As a Governing Body, we would like to thank all of the parents that took the time to complete a survey this term.   This year we had 231 surveys completed and returned to school and nursery.  Every survey completed has been read and analysed by our senior management team who then created the following report, outlining the main findings and actions.  Findings from the surveys, including comments made by parents, have been shared with all teachers and we then came up with the actions to be addressed over the year.

1. How happy are you that we are a welcoming and supportive team?

231 people responded (96% graded as good or better)

Very happy, my son is new to Newdale school and I have been happy with how welcoming and supportive his teachers have been.

I would feel comfortable in approaching any team member with any comments or concerns.

My daughter loves seeing Miss Cook especially when she says good morning to her.

The teachers always go out of their way to help with any issues we may have.

Occasionally when collecting from after school club I have been questioned why I have rung and not used the barrier buzzer.  Felt a little confrontational.

ACTION:

We were very pleased to read so many positive comments about the Newdale team. We will continue to have staff on duty at the beginning and end of each day. The procedure for picking up children from After School Club is as follows. If you pick up before 4.30pm please press the barrier buzzer and inform the office staff you have arrived. Or if you are walking on-site then call the office on 01952 387720 before 4.30pm. We can then get your child ready to meet you at the office door for a quick pick up. If you pick up after 4.30pm please come to the doors at the back of the hall. Do not press the barrier buzzer or phone the school in advance. It is important that you follow this system as our office is unmanned after 4.30pm.

2. How happy are you that your child is safe at school?

230 people responded (97% graded as good or better)

Very, the school are excellent with safeguarding both in school and at home.

Yes and one of the most important things as a parent is knowing your child is safe at an environment their parents are not at.

Newdale’s safe environment promotes social and creative learning. Kids can explore, learn and grow.

I do feel of a morning that the year 1 steps should have a member of staff there as sometimes my daughter has run back out of class.

I wish that the year 1 classrooms weren’t up steps as they are quite young to have to navigate up and down on their own with all of their stuff. 

100% confident that he is in the very best hands.

It is obvious that Newdale have a lot of things put in place to ensure my child is safe; from passwords, to external gates as well as additional members of staff in class to allow the children to be let out and met with the correct adult.

ACTION:

The safety of your children is of great importance for us all at Newdale and it is great to know that you recognise the procedures we have in place to ensure everyone is safe. We will ensure there is a member of staff present each morning at the Year 1 steps to ensure they are coming into school safely.

3. How happy is your child to come to school each day? e.g are they excited, motivated and challenged by their teacher?

231 people responded (92% graded as good or better)

He can’t wait to get in and is always bursting to tell me about all the fun things he has been learning about.

My daughter is so excited to come to school and see her teachers, even those who don’t work in her classroom. She will come home each day and talk about the exciting things she has done.

My son loves nursery and is always excited to attend. He is already being challenged with his reading which I am very happy with.

ACTION:

Teachers will continue to plan exciting and interesting lessons to make school engaging and enjoyable for everyone. Please can we ask that parents support us by talking positively about school, to encourage all pupils to be as excited as we are about the learning that is going on every day.

4. Is your child happy with the PE sessions they receive in school?

226 people responded (94% graded as good or better)

She loves PE. There is a wide variety of skills and sports and she is proud to represent Newdale in football.

PE teachers are friendly and have a good relationship with students

The children are very lucky to be given so much variation and staff are very enthusiastic.

My son always looks forward to his swimming sessions. Wish it could be for more than just 5 weeks.

My daughter enjoys sharing the new skills she has been taught in PE, showing the correct techniques and using the correct vocabulary.

ACTION:

The PE lessons the children receive at Newdale are of a high standard. We know this as PE teaching is regularly monitored to ensure it is taught at an accurate level, in line with the National Curriculum. We are so pleased to read that children at Newdale enjoy PE sessions and are able to share new skills and techniques with you at home. We are very lucky to offer our children swimming lessons when they are in KS2. Due to pool availability, we are unable to extend the amount of swimming sessions each class receives every academic year. We rely on parents supporting our swimming offer by taking children as regularly as they can themselves.

5. Are you happy with your child’s progress in school?

229 people responded (94% graded as good or better)

Very pleased, she continues to thrive both academically and as a person. She is always pushed to do her best.

