Welcome back

Dear Parents/Carers,

We have had a wonderful start to this half term, helped along by some much‑appreciated sunshine. It really does make a big difference to our playtimes.

The children have settled beautifully back into class and are engaging with their learning straight away.

We are very much looking forward to the weeks ahead, especially with Newdale’s Got Talent beginning in March. More details will follow soon.

We truly value your support and see parents as partners in everything we do. If there is anything you would like to discuss, we offer a range of ways to get in touch:

 

  •             Class email – teachers check these regularly
  •             Home–school communication book – checked daily
  •             Teaching assistant on the door each morning
  •             Teacher available at the door after school
  •             The Newdale email: newdale.primary@taw.org.uk
  •             Telephone the office: 01952 387720
  •             Staff on duty – Pastoral team and Senior Managers

 

Thank you for your continued support.

Miss Cook

 

 

Get Ready for a World Book Day Book Swap Adventure!

After the amazing success of last year’s Book Swap Day, we’re bringing it back!

On Thursday 5th March, we’ll be running another second‑hand Book Swap Shop to celebrate World Book Day.

 How it works:
Children can bring in a book they’ve finished with (in good condition, please!) and swap it for another book. It’s a brilliant way to discover exciting books and share favourites with friends.

 Got spare books at home?
If you have any extra books you’d like to donate, we would be hugely grateful. Every extra book helps to ensure lots of children can take part.

If your child is taking part, please can they bring their old book/books into school on World Book Day on Thursday 5th March.

Children will swap books at their allotted time during the school day.

 Let’s make this World Book Day full of stories, surprises, and lots of happy readers!

 

 

World Book Day – Stories that Add Up

On Thursday 5th March, the children at Newdale will be celebrating World Book Day, alongside NSPCC Number Day.

Children will enjoy a range of fun activities that combine the magic of stories with the power of numbers. They can:

  • Take part in maths-themed reading challenges
  • Solve story-based puzzles and problems
  • Explore books that bring maths to life

Dress-Up Theme:
Children are welcome to dress as their favourite book character or get creative with a maths-inspired costume (numbers, shapes, patterns – let their imagination run wild).

World Book Day Potato Character Competition – Where Stories Get Spud-Tacular!

To celebrate World Book Day on Thursday 5th March 2026, we are inviting children to take part in a fun and creative competition at home.

 What to do:
Create a book character using a potato from home. Children can decorate their potato using craft materials, costumes, or props to represent a character from a favourite book.

Here are a few examples:

  • A potato dressed as Harry Potter with glasses and a lightning scar
  • A Matilda potato holding a tiny book
  • A Mr Men / Little Miss potato painted bright colours
  • A Gruffalo potato with felt ears and tusks
  • A simple potato with paper eyes and a drawn-on costume

 Please bring the finished potato character into school on: Thursday 5th March 2026

There will be prizes awarded for creativity and effort.

This activity is completely optional, but we hope lots of children will enjoy taking part. Please support your child in a way that suits your family, and remember that simple ideas are just as wonderful as detailed ones.

Thank you for helping us make World Book Day a fun and memorable celebration.

 

 

 

Tree Danger

Please can we ask parents and children to be extra careful when walking around by the top gate area due to the fallen tree.

This was reported straight after the snow storm however we are yet to receive an inspection of the tree from the local authority. We have reported it again.

We have noticed children playing on and around the tree, please can we ask parents to ensure children stay away from the area as we are concerned about the stability of the tree.

Dress down for World Mental Health Week – tomorrow

To help us celebrate World Mental Health Week, Thursday 12th February will be a “Comfort Day.” Children are welcome to come to school wearing something comfortable, this could be joggers, a favourite hoodie, or any outfit that helps them feel relaxed and ready to learn.

REMINDER – Stay & Share Session – today

We would like to invite you to our Stay and Share session on Wednesday 11th February at 2:45pm.

Please enter your child’s classroom through their usual drop-off/pick-up route:

Reception, Year 2, Year 3 and Year 5 – enter via the playground classroom doors

Year 1 and Mrs Everall’s class – enter via the decking area

Mr Stubbs’ class – enter via the stairs by the Visitor Car Park

Playground gates will open at 2:45pm.

Due to limited space, we can only accommodate one parent/carer per child. Please confirm your attendance through ParentPay, so staff know how many parents to expect.

For this event, the children will remain in their classrooms. If you have more than one child in school, you will be able to move between classrooms and spend time with each of them individually.

We look forward to seeing you, and the children are excited to share their learning with you!

 

Finance and Personnel Governor Involvement

The Finance and Personnel Governors met on 9th February. They listened to a data update from the assessment lead and then focused in particular on Pupil Premium Grant (PPG) eligible pupil data. They were reassured that PPG children have a strong focus this year through targeted interventions and pastoral support.

The Governors examined this year’s budget closely, along with the year‑end predictions for next year. They discussed the ongoing pressures created by the high number of pupils with complex needs and the impact this continues to have on the budget.

They also reviewed the proposed staffing structure for next year and were satisfied that it reflects what the school can afford while remaining aligned with the needs of the school.

Arbor

Please can we remind any parents that have not yet signed up to the Arbor app to please do so to ensure you are receiving regular communication from school. The app has replaced our previous text message service so is therefore being used to share any updates and important information with parents.

An email was sent at the start of this half term with instructions on how to set up the app. If you require this email to be sent again, please get in touch with the school office.

Thank you