Keep up to date with all the latest news happening in school at the moment.
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Friday update
Wed 17 Apr 2024Happy Friday all!
A reminder that curriculum aspects of your children's learning journeys can be found either in their class pages or under the curriculum tab which outlines all of the curriculum maps.
Parking again has been a problem more than usual this week. WE have had 4 complaints about parking over driveways. Please don't park on corners or in front of dropped curbs. There is also a hidden bus stop! Opposite the actual bus stop along from school on the same side there is a slightly raised curb-although no bus stop sign. The bus company have asked if we can refrain from parking on it. I have enquired as to whether they intend to put a sign and zig zag lines to make it clearer for parents.
Last half term some of our Parliament children had a day visit to the Houses of Parliament. This was a wonderful experience visiting the House of Commons and House of Lords, meeting our MP and learning about the business of Westminster.
The children were an absolute credit and asked our MP -Maggie Throup -some really pertinent questions and were able to speak confidently about democracy and the rule of law.
A huge thank you to Miss Nadin and Miss Hardaker for organising the trip.
We look forward to repeating it next year!
Also last term we had Science week organised by our Science lead Mrs Ganguly. What a wonderful week the children had with workshops and activities, the children were engaged and enthused. Again a huge thank you for the organisation and planning of this to Mrs Ganguly.
We all know that children are now at greater risk from grooming online. However we also need to be fully informed of other threats to our children that they may encounter when out and about.
I have attached a link to some information about County lines. This is a huge problem in some areas where children get themselves, often unwittingly, involved with drugs trafficking gangs. Children are known to have been targeted as young as 10.
Please check out the information.
https://www.internetmatters.org/issues/online-grooming/what-is-county-lines/
I have also sent an email with information about different ways of keeping children safe online. Please read as I have tried to include some practical measures that can support you. This is also directed towards parents of some of our younger children as they are increasingly at risk-so please do give it a read.
Our word of the week next week is devious. See if your children can use it in appropriate and interesting ways. This is just one part of our drive to extend vocabulary and oracy skills across school.
Next week Severn Trent Water are coming in to give an assembly and complete workshops on water safety.
On 2nd of May one of the year 6 classrooms will again be used as a polling station for the local elections. This means that children will not be able to access their classrooms via the 'bin' gate. All children will need to enter school via the side gate (left hand side facing the school). We will therefore open the gates 10 minutes early to allow children to enter. There will be no lining up on this day.
I hope you all have a lovely weekend.
S Houseman
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Friday updates
Fri 08 Mar 2024Happy Friday all,
What another busy week!
Yesterday we had a fabulous World book day! The children dressed up or down, shared stories and visited the book fair. A big thank you to Miss Barrett for organising this.
Alongside this we had visitors in school who couldn't compliment the behaviour of our children enough. They said they were so polite and well mannered and particularly mentioned the behaviour at lunchtime and the playground buddies and play leaders who help to support the younger children and play games with them. All of this in a day when everything was a little more exciting than usual. Well done children!
I am hoping that you have seen the letter sent out by Miss Martin regarding the coffee afternoon for SEND parents. This could be parents of children who have a diagnosis, are awaiting a diagnosis or just starting their SEND journey. We hope that these sessions will offer more general support and some advice and sharing of ideas.
Another source of general information for SEND parents can be found in the link below.
https://www.family-action.org.uk/what-we-do/children-families/send/send-info/
A reminder that lots of information about keeping children safe online can be found on this website under Information -safeguarding tab. links to sites such as think you know, the Nspcc online help website and advice on filtering information can all be found here. The children have weekly assemblies starting in EYFS and it is important that we get the message of being safe online instilled as early as possible in this digital world.
Next week is British Science week and Mrs Ganguly has organised a whole raft of exciting activities to engage the children including live animal workshops and the time for science workshops.
I have attached a leaflet below about Mother's day.
I hope you all have a lovely weekend.
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Updates
Sun 11 Feb 2024Hi all,
A wonderful celebration of all things number was held on 2nd February and an added bonus was the raising of £157.21 for the NSPCC associated charity.
We are very aware of the stresses that some families may be experiencing and the impact that this can have on mental health and well being. Please remember if you need a space to talk we will support you where we can and direct you to other services for support if necessary. So do get in touch.
A good general website offering support is:
https://nottalone.org.uk/?a=pc
Likewise if any families feel they may struggle over half term feeding the family please be in touch with either Claire Kudryk our family support worker or myself and we will support where we can.