Absolutely – he is supported with his development across all areas of the curriculum as well as his social and emotional development.

My son is a bit behind, but I know with the support at home and school he will be where he needs to be soon.

He is improving so much in his writing, spelling and his speech. I can’t wait for more!

ACTION:

Teachers work very hard with keeping parents as up to date as possible with regards to progress.  Each half term every year group shares with parents a curriculum overview which shows what your child will be taught for that half term. These are shared on our website and in the home communication books. This is the best place for parents to refer to so you can talk to your child about their learning at home. Class Teachers also send home half termly updates and Early Years Staff share progress electronically via ‘Evidence Me’ app. We also share your child’s progress and next steps every 6 weeks through parents evenings, half termly reports in the communication books and end of year reports.

6. If you have a child with special educational needs, how happy are you with the support they receive?

47 people responded (94% graded as good or better)

My daughter’s medical need has been taken seriously and is fully supported.

Yes happy. Previous issues with hearing are still being considered.

The additional lessons and smaller teaching groups are really helping.

My son has been referred and it is lovely knowing additional support is there.

We have an agreed plan in place which is being followed well.

ACTION:

Teachers meet with our Special Educational Needs & Disability (SEND) co-ordinator every term to discuss the progress and learning needs of every child in their class. If we decide your child needs to be assessed or added to the SEND register, then parents are informed.  Parents are welcome to discuss any support their child is receiving with the class teachers during parents evening or with the SENDCO during the termly SEND drop in sessions. Alternatively, the SENDCO (Mrs Poole) also now has an individual email address and emails can be sent to NewdaleSENDCO@taw.org.uk if you wish to request a meeting or have any queries.

7. Are you happy with school/home communication?

231 people responded (91% graded as good or better)

Communication is great, I enjoy reading feedback from his teacher and teaching assistant about work he has completed.

Emails are received a day late sometimes leading to missed information.

Some schools work with things like Class Dojo which allow parents to see how children are doing each day – day to day feedback on individual children is rare at Newdale.  It tends to be if nothing is said then all must be good.

It would be beneficial for class homework and spellings to be on the website weekly so that when children are absent they can catch up.

Would be nice to see pictures on the website of what the kids do on a regular basis.

The main downfall of telephone parents’ consultations is you don’t get to see your child’s work.

The home communication book is good but an app would be better as my son often forgets his book!

Generally yes but sometimes it is hard to keep track of school website updates.  Perhaps class WhatsApp groups might help.

This year so far there have been less notices about school events on the website and in the calendar.

Some bits of information are communicated via the home book while others are put on the website – it makes it harder to keep track!

We miss being able to see his work!

We love the photos on evidence me app but doesn’t seem to update regularly and we’re waiting 3-4 weeks at a time.

ACTION:

It is great to hear how successful the home/school communication books are, and we will continue to use these throughout nursery and school. Teachers regularly use the school website to communicate about events coming up and to share photos of the children learning. To receive email notifications for your child’s year group, please sign up to the newsletter on the website and select the year groups your children are in. It is also important to ensure the office have an up-to-date mobile number so you are able to receive text messages from school. We are currently investigating other apps, such as Edu Spot, to see whether this is something Newdale could introduce in the future. Please be aware that the ‘Evidence Me’ app is only used in Nursery and Reception.

8. Do you feel there is a good range of subjects available in school?

226 people responded (96% graded as good or better)

Yes and we like that they tie in with what is current in the world.

Lots of cross curricular links that make the children’s learning more relevant.

I love the fact that they do French in KS2!

Lots covered which is much appreciated as there is so much to fit in. But it is so important that it is not always just Literacy and Maths as children excel at different things/enjoy a range of subjects.

Yes, I feel money could be taught as when you’re an adult sometimes money management can be difficult at times.

Yes, I have read the range of subjects covered each half term and I feel there is a good mix/variety that teach the children things in day-to-day life.

The school ensures all subjects in the National Curriculum are covered to a high standard so that deeper and more purposeful learning takes place.

ACTION:

We have done a lot of work on updating our curriculum recently, in line with Government changes, and we believe that children at Newdale receive a broad and balanced curriculum offer. We agree that it is important that children are given the opportunity to excel in a range of subjects. Money is taught as part of our Life Learning lessons.

