As we finish the term and head into the festive season, I want to thank you all for your incredible support. The children have worked hard, laughed lots, and helped us to celebrate Christmas through their excitement and through the wonderful performances over the last 2 weeks.
Our Reception classes took to the stage for the first time and did a wonderful job of singing. We hope that you enjoyed your time creating with them and spending time with them, something which is so often difficult to do. Our Year 1 children performed the Nativity brilliantly and reminded us of that very first Christmas. Whilst Year 2’s enthusiasm and joy was truly infectious. I do hope that these events brought a little bit of happiness and Christmas closer to you. Thank you to all the children for their amazing performances and to the team for their support and preparation, enabling the children to shine.
Wishing you and your families a wonderful holiday filled with fun and laughter. We look forward to welcoming everyone back on Monday 5th January, refreshed and ready for another exciting term.
Thank you to everyone who has embraced our new App My Child At School. We hope that this will improve communication between us and that we will be able to share more information with you about your child in school as time goes on.
We have received a couple of messages from parents about a few small issues with the App and would like to share these with you as FAQs.
Why am I not receiving notifications about new messages and announcements on the App?
This is likely to be because you haven’t turned on your notifications for this App on your phone. This can be done in your phone settings – notifications. If you declined notifications when you installed the App and try to turn them on later, this might not work, and you might need to reinstall the App.
Why can’t I see all of my children in my App?
This is possibly because you aren’t contact priority number 1 on our system for all of your children. When we released the App we released it to Priority 1 contacts. If you let us know, we can easily add your other child/ren to your account.
Why haven’t I received an email with my account details and information about how to set up the App?
When we launched the App we only sent details to Priority 1 contacts for each child. We can easily set up multiple App accounts for each child. If you have parental responsibility for a child, please email the office to let us know who you would like us to set up and whether you are happy for them to have access to all of your child’s details.
Why can I see how many spaces are taken on a trip?
This is a new feature in our trip set up. When we set up a trip or club on Bromcom we have to let it know how many spaces are available. If we set up a year group trip, this will always be set to 60 children. The amount shown for spaces taken is not relevant for a trip as every child in the year will be allocated a place, and it also doesn’t reflect how many contributions we have received towards the trip. It may be relevant later if we start to run our clubs and other events through Bromcom as it might be able to let you know if there is space still available in a club or at an event.
Where can I find instructions on how to use the App?
You can find a full guide for the App [my child at school parent guide] visit our Website - Letters - Latest News tab.
We hope that you are enjoying using our new App. Please do let us know if you are experiencing any issues that aren’t addressed here, and we will work to find a solution for you.
Safeguarding and E-Safety
Out of Hours' Safeguarding Email: DSL@Somersetbridge.school
Designated Safeguarding Lead: Mrs Kelly Evans, Deputy Headteacher
Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead and Safeguarding Officer: Mrs Susanne Williams
Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead: Ms Jo Darby, Family Support Worker
Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead: Mr Kevin Bryant, Headteacher
E-Safety
With Christmas approaching, many children will be receiving internet-connected devices. To help parents protect their children online during the festive period, Skips Safety Net have created a free digital guide full of simple, practical advice.
It includes tips on:
· Social media
· Gaming and livestreaming
· Online grooming
· Influencer culture
· Sharing pictures
· Privacy settings
· Fake news and misinformation
Pastoral Team
A new series of free live webinars has been launched for Somerset parents to help strengthen relationships and create a calmer family life.
Parents are welcome to join one or all sessions. Whether you attend as a couple or on your own, you’ll leave with practical tips to:
Communicate better, argue less, and feel closer as a couple
Handle disagreements and reduce stress for the whole family
Parent together
Investing time in building a stronger relationship helps create supportive environment for children.
New: Free 5-Week Online Course for Separated Parents - Reducing the Impact of Separation on Everyone (R.I.S.E.)
This evidence-informed course offers practical tips for co-parenting and keeping children’s wellbeing at the centre. Two courses run in the same week so separated parents can attend different sessions. Free if one parent lives in Somerset.
Course A:
Wednesdays: 14, 21, 28 January; 4, 11 February, 7pm–8:30pm: Book here
Course B:
Thursdays: 15, 22, 29 January; 5, 12 February, 9:30am–11am: Book here
Congratulations to your whole school community on achieving your 3-star Somerset Health and Wellbeing Framework award!
Year 1 Classes
Thank you to the children (and parents) of our Year 1 children for their hard work in the production of our Christmas Nativity performance. A lot of remembering, practising and singing with beautiful voices. They put on a great show!
