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24th April 2026 - Newsletter

Dunalley News

Pippin’s Birthday Party – This Saturday

Join us this Saturday 25th April from 2pm–4pm as we open the school field for a Family Fun Afternoon in celebration of Pippin’s birthday!

It promises to be a lovely afternoon of fun, laughter and togetherness, and we’d love our families to come along, enjoy the space and celebrate as a school community.

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Dunalley Annual Literature Festival

We are delighted to announce the return of our annual Literature Festival. This year’s celebration will take place from 18th to 22nd May and promises a rich programme of activities designed to inspire a love of reading and writing across our school community.

The festival forms part of the National Year of Reading, a nationwide initiative that highlights the vital role reading plays in developing creativity, confidence and academic success. Encouraging regular reading not only strengthens literacy skills but also broadens perspectives, supports wellbeing and fosters a lifelong enjoyment of learning. For more information, check out the website: National Year of Reading 2026 | National Literacy Trust

Throughout the week, students will have the opportunity to engage in a variety of exciting events, including:

Author Visits
We are pleased to welcome a range of talented authors and storytellers who will share their experiences and insights:

  • Emily Lloyd-Gale – Books include: Mighty Maurice, The Moose that saved Christmas
  • Andy Seed The official website for children's author Andy Seed
  • Rachel Chivers Khoo Rachel Chivers Khoo – Children's Author
  • Peter Chand – international storyteller Peter Chand has enthralled audiences with his skilfully told tales, specialising in traditional tales from his Indian background.

Following our author visits, there will be opportunities after school for families to purchase books written by our visiting authors. Signed copies will be available, offering a special keepsake and a chance to further inspire children’s interest in reading.

Library Trips
Some classes will visit Cheltenham Children’s Library to explore new texts and discover the wealth of resources available to support their reading journeys.

Book Swap and Reading Café
Alongside our book swap this year, we will be hosting a Reading Café after school. Parents and carers are warmly invited to join their children to read together in a relaxed setting, with light refreshments available. This is a wonderful opportunity to celebrate reading as a shared experience.

10k ‘Read With Me’ Run
A fun and engaging challenge encouraging students to combine reading with physical activity while working towards a shared goal.

‘Bedtime Stories’ Event (Friday 22nd May)
To conclude the festival, we invite children to come to school in their pyjamas or comfortable clothing for a special ‘Bedtime Stories’ session, creating a cosy atmosphere to enjoy storytelling together.

We look forward to an inspiring week that celebrates the joy and importance of reading.

Further details, including specific event dates and opportunities for parents to support and promote reading at home, will be shared shortly. Please stay tuned for more information in the coming weeks.

Book Swap

We warmly invite families to support our upcoming Book Swap by donating any good-quality books that are no longer needed at home. This is a wonderful opportunity to give pre-loved books a new life while helping to build excitement around reading within our school community.

The Book Swap will take place during Literature Festival Week, alongside our Reading Café. During this event, children will have the chance to browse a range of donated books, choose one to enjoy during the session, and take a book home to keep.

We kindly ask that any donated books are suitable for primary-aged children and in good condition. Donations can be brought into school in the lead-up to the festival.

Thank you for your continued support in promoting a love of reading both in school and at home.

Children & Smartphones

We are aware that an increasing number of families are choosing to buy their children smartphones. While we recognise that this is a decision for parents and carers to make, we encourage families to carefully consider the potential challenges associated with children accessing this technology at an early age.

There are several organisations that offer helpful guidance for families:

  • NSPCC – advice on online safety and supporting children’s wellbeing
  • Internet Matters – practical tips on parental controls, apps, and device setup

  • UK Safer Internet Centre – guides and resources for safer and responsible technology use

If you are considering getting your child their first device, you will also find a wealth of information on this website: Smartphone Free Childhood. This page may be of particular interest - Smartphone Alternatives for Kids.

We encourage you to take a few minutes to explore these resources and support your child in using technology safely and responsibly.

Emoji Zones of Regulation Resource

We have shared an Emoji Zones of Regulation resource that parents may find helpful to use at home when supporting their child’s emotional wellbeing. In school, we use variations of this approach within our classrooms to help children recognise and talk about their feelings. Using a similar resource at home can support consistency and give children a familiar way to express how they are feeling.
Please click on the link below to access this useful resource:

Zones of Regulations – HERE

Nursery & Pre-school - Dates for your Diaries

We would love you to join us for sports day to watch your children joining in with a variety of activities on Tuesday 16th June 2pm - 3pm. More details to follow.

We would love you to join us for our Summer party and Graduation for Pre-school on Wednesday 8th July 1.30pm - 2.45pm. More details to follow. 

Year 2/3 - Trip to Gloucester University

Year 2 and 3 had a fantastic time at Gloucester University on Tuesday morning!

The children took part in a range of hands-on maths activities, exploring measurement, addition, shapes, symmetry and much more. It was wonderful to see them so engaged and excited about their learning.

Their teachers were incredibly impressed with the children’s excellent maths skills and how confidently they applied them to different challenges throughout the morning. A big well done to Year 2 and3!

