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School Council - News and updates
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Dunalley is hosting an art exhibition and silent auction to raise money for the Cheltenham Animal Shelter.
This year it’s their 100th anniversary, and we welcome everybody to create a piece of pet-themed artwork.
It could be a 2D creation or a 3D sculpture.
Entries will be displayed in the hall on Saturday 20th June from 2pm to 4pm.
Please bring your masterpiece into school by Monday 15th June.
Kind regards
The School Council
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The safety and wellbeing of our children remains our highest priority. If there is anything happening at home that may affect your child emotionally, socially, or academically, please let us know. Even seemingly small changes can have a big impact on how children feel and behave in school.
Remember, our safeguarding team is here to support both children and families. If you have any concerns or would like to discuss what support is available, please don't hesitate to get in touch.
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Earlies & Lates Autumn 2026 (Wraparound Care Provision)
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We have been taking bookings from 7pm on Tuesday 9th June for Earlies & Lates in the Autumn Term 2026. You can click the link before, but it will only go live at 7pm.
Bookings close at 12 noon on Tuesday 16th June 2026.
https://www.smartsurvey.co.uk/s/EarliesandLatesBookingAutumnTerm2026/
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PSHE Curriculum Review Information Meeting
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Thank you to everyone who was able to attend our information session this week. It was wonderful to see so many families there for such an important opportunity to learn more about our PSHE curriculum.
We are pleased to share the presentation slides below for those who attended, or for anyone who would like to revisit the information.
The slides are also available to view on our school website.
We are currently reviewing our PSHE curriculum in line with the DfE's updated statutory guidance for Relationships, Sex and Health Education (published 2025, for implementation from September 2026). This is a positive opportunity to ensure our curriculum remains relevant and appropriate for all Dunalley children in a changing world, whilst maintaining our age-appropriate focus on the core knowledge and essential skills that children need to navigate different aspects of their lives with confidence both in and beyond primary school.
Within school, we use Jigsaw, the mindful approach to shape our PHSE curriculum. The programme consists of six half-term units (Puzzles): Being Me in My World, Celebrating Difference, Dreams and Goals, Healthy Me, Relationships and Changing Me. Each Puzzle contains lessons that build progressively through the school, developing children's emotional literacy, self-esteem, resilience and understanding of how to build positive, healthy relationships.
The updated DfE guidance enhances our existing curriculum, rather than requiring radical changes. The strong foundations remain the same - we continue to focus on building the fundamental skills and knowledge children need - whilst ensuring our content reflects the world they are growing up in.
As part of our review, we are also considering how we adapt the programme content to best suit the needs and context of our school community. The changes, in particular, mean that most of the curriculum is to be taught to all pupils with only 2 specific lessons (taught in Year 5 and Year 6) remaining open for parental withdrawal.
View our new Draft policy HERE.
https://www.dunalley.gloucs.sch.uk/page/?title=New+PSHE+Policy&pid=140
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Introducing our new phonics programme
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We are delighted to share that, following careful consideration, we have decided to move from Read Write Inc. to Essential Letters and Sounds as our phonics programme. We believe that Essential Letters and Sounds offers a more inclusive approach, supporting all children to develop strong early reading skills and fostering a love of reading from the very beginning. We are excited about this positive change and look forward to implementing the programme across the school.
Essential Letters and Sounds is a systematic and engaging phonics programme that has been designed to make learning to read as clear and accessible as possible. It provides children with consistent, carefully sequenced teaching and high-quality reading materials that closely match the sounds and words they have been taught. The programme aims for every child to be supported to become a successful and enthusiastic reader.
This means that your child will now be taught phonics as a whole class and they will not be split into different groups as they were previously. Your child will be given an Essential Letters and Sounds phonic book to bring home in the next couple of weeks. This book will be matched to the sounds that they have been taught in class that week or matched to the sounds that they need to consolidate.
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to speak to Miss Richards, our Phonics Lead, or your child's class teacher.
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We are delighted to invite children who play a musical instrument to audition for our annual Musical Celebration.
This special event provides an opportunity for pupils to showcase their musical talents and perform alongside other young musicians from across the school.
Auditions: Thursday 25th June, 3:15pm–4:30pm
Musical Celebration: Tuesday 14th July, 6:00pm
If your child would like to take part, please fill in this survey and ensure they bring their instrument and any music they wish to perform to the audition. We welcome musicians of all abilities and look forward to celebrating the hard work, commitment and talent of our young performers.
Further information will be shared with families following the auditions.
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Attendance matters at Dunalley Primary School
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Dunalley Pantry - Donations needed
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We are so very proud of our Dunalley Pantry. Created to support those in our community feeling the impact of rising living costs, the pantry provides a range of products free of charge for families in need.
