Do you have a child starting school in September 2026? If so, come and join us for our Open Morning on Wednesday, 12th November — we’d love to meet you!

Full details can be found at the following link.

Produced in partnership with Gloucestershire Parent Carer Forum (GPCF) and the Integrated Care Board (ICB), a monthly newsletter for parents and carers of children and young people with SEND.

The Families in Partnership newsletter includes information and articles from teams within Education, Health, Care and the voluntary sector as well as responses to parent-carer feedback about the Local Area Partnership.

To subscribe to every new Families In Partnership newsletter on publication, please sign-up here.

This monthly newsletter for families with SEND shares the latest updates, news and developments in Gloucestershire, covering topics you say are important. 

Please log onto Edulink One to book your 10 minute slot, if you are yet to do so.

Tuesday 22nd October - face to face

Wednesday 23rd October - online

1 booking per family.  If online. Parent 1 will need to invite parent 2 to the meeting.

Alison Godfrey

Headteacher

We were proud and excited to announce our new Positive Play Partners (PPPs)! Now in its third year, the initiative continues to grow in popularity, with pupils eager to take on the role and support our OPAL play provision.

After reading through over 100 application forms, some of which you can read below, we have selected the children who we believe will show the passion, care and empathy to support others during our OPAL play times. They will help support children and staff and make our time outside as positive and enjoyable as possible.

Our PPPs play a key role in promoting positive play across the school. They act as role models, help resolve minor issues, and bring fresh ideas to make playtimes even more enjoyable and inclusive for everyone.

The newly selected PPPs will take part in a training session and have regular check-ins with the OPAL team and Mrs Byrne to help ensure play remains a happy, safe, and enriching experience for all.

Congratulations to

Year 6 –

Autumn Term: Florence, Carlos, Herbi and Emily

Spring Term: Lukasz, Lucy, Uzma and Gabriel

Year 5 – 

Autumn Term: Maddie P, Sami, Molly and Thinali

Spring Term: Katalina and Oliver

Year 4 – 

Autumn Term: Charoltte, Pheobe, Molly and Charlie

Spring Term: Amyra, Harry, Ray and Lilah

Year 3 – 

Autumn Term: Arlo, Aaliyah, Archie and Pippa

Spring Term: Katie, Lily, Layan and Minnie

Year 2 – 

Autumn Term: Joshua, Clara, Summer and Chance

Spring Term: Rocket, William, Diana and Callum

Year 1 – Children will have the opportunity to apply in the spring term.

On Thursday, we were delighted to welcome Rachel, our OPAL Mentor, as we begin our reaccreditation process for the Platinum OPAL Award.

Rachel was thrilled to see how well the OPAL provision has been embedded across the school, providing our pupils with rich and varied opportunities for play. Her visit was a fantastic affirmation of the work we’ve done so far.

As we look ahead to our final audit in April 2026, Mrs Byrne (OPAL Lead) and Mrs Samways (Play Coordinator) along with our amazing OPAL Play Partner team will be working to develop an action plan for further improvements and exciting developments.

In the coming weeks, we’ll be reaching out to families for support — whether through donations, help on site, or other contributions. Please keep an eye on our Facebook page and school newsletters for ways to get involved.

A huge thank you to our fabulous PTFA, whose ongoing support for the OPAL initiative makes such a difference. We are incredibly fortunate to have you on board.

Together, we can continue to make play a powerful part of every child’s day at Dunalley!

Our school has taken part in Hello Yellow today (World Mental Health Day) to raise awareness and funds for YoungMinds, the UK’s leading charity for young people’s mental health.

No young person should feel alone with their mental health and that’s why Hello Yellow matters. We’re taking this opportunity as a school community to come together and show our students that we’re with them and they’re never alone with their mental health.

Most importantly, we want to share the resources which YoungMinds offer to support parents and carers if you ever need help and advice to support your children. This includes:

• online resources (www.youngminds.org.uk/parent/)
• a phone line, open 9.30am-4pm (0808 802 5544)
• an online chat for parents and carers to speak to trained professionals if you’re concerned about your children’s

Our Pre-school and Nursery are currently seeking donations of tiny baby clothes and newborn nappies that you may no longer need.

If you're able to help, please drop off any items at the school office.

Thank you so much for your continued support — it’s truly appreciated!

We have a number of vacancies for the role of parent governor which we need to fill as soon as possible. Parent governors are elected by and from the parents of children currently attending our school. They serve a four-year term of office and bring a very important and valued perspective to the work of the governing board.

You might like to look at the information for prospective governors on the Gloucestershire County Council website www.gloucestershire.gov.uk/schoolsnet/governors. Further information on the role can also be obtained through the school office.

