Dear North Tawton Families and Friends,
As I teach and visit classes I am always impressed with how focused the children are on learning. This week our classes have been getting stuck in to their new history and RE topics, discovering ne books in English lessons and securing number facts in maths. Our Year six pupils have completed assessments in reading, maths and spelling, punctuation and grammar so we can target exactly what they need to learn this year. I enjoyed hearing children practicing songs for the Whiddon Down Music Festival and seeing children outside (between rain showers!) with our SAINTS coaches.
In nursey, I was struck by how quickly and easily our newest school members have settled into the rhythms and routines of their early school experience. Nursey is the foundation of all we learn, and it is always a delight to be part of their hands on independent discovery. As I watched them explore their learning environment, engage with adult led activities and choose their own, I remembered this poem, by the American minister Robert Fulghum from his book
All I Ever Really Needed to Know I Learned in Kindergarten (Kindergarten being the American word for nursery, from the German ‘Children’s Garden’)
​
“All of what I really need to know about how to live, and what to do, and how to be, I learned in Kindergarten. Wisdom was not at the top of the graduate school mountain, but there in the sandbox at nursery school.
These are the things I learned…
Share everything.
Play fair.
Don’t hit people.
Put things back where you found them.
Clean up your own mess.
Don’t take things that aren’t yours.
Say sorry when you hurt somebody.
Wash your hands before you eat.
Flush.
Warm cookies and cold milk are good for you. Give them to someone who feels sad.
Live a balanced life.
Learn some and think some and draw and paint and sing and dance and play and work every day.
Take a nap every afternoon.
Be aware of wonder.
Remember the little seed in the plastic cup? The roots go down and the plant goes up and nobody really knows how or why, but we are all like that.
Everything you need to know is in there somewhere.
And it is still true, no matter how old you are, when you go out into the world, it is best to hold hands and stick together.”
 
I also reflected on the advice form Roald Dahl - newer grow up, always down! 
Our nursery is a wonderful space! If you know people with pre school children, please encourage them to contact the school for a visit. 

FONTS – Friends of North Tawton
At the FONTS AGM we elected a full committee:
Chair – Philippa Crisp
Vice Chair – Lucy Barzotelli
Secretary – Becci Arscott
Treasurer – Wayne Arscott
Thank you to these volunteers and to those who attended to make sure they could be elected!
I am delighted that FONTS will continue to run, with your support they can organise activities and events to raise money and build community. Please follow on Facebook to keep up with FONTS news. 

Thank You!
Thank you to the Fountain Inn for choosing FONTS for the pub quiz month ad raising a much appreciated £90

Attendance

​Congratulations Acorns, Beech, Willow and Sycamore for being over 98% Unfortunately, we have had some bugs doing the rounds. Hopefully our poorly children and feeling much better now.
 
Clothing
With the weather reminding us that Autumn is around the corner, please make sure children come to school every day with a jumper / cardigan and a waterproof coat! Please write names in clothes! This will help us make sure clothes are returned to the right children and reduce our collection of lost property.
 
Congratulations
Congratulations to Team NT who walked from Barnstable to Braunton (over 10 miles) on Sunday morning to raise funds for our local charity Families in Grief. Here they are at the end of the walk - still smiling!
Thank you to all who sponsored them. 

Dates for the diary
 Dates in red are new or times have been confirmed. We will add events to this a term ahead to give parents plenty of notice to make at0rrangements to attend. 

September
📚 Class Meetings
Monday 16 at 5pm – Parents of Y4 / Y5 Hazel
Tuesday 17 at 5pm – Parents of Y6 Sycamore
🤝 Tuesday 17 at 7pm - FONTS MEETING at The White Hart, North Tawton 
🎶 Thursday 19 - Whiddon Down Music Festival 
📸 Friday 20 - Individual and Sibling Photographs with PerriKhoo Photography
 
October
🍂 Thursday 24 at 2pm - Harvest Service at the church 
🧑‍🌾 Half Term - Scarecrow Trail 
⭐ Monday 28 - Sunday 3 November - Half term break (inclusive)
 
November
📚 Monday 4 - Back to school 
 
December
🎅 Sunday 1 - Santa Run
🎶 Thursday 12 at 2pm - Christingle Service led by Y6 pupils at the church
🎄 Friday 13 - Christmas Market at North Tawton Church from 3.30pm
🎅 Tuesday 17 at 2pm - Christmas Performances by Reception, Y1 and Year 2
🎅Wednesday 18 at 4pm - Christmas Performances by Reception, Y1 and Year 2
🎶 Thursday 19 at 10am - Carols in the hall 
⭐ Monday 23 - Monday 6 January - Christmas Holidays (inclusive)
 