Can I ask that parents talk to children about turning off mobile phones once they are on school premises? This includes once they have entered the school external gates where other families are present. The children are aware that they should not have their phones out and I will address this with individuals if it continues to be an issue. This is part of our wider safeguarding remit. Thank you for your support with this.
On Friday 16th February school is closed for an INSET day. We have also arranged for two INSET days at the start of the autumn term. These will be on Wednesday 4th and Thursday 5th of September with children returning on the 6th. This is for training for staff who will be in school.
We are very much looking forward to ending our half term with the EYFS performances. They have been practising hard and it will be lovely to see them take to the stage for the first time this week.
I wish you all a very good week.
S Houseman
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Friday update
Wed 24 Jan 2024Good afternoon all,
We have had a great start to the term and have been enjoying our Expert groups delivering assemblies to the whole school sharing what they have been doing in their sessions. These groups have really engaged the children with their specific subject areas and it is lovely to see them becoming the 'experts'.
As a school we believe wider opportunities are very important for our children's personal development and as part of this we are committed to the musical partnership team support in school. This means that all our year 4 children have lesson experience of an instrument. Miss Barrett's class this week gave a wonderful violin performance after only 15 lessons. They have learnt to hold the bow and instrument, different notes and notation and played as an ensemble together. It is amazing to see such a great achievement in a short space of time and we hope it has fostered a love of the instrument in the children. Miss Marriott's class next term!
Please be mindful that we are happy to administer calpol in school if we have written permission or it has been recommended by a doctor or chemist but this should not be for masking a temperature. If a child has a high temperature they are unwell and potentially infectious. Calpol for toothache etc is acceptable but we do not want to unnecessarily spread infections around school.
A Governor day was held in school today which was very productive. Our Governors are an essential body of individuals who help us make strategic decisions offering an external eye on things such as curriculum development, policies and procedures. We thank them for giving up their own time to support the school.
A reminder that the next INSET day is 16th February. School is closed to children on this day.
We’re proud to be taking part in Children's Mental Health Week (5-11 February 2024). This year’s theme is My Voice Matters, to empower, equip and give a voice to every child in the UK.
Empowering children and young people can have a positive impact on their health and wellbeing. For example, children and young people who feel that their voices are heard - and that what they say makes a difference - have higher levels of self-efficacy and self-esteem. They also have a greater sense of community – and as people become empowered, they can work together to create positive changes for themselves and for others. For Children’s Mental Health Week 2024, Place2Be wants all children and young people, whoever they are, and wherever they are in the world, to be able to say – and believe - “My Voice Matters”.
A PTA meeting was held on Wednesday and we have some new dates for your diary.
The Long Eaton Carnival is on the 8th June. The PTA are hoping to enter the school once again. This is a great family event and we hope as many of you as possible will join us for this. Info to follow.
Sport's day and summer fair 5th July.
Check out the PTA Facebook page for other events.
Again our PTA are a really proactive group who support the school creating events for the children and their families and financing extras above and beyond the school budget. We are lucky to have such a supportive group.
Have a lovely weekend
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Christmas update
Fri 22 Dec 2023Happy Friday and Happy festive season to all,
We have reached the end of what is always a busy term with a smile on our faces.
It has been busy but so many lovely activities have been shared that we head into the holidays with a real sense of our great school community.
The events organised by the PTA have been a great success. We fully appreciate the difference the team make to the children's experiences and also support the school with the things they are able to buy from the proceeds. So a big thank you to them from us.
The Key stage 1 Christmas performance was a delight - the children were so confident and obviously enjoyed the moment in the spotlight. The acting and singing, dancing and narration were all very well accomplished. We were very proud of each and every one. It goes without saying that this is quite a feat to pull of so we are grateful for our staff team who take these events in their stride and do so with loads of positivity! We're already looking forward to the Reception performance in the Spring term!
Talking of Reception, Miss Hutchinson is leaving us today and we wish her all the very, very best. Mrs Kittens will now take over the class full time so we know the children are in safe and familiar hands.
In today's assembly we celebrated the children who have achieved high word reading scores in accelerated reader ( one of the tools we use to encourage reading in school from year 2 upwards). As a school we know how important it is for children to develop a love of reading so build the vocabulary skills as well as their imaginations. Reading really is the gateway to so many other subjects and opportunities. I would ask that over the holidays a little time spent reading with your child and encouraging them to pick up a book in what can be a very hectic holiday would probably help soothe stress as well as support their reading prowess. Reading a story at bedtime can sometimes be difficult to fit in but the rewards for all concerned make it worth it. I know many of our parents factor this in to their child's routines and I would like all of our children to have these moments.
