Children are expected to wear a school uniform. The uniform worn by the children adds to the sense of community that we encourage in this school.
School meals
Packed Lunches
Packed lunches
Exning Primary School is a Healthy School and as such, we have a policy on the contents of children’s packed lunches and encourage healthy and nutritious eating for all our pupils.
We are a nut-free setting so please make sure that packed lunches are nut-free. Sweets and fizzy drinks should not be included.
School meal options
Hot meals
View the latest EATS hot meal menu where you can also find nutritional and allergen information for each week’s menu. Meals provided include a hot two-course option with the choice of vegetables, salads and desserts. There’s also a vegetarian option and options for some special dietary requirements. Menus are also available from the school office. Changes to the menu will be communicated to parents via Parentmail.
View the latest EATS menu (see Option 4 for cold meal details) where you can also find nutritional and allergen information for each week’s menu. Fillings provided are ham, cheese or tuna. There will also be a selection of healthy snacks and a cold dessert option.
If your child is going on a school trip then they can be provided with a school packed lunch. You will be asked to indicate if your child requires a packed lunch via a form on Parentmail when you receive details of the trip.
We provide childcare before, after school and during the holidays in a fun and safe environment.
Qualified staff organise a wide range of free choice and adult supported activities or games. These may include:
Outside play and activities
Visits to the woods/ park
Cooking
Art and craft
Books and comics
Small world characters and settings
Construction and investigation toys
Music instruments
Messy play
Dressing-up and den-making
Games and puzzles
Games console
Trips to local places of interest
Sensory resources and environments
Clubs
Before school club
Daily sessions run from 7.45 to 8.55am, during term time, and cost £3.00 which includes breakfast (see the menu below).
Look out for our Early bird 10% discount codes.
Example breakfast menu
Buffet-style snack choices from the examples shown below:
Yoghurt
Ham
Chicken
Cheese
Pitta
Bread sticks
Wraps
Rolls
Crackers
Crisp breads
Scotch pancakes
Salsa
Hummus
Tomato ketchup
Salad accompaniment
Fresh and tinned fruit
Water, fruit and vegetables available throughout the sessions.
After school club
We run daily sessions, during term time from 3.15pm to 6pm, which cost £10 and includes fruit, snacks and drinks (see example menu below).
Look out for our Early bird 10% discount codes.
Holiday club
All day sessions are run during the holidays from 8am to 6pm. These include morning and afternoon snack, as well as the option of breakfast, but children should bring a packed lunch*. These sessions cost £30.00.
Look out for our Early bird 10% discount codes.
*We are a nut-free setting so please make sure that packed lunches are nut-free. Sweets and fizzy drinks should not be included.
Childcare vouchers accepted
We are registered with many of the childcare voucher providers as well as the HMRC tax-free scheme and the Childcare Grant Payment Scheme. You may need our OfSTED number for this – 151104. Please contact us if you wish to use a voucher scheme we are not registered with, or if you require any assistance.
If you are in receipt of Free School Meals we may be able to offer funded holiday club places for the three main holidays.
Support for parents
We understand parenting can be both rewarding and challenging. That’s why we’re here to offer practical help, guidance, and reassurance whenever you need it. Whether you’re looking for support with your child’s learning, wellbeing, behaviour, or navigating SEND, we’ve gathered useful resources and information to make things a little easier. You’re not alone – we’re here to work with you every step of the way.
Health and wellbeing
Young Minds Parents A-Z Mental Health Guide – An A-Z guide which gives you advice on how to help your child with their feelings and behaviour, as well as mental health conditions and life events. It also shows you where you can get help.
School Nursing Teams – Within Suffolk, the School Nursing teams are part of the Health and Children’s Centre Service. They provide a range of services to help you and your family stay safe, happy and healthy.
Emotional Wellbeing Gateway – Whether you are experiencing mental health issues, are worried about someone you care for, or want to know how to stay mentally well, the Gateway website is the place to go for families and professionals to access mental health support services in Suffolk.
Healthy Suffolk – For support and further information to keep you well and to support your health and wellbeing.
Psychology in Schools workshops – the Psychology in Schools Team run a program of parent workshops throughout the year to provide up to date advice and guidance on how parents and carers can support the young people in their life. All the workshops are recorded for you to watch at any time.
Family Lives – Family Lives has produced a series of free online parenting courses, to make the challenge of being a parent a little easier. These are courses that you can take at a time and pace that suits you. They also offer a confidential and helpline service for families in England and Wales (previously known as Parentline). They can be contacted on 0808 800 2222 for emotional support, information, advice and guidance on any aspect of parenting and family life. Their website is also a rich source of useful support and advice.