9. How do you feel about how we promote good behaviour in school?

228 people responded (94% graded as good or better)

My daughter is always proud when she is recognised for good behaviour. It’s great to hear as it gives incentive and confidence.

My child understands why good behaviour is important.

We all hear about the SMART code at home.

Even at 4 years old, my daughter can clearly communicate some of the behaviour management strategies Newdale has in place.

I do think it would be nice if the house points were rewarded in a different way. A non-uniform day isn’t as exciting as it used to be.

We feel there is always staff around the school who will remind pupil’s of how to behave (if needed). The discussions in class also promote good behaviour in school.

ACTION:

It is lovely to read how effective the SMART code is and how the children are using these key principles outside of school as well. When a child starts at our school a behaviour code of conduct letter is sent out to new parents so they can understand the behaviour systems we have in place at school. Please be reassured that if your child’s behaviour is a concern that day, then the class teacher will speak about this to the adult who picks the child up.  Your child’s teacher will always be happy to discuss any concerns regarding behaviour at school if you speak to them at the door or through the communication book. We will consider a new reward for the half termly house point winners – watch this space!

10. ‘We say NO to bullying.’ How happy are you that this statement reflects our school?

227 people responded (94% graded as good or better)

My son has had very bad experiences with specific children bullying him but we are glad that the school has always handled it and took proper actions.

I feel school pastoral have been very efficient in dealing with such issues and diffusing them.

Any concerns have been dealt with quickly. Felt I was listened to and that the outcome was positive.

Pastoral have been amazing at dealing with a bullying incident.  It was sorted immediately with no repercussions.

ACTION:

We are delighted with the outcome of this question! We will continue to work hard on educating children about what bullying is and what
to do if they witness or become a victim of bullying, including online bullying. We have a zero-tolerance attitude towards this and take any hint of bullying very seriously.

11. How happy are you with our additional learning experiences, such as trips, visitors and themed days?

227 people responded (91% graded as good or better)

Lots of different trips/themed days – always something going on.

Very happy, it makes learning fun and different which helps memories to be formed and learning to be stored for later.

Since attending Newdale, my son has had some great experiences whereas at his old school this would not be something that was regular.

It would be lovely if they could catch up with missed events/trips.

Children enjoy learning through experiences and remember more. They talk about these in more depth which is just wonderful.

Really happy, my son is still talking about the gurdwara visit.

Great – this is one of the main reasons we chose Newdale – learning outside the classroom.

ACTION:

At Newdale we know the importance of making learning fun, engaging and memorable. We are pleased to read that the themed days and trips are well received by the children and that it helps them to retain facts. Due to COVID, some school trips can still not go ahead this term however staff are trying to get visitors into school and continue themed days where possible. It would be fantastic if we could catch up with all of the trips the children have missed over the last two academic years, due to COVID. However, this would prove very difficult and it is important for trips to link to the child’s current learning.

12. Are you happy that we are promoting healthy eating and lifestyles?

227 people responded (92% graded as good or better)

I’m happy that at snack time children are only allowed to take fruit out for snack, this does not happen at all schools.

My child has a brilliant understanding of these and continues to think about it at home too.

Is ‘homemade bread’ actually served?

We are very happy about promoting healthy eating but you serve them processed food, e.g. sausages, burgers, nuggets or they get pizza.  I would not say these are healthy eating. Having processed foods all the time sets them up for junk eating when they are older.  Soup might be a good option in the cold weather.

Some of the school meals are odd, e.g. macaroni cheese with rice.

Lunchtime supervisors have said to my daughter “Leave what you don’t want”, sometimes resulting in very little being eaten.

After school snacks and breakfast club and desserts everyday could be better – too many sugary options.  Themed days in school could include less sweets and sugar.

More education on what a healthy lunchbox looks like for parents and children.

ACTION:

Our catering team have to abide by the Telford and Wrekin guidelines when designing the school menu to ensure that each meal is healthy and nutritious.  We have recently introduced some extra staff, the lunchtime mentors, in the dinner hall at lunchtimes to help the children when eating and to encourage them to try new foods. Our after school club snack offer had to change due to COVID however we will be reviewing this offer again in the new year and will consider some healthier options. We are pleased to announce that the Eatwell Project has been booked in for Spring term. This provides children with the opportunity to work with a professional cook and learn cooking techniques. Each child will have the chance to cook a healthy dish, which can then be made again at home with the recipe provided. Alongside this, every year group completes one ‘Cooking and Nutrition’ topic as part of our Design and Technology provision, and teachers work really hard to plan exciting and engaging cross-curricular activities, including tasting and cooking, throughout the year. Please see our website for ideas on what should be included in a healthy lunchbox.