Although Christmas can be a wonderful time of year it can also be very stressful, particularly if there are money worries, illness or family disagreements, all of these seem to be bigger at a time of year when we are 'supposed' to be having fun!
Although I don't want to be depressing I have attached a link to support some parents with issues they may face over Christmas as a reminder that you are not alone. These are very real and wide spread struggles.
https://www.thesafeguardingcompany.com/resources/blog/safeguarding-during-the-christmas-holiday-season/
This site also has some numbers to call in crisis. Please remember that you can contact school in a crisis or emergency over the holidays by emailing the head teacher email address which will be checked regularly.
Here also is a link reminder for safer internet as during this holiday period children may be on devices a little more than usual so it is important for parents to know how to set the right restrictions. https://saferinternet.org.uk/guide-and-resource/parents-and-carers
So I will end my update with a big thank you for another term of community, hard work and positivity. I hope that you all have a lovely holiday and are able to spend time with loved ones -I know not everyone has an extended break but I hope you are able to enjoy the festive season in your own way.
Sarah Houseman
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Friday updates
Fri 24 Nov 2023Happy Friday all!
I can hardly believe we are at the end of week 3 in the second term!
But they do say time flies when you are having fun!
The last 2 terms so far have been a whirlwind of activity, we celebrated Remembrance and supported Children in Need and donated to the food bank through our Harvest collection- all as a community. Next week we look forward to our special visitor and the Christmas fair on Friday. Raffle tickets will be on sale by the PTA after school at the front of school.
We recognise that Christmas can be a trying time for many families and would like to sign post you to the Manna food boxes available at All Saints church or St Johns.. You can register for the boxes either online here https://www.mannafoodboxes.com/ or at the church itself. The boxes cost £6.00 and are packed with a range of fresh and dry produce of a much higher value. You need to have registered to pick up a box so that they know how many to prepare.
A little reminder at this busy time to make sure you have appropriate filters on your children's internet access. Support for online safety can be found here:
https://www.nspcc.org.uk/keeping-children-safe/online-safety/
We have been seeing an increase in inappropriate content -this is filtering through on sites such as Minecraft and Roblox-this is usually where the children are watching other users/gamers play the game who are then commenting on it using inappropriate language or background noises. It is worth being aware of this.
Lastly a thank you to all the parents who sent well wishes for staff and donations for our colleague's memorial collection. We really appreciate the understanding and compassion that was shown at this difficult time.
I hope you all have a lovely weekend.
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Friday updates
Fri 29 Sep 2023Happy Friday all!
We are half way through the first half term and we have had another busy week.
This week we have celebrated Harvest culminating in the donations being bought in for the Long Eaton food bank. Once again our parent community have wowed us with their generosity and consideration. This is such a good example for our children.
After half term we will be holding our Remembrance service on 10th November and we would like to invite along our service personnel parents or grandparents. More details of this will follow from our PSCHE leads but I just wanted to flag the date for this.
Mrs Tomlinson - our Well Being Lead- has put some information in the Well Being tab on this website. These are under Parents-well being and mental health and scroll down to well being leaflets.
There is some really useful information on:
Sleeping tips
Behaviour
Transition
and 49 phrases to calm an anxious child.
We are currently advertising for a school governor. This is a very important role within school, supporting our strategic decisions, broadening our expertise and ensuring we fulfil our statutory duties. Our Governors also support the staff with curriculum and are a sounding board for ideas. If you think you can support with this please see the information and process in the governor area.
Below I have attached some absence pictures detailing the impact of absence and also the guidance to be followed for certain illnesses. We are approaching the time of colds and coughs and I know it can be hard to decide if your child should be in school. If your child has a cold they can be in school. We will administer calpol or similar with your written permission if this is necessary. If your child is unwell naturally keep them off school until they are fit to return but minor coughs and colds should not prevent attendance. If you wish them to stay indoors if they have a cough then this can also be accomodated. I'm sure you are sick (pun intended) of hearing about absences from me but our attendance levels are at their lowest and it really does have an impact on the child.
Can I ask that parents exit the school grounds promptly on pick up. WRAP club have a fair few children and it is hard for them to start their activities if parents and children are milling about. Thank you.
I hope you all have a lovely weekend and stay well.
