Keep up to date with all the latest news happening in school at the moment.
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Messages
Mon 16 Mar 2026Good Morning
I hope you have all had a good weekend.
A reminder that with the Easter holidays coming up, if you will require a food bank delivery please contact Jo Martin or email me directly.
This week at Dovedale, it has been our celebration week, and the children have tried very hard to show off all that they have learnt. It can be a tricky time for some children with a different routine, but our teachers support them as much as possible through these changes. Well done to all of our children.
A reminder that children should only bring fruit or a breakfast-type bar for a playtime snack. This should not be covered in chocolate. As a school, we endeavour to support the children with healthy eating choices. Frequent snacking on sugary foods keeps the mouth in an acidic state, which can cause tooth decay. Eating them as part of a meal reduces the time sugar sits on teeth, particularly when followed by tooth-cleansing foods.
A reminder that if your child is being collected by anyone other than the person we are expecting, you must inform the school. If your child attends the WRAP club, then you must inform them. If a different adult comes to collect, even if they are known to us, we will have to contact the expected adult before we can dismiss the child. Thank you for your support with this.
Have a good week all!
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Friday updates
Fri 13 Feb 2026Happy Friday, all! Well, another wet end to our week here at Dovedale!
It has been another busy week with lots of exciting events.
The EYFS performance was an absolute delight! They were so confident and really exercised their bravery muscles. They are showing great oracy skills, remembering all their words and songs, speaking out and taking their turns. Not only this but they looked like they really enjoyed themselves. Well done to the children and to the EYFS staff team who brought this all together.
On Wednesday, we focused on 5 ways to well-being. These were: connecting with others, being active, noticing what is around us ( looking up from our screens!), trying new things, and giving to others-this may be as simple as a hug or a smile. This was all part of our children's mental health week.
If you are buying calpol or over the counter medicines from the Pharmacy, can you please request that they put your child's name and dosage on the bottle if it is to be bought into school. The new admin of medicine's policy is in the pipeline, and this would support us in being able to support you with these types of medications.
There isn't an INSET day after half term, so we look forward to seeing you all on the Monday 23rd for the next term.
I wish you all a lovely week- email headteacher@dovedale.derbyshire.sch.uk if you need to make contact, as I will be instructing teachers to turn their dojos off.
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Friday updates
Fri 06 Feb 2026Happy Friday all,
A lovely week this week in spite of the wet weather.
Miss Nadin's class assembly was a real treat, we were so proud to see the children so confident sharing all of their knowledge.
Next week it is our well-being focus week. It will be kicked off with an assembly by our mental health champions and we will be having a 'come as you are' day on Wednesday. This can be uniform, non-uniform, - whatever your child is most comfortable with. On this day we will be looking at 5 ways to wellbeing.
If any of our parents require a food bank parcel for over half term, please contact Miss Martin or me and we will arrange this for you.
I have asked teachers for their own wellbeing to switch dojos off this weekend, in case of emergency, email: shouseman@dovedale.derbyshire.sch.uk.
Have a lovely weekend all.
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Friday updates
Fri 16 Jan 2026Happy Friday all,
We have had another great week in school. We have had no children in reflection time in the past 2 weeks, which is brilliant, and our school attendance is above the national average. Thank you to all our families and, of course, our wonderful children for supporting us with these key targets.
Miss Barrett's class gave us a lovely Thursday treat with their class assembly- what great oracy skills these children have! They were super confident and showcased their learning brilliantly-well done Aquamarines!
As some of you may be aware, 2026 is the National Year of Reading. Reading is a gateway to so many other possibilities, and we are encouraging our children to read as much as possible.
I have pasted a link below that has ideas as to how families can get involved with different initiatives and some top tips for getting reading.
If any parents, grandparents, aunts or uncles would like to volunteer to come and read to or with our children, please do get in touch.
https://goallin.org.uk/get-involved/families/
I have had a query about INSET days for next year. Although I have not set all of these yet, there will be an INSET day on Friday, the 4th of September.
