Our policy for the use of smart watches is changing with immediate effect, this is a Trust wide directive from our CEO and comes in conjunction with the changes to the use of mobile phones in schools.

We currently allow children to wear a smart watch if it has the capacity to be placed in school mode to disable specific features such as photographs, messages or internet use. However due to the potential for harm, and therefore safeguarding concerns linked to the reliability of these functions, the inability to check or monitor this, and the potential for misuse – they are now not allowed to be worn by children at Hodnet school. Children have been made aware of this change.

There are a number of varieties of digital watches available currently, and many were used widely within school. We acknowledge that many of our children and families were adhering to the rules and using their watches safely, but unfortunately others were not. In order to safeguard our community by protecting from the potential of photograph or recording misuse we must now enforce this blanket ban on smart watches for children. Adults are allowed to wear them and are our bound by our code of conduct.

For clarity, the watches which are no longer allowed to be worn to school are the ones that:

• are connected to a phone – even if in school mode, this is no longer permitted
• have the ability to take photographs
• have the ability to connect the internet
• have the ability to voice record
• have the ability to view, send or receive messages
• have the ability to play games

A simple analogue watch is fine to wear, also a simple digital watch which does not have any of the above functions is also fine to wear. A fitbit type watch which does not have any internet connectivity and is not connected to a phone, but is simply recording steps and telling a digital time is also fine to wear.

We appreciate your support with this matter. Safeguarding our school community is our main priority and must come first.

Please see your child’s class teacher with any queries in the first instance, I am happy to discuss any further points.

Thank you, Mrs Lyall.

Our school website has useful information about how we keep our pupils safe, our safeguarding intentions and how we teach children to be safe.

Safeguarding – Hodnet Primary School

On the Parents Support area on our website we have information about online safety, supportive information and links.

Parent Support – Hodnet Primary School

Our Designated Safeguarding Lead is Mrs Lyall, Headteacher, who works alongside our Deputy Designated Leaders Mrs Williams and Miss Darmanin and our Safeguarding Governor, Jen Rogers, to ensure the safety and wellbeing of our children. Please see the safeguarding team with any questions, queries or concerns.

We kindly remind parents/carers and family members to park safely, respectfully and lawfully at pick up and drop off times. As a school community it is crucial that we work together to ensure the safety of the pupils in our care.

Thank you for your continued support.

Well done to our class 6 pupils who were simply brilliant this week. Team 6 showcased our values in everything they did, they tried their best and worked diligently to complete their SATs assessments. We are so proud of them!

Well done to the rest of our school who were thoughtful, kind and supportive; enabling our Y6 pupil to have the time and space needed to complete the test to the best of their ability. Its always a tricky week in school with timings running over, late breaks and lunchtimes, but it is important that we provide this for our Y6 pupils, helping them to feel confident to shine and do their best.

Hope everyone has a well deserved happy weekend!

Mrs Lyall 🙂

A reminder that enrolment is now open for our Nursery class, please see our website page or pop into the office for more details and a welcome pack. We ask that any pupils wishing to join our nursery for September, sign up before 1st July.