We are now in need of donations to replenish the pantry and welcome donations of dried goods and toiletries such as:
- Long-life milk
- Cereals
- Pasta & pasta sauce
- Tinned vegetables
- Tea & coffee
- Bars of soap & shower gel
- Washing powder/tablets
- Toothpaste
- Deodorant
- Nappies
If you’d like to access the pantry or learn more, please contact us – we’re here to help, our family's privacy matters to us – use of the pantry is completely confidential, and we’ll work with you to make it as easy and comfortable as possible.
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Year 5 – University of Gloucestershire trip
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On Wednesday, Year 5 were invited to the University of Gloucestershire to help BEd students in their second year. 5R were in one of the science labs completing a range of maths problems while 5H were based in the chapel completing some writing exercises. The children were a credit to the school and showed off all their knowledge from this year.
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Year 6 Girls Strike Gold at Cricket Festival
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The Year 6 girls’ cricket team delivered an outstanding performance at the recent cricket festival held at Hatherley & Reddings Cricket Club, showcasing both skill and determination throughout the day.
The team were in superb form during the group stages, winning all of their league matches comfortably and establishing themselves as strong contenders for the title. Their confident batting and disciplined bowling proved too much for their opponents, allowing them to progress smoothly to the knockout rounds.
In the semi-final, the girls faced Warden Hill and produced one of their best performances of the tournament. A dominant all-round display saw them secure an impressive 80-run victory, booking their place in the final.
The final against Holy Apostles proved to be a much tighter and more competitive contest. Both teams played with great spirit, but the Year 6 girls showed tremendous composure under pressure. In a closely fought match, they emerged victorious by 10 runs, crowning them deserving festival champions.
This fantastic achievement has earned the team an invitation to the County Finals Day at Cheltenham College — a brilliant opportunity to compete at an even higher level.
A huge well done to all of the girls for their effort, teamwork, and sportsmanship. Special thanks must also go to Mr Adams for his hard work and dedication during the training sessions, which played a key role in the team’s success.
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Summer Fair - Friday 3rd July
Join us in three weeks on Friday 3rd July after school for our annual Summer Fair! Entry is completely free, and we have an incredible lineup of fun for the whole family, including:
- Mobile climbing wall & mobile caving
- Inflatables, rides, beat the goalie, and a coconut shy
- Children’s and adult bottle tombola
- Stalls from fantastic Dunalley family-owned businesses
- Ice creams, sweet treats and much more!
We Need Your Help for the Fair!
We are in need of volunteers to help with pre-event prep and to run stalls on the day of the Summer Fair.
If you can spare even half an hour, please sign up here https://volunteersignup.org/MCYW4 or drop us an email at dunalleyptfa@gmail.com. We truly can't do it without you!
Non-Uniform Day: Thursday 25th June
To help us stock our popular tombola for the summer fayre, we will be holding a "Wear Your Own Clothes Day" on Thursday 25th June. In return, we kindly ask for donations of:
Children's tombola prizes (toys, games, sweets, etc.)
Bottles (sauces, toiletries, wine, etc.)
Important PTFA Update: Focus & Capacity
As a small group of working parents, planning these events takes a massive amount of time and energy. Due to a current shortage of volunteers and a lack of interest, we have made the decision to channel all of our resources into making the Summer Fair the best it can be.
Regrettably, this means we will not be able to offer discounted tickets for the upcoming Inset day, or run our "Marvellous Men" event ahead of Father’s Day.
We love putting these extras on for the children, but we simply cannot do it alone. If you usually love to see these events return in the future, please consider getting involved to help share the load!
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Happy and healthy childhoods are built on play
On 11th June, we celebrated the International Day of Play – a day that recognises just how important play is for every child. At Dunalley, play is at the heart of each school day. Whatever the weather (even with the occasional shower!), we make sure children have the time, space and freedom to play.
We are passionate about protecting every child’s right to play, because when we protect play, we protect childhood itself.
UNICEF also champions the importance of play and offers a wealth of helpful advice for families on how to make the most of play at home. You may find the following resources particularly useful:
Whether it’s outdoors, indoors, or part of everyday routines, play really does make a difference.
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Thank you so much for your continued support, and the donations that you regularly send in, it all really does make a difference.
If you are able to donate anything, please mark it FAO: Sara Byrne.
Thank you again for your kindness and generosity!
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Cheltenham & County Cycling Club - Join them on 14th June
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Reminder - BE A PART OF HISTORY!
Read all about the exciting day planned for June 14th below:
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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
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E Safety guidance for our community
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