Dear Parents and Carers,

We’re all very glad that it’s a bank holiday weekend! It couldn’t have been a better time for an extra day of holiday after a very busy week in school. As you know, we have had an Ofsted inspection of the junior school this week and it’s been a tiring few days! This was an ungraded inspection; Clare Morgan, the inspector, had to assess whether or not we retain our previous grading from back in 2018. She really enjoyed spending time at HTPD and she was able to appreciate so much of what we know makes our school community so strong. She had been a head of several church schools and really understood the difference that our values make. At the moment, the outcome is confidential but I’ll look forward to sharing the report with you when it’s published later this month.

For me, it was a particular highlight to hear so many lovely comments from our parents and carers. Thank you so much for your affirmation and encouragement. There were a couple of people with concerns – do remember that you are always welcome to raise any concerns with me and we will try to work together to fix any problem that your child might be facing. The staff also loved hearing that their hard work is appreciated by so many of our children and families – thank you for recognising that they go the extra mile!

I’ve also heard this week from Alex Tear at the Diocese – he’s asked me to share an update about the Pewley building work that will hopefully start soon, ready for a September reopening. Take a look at his letter sent to all parents on ParentMail.

For the juniors, as you may have already heard, our next house event is House Dance. We're looking forward to seeing all sorts of fabulous performances, from tap and ballet to street and freestyle. This is often a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the diversity and variety of cultures that make up our school community. Children who would like to perform can choose to prepare a performance of their choice, either as a solo, duet or as part of a larger group of children all in the same house. Any children preparing a recital should let their house leader know in advance the backing music, so that we can ensure it's ready on the day and that the song is appropriate for use in school. Children who wish to participate will perform in front of their house on Wednesday 22nd May, with a selection going on to perform for the whole school on Thursday 23rd May. All children who take part will earn house points for their house.

Remember that the school is closed on Monday for the May Day bank holiday. We’ll see you all on Tuesday as usual, and hope that April’s rain gives way to May sunshine so that we can enjoy the rest of the summer term!

With much love,

Clare

Thought of the week: Bee together – who comforts you when you’re sad? “Blessed are those who mourn for they shall be comforted.”

Whole School

Ofcom Media Report on Internet Use 2024

Please take a look at the flyer below that summarises national information on children’s online lives. Of particular interest are the following points:

• The prevalence of mobile devices being used by children to access the internet when these are known to present the highest risk.
• The high number of children under 12 using social media platforms, despite the age rating prohibiting their use.
• The high percentage of parents finding it challenging to manage screen time.

As always, if you would like support, information or advice do contact Lucy (lucyc@htpd.surrey.sch.uk) and Bridgit (bridgitb@htpd.surrey.sch.uk) our home-school link workers, or Tom Everard, our online safety lead (tome@htpd.surrey.sch.uk).

Don't miss out on the chance to join us on Saturday 8th June for an afternoon of active fun that raises money for our school. Here's what you need to know:

• Buy Your Tickets Soon! Spots are filling up fast, so get yours as soon as possible to secure your spot. The deadline to enter is Friday, May 10th.
• This is a FUN run! Let your child's imagination run wild! They can come in fancy dress, participate in a three-legged race, or even run backwards – it's all about having a good time!

The most important thing is getting active, raising money for a great cause, and making some awesome memories together. Registering is easy, just click the link Register now!

After-School Clubs

If your child attends after-school clubs, do check the notices below by clicking on the junior or infant section.