06 November 2026
Dear Parents and families,
It has been wonderful to welcome everyone back after the half-term break and to see our classrooms quickly
filled with enthusiasm, purpose and learning. As we reach the end of our first week, I would like to thank our
pupils, families and staff for the positive start they have made to this busy term.
In this letter:
• Remembrance arrangements
• SEND inspection at the Local Authority
• E-bikes and e-scooters
• Attendance messages
Remembrance Arrangements
Our assemblies taking place throughout the week ahead will be Remembrance assemblies, and on
Wednesday 11 November we will be holding a two-minute silence, along with the rest of the nation, at
11:00am in the national Act of Remembrance. We invite our students who are members of the uniformed
services (Cadets, etc) and in the Scout and Guiding movements to wear their uniforms to school on that day.
SEND Inspection at Somerset Local Authority
Ofsted and the Care Quality Commission (CQC) are carrying out an inspection of services and support for
children and young people with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) in Somerset. As part of
the inspection, inspectors want to hear directly from children and young people with SEND, parents and
carers, and practitioners. They will use this feedback to help them understand people’s experiences of SEND
services and support across Somerset.
The relevant surveys can be found here:
• Children and Young People Survey
• Parent/Carer Survey
• Parent/Carer Survey (Easy Read)
• https://ofsted.smartsurvey.co.uk/s/AreaSEND-Practitioner/10445129
The surveys are voluntary and responses will be treated confidentially by the inspection team. The surveys
will remain open until 9am on Tuesday 10 November 2026. Please take this opportunity to share your
experiences and views directly with inspectors.
Ofsted and CQC have also published information explaining the Area SEND inspection and how children,
young people, parents and carers can be involved: Area SEND inspections: information for families
E bikes and E-scooters
I am sharing with all our families today a letter from the PSCO supervisor for our area, a letter regarding the
laws around, and safety of, e-scooters.
E-scooters, and Electric bikes that do not meet UK Electrically Assisted Pedal Cycle (EAPC) rules, are not
allowed at Monkton Wood Academy and will be confiscated if found. For the full list of prohibited items at
MWA, please do see our Behaviour Policy on our website.
Attendance messages – what is “good attendance”?
Children are expected to attend school every day that their school is open, except when they are too unwell.
There are some other circumstances in which absence may be authorised (for example, if your religious body
has a day for religious observance, such as Eid). We would consider attendance levels at above 94% to be
“good” attendance. At the time of writing, in the eighth week of term, 437 children on roll at MWA have
100% attendance and are yet to miss a single day of learning. We understand that maintaining good
attendance can require commitment and resilience, and we thank our parents and carers for their support in
ensuring their child is in school every day, even when sometimes your children might be pressing you for a
day off.
As always, if you have any concerns about your child’s attendance, of you are finding it increasingly difficult
to ensure they are in school every day, please get in touch with us at attendance@mwa.clf.uk .
With thanks, as ever, for your continuing support.
Yours faithfully,
Mrs H. Jones
Principal
