Welcome Back to Sutton School!

Dear Parents and Carers,

Welcome back to the new academic year! We hope you have all had a lovely summer break.

A very special welcome to all our new pupils and families joining Sutton School. We hope you will quickly feel safe, supported and part of our school community. It has been wonderful to welcome everyone back and see pupils settling into their new classes and routines.

Families are valued partners in everything we do, and we look forward to continuing to work collaboratively with you throughout the year. Please contact us early if you have any concerns or feel that your child or family would benefit from additional support.

Together, we will continue working towards our shared vision:

Safe • Happy • Learning • Towards Independence

 

 

Staff Updates

 

We are delighted to share some staff updates for the new academic year.

Congratulations to Ms C. Taylor, who has taken on the role of Assistant Headteacher and SENCO. We wish her every success in her new position.

We would also like to congratulate Miss G. Lewis, who has been appointed as the Hills and Rivers Phase Leader. We know she will bring commitment, care and enthusiasm to this important role.

Finally, we are very pleased to welcome Mrs Subhan to Sutton School. We hope she settles in quickly and receives a very warm welcome to the Sutton family.

The Sutton Way – Getting Ready for Learning

Returning to school routines can take time, particularly following a school holiday. Predictable routines at home and school help pupils feel safe, regulated and ready to learn.

A consistent bedtime and morning routine can make a significant difference to a pupil’s emotional wellbeing, attendance and engagement. Preparing clothing and school items the evening before, reducing screen time before bed and keeping morning expectations calm and consistent can all help make the transition into school easier.

At Sutton, we support pupils through clear routines, shared expectations, kindness and positive relationships. We recognise that every pupil is different, and some may need additional preparation, visual prompts, reassurance or time to regulate.

By working together, we can help pupils develop resilience, confidence and a strong sense of belonging.

A Fantastic Start in Trees!

This term has already been packed with exciting learning experiences, creative projects, sporting achievements and opportunities for pupils to develop their independence. Across all Trees classes, pupils have worked incredibly hard and have much to be proud of. We have said hello and made friends with our new Year 7 pupils who have already settled in very well.

English and Communication

Pupils have explored a wide range of engaging texts and topics. Learning has included descriptive writing, poetry, news reporting, letter writing, play scripts and storytelling. Children have enjoyed studying dinosaurs, mythical creatures, Shakespeare, spiders, Africa and traditional tales, while continuing to develop their reading, spelling and communication skills. Many pupils have shown increasing confidence when expressing their ideas and sharing their work with others. ​​

Mathematics

Across the phase, pupils have developed their understanding of measurement, time, multiplication, temperature, shapes, money, mass and capacity. Practical activities have helped children apply their mathematical skills in real-life situations, including role-playing with money, measuring outdoors and learning to tell the time. ​

Creative Arts

Creativity has flourished throughout the term. Pupils have recreated famous artworks, designed and printed coasters, constructed textile banners, created volcanoes and savannah scenes, explored William Morris designs and produced artwork inspired by myths, nature and personal identity. The enthusiasm and imagination shown by pupils have been wonderful to see.​

Life Skills and Independence

Developing independence has remained a key focus. Pupils have practised ordering and paying for breakfast, using money, cooking toast, bagels and fruit crumble, and taking part in practical outdoor activities. These experiences have helped pupils build confidence and prepare for greater independence in everyday life. ​

Outdoor Learning and Enrichment

Trees Phase pupils have enjoyed taking their learning outdoors, developing confidence, independence and teamwork through practical, hands-on experiences. Outdoor learning provides meaningful opportunities to explore nature, practise new skills and learn in ways that support pupils’ individual needs.

Physical Education and Swimming

PE continues to be one of the highlights of the week for many pupils. Children have enjoyed badminton, football, athletics, high jump, running and Sports Day preparations. 

We Are Proud Of...

Throughout the term, pupils have demonstrated:

• Excellent behaviour during educational visits.
• Growing confidence in their learning.
• Improved literacy and communication skills.
• Positive attitudes towards new experiences.
• Greater independence in life skills activities

These achievements have made the Trees team incredibly proud. 

Looking Ahead

We look forward to another exciting Autumn term filled with new learning opportunities, creative projects and memorable experiences for all our pupils.

Well done to every pupil in Trees for a great start to the term! 

 

Attendance Matters – Belonging, Learning and Every Day Counts

 

At Sutton School, attendance is about much more than figures. Regular attendance helps pupils feel that they belong, maintain important relationships, follow familiar routines and make consistent progress with their learning and independence.

Our whole-school attendance currently stands at 92.29%, with 19.79% of pupils identified as persistently absent.

We have also been closely monitoring Friday attendance:

• Week 1: 94.76%
• Week 2: 92.71%

Friday is a shorter school day, but it remains an important part of the school week. Learning, therapies, interventions and opportunities to develop communication, independence and social skills continue throughout the day. Missing Fridays regularly can quickly add up to a significant amount of lost learning.

We have completed pupil voice activities and analysed the attendance data to help us understand the barriers affecting Friday attendance. Mrs Doman and Mrs McPherson will review the findings before sharing proposed next steps with the Senior Leadership Team.

Our approach will remain supportive, collaborative and restorative. We will work with pupils and families to understand individual circumstances, remove barriers and offer appropriate support. Alongside this support, we will continue to maintain high expectations because every pupil deserves the opportunity to attend, belong and achieve.

As the colder months approach, we understand that seasonal illnesses will increase. However, pupils can often attend school with minor coughs, colds or tiredness. Where prescribed medication is required during the school day, parents and carers should contact the school to discuss the appropriate arrangements.

Children experiencing vomiting or diarrhoea due to a suspected infection must remain away from school until 48 hours after their last episode. However, if vomiting is an isolated incident caused by a known non-infectious issue, such as a reaction to food, and the child is otherwise well, the 48-hour exclusion period may not apply. Parents and carers should contact school to explain the circumstances before the child returns. If your child is absent, parents and carers must contact the school on every day of the absence to provide an update and explain why their child will not be attending.

Together, we can help every pupil finish the week strongly because every day counts—and Fridays count too.

 

 

Autumn Term Dates for Your Diary

• Wednesday 30 September 2026: Vaccinations
• Thursday 22 October 2026: Parents’ Evening
• Monday 26 October–Sunday 1 November 2026: Half-term
• Wednesday 16 December 2026: Trees Silent Disco
• Thursday 17 December 2026: Hills and Rivers Combined Silent Disco
• Friday 18 December 2026: School closes for the Christmas holiday
• Monday 4 January 2027: INSET Day—school closed to pupils
• Tuesday 5 January 2027: Pupils return to school

We will also be holding our Christmas performance at Brierley Hill. Further information, including the date and arrangements, will be shared through school communications.

 

Free School Meals – Important Change

From September 2026, all school-aged children living in a household receiving Universal Credit may be entitled to Free School Meals, regardless of the household’s earnings.

Previous Free School Meal protections have now ended, so eligibility will be based on each family’s current circumstances.

Parents and carers must complete an application, even if their child received Free School Meals previously.

To check your eligibility and apply, please visit:

www.dudley.gov.uk/residents/benefits/free-school-meals/