Welcome to my weekly update from Southill Primary, where we are committed to providing an exceptional education and joyful experiences for every pupil, every day.

London residential – Year 4 have been away on their residential to London and it seems that they have had a magnificent time. I’ve only heard positive feedback from Matt who is leading the trip. He says that it has been an absolute pleasure to take Year 4 away and described them as a “dream class”! Residentials can be hard work so I’m delighted to hear that everyone has had a positive experience. Well done to the children and thank you to Matt, Dan, Mrs Murray and Paul for giving up time with their families to enable this trip to happen.

Bike Bus – Sadly, we are saying goodbye to Dylan and Jon Gammidge who have been so fantastic at organising and running the Bike Bus each week. I’m very grateful to them, and to Kevin Frampton, for doing this as cycling safely on the roads is a very important life skill and I know many, many children have loved joining in with this. Unfortunately, we won’t be able to run Bike Bus anymore unless another parent (or group of parents) would like to organise. Please let me know if you are able to help.

Walk to School – Our Fitness Thursday this week was a walk from the shops. It was a beautiful morning as we walked from the shops up to the school. There’s a safe route that doesn’t involve crossing any roads and it really felt like a lovely community atmosphere. The children really enjoyed talking and playing together as we walked. Walking up from the shops is beneficial in so many ways – a healthy way to start the day with some fresh air and gentle exercise, it reduces congestion, pollution and parking issues up at school and offers the chance for connection, conversation and friendship between children and families. Don’t wait for Fitness Thursday – try it every day!

Next week is Children’s Mental Health Week, and this year’s theme is “Know Yourself, Grow Yourself.” At Southill Primary, we prioritise our pupils’ mental health and wellbeing every week. However, dedicating a special week to this cause offers a valuable opportunity to foster open conversations about emotions and mental health. We are committed to creating a safe and supportive and inclusive environment where every child feels heard and valued. Throughout the week, children will participate in various stormbreak activities designed to help them understand themselves better and support their personal growth.

We’re incredibly fortunate to receive excellent support from the Dorset Mental Health Support Team in Schools (MHST). They provide regular workshops for children, staff and parents. This Thursday, from 9:00 to 10:30 am, they’ll be hosting a workshop here in the hall on helping your child with sleep difficulties. If you wish to attend, please inform the office, as we need a minimum number of participants to ensure the workshop proceeds. Please see the flyer below.

Children’s Wellbeing and Schools Bill – The proposed bill aims to improve children’s wellbeing through a series of reforms affecting schools, local authorities and other child services. From September, all primary schools will be required to provide free breakfast club spaces to ensure every child starts their day with a healthy meal. I’ll be sending out a short survey soon to find out how many families would be interested in taking up this offer and this will help me to plan for September.

Wishing you all a happy and safe weekend.

Caroline

cwood@southill.dorset.sch.uk