Welcome to the new school year!
It was wonderful to welcome new children and families to our school this week and reconnect with our 'existing' children.
It can be a little tricky getting back into routines after a summer break, but the children have all shown incredible resilience. We understand that there might be a few nerves and teething issues, so please keep in close contact with us so that we can offer support, as needed, to address these. We want all children to feel as settled and happy as possible so that they are well-placed for strong learning.
For our youngest children in the school, our new Reception groups, a very warm welcome too. I hope that your children have a very successful learning journey with us from this point on. After Zoom meetings and taster sessions, they started school on Thursday. They looked incredibly smart and largely excited about joining us. Next week, the Reception children will be staying for lunch - another exciting next step.
As you are aware, we are erring on the side of caution in terms of our risk assessment, but regardless, the children seemed genuinely happy to be back seeing their friends again and enjoying the slight relaxations that we have planned ie, some year groups are together for outside breaks, and we are doing indoor PE again. It is also good to see the children seated together in tables groups rather than lines.
New staff have also joined us and are really bringing strength to our great staff team. A very warm welcome to Miss Steph Forward teaching in Year 1 (and a member of the SLT supporting Reception and Year 1), Mrs Sarah Burdett in Year 2, Mr Andrew Rowantree in Year 5, Mr Niall Taylor in Year 5 and Mrs Vanessa Hinsley providing LSA support in Year 1. Miss Jess Hunting has also started with us on a part-time basis, teaching PE across the school. Following recruitment last week, we look forward to sharing information about our new Forest School Leader shortly and our new midday supervisors.
I am very conscious that I could go on and on as there is a lot to share, but perhaps I should just point out that our school calendar in the on the website and in the home school diary, and leave you for now!
As always, if you have any questions, comments or concerns, please share them. Open communication is very important to us.
Wishing you all a healthy, happy, fun and successful school year ahead.
Rachel Rice
Head teacher
head@deanshanger.northants-ecl.gov.uk
