‘I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me’ Philippians 4:13
“Be bold and strong! Banish fear and doubt! For remember, the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9
Letter No. 7 Christian Value: Thankfulness
16th October 2026
XVI.X.MMXXVI
Dear Parents and Carers,
🌈✨ EVERY DAY COUNTS! ✨🌈
Every school day is an opportunity for your child to learn, grow, make friends and shine! 📚🌟 Regular attendance helps children build confidence, keep up with learning and reach their full potential.
DID YOU KNOW?
⭐ 95% attendance means missing around 2 school weeks over a full school year!
⭐ 90% attendance means missing around 4 school weeks — almost a whole month of learning!
⭐ Missing school can affect progress, confidence and a child's sense of belonging.
WHAT CAN YOU DO?
✅ Ensure your child attends school every day they are well enough.
⏰ Arrive on time, ready to learn.
📅 Avoid unnecessary absences and arrange appointments outside school hours where possible.
🤝 Together, we can give our children the best possible start!
Open Day, Saturday 17th October, 10am – 1pm Spread the word 😊
Come and see what makes Banks Methodist Primary School such a special place!
Discover our wonderful indoor and outdoor learning spaces, meet our dedicated team, and experience the warmth of our school community. Enjoy a relaxed visit with complimentary tea, coffee and a delicious selection of pastries!
We’re a small school with a strong, nurturing family feel where every child is truly known, deeply valued and continually inspired to thrive.
With our very own school minibus, learning often takes us beyond the classroom. From nature walks and museum trips, to exciting end-of-year adventures
We can’t wait to welcome you!
Poppy Appeal
From Monday we will have poppies, snap bands and bracelets available in support of the Poppy Appeal. Please feel free to send your child in with a donation if they’d like to take part. Thank you for your support!
Half Term Break
School closes for the half term break on Wednesday 21st October at 3:15pm, opening on Monday 2nd November for the Autumn 2 Half Term.
In the Gold Book this Week:
Rabbits: Hunter and Hunter – For using a breadth of interesting and higher order vocabulary in Geography, PSHE and Art
Hedgehogs: Amarah – Always has a great attitude towards learning, listens carefully to instructions and always tries her best
Foxes: Lewis Bu – For showing a positive attitude in Mathematics this week, trying hard and not giving up
September 2027 Primary and Secondary School Admissions
Applications for places are now online and open. Closing dates are: 31st October 2026 for secondary applications, and 15th January 2027 for primary applications, we would however advise that you register children as soon as possible.
To assist parents there are links on our website www.banks-methodist.lancs.sch.uk under ‘Admissions’ for Reception.
For children in Foxes, Year 6, go to www.lancashire.gov.uk/schools. If you are unable to access this, please speak to Miss Callander in the school office as soon as possible.
After School Clubs for Autumn Term 1
Tuesdays will be Sporting Activities for any child in Rabbits, Hedgehogs and Foxes, 3:15-4:15pm, delivered by a coach from the West Lancs Sports Partnership.
Tuesday’s will be football club with Mr Draper and Mr Wedlin for children in Hedgehogs and Foxes, 3:15-4:15pm.
We offer Breakfast Club and After School Care for families who need additional childcare before and after the school day. Places can be booked online through BromCom.
We understand that sometimes childcare arrangements can change unexpectedly. If you need After School Care at short notice, for example for the following day, and you are unable to make a booking through BromCom, please contact Miss Callander in the school office as soon as possible. This is particularly important if your child will need to stay until 5:30pm, as we need to make sure that appropriate staff are available.
For safeguarding reasons, staff are scheduled based on the number of children booked to attend. If a child has not been booked in and no other children are attending, there may not be a member of staff scheduled to provide the care. However, we will always do our best to accommodate last-minute requests and arrange appropriate staff cover wherever possible.
Thank you for your understanding and for helping us to ensure that our Breakfast and After School Care provision runs safely and smoothly for everyone.
Please remember to log in to our online payment system, Bromcom, regularly to make payments for nursery fees, school dinners and any other school-related costs.