13. What do you feel about the events we organise in school? E.g. Sports Day, Winter Wonderland etc…..?

220 people responded (91% graded as good or better)

Love them! I love being a part of the learning and the children remember it forever.

Sports day is great but would like to see it last longer and maybe new races alongside traditional ones.

Love these and would love to come in at any opportunity for family lunches etc.

ACTION:

We are excited to be reintroducing family events, such as family sharing lunches and Winter Wonderland, after a long break due to COVID. We understand that parents are keen to get into school to see children’s work and for some new parents to see inside our school. We can assure you that as soon as it is safe to do so, these events will go ahead.

14. We post regular E-safety top tips on the school website. How happy are you that these support you and your children with online safety at home?

227 people responded (94% graded as good or better)

Happy, sometimes new games that we haven’t heard of before are on these posts and it helps us to keep an eye out for them.

Very happy.  The information is very useful as this is so important.

Great advice shared – always relevant to current issues.

Very helpful.  They highlight things I have never thought of myself.

Didn’t even know these were on the website!

They always give accurate, up-to-date guidance which is always welcome to ensure my children are safe online.

ACTION:

We are pleased that you find the e-safety top tips useful and we will continue with these in the future. To receive regular email updates, please sign up to our school website newsletter.  With technology changing all of the time, it is vitally important that you monitor what your child is accessing at home and on their mobile phone.  We are here to support you with any issues your child is having online and if more advice is needed please speak to a class teacher or our pastoral team.

15. 2021 has seen ongoing upheaval due to COVID-19. We work tirelessly to ensure we keep everyone safe and understand that communication is key.  Please share with us any comments you have about how your child has started their year.

The staff should be commended for how hard they work to reassure and support little minds in such an unsettled time.

My daughter has come on so much being back at school and in a routine.

Would love an email about who are his teachers in nursery. We have not been able to visit and meet everyone yet.

I am very pleased with how my son has settled into nursery, particularly as he has not been away from myself before.  I feel this is down to the fantastic, caring staff. Thank you!

ACTION:

We are pleased and proud to read that so many children have settled well into their new classes so well this academic year, especially the little ones who are new to school and/or nursery.

Any further comments

Thank you for a lovely start to the year. School life is a massive chunk of their time so more than anything I value their happiness. My son is very happy so I am very appreciative! I know he is in a great school with great staff.

Road safety needs to be addressed with children and parents as people are crossing after the beeping and when the traffic lights have turned green.

We would love more after school opportunities like ‘Mad Science Club’, my son loves STEM subjects and so we would like to see this come back please.

Extra-curricular clubs such as computer club and ukulele club have gone down a treat. Our son is also looking forward to cartoon drawing club. It is wonderful to see more unusual subjects offered and a bonus that they are free.

School seems to be very manual.  It could do with a bit of automation in terms of Zoom for parents evenings or using SeeSaw systems for rewarding good behaviour.

Disappointed that no face to face parents evening was offered.

It would be great to have the opportunity to actually see the school and the environment.  We understand this is due to COVID but hopefully this will happen soon.

ACTION:

Thank you for letting us know about the road safety, we will address this in assemblies with the children. As parents, we ask you to model to the children how to behave around roads and when using crossings. We are pleased that the new club offers have been gratefully received. Teachers have many other clubs to offer this academic year so keep your eyes peeled for more information about these. We are hoping to offer face-to-face parents evening appointments in Spring term and also other opportunities for you to see your child’s work, for example family sharing lunches. These events will resume as soon as it is deemed as safe to do so.

And to end…

A wonderful school, never had any issues, the children are really at the heart of everything you do.

I fully support Newdale. Great school with brilliant leadership and very supportive staff. My son thrives at school and is both challenged and motivated to achieve his full potential.

We really do read every single word that you write in this annual survey and where possible take whatever necessary actions are needed to make our school even better.

Many thanks for the time you took to fill a survey in.

Miss Cook and School Governors