CRA Newsletter 26.09.25 Half Term 1 - September 2025

Important dates to remember

• 30th September - Year 7 Meet the Tutor
• 5th October - Corby Glen Sheep Fair
• 7-10th October - Trip to France
• 15th October - Open morning for year 6 parents

Online Workshops

Here are details of the two free online workshops available to families with SEN children.

📌 Juggling the Joys of Parenting – Thursday 9th October at 11am (parents only)

An interactive Zoom session exploring the ups and downs of parenting children with SEND, with tips and strategies to support family life.

👉 More info & booking

📌 Promoting Positive Behaviour – Thursday 16th October at 7pm ( parents and professionals)

A free workshop with behavioural specialist Chris from Aspens, looking at behaviours of concern, why they happen, and practical strategies to reduce stress and encourage positive behaviours.

👉 More info & booking

Both sessions are free to LPCF members (parents of children with SEND and professionals can join free via our membership sign-up page).

Table Talk

We regularly talk to students about British values: Democracy, The Rule of Law, Individual Liberty, and Mutual Respect and Tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs. This week you may like to take the opportunity to discuss one of these - Liberty - with your child.

Why Talk to students About Liberty?

In a world that’s constantly changing, one value remains essential: individual liberty—the idea that each person has the right to make choices about their own life. For adults, this may seem like a weighty political or philosophical topic, but it’s never too early to begin nurturing a child’s understanding of personal freedom. In fact, engaging children in age-appropriate conversations about liberty can help them grow into thoughtful, confident, and responsible citizens.

Start with Everyday Examples

The best way to introduce the concept of liberty to children is by grounding it in real-life experiences. Ask questions like: “Do you like choosing your own clothes in the morning?” “What rules do you think are fair or unfair at school?” “What would you do if someone told you what game you had to play every day?” These open-ended questions not only invite dialogue but also allow kids to reflect on the importance of choice, fairness, and autonomy—key components of liberty.

Use Stories and History Children’s books, historical figures, and even family stories can all be great tools. Share stories of people who stood up for their rights or made a difference by expressing themselves freely.

Try discussing: “Why did people want to be free?” or “What rights do you think are most important?” Encourage your child to express opinions, ask questions, and listen to others. This helps them understand that liberty isn’t just about getting their way, but about balancing freedom with responsibility.

Model Liberty in Action

Children learn most powerfully through example. Let them make age-appropriate choices—what to eat for lunch, how to spend their free time, or which books to read. When they experience the outcomes of their decisions, both good and bad, they gain a deeper appreciation for the freedom to choose and the responsibility that comes with it.

Final Thoughts: Teaching children about individual liberty doesn’t require a degree in political science. It starts with conversations, choices, and values shared at home and in the classroom. By engaging students early, we empower them to grow into adults who understand their rights, respect the rights of others, and are equipped to stand up for freedom—both their own and that of their communities.

Times Tables

At the end of all lessons students stand behind their chairs in silence to prepare for themselves for the next lesson. From September, on a weekly rota, Years 7 and 8 will be reciting their timetables to help embed them in their long term memory.

Week beginning 29th September 2025 - 9

Accelerated Reading

Week beginning 29th September 2025 - Period 4

Attendance.

We have seen a large increase of absence this week and would just like to remind you of the following Guidance.

You should not go to school with a fever or other high temperature, but you can attend if you have mild symptoms like a runny nose or slight cough, if you feel well enough to go. Although there are no longer specific rules for COVID-19 in schools, you should stay home if you are unwell.

When to stay home

• • High temperature: If you have a fever or a high temperature, you should stay at home.
• • Feeling unwell: If you are generally feeling unwell, it is best to stay home.

When you can go to school

• • Mild symptoms: You can go to school if you only have mild symptoms, such as a runny nose, sore throat, or a slight cough, and you feel well enough to attend.

Why this advice has changed

• • There is a low risk of COVID-19 to children and young people.
• • There are high vaccination rates in the population, which helps to reduce the risk.

At Charles Read Academy we follow the guidance from the NHS and Public Health England on whether your child should be in school.

This covers all the usual childhood illnesses. For more information click on the links below:

https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/healthy-body/is-my-child-too-ill-for-school/

https://www.publichealth.hscni.net/sites/default/files/Guidance_on_infection_control_in%20schools_poster.pdf

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/people-with-symptoms-of-a-respiratory-infection-including-covid-19

If your child is absent from school, please ensure you contact school daily either by email/MCAS or by telephoning the attendance line 01476 550333 ext 502. It is vital we are notified everyday of any absence for safeguarding reasons, unless previously authorised. A reason for illness will always be requested, this is to observe attendance patterns and outbreaks of illness amongst students.

Please do not hesitate to contact myself tsandison@charlesreadacademy.co.uk ext 502 to discuss ways to support your child's attendance.

CRA - Lets work together to make every day count!

Leave of absence request

A Principal can only authorise a leave of absence in exceptional circumstances. We will take into account the Government guidance when considering what the exceptional circumstances are- all applications are considered on a case-by-case basis. You may be able to take your child out of school in exceptional circumstances, providing an application is made in advance by the parent/carer, this request complies with Government guidance and the leave is deemed to be ‘exceptional’ by the Principal.

If you take a leave of absence without our permission or if your child fails to return by the agreed date if permission was granted, then this will be recorded as an unauthorised absence and noted in your child’s record. You might also be issued with a fixed penalty notice for this absence. If your child has not returned within 10 days of the expected date of return then, after consultation with the Local Authority, we may take your child off our school roll.

As examples, the following reasons are not considered to be exceptional circumstances:

• availability of cheap holidays
• periods overlapping with beginning or end of term
• visits to family
• renewing passports

Requests for leave of absence will only be considered if made in writing. Please ensure you use the leave of absence request form to do this.

To request a leave of absence, please use this form.

Holiday Warning Letter

The Sporting Post.

End of Year Sports Newsletter

PE kit reminder - 2025/2026

The standard PE kit is as follows:

• CRA House PE top (compulsory)
• CRA PE shorts or skorts (compulsory)
• CRA PE Hoodie (compulsory)
• Black socks. These can be purchased from any provider.
• PE track pants / leggings / skins - optional - must be plain navy or black. These can be worn under the CRA PE top, shorts or skorts. These items should have no logos/writing/labels. These can be purchased from any provider.

Sports trainers- These can be purchased from any provider. No fashion trainers.

Girls will take part in hockey and boys will take part in rugby during PE lessons. Gumshields and shinpads are recommended for their safety.

Shinpads will also be needed for girls' and boys' football.

Moulded football boots are also recommended as students can wear these on the 3G artificial surface and grass field.

Please can all students be collected from the BACK of the school when being picked up from after school clubs and fixtures.