A busy week this week which saw the school operating at full capacity, with pupils in all years groups from Year R through to Year 6 attending full time. We certainly do have a confident cohort of Early Years children this year, keen to dive right into everything on offer in the Reception classrooms and outdoor learning areas. Indeed, they fit the bill of being perfect newcomers to school life as they are only ever quiet on 2 occasions during the school day – story time and lunch time!
We have been able to make use of all our outdoor areas this week for break and lunch time play, giving pupils valuable opportunities in their year group bubbles to socialise and exercise in the fresh air. It is something of a miracle that we were able to dodge the downpours that beset us in the middle of the week.
Average attendance over the first 3 weeks of term sits at just over 96%. This is above the Government expectation of good attendance (measured at 95%) but short of our school minimum expectation of 97% over the course of the full school year. Information from the NHS and Public Health England has been shared by the school to help families distinguish between common seasonal ailments and Covid-19 symptoms, and as we get used to learning together in a school community again I look forward to our attendance figures rising over the coming weeks.
Don’t forget that Friday 2nd October is a staff Inset day and the school will be closed to pupils. They will be able to enjoy a 4 day week and, I am sure, a much needed long weekend to get over the hectic start to a busy autumn term.
Mr R Cunningham
Headteacher