11th December 25
11th December 2025
Dear Parents and carers,
There is a lot to celebrate and be grateful for this week as we reach the end of the Autumn term. Before I mention all of that, I wanted to remind you about what is happening during the week ahead.
Pantomime - Wednesday
On Wednesday next week we are taking the children to the pantomime in Basingstoke. Your child will need to be in full school uniform even if it is normally their PE day. The children will need a packed lunch as we will arrive back at school slightly later than normal lunchtime. If you have not already ordered a school packed lunch you will need to provide a home packed lunch.
Carol Concert - ‘Joyn in with Joy’ - Thursday
We will open the gates for this event at 2:30pm next Thursday with a view to start singing at 2:45. PTA will have drinks for sale, and our Year 6 will be selling some cakes and decorations to raise money for their leaver’s hoodies. Please bring cash with you on the day. If you are able to bring a lantern, battery-operated candle or any other light source then we would love it if you could.
In terms of safeguarding there will be a coned area for all parents to stand behind so please do not cross the cones or try to go to your children at this event. If people are unable to do this it puts future events in jeopardy. We would love you to join in with the whole service so please come in ready to sing. Words will be provided.
At the end of the event children will go back to their classes. I would like everyone to quickly leave the playground and make sure they are behind the green gates as we cannot dismiss children safely until you do so. Once they are ready, we will bring the children out in the usual way.
We sincerely hope that as many of you as possible are able to join us for this community sing at the end of term!
Please note that although most clubs will still be on next week, singing club on Thursday will be cancelled.
Christmas Dinner – Friday
Our Christmas dinner is next Friday, which we hope will be a lovely celebration with the children. The school staff and governors will be providing table service for the children. If you have not ordered a Christmas lunch by the end of today, then you will need to ensure you provide your child with a packed lunch on Friday. The children will be wearing Christmas hats, which they are making in class in the morning. Children may come to school in a Christmas jumper (and in normal uniform other than that) on that day if they wish to.
Mick’s Last Day!
Next Friday will be Michael Prentice’s last day as caretaker of the school. He has been working at Clatford for over two decades and is now ready to hang up his high-vis and leave his hall buffing machine behind. We will certainly be sad to see him go as he has been a familiar and helpful face at Clatford for a long time. If anyone wishes to contribute towards a leaving gift, then please leave any contributions at the office.
Year R and KS1 Nativities
I wanted to say a big thank you to everyone who attended one of our nativities this week as your support helped make these special events for the children. I have had a brilliant time watching them myself and was so impressed at how well the children have done this year. They are a talented bunch. I would also like to thank the KS1 team for all the extra work they have done behind the scenes in producing this fantastic event.
500 Words
Well done to all the participants in the 500 words competition and a particular well done to the 7 Clatford writers who have made it past the first round of judging. They are in the final 5,000 and their stories will now be ready by members of the Reading Agency.
Talented Players
Last week, we had five children from Clatford taking part in the excellent pantomime production of Sleeping Beauty with the Burdock Valley Players. I know they all worked so hard on this in demonstrating their talents and putting on a brilliant show and I also know that people who saw it were thoroughly impressed. Well done to our talented young actors.
May peace be with you,
Mr Kirk
Dates for your diary
17th December: Whole School Panto at The Anvil
18th December: Carol Concert at 2:40pm
19th December: Christmas Lunch and Christmas Jumpers
22nd December - 2nd January 2026: Christmas Holiday
5th January 2026: INSET Day
2nd February: YR and KS1 Drama workshop (In school)
6th February: Year 5 Winchester Science Museum
16th February - 20th February: Spring Half Term
24th February: O2 Young Voices Concert
4th March: Year 3 Pizza Express Trip
11th March: Year 3 Fishbourne Palace Trip
23rd March: Year 2 Windsor Castle
30th March - 10th April: Easter Holiday
13th April: INSET Day
21st April – 19th May: Y3 Swimming Lessons (Tuesday afternoons, 5 sessions)
25th May - 29th May: Summer Half Term
11th June: Year 3 Kew Gardens
15th June: INSET Day
16th June: Y2 Living Rainforest
24th June: Year 6 Leavers Service at Winchester Cathedral
25th June: School Class Photos
29th June - 1sy July: Key Stage 2 Play at The Lights
2nd July: Year 5 Taster Day at John Hanson School
6th July: Year 5 Taster Day at John Hanson School
7th July: Year 6 Transition Day – Andover Schools
12th - 15th July Year 6 Residential to Osmington Bay
14th July: Year 5 Taster Day at Harrow Way School
23rd July: Summer Holiday