2025 Autumn #2

A Fantastic Start to the Term!

We’re thrilled with how smoothly the new year has begun! Across the school, our learners have demonstrated exemplary behaviour, keen focus during lessons, and a genuine eagerness to learn – creating a brilliant foundation for the term ahead.

In today’s Values Celebration Worship, each class proudly shared their thoughtful artwork and reflections on the theme of Trust. Next week, we’ll select our very first Values Stars, and the families of those children will be warmly invited to join in the special celebration. Thank you to all the parents who were able to join us for the Parent Open Afternoon today.  The children loved sharing details about their first week back at school with you.

Looking ahead, we have an exciting half term planned – please take time to review the attached calendar of events carefully. We are also thrilled to be working closely with the Friends of Coalbrookdale team to bring even more exciting events into the diary, from community fundraisers to social gatherings and school celebrations.

Wishing all our families a relaxing and restorative weekend ahead – here’s to recharging for another wonderful week together!

Mrs M Dhaliwal

Uniform and Personal Belongings

Before the summer break, we shared the result of our school uniform policy review: we are now encouraging school bookbags instead of rucksacks. Here’s a helpful summary of what’s changed and why:

• Thanks to valuable feedback from our Pupil Safeguarding Crew in the summer term, cloakrooms have been relocated inside classrooms, particularly because children reported feeling unsafe accessing cloakrooms near stairs.
• In classrooms where cloakrooms already existed, staff reported that large backpacks often caused coats to end up on the floor, creating distractions and potential trip hazards.
• We also noticed that toys and keychains attached to large bags were frequently broken or lost, disrupting children’s focus during lessons and causing upset.
• Additionally, PE kits are now worn to school, so they no longer need to be carried separately.

There may be some school events across the year where additional items are required to be brought into school, and we will always suggest alternatives in these instances.

These changes followed a comprehensive safety walkaround led by Mrs Postance, our Designated Safeguarding Lead, in collaboration with the local safeguarding team at Telford & Wrekin. During this review, coats and bags left on the floor were identified as trip hazards, which do not reflect the high standards we strive for. With book bags being stored in classroom crates, and relocating cloakrooms into classrooms, we’re actively contributing to safer, clutter-free learning environments.

Backpacks and coats on the floor are recognised as significant trip hazards in school settings. Clear walkways are essential for reducing accidents and ensuring safe movement throughout the school.

This updated policy was ratified by the IEB over the summer and communicated to parents in July during the Parent Open Evening and followed up in the newsletter. The full policy is available on our school website. Thank you to those families who have already supported this change by ensuring children bring the correct bag. We understand that some parents have ordered book bags and are awaiting delivery – thank you for your patience.

Reception families: a heartfelt thank you to the Friends of Coalbrookdale, who generously donate branded book bags to every Reception child at the start of the year.

Options for Book Bags

• Logo book bags can be purchased via our official uniform supplier’s website.
• Non-logo bags are also acceptable, provided they are royal blue to match school colours.
• If the cost of a book bag is a concern, please speak confidentially with your child’s class teacher – we are always here to help.

Please provide a royal blue book bag, not a rucksack, unless special circumstances apply. Thank you to families who have already made the switch! If your child needs to bring additional items – such as a change of clothes or necessary personal items – please speak directly with your child’s class teacher. Teachers will work closely with you to support individual needs. Support is available if the cost of a book bag presents a challenge.

Thank you for your continued support.

Mrs M Dhaliwal

NSPCC’s Speak out. Stay safe. programme

We will be participating in the NSPCC’s Speak out. Stay safe. Programme next week (w/c 8 September).  Please click on the link below for more details.

All – September 2025 – NSPCC

Donate a Toy Non-Uniform – 11 September

PE Lessons

Children should come to school dressed in their PE kit (navy or white t-shirt, navy or black shorts, skort or knee length leggings and trainers or black plimsolls/pumps. NO football tops or sportswear) on the days they have PE. They do not need to wear school uniform. PE lessons will take place on:

Monday: Year 2 & Year 4
Tuesday: Reception, Year 1 & Year 5
Wednesday: Year 2, Year 3 & Year 6
Thursday: Year 3, Year 5 & Year 6
Friday: Reception, Year 1 & Year 4

Parent Lunches

A link will be sent out to parents via Seesaw the week before to confirm numbers for parent lunches (see dates below).

Lunch costs £3.60 and money should be handed into the school office in a named envelope.

