Newsletters

Friday 11th September, 2026

Dear Parents & Carers

I hope your child has had a really positive first full week back in school. This first full week is always a challenge after the long summer break and I've been delighted to see the effort and enthusiasm in school this week. The Year 3 children have settled very quickly, and we've had a super start to the school year.

We sent home the newsletters for the lower and upper school this week. If you didn't see them, please look at the website where you'll find them in the newsletter section. 

This first week has been a challenging one from an administration perspective as unfortunately, the different systems we use haven't been syncing as they should. With help from the companies involved, we should be getting there, so please bare with us if this has affected you, particularly the new starters. 

We look forward to clubs starting next week, although please check the individual clubs as some have later starting dates. 

We are delighted the final planning consent has been granted for the new SHIP build and all the fences are down. The children are enjoying having the full playground back and the new facility is a very welcome addition to the school. 

I'm looking forward to the year ahead and all the wonderful events planned over the year. As ever, please do get in touch if you have any queries as we go through the term. 

Have a lovely weekend. 

Kind regards

Matt Walton, Headteacher 

SHIP Building finally sets sail!

At last our lovely new SHIP building is being used and the children have really enjoyed their first week in the new space. The facility will further enhance our SHIP provision and support the children to achieve the very best they can. 

New Garden area

Over the summer, we were able to add a fence around the new pond and our new garden area continues to take shape. We need to say a big thank you to Nicola, our gardener, who has spent many hours organising and sorting the new space.  

Curriculum Days

To enhance the curriculum each half term, we are going to be having a day off timetable. We hope the children will really enjoy these days and develop their knowledge and skills across the curriculum. Our first day in October is going to be focused around the topic of 'climate'. This will be on Tuesday 13th October, and more information will be shared nearer the time. 

 

Friends' Association 

Due to our longstanding chair and vice-chair stepping down from their roles, we would love to hear from anyone who would be interested in putting themselves forward to becoming our new Friends' chair/vice chair or someone who would be happy to be part of a new committee.

Our Friends' Association play an important role in the school community and raise thousands of pounds each year to support the children's school experience. 

Please contact the Mrs Fuller in the first instance, in person or by email: officemanager@sprowstonjunior.norfolk.sch.uk

Social Media 

As a school we were early users of social media to promote school events and to showcase everything going on. In recent times we stopped using these channels as much but we are now planning to use them again to celebrate school life at SJS. Please fill in the quick questionnaire regarding photo permission and we will start posting very soon. 

Instagram & Facebook 

Times Tables Fluency

This year, we will be using the Number Sense Maths Times Tables Fluency Programme to help children recap, consolidate and learn their multiplication and division facts. Developing fluency with times tables is an important part of the maths curriculum and supports children's confidence and success across a wide range of mathematical topics.

Children will take part in short daily times tables lessons, taught within their class. These sessions are designed to be engaging, interactive and fast-paced, helping children build confidence and recall facts quickly and accurately. Lessons focus not only on remembering answers, but also on understanding number patterns and the relationships between multiplication and division facts.

A typical lesson may include:

• Revisiting and practising previously learned facts.
• Learning new multiplication and division facts in small, manageable steps.
• Spotting patterns and making connections between facts.
• Using visual representations and mathematical structures to deepen understanding.
• Regular retrieval practice to strengthen long-term memory.
• Opportunities to explain thinking and discuss strategies with others.

The programme supports children at different stages of learning, helping them develop a secure understanding of times tables while building fluency over time. Alongside these daily lessons, children will continue to use Times Tables Rock Stars and other classroom activities to practise and apply their knowledge.

By combining regular teaching, retrieval practice and opportunities to apply their learning, we aim to ensure that all children develop the confidence and fluency needed to succeed in mathematics.

Click here for more information about the Number Sense Maths Times Tables Fluency Programme.

Staying safe online

The internet offers children fantastic opportunities to learn, create, communicate and play. However, it is important that we work together to help children stay safe online and develop good digital habits.

