A Wonderful Start to the New School Year

It has been lovely to welcome everyone back to school, and we are delighted with how well the children have settled into their new classes. There has been a really positive atmosphere around school, with children quickly getting back into routines, enjoying seeing their friends and getting to know their new teachers.

A particularly warm welcome goes to all of our new Reception children and their families. We are incredibly proud of how well the children have settled into school life already. They have been busy exploring their new classroom, making friends and learning lots of new routines. It has been wonderful to see so many happy and confident faces!

We have also been busy making some exciting improvements to our outdoor spaces. The playground has recently had new all-weather flooring installed underneath the climbing frame, along with a new path leading to our wellbeing shed. We are really pleased with how this is already improving the area for the children to enjoy.

You may also have noticed that work is currently taking place outside the front of school. This area is being transformed into a lovely reading area for all of our children to enjoy, creating another welcoming space where they can relax, read and enjoy books outdoors.

We are incredibly grateful to Lancashire Roofing and Building, who are carrying out this work free of charge for our school. Their generosity and support are very much appreciated, and we would like to say a huge thank you to them for helping us to develop these fantastic spaces for our children.

We are looking forward to a fantastic year ahead and to sharing lots of exciting learning, experiences and achievements with you.

Read and Simonstone Peace Walk

We are pleased to share that the Read & Simonstone Peace Walk will take place tomorrow, Saturday 12th September.

Meeting point: Outside Simonstone School

Time: 10.00am

Route: Walking from Simonstone School to Read St John’s

Please see the flyer below for further information.

We hope lots of families and members of our community will be able to join us. 

Allergies and Individual Healthcare Plans

We are reviewing our allergy information at the start of the new school year to ensure that we have the most up-to-date information about children with allergies and other medical needs.

If your child has an allergy or significant medical condition, please make sure that school has been provided with accurate and current information, including:

  • The name of the allergy/medical condition
  • What your child is allergic to
  • What happens when your child is exposed to the allergen (symptoms/signs of a reaction)
  • What medication your child has been prescribed, if applicable
  • Where the medication is kept and when it should be given
  • What action should be taken if your child has a reaction
  • Details of any emergency medication, such as an adrenaline auto-injector
  • Any advice or documentation provided by your child's GP, consultant or other healthcare professional
  • Any changes to your child's allergy, medication or treatment since the information was last provided to school

This information helps us to ensure that appropriate arrangements are in place and allows us to work with you and your child's healthcare professionals to create or update an Individual Healthcare Plan (IHP).

If your child has an allergy or medical condition, please contact the school office if you are unsure whether we have the information we need. It is particularly important that we are told about any changes to your child's condition or medication.

Thank you for helping us to keep our children safe and well at school.

Healthy Snacks

As we start the new school year, we would like to encourage all children to make healthy choices at snack time.

Children in Reception and Key Stage 1 receive a free piece of fruit or vegetable each day, so there is no need for them to bring an additional snack from home.

For children in Reception, please remember that if you are bringing a packed lunch grapes and cherry tomatoes must be cut lengthways before being sent into school, in line with our food safety arrangements.

Children in Key Stage 2 may bring a healthy snack from home if they would like to. Ideally, we would encourage this to be a piece of fruit or vegetable. Please could snacks be kept separate from packed lunches, as we have noticed that some children are beginning to eat items intended for their lunch during morning break.

Water Bottles

Please could all children bring a named bottle of water to school each day. Water is the best choice for keeping children hydrated and ready to learn throughout the school day.

Free School Meals eligibility from September 2026

We are writing to all parents and carers in Year 3 and above, regarding changes to Free School Meal eligibility from September 2026.

From the start of the 2026–27 academic year, the Department for Education has confirmed that Free School Meals will be expanded to include all children from households receiving Universal Credit. This means that some families who have not previously been eligible may now be able to apply.

It is important that families check their eligibility and apply, even if their child has previously received Free School Meals. Eligibility will need to be checked regularly and, where required, applications will need to be made again each year. If your circumstances change at any point and you think you may now be eligible, please apply.

 

There are now two categories of Free School Meals:

Targeted Free School Meals

This is the existing category. It applies to families who meet the current benefits-based criteria, including households receiving Universal Credit with annual household earnings of £7,400 or less. Students in this category receive Free School Meals, and the school may also receive additional funding, such as Pupil Premium, to support eligible students.

Expanded Free School Meals

This is the new category from September 2026. It applies to children in households receiving Universal Credit who do not meet the criteria for Targeted Free School Meals because household earnings are above the £7,400 threshold. Students in this category will be entitled to a free meal, but this category is for meals only and does not attract Pupil Premium funding.

Important information if you have recently received your confirmation

If you have recently received a letter or email from Lancashire County Council confirming your child's Free School Meals eligibility, we ask please that you forward the full confirmation email or letter to bursar@read.lancs.sch.uk as soon as possible.

 

Please ensure that you forward the complete correspondence you received, rather than simply informing us that eligibility has been confirmed. This allows us to identify the correct Free School Meals category, provide the appropriate provision for your child and maintain accurate records within school.

 

How to check your eligibility and apply

To check eligibility, apply for the first time, or to reapply, please visit the Lancashire County Council Free School Meals page:

https://www.lancashire.gov.uk/children-education-families/schools/free-school-meals/

 

Please scroll down to “Year 3 and above” and click the link to check whether you are eligible and to apply.

 

Thank you for your support and for helping us to ensure that all eligible students receive the necessary provision and support to which they are entitled.