HEADTEACHER'S MESSAGE
A belated welcome back to the spring term to you all. It has been a busy and productive start to 2026 with our Art and DT week starting off the term before each of the year groups commenced their new topics. The curriculum leaflets detailing what the children are learning this half term are on the website and can be accessed via this link Archibald First School - Year Groups.
IN THIS ISSUE:
- HEADTEACHER'S MESSAGE
- IN THIS ISSUE:
- DEFIBRILLATOR FUNDRAISER 2026
- OUR SCHOOL RULES
- RESPECTFUL
- THANK YOU FROM MRS STOREY
- GATES: WAY IN AND WAY OUT
- NURSERY APPLICATIONS
- SAFEGUARDING
- SAFEGUARDING LEADERS
- MRS HEWITT IS RETIRING AFTER 40 YEARS!!!!!!!!!
- ATTENDANCE
- NEWCASTLE SWIM TEAM
- WELCOME TO THE
- DATES & LETTERS
DEFIBRILLATOR FUNDRAISER 2026
OUR SCHOOL RULES
RESPECTFUL
One of our key school rules is that 'we are respectful'. We try to be respectful to -
- Ourselves
- Others
- Objects
- Our environment
This half term we are focusing on this rule and on how we can show respect and be respectful in so many different ways.
We are sure that the children will be respectful at home too. If you have any images or examples of the children being caring, please do share these on Tapestry and Seesaw. We would love to hear about what they have been up to and how they have shown this value/rule.
GATES: WAY IN AND WAY OUT
From next week we will be trialing a way in and way out system on the gates.
The way in for everyone will be the gates outside of the main entrance.
The way off the site will be the gates facing the Year 1 and Year 2 entrance/exit.
This is because whilst the new gates are great, they are not wid enough for a two way system and we are aware of congestion.
We will try it out and reflect on if it works at half term.
NURSERY APPLICATIONS
The applications for September 2026 places to our Nursery are now open. Please call in to the school office for an application pack, or send an email to office@archibaldfirstschool.co.uk. Please return the form directly to school, not to the Local Authority, by Friday 27th March. We are very proud of our Nursery: we believe it helps to create the very best start to school life for your child and is the foundations for a successful education. Please have a look at the website for dates for our tours of our Early Years Unit.
If you have friends and family who are looking for Nursery provision for September 2026, please do share the news of our Nursery applications being open now - thank you
SAFEGUARDING
We take safeguarding children very seriously. All children have the right to be happy and safe. All of our staff receive regular, face to face training as well as follow up online training as appropriate. Within school we use a system called CPOMS (Child Protection Online Monitoring System) to record any issues and this allows all adults to report concerns which all of our Designated Safeguarding Leaders can see and follow up on as required.
SAFEGUARDING LEADERS
Within school our Designated Safeguarding Lead is Rebecca Turner – Headteacher. Our additional Safeguarding Leaders are:
- Kimberley Mullick – Deputy Headteacher
- Nicola McNally – Early Years Leader
- Kathryn Howard – Key Stage 1 Leader
- Angela Ward – SEND Leader
MRS HEWITT IS RETIRING AFTER 40 YEARS!!!!!!!!!
After just over 40 years, we are saying goodbye and thank you to Mrs Hewitt who has been an incredible Nursery Nurse. To say she will be a miss is an understatement! Mrs Hewitt joined Archibald in 1985 and has worked in our Early Years ever since. She has been the very heart of Archibald welcoming every new child and their family to our school. Our gratitude, appreciation and value of/for Mrs Hewitt cannot be expressed enough in words; she is simply the best and our school has been unbelievably lucky to have had her as a part of our team. The school will be honouring Mrs Hewitt’s 40 years with us, if any families (past and present) have any messages or donations they would like to pass on to Mrs Hewitt, we will be collecting these in the school office between now and the 1st March.
ATTENDANCE
WORKING TOGETHER TO IMPROVE SCHOOL ATTENDANCE
- Good attendance at school is essential for children to get the most out of their school experience, including their attainment, wellbeing and wider life chances.
- Nurseries and first schools play a vital role in embedding good attendance habits.
- Even at first school, children with the highest attendance have higher rates of attainment. National data shows us that children not meeting the expected standard in reading, writing and maths.
- For the most vulnerable pupils, regular attendance is also an important protective factor and the best opportunity for children’s needs to be identified and support provided.
· 95% attendance = two weeks absence · 90% attendance = 4 weeks absence · 85% attendance = 6 weeks absence · 80% attendance = more than half a term of absence · 75% attendance = more than 9 weeks of absence Please remember that I am unable to authorise absences during term time for family holidays. We would be grateful if parents/carers could also inform grandparents, family and friends, who may be looking to book birthday or Christmas trips away, that these do not fall under exceptional circumstances and will not be authorised. If you need any support regarding attendance, please do not hesitate to come and speak to us as we can help you access support from the school nurse, attendance officer or other appropriate services. We hope that you will continue to support our school by promoting school attendance and by informing us if you feel there are any issues that are preventing your child from attending school regularly.
Leave of Absence requests can be made to the head teacher in advance by the parent/carer the child normally lives with if you want to take your child out of school during term time, however, it is only able to be authorised if there are exceptional circumstances. You can be fined for taking your child out of school without the school's permission. Please note, as per DfE guidance, we routinely refer families who have taken holidays during term time to the LA for fixed-penalty notices:
- For first offences within a three-year rolling period, each parent/carer could be fined £160 to be paid within 28 days, which can be reduced to £80 if paid within 21 days.
- For second offences within a three-year rolling period, each parent/carer could be fined £160 to be paid within 28 days, with no option to pay a reduced amount.
- For your third offence within a three-year rolling period, parents/carers will not be issued with a fine and will be referred straight to court. This could be a fine of up to £2,500, a community order or a jail sentence up to 3 months. The court also gives Parenting Orders.