Year 5 Classes
Gaia Visit
On Tuesday 4th November, Year 5 showed great resilience and enthusiasm as they braved the wet and windy weather to visit Gaia, the breath-taking art installation created by Luke Jerram. Despite the rain, the children were captivated by the magnificent, illuminated model of Earth, which offered a powerful reminder of our planet’s beauty and fragility. Standing beneath the giant globe, they marvelled at the realistic detail and scale, gaining a new perspective on the world we all share. It was a memorable experience that sparked thoughtful discussion and awe, proving that a little bad weather can’t dampen Year 5’s curiosity and spirit!
Coldharbour Mill Visit
On Tuesday 18th November, Year 5 went to visit Coldharbour Mill, where they explored how yarn was made and discovered the fascinating process behind turning raw fleece into thread. They watched the machinery in action and learnt about the different stages of production, from carding and spinning to weaving. The visit also taught them about what life was like for workers during the Victorian era. They found out that factory conditions were often harsh, with long working hours, loud machines, and very little safety equipment. Despite this, the trip helped them understand the importance of the mill in local history and gave them a vivid picture of Victorian working life.
Year 6 Classes
Remembrance Day with Mr Powell-Thomas
We were delighted to welcome Mr Powell-Thomas (local historian) who shared his wealth of knowledge about Remembrance Day. He taught the children about the importance of remembrance, helping them to understand why we reflect on the sacrifices made by others. The children listened carefully and showed great respect throughout the day, gaining a deeper appreciation of this significant occasion.
A Trip to Fleet Air Arm Museum
The children had a super trip to the Fleet Air Arm Museum, where Yr 6 enjoyed exploring a wide range of fascinating aircraft and exhibits. The visit brought their learning to life as they discovered more about aviation history and so much more! The children asked thoughtful questions, making it a memorable and enriching experience for all.
Barnardo’s Resilience Workshop
The children also took part in a valuable workshop led by Barnardo’s, which focused on building resilience. Through discussion and activities, the children explored ways to manage challenges, develop confidence, and support their own wellbeing. It was a positive and engaging session that provided them with important life skills.
End of History Unit Day with Mr Powell-Thomas
To celebrate the end of our history unit, Mr Powell-Thomas joined us once again to share his extensive knowledge and an impressive collection of artefacts. The children were captivated as the artefacts truly brought the subject to life, deepening their understanding and enthusiasm for history. It was a fantastic way to conclude the unit and left the children inspired and eager to learn more.
Sport News
Team Table Tennis.
Congratulations to our boys and girls Table Tennis teams who performed fantastically in the tournament at Taunton and have both managed to qualify for the South West Regional Finals in February.
Sportshall Athletics.
A big well done to our Year 5 & 6 Sportshall Athletics team who put in an amazing performance to win silver medals and finish in 2nd place overall out of 9 teams. An amazing achievement and have qualified for the County finals in January.
Cross Country.
Huge congratulations to all of our Cross-Country runners who attended races at both Brymore and BCA. We are currently in 3rd place out of 16 schools, which is brilliant.
For the races at Brymore we had a total of 35 children attend, a special mention for Skyla in the year 5 girls race who managed to finish in 1st place and win the gold medal. A few more impressive top 10 finishes included: Tiyanna 9th, Filip 4th and Florence 6th.
The races at BCA, we had a total of 32 children take part and, this time a special mention for Maggie in the year 5 girls race, who managed to finish in 1st place and win the gold medal. More fantastic finishes were: Maisie 8th, Dexter 9th, Filip 4th, Lottie 4th, Florence 6th and James 12th.
A big thank you to all parents and carers for your continued support to transport children to the sporting events. Your support is much appreciated.
A Big Thank You
Thank you to everyone who helped us raise £677.99 for the Royal British Legion.
Thank you to all of you who attended our Scholastic Book Fair and purchased books.
We made £784.58, and we have earned £313.83 in commission.
Local Events
Our Christmas Tree
Thank you to Christmas Tree Chris for our lovely Christmas Tree
The children enjoyed their Christmas Lunch on Wednesday 17th December cooked by the Kitchen Staff.
Christmas Vegetables
Christmas Turkey
Reindeer Cookies
Reminders
School Lunches:
Please remember to order your child's school lunches from SwiftKitchen before Midnight on Sunday 4th January for your child/ren return to school on Monday 5th January 2026.
Absences:
If your child is absent, please remember to ring school before 8.30am and leave a message on the absence line. In your message leave your child's full name and clearly specify the reason they are not at school. For example, if your child has a temperature, please say that your child has a temperature and not just state that they are ill.
