St Mary's Farnham Royal Church of England Primary School
Founded in Faith focused on Family and fulfilling Future potential
Keep up to date with all the latest news happening in school at the moment.
Updated Cost of Living Support Available in Slough
We want to make you all aware of some updated support that is available from Slough Borough Council. to help with the ever increasing cost of living and the pressures these place on families.
Using the links below, you will be able to access two important sections on the SBC website that give information about what help and support is available with the cost of living and also a new 'Food Services and Support' section.
The Cost of Living section has a useful downloadable (translated into a variety of languages) resource pack for families but in particular also has a link to the One Slough Directory - a resource for help in finding low cost health and social activities available across Slough for families
https://www.slough.gov.uk/benefits-support/cost-living for Cost of Living Support.
The Food Service and Support section shares information about free or low-cost food including meals and refreshments and warm Spaces in Slough. This is really useful to families, particularly in supporting children over school holidays and weekends to ensure hot meals can be provided
https://www.slough.gov.uk/benefits-support/cost-living/2 for Food Services and Support.
Please also remember that SMFR are able to issue Slough Food Bank vouchers to families in need. There are several different distribution and collection centers across Slough open on different days of the week, ready to support families when they need it most.
All you need to do is contact Mr Farmer and we can issue a voucher that entitles you to collect a food parcel from one of the distribution centers.
We are all here to help however we can so please do get in touch.
We are delighted to announce that we,St Mary's Farnham Royal, have achieved the School Games GOLD Mark Award for the 2022/23 academic year.
The School Games Mark is a Government-led award scheme launched in 2012, facilitated by the Youth Sport Trust to reward schools for their commitment to the development of competition across their school and into the community, and we are delighted to have been recognised for our success.
Our sporting achievements this year include: Basketball coaching and festivals, Skateboarding days, Football matches, Dance workshops, Sporting guest speakers including ex paralympians, Expert Cricket coaching, Skipping festivals and golf competitions. With many young people competing in local inter-school competitions this year, we are extremely proud of our pupils for their dedication to all aspects of school sport, including those young volunteers, leaders and officials who made our competitions possible.
As part of our application, we were asked to fulfil criteria in the areas of participation, competition, workforce and clubs, and we are pleased that the hard work of everyone at our school has been rewarded this year.
We look forward to applying once again in 2024!
SMFR Help Out at the Big Help Out!
As part of the King's Coronation Weekend celebrations, children and staff were invited to take part in Britwell's Big Help Out at the 1st Britwell Scout Hut and surrounding Kennedy Park.
The event, organised by local residents and the Scout's, asked people from the community to come together as volunteers to do something for the local community - something that is not only sociable and fun but good for wellbeing and mental health too.
Along with all the other volunteers the SMFR team got stuck into litter picking, clearing weeds and overgrown plants and planting new beds to help make the whole area a nicer place to be.
Demi, Logan, Mrs Griffiths and Mr Broderick were even interviewed for BBC Radio Berkshire! (You can listen to this if you click the following link -
https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/p0fh9t6l - (1h 15mins 30secs in)
you may need to login to a BBC account)
Volunteering in our local community has so many benefits and it can be the beginning of something very special in our lives. It brings people together, it gives us purpose and it brings joy and that feeling of community into our hearts. _ if you would like to know more about volunteering then please do contact SMFR or The Britwell Community Forum @ britwellcommunityforum@gmail.com or message/call 07533991018
Dear Parents/Carers,
As you can imagine, SMFR is so excited to be celebrating the Coronation of King Charles III and we believe that as this is such an important event in History. On Friday 5th May we will be holding a very special SMFR street party in school that the children will be taking part in.
Children will be able to dress up as a king or a queen, wear red, white and blue and even be in a chance with winning a prize for the best dressed! Leading up to the street party, we will be decorating our school with the children’s artwork to commemorate such a special event.
To help you celebrate at home, we thought we would share some fantastic activities which you can complete at home as a family.
Here are some brilliant cost-effective activities that your children could do to celebrate this momentous moment!
How about:
We would love to receive any photographs of your Coronation celebrations including if any of the children have completed the activities recommended! Photographs can be sent to Miss Wicks at m.wicks@smfr.co.uk.
Kind regards,
Miss Wicks
Dear Parents and Carers,
Please find information regarding the launch of my SMFR Easter competition! The children were told about this competition during our achievement assembly today and obviously are full of questions and ideas already!
