A polite reminder that we have limited space to store large bags due to small cloakrooms, many of which are within classrooms. Some excessive items can be an obstruction both in the classroom and the corridors. We now have 189 pupils on roll so we are finding some areas in school very busy. As stressed before the summer holidays, children do not need a large school bag, the best bags for storage are the rectangular book bag style bags which fit easily in trays and storage boxes. Over the coming years the PTA will continue to purchase these for Reception children when they start school, and the expectation will be that only these bags are used in school as children move through the classes.

Children are expected to bring to school daily:

• Their reading book and reading record/journal.
• Their water bottle.
• Their spelling folder for daily practise.
• Their homework/times table folders as necessary.

Please do not send pencil cases or any other equipment unless necessary such as glasses cases etc. PE bags (KS2) should remain in school for the week. Forest School kit (KS1) is either worn all day or changed into depending upon the class and a separate bag is required on that day. Please see your child’s teacher for more information.

Parents are welcome to attend our PTA AGM on 17th October at 6pm in the school hall. At the AGM the PTA will share updates about last years spending and any priorities for this year. They welcome new members and at the AGM new roles and responsibilities will once again be shared amongst the members. Thank you for your continued support of the PTA, they provide an invaluable support to our school, often enabling events and experiences for our pupils which may ordinarily not be possible. We thank the PTA for their hard work and commitment to school.

Over the coming weeks we will be sending home the Acceptable Use Policies (AUP’s) for children and parents to sign as part of our online safety safeguarding annual procedures. The AUP’s set our a clear set of guidelines for how to safely use school IT equipment and our online network. Due to our academisation, these have slightly changed and therefore will be for all families, not just those new to our school. Please look out for more information about these and ensure they are completed as per the requirements.

Thank you for your continued support with ensuring our pupils are safe online.

We have been notified by Shropshire Highways that on Tuesday 17th September and Wednesday 18th September the A53 from Epsley roundabout (school turn off) to Side Saddle Jct (Stanton) will be closed between 9.30am and 4pm. Please ensure that you find an alternative route if you usually use the A53 at the end of the school day. A diversion will be in place. There will likely be heavier traffic around school on these days as the published diversion is expected to take traffic up to the A41 at Tern Hill, then to the A49 through Prees, however traffic is highly likely to cut through Hodnet to get to the A49 as we have seen on a number of occasions. Please allow for extra time on journeys and be vigilant if walking or parking close to the main village road, we have experienced lorries and other unfamiliar traffic travelling at significant speed through the village during main road closures.

There will be several school improvements being made over the summer holidays. We are delighted to be having a much needed new school roof to the front of school above classes 4, 5 & 6. This project starts on Monday. We are having new flooring in classes R & 1, again this is much needed and will make better use of the space and enhance the learning environments in both rooms. We are also upgrading our office space and making space for two people to work together in the office. Work on our new KS2 library area has already started and will be further developed over the summer holidays.  Lastly, our grounds maintenance team will be making further improvements to our outdoor environment areas around school.

We look forward to seeing the finished results of all these busy projects when we return in September.

As we come to the end of this academic year, we would like to thank our children for their hard work, kindness and positive learning attitudes. Our children have engaged in their learning and the wider opportunities on offer in school with diligence and pride, and we are incredibly proud of them.

I would also like to thank our families for consistent and valuable support for school. We have a strong sense of community at Hodnet school, something which we are again very proud of. We value working together to ensure the best for our young people, and thank those who work with us.

We are incredibly lucky to have a highly skilled and dedicated team of staff at Hodnet, who work tirelessly to ensure our children can achieve socially and academically, and I want to thank them for another successful year. Many of our dedicated staff have been long standing members of our team and our community, Hodnet is definitely a place where people want to stay! The trust have acknowledged the greatness within our team, showing an awareness of the contribution that many of our staff can bring to the trust, and always speaking highly of us as a school, which has been a pleasure to hear and makes me feel very privileged in my role as Headteacher. Hodnet really is a very special place!

I’d also like to thank our governors and our PTA, both teams of dedicated volunteers who give up their time to support and guide our school. Our PTA has organised many events to raise money for our children, ensuring that they can have fun at discos, performances and treasure hunts whilst raising money to equip school with ipads, dictionaries, books and much more. Our governors have driven us through positive changes this year whilst continuing to strive for success for all children.

There have been many highlights this year;

• developing wider partnerships through our academisation and the opportunities for our children and staff as a result,
• our enrichment clubs offer, ensuring that all children have opportunities to thrive and feel successful, from lego, choir, sewing, reading to chess and beyond, we’ve tried to cater for all,
• the outcomes that our children have achieved in all year groups, from end of unit tests to statutory national assessments, they have given their all, as have the staff, and the children have blown us away with their outcomes,
• our brilliant trips, visits and visitors, London being a magical highlight once again,
• our sporting success and more importantly sporting attitude – our children are always the first to shake hands after a game, congratulate others or nominate others for sporting awards, showcasing their respectful attitudes, something to be very proud of.

After a very busy year, I’d like to wish you all a wonderful summer break. Hopefully we can enjoy some sunshine and family time and refresh ready for the new term.

Stay safe, have fun, see you in September.

Mrs Lyall, Headteacher.