Parents should arrive for lunch at midday.

17 September – Year 6 Parent lunch
24 September – Year 5 Parent lunch
1 October – Year 4 Parent lunch
8 October – Year 3 Parent lunch
15 October – Year 2 Parent lunch
22 October – Year 1 Parent lunch
5 November – Reception Parent lunch

Wraparound Care

At Coalbrookdale we are pleased to be able to provide before and after-school (Wraparound) care.  We welcomed Mrs Oakey to the wraparound care team this week.  She will be supervising the children, along with Mrs Fletcher every morning.  Miss Buchanan supervises the afternoon sessions.

Session times are:

Breakfast club:  7.50am – 8.40am (£3.50)
Half afternoon session: 3.20pm – 4.30pm (£6.50)
Full afternoon session:  3.20pm – 5.45pm (£9.00)

Children are offered cereal and toast, if required, in the morning and there is a snack and drink during the afternoon available.

Please contact the school office if you would like to register your child for wraparound care sessions.

After School Clubs – Autumn 1

The following clubs will run this half term (w/c 15 September).

Monday:  Football with Embrace (Years 1 – 6) (15 Sept – 20 Oct; 6 sessions – £21.00) (max 20 children)

Tuesday:  Tag Rugby Embrace (Years 1 – 6) (16 Sept – 21 Oct; 6 sessions – £21.00) (max 20 children)

Wednesday:  Multi-sports with Embrace (Years 1 – 6) (17 Sept – 22 Oct; 6 sessions – £21.00) (max 20 children)

For all clubs, please complete the permission link to be sent out via Seesaw if your child would like to join.

Please return payment (cash / cheque) to the school office in a named envelope before the 1st session.  Payment can also be made by bank transfer.  Contact the school office for details.

Parents will only be contacted if your child has NOT got a place on a club.

All clubs finish at 4.20pm

Online Safety Newsletter – September

Please click on the link below for September’s Online Safety Newsletter.

Online Safety Newsletter Sept 2025_PDF_Coalbrookdale

Reception Admissions – Starting September 2026

The online application form for children who are due to start school in Reception 2026 is now available on Telford & Wrekin Council’s school admissions website,  https://www.telford.gov.uk/admissions

If applying to Coalbrookdale & Ironbridge Primary School, parents are also asked to fill in our supplementary school application form and return it to us by 15th January 2026.  Copies are available from the school office or from the website.

To apply for a Reception 2026 school place parents will need to use the Telford & Wrekin online system.

Please note:

• Parents need to make an application to the Local Authority of where they are living e.g. where they pay Council Tax to
• If a child is attending nursery, they still need to apply for a school place
• The deadline for applying for a school place is 15 January 2026
• There is no guarantee of a place at the school even if a child has been attending their nursery or pre school
• More information is available at https://www.telford.gov.uk/admissions around school allocations and oversubscription criteria
• If a child has an Education, Health and Care Plan the closing date is 31 October 2025 for all applications

The school admissions website page contains lots of information around school admissions, together with a link of how to apply and step by step guidance information.

If parents do not have access to a computer they will be able to use their local library computer facilities only.

If you have a problem with the application itself please contact the School Admissions Team at admissions@telford.gov.uk

If you or anyone you know would like to look around the school we have the following open mornings (all starting at 9.30am):

Wednesday 8 October

Thursday Tuesday 16 October

Monday 10 November

Friday 28 November

Thursday 8 January 2026

Please contact the office to book a place.

Community News – Temporary Road closures (Waterloo Street, Ironbridge Road, Ladywood and Wesley Road, Ironbridge)

Balfour Beatty on behalf of Telford & Wrekin are planning to undertake highway improvement works. The work is set to commence on Monday, 22nd September 2025 and will last for a duration of 5 days between the hours of 8:00am and 17:00pm (Ironbridge Road 9.30am – 15:30pm) with an end date of Friday, 26th September 2025.

The restrictions may not be effected for the whole period but it is anticipated that the roads will be restricted as and when traffic signs are in position and only for so long as is necessary to execute the works.
The diversion route for vehicular traffic travelling in all directions will be signed on site.

The indicative phasing is outlined below but may be subject to change:

Phase 1 – Waterloo Street, Ironbridge (including Wesley Road Access Only) 22/9/25 – 23/9/25 – 08:00am – 17:00pm
Phase 2 – Ironbridge Road, Ironbridge – 22/9/25 – 23/9/25 – 09:30am – 15:30pm