August 2026 Newsletter
Children have had a settled start to the new school session and are enjoying their new learning environments.
Thank you,
Mrs Horsburgh
Head Teacher
Attendance
If your child is unable to attend school for whatever reason, please contact the main school office using telephone phone number 018907 81350 or send us a message using Eduspot. If your child is absent from school please notify the school office as soon as you can. If not you will receive a Eduspot message. If your child is booked in for a lunch on ParentPay please ensure the meal is cancelled online, or you may be charged.
Please ensure your child arrives at school on time each day. If your child arrives at school late (up to 9.00am), please send them to the school office.
ParentPay
Please make meal choices for your child before 8.30am on the day you wish to make the booking. If you are experiencing any problems accessing ParentPay please contact Mrs McAskill in the office.
Safety of Pupils
Please ensure you close the gates leading to the playground on entrance and exit. All pupils cycling to school MUST wear a cycle helmet.
Unauthorised Absences
If you take your child out of school during term time, this will be recorded as an ‘unauthorised absence’. We would encourage you to contact the school office and ask for a holiday request form in these circumstances.
Break time snacks and water bottles
Please remember to provide your child with a healthy snack at break time, a piece of fruit for fruit fix in the afternoons plus a water bottle for use in class throughout the day. Water bottles should be labelled with your child’s name and must be filled from home. We are a health promoting school and would ask that bottles contain water and not juice, thank you.
Uniform/PE Kit
ALL items of school uniform should be labelled. We also encourage all PE kit to be labelled. Please ensure that children with long hair have their hair tied back and NO jewellery is worn on PE days. If your child is unable to remove their own earrings, they must bring medical tape in from home to cover them. PE is held on Tuesday and Thursday each week for all classes.
NHS Flu Vaccination Form
The majority of the forms have now been returned to school, if you have not returned the form please do so ASAP as the nursing team will collect them the week beginning 31st August.
Curriculum Overviews
Curriculum Overviews will be issued to parents / carers week commencing Monday 31st August.
Outdoor Learning
P6/7 will be taking part in outdoor learning this term with Mrs Lannagan and staff from the Tweed Forum, this will be held in the grounds of Ayton Castle over a block of 4 weeks. Letters have already been issued to pupils regarding dates and clothing. Please complete local area consent form on ParentsPortal as soon as possible.
PFA Meeting
Our PFA meeting will take place on Tuesday 8th September 6.30-7.30pm in school. The PFA are looking for new members to join, everyone is welcome to come along.
P5 Rugby and P7 Hockey Festival
The P5 Rugby and P7 Hockey Festival will be held on Thursday 1st October, 10.00 – 12.00 noon at Eyemouth High School. Permission forms will be issued on Parents Portal nearer the time. Pupils will have lunch on their return. Please remember to provide a water bottle and snack and ensure your son/daughter comes to school dressed in their PE kit for outdoor sports with their school uniform in their bags. This is a great opportunity for pupils to meet other pupils from the cluster.
P1 to P7 Parents Consultations
Our next Parent Consultation will be held on Wednesday 7th October, 5.00pm – 7.00pm and Thursday 8th October 3.15pm – 5.15pm. Consultations will be held in school and appointments should be made through the Parent Evening Booking System online.
The system will go live on Wednesday 24th September at 09:00am and will close on Thursday 1st October at 12.30pm. To book your 10 minute slot, go to: http://www.parents-booking.co.uk/aytonps
PLEASE NOTE: You need to type this address into your website browser’s ‘address bar’. Do not try to ‘Google’ this website address or use a search engine as that will not work. This is a common mistake on phones and tablets especially.
You will need:
- Your email address (must match those we have on record for you)
- Your child’s first name, surname and date of birth
Once you have logged in, we suggest you use the ‘Automated Booking Wizard’ to make your appointments. You will be shown your child/children and their teachers, and asked to enter your availability. Our wizard will use this information to calculate the best order for your appointments, allowing you to navigate the teachers in the quickest and most efficient manner.
Medication in School
Please remember it is your responsibility to ensure medication/medical supplies in school for your child are within their expiry dates. Should your child need medication to be administered during the school day, please ask Mrs McAskill for a form which must be completed in advance. Medication to be administered within school MUST be prescribed and labeled with your child’s name.
Wet Weather
If we are experiencing wet weather in the mornings, children should arrive from 8:30am and go to the dining hall.
Ayton Flower Show
Saturday 5th September is the annual Ayton Flower Show. The event is open from 1pm-4pm. Come along and see the wonderful entries as well as entertainment and teas and coffees in the bowling club. All welcome.
There are adult and children competition categories from photography to crafting and baking to growing. If you would like to enter a class please either:
- Go to https://aytongardens.com and enter online – children’s classes are free to enter. Normal deadline is Friday 28th August but this can be flexible.
- Print out a paper entry or fill in information on a blank sheet of paper and hand into Kenzie House on the High Street.
In addition, the children at school are busy with art and handwriting entries from their classes and these will all be on show on the day. Please enter a class and/or come along on the day to support our local show.
Dates for your diary
- Saturday 5th September : Ayton Show 1pm – 4pm
- Tuesday 8th September : PFA Meeting in School 6.30pm – 7.30pm
- Wednesday 24th September: Parents Evening Booking System (PEBS) goes live at 9am
- Thursday 1st October: PEBS closes for parents evening bookings at 12.30pm
- Thursday 1st October : P5 Rugby and P7 Hockey Festival at Eyemouth High School 10am – 12pm
- Wednesday 7th October: Parents Consultations 5pm – 7pm
- Thursday 8th October: Parents Consultations 3.15 – 5.15pm
- Monday 12th to Friday 16th October: October Holiday
- Monday 19th October: Staff In-service Day – school closed to pupils
- Tuesday 20th October: Pupils resume
School term dates for 2026-27
Autumn term
- Monday 17 and Tuesday 18 August 2026 - Staff resume, In service days
- Wednesday 19 August 2026 - pupils resume
Mid-term holidays
- Monday 12 to Friday 16 October 2026 - October holiday
- Monday 19 October 2026 - In service day, staff resume
- Tuesday 20 October 2026 - Pupils resume
- Monday 30 November 2026 - St Andrew’s Day Holiday - Schools closed
- Tuesday 22 December 2026 - Last day of term
Christmas holidays
- Wednesday 23 December 2026 - Tuesday 5 January 2027
Winter/Spring term
- Wednesday 6 January 2027 - All resume
Mid-term holiday
- Friday 5 February 2027 - Last day of term
- Monday 8 to Friday 12 February 2027 - Mid-term holiday
- Monday 15 February 2027 - In-service day, staff resume
- Tuesday 16 February 2027 - Pupils resume
- Friday 26 March 2027 - Good Friday Holiday, Schools closed
- Friday 2 April 2027 - Last day of term
Easter holidays
- Monday 5 April to Friday 16 April 2027
Summer term
- Monday 19 April 2027 - All resume
Mid-term holidays
- Monday 3 May 2027 - May Day Holiday
- Tuesday 4 May 2027 - In-service day, staff resume
- Wednesday 5 May 2027 - Pupils resume
- Thursday 1 July 2027 - Last day of term
Casual holidays
Each cluster allocates one casual holiday for pupils and staff which are often aligned to their local festival.
- Eyemouth: Tuesday 1 December 2026