Parents' Area

Updates

Friday 13th March, 2026

How Arbor Uses AI to Support Our School

At Newdale, we use the Arbor Management Information System (MIS) to help manage pupil information securely and efficiently. Arbor now includes optional AI‑powered tools that help staff complete tasks more quickly — such as data analysis, drafting messages, or finding information inside the system.

Below explains clearly how AI processes data, where it goes, and how Arbor keeps your child’s information safe.

  1. Your Child’s Data Remains Protected

Arbor confirms that any student or staff data processed by Arbor AI is not stored, not retained, and not used to train AI models. [support.ar…cation.com]

Only the minimum information required to complete a specific task is processed.

  1. How the AI Process Works

When a member of staff uses an AI feature in Arbor:

  1. Arbor checks permissions
    Arbor first checks what information the staff member is allowed to access within the MIS. [support.ar…cation.com]
  2. Only necessary data is sent for processing
    Arbor sends only the data needed for that specific task to the AI model (for example, attendance numbers for a summary). [platform.s…areone.com]
  3. AI produces a result
    The AI generates an output — such as a summary, draft message, or data insight — and sends it straight back into Arbor MIS.
  4. Data does NOT leave Arbor systems permanently
    Arbor operates within UK‑hosted environments and maintains strict agreements to ensure data is handled securely and legally. [platform.s…areone.com]
  1. Fully Compliant With UK Data Protection Laws

Arbor states that all AI features comply fully with:

  • UK GDPR
  • Data Protection Act 2018
  • Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulations (PECR)

This ensures data is processed lawfully, fairly, and transparently. [support.ar…cation.com]

  1. No AI Decisions Affect Students Automatically

AI in Arbor is used only as a support tool.
It helps staff by providing suggestions, summaries, or draft information.

All decisions affecting students — including attendance, safeguarding, behaviour, or academic matters — are always made by school staff, not by AI.

  1. What AI in Arbor Can Do

Examples of helpful tasks Arbor AI supports include:

  • Drafting messages for staff to review
  • Creating quick summaries about attendance or learning
  • Helping staff find information quickly
  • Offering guidance when setting up school processes
    [platform.s…areone.com]

These tools save staff time so they can focus more on children and learning.

  1. What AI in Arbor Does Not Do
  • It does not make decisions about children
  • It does not store or keep copies of your child’s information
  • It does not use school data to train external AI systems
    [support.ar…cation.com]
Thursday 12th March, 2026

Newdale’s Got Talent – Reception – Y5

Newdale’s Got Talent Auditions is back on ParentPay to nominate your child to take part in the class auditions taking place tomorrow afternoon (Friday 13th March)

If your child would like to audition, please log on to ParentPay to nominate them. The deadline for nominating is Friday 13th March at 9am.

Thursday 12th March, 2026

A Gentle Reminder About Dogs at the School Gates (front and back)

We kindly ask parents and carers not to wait directly outside the school gates with their dogs, even if the dog is calm and well‑behaved.

While many children love animals, some pupils experience significant anxiety around dogs. For these children, even seeing a dog—no matter how friendly—can feel overwhelming before they have even stepped into school.

Thank you for your understanding

The Newdale Team

 

Thursday 12th March, 2026

NSPCC- Supporting Children with their Technology use

As a school, we want to support you in helping your child use technology safely and appropriately at home. The NSPCC link below provides age‑specific guidance to help you understand what kind of device use is suitable and how to keep them safe online.

Children and technology: Age-appropriate usage advice | NSPCC

The link explains:

  • What types of technology and online activities are appropriate for under‑5s, under‑10s, pre‑teens and teens.
  • How to use tools like parental controls, supervised access, and child‑friendly apps to keep young children safe.
  • How to decide whether a child is ready for their own device, such as a first mobile phone.
  • How to continue ongoing conversations about online safety as children become more independent.

 

Should you need any further support or advice with this, please speak with your child’s class teacher.

 

Friday 6th March, 2026

Achievement Assembly

Friday 6th March 2026 

Year 3 Spotlight 

This week in Year 3, the children visited the local Gurdwara to immerse themselves in the Sikh religion. They were lucky enough to have a delicious meal and learn about their way of life. They also had a great World Book Day with a maths theme where they designed their own supervillain and used smarties to help them learn fractions.

Please see previous posts on our fabulous World Book Day activities across the school – thank you to everyone for taking part and we can’t wait to do it again next year! 

 

The Newdale Cup winners who will have a special treat next week:  

With two nominations, both Year 3 classes will be enjoying a special treat next week. They represented our school brilliantly by showing mutual respect to other religions while on the trip to the Gurwara.  

 

House Points 

This week, Wrekin lead the way with an impressive 400 points. Well done, Wrekin! 

Achievers of the week: 

Year 6 achievers: Tiana for some amazing “estate agent speak” within her chance to shine writing. Charlie for his excellent estate agent speech in our talk for writing lesson.  

Year 5 achievers: Tiger-Lily for really inventive and enthusiastic writing at home and creating an excellent World Book Day potato scene. April for always working so hard and engaging in all lessons.  