If you think you may be entitled to Free School Meals, you can apply online or contact Miss Callander in the school office by phone or email. She will be happy to help you with the application process.
If you need any support using the online payment system, Miss Callander can also help you get set up and guide you through the process. To help keep your account up to date and make payments easier to manage, we kindly ask that payments are made daily, weekly or monthly.
If your child's outstanding balance reaches £50 or more, we will unfortunately be unable to provide Breakfast Club or After School Care until the balance has been reduced. Your child will also need to bring a packed lunch to school.
We understand that families can sometimes experience difficulties with payments. If you are worried about your balance or think you may have difficulty making a payment, please speak to Miss Callander in the school office as soon as possible. We are always happy to discuss how we can support you.
School Dinners
If your child is in Reception, Year 1 or Year 2 they are entitled to a free school dinner.
Lunch Choices for next week (week beginning 19th October 2026):
Our school lunch provider, TCP, is closed for the half term break so we will be providing lunches throughout this week.
Monday
Choice 1 – Freshly filled sandwiches (tuna/ham/cheese)
Choice 2 – Beans on Toast
Dessert – Chocolate Cake
Tuesday
Choice 1 – Freshly filled sandwiches (tuna/ham/cheese)
Choice 2 – Beans on Toast
Dessert – Fruit
Wednesday
Choice 1 – Freshly filled sandwiches (tuna/ham/cheese)
Choice 2 – Chip butty
Dessert – Chocolate Cake
Dates for the Diary
October
17th – School Open Day (Saturday)
20th – Rabbits trip to Worden Park in the afternoon
21st - Y5/6 out to watch Frankenstein at Stanley High, 1-3pm
21st - School Closes at 3:15pm for the Half Term
November
2nd - Return to school for Autumn 2
5th – PTFA Bonfire
11th – Foxes at Banks St Stephen’s Church for Remembrance Service, 10:50am
13th – Non-Uniform Day
18th – Hedgehogs cinema trip to watch Minnions and Monsters at the Odeon, Preston
20th – Non-Uniform Day
20th – Rabbits cinema trip to watch Winnie the Pooh at the Arc, Preston
24th – Foxes cinema trip to watch Charlie the Wonder Dog at the Odeon, Preston
27th – Non-Uniform Day
December
1st – Christmas Light Switch On, 4:30pm
16th – Whole School Carol Concert at Banks St Stephen’s Church, 2:15pm
18th – Break up for Christmas at 1:15pm
Link to see dates for the academic year: https://www.banks.lancsngfl.ac.uk/key-dates/
Take care
Mr Draper and all the team at Banks Methodist
#TeamBanks
In the words of John Wesley:
Do ALL the good you can
By ALL the means you can
In ALL the ways you can
In ALL the places you can
At ALL the times you can
To ALL the people you can
As long as EVER you can
‘I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me’ Philippians 4:13
“Be bold and strong! Banish fear and doubt! For remember, the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9
Letter No. 6 Christian Value: Thankfulness
9th October 2026
IX.X.MMXXVI
Dear Parents and Carers,
Poppy Appeal
From Monday we will have poppies, snap bands and bracelets available in support of the Poppy Appeal. Please feel free to send your child in with a donation if they’d like to take part. Thank you for your support!
Parents’ Evening – Wednesday 14th October, 2:30–6:00pm
This year, Parents' Evening will be held on Wednesday 14th October, between 2:30pm and 6:00pm. A ‘Google Form’ has been sent out via email, please can it be completed by Sunday 11th October and a confirmation of your time will be sent home with your child on Monday 12th October.
Nature Nurture Afternoon – 12th October
As part of our ongoing efforts to enhance the school grounds, we’re excited to invite all children to participate in ‘Nature Nurture Afternoon’ on Monday 12th October. This is a whole-school initiative to prepare our outdoor spaces for the colder months ahead. It promises to be a practical and purposeful day, and we’d love your support!
All children are encouraged to come dressed in old, weatherproof clothes (scruffs welcome!) and to bring any small gardening tools they have including gloves, trowels, small spades or buckets. Wheelbarrows and adult help would be greatly appreciated! We’ll be clearing, planting, lifting, digging and getting thoroughly mucky, so please dress according to the weather on the day. Children can bring spare clothes to get changed into if needed.