January
📚 Tuesday 7 - Back to school 
 
February
⭐ Monday 17 - Sunday 23 - Half term break (inclusive)
📚 Monday 24 - Back to school 
 
March

April
⭐ Friday 4 - Monday 21 - Easter Holidays (inclusive)
📚 Tuesday 22 - Back to school 
 
May
⭐ Monday 5 - May Day Bank Holiday 
⭐ Monday 26 - Sunday 1 June - Half term break (inclusive)
 
June 
📚 Monday 2 - Back to school 
 
July
⭐ Wednesday 16 - LAST DAY OF TERM
⭐ Thursday 17 onward - Summer Holidays 
 
 Wishing you all a great week ahead 
Tara Penny
Principal 

Dear North Tawton Friends and Families,

Welcome back to school everyone! And a very warm welcome to our new families.
We have had a very smooth start to the year. It’s been great to welcome the children, hear their news and see them settle so quickly into their new classes and school routines.  Our new Nursery children had a staggered start so they could become familiar with the setting, we look forward to welcoming back the full group next week.  We also welcome back our SAINTS sport coaches who provide top notch lessons for our children. They will be in touch regarding after school clubs.

Role Models
In assembly we shared stories from the Olympics and Paralympics and looked to these athletes for inspiration about how we can be ready for the term ahead. We agreed that high attendance and being on time, active listening, trying our best and having courage and perseverance will all help us to be the best that we can be.

Start of the day
Gates open at 8.40am and learning starts at 8.45. Please make every effort to be on time as the ensures a smooth start to the day. We keep the gate open for our bus arrivals but aim to close at 8.50am.

Communication
If you need to report a pupil absence, please either telephone the school or email on each day of absence, this is to bring all schools in the DMAT in line with reporting absence. Communication will be going out through Arbor in the future, if you haven’t downloaded the app yet and need an activation email sent to you, please let us know.

School Meals
Please remember to book school dinners in advance.  If you are not sure if you qualify for Free School Meals even if you currently are in KS1 please apply. You have nothing to lose and your child and the school benefit.

Jewellery and Hairstyles
In the interests of safety, we do not allow children to wear jewellery in school. If ears have been pierced, studs may be worn. These should be removed/taped over before swimming. We encourage children to be independent individuals, however we request parents to consider the impact of fashion on their child’s learning and social development and ask parents to ensure their children do not wear inappropriate hairstyles or fashion items to school. Long hair should be tied back for both safety and hygiene reasons. Watches are allowed, but not ones with access to internet, games, or phones.

Healthy snacks
We are a healthy eating school and as such expect snacks to be sent in that are healthy. These can include, fruit, carrot/cucumber sticks. Please visit the NHS better health page Healthier snacks – Food facts – Healthier Families – NHS (www.nhs.uk) for some ideas.

Internet safety
We promote the safe, responsible and positive use of digital technology through the school curriculum, assemblies and school displays. The UK Safer Internet Centre – a partnership of three leading charities; Childnet, the South West Grid for Learning and the Internet Watch Foundation – provide resources for children, schools and families, and tools for getting involved at www.saferinternetday.org.uk.  Innocent searches online can lead to not so innocent results. But parental controls can help keep your child safe. The NSPCC website has step by step instructions for setting up parental controls. Please see our website for links and advice. Technology changes and develops all the time so is important that we keep up to date with the best ways to keep our children safe.  If you have questions to ask or would like us to share more information about internet safety or any other safeguarding matters, please do not hesitate to let us know.

Social Media
The use of WhatsApp and messenger has become an increasing concern. Staff spend a lot of time in school responding to issues which have occurred outside of school on social media negatively impacting on friendship issues, mental health and learning. Please be aware of your child’s internet access and behaviour online.

Parent Code of Conduct
I would like to remind all parents and carers that if you have an issue or concern, please speak to staff with respect and consideration. We are here to do the very best for your children and work with you if concerns arise. The policy can be read on the website.
 
