Headteacher Newsletter 455

This term, our school value is Cooperation, and our curriculum focus is Communication. These two are closely connected: to work well with others, children need to communicate clearly, listen actively, and understand different perspectives. Learning to cooperate helps children develop teamwork skills, patience, and respect for others, while strong communication helps them express ideas, ask questions, and resolve problems together. ​

Teaching these skills is so important because they are not only essential in the classroom - they help children build positive friendships, work confidently in groups, and navigate challenges both in school and beyond. By focusing on these together, we are helping children grow into thoughtful, collaborative, and confident individuals.
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There will be lots of opportunities this term for children to practice these skills. One exciting highlight is a special sports challenge at lunchtimes, led by Mr Willars, our Sport, Health, and Fitness Lead. This fun activity will encourage children to communicate strategies, support one another, and work together as a team - all while staying active and having fun!

We are looking forward to seeing all the fantastic cooperation and communication in action this term, and celebrating the many ways children grow through working together.

Kindness Value

Last term’s school value was Kindness. To see some of the action from our infamous (Christmas themed) Values Awards Assembly, plus the wonderful winners, please click the link 
https://www.wvps.northants.sch.uk/news/?pid=11&nid=2&storyid=108

Term-Time Absence – A Reminder

We kindly remind parents and carers that, in line with Department for Education (DfE) guidance, schools are not permitted to authorise term-time leave for holidays except in truly exceptional circumstances. ​

Some examples of exceptional leave MAY include:
· Grandparent or other close relative is seriously ill – and you must leave in an emergency
· Significant trauma in the family recently and a holiday will benefit the child – this may need supporting  by a doctor’s letter
· A one-off, never-to-be repeated occasion that can only happen at that time, eg family wedding/funeral. In this instance, a day for the event and a day either side to travel will be authorised (3 days in total).

Exceptional leave is NOT:
· Availability of cheap flights and/or holidays
· Availability of desired accommodation
· Parent/carer work commitments
· Poor weather experienced during school holiday periods
· Overlap with the beginning or end of term, half-term.

Regular attendance is essential for pupils’ learning, progress and wellbeing, and time away from school can have a significant impact on their education. As a school, we have a statutory responsibility to monitor attendance and, where unauthorised absences occur, we must refer cases to the local authority, which may issue a fixed penalty notice (fine). We therefore respectfully ask families to plan holidays outside of term time. Each school year includes 190 statutory school days, with the remaining 175 days — including weekends and school holidays — where children are not at school.

Full details of school attendance, including term-time holiday absences can be found on our school website at https://www.wvps.northants.sch.uk/page/?title=Attendance&pid=91 

Thank you for your continued support in helping us maintain high attendance for all pupils.

Life Education Sessions

Miss Hicklin, our PSHE Lead, arranged two fun-filled days this week from Life Education. With a focus on Acceptance, Protecting Ourselves, The Brain, and Going for Goals, our KS2 children have learnt many interesting and useful facts and information during their visit to the exciting inflatable classroom. Our KS1 children are looking forward to their interactive lessons later in the term when they'll have a visit from the David Shepherd Wildlife Foundation, and they will be learning all about Tigers. We have been lucky to have received these lessons fully funded by both organisations, and we would like to extend our thanks for these.

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Online Safety Information Meeting for Parents - Invitation to all

The world of ‘online’ can be a daunting, exciting and scary place for both children and parents alike. It is also constantly evolving and developing new terminology, features and challenges. As a parent, we know it can feel difficult to stay current in the world of primary school children and online safety.

Therefore, we are putting on a special information meeting, free of charge and open to parents of all ages at Woodland View on Monday 2nd February 3-4pm. This will be led by our IT and Computing Lead, Mr Johnson, and it is designed to help provide you with current information and guidance about different aspects of children's online lives. We will look at some of the risks associated with children being online, the latest trends and data and guidance on how you can support your child in developing healthy online lives and habits. ​

A Ping message will be sent out soon so you can sign-up for the meeting. If you are able to come and you require supervision for your child (it is an adult-only meeting), we will do this in school until you can collect them when the meeting finishes at 4pm. You will be able to select this option on the Ping. 

We hope that lots of you will choose to join us at this meeting to help better support your child growing up in this increasingly online and digital world.

 

Family Resilience Course

Our Family Resilience Course begins next Thursday in school 1.10-3.10pm. We have had a good response so far (and we will be contacting those parents soon, if not already, to confirm their place) but it’s not too late to sign-up if you’d like to attend. If so, please contact the school office. 

The 4 sessions will be run by North Northamptonshire Council, and they explore practical ways to help your family ‘bounce back’ from challenges and build resilience together.

Christmas Lights

​As we start the new year, we’re looking for any Christmas lights that families no longer need. This could include tree lights, indoor or outdoor lights (including battery-powered). If you have lights you’d be happy to donate to us, we would love to give them a new home at school and use them next Christmas to brighten our learning spaces. If so, please hand them in at the school office. Thank you.

School Blogs

Please see the school blog pages to see what your child has been up to recently via the link https://www.wvps.northants.sch.uk/page/?title=Year+Group+Blogs&pid=75

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Key Dates

Thursday 15th January - Family Resilience Course begins - details above
Monday 19th January - Year 6 Residential Meeting for Year 6 Parents - 6pm - in school ​
Monday 2nd February - Online Safety Meeting for all parents - 3-4pm - in school - details above
Tuesday 3rd and Thursday 5th February - Year 6 Parents Evenings (Ping to follow for Year 6 parents)
Thursday 12th February - Valentines Cake Sale - after school
Friday 13th February - term ends
Monday 23rd February - new term begins

Yours sincerely,
Mark Horsley