The Parent Hub – A single place for Suffolk parents or carers to find parenting advice and support to help their child’s development.
Families Together Suffolk – A charity that supports families living in Suffolk with at least one child under the age of 12. Our support is free, confidential and non-judgemental.
Support with SEND and/or Challenging Behaviours
Behaviour Safe at Home – Behaviour Safe at Home supports parents, carers and family members living with children who display extreme behaviours, to improve the safety of everyone. The focus of the programme is on early intervention, to help prevent the behaviour escalating and to reduce the need for restrictive interventions. Meaningful and focused guidance is given to help parent/carers make appropriate positive choices when managing difficult behaviours.
Suffolk Family Carers – For over 30 years Suffolk Family Carers have been helping family carers of all ages across Suffolk get the support they need to live fuller lives. They provided information, advice and support to thousands of family carers each year. They have also produced some pre-recorded workshops on YouTube, accessible any time – so far there are 3 sessions available, around sleep, the Zones of Regulation and sensory needs.
Time Out is a 4-week Support Programme for those caring for a child with ADHD or ASD. We will be running the programme for those caring for a child with ADHD. This will provide a space for you to support and encourage others, and much more! TimeOut Support programme (your child must have been referred to the Barnardos NDD Pathway and you would need to register for Suffolk Family Carers – see above)
A Space for Parents – this is a section of the Suffolk Family Carers website, which has dedicated articles around neurodiversity with advice and guidance.
Psychology in Schools workshops – the Psychology in Schools Team run a program of parent workshops throughout the year to provide up to date advice and guidance on how parents and carers can support the young people in their life, including workshops on neurodiversity. All the workshops are recorded for you to watch at any time.
Financial support and cost of living help
Newmarket Open Door Foodbank– A local Foodbank which redistributes food and other household products to those in need and other charities, as well as running a Community Pop-Up Shop in conjunction with other charities and church organisations.
West Suffolk Cost of Living Support – The rising cost of living pressures can affect any one at any time. If you, or someone you know in West Suffolk Council are struggling financially at this time, there is support and advice out there that can help.
Support for families not in receipt of free school meals
As a school, we are aware that the cost of living is increasing at the moment, leaving many families struggling financially, yet still not being eligible for schemes such as Free School Meals.
Many agencies contact us to offer free places on holiday club activities; free food parcels; free meals; shopping and utilities vouchers and more to families who need additional financial support, even if they are not in receipt of Free School Meals, and ask us to signpost parents towards them. However, we often do not know who these families are, and so are unable to ensure that they benefit from these opportunities.
If you have been impacted by rising cost of living and are finding things tough, and would like to receive information about such schemes, please complete the form below with your email address and child(ren)’s information so that we can ensure that relevant information is sent out to you. This information will be held confidentially by Mrs Clifford-Turner and Mrs Warren and will not be shared with any outside agencies without your permission. If you have already completed the form, or are already in receipt of free school meals, you do not need to respond as information will be fed out to you.
Please also be aware that both we are available to offer confidential support and guidance if you need it – just send us a Dojo, or email.
Admissions
Reception admissions to Exning Primary School are dealt with via Suffolk Local Authority Co-ordinated Admissions Scheme. You can find out more about applying for a school place from their website at Suffolk School Places. All other admissions are dealt with through the school office.
Friends of Exning School
Every parent and carer of a child registered at Exning Primary School is a member of the Friends of Exning School, also known as FOES. It is a registered charity, no. 1050867.
The FOES are a group of parents and teachers who get together and meet once a month to raise additional funds for the school through organised events and arrange social events, including:
kids movie nights
family summer barbeques
Christmas bazaar
Several’s car boot sale
Y6 leaver’s party
and much more
School lottery
School lotto
The FOES also run a Schoolotto with cash prizes ranging from £5 to £75!
The Schoolotto an extremely simple and effective way of raising funds and allows you to contribute to the success of the school – at the same time you could win some of the prize money that is drawn monthly, termly and yearly. Each year profit from the Schoolotto is given to each class to spend on valuable equipment and learning aids.
This is how it all works; – around 100 membership cards, each individually numbered, are sold for a fee of £2 a month or £24 per annum. Each month we draw 3 prizes with a first prize of between £15 and £25 dependent on the number of members in the draw at the time. We also do a termly prize and a yearly draw at Christmas when prize money can be between £70 and £150.
Class funds
Helping to raise funds
For the last few years FOES have contributed to class trips for each year group.
They have also purchased items for the school such as musical instruments, eSA qualifications and IT equipment as well as Christmas parties and discos for the children.