Class meetings
These are for parents to find out more about the class routines, find out about the curriculum, how to support at home, ask questions and meet other parents.
Wednesday 11th September at 5pm – Parents of R, Y1 and Y2 Chestnut and Beech
Thursday 12th September at 3.30pm – Parents of Y3 / Y4 Willow
Monday 16th September at 5pm – Parents of Y4 / Y5 Hazel
Tuesday 17th September at 5pm – Parents of Y6 Sycamore
 
Some upcoming events to make sure are in you diary
Thursday 19th September - Whiddon Down Music Festival
Thursday 24th October 2pm - Harvest Service at the church
Thursday 12th December 10am - Christingle Service led by Y6 pupils (venue to be confirmed)
Tuesday 17th December 2pm and Wednesday 18th December 4pm - Christmas Performances by Reception, Y1 and Year 2
Thursday 19th December 10am - Carols in the hall

Please keep an eye on Dojo for details. We are planning a whole school panto trip!
 
All the best
Tara Penny 
​

​Dear North Tawton Families,
 
What a busy and exciting last few weeks we have had together! The children really enjoyed making kites and flying them for Rainbow Day. We celebrated being ‘Different Together’ by sharing books about inclusion and diversity and talked about our kites all being different and flying together in the wind. 

​FONTS put on a wonderful Fontsfest. This was a brave change from the norm and was very much enjoyed by all who came. The live music and a bar brought a festival vibe to a sunny day of circus skills, sports games and just chilling and chatting. No one went hungry with a BBQ, crepes and lollies available. We enjoyed meeting and learning about birds of prey, were decorated with henna and hair braiding. There were opportunities for exploring art and craft skills and painting pottery, and a raffle of wonderful prizes donated by families and local businesses. And our hard core footballers (children and adults) enjoyed playing football all day!
 
Our Sports Day was an Olympic event, literally! We had an opening and closing ceremony and children took part in a whole day of events: team activities and field events in the morning, and the track events in the afternoon. FONTS donated ice poles which were a refreshing treat after all the physical exertion! Huge thanks to Miss Collins who led on organising this, and to all the staff, volunteers and our coach Mrs Jordan for making it run so smoothly!  

Year 5 and Year 6 put on a wonderful production of Aladdin Trouble. I was so impressed at how brave and talented our pupils are. Thank you to all the parents who attended the Early Years Celebration of Learning and our Year Six
Leavers Assembly. Our children really deserve to be celebrated for their hard work and progress.
 
Class Changes
After my email and our meeting on Monday to explain why classes need to be mixed next year, and many individual conversations since, I know some families are not happy with the changes. School leaders will monitor this closely in the Autumn term to ensure pupils settle and make progress. We will revisit this as new children join and look flexibly at class grouping as the school roll changes. We endeavour to be more timely in our communication and clearer in explaining reasons for changes.
 
Next Year
We will have more opportunities for parents to attend workshops, assemblies and events throughout the year. We will have a list of dates for the term ahead so parents can plan to attend with future notice.  
 
Attendance
After a low start to the year, attendance rose at North Tawton and was above national in the first half of the summer term. Our final average across the whole year was 93.4% The national average for this year was 94.2%. Term time holidays are not authorised and can incur fines from Devon County Council.
Well done to all pupils who had higher than 94% and especially to our 100%ers! Thank you to parents for supporting us in this, it really makes a difference to pupil outcomes.
  
Staff News
This week we said a sad farewell to Mrs Ahmad and to Miss Radbourne. Both will be greatly missed. We also wished good luck to Mrs Bridgeman, Mrs Sterrett and Miss Wallis all of whom are due babies this summer!
 
North Tawton Staff are a very hard working team who go above and beyond for our school community. Our pupils are very lucky to have a team around them who really do care for them and do their very best to encourage them to grow and develop. I am very blessed to have such supportive colleagues who make my job a pleasure. 

Tin Can Collection
 The results are in!  I am delighted to tell you that along with other local schools we have collected 367kg of cans and raised £242.22 for Families in Grief. Mike is able to 'gift aid' to a total of £300. Huge thanks to all families who donated their recycling, and to Mike Clark and the Rotary Club in Hatherleigh for organising this. We hope to do more in the new year to support this important charity.
  
This is what our 367kg of aluminium looked like once baled! 

A message from Miss Paton – our Hub Principal
This first year as the Foundry Hub of Schools has flown by and the end of term has been filled with so many amazing events and special moments. I feel so privileged to be able to visit all the schools to see and enjoy the spectacular occasions to mark the end of the year and to witness our communities coming together. The children have been involved in many enriching events, performances and trips and ultimately those are the memories that will remain with them forever.  All of the staff have worked incredibly hard across the year but especially in recent weeks so a huge thank you to each and every one of them. Each school in Foundry is unique in its character and feel but all embody our values of ambition, cooperation and transformation. 
I have relished spending time with and teaching the children in our schools from nursery right up to Year 6 and will take away many fond memories. As a leader in any capacity the true driving force of all your work is those treasured moments and conversations with the children which can range from pet Guinea pigs to debates about the Treaty of Versailles! So thank you to all the children at South Tawton, North Tawton, Chagford and Exbourne and good luck for the future.
Best Wishes
Miss Paton

With very best wishes for the summer holiday,
 Tara Penny
Principal

Dear North Tawton Friends and Families,
 
It’s been another busy and exciting term of learning at North Tawton! The year is certainly rushing by!
 