Year 4 achievers: Jack for having a fantastic attitude to learning and working really hard on his Chance to Shine. Louie for working hard on his descriptive narrative about the Firebird and for a mature and positive attitude.  

Year 3 achievers: Yasmin for always trying her best in every lesson and showing lovely manners! Noah for trying his very best this week in all his lessons and being super on our class trip.  

Year 2 achievers: Eve Millward for her incredible effort in maths and literacy his week. She used lots of adjectives and exciting vocabulary in her Chance to Shine about the Outback. Harry Davies for being so kind to his friends, a mature role model and being such a pleasure to have in class. 

Year 1 achievers: Oscar for his amazing progress in writing. Not just the quality of his work but the quantity, presentation and use of phonics. Very proud of his independence. Ana for working hard in all her lessons and completing work to the best of her ability. Ana completed an excellent Chance to Shine and remembered all the things needed for ‘good quality writing’.  

Year R achievers: Thanos for an absolutely wonderful week, working hard, listening and for having kind hands. Oliver for amazing independent work this week and listening carefully to adult instructions. 

 

Readers of the week – these children were entered into our weekly reading raffle: 

Year 6 readers: Jesse for a wonderful reading week filled with facts. Toby for a concerted effort to read more and making good use of his time in ASC to ensure 5 reads. 

Year 5 readers: Matilda and for role-modelling a week of detailed, descriptive reads. 

Year 4 readers: Marvin for a fantastic vipers question this week. Kaiden Bosson-Taylor for reading with great expression. 

Year 3 readers: Bella for showing a great improvement in her completion of homework.  

Astrid for completing her phonics programme and always having an ‘I can do attitude’. Well, done.  

Year 2 readers: Harriet for fantastic reading over half term! It is clear you have a love for reading. Theodore for reading 3 times this week and showing a renewed commitment to reading at home. 

Year 1 readers: Freddie for consistent reading every night. James for reading every night this week. 

Attendance Winners 2nd – 6th March 2026

Winner of Reception, Year 1, Year 2 and Year 3

Miss Watson = 97.67%

Winner of Year 4, Year 5 and Year 6

Mr Jackson = 100%

Friday 6th March, 2026

🌟 Newdale’s Got Talent is Coming! 🌟

Get ready, Newdale… because the stage is set, the lights are waiting, and we are beyond excited to announce that Newdale’s Got Talent is officially returning!

This dazzling event is the perfect chance for our amazing children to shine and share their wonderful talents. Whether it’s telling hilarious jokes, playing the piano, showing off football tricks, dancing, singing or something totally unique—we can’t wait to see what they bring to the stage!

Please use ParentPay to nominate your child to take part in the class auditions for Newdale’s Got Talent which will take place on the following dates:

Reception – Year 5 – Friday 13th March 2026

Year 6 – Wednesday 11th March 2026 (please note, there will be no nature walk for Year 6 on this day)

Please confirm on ParentPay what talent/skill your child will be sharing and if they will be using any equipment/costume for their act.

All children who are nominated will take part in class auditions for their chance to progress to the next round.

More details regarding the semi finals and the grand final will be shared in the coming weeks.

We cannot WAIT to see the talent Newdale has to offer this year!

 

 

Friday 6th March, 2026

Comic Relief – Red Nose Day 2026

Newdale will once again be taking part in Red Nose Day on Friday 20th March 2026.

Children are invited to dress down for the day and wear red if they wish.

Parents/carers can donate using the following link

Comic Relief Nose Day 2026

 

Please see link below regarding how to purchase a red nose.

The Red Nose | Comic Relief

Please note that school will not be selling red noses.

Thank you for your support.

Thursday 5th March, 2026

World Book Day Magic at School!

What an amazing World Book Day we’ve had today! Our school was filled with colour, creativity, and excitement as children and staff arrived in their fantastic book and numbers-themed outfits. From heroic adventurers to whimsical storybook favourites, it was wonderful to see so many characters brought to life in our corridors.

Throughout the day, everyone took part in a range of fun, book‑related activities, celebrating the joy of reading and the power of imagination.

A huge highlight was our “Spudtacular” Potato Character Competition!  The entries were incredibly inventive, and it was brilliant to see how creatively the children transformed their potatoes into beloved characters. In class, children voted for their favourite potato characters. Miss Cook and Miss Macfarlane then looked at all the entries as they decided which potato would gain first prize for each year group. Please see attachment to see our winners.

The overall year group winners have won a book token to buy a new book of their choice; second place runners up have received an edible Easter treat.

We also enjoyed a hugely successful Book Swap, with children eagerly choosing “new-to-them” stories to take home. It was fantastic to see so much excitement around sharing and discovering books.

 

Thank you to all the children, families and staff for the enthusiasm, effort and joy you brought to the day. Fun was had by children and staff alike, making this a World Book Day to remember!

Look out for more information about how we will be celebrating ‘Get Caught Reading Month’ in May. We will be asking for photographs of children reading in different places. We look forward to seeing some unusual entries!

Here’s to celebrating stories today and every day!

Miss Cook and Miss Macfarlane

 

Potat

Potato Competition