Thank you as well to all of our helpers – your support made this experience possible, and we truly appreciate it.

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Year 4 - Science Focus

Year 4 have started their science focus for this year exploring the digestion system. They have looked at models of the human body, recreated on their own body using a special interactive apron and then re-created the process of digestion with bananas, biscuits, juice and a pair of tights...!

They have then researched new and interesting facts on the BBC and National Geographic Kids websites and discovered information including 

  • the human body produces up to 3 litres of saliva a day
  • an adult stomach changes from the size of a tennis ball to the size of a football depending on whether it's full or empty
  • the small intestine is narrow but incredibly long - reaching almost across the entire classroom at 6m in length!
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Year 5 - Athletics

Last Friday afternoon, after many weeks of practising, a group of Year 5 children were selected to represent the school in an indoor athletics event at Cheltenham Ladies College. The children showed great determination and persevered against some strong competition in the 'large schools' category. We did particularly well in the field events, coming second for the boys in the high jump, long jump and triple jump. The girls also came second in the long jump and speed bounce events. Overall, Team Dunalley came away with the bronze medal - a great accomplishment Year 5, well done!

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PTFA – Family Pool Party


Tickets are now on sale for our Family Pool Party on Friday 16th May from 7:45 - 10:00 pm at Cheltenham Lido. Family and friends welcome! And it’s a great opportunity for our Year 6s to celebrate the end of SATS.
The main pool and children’s pool is hired exclusively for us. There will be a giant inflatable obstacle course for the first hour. Please note that by buying a ticket you agree to the lido’s private hire policy and that all tickets are non-transferable and non-refundable.
All non-swimmers / children under the age of 5 will need to be accompanied by an adult in the water on a 1-1 basis. For children aged 5-7 then the ratio is 1 adult to 2 children. And if they are 8 or over then they can be in the pool on their own but will still need to be accompanied on site by an adult with a ticket. The inflatable is suitable for approx. ages 6+ and swimmers must be able to swim 50m unaided. Parents/Guardians should supervise their children at all times whilst they are using the pool, even if they believe their child to have strong swimming ability.
Everyone attending the pool party, whether they are swimming or spectating, will need a ticket. Tickets can be bought from our PTFA SumUp Store – this event has sold out for the last two years!

Choosing and booking school lunches on School Grid

We ask all parents and carers to choose and book their child’s school lunches in advance using School Grid. This plays an important role in helping us provide a safe, calm and enjoyable lunchtime experience for all children.

Why booking in advance matters

Encourages positive conversations about food at home
Booking meals together gives parents and carers the opportunity to talk through menu choices with their child, helping them develop confidence, independence and healthy decision-making around food.

Ensures your child receives the correct meal
By selecting meals on School Grid, you help ensure your child receives a lunch they are happy to eat. When meals are not pre-ordered, choices may be limited on the day and children may not receive their preferred option.

Supports children with allergies and dietary needs
School Grid allows dietary requirements, intolerances and allergies to be recorded accurately. When parents and carers book meals directly, this information is passed clearly to the kitchen team, supporting food safety and reducing the risk of error.

Reduces food waste
Advance meal ordering allows our kitchen to prepare the correct number of meals each day. This helps significantly reduce food waste and supports our commitment to responsible and sustainable practice.

Helps our kitchen and lunchtime staff plan effectively
Knowing meal numbers in advance helps the catering team plan staffing, preparation and service times. This means lunches can be served more smoothly and children benefit from a calmer dining environment.

Saves valuable learning time
When lunches are chosen at home, children do not need to spend classroom or registration time deciding on the day. This allows the school day to start smoothly and maximises learning time.

Thank you for your continued support.

OPAL – A week full of sunshine to welcome us back

It has been wonderful to return after the Easter holidays to such beautiful sunshine. The brighter days have given the children the perfect opportunity to make the most of our outdoor spaces, and it has been a real joy to see them enjoying another brilliant week of outdoor learning and play.

We are also delighted to have the school field back in use after giving it time to rest. Our grounds team have done a fantastic job restoring it to such good condition, particularly following last summer’s dry spell and the heavy rainfall over the winter months. Thanks to their hard work, the field is once again an inviting space for our children to explore, play and learn together.

Being able to spend time outside in the fresh air has had a positive impact on everyone, and it has been lovely to see the school grounds so full of energy and sunshine once again.

As a reminder – we are always incredibly grateful for donations, and are still hoping to gather a few more items:

  • Bed sheets
  • Suitcases
  • Paint brushes and rollers
  • Toy pushchairs, strollers & prams
  • Children’s gardening gloves
  • Small-world toys – especially cars and dinosaurs

Thank you so much for your continued support, it really does make a difference.

To remind you, thanks to some helpful feedback from families, we’ve now put together a small online wish list for our OPAL initiative. There’s absolutely no pressure to buy from any particular place; it’s simply there to give an idea of the sorts of things that help keep OPAL thriving, whether you choose to donate or source them elsewhere.

If you are able to donate anything, please mark it FAO: Sara Byrne.
Thank you again for your kindness and generosity!

