Latest News
Keep up to date with the Latest News
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Annual Reports
Fri 22 Mar 2024Today, the children will bring home their annual reports. They are self-explanatory; however, I would like to highlight two features.
The level of concern we have about your child's attendance is indicated at the top. We want every child to achieve a figure above 95% by the end of the year, making the most of school-based learning. If attendance is below 90%, they are classified by the government as a persistent absentee, and their overall progress is jeopardised. Further information about this can be found on our website.
In KS1 and KS2, we now measure pupils' attainment in every subject in relation to the expected standard for their age, which brings us into line with how the government assesses outcomes at the end of both key stages. More information regarding each curriculum area can again be found on our website.
It has been a genuine pleasure to read and comment on all 101 reports, and I am sure you will be very proud of the progress your child is making.
Please complete the comment slip and return it to your child's teacher.
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International Mother Language Day
Mon 26 Feb 2024Just like last year, I would like to use International Mother Language Day as a moment to celebrate the languages heard and spoken by pupils at home and school. This officially passed during half term, so we have decided to hold the event (teachers leading discussions in their classes and providing opportunities to use common words and phrases in languages encountered by the children) on Friday to coincide with the PTA sharing cultures after school.
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Open After School
Tue 09 Jan 2024As a village school, it is difficult finding opportunities for the children to share their learning with parents and carers. For example, larger settings have the facilities for sharing assemblies and similar events. Last year, however, we introduced Open After School as parental engagement is enormously valuable in the learning journey of every child, and I hope you can join us for this again next week. (As EYFS have Stay & Learn, this is just for KS1 and KS2.) To make it more manageable for siblings, each class now has a separate day:
16 January - Oak (3.20-3.50)
17 January - Apples & Pears (3.15-3.45)
18 January - Willow (3.20-3.50)
After collecting your child, you are invited to visit their classroom, entering by the gate they use, where pupils will have placed on show work they are especially proud of. Please do not flick through the books of others. Teachers will also be present for brief consultation.
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Odd Socks Day & Anti-Bullying Week
Thu 09 Nov 2023Odd Socks Day marks the start of Anti-Bullying Week, so pupils are welcome to wear odd socks to school on Monday.
It is an opportunity to encourage people to express themselves and celebrate their individuality and what makes us all unique.
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Support Our PTA - Support Our School
Mon 30 Oct 2023As a small school, our budget is always tight, and we constantly strive to remain sustainable. It has not been easy to get our school back on a sound financial footing, and living within our means without compromising on the quality of service we provide is challenging.
Increasingly, we cannot afford the little extras. For them, we rely on the generosity of stakeholders through donations or purchases from the Amazon Wishlist and, even more so, the extraordinary commitment of our PTA. Just in the short time I have been at this school, the money they raise has provided a large display board, transport for every child to the pantomime, new books for class libraries and support with the building extension. The events they organise also bring our community together. Our PTA are both a lifeline to and the lifeblood of our school, enabling valuable improvements and delivering unmissable experiences.
We are incredibly lucky to have a PTA. I previously worked at a much larger setting where the PTA simply disappeared for lack of support. Sadly, the result was a considerably poorer school, both materially and spiritually.
Our PTA had their AGM at school just before half term. There was a frankly disappointing number of parents and carers in attendance; moreover, several of the leading members have children shortly leaving primary school.
If we are to maintain our PTA and everything that means for pupils, I must appeal for more support to come forward. Attending a meeting or generally lending a hand does not bind you into assuming a leadership role or ceaseless demands on your time; you are, however, making a real difference to the lives of our children, and there is a lot of fun to be had along the way too.
For additional information, please email: pta@northaw.herts.sch.uk.
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Hello Yellow
Mon 09 Oct 2023Tomorrow is World Mental Health Day when we come together to say, Hello Yellow. Although children should wear school uniform, they are welcome to incorporate something yellow (e.g. hairband, hoodie, socks, t-shirt) as we 'stand out and show up' for young people's mental health. There will also be an opportunity in class to reflect on the importance of this issue.
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Meet the Teacher
Fri 08 Sep 2023As is our custom, we would like to provide you with an opportunity to meet your child's teacher. After a short presentation in the classroom while pupils are supervised outside, you are welcome to ask questions about events and other arrangements this year. We plan to admit parents and carers at 2.45 and draw things to a close just after 3, so the children can ready themselves for home time. Each class has a separate day for meet the teacher:
Willow
Tuesday 12 September - Please note this is change to what was on the calendar.
