Welcome to you all! Even though we are early in the term, several year groups have already been completing assessments. Our Reception classes have been taking part in the Reception baseline assessments and our Year 6 children have been taking part in mock SATs (Standardised Assessment Tasks). Both of these assessments are important to us as they provide a firm foundation for identifying strengths and areas to improve going forward for us as a school and also for individual children. In addition to these assessments, we have also been doing other reading, spelling and phonic assessments. Obviously, later in the term formal assessments will be taking place in reading, writing, SPaG (Spelling, Punctuation and Grammar) and maths. During the forthcoming Parents' Evenings (via Teams) you will have the opportunity to talk about how you can support your child in their learning journey. 

The Year 6 group have been on their residential this week at the Adventure4You centre at Paulerspury. The children took part in a plethora of activities including axe throwing, archery, orienteering, paddle boarding, rock climbing and bush craft whilst staying overnight in pods and emperor tents. From talking to them, and seeing them in action, it ic clear that they had a great time. There are multiple photo galleries on the school website to get a taste of their week. Huge thanks to the staff in school and at Adenture4You for going over and above to make it such a positive trip.

Parents' Evening are next week - Monday 3rd October 3.30 - 7.00 pm and Tuesday 4th October 3.30 - 5.00pm. This will be an opportunity for you to catch up with your child's class teacher, see how they've settled and talk about progress so far.  A link has been sent out for these meetings for you to click on - we will be using Microsoft Teams. If you would prefer a phone call, rather than a Teams online call, please book your slot via Arbor but contact Mrs Hodge and Mr Peel in the school office on Monday (3rd) and they can help to arrange this.

The meetings are online as we had such positive feedback from you at the last parents meetings regarding the ease of working in this way. We recognise that this might not be the case for everyone though. After the parents meetings next week, we will run a quick survey to ensure that the next set of meetings are set up according to what works for the majority of us. 

Attendance

We are keen to see your child in school as close to 100% as possible, but we appreciate that illnesses happen. When your child is ill, they obviously need to be at home and should be fully recovered before returning.

Wherever possible, please book not urgent dental and doctor appointments outside school hours.

Working with our school attendance support officer at West Northamptonshire Council, we will continue to monitor attendance and work in partnership with you as needed. It should be noted that taken holiday in term time is most likely to be unauthorised and, as a result, can be subject to a fine from West Northamptonshire Council. 

As a team, we are very aware that we have lived in challenging times and planned holidays had to be rearranged due to covid, but we are delighted that we have largely moved forward from this time and that attendance is now back in line with pre-covid times - this has such a positive impact of progress and attainment. Our current whole school attendance figure is a very encouraging 97.2%.

Scarecrow Trail and the Community Fridge

Our community fridge has been a huge success over the past 2 years! Many families around the community and outside the community are using this regularly to save food waste from shops and use as they need. Thank you to everyone involved who has continually supported the fridge with donations, pickups from various shops, opening the fridge and a special thank you to Eileen for organising the food each day.

As shops are reducing waste themselves, we are not receiving as many donations because of this we haven't been able to open as often so far this academic year.  With the village Scarecrow on Saturday 8th October, we would ask for your continued support in donating any tinned food or toiletries.  Please send in any donations to the school office on Friday 7^th October or on the morning of the 8th. We will be there to accept all donations.

The PTA will also be at school on Saturday 8th October providing the opportunity for a cup of tea, coffee or hot chocolate and sweet treats from 10.00am to 2.00pm. It would be lovely to see you.