It’s the end of the first half term and I want to say a huge thank you and well done to everybody for making it a successful one. The staff and children have all been working hard to ensure the school has the best possible start to the year and you have been supporting us in keeping our school safe by being extra vigilant if children are feeling unwell and following Covid guidelines.
Staffing updates
I am pleased to announce that SAND have asked me to stay on in the role as Acting Headteacher until the end of the academic year. This will allow them plenty of time to recruit a new Headteacher ready for September 2022. I will continue to support everyone involved in our school community as we continue on our school’s improvement journey. I hope that this will reassure staff, pupils and parents knowing that there is continuity in leadership of the school for the rest of the year.
Mandy Walton, from SAND Academies Trust, is taking over the running of the C&I Centre from November 1st , initially for the rest of this academic year. Mandy has worked in special schools for many years and is both a specialist SEND teacher and qualified, very experienced, speech and language therapist.
Hannah Williams will be moving over to the main school full-time as part of the leadership team to support school improvement and to develop the range of interventions available to pupils. She will lead on SEND in the main school. I am sure you will join me in thanking Hannah Williams for her many years of excellent work and support for pupils and families in the Centre and welcome her in her new role.
Miss Sophie Purveur will be moving from the C&I Centre to work in the mainstream school as an SEND Intervention Learning Partner. Miss Purveur has worked in the C&I Centre for many years and she will bring a wealth of experience and expertise over to the main school.
Midday Supervisor Vacancy
We still have one Midday Supervisor Vacancy at Willow Primary. If you are interested in the post, then please speak to Lucy or Mrs Tonks in the office.
Parent Governor
Earlier in the week you should have received an email regarding two Parent Governor vacancies. Parent governors play a vital role on governing bodies, holding the unique position of having a parental viewpoint of the school. Through the children, they have a first-hand experience of the delivery of the curriculum, and how the school is perceived from the ‘consumers’ point of view. The role is for parents who want to make a positive impact on their child’s education and school life. The outcome is indirect, since the governor role has little interaction with the pupils or with daily school life, but is much more “behind the scenes”. For further information please refer to prior email or contact the office.
Parent’s Evening/Open Afternoon
Thank you to everyone to attended Parent’s Evening on Monday and thank you in advance to those who are attending today. It is great to be able to share so many of your children’s successes and discuss how their learning can be improved further. Thank you also for those who attended the Open Afternoon, we had the largest turn out ever! The children are proud of our school and what they achieve here and it was super that they could share their amazing work with you. It is important that we continue to work in partnership so your children get the best possible outcomes.
Caterlink – Willow Kitchen
I am very pleased to inform you that our school Kitchen was inspected by Environmental Health last week and were awarded the full 5 stars for food hygiene for the third time in a row. I sure you will join me in congratulating the Kitchen Team on this achievement.
Chamwell Centre
As our school is now part of the SAND Academies Trust, everyone in our school community is invited to become a member of the Chamwell Centre based at Milestone school site. You can visit the café and soft play and other activities are available too. I have attached an information leaflet and member ship form and you can look at their website: www.chamwellcentre.org.uk
Poppy Appeal
A box of poppies and some other poppy accessories arrived in school this morning ready for distribution after half term. From Monday 1st November – Friday 12th November, children can bring in a donation for the poppy appeal, the Royal British Legion’s biggest fundraising event during the period of Remembrance. In return they will receive a poppy or other poppy decorated item to wear to show their support. The school’s PRIDE council will be responsible for visiting each of the classes every day to deliver the poppies.
Dates for your diary
Term 2:
Monday 1st November 2021 – Friday 17th December 2021 (2pm finish)
Term 3:
Wednesday 5th January 2022 – Friday 18th February 2022
STAY, READ AND RELAX SESSIONS
During Terms 2 and 3 we are holding stay and read sessions in each of the classes instead of Open Afternoon. These will take place first thing in the morning, so you will accompany your child into school and then the teacher will lead you and your child in a short reading session.
There will be refreshments in the hall following the reading session so that you have a short time to relax with your child before they continue in school with the rest of their day.
The sessions will finish by 10am.
The dates for the classes are as follows:
Acorn Class – Friday 5th November 9 – 10am
Ash Class – Friday 12th November 9 – 10am
Birch Class – Friday 26th November 9 – 10am
Oak Class – Friday 14th January 9 – 10am (This session may include information on end of Year 6 tests too)
Elm Class – Friday 21st January 9 – 10am
Chestnut – Friday 28th January 9 – 10am
CHRISTMAS
Nativity – EYFS/Year 1/Year 2 – Thursday 9th December 1:45pm and Friday 10th December 9:30am
You should attend one of the performances.
Please note that this is organised by the year group your child is in, not by their class. Do check with your child’s teacher if you are unsure.
Christmas Jumper Day – Friday 10th December
This year is the tenth year for Christmas Jumper Day that raises money for Save the Children charity. Willow is taking part again and will be asking everyone to come to school in their jazziest Christmas jumper and donate £1-2 to help raise money for the charity.
KS2 Christmas Concert – Year 3/4/5/6 – Tuesday 14th December 2pm
Christmas Lunch – Wednesday 15th December – details will be given nearer the time
Christmas Discos – Wednesday 15th December
EYFS/Year 1/Year 2 – 3pm – 4pm Year 3/4/5/6 – 4:15pm – 5:15pm
Tickets will not be required for this. Friends of Willow (PTA) are kindly holding this event for free. Everyone is welcome to come and join in the fun.
Hope you all have a lovely half term
Carly Tonks