Best Start Grant
The deadline for families to apply for the Best Start Grant School Age Payment is 28 February 2023.
This one-off £267.65 payment is currently open to eligible families with a child born between 1 March 2017 and 28 February 2018. It can be used for anything from a warm coat to books and toys.
Parents and carers who have deferred their child’s entry to school from August 2022 to August 2023, or those home educating, must still apply before the closing date or they will miss their opportunity to access the School Age Payment.
The payment is part of the Best Start Grant, which offers financial support to families who receive certain benefits and tax credits at three key transition points in a child’s early years. Parents and carers who are under 18 do not need to receive any other benefits to be eligible. This is also true for those who are 18 or 19 and dependent on someone else, e.g. someone receives child benefit for them.
Social Security Scotland recognises that applying for benefits can be difficult. To make things easier, they can now automatically make School Age Payments to families who get Scottish Child Payment when their child is the right age.
There are some people who don’t qualify for Scottish Child Payment that could be eligible for the School Age Payment, including those who get housing benefit.
There may be others who choose not to apply for Scottish Child Payment who can still apply for School Age Payment. Some parents and carers have opted out of automatic payments. All of these people are being urged to check if they are eligible for School Age Payment and to apply if they are.
For more information and to apply go to www.mygov.scot/beststart or call Social Security Scotland on their Freephone number 0800 182 2222.
Burns Candlelight Tea 23/2/23
Tickets will be on sale from Thursday from the main office, for our school Burns celebration.
Please come and join us to celebrate our National Bard!
Entertaining the community!
This weekend has been fun filled with our pupils entertaining the local community at two Burns events.
Firstly, on Friday evening, Arran, Bruce and Quyn performed poetry recitations for the locals at the Afton Lily Burns Supper. They kick started the evening with super performances which were thoroughly enjoyed by their audience.
Following that, on Saturday afternoon, members of our school choir and 1st place poetry winners from each class were invited to perform at the Town Hall for the New Cumnock Burns Club centenary community concert. The children were very well received by the packed hall and were showered with wonderful compliments on their performances!
It was a wonderful afternoon and not only did the children display wonderful performance skills but their behaviour and enthusiasm made each of them a credit to the school!
Community HWB Group 💚
Mrs Clapperton took our community group to Afton Court on Monday 6th February. They were given the very important job of painting fairy doors for Kilmarnock Fire Station Fairy Garden. They did a great job along with the residents of Afton Court and can’t wait to visit the garden once it a complete. We’re hoping to plan a games afternoon with Afton Court very soon!
Primary School Counselling Newsletter
Please click on the link below to access the January Primary School Counselling Newsletter – https://sway.office.com/UEHb7r35CnGE3mg7?ref=Link
Stars of the Week 3/2/23
3/2/23
Well done to our Stars of the Week who demonstrated one of our school VALUES this week! We are extremely proud of you all for working hard to display our school values.
P1 – Ayrton F for MUTUAL RESPECT
P1/2 – Liam M for DETERMINATION
P2 – Remii G for DETERMINATION
P3 – Leyton D for DETERMINATION
P3/4 – Olive C for MUTUAL RESPECT
P4/5 – Baylee M for AMBITION
P5 – Charlie M for DETERMINATION
P6 – Ruaridh M for AMBITION
Our Clean Green Schools Team have weekly awards to share too!
Our Fuel Free Friday winners this week are: Primary 3/4
Our Waste Winners this week are: Primary 1/2
Breakfast Club
We are delighted to have had such a positive response to our first week of running Breakfast Club!
Please remember only to send your child if you have registered them for your selected days and once you have received communication from the school to confirm they have been allocated a space.
We have now reached full capacity for each day, but if you would like your child to attend Breakfast Club, please contact the school or email Mrs McNulty on danielle.mcnulty@eastayrshire.org.uk and we will do what we can to make this happen.
Children’s Mental Health Week
This week we will be celebrating Children’s Mental Health Week. Mrs McMurdo will be speaking to us about it in Get2gether on Monday morning. The theme for the week is Let’s Connect. Let’s Connect is about making meaningful connections. Human beings thrive in communities, and this connection is vital for our wellbeing. When we have healthy connections – to family, friends and others – this can support our mental health and our sense of wellbeing. And when our need for rewarding social connections is not met, we can sometimes feel isolated and lonely – which can have a negative impact on our mental health.
As parents and carers, you play an important role in your child’s mental health. Click the link below to find a range of free resources that you can access:
Families – Children’s Mental Health Week (childrensmentalhealthweek.org.uk)
