Remember to apply online today for Gatehouse Primary Academy for new starters in September 2022

 

https://www.devon.gov.uk/educationandfamilies/school-information/apply-for-a-school-place/apply-for-a-primary-school-place

School moves two grades from ‘Inadequate’ to ‘Good’ in latest inspection

 

A Devon primary school is celebrating the results of its latest school inspection by Ofsted. Gatehouse Primary Academy in Dawlish has been judged ‘Good’ in all areas. The latest report praised the leadership and teaching, the curriculum, and noted how proud pupils are of their school.

 

Leila Naldrett, Head of School at Gatehouse said “This report is an excellent and hugely well-deserved outcome for our school. The team at Gatehouse has worked tirelessly since our last full inspection. We are passionate about raising standards in education and are dedicated to creating a school environment that is positive and stimulating for both the children and staff. Each step of the school improvement journey has been meticulously considered to ensure the maximum impact for the children, whilst ensuring that the wellbeing of children and staff is supported. It’s wonderful to see Ofsted recognise this hard work and commitment.”

 

Paul Walker, Chief Executive of First Federation Trust said “Achieving ‘good’ is a tremendous outcome. And amid a pandemic - it’s a truly brilliant achievement. The staff and pupils have worked so hard for this and deserve such a super report. As a member of the First Federation Trust family of schools, Gatehouse Primary Academy has benefited from tailored improvement support from our Trust in key focus areas, as well as staff training and development, in areas such as subject knowledge and teaching practice. Our Trust has developed a tried and tested approach to school improvement. Each school is supported to improve, whatever their starting point. Working together with Leila and her team and sharing expertise from across our Trust has had a huge impact on the turnaround at Gatehouse.”

 

Leila Naldrett, Head of School added “I could not be prouder of this achievement and would like to thank the team at Gatehouse, the school community and First Federation Trust for their support.”

 

A small selection of comments from the Ofsted inspectors included:

 

‘Gatehouse is a thoroughly inclusive school. Pupils are happy and love coming to school to see their friends and staff. Pupils talk with pride about how their school has improved. They enjoy learning and value the wide range of subjects they study.’

 

‘Children get off to a flying start. Effective teaching in the early years ensures children develop their phonics knowledge well. Staff build precisely on what pupils already know'.

 

‘Pupils are respectful, caring and keen to learn. Pupils are prepared for life in modern Britain. Leaders ensure that pupils develop the skills required to be a positive member of society.'

 

'Leaders are determined for every pupil to be successful'

We are delighted to announce that last term's Bottom Drawer sale raised an impressive £228 for The