Dear Parents and Carers,

It is hard to believe we have already reached the midpoint of the academic year! We could not have asked for a better way to mark the milestone than with this week's festivities. From the vibrant 'Love Around the World' celebrations yesterday afternoon to the important topic of staying safe online today, our children will undoubtedly have taken a lot home from school this week. My thanks to all of the staff who have worked so hard to ensure the success of these events. 

It was truly wonderful to see the school buzzing with creativity for our Safer Internet Day today. I have seen so many fantastic costumes, including human firewalls and complex strong passwords! It is certainly true that our children never fail to impress when it comes to a dress up! A huge thank you to all the families who supported their children in getting into the spirit of the day. While the costumes provided the fun, the core of Safer Internet Day is about equipping our children with the tools to navigate an increasingly complex digital world. Through today's expert-led workshops and assemblies, the children have engaged in discussions about staying safe online. We do want the impact of today to go well beyond the classroom: to truly protect our children, we need a unified approach between school and home. Please look out for an important email from the school office today, which contains details on specialised online safety training for parents and carers. We strongly encourage you to engage with these resources so that, together, we can ensure our children’s online experiences remain positive and secure.

Across every year group, we rigorously track each child’s progress to ensure they are consistently challenged and supported. This week, our Year Six teachers conducted a deep-dive review into the attainment of our eldest children. As you are aware, the coming months represent a pivotal chapter in their school journey as they prepare for the end of Key Stage 2 SATs and the significant transition to secondary school. Following these reviews, targeted actions have been implemented to ensure every child has the tools they need to reach their full potential. However, the school's efforts are only one half of the equation; consistent support at home is equally important. We strongly encourage parents and carers of Year Six children to maintain a regular check-in routine to see how children are feeling about school and the upcoming changes. Additionally, ensuring that home learning and daily reading are completed consistently will provide your child with the confidence and stamina they need for the term ahead. This is a unique time in their education, and by working closely together, we can ensure they finish their primary years as successfully as possible.

I am sure many of you will have special plans for the half-term and what better way to start than with Valentine's Day tomorrow! I received my first Valentine's Day card this morning when paying a visit to the Year 3 classes and my thanks go to the children in Hazel class for getting my day off to a lovely start! 

Enjoy the break next week and I look forward to seeing all of the children on Monday 23rd February.

Mr Bostock