I hope you all have a lovely weekend.
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Friday update
Wed 07 Jan 2026Good Morning and Happy New Year!
The term has started really well, and the children have settled quickly back into their routines-behaviour continues to be positive, and we are really proud of how the children are showing resilience and respect. We talk about exercising our bravery muscle when tackling things that may seem a bit too hard emotionally, and the children are responding really well to this.
Mrs Kelly's class wowed us with their class assembly on Thursday - what a talented bunch they are. I was very proud to see each and every one of them playing their part.
It is a 6 week term and there are no INSET days in either of the spring terms.
Interim reports are due out on the 30th January; these are to inform you about your child's progress in certain areas. If, however, you need to discuss your child's progress at any time, please make an appointment to speak with your child's class teacher.
Class website pages have been updated. Please check them out for general information regarding what your child will be covering in their curriculum this term.
Below are 2 links for online safety support for parents to ensure the apps and games your children are using are age-appropriate.
https://www.commonsensemedia.org/game-reviews
https://www.familygamingdatabase.com/home
I hope you all have a lovely weekend.
SHouseman
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Monday updates
Fri 12 Sep 2025Happy Monday all,
I hope you have all had a great weekend. I am aware that several children didn't, with a sickness bug. We have deep cleaned the spaces and will be continuing to do so. Please remember it is 48 hours from last sickness before return to school. This helps us stop the spread as much as possible.
I can say that we definitely had a great first week back here in school. The children have come back ready to learn and behaviours have been exemplary.
We have been talking about regulating our behaviours, using our oracy skills to share our feelings and be 'upstanders' to support others by asking them how they are feeling and listening to them. We have also talked about kindness in assembly and that kindness relates to our Respect value.
The school prospectus under the parents' tab has been updated for this year. Leading on from this, a reminder that children should only be wearing stud earrings that they can remove for PE. Also no makeup, and skirt length should be mid thigh or longer. Some skirts are a little short this term so please be conscious of this. If your child likes to do handstands etc please ensure they are wearing PE shorts under skirts. We feel it is very important for our children to come to school in uniform as this enables them to feel ready to learn and sets the right expectation. I am aware from communication last week that uniform is a struggle financially for some parents. Please always reach out to us as we have some spares and will support wherever possible with this.
On a similar note- Miss Martin completed several food bank runs over the summer and will continue to do so. Please get in touch with her if this would support you and your family.
If you are allowing your child to ride to school on a bike, please ensure they are wearing a helmet and speak with them about road safety. A couple of children were spotted last week by a school neighbour being less than careful. It's a busy road with neighbours also leaving their drives on top of parental parking. Thank you.
Here is a useful link to the NSPCC parenting support site.
https://www.nspcc.org.uk/keeping-children-safe/support-for-parents/
We know parenting can be difficult for everyone at times, so again if you feel you need support please be in touch.
We would welcome parent/grandparent readers into school so if you have any time to spare, please contact me and we can sort this out. Please hear your child read 3 X a week if possible. We all know that reading is a gateway to lots of other subjects and activities, and reading for pleasure is a really good habit to get started early.
Some dates for your diaries:
- SEND parents evening (invite only) 7th October
- Parents evening 14th October
- Break up for half term 24th October
- INSET day 3rd November
- Return to school 4th of November
- Remembrance service 11th November - children can wear their Brownie, cubs etc uniforms. Servicemen and woman (including ex serving) invited.
- Christmas jumper days 11th and 12th December
Have a good week.
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Dates
Wed 11 Jun 2025Sports day
Friday 11th July
Early years, year 1 and 2 in the morning. 9.15 - this allows time for us to register the children and get them ready. Children come to school in PE kits.
1.30 Years 3, 4, 5, 6
Bring a chair if you wish. The PTA will being doing refreshments for adults.
Summer social event - The PTA are setting up activities including inflatables, a BBQ and refreshments after sports day, at the end of the school day.