The governing board has a vital role to play in making sure every child receives the best possible education. This is achieved by ensuring that governors have the necessary skills and commitment to contribute to the effective governance and success of the school. The particular skills that governing boards need will vary and will include personal qualities and capabilities, such as the capacity and willingness to learn and work as part of a team. It is expected that governors will make use of the various training opportunities available to them and play a full part in the work of the governing board.

If you are interested in becoming a governor, please reply to the following survey with your nomination (self-nomination is acceptable), before 9am on Wednesday 15th October.

https://www.smartsurvey.co.uk/s/ParentGovernorNominationFormOct2025/

Absences

 - the school day is made up of 2 sessions - morning and afternoon. 

 - 5 days absence equates to 10 sessions.

 - 10 unauthorised sessions can lead to a penalty notice request being submitted to GCC.

 - illness and medical appointments are classed as authorised absences.

Illness

- complete the Report an Absence form on Edulink One in LINKS & COMMUNICATION on the day of illness - before 8.50am. You can also call 01242 512391 and leave a message.

- keep your child off school for 48 hours after the last episode of sickness or diarrhoea.

- keep your child off school if they have a temperature or are too unwell to attend.

Medical Appointment

- it is preferred that appointments are made outside of the school day.

- if this is not possible, complete the Report an Absence Form on Edulink One in LINKS & COMMUNICATION on the day of appointment before 8.50am, even if it is an afternoon appointment.

 - afternoon appointments equate to a full session of absence being recorded, the same as if the appointment is in the morning.

Secondary School Visits / Induction Days

 - complete the Report an Absence Form on Edulink One in LINKS & COMMUNICATION on the day of the visit.

Holidays During Term Time

 - complete a Request for Leave During Term Time - Form in LINKS & COMMUNICATION and hand it into the school office, signed by both persons with parental responsibility.

If your child is going home with someone different to usual, please write a short note for your child to hand to their teacher on the day.

If there are adults that regularly collect your child or you wish to be able to collect on an adhoc basis, log onto Edulink One, UPDATE INFORMATION, open the child's account and add the adults names to the contacts list. 

Please can we ask that all families check if their children are eligiable for Free School Meals, even if your children are in Nursery, PreSchool, Reception, Year 1 or Year 2.

For every child that is entitled to free school meals the school receives extra funding to enhance provision and improve progress and outcomes for children. So please apply even if you do not wish to take up your free school meal / access Universal Free School Meals.

It is very easy to check at the following link: https://www.gloucestershire.gov.uk/education-and-learning/free-school-meals/apply-for-free-school-meals/

Thank you to everyone that has checked the information we have on file for your child(ren) and yourself.

You are able to check and update information on Edulink One. 

Medical Info

- shows all the information we have on file with regards to your child's health.  If they have a Dietary Need or Medical Need please ensure Z. Parent Checked 2526 is showing.  If it isn't, click UPDATE INFORMATION, access your child's account and tick the relevant boxes at the end of the Dietary or Health Need list.  

- if your child does not have a dietary or health need, no action is required.

Contact Information

- please ensure we have an email and contact number for both persons with parental responsibility.  If this is not possible, provide information for another trusted adult.  

- check that the address we have on record is correct for yourself and for your child.

- if you (or the other parent) do not receive emails from school, please email [email protected] with a personal email address, name and child's name.

With the October school break just around the corner, Atlas Camps will be back with our award-winning multi-activity camps – as well as our super popular Football Camps - running throughout the school break! 

Rated Outstanding by Ofsted, Atlas Camps specialises in multi-activity clubs for children aged 4-14, with two early years settings for 3+ also available. With a focus on fun, activities on offer span everything from arts and crafts to sports and active play, all in a safe, enjoyable environment designed to cater for all. Joining them will be our ever-popular Atlas Camps Football Academies, allowing footie-mad All-Stars aged 7-14 to hone their sporting skills with drills, games and plenty of FUN. 

• Ofsted-rated ‘Outstanding’
• Tax-Free Childcare and Childcare Vouchers Accepted
• Early drop-off/ late pick-up options
• Sibling discount and 5^th day savings available
• Multi-activity and Football camps

For further information, please watch this video or check out the attached poster. Head to the Atlas Camps website at www.atlascamps.co.uk to book our multi-activity camps, and www.atlascamps.co.uk/sports-camps to book our sports camps.

We’re looking for doll-strollers/pushchairs to enhance learning in our Pre-school. If you have one to donate, we’d be incredibly grateful.

We’re also still hoping to create a calming space for children with special educational needs and are in need of:

• Two children’s tents
• Cushions
• Simple wooden jigsaw puzzles (up to 20 pieces)
• LEGO or construction kits

If you’re able to help, please get in touch with us at [email protected].

Your support means the world to us – thank you!