The long-awaited SVPSPA family barbecue finally took place on Saturday 11th September and it proved to be the best possible way to start our new academic year.

This event last took place in June 2019 so the whole community was more than ready to get together and have fun as an SVPS family. It was brilliant to be able to catch up with one another, in person, at long last and to enjoy excellent food and a glass of Pimms and to see the children making the most of the face painting and inflatables. Although the forecast wasn’t great, somehow the Parents’ Association had even managed to arrange for the School site to be bathed in beautiful sunshine for the duration of the event. Many people commented on the warm atmosphere for it really did feel like the family reunion we had all been longing for.

Despite the challenges of Covid, the SVPSPA has continued to work with the School to do as much as possible for the children and our families and it was so disappointing that, after so much work, many events over the last two years have had to be cancelled due to restrictions.

A huge amount of effort went into re-organising the barbecue for the start of the new term and I know the whole community would agree that the hard work was well worth it, thank you to everyone involved.

As well as the PA, many other parents volunteered to help on the day and Bruce Easter and his committee was grateful for the help they received from Geoff Betts and our catering team, too. Thank you, SVPSPA, for ensuring 2021/2022 got off to the best possible start!