Meet the teacher presentation - Wednesday 16th July after school in your child's new classroom -3.20 -A chance to meet your child's new class teacher
Reports out Friday 18th July
Parent report drop ins - Wednesday 23rd July - a chance to drop in to discuss any questions from your child's report with their current teacher.
- INSET DAY Friday 4 July 2025
- Break up for Summer holiday Thursday 24 July 2025
- INSET day Thursday 4 September 2025
- INSET day Monday 3rd November 2025
- INSET day Friday 22 May 2026
- INSET day Friday 26 June 2026
- INSET day Thursday 23 July 2026
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Friday updates
Fri 25 Apr 2025Happy Friday everyone!
It has been a great week back although a busy one with parents' evening on the second day back.
We finished on a high though, with a visit from the Easter bunny to all classes. The decorate an egg entries were brilliant-what a creative bunch, there was one winner for each class but everyone got a treat to celebrate.
I am sure you will all join me in welcoming Ashleigh Nicholson as our new office manager who will be working alongside Nicola Dickenson doing all things office and beyond.
Next Thursday one of our year 6 classrooms is again being used as a polling station. This means that the bin gates will be out of use and fenced off. Entry will therefore only be through the side gate, the gates will open at 8.30 to allow for an extended drop off time. Staff will be on hand to help ferry the younger children to their classrooms.
A reminder that we are holding our career's fair for the year 5 and 6 children on Friday 27th June. Any parents/grandparents/aunt/uncles who feel they have something to share should contact me via email with the subject career's fair. The morning runs from 8.30 till 11.30 and has previously been a resounding success. I will forward further details to interested individuals. Thank you.
We are doing really well with attendance so thank you.
Have a lovely weekend.
S Houseman
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Easter break up
Fri 04 Apr 2025Happy sunny Friday everyone!
We have reached the end of the spring term in fabulous fashion with our year 3 and 4 production. They made us all very proud!
All the children have worked extremely hard this term and their celebration results have reflected this. Well done to all the children for aiming high and showing great perseverance and resilience.
We are planning on holding our year 5 and 6 career's fair on Friday morning of the 27th June. If any parents, grand parents, aunts, uncles and so on, have a career that they would like to share please drop me an email with career's fair in the subject. I will then collect names and send more information nearer the time. If you want any more details please contact me. We usually have a really good range of skills/jobs on show to inspire our children, and I'm sure this year will be no different.
Today we say a fond farewell to Mrs Slater, who has worked in the school for 23 years! Most of you will know her as the office manager! We are very sorry to see her go but wish her all the very best and know she will make the most of her free time!
I wish you all a lovely Easter, see you all on the 22nd April.
S Houseman
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Friday updates
Fri 28 Feb 2025Happy Friday all! And the sun is finally shining!
A great first week back for spring term 2.
Firstly if you haven't read the previous update please do so as there were some useful bits of information.
We had a lovely class assembly this week from Mr Almeida's class who pulled it off in style even though they drew the short straw of doing it the first week after half term. The children were entertaining and confident and really showed off their oracy skills. The next class assembly is Miss Nadin's on the 13th March.
There are no INSET days in this half term and we finish on Friday 4th April.
Assessment week for all children except year 6, is the 17th of March. (the children will refer to this as celebration week, as this is when we celebrate all of their hard work and progress). They also get a 'real' celebration day at the end of the week.
Next week, on Thursday 6th March, we will celebrate world book day- the children can come as their favourite character or in their pyjamas. Sensible footwear please. There will also be a book fair after school in the hall from the 6th to the 11th, for children to purchase books with their parents.
Please remember to refer to your child's class pages for information about what they are learning each term, important dates etc. If you have any questions regarding your child's learning do check in with the class teacher. You can also find all our curriculum information on this website under key info-curriculum. if you scroll down you will find all the curriculum information for each subject.
Spring 1 behaviour was excellent with another improvement on last years' reflection attendance. We are very proud of how our children rise to our expectations.
We are looking forward to the rest of this term and hopefully more sunshine!
Have a lovely weekend.