our
Pathways Resource Provision – Miss Neville and Miss Piper.
Finally, we welcome a trainee teacher in Year 1 working alongside the Y1 team – Mrs McCormack. Please also
remember that Miss Young and Miss Terrell were married over the summer and are now Mrs Samuel and
Mrs O Neill. 
Site Projects
The KS1 Infant Hall has a lovely new floor in place and the Nursery and Pathways units have new carpet and
flooring. The dovecotes on both buildings have been replaced and the Y5 building is ready for classes to inhabit.
The final removal of fencing and replacing the field to its original state will take place across September.
We would like to invite Year 5 parents to pop in and look at the new Y5 suite after school on Wednesday 16th
September. Any parent who would like to meet any of our new teachers is also welcome to come in after school
on the same afternoon.
Our Queen
You will be aware that our Queen – Queen Elizabeth 2nd, achieves the title of longest reigning Monarch in Great
Britain today. A remarkable achievement. However, with it being so close to the start of the new school year, it
doesn’t give us (or parents) enough time to plan a proper celebration day. Therefore, we would like to hold a
Monarchy Day on Wednesday 23rd September. Children may come dressed as any Monarch and should be able
to describe who they are and when they reigned!
We have also purchased a commemorative medal for every child which will be given out on this day.
Social Media
May I remind you that Parentmail is our quick way to get information to you; both by text and email, and that you
can use Parentpay to pay for school meals and trips. If you have changed your phone number over the summer
break, you must log into parentmail yourself to update your details as we cannot do this for you. Please ensure
you notify the school office of your new numbers so we can update our systems for contacting you.
We also have a Facebook page www.facebook.com/EastWickhamPrimaryAcademy which is updated by our ICT
team and will be a source of information and photographs this year.
East Wickham Primary Academy is part of The Kemnal Academies Trust.
Registered in England: Companies Number 073483231
Registered Offices: Kemnal Technology College, Sevenoaks Way, Sidcup, Kent, DA14 5AA
Selection Testing
On Wednesday 16th September some of our Year 6 children will sit the 11+ Tests. These take place across one
morning in the main KS2 school hall. We do not close for this event.
‘House’ Names
As you are aware, we have traditionally allocated KS2 children a house colour for sports events. This year we
are moving to geographic house names and sorting all children into one of the four houses. The four houses are:
Oxleas (green), Danson (blue), Woodlands (yellow), Hillview (red). Your child will inform you (later this week)
which house they are in.
Lollipop Mo
I am sad to advise that our much loved Lollipop Lady – Lollipop Mo – is too unwell to return to her position. You
may be aware that she tripped, holding onto her Lollipop Stick at the end of last term, and she has sustained
shoulder and wrist injuries that mean she can no longer bear the weight of the stick comfortably. We would like
to recognise her seven years of outstanding service to our school in a special assembly later in September.
Meanwhile, if any child would like to make her a card please send them into school and we will collect them for
distribution at her assembly. If you would like to contribute to her leaving/ get well present then please send in
any donation to Mrs Shepherd in the KS1 Office. Thank you
Uniform
A reminder to all parents that our uniform jumpers and cardigans are burgundy in colour. Grey, black or red
jumpers are not part of school uniform. Jumpers and cardigans can be purchased from Matthews Outfitters in
Upper Wickham Lane.
Absence
You will be aware that there is an expectation that schools do not authorise holidays in term time and only permit
absence for exceptional circumstances. You may write in to the Head Teacher explaining your need for an
exceptional absence, this then is discussed with the Chair of Governors and our Attendance Officer, your child’s
usual pattern of attendance is also scrutinised. These requests can take up to a week to generate the response
to you. Please allow good time if you have any need to write in in such circumstances. Children are expected to
achieve a MINIMUM of 96% attendance every year. Please read the attached attendance policy for the school
which has further details.
Passports
Every year I am asked to authorise approximately 100 passport applications for parents and children.
Unfortunately the checking procedures that go with passports are now quite time consuming. After your form has
been completed another form comes back to me requiring another letter stating that I do indeed know who the
applicants were, and that the form was fully completed before signing. As a result of this important identity
checking, I am sorry to inform you that I am no longer offering this service as it is too time consuming and
detracts from supporting the children.
Bikes/Scooters
Please can I remind parents that children should come off of their bikes/ scooters when they enter the
playground. Our playgrounds are too crowded to allow children to ride amongst parents. Please also remember
to bring a padlock to secure any bikes/ scooters left here during the day. Thank you
Dates for the Year
Please find attached the dates of events that have been booked for this school year. Please add them to your
calendars and diaries. We will endeavour not to change dates unless events are weather dependent.
Wishing you and your children a happy and exciting Autumn Term.