Parents/carers and family members are more than welcome to join and lend a hand from 1:30pm onwards. We’ll have tea, coffee and snacks on hand to keep everyone fuelled full of energy😊.
Events like this are a wonderful reminder of the many things we can achieve together, and how proud the children are of their school environment. Thank you in advance for your support, we’re really looking forward to getting stuck in.
In the Gold Book this Week:
Rabbits: Arabella
Hedgehogs: Eleanor
Foxes: Finley
Attention to Attendance
By law, all children of compulsory school age (between 5 and 16) must get a suitable full-time education. As a parent, you are responsible for making sure this happens.
Whole School Attendance: 91.4%, which is below our target of 95% and we need to work hard to improve this.
Children’s attendance should not fall below 96%. When attendance nears this level, children have already missed significant amounts of schooling; meaning that their educational progress is at risk. We need parents' full support in ensuring that attendance does not reach this level. The Government has determined that a pupil becomes a persistent absentee when their attendance falls below 90%.
Open Day, Saturday 17th October, 10am – 1pm Spread the word 😊
Come and see what makes Banks Methodist Primary School such a special place!
Discover our wonderful indoor and outdoor learning spaces, meet our dedicated team, and experience the warmth of our school community. Enjoy a relaxed visit with complimentary tea, coffee and a delicious selection of pastries!
We’re a small school with a strong, nurturing family feel where every child is truly known, deeply valued and continually inspired to thrive.
With our very own school minibus, learning often takes us beyond the classroom. From nature walks and museum trips, to exciting end-of-year adventures
We can’t wait to welcome you!
September 2027 Primary and Secondary School Admissions
Applications for places are now online and open. Closing dates are: 31st October 2026 for secondary applications, and 15th January 2027 for primary applications, we would however advise that you register children as soon as possible.
To assist parents there are links on our website www.banks-methodist.lancs.sch.uk under ‘Admissions’ for Reception.
For children in Foxes, Year 6, go to www.lancashire.gov.uk/schools. If you are unable to access this, please speak to Miss Callander in the school office as soon as possible.
After School Clubs for Autumn Term 1
Tuesdays will be Sporting Activities for any child in Rabbits, Hedgehogs and Foxes, 3:15-4:15pm, delivered by a coach from the West Lancs Sports Partnership.
Tuesday’s will be football club with Mr Draper and Mr Wedlin for children in Hedgehogs and Foxes, 3:15-4:15pm.
We offer Breakfast Club and After School Care for families who need additional childcare before and after the school day. Places can be booked online through BromCom.
We understand that sometimes childcare arrangements can change unexpectedly. If you need After School Care at short notice, for example for the following day, and you are unable to make a booking through BromCom, please contact Miss Callander in the school office as soon as possible. This is particularly important if your child will need to stay until 5:30pm, as we need to make sure that appropriate staff are available.
For safeguarding reasons, staff are scheduled based on the number of children booked to attend. If a child has not been booked in and no other children are attending, there may not be a member of staff scheduled to provide the care. However, we will always do our best to accommodate last-minute requests and arrange appropriate staff cover wherever possible.
Thank you for your understanding and for helping us to ensure that our Breakfast and After School Care provision runs safely and smoothly for everyone.
Please remember to log in to our online payment system, Bromcom, regularly to make payments for nursery fees, school dinners and any other school-related costs.
If you think you may be entitled to Free School Meals, you can apply online or contact Miss Callander in the school office by phone or email. She will be happy to help you with the application process.
If you need any support using the online payment system, Miss Callander can also help you get set up and guide you through the process. To help keep your account up to date and make payments easier to manage, we kindly ask that payments are made daily, weekly or monthly.
If your child's outstanding balance reaches £50 or more, we will unfortunately be unable to provide Breakfast Club or After School Care until the balance has been reduced. Your child will also need to bring a packed lunch to school.
We understand that families can sometimes experience difficulties with payments. If you are worried about your balance or think you may have difficulty making a payment, please speak to Miss Callander in the school office as soon as possible. We are always happy to discuss how we can support you.
