Classrooms

Year 6 Message

1 month ago
Posted on 05th Mar 2026 by

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

2 months ago
Posted on 24th Feb 2026 by

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!

 

 

2 months ago
Posted on 23rd Feb 2026 by

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).

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2 months ago
Posted on 10th Feb 2026 by

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.

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2 months ago
Posted on 09th Feb 2026 by

Curriculum Governor Involvement

The Curriculum Governors met on 3rd February. The Child in Care Lead Teacher began by giving a detailed overview of the current situation in school and the extensive work taking place to support children who have experience of the care system. Governors then spoke sensitively with a child from this group and were pleased to hear that he feels safe and very well supported in school.

They also spoke with five other children and were reassured that they were receiving the support they needed to achieve and thrive.

The Governors received an update from a member of the Maths team and look forward to following up on several actions over the next few meetings.

Finally, the Governors reviewed performance data comparisons and were pleased to see that Newdale ranked highly in terms of the percentage of pupils achieving expected standards. Absence levels were also very favourable.

2 months ago
Posted on 05th Feb 2026 by

Red Nose Day – Friday 20th March 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.

Details on how to donate will be shared closer to the date.

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

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3 months ago
Posted on 26th Jan 2026 by

Safeguarding, Health & Safety Governors Involvement

The Health and Safeguarding governors met last week and spent a lot of time looking at the important topic of E safety. They received an update from our E safety lead which included hearing about our filtering and monitoring systems, our E Safety risk assessment and AI usage. They then went onto to interview a group of Year 6 pupils. They were impressed with the knowledge these children had in how to stay safe online.

The Governors also looked at our first aid procedures and checked our staff Single Central Record (SCR). They concluded the meeting by feeding back from their previous parent voice session linked to safeguarding. They plan to repeat this session in order to gain more feedback.