Dear Parents and Carers,

Goodbye January! A month which is without doubt my least favourite of the year, especially when it involves the amount of rainfall we have experienced recently. With only two weeks to go until the February half-term, let's hope the first glimpses of spring are not too far away.

This week, we began some whole staff training on unconditional positive regard. As I have referenced before, this means valuing and respecting every child for who they are, regardless of the challenges they may face on a given day. For any avid readers out there, I would recommend the book 'The Kindness Principle: Making Relational Behaviour Management Work in Schools' by David Whitaker, which explores much of the research behind this approach. 

The highlight of my week actually stems from last Friday’s Key Stage Two assembly. I was moved by the stories of empathy and effort behind each special mention and the children in the audience were equally respectful, showing their appreciation for each of their peers' achievements. This spirit of kindness extends far beyond the classroom here at De Hav; recently, several staff members facing personal challenges have been overwhelmed by the support from our families. Whether through a kind word from a child or a thoughtful gesture from a family, the empathy in our community has been sincerely appreciated by those returning to school during a difficult time.

This week, you will have received some correspondence from me regarding drop-off arrangements, specifically concerning children in Years 4, 5 and 6. Thank you for your understanding regarding these changes as I do appreciate that this transition requires an adjustment for many families. Safeguarding remains our absolute priority, and we will always act decisively to strengthen our procedures and ensure our children's safety.

As we move further into the spring term, over the coming weeks the children will undertake assessments to track their progress and inform our future planning. While these can feel daunting, they are valuable opportunities for the children to practise resilience. We appreciate you reinforcing this message at home as we work together to help our children navigate these educational milestones with confidence.

Have a lovely weekend,

Mr Bostock