School Dinners
If your child is in Reception, Year 1 or Year 2 they are entitled to a free school dinner.
Lunch Choices for next week (week beginning 12th October 2026):
Monday
Choice 1 – Margherita pizza with potato wedges and carrot sticks
Choice 2 – Jacket potato (tuna/cheese/beans or cheese and beans) with mixed salad
Choice 3 – Freshly filled sandwiches (tuna/ham/cheese) with carrot and cucumber sticks
Dessert – Cherry flapjack
Tuesday
Choice 1 – Sausage, hash brown, mini omelette and beans
Choice 2 – Jacket potato (tuna/cheese/beans or cheese and beans) with mixed salad
Choice 3 – Freshly filled sandwiches (tuna/ham/cheese) with carrot and cucumber sticks
Dessert – Banana muffin
Wednesday
Choice 1 – Roast chicken (or Quorn fillet) with roast potatoes, stuffing, vegetables and gravy
Choice 2 – Jacket potato (tuna/cheese/beans or cheese and beans) with mixed salad
Choice 3 – Freshly filled sandwiches (tuna/ham/cheese) with carrot and cucumber sticks
Dessert – Jelly and ice cream
Thursday
Choice 1 – Spaghetti Bolognese (or vegetarian Bolognese) with garlic bread
Choice 2 – Jacket potato (tuna/cheese/beans or cheese and beans) with mixed salad
Choice 3 – Freshly filled sandwiches (tuna/ham/cheese) with carrot and cucumber sticks
Dessert – Mango and orange smoothie
Friday
Choice 1 – Fish fingers with chips and beans/sweetcorn
Choice 2 – Jacket potato (tuna/cheese/beans or cheese and beans) with mixed salad
Choice 3 – Freshly filled sandwiches (tuna/ham/cheese) with carrot and cucumber sticks
Dessert – Cookie
Dates for the Diary
October
12th – Nurture Afternoon, 1-3pm
13th – Rabbit curriculum trip to The Beacon, Skelmersdale, 9:15-12pm
14th - Mini-Policing for Y5/6 with PC Roy, 1-3pm
14th - Parents Evening, 2:30-5:30pm
15th – Hedgehogs rearranged curriculum trip to Botanic Gardens
15th – PTFA Fall Disco, 3:15-4:30pm, £5 per child – Food and drink included
17th – School Open Day (Saturday)
21st - Y5/6 out to watch Frankenstein at Stanley High, 1-3pm
21st - School Closes at 3:15pm for the Half Term
November
2nd - Return to school for Autumn 2
18th – Hedgehogs cinema trip to watch Minnions and Monsters at the Odeon, Preston
20th – Rabbits cinema trip to watch Winnie the Pooh at the Arc, Preston
24th – Foxes cinema trip to watch Charlie the Wonder Dog at the Odeon, Preston
Link to see dates for the academic year: https://www.banks.lancsngfl.ac.uk/key-dates/
Take care
Mr Draper and all the team at Banks Methodist
#TeamBanks
In the words of John Wesley:
Do ALL the good you can
By ALL the means you can
In ALL the ways you can
In ALL the places you can
At ALL the times you can
To ALL the people you can
As long as EVER you can
‘I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me’ Philippians 4:13
“Be bold and strong! Banish fear and doubt! For remember, the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9
Letter No. 5 Christian Value: Thankfulness
2nd October 2026
II.X.MMXXVI
Dear Parents and Carers,
Parents’ Evening – Wednesday 14th October, 2:30–6:00pm
This year, Parents' Evening will be held on Wednesday 14th October, between 2:30pm and 6:00pm. A ‘Google Form’ will be sent on out via email on Monday 5th October to book appointment times.
Nature Nurture Afternoon – 12th October
As part of our ongoing efforts to enhance the school grounds, we’re excited to invite all children to participate in ‘Nature Nurture Afternoon’ on Monday 12th October. This is a whole-school initiative to prepare our outdoor spaces for the colder months ahead. It promises to be a practical and purposeful day, and we’d love your support!
