Together we love, grow and learn.

12/05/25

This week sees the beginning of the SATS tests for our year 6 pupils. Since the beginning of the Spring Term, the teachers and support staff have been preparing the children for this week and their first experience of formal testing. To help them perform to the best of their ability, breakfast is provided each day. The well-being of all the children in our school is of paramount importance, and this is just one example of the care and attention given by our dedicated staff.

Dear Lord, we thank you that you provide us with the assurance of your presence. Draw near to our Y6 pupils and their teachers during these SATS tests. Remind them of the words of a hymn they know well: ‘Be still, for the presence of the Lord, the Holy one is here.’ Amen

06/05/25

Our school is fortunate to have Teaching Assistants who are extremely dedicated to their work supporting teachers and children alike. Whilst the school as a whole relies on their enthusiasm and skills in order to flourish both academically and socially, individual children benefit significantly from their quiet encouragement. Such relationships help foster trust, confidence and resilience.

Dear Lord, Help us to never take our teaching assistants for granted and may they know that their contribution to our school is always appreciated. Give them your wisdom and strength as they continue to give their support to all who need a helping hand. Amen

22/04/25

Last week was Holy Week, beginning with Palm Sunday when Jesus was welcomed into Jerusalem with a huge celebration and people shouting ‘Hosanna!’ By the end of the week, on Good Friday, those same people were shouting ‘Crucify’. Why? Because their leaders wanted to get rid of Jesus because they didn’t believe he was God’s Son. Our school’s emblem has Jesus’ cross at the centre to remind us that they were wrong. They could never get rid of Jesus. Why? Because his love for us all is so powerful that even death can’t stop him from being alive and active in the world today. Now we shout, ‘Hallelujah, Christ is risen!’

Dear Lord, at the beginning of this new term, we thank you that we can have faith in your love for us as we grow together as a community and learn more about how we can be active in your world and make a difference. Amen

31/03/25

As we begin the final week of the Spring Term, we pray for all our staff who have given so much of their time and talents in order to enable our children to become effective learners in a safe and vibrant environment. We thank them for their dedication which goes above and beyond what happens during the day-to-day running of the school. May they be reassured that all they do is appreciated by those who benefit from their wisdom and skills.

Dear Lord, remind us how important it is to show our thankfulness to those who enable us to find out more about ourselves, your wonderful creation and the possibilities for growth that lie ahead. Amen

25/03/25

We value greatly our school’s Leadership Team. This last year has seen progress throughout the school and, together with the Diocesan Academy Trust’s support and guidance, our school community continues to flourish. We pray for all who lead our school in whatever capacity, giving thanks for Miss Clifford, our Deputy Head, who joined us earlier in the term. We look to the future with hope and increased confidence.

Dear Lord, we know that you hold our school close to your loving heart. May all those who come through our doors day by day be aware of your presence in their midst. Amen

As a Church School, we celebrate the fact that other faith communities are represented within our community. For Muslims, these weeks are when Ramadan is kept; a time of fasting and an opportunity to make a difference to the lives of those around them. Therefore, the observance of Lent and Ramadan requires Christians and Muslims alike to focus their prayers and actions on practical ways of supporting the vulnerable in our community. All children and staff have been encouraged to think of ways of raising money for, and awareness of, local charities and so we pray for them as these ideas are put into practice.

Dear Lord, may we never take what we have for granted. Help us to treat others with kindness and respect so that all may face the future with hope. Amen

No two people are exactly alike, which is quite remarkable when we think of the billions of people living on our planet. Each of us is totally unique and in our school that individuality is both celebrated and recognised. There are occasions when a member of our school community finds it difficult to ‘fit in’, perhaps because their way of learning is different to others in the class. So, we pray for an initiative being put in place in the form of a ‘home from home’ space which will give a child the opportunity to take time out and receive the nurture and support they need.

Dear Lord, thank you that we are all unique individuals and that you love us just as we are. Help us to support each other when times are tough. Amen

This week we shall be lighting the third candle on our Advent wreath in school and in our churches. The wreath of candles helps us remember that we are waiting for the birth of Jesus which is coming ever closer. The custom of lighting a candle each week was introduced during Victorian times when churches were very dark in the winter months. As they did then, the candles remind us that Jesus comes into our world as a light that can never be put out, however dark the world seems to be. Here is a prayer for this third week of Advent:

Lord Jesus, light of the world, born in David’s city of Bethlehem, born like him to be a king: be born in our hearts at Christmas, be King of our lives today. Amen.

08/12/24

Since the beginning of time, light has been an essential part of our lives which we so often take for granted. During this time of Advent we remember that Jesus came into the world to be the light that shines with God’s love. It’s so lovely when we meet someone who shares that light in the way they show love and kindness to others.  Our school celebrates the fact that children are able to ‘let their light shine’ in so many different ways.  We pray for all those in our school community who, each day this week, have the opportunity to ‘let their light shine’.