Our Amazon Wish list is HERE

Cheltenham & County Cycling Club - Join them on 14th June

BE A PART OF HISTORY!

Read all about the exciting day planned for June 14th below:

 

14th June 2026 will be "ON YOUR BIKE", christening the new Cheltenham to Bishops Cleeve Cycle Path.  We are aiming to get 1000+ people of all ages and abilities onto the new cycle path from Cheltenham to Bishops Cleeve, finishing at the Bishops Cleeve Street Fair.  Could you bring the youngest person?  Could you be the oldest?  How about the fanciest dressed?

The Street Fair in Bishops Cleeve will have stalls and events on the day including a fun fair, a teddy bear parachute, a dance show, a live band, a vintage car exhibition, food carts, stalls, a raffle.  The event will raise funds for 2 local cycling good causes - The Charity Bike Shop (Cyclists Fighting Cancer) and Wheel Good Vibes. 

You can join the cycle route wherever you want, we really want the day to be a fun one and to make using the new cycle path a "thing".

You could chose to start from Pittville Park next to the Prince of Wales Stadium.  This is home to Cheltenham Town Wheelers, where members from age 6 to 18 are coached each week.  You'll be able to see their riders practicing on their offroad course, and learn where the trail features are - rock garden, berms, roots, rollers, table top, drops, steps etc.  There'll also be a maintenance stand, run by volunteers from the Charity Bike Shop in Leckhampton, offering free adjustments to bikes if you need anything before the adventure!  We're hoping to see cyclists leaving here in waves, from 11.30 through to 13:30.

The route goes into Pittville Park, past the Basketball Court, onto the new Cycling Spine across the back of the Playing Fields, across to Central Cross and the new "Toucan" cycle and pedestrian crossing.  Time and the opportunity to stop at the Central Cross Cafe for ice cream if you fancy it!

The route then goes straight up the new cycle path past Pittville Park, the Lake, the Playground, the Aviary, the Racecourse, over the bridge where you can see the Steam Railway station, the Car Boot Sale, past the Garden Centre, Tigers Rugby Club, and all the way to the roundabout opposite GE at Bishops Cleeve.  Here you'll find the BMX pump track with all its challenges.

Crossing the next new crossing across Evesham Road, the route uses the shared cycle and footpath around the Bishops Cleeve bypass, past the Capita offices, across Voxwell Lane where we'll have marshals, and then turning right through the cycle/pedestrian access to Stoke Road.  Straight along to the Tithe Barn car park.  We expect people to arrive here any time from 12 noon through 'til 3pm.

On the route, you may be lucky enough to come across local cyclists such as Gerry McGarr or Mel Glass riding on old bikes, Gerry on a Penny Farthing!  There'll also be ride leaders from Wheel Good Vibes in fancy dress, as well as Cheltenham Town Wheelers young leaders on the route.

Also on the route, you'll be able to get stamps to prove that you rode the route, courtesy of Cheltenham Town Wheelers!

At the Tithe Barn Car Park, there'll be a maintenance stand offering free minor repairs and adjustments by Williams Cycles, a stall run by Wheel Good Vibes with games and sustainability themes, and THE CHANCE TO WIN AN E-BIKE!  There'll also be a presence from Active Travel groups to learn more about wheeling along the cycle paths as well as what's happening further afield.  Nip around the corner past Tesco and along to Church Road and the road will be closed, filled with the Street Fair activities!

We expect local media coverage, so wear a smile and show your school or club colours in case you get caught on camera!

We're also hoping to get a cycling celebrity along to be part of the celebrations. More will be revealed nearer the time.  

For schools, we want to see as many students out as possible! Cheltenham and County Cycling Club have now checked and maintained 962 bikes at Bikeability Maintenance days at Dunalley Primary School, and we'd love to see the riders and their bikes out on the day.

It's going to be an incredible day celebrating the convenience and safety of the cycle spine, allowing discovery of amenities on the route, and drawing wider media coverage to promote our new bike path asset.  

Did we mention that it's on Sunday 14th June?  SAVE THE DATE!

Best wishes, 
Steve 

Steve Smith 
Chair, Cheltenham and County Cycling Club 
07889 265425

 

Upcoming Events

Pippins Birthday Event
All Day
25
April
Yr4 Residential
All Day
from 28 Apr until 29 Apr
28
April
Frozen Friday (Ice Creams and Lollies Sale)
3:15pm – 3:30pm
01
May
Yr4 Visitor - Anglo Saxon Those History People
All Day
06
May
Frozen Friday (Ice Creams and Lollies Sale)
3:15pm – 3:30pm
08
May
Yr6 SATs Week
All Day
from 11 May until 14 May
11
May
Frozen Friday (Ice Creams and Lollies Sale)
3:15pm – 3:30pm
15
May
Dunalley Literature Festival
All Day
from 18 May until 22 May
18
May
Dunalley Literature Festival - School Event (supported by PTFA):
9:00am – 3:00pm
from 18 May until 22 May
18
May
Yr4 DT Family event - bread sharing
2:45pm – 3:15pm
20
May