This is just an eggciting opportunity for us to get into the Easter spirit and something fun for the children to do! This is by no means compulsory and I have given help for ideas relating to our SMFR values.
How to enter the competition:
If you have any questions or queries about the competition please do not hesitate to ask me via email. I really hope this is a lovely way to spread the Easter spirit and let the children get their creativity flowing by thinking about something they think represents Easter!
I look forward to seeing all the entries!
Get cracking!
Many thanks,
Miss Wicks
Children's Mental Health Week 2023 - Let's Connect!
This week is Children's Mental Health Week 2023. The Theme this year is 'Let's Connect'.
Let’s Connect is about making meaningful connections for all, during Children’s Mental Health Week – and beyond. People thrive in communities, and this connection is vital for our wellbeing.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wb8SDnS-M_M&t=6s
When we have healthy connections – to family, friends and others – this can support our mental health and our sense of wellbeing. And when our need for rewarding social connections is not met, we can sometimes feel isolated and lonely – which can have a negative impact on our mental health.
For Children’s Mental Health Week 2023, we’re are highlighting the importance for people to connect with others in healthy, rewarding and meaningful ways.
Her Royal Highness, The Princess of Wales is patron of the annual event and has shared a video to launch the event this week:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=prhCl246z_A&t=5s
We have such a strong school 'family' and community. As always, if there is anything more we can do to help or support you or your family then please do get on touch and 'Let's Connect'.
Free Online Safety Webinar for Parents
This coming Tuesday 7th February is National Safer Internet Day and to support parents with the minefield and ever -growing question of 'Are my children safe online?' we have joined together with our local liaison Bucks schools to hold a FREE Online Safety Webinar led by the NSPCC.
This is being held remotely on Tuesday 7th February between 4pm and 5pm. The help and support available is valuable to all of us to ensure we are doing all we can as parents and will help to answer any questions you may have about keeping children safe online.
To book a FREE place, please click on the following link:
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/85101652274?pwd=cEtmbGMzWUFnNndzOVp0THJCU24rdz09
Meeting ID: 851 0165 2274 Passcode: 668870
There is also a very useful section of the SMFR website dedicated to supporting children and families to be safe online:
https://www.stmarysfarnhamroyal.org/digital-wellbeing-online-safety/
February 23 Parent Newsletter
Dear Children, Parents & Carers
I wrote to you at the end of the Autumn Term to confirm interviews had taken place for our new Headteacher and that we would be able to confirm who the successful candidate would be at the beginning of the Spring Term.
I am pleased to confirm that our new Head teacher will be Mr Shane Broderick, and he will begin at the start of the Summer Term.
Mr. Broderick has provided the following information as part of an introduction for you all:
I am delighted to have been appointed as the Headteacher of St Mary’s Farnham Royal C E Primary School. I look forward to meeting each and every one of you in April 2023. From the first day I visited, I was astounded by the kindness and warmth every member of the school community displayed. The sense of community and family was evident from the passion every member of staff shared with me alongside the confidence the children showed when talking about how much they love their school. I developed a true sense of how wonderful this school is, and I am excited to lead it to further success in future years.
Having worked as a Head of School in a local primary school for a number of years, I understand how important positive working relationships, clear communication and a fun and exciting curriculum are in ensuring that the time children spend in primary school is the best time possible. I firmly believe that every child should enjoy coming to school and this belief will help shape every decision I make and a belief I will work tirelessly to fulfil.
I am excited to establish and develop relationships with every member of our school community. I will work with everyone at our school recognising the school’s achievements, its history, and the role it plays within the local community to ensure its future success, ensuring that every member of the community thrives.
I look forward to meeting you all in the Summer Term.
Mr Broderick
Yours sincerely
Mr Paul Randall
Chair of Governors
Healthier Together
The NHS have launched a new app called 'Heathier Together'
The app has been designed to provide parents, carers, and young people with concise, reliable NHS advice on common childhood illnesses when needed.
It provides advice on what 'red-flag' signs to look out for, where to seek help if required, what to do to keep a child comfortable and how long a child's symptoms are likely to last, with push notifications to the registered phone to prompt monitoring of the condition against red and amber symptoms.
The app is free and can be downloaded from your app store of choice.
Berkshire Healthcare have also updated their Wellbeing Service website which may be a vital source of help and support in the current climate. This can be found at https://www.berkshirehealthcare.nhs.uk/our-services/mental-health-and-wellbeing/wellbeing-service/
As always, if we at SMFR can help in any way please do come and see us.