Apples & Pears
Wednesday 13 September
Oak
Thursday 14 September - Please note this is a change to what was on the calendar.
We very much look forward to seeing you then.
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Special Educational Needs and/or Disability (SEND)
Wed 06 Sep 2023Since joining the school as headteacher. I have been reviewing every aspect of what we do. Last term, I arrived at Special Educational Needs and/or Disability (SEND).
Here at Northaw, the percentage of pupils with SEND is well above average. As Mrs Jo Rush, our SEND Coordinator (SENDCo), is employed part-time, this has stretched resources, occasionally leaving parents and carers frustrated with procedures. I am, therefore, introducing a new structure for the administration of SEND, aimed at releasing Mrs Rush to concentrate on those areas she is uniquely qualified for, including funding applications, while nurturing the closest possible relationships with parents and carers.
Highly experienced, Mrs Lauren Whitaker, who supports children in Willow, is now our Inclusion Leader. Working full-time, she is better placed to be the main point of contact for parents and carers, responding to enquiries and updating on developments. Mrs Whitaker regularly opens the black gate in the morning; however, she can also be contacted electronically (lwhitaker@northaw.herts.sch.uk) and is planning on replying within 48 hours on weekdays to messages received.
I hope these measures along with other steps taken internally will further improve the service we provide.
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Updates and Reminders
Mon 04 Sep 2023I hope you had a great summer, and we look forward to welcoming pupils back to school tomorrow. I am just writing with some key updates and reminders, making for a smooth start to the year.
Attendance Matters
We want every child to be a HERO -
Here Every day Ready On time
(minutes late to school are minutes lost from learning)
Gates continue to open at 8.35am, and it is expected every child has passed through by the time they are closed (8.45am). Children who arrive after this must enter via reception and are subsequently marked as late; parents and carers must also complete a confidential late-book entry before leaving. Registration closes at 9.00am, when unexplained absences are automatically recorded as unauthorised.
Please contact the school when your child is absent to explain the reason.
You can send your child to school with a cold, cough, headache or sore throat if they do not have a fever; cold sore or head lice, but please let us know, so we can look after them.
Lateness patterns and unauthorised absences trigger a communication from the headteacher. Failure to improve or non-engagement with the school in offering support can lead to involving the Local Authority Attendance Officer and even legal sanctions.
You can be fined for taking your child on holiday during term time without the school’s permission.
Automated External Defibrillator (AED)
We now house an Automated External Defibrillator (AED), located in reception.
Calendar
Upcoming events for the year ahead have already been added to the calendar on our website. Please note the house winning most credits last half term (Oz) can wear their colour on Friday.
Church Worship
First thing every Monday, we attend worship in church. Parents and carers are very welcome to join us.
Extreme Reading
This summer, I have once again been challenging the children to do some extreme reading.
Here is what they need to do:
- Pick a book.
- Find an extreme but safe place to read it, like in another country, on a bus or with an animal.
- Ask their parent or carer to photograph them and email us (admin@northaw.herts.sch.uk), or they can bring a copy to school after the summer holiday.
Photographs will be used both for a display by my room and on our website.
Healthy Snacks
Parents and carers are welcome to send their child to school with a snack for break; however, healthy choices are strongly recommended for this point in the day.
Homework
You probably remember I surveyed parents and carers about homework in June. Responses indicated overwhelming satisfaction with the approach we take, described on our website along with expectations for each year group. Reinforcing class-based learning is the main purpose of homework; however, where a pupil would benefit from stretching, please explore the remote education area of class pages, updated half-termly.
Parking Considerations
Please avoid parking opposite the school given the dangers this poses to our children.
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Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (RAAC)
Sat 02 Sep 2023You are no doubt aware from the news the Department for Education suddenly changed their guidance regarding Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (RAAC) on Thursday. RAAC is a lightweight form of concrete; because it is weaker than regular concrete, concerns have been raised about its long-term durability.
I apologise for the delay in communicating with you on this matter at what must be a worrying time; however, I wanted to be sure of the facts, checking records, consulting directly with the diocese (who act as the responsible body for maintaining our school) and personally reinspecting every building - no risks can ever be taken when it comes to the safety of our children.
I am now able to confirm RAAC is not present in our school, and we are, therefore, not affected by the contingencies triggered at other settings.
We look forward to welcoming pupils back to school on Tuesday.