Dear Families,

What an incredible start to the new term! Thank you all for the enthusiasm and positivity you’ve shown on your children’s return to school — as always, your support is invaluable.

Such has been the enthusiasm that on Wednesday we had every single child in school! Not a single absence — meaning zero lost learning time that day. This is a wonderful testament both to your commitment to your children’s education and to our children’s fantastic attitudes towards learning. Even with the usual autumn coughs and colds doing the rounds, their desire to be in school, learning and enjoying their time with friends, really shines through.

On Tuesday, we also launched our new Sponsorship Packages at Chilton. These offer individuals or organisations the chance to become sponsors of our school. For local businesses, this means valuable social media coverage, a space on our website as a trusted community partner, and the chance to be part of something that directly benefits the children of Chilton.

Funds raised through sponsorship will go straight back into improving the Chilton Experience — from exciting new play equipment and high-tech learning tools, to funds supporting vulnerable families and breaking down barriers to experiences. In many cases, this partnership can benefit your business without costing you a penny. Please do take a look at our sponsorship page to see how your business could get involved.

This week, I’ve also sent out an expression of interest form about setting up a Walking Bus. We all know the challenges of parking safely around our school site, and I’ve been working on a way to help ease congestion. The Pegwell Bay Hotel has kindly agreed to trial a scheme where families can drop off children from 8:00am in their car park, with a Walking Bus leaving at 8:15am to walk up to school.

The idea is that families who use the Walking Bus would help by volunteering to walk with the group one morning a week. It’s a great way to support the community, reduce traffic, and make mornings smoother for busy families — while giving children a safe, healthy and social start to their day. KCC Video.

Finally, I hope you’ve all appreciated the opportunity to meet with teachers during this week’s Parent-Teacher Consultations. These meetings are such a valuable time to reflect on your child’s progress, celebrate their achievements, and look together at the next steps in their learning. We’ve thoroughly enjoyed meeting with you and sharing the pride we feel in your children every day.

Thank you again for your continued support — it truly makes all the difference.

With best wishes,

Mr McAuley