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Updates
Fri 22 Sep 2023Happy Friday all!
We have had an excellent start to the new term and the children's behaviour has once again been commented on by external visitors for showing respect, self regulation and care for each other.
I would request that parents parking outside of the school at drop off demonstrate these same values as I am aware of some disagreements around parking which have led to collisions and inappropriate language. As a school we pride ourselves on the behaviour of our children and respectfully ask that our parents present themselves as role models when addressing other parents or our neighbours.
We are all very much aware of the dangers presented by online learning and children accessing material that is not age appropriate. Pease see a link below which directs you to some sites and apps which can help secure your children's devices and give parental control.
https://www.independent.co.uk/compare/mobile-deals/guides/smartphone-parental-controls
Next week we shall be celebrating Harvest and a letter will be coming out with regard to food bank donations. As the letter states this is entirely voluntary and the children will naturally take part in all other activities. As a school we do wish to promote respect in our community and this is one way we feel we can support those in need.
I am receiving an increasing amount of holiday requests and I will not authorise these unless their are exceptional circumstances. Children whose attendance falls below 90% are classed as persistent absentees and we will arrange meetings for those children we feel are at risk of this. This is equal to about 7 days in the autumn term. Missing school negatively affects children's academic progress and friendship groups. Although I fully appreciate that holidays in term time are significantly cheaper it is our job to encourage parents to bring their children to school when they are well enough to attend.
I hope you all have a lovely weekend.
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End of term
Fri 21 Jul 2023Happy Friday all!
It's hard to believe we are at the end of the year and what a busy year it has been.
Through this year we have celebrated assemblies and performances, held Christmas fairs and Coronation events. We had a successful OFSTED and good SATS results.
We won the Float award in the carnival and have had parents in school every week reading to groups of children, what a success this has been.
The children have had reading partners and Expert groups, free after school clubs and lunchtime activities. They have worked hard and in year results are all good. Behaviour analysis shows that the children's behaviour has improved over time, even by our own high standards. Something which is often commented upon when they go out on trips and visits and is very evident in the calm and purposeful atmosphere around school.
I am very grateful that our children show respect and resilience and really look out for each other and I know that this is done in partnership with parents as we give them the tools to make the best choices ready for their next stages.
So thank you to parents and members of the community who have supported us in all our efforts this year.
I would also like to say a huge thank you to all the staff at Dovedale. They are dedicated, hardworking and relentless in their ambitions for your children.
As a Head teacher I could not wish for a better staff to deliver our vision.
But lastly a thank you to our funny, remarkable class of '23 who move onto their secondary schools having made us proud, knowing that they are ready to take on their next challenge. We wish everyone of our Year 6s a fantastic year 7 and look forward to hearing of all their achievements.
I hope you all have a lovely summer. If you need to contact school please use the headteacher@dovedale.derbyshire.sch.uk email which will be checked regularly. I will be asking teachers to turn their Dojos off to allow them to recharge over the break.
Take care
S Houseman
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Updates
Sun 16 Jul 2023Happy Sunday all.
As we enter the last week of term we are looking forward to a fun packed last 5 days. (With lots of learning of course!).
Please make sure your child has a waterproof jacket in school. We are trying to keep them outside at break times but we do get caught out with the rain at the moment!
Children are not allowed to wear smart watches in school. Jewellery should be restricted to a pair of stud earrings and a watch. Charity bands are allowed if they are not excessive. Temp tattoos should be removed for school and head wear should be school colours and appropriately sized. If you are buying new bags for autumn a reminder that these should be small and children may only need to bring their lunch box, book bag so other bags may be unnecessary anyway. Thank you for your help with this we have limited corridor space.
This Wednesday is teacher drop in after school to discuss any thing arising from your child's report with their existing teacher. It is not a scheduled parent's meeting and is not compulsory. There will be a full parent's meeting in the autumn term to discuss how your child has settled in their new year group.
The career's fair in school on Friday to inspire our year 5/6 children with options for career choices was a great success! The children visited various stands which were kindly exhibited by parents and members of our local community. The children asked some really insightful questions and showed great interest in talking to the various exhibitors.
We would like to thank the following businesses for giving up their time and providing this opportunity for the children to think about their future goals and aspirations:
Royal Air Force
Police
Ambulance
Mechanical Engineers
Rolls Royce
Microsoft Gaming Studios
Secondary Science school teacher
National Highways
We look forward to building on this next year.
I hope you all have a lovely week.