Dear Lord, you created us to let the light of your love show in all we say and do. Help us to share this light with all those we meet this week. Amen

01/12/24

The beginning of December marks the beginning of Advent. However, Advent calendars of all shapes and sizes have been on sale for weeks now, with themes far removed from the Christian season of Advent. The word ‘Advent’ means coming, as we prepare for the coming birth of Jesus. Our school is busy making preparations by learning some beautiful carols to be sung in local Care Homes and in our churches. Just as the windows in an Advent calendar, which tells the story of the coming of Jesus, count down the days to Christmas Eve so the carols reveal the wonder of Jesus’s birth.

Dear Lord, we thank you for this season of Advent and for all the carols which tell us the story of the coming of Jesus. Help us to bring comfort and joy to all in our school and in our homes this Advent. Amen.

25/11/24

Our school prides itself on the way it provides a curriculum which is adaptable for all learners. All of us, at what ever age we happen to be, thrive best when we are able to use our strengths to aid our ability to take on and recall new information. We have a member of our Senior Leadership Team who supports staff in their quest to find inspirational ways of teaching in order for all pupils to thrive. She also ensures that any child experiencing challenges in their learning is given the support they need. Jesus, during his ministry, made sure that children were given the attention they deserved. “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” (Matthew 19 verse 14).

Dear Lord, thank you for all the children who come to our school, and for all who encourage them in their learning. Amen

18/11/24

We are so grateful to our dedicated teachers and support staff who spend time outside of classroom hours in preparation and meetings, providing the very best for our children. In addition, their provision of after-school clubs enables pupils across the years to be involved together in exploring new skills.

Dear Lord, we give thanks for all who use their many skills within our school community. We pray particularly for our teaching and support staff as they continue to devote their time and energy, enabling all the children in their care to flourish. Amen

11/11/24

This week our school continues to welcome Parents and Carers who are hoping that the children in their care will be able to join our school community. Our vision, which encourages us to love, grow and learn together, welcomes all to experience God’s presence as they enter through the doors of our school.

Dear Lord, bless all Parents and Carers as they nurture the children in their care. Amen

04/11/24

As the children and staff return after a well-earned half-term break, they will be looking forward to a busy few weeks. We pray that they will all feel refreshed in mind, body and spirit. Remembrance is the theme of the week ahead. ‘Remember, remember the 5th November’ reminds us about Guy Fawkes and then on 7th November, the KS2 classes will be coming to St Botolph’s as Y6 leads children, staff and parents in a Service of Remembrance.

Dear Lord, as we remember historical events, may we learn that living together in peace is well worth remembering throughout our lives. Amen.

21/10/24

The world seems to be in turmoil at the moment. The news is full of pictures of families experiencing extreme hardship. It is difficult for all of us and particularly our children to make sense of all that they see and hear. So we pray for the guidance of the Holy Spirit as we try and help them to appreciate that we are all one big family, created to care for one another. One of our school values is kindness and another is hope. Encouraging and celebrating kindness amongst members of our school community provides us all with hope for whatever lies ahead.

Dear Lord, show us how to be kind to each other. We pray for children who live in fear that they may be encouraged, by acts of loving kindness, to face the future with hope. Amen

14/10/24

Most of us have photos of ourselves dating back to when we were babies. Tracking our lives through the years, these images remind us how we change through childhood into adulthood. Our children will be marking these changes in childhood next week as the school photos are taken. We celebrate the fact that, during these formative years, our dedicated staff members have such an impact on each child’s development. Friendships, too, encourage all those in our school community to flourish within a safe environment. We thank God that, whatever happens to us throughout our lives, God’s love for us never changes.

Dear Lord, as we love, grow and learn together, may we never forget that the greatest of your gifts to us is love. Amen

07/10/24

This week we pray for St Matthew’s Church as it celebrates its 125^th anniversary this weekend. The people at St Matthew’s and St Botolph’s really appreciate our school’s involvement in marking significant events in our churches. We give thanks for the close links that we enjoy with our young people and we pray for them and their families as they prepare to take their part in the celebrations.

Dear Lord, just as you took children into your arms and blessed them, may we lovingly support our school families in prayer and action. Amen

30/09/24 

Christian worship is highly valued in our school and occurs each morning either collectively, in the Hall, or in individual classes. At the start of every term, the theme of our school vision, to love, grow and learn, is explored in the story Jesus tells about the mustard seed, which is the tiniest of seeds yet gradually grows into a tree. Our children are encouraged to show love for one another as they gradually grow and learn more about God’s love and the wonderful world around them.

Dear Lord, thank you that each day we are given opportunities to learn more about you and how you care for us all. Amen

23/09/24

Now that we are nearing the end of September, we pray that all those new to our school community are settling into the daily routines. Becoming used to a new environment is both exciting and challenging. We pray particularly this week for our new Head of School, Laura Turner. We pray for the Leadership Team supporting her; Phil Matthews, Laura Dobson and Becky Selwood.

Dear Lord, guide all those who have responsibility for the welfare of our children as they seek to nurture them in mind, body and spirit. Amen