Chat Rooms and Messaging Apps

Many children use messaging apps and group chats to stay in touch with friends. Apps such as WhatsApp, Snapchat and Discord can be great ways to communicate, but parents should be aware that children may sometimes be added to large groups or receive messages from people they do not know.

Talk regularly with your child about:

• Only communicating with people they know in real life.
• Never sharing personal information such as their full name, address, school or phone number.
• Telling a trusted adult if a message makes them feel uncomfortable, worried or upset.
• Blocking and reporting users who behave inappropriately.

Online Gaming

Online gaming is hugely popular and can help children develop teamwork, problem-solving and communication skills. Many games, however, include chat functions that allow players to talk with strangers.

Parents can help by:

• Checking the age ratings of games.
• Using parental controls on gaming consoles and devices.
• Discussing who children are playing with online.
• Encouraging children never to share personal information during games.
• Reminding children that not everyone online is who they say they are.

Social Media

Many social media platforms have minimum age requirements, often 13 years and above. Children may be exposed to inappropriate content, online pressure or contact from strangers.

We encourage parents to:

• Check age restrictions before allowing access to apps.
• Review privacy settings regularly.
• Follow or explore apps with their child so they understand how they work.
• Have regular conversations about what children are seeing and sharing online.
• Encourage children to think carefully before posting photos, videos or comments.

The Most Important Safety Tool: Conversation

Research consistently shows that open and regular conversations are one of the most effective ways to keep children safe online. Ask your child:

• What games are you enjoying?
• Who do you chat with online?
• What apps are popular with your friends?
• Has anything online ever made you feel uncomfortable?

Creating an environment where children feel able to talk about their online experiences is essential.

Helpful Websites for Parents

The following websites offer excellent advice, guides and resources:

• Internet Matters – practical guides on apps, games, parental controls and online safety.
• NSPCC Online Safety – advice for parents on keeping children safe online.
• Childnet – resources and family guidance for online safety.
• UK Safer Internet Centre – safety advice and guides for parents and carers.
• Thinkuknow (CEOP) – age-appropriate advice and resources for children and families.

There are more resources in the 'Stay safe online' section of our school website.

Getting Active with Norwich City CSF's Joy of Moving!

We are excited to share that our Year 5 and Year 6 classes will be taking part in the fantastic Joy of Moving programme, delivered by the Norwich City Community Sports Foundation (CSF).

The 6-week initiative kicks off on Wednesday 16th September and runs until Wednesday 21st October. Designed to inspire children to get active through the joy of play, the programme combines energetic games with classroom sessions teaching students about nutrition, hydration, and a balanced lifestyle. It is a brilliant way for our pupils to build physical fitness, teamwork, and healthy habits.

As part of this partnership, Norwich City CSF will also be running a weekly after-school club during this period. Please check our separate clubs newsletter for full details on how to secure a space for your child!

 

We will be using Marvellous Me again this year as a way of communicating information about children's successes as well as important events and sending messages home.

Your log on details will be the same as last year, so if you are already signed up there's nothing to do.

If you haven't signed up, please ensure that you have signed up for the app. If you have any problems with this please come and speak to your child's class teacher.

Here are links to a 'parent walkthrough guide' and also a 'how to use Marvellous Me' video to help get you started.

Walking to/from school permission (2026/27)

Children in Years 5 and 6 are allowed to walk to/from school if they permission to do so.

If your child is in Year 5 or Year 6, and you are happy for them to walk home by themselves, please complete the online form to indicate that they have permission to do so. 

If you have more than one child, you will need to complete a separate form for each child.

Please be aware that no child will be allowed to walk home without permission to do so.

If you have any questions about this, please contact Mr Walton or Mr Arthur.

Norfolk Heritage Open Days 

There are many different places open for free this September. From free entry to museums, to a number of exhibitions. Please click on the link below. 

Norfolk Heritage Open Days

Safeguarding at Sprowston Junior

At Sprowston Junior School we are committed to supporting all of our children to do well. We will do everything we can to ensure our children are safeguarded and protected from harm. If you have any concerns about a child at our school and feel they could be a victim of abuse or are at risk, please report your worries immediately to one of our designated staff (DSLs). DSLs can be identified by their green lanyards.