Newsletters

Autumn 1 Newsletter

Headteachers' message

Dear Parents and Carers,

We have had a wonderful and positive first half-term at City Road, and I am incredibly proud of our children.

Thank you to our families for making attendance and punctuality a priority by ensuring children are in school every day and on time. Your commitment has helped us make positive improvements to our whole-school attendance.

For families who are receiving additional support from school, please continue to work closely with us to improve attendance and punctuality. Being in school every day and arriving on time gives every child the best possible opportunity to learn, thrive and succeed.

Attendance continues to be a whole-school priority, so let’s keep up the positive momentum into Autumn 2 and continue making every school day count.

Thank you for your continued support of City Road, and I wish all our families a safe, happy and restful half-term!

We look forward to welcoming everyone back on Monday 2nd November.  Being in school every day gives children the best opportunity to learn, thrive and achieve. Let’s make sure Autumn 2 gets off to a fantastic start, with everyone back in school and ready to learn from day one!

Attendance

Attendance 

Thank you for your excellent effort in getting your children to attend school every day. Your commitment plays a vital role in their education and overall development.

Let’s keep up the fantastic work and continue to support our children in their learning journey!

Below are posters of our autumn term attendance campaign to encourage high attendance; there are two campaigns: attendance at 96%+ and even higher attendance at 98%+.

The draws are simply to recognise the valued role parents/carers play in helping their children to have high attendance.

Children who achieve 98%+ will be entered in both draws!

Attendance from Monday 7th September 2026–Friday 18th December 2026

Important dates for your diary

Last day of Autumn 1: Friday 23rd October

Deadline for year 6 parents to apply for secondary school: 31st October - please contact the school office if you need assistance. 

Return for all pupils: Monday 2nd November 

Parent's Evening: Thursday 5th November from 4pm until 6.40pm.

Bookings are to be made on the Arbor app (please contact the office if you need assistance with this). Hub groups and Intervention Groups – please see your child's teacher to book an appointment.

Whole-school photography day: November 20th 

End of Autumn Term: Friday 18th December

Free Breakfast club

Why not give your child a great start to their school day by joining our FREE Breakfast Club?

Breakfast Club is available to all pupils from Reception to Year 6, completely FREE of charge, from 8.15 a.m. to 8.45 a.m.

Children can enjoy:

?? A nutritious breakfast including toast, cereal, fruit and milk
?? Fun activities including arts and crafts
? Sports and activities with friends
?? A positive, settled start to the school day
? 30 minutes of free childcare before school begins

At 8.45 a.m., children are taken to their classrooms ready to start the school day.

We'd love to see even more children joining us!

Breakfast Club is a fantastic opportunity for children to eat, socialise and get ready for a successful day of learning.

Already have a place? There's no need to apply again.

Would you like your child to attend?
If your child does not currently have a place, please complete our Breakfast Club application form.

 

 

Birmingham October Half-Term: Family Activities 2026 ??

Looking for things to keep the children entertained this October half-term? Here are some family-friendly activities across Birmingham, including free museum visits, Halloween fun, creative workshops and educational experiences to share with your school community- hopefully some are useful!

Free activities and days out

  • Surreal Shadow Creatures – MAC Birmingham, B12/B13: Tuesday 27 October, 10am–12pm and 1pm–3pm. Children aged 3+ can create shadow creatures and explore puppetry. Free drop-in activity.
  • Family Nature and Halloween Activities – Kings Heath, B14: Saturday 31 October, 10am–12pm. Enjoy leaf art, autumn mandalas, pumpkin printing and nature discovery. Check the organiser's details before attending.
  • Lapworth Museum of Geology – University of Birmingham, B15: Discover dinosaur skeletons, fossils, rocks and natural history. Free general admission; check opening times before visiting.
  • Halloween Heads – The New Art Gallery Walsall: 27–31 October, 10am–4pm. Create spooky or silly character heads in this free, drop-in art activity.
  • Warrior Arm Bands – The New Art Gallery Walsall: Wednesday 28 October, 11am–3pm. Children aged 4+ can make their own warrior armband inspired by artwork.
  • Cradley Library Half-Term Activities – Dudley area: 26–31 October, 11am–2pm. Look out for free children's activities and creative sessions. Check the library for the daily programme.
  • Family Hub Halloween Activities – Walsall and Wednesbury: Look out for spooky play, creepy crafts, autumn activities and sessions for younger children. Booking may be required.
  • Dudley Museum at the Archives – Dudley: Explore local history, fossils and geology. General admission is free; check opening times before visiting.
  • RSPB Sandwell Valley – West Bromwich: Enjoy wildlife spotting and birdwatching at this family-friendly nature reserve. Some activities or parking may cost extra.
  • Sandwell Museums: Look out for family crafts, creative sessions and local history activities at venues such as Oak House Museum and Haden Hill House Museum.

Free family performances at Birmingham libraries

The family dance-theatre show Noori and Her Fantastical World is touring Birmingham libraries during half-term. Check the organiser's website for confirmed dates, times and booking details.

  • Handsworth Library, B21: Saturday 24 October.
  • Selly Oak Library, B29: Monday 26 October.
  • Northfield Library, B31: Tuesday 27 October.
  • Hall Green / South Yardley: Tuesday 27 October.
  • Shard End Library, B34: Wednesday 28 October.
  • Yardley Wood Library, B14: Thursday 29 October.
  • Perry Common Library, B23: Friday 30 October.
  • Ward End Library, B8: Saturday 31 October.

Halloween and paid family attractions

  • Cadbury World, Bournville: Enjoy Halloween-themed entertainment, chocolate attractions and seasonal activities. Check ticket availability and prices before visiting.
  • Thinktank Science Museum, B4: Explore hands-on science exhibits and look out for the Magic Mayhem Science Show and special Halloween activities.
  • LEGOLAND Discovery Centre, B16: Enjoy Halloween-themed LEGO building challenges and indoor family activities.
  • National SEA LIFE Centre, B1: Discover sharks, rays, penguins and the underwater ocean tunnel.
  • Birmingham Botanical Gardens, B15: Check for seasonal family activities and Halloween events.
  • West Midlands Police Museum, B4: Look out for special half-term activities, including family-friendly mystery and Halloween-themed experiences.
  • Disney On Ice, Solihull: A family show featuring Disney characters, music and ice skating, with performances scheduled around the half-term period.

Useful links for more activities

  • Visit Birmingham – October half-term guide
  • Birmingham Museums – family events
  • MAC Birmingham – family workshops
  • Birmingham Libraries – events and activities

A little reminder: Please check dates, opening times, age suitability and booking requirements before travelling, as some activities have limited spaces. Free general admission may not include special workshops or seasonal events.