Newsletter - Friday 30th April 2021

Dear North Tawton Families and Friends,
 It has been another fabulous week at North Tawton Primary School. My highlight was climbing into a huge tractor! Many thanks to Charlie’s mum Helen for driving it in for our Reception topic Farms and Farming. I have done some other important work too, I promise! 

​As covid restrictions lift, we will be reassessing our risk assessments and procedures. Many staff have now had their first vaccines and as we know, we are in a very low risk areas, however, we are being cautious as we need to keep our community safe.  Staff are continuing to take lateral flow tests twice a week, wear masks around school and all staff and children are washing their hands and sanitising regularly. We are looking at how we can change arrangements at the beginning and end of the day, and we really do hope that after half term we will be able to have an outdoor community event together.
 
The Empty Pot
Our value this term is Honesty. This week in our on line assembly, I read the school the story The Empty Pot. It’s a story set in China about a boy who is honest about his failure, which turns out to be rewarded by him becoming the new Emperor! It’s a great story with lots to unpack so we will be using it over the rest of the term. Here’s a link if you want to listen to it at home. 
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a9K-sAKdk2Y

​Rev Weldon and Wes Cutler
We are delighted to welcome back Rev Weldon and Wes Cutler. They are leading a weekly assembly in three groups so that we can meet in socially distanced bubbles in the hall. It has been great for the children to see them again.
 
RSE Meeting
A big thank you to the parents who attended our Relationships and Sex Education consultations this week. Sarah Keen led the meetings giving a comprehensive explanation regarding the curriculum and the reasons for the changes. This is a really positive step forward to empower our young people to have positive body attitudes, correct language to use and how to build positive relationships and make safe and informed choices now and in the future. If you have any questions about this, please do ask. We will be sharing the curriculum with you before we teach the sessions in the second part of the summer term so you are aware of the content.
 
Buildings and Grounds Update
On Wednesday I met with our architect, civil engineers, DMAT premises lead and Steve Kiff to discuss plans for upgrading our buildings and developing our site. We would like to adapt the Wernick Building (where year 5 and 6 are currently) for Nursery and Reception with a decked and covered outdoor area. We also want to refurbish the current Nursey and Reception space, including the toilets and the playground. We also need to think carefully about what to do with the swimming pool, unfortunately it is no longer fit for purpose so we need families and children to help decide what to do next. We need your ideas! This is a big decision and not one we will rush in to. 
 
FONTS
I had a really encouraging meeting with Julie Steward and Philippa Sims this afternoon. I am really excited about getting some social activities in the diary, we really do need to come together as a community and have some fun! We are hoping to be able to have a least one school event in July, even if it is a low key bbq or picnic. We just need the go ahead from the government and DfE so we can get planning. I am excited about working with the FONTS group to arrange events for the year ahead and to do some much needed fund raising for all of our building plans and also for some much needed resources for nursery. I am delighted that we already have a substantial amount put aside for Nursery and Reception, this will be spent well.
 
I wish you all a wonderful bank holiday weekend
 
With best wishes
Tara Penny
Principal