Newsletters

World Book Day & Author Visit

 On March 6th, the school was filled with colour and creativity as the children dressed up as their favourite book characters to celebrate World Book Day. This wonderful day was followed by an exciting visit from author Seth Burkett on March 18th. Seth captivated the children with his inspiring story of transitioning from a professional footballer to an author of 14 books. He led engaging workshops, focusing on creative writing for Key Stage 1 and persuasive writing for Key Stage 2. A huge thank you to the PTA for funding this incredible event – our children had a fantastic experience!

Book Fair Success During

this eventful week focused on reading and writing, our Book Fair was a tremendous success. It was fantastic to see so many children and parents participating. A special thank you to the PTA for their generous gift of £500 worth of brand new books for our library!

Year 4 Residential

Trip To top off this exciting week, our Year 4 children embarked on their residential trip to The Rock in Irthlingborough. They took part in various outward-bound activities, and for some, it was their first time staying away from home. Their behaviour was exemplary, and they were a credit to Deanshanger Primary School. A heartfelt thank you to all the staff who dedicated their time to ensure this overnight trip was a success!

Parent’s Evening

Thank you to all the parents who attended Parents’ Evening last week. It was a valuable opportunity to discuss your child’s progress with their teacher. If you were unable to attend, please contact your child’s teacher to arrange a meeting after school.

SEND Provision

Mrs Burnside has been working hard this term, meeting with parents and teachers to gain a clear understanding of the children who may have additional needs. Now that she has a comprehensive overview across the school, she will begin working with staff to implement appropriate provisions and interventions. Thank you to all parents for your patience during this initial phase.

Moving forward, Mrs Burnside’s role will be to manage and monitor these interventions, as well as coordinate support from any external professionals where needed. Mrs Burnside will always meet with parents if external advice is being sought. 

If you have any concerns about your child’s learning needs, your first point of contact should always be the class teacher. They will be able to discuss your concerns and seek further input from Mrs Burnside if required.

Music and Dance Celebrations

The last week of term had a strong musical theme! Rocksteady musicians performed for the whole school, Reception children sang in the Methodist Church, and everyone enjoyed the fun and energy of the school discos. A huge thank you to the PTA for organising these events – it takes a lot of effort, and we truly appreciate their dedication.

Wrap Club Update

We’ve recently tightened up our procedures around Wrap Club bookings to ensure the safety and smooth running of the club for all children.

Please ensure that your child is booked into Wrap Club in advance of the required date via the usual booking system. This helps us to plan effectively and ensure all children are accounted for. If you require a last-minute booking, you must call the Wrap Club telephone number directly. This allows our Wrap Club staff to inform your child of any changes to their end-of-day arrangements promptly and ensures they are picked up as expected. Please note: We will no longer be accepting Wrap Club bookings or changes via the school office. All Wrap Clubrelated communication should go directly through the Wrap Club contact number.

Thank you to everyone who has taken the time to share feedback on the new Wrap Club price list for September. We’ve listened carefully and understand the concerns raised, particularly around the change in time slots and their impact on cost. Please be assured that we are currently reviewing the pricing structure in light of your feedback and will share a revised version shortly. Our aim is to ensure the Wrap Club remains great value while also being sustainable for the school. Thank you for your patience and support.

Communication with School Staff

We always welcome feedback, questions, and concerns from parents and carers, and we are committed to working in partnership to support our children. However, we kindly ask that all communication with the school – whether by phone, email, or in person – is respectful and considerate.

Recently, there have been several instances where emails or calls have been received in a manner that has been upsetting for staff. Our team works incredibly hard to support families, and we ask that everyone communicates with kindness and understanding. Clear, respectful communication helps us to resolve issues more quickly and ensures a positive environment for all.

Successful Recruitment of New Head of School

We are delighted to share that we recently completed a very successful recruitment process to appoint a new Head of School for September. Candidates participated in a rigorous interview day, which included various activities and an interview panel featuring stakeholders from across the school and Trust. We have now appointed a new Head of School, and we will provide introductions as soon as final checks and paperwork are completed.

Exciting Plans for Next Term Walk-In Mornings for Parents

Next term, we are introducing Walk-In mornings for parents. These sessions will provide an opportunity for you to work alongside your child on something they have been learning in class. To ensure a smooth and productive experience, we will invite one class at a time to avoid disruption. Please see the timetable below for your child’s scheduled session.

Wednesday 30th April Y4 Mrs Peers' Class (Bottlenose Dolphin) 8.40 am – 9.05 am

Wednesday 7th May Y3 Mr Taylor’s Class (Hammerhead Shark) 8.40 am – 9.05 am

Friday 9th May Y2 – Mrs Burdett (Spinner Dolphin) Miss Stanley (Sea Turtles) 8.40 am – 9.05 am

Wednesday 21st May Y4 – Mr Bass (Orca) 8.40 am – 9.05 am

Friday 23rd May Y6 – Mrs Bailey (Sea Otters) 8.40 am – 9.05 am

Wednesday 4th June Y6 – Mr Bunting (Tiger Sharks) 8.40 am – 9.05 am

Thursday 5th June Y5 – Mr Ward (Jellyfish) 8.40 am – 9.05 am

Wednesday 11th June Y5 – Mrs Morrison (Octopus) 8.40 am – 9.05 am

Thursday 12th June Y1 – Mrs Herman (Coral Reef) 8.40 am – 9.05 am

Wednesday 18th June EYFS- Mrs Stevenson (Seahorse) 8.40 am – 9.05 am

Friday 20th June EYFS – Mrs Watson (Rainbowfish 8.40am - 9:05am

Introducing Head Boy, Head Girl and Prefects

We are thrilled to announce the introduction of a Head Boy and Head Girl, along with 10 prefects, selected from our Year 6 children. This is a wonderful opportunity for pupils who exemplify the values of Deanshanger Primary School to take on leadership roles. To be selected, pupils must have demonstrated reliability, helpfulness, and a strong commitment to school life and learning. 

Responsibilities of the Head Boy and Head Girl:

• Acting as ambassadors for the school

• Speaking to visitors about life at Deanshanger

• Sharing their experiences with younger pupils

• Working with the school council to ensure student voices are heard

Prefect Roles:

• Year group reading mentors

• Library monitors • Corridor and door monitors

• Additional responsibilities based on student input

Successful candidates will be celebrated in a special assembly, with parents invited to join us in recognising their achievement.

Wishing You a Wonderful Easter Break

With all these exciting events behind us and more to look forward to, we want to thank you for your ongoing support. I would also like to take this opportunity to thank the staff who have been working incredibly hard to provide the children at Deanshanger Primary the very best learning opportunities. We wish you and your family a wonderful Easter holiday and look forward to welcoming everyone back for another term of learning and fun on Tuesday, 22nd April 

Best wishes

Miss Morris