Latest News
Keep up to date with the Latest News
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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.
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Leisurely Learning
Thu 20 Jul 2023Pupils have worked extremely hard this year, continuing to make up ground lost following successive national lockdowns, and must have a good rest before returning refreshed and ready to learn in September.
We do not set homework as such during the summer holiday; however, if you are looking for something to engage or stretch your children, leisurely learning, there is plenty on the school website, including:
Maths Everywhere: https://www.northawschool.org/maths-everywhere/
Summer Reading Challenge: https://www.northawschool.org/summer-reading-challenge/
Class pages have areas for remote education:
Apples & Pears: https://www.northawschool.org/remote-education-1/
We would also encourage the children to continue reading widely and practising their recall of number bonds and times tables.
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Extreme Reading
Wed 19 Jul 2023This year, I am once again challenging the children to do some extreme reading, and they should bring home a leaflet about it today.
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.
I cannot wait to see what extreme reading they get up to this summer.
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Switcheroo, Annual Reports and Pupil Results
Tue 11 Jul 2023On Thursday, we have Switcheroo, when children in Y6 visit their new schools and teachers here meet their new classes. Pupils should enter via the gate they will use in September, going straight to the class they will be in then.
On Friday, the children will bring home updated annual reports. Those pupils who completed statutory assessments this year will also receive their results - we are extremely proud of what they have achieved.
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Provisional Deployment
Tue 23 May 2023I am now in a position to share with you how teachers will be deployed next year.
Miss Barker, Miss Bone and Miss Kirk will continue in their present roles.
Mrs Burton is returning part-time, and she will teach Apples & Pears alongside Mrs Cole, a highly experienced practitioner. Mrs Cole covered Willow late last summer following Mrs Cullingford's retirement, and I am delighted she wants to join us permanently. Having shared a class with her myself when I served in senior leadership at my previous school, I know Mrs Cole will be a tremendous asset to Northaw. She will work full-time in Apples & Pears until Mrs Burton's maternity leave comes to an end in October.
Miss Kennett has found a full-time role at another school; I know how much she will be missed by many families, and we wish her every success in the future.
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Changing Me
Mon 22 May 2023After half term, pupils complete the final unit this year, Changing Me, in PSHE (personal, social, health and economic education), which is normally taught using Jigsaw, a carefully selected programme adopting a mindful approach to supporting children and young people in developing emotional literacy; social and lifelong skills, and resilience in an age-appropriate manner. Changing Me also covers elements of relationships, sex and health education (RSHE).
While relationships and health education, including puberty, are statutory, sex education is not compulsory in primary schools. It was decided before my time as headteacher, and in consultation with parents and carers, children in KS2 should understand the facts about human reproduction before they leave us; however, I have a duty to restate you have the right to withdraw your child from the single lessons when this aspect is explored in Willow and Oak. (Further information can be found in our PSHE Policy, available online; naturally, you are also welcome to speak with your child's teacher about specific lesson content.) Should you wish to exercise this right, please contact me, and your child's teacher will sensitively make arrangements for supervising them in a different activity separate from the rest of their class when sex education is covered.
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Coronation Celebration
Mon 24 Apr 2023We have a number of days coming up when the school is closed:
Friday 28 April - Occasional Day
Monday 1 May - Bank Holiday
Monday 8 May - Bank Holiday
On Friday 5 May, we hope to celebrate the coronation. Pupils are welcome to wear red, white and blue to school, and there will be an opportunity to revisit the fundamental British values of democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty, and mutual respect and tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs. This is one of those moments children cherish memories of in later life - I vividly remember celebrating one of the Queen Mother's glorious landmark anniversaries when I was a boy at my church primary school.
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SENDCo
Thu 20 Apr 2023As you know, Mrs Jo Rush, our SENDCo, has not been working on site since the autumn due to an eye operation. I am pleased to confirm she has now fully recovered and is hoping to be available for consultation every Thursday and Friday going forward.
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Opening Hours
Mon 17 Apr 2023As you can see, the building extension is almost complete, and we now have access in front of the school again; therefore, we will revert to observing the published opening hours from 24 April, which means the gates will close at 8.45. Children should also use their designated entrance: black gate for Acorns and Willow; blue gate for Apples & Pears, and Oak. Thank you for your patience while the works have been continuing.