All children are encouraged to come dressed in old, weatherproof clothes (scruffs welcome!) and to bring any small gardening tools they have including gloves, trowels, small spades or buckets. Wheelbarrows and adult help would be greatly appreciated! We’ll be clearing, planting, lifting, digging and getting thoroughly mucky, so please dress according to the weather on the day. Children can bring spare clothes to get changed into if needed.
Parents/carers and family members are more than welcome to join and lend a hand from 1:30pm onwards. We’ll have tea, coffee and snacks on hand to keep everyone fuelled full of energy😊.
Events like this are a wonderful reminder of the many things we can achieve together, and how proud the children are of their school environment. Thank you in advance for your support, we’re really looking forward to getting stuck in.
Benefits that mastering times tables can bring
1. Learning basic times tables will make it easier to learn more challenging ones – for example if children know their 3 times tables, they will be able to work out their 6 times tables by doubling the answer.
2. When children frequently, successfully recall their times tables they will grow in confidence, which will not only help them tackle more challenging maths problems, but will help to keep them motivated and engaged across other subjects too.
3. Multiplication underpins many other aspects of mathematics such as algebra, division and fractions – an early understanding of multiplication will help children right up to GCSE level and beyond.
4. Recalling times tables improves memory skills, which is a transferrable skill that will help children throughout school and into adult life.
5. Children will find it easier to solve maths problems and to do mental arithmetic if they have already memorised their times tables.
6. Children will find maths exams less daunting as they will be assured in their ability to recall times tables. This means that when tackling more challenging maths problems they can easily recall and apply their existing knowledge whilst focusing on the question.
7. Multiplication is used day to day throughout adulthood, whether it’s working out price reductions, doubling recipes or splitting bills!
Attention to Attendance
By law, all children of compulsory school age (between 5 and 16) must get a suitable full-time education. As a parent, you are responsible for making sure this happens.
Whole School Attendance: 93.8%, which is below our target of 95%
Children’s attendance should not fall below 96%. When attendance nears this level, children have already missed significant amounts of schooling; meaning that their educational progress is at risk. We need parents' full support in ensuring that attendance does not reach this level. The Government has determined that a pupil becomes a persistent absentee when their attendance falls below 90%.
Cutting Fruit for Safety
We love seeing our children enjoy healthy snacks like fruit in their lunch boxes. However, to help keep everyone safe, we kindly ask that any fruit sent to school, especially small, round or firm pieces be cut appropriately to reduce the risk of choking.
Here are a few helpful examples:
Thank you for helping us keep lunch time both healthy and safe
September 2027 Primary and Secondary School Admissions
Applications for places are now online and open. Closing dates are: 31st October 2026 for secondary applications, and 15th January 2027 for primary applications, we would however advise that you register children as soon as possible.
To assist parents there are links on our website www.banks-methodist.lancs.sch.uk under ‘Admissions’ for Reception.
For children in Foxes, Year 6, go to www.lancashire.gov.uk/schools. If you are unable to access this, please speak to Miss Callander in the school office as soon as possible.
After School Clubs for Autumn Term 1
Tuesdays will be Sporting Activities for any child in Rabbits, Hedgehogs and Foxes, 3:15-4:15pm, delivered by a coach from the West Lancs Sports Partnership.
Tuesday’s will be football club with Mr Draper and Mr Wedlin for children in Hedgehogs and Foxes, 3:15-4:15pm.
We offer Breakfast Club and After School Care for families who need additional childcare before and after the school day. Places can be booked online through BromCom.
We understand that sometimes childcare arrangements can change unexpectedly. If you need After School Care at short notice, for example for the following day, and you are unable to make a booking through BromCom, please contact Miss Callander in the school office as soon as possible. This is particularly important if your child will need to stay until 5:30pm, as we need to make sure that appropriate staff are available.
For safeguarding reasons, staff are scheduled based on the number of children booked to attend. If a child has not been booked in and no other children are attending, there may not be a member of staff scheduled to provide the care. However, we will always do our best to accommodate last-minute requests and arrange appropriate staff cover wherever possible.