Yours sincerely
Mrs S Manzi
Head Teacher
East Wickham Primary Academy is part of The Kemnal Academies Trust.
Registered in England: Companies Number 073483231
Registered Offices: Kemnal Technology College, Sevenoaks Way, Sidcup, Kent, DA14 5AA
Dates for 2015-2016 School Year
10 September – ½ Reception children in am / pm
14 – 16 September – Reception children attend 9.00am - 1.30pm
16 September – Selection Tests Y6
17 September – Reception children in full time
18 September – Jeans for Genes Day / EYFS Curriculum & Phonics Meetings
21 September – Nursery am/pm classes start school
22 September – Height and Weight Measurements of Y6
23 September – Eid-al-Adha / Monarchy Day – dress as a Monarch
25 September – McMillan World’s Biggest Coffee Morning am
1 October – Black History Month
5 October – Dyslexia Awareness Week
7 October – 11+ results to parents
8 October – Harvest Festival KS1 9.15am & EYFS 2.30pm
9 October – Harvest Festival KS2 9.15am
12 October – Book Week
15 October – World Music Day
24 October –1 November – Half Term
4 November – Individual Photo Day – all children
5 November – Guy Fawkes Day
10/11/12 November – Open Evenings
11 November – Remembrance Day & Divali
16 November – Anti Bullying week
30 November – St Andrew’s Day – wear something blue and white
8 December – Y1 Nativity 9.30am & 2.30pm
10 December – Y3 Nativity 9.30am & 2.45pm
15 December – Reception & Nursery Christmas shows 9.30am & 2.30pm
16 December – Y5 Christmas Concerts 9.30am & 2.30pm / FC visit and parties
17 December – CRIBS Christmas shows 1.30pm for EYFS & Y1/ 2.20pm for Y2/3/4
19 December – 3 January – Christmas Holiday
4th January – INSET – school closed to children
1 February – National Storytelling Week
8 February – Chinese New Year
9 February – Safer Internet Day
12 February – INSET across all TKAT primary schools – school closed to children
13- 21 February – Half Term
1 March – St David’s Day – wear something yellow
3 March – World Book Day
6 March – Mothering Sunday
7/8/9/ March – Open Evenings
12 March – British Science Week
16 March – Science Day
17 March – St Patrick’s Day – wear something green
18 March – Sports Relief Day
23 March – Y4 Easter Show 9.15am & 2.30pm
24 March – Easter Bonnet Parade 9.15am / CRIBS Easter Play 11am Y2/3/4 only
25 March – 10 April – Easter Holiday
CLASS ASSEMBLIES
At 2.45pm in KS1
At 3.00pm in KS2
Unless otherwise stated
6T – 3 DEC
6M – 8 DEC
6B – 9 DEC
2N – 2 DEC
2R – 3 DEC
2E – 7 DEC
3N – 15 MAR 9.15am
3B – 17 MAR 9.15am
3W – 18 MAR 9.15am
5S – 16 MAR
5P – 17 MAR
5J – 22 MAR
1BR- 16 MAR
1NW – 17 MAR
1BA – 22 MAR
R1 – 29 JUNE
R2 – 30 JUNE
R3 – 1 JULY
4C 6 JULY
4P – 12 JULY
4A – 13 JULY
East Wickham Primary Academy is part of The Kemnal Academies Trust.
Registered in England: Companies Number 073483231
Registered Offices: Kemnal Technology College, Sevenoaks Way, Sidcup, Kent, DA14 5AA
11 April – INSET – school closed to children
21 April – World Poetry Day
23 April – St George’s Day & Shakespeare’s Birthday (to be celebrated on 22 April at EWPA)
26 April – Maths Day
2 May – Spring Bank Holiday
5 May – School closed for GLA Elections
9 May – KS2 new SATS week
23 May – Bikeability week
25 May – Spanish Day
26 May – Class Photo Day
28 May – 5 June Half Term
13 June – Phonic screening week Y1
19 June – Father’s Day
20 June – National Sports week
21 June – Nursery Sports am
22 June – Rec & KS1 sports am
23 June – Y3/4 Sports am
24 June – Y5/6 sports am
5 July – Y6 Production 9.30am & 5.30pm
7 July – Graduoke & Y6 Prom 6pm
8 July – Art Gallery – whole school
14 July – Y2 Memories Concerts 9.30am & 2.30pm
15 July – Academic Review Day
20 July – Y6 Water Sports and Inflatables Day
21 July – Y6 Graduation 6pm
22 July – Last day of the School Year!
East Wickham Primary Academy is part of The Kemnal Academies Trust.
Registered in England: Companies Number 073483231
Registered Offices: Kemnal Technology College, Sevenoaks Way, Sidcup, Kent, DA14 5AA