We have enjoyed a positive time in school over the last couple of weeks with many opportunities for learning outside the classroom on school visits alongside activities held in school to develop and enhance the Children's learning.

It has also been very positive and exciting to take part once more in local sporting fixtures with other schools. The children are also looking forward to taking part in the Primary Schools music festival at      G-Live nearer to Easter.

Happy New Year to you all! I hope you were able to enjoy some time with friends and family over Christmas and your plans were not too disrupted by covid isolation. It has been good to welcome everyone back to what feels like a more settled and normal start to the term. We have been able to return to lower and upper school assemblies as well as children eating together in the dining hall and year groups being able to play together at break and lunch times. Day visits for year groups have been planned to enhance learning in History and Geography. Year 3 are going to RHS Wisley on Thursday where they will study the tropical climate zone and plants growth.

Here is our after school club timetable. This timetable will start on Monday 10th January 2022.

Phonics  - This year, the Department for Education has brought in some changes that will impact the teaching of phonics in school, as well as the phonic books and resources that will be needed to support it. The government, by ensuring high-quality phonics teaching, wants to improve literacy levels to:

• Give all children a solid base upon which to build as they progress through their schooling
• Help children to develop the habit of reading widely and often, for both pleasure and information

#UniteTheUniforms for the @999Cenotaph On Friday 3rd December 2021

Schools, colleges and universities across the UK have been invited to hold a non-uniform day in honour of the millions of people who have served in the NHS and emergency services. Northmead School will be taking part as a mark of respect. Pupils are invited to wear the colours of the emergency services - red, blue, orange and green and to donate £1 towards the UK’s first ‘Emergency Services Cenotaph’. More information about this non-uniform day, supported by HRH Prince William, Duke of Cambridge can be found on the school web page.

Reading Together in Families Counts! In this newsletter we have previously explored the importance of reading aloud to your child, even when your child can read independently themselves.