Thank you for your understanding and for helping us to ensure that our Breakfast and After School Care provision runs safely and smoothly for everyone.
Please remember to log in to our online payment system, Bromcom, regularly to make payments for nursery fees, school dinners and any other school-related costs.
If you think you may be entitled to Free School Meals, you can apply online or contact Miss Callander in the school office by phone or email. She will be happy to help you with the application process.
If you need any support using the online payment system, Miss Callander can also help you get set up and guide you through the process. To help keep your account up to date and make payments easier to manage, we kindly ask that payments are made daily, weekly or monthly.
If your child's outstanding balance reaches £50 or more, we will unfortunately be unable to provide Breakfast Club or After School Care until the balance has been reduced. Your child will also need to bring a packed lunch to school.
We understand that families can sometimes experience difficulties with payments. If you are worried about your balance or think you may have difficulty making a payment, please speak to Miss Callander in the school office as soon as possible. We are always happy to discuss how we can support you.
School Dinners
If your child is in Reception, Year 1 or Year 2 they are entitled to a free school dinner.
Lunch Choices for next week (week beginning 5th October 2026):
Monday
Choice 1 – Tomato and mascarpone pasta with garlic bread and sweetcorn
Choice 2 – Freshly filled sandwiches (tuna/ham/cheese) with carrot and cucumber sticks
Choice 3 – Jacket potato (tuna/cheese/beans or cheese and beans) with mixed salad
Dessert – Blueberry muffin
Tuesday
Choice 1 – Beef (or vegetarian) burger with tortilla chips and veggie stick
Choice 2 – Freshly filled sandwiches (tuna/ham/cheese) with carrot and cucumber sticks
Choice 3 – Jacket potato (tuna/cheese/beans or cheese and beans) with mixed salad
Dessert – Chocolate sponge and custard
Wednesday
Choice 1 – Roast gammon (or cauliflower cheese) with roast potatoes, vegetables and gravy
Choice 2 – Freshly filled sandwiches (tuna/ham/cheese) with carrot and cucumber sticks
Choice 3 – Jacket potato (tuna/cheese/beans or cheese and beans) with mixed salad
Dessert – Jelly and whipped cream
Thursday
Choice 1 – Pepperoni (or veggie) pasta bake with garlic dough balls and mixed salad
Choice 2 – Freshly filled sandwiches (tuna/ham/cheese) with carrot and cucumber sticks
Choice 3 – Jacket potato (tuna/cheese/beans or cheese and beans) with mixed salad
Dessert – Raspberry ripple mousse
Friday
Choice 1 – Chicken nuggets (or vegetable fingers) with chips and beans or peas
Choice 2 – Freshly filled sandwiches (tuna/ham/cheese) with carrot and cucumber sticks
Choice 3 – Jacket potato (tuna/cheese/beans or cheese and beans) with mixed salad
Dessert – Shortbread
Dates for the Diary
October
5th - Mini-Policing for Y5/6 with PC Roy, 9:30-11:30am
8th – Rabbits trip to Worden Park (afternoon)
14th - Mini-Policing for Y5/6 with PC Roy, 9:30-11:30am
14th - Parents Evening, 2:30-5:30pm
15th – PTFA Fall Disco, 3:15-4:30pm
17th – School Open Day
21st - Y5/6 out to watch Frankenstein at Stanley High, 1-3pm
21st - School Closes at 3:15pm for the Half Term
November
2nd - Return to school for Autumn 2
18th – Hedgehogs cinema trip to watch Minnions and Monsters at the Odeon, Preston
20th – Rabbits cinema trip to watch Winnie the Pooh at the Arc, Preston
24th – Foxes cinema trip to watch Charlie the Wonder Dog at the Odeon, Preston
Link to see dates for the academic year: https://www.banks.lancsngfl.ac.uk/key-dates/
Take care
Mr Draper and all the team at Banks Methodist
#TeamBanks
In the words of John Wesley:
Do ALL the good you can
By ALL the means you can
In ALL the ways you can
In ALL the places you can
At ALL the times you can
To ALL the people you can
As long as EVER you can