Over the half term some safety improvements are being made to the front of school with new metal safety gates being installed at the entrances to the road and the path to the WMC. These gates will have self closing mechanisms and should remain closed at all times when not in use. Please be vigilant when using them as they will likely be heavy, younger children may require assistance to open them and should be assisted by an adult at all times. This is phase one of our external safety updates.

Work to improve the grounds next to the reception classroom outdoor area will commence in half term, with some work starting this week in the pre-school garden and a skip being used on site – please be careful when entering site near the skip.

The large container on the wooded area outside reception will also be removed from site over half term and the ground will gradually be repurposed. The area will be fenced off and is due to be transformed into an EYFS woodland outdoor area. An exciting new project which will take off as the weather improves!

Mobile phone use is currently being evaluated across our Trust family of schools as we anticipate further national changes being rolled out soon as part of safeguarding requirements.

With this in mind, we are taking the opportunity to reflect on our current procedures and ask families to support us as we tighten up our mobile phone practices.

Mobile phone use is not permitted on our site, other than in designated areas such as our office areas for staff, or at other times at the discretion of the Headteacher, such as to photograph or video performances. This applies to all members of our school community including staff, parents and children. Many elements of this are working well.

Children who bring phones into school for a specific reason should have this agreed with the Headteacher beforehand, such phones should be handed in to the school office and remain there until the end of the school day. This practice is adhered to and working well.

Visitors who attend school are required to hand in their mobile phone as part of the signing in process. Some visitors carrying out specific maintenance or inspection tasks may need to use their phone, this will be at the discretion of the Headteacher, the visitors may need to be accompanied by staff depending upon their task. This practice is adhered to and working well.

Parents and Carers who attend school are not permitted to use phones at drop off and pick up on the playground or at school events such as workshops or DEAR. This is to ensure appropriate and respectful phone use in line with our safeguarding procedures, enabling parents to be vigilant, present and focussing on the children’s safety and needs. We need to ensure that all families adhere to this, so we ask you kindly to respect the rules of our site and only use mobile phones when permitted to do so.

Thank you for your cooperation.

Mrs Lyall

Headteacher.