Healthy Snacks
We are promoting healthy choices at school. A reminder that children are welcome to bring a snack for morning break, this should be a healthy snack such as a breakfast bar or fruit, not chocolate or crisps. Bottles should contain water only, not juice or fizzy drinks.
If you child has specific dietary requirements, please discuss this with your class teachers.
Thank you.
 
Nutritional Advice
Are your children fussy eaters?
Are you not sure about appropriate portion sizes?
Here is some excellent advice and guidance we have had recommended to share with you.
 Eating well early years — First Steps Nutrition Trust
 The Eatwell Guide - NHS (www.nhs.uk)

​

Tin Can Collection
Don’t forget to save your tin cans for charity! Mike is here on Thursday mornings. The cans will be recycled, and the money obtained will be given to the charity Families in Greif, a very worthy cause.
 
Help for grieving children & families | Families in Grief
​

Attendance Update
 Attendance frequently asked questions/comments and answers: 

 Why am I getting messages and letters from the school? 
It is the Department of Education/Ofsted that dictate attendance below 95% is poor and that below 90% is ‘persistent absenteeism’. The reasons for this have been made clear before; good attendance is vital for the success of pupils and their wellbeing. Our own school data, as well as that issued nationally, makes clear that poor attendance results in poorer outcomes for children. 
  
The Law 
Children must attend school under the Education Act 1989 (revised). Poor attendance at school can result in one or more of the following: 

• a Parenting Order 
• an Education Supervision Order 
• a School Attendance Order 

·        a fine (sometimes known as a ‘penalty notice’) 
 
They are only children; does it really matter? 
The fact is that children who attend school for less than 95% of the time underperform significantly and have ominously reduced lifetime opportunities. It is not good enough to send your child to a good school or be graded a ‘Good School’ if absenteeism impacts on achievement. Schools with poor attendance and diminished outcomes do not remain ‘Good’. 
  
But my child has been ill and I have told you this? 
Absence is absence, and impacts on a child’s learning and wellbeing, regardless of the reason. This is clear in the actions taken under national policy. Whilst we understand that there are times when absence has been a result of specific unavoidable illness, this does not negate the fact that the child has been impacted by it, or that the policy applies to all.  
 
A child, who is absent due to intermittent illness, has missed the same amount of time as a child who has been absent as a result of a parent’s failure to bring them to school for unauthorised reasons. 
  
Under policy and in reality, absence through illness has the same impact as absence for any other reason and as such is included in your child’s absence figures. This is a national requirement. 
  
So, are you saying you want me to bring my child into school when they are ill? 
No. But we do ask parents to consider carefully if absence is really necessary. We are not medical practitioners and cannot make decisions on behalf of health professionals, or indeed parents – the decision is ultimately yours.  
This guidance from the NHS goes into more detail Is my child too ill for school? - NHS (www.nhs.uk) 
  
My child always attends school, yet you say that there are ‘unauthorised absences’, how can this be? 
If your child arrives late, beyond the close of register, the late mark is converted to an unauthorised absence. Again, this is a national requirement, not the school’s. This is done because too much time in school has been missed. Arrive late and children may be considered absent; arrive persistently late, and it is easy to fall below the expectation. 
 
 I have received a letter re my child’s absence. What can I do? 
 
·        The first step is to attend the meeting and work with the school. This will be your chance to seek support if there are underlying reasons for the absences. We can point you in the right direction, signpost and make suggestions. We need to work together as a team to see if there is anything we can do to help. 
·        Recognise that there is an issue and do all you can to reverse any absence trends. This may be easier said than done, but it cannot be ignored for your child’s sake. It is never too late. 
·        Act promptly if you receive notices and/or attendance letters. 
 
It is our duty as a school to address poor attendance and we are held accountable by the local authority and Department of Education. Their current guidance and expectations will become statutory in September 2024,  you can familiarise yourself with it here. 
 
We would like to thank all parents and families who ensure their children attend in line with expectations and look forward to working with you all to maximise children’s attendance. 
 
Term Time Holidays
Term time holidays are not authorised, and a fine may be issued. I, the school, and DMAT do not benefit from these fines, they are collected by the authority.
 
Class News 
To find out what we have been leaning in each class, please click on the links to our latest class blogs:
 Sycamore Class
Hazel Class
Ash Class
Willow Class
Beech Class
Chestnut Class
Oak Class
​​Acorn Class

School Trips and Residentials
School trips and residentials offer numerous benefits for students, enhancing their educational experience and personal development. Here are some key benefits:
​
Educational Benefits
1.    Experiential Learning: School trips and residentials provide hands-on learning experiences that can make theoretical concepts more tangible and memorable.
2.    Real-World Application: Visiting museums, historical sites, and scientific institutions allows students to see the real-world application of what they learn in the classroom.
3.    Enhanced Understanding: Immersive experiences can deepen students' understanding of subjects such as history, geography, science, and art.

Personal Development
1.    Independence: Residential trips, in particular, encourage students to develop independence and self-reliance by spending time away from home.
2.    Confidence: Trying new activities and facing challenges in a supportive environment helps boost students' self-confidence.
3.    Teamwork and Social Skills: Group activities during trips require collaboration, improving students' ability to work in teams and enhancing their social skills.

Social and Emotional Benefits
1.    Building Relationships: Shared experiences on school trips can strengthen bonds between students and between students and teachers, fostering a sense of community.
2.    Cultural Awareness: Exposure to different cultures and environments broadens students' perspectives, fostering empathy and global awareness.
3.    Stress Reduction: Being in new and stimulating environments can be a refreshing break from the routine, reducing stress and promoting mental well-being.

Long-Term Benefits
1.    Memories and Inspiration: Positive experiences on trips can leave lasting memories and inspire future learning and career aspirations.
2.    Motivation: Engaging trips can rekindle students' interest in their studies and motivate them to achieve academically.
3.    Life Skills: Skills such as navigation, budgeting, and planning gained during trips are valuable life skills that benefit students beyond their school years.

Incorporating school trips and residentials into the educational curriculum provides a holistic approach to learning, contributing significantly to students' academic, personal, and social development. 

So far this year, Reception and Nursery have been to Rosemoor, Year 1 and 5 to the zoo, Reception to the aquarium and Y4 to Escot. Next term Y6 are off to Normandy and Finch Foundry. We are very grateful to FONTS supporting the cost of trips so we don’t have to ask parents to contribute as much as the actual costs.
 
Wishing everyone a very happy half term break
Tara Penny and the Staff Team 

Dear North Tawton Friends and Families,
 
North Tawton Park
If you use the park in North Tawton, you will know it is a wonderful space, but some of the play equipment is in urgent need of repair. The Town Council have secured some funding to address this and have asked me to be in the working party to decide how this money is spent. Please share your views so I can represent them in our next meeting.
North Tawton Park Consultation
​

​ Tin Can Collection
Mike would like to continue the tin can collection after the Easter holidays. Please bring along your cola, soda / pop, beer and cocktail cans to school on Thursday morning where he will be at the gate. The cans will be recycled, and the money obtained will be given to the charity Families in Greif, a very worthy cause.
 
Help for grieving children & families | Families in Grief

Attendance
 Each week we monitor attendance.  We are calculating attendance across the school houses and House Captains announce the percentages in Friday assembly. 

​We are aiming for 97% + so we still have a way to go.
 This term our school attendance has been 93%
 
Please click on the links to our latest class blogs:
 
Sycamore Class
Hazel Class
Ash Class
Willow Class
Beech Class
Chestnut Class
Oak Class
​​Acorn Class
  
Staff training
Have you ever wondered what staff do on INSET days and in staff meetings?
This term, we have been focused on working together to improve standards in maths and writing. The whole primary teacher group have come together for twilight sessions to implement new ways to teach maths and writing, and we have worked across our DMAT schools to moderate writing standards across the Trust.
 Our staff team have had training regarding Inclusion – specifically introducing the Zones of Regulation and learning how to support pupils who have experienced adverse childhood experiences and trauma.
 On our INSET day Thursday, all staff are involved in reviewing our work and our next steps. Foundry staff will be working in phases, Early Years, KS1 and KS2 to plan for the term ahead. Our SEND team will meet together, and we have practitioners from each school training in an intervention called Lego Therapy.
 Next term we will continue to build on these areas and the work we have started in our Foundry Hub regarding equality, diversity and inclusion.
 Our staff who teach our Read Write Inc phonics programme have regular training, observation and opportunities to share best practice throughout the year.

Wishing you a gentle Easter
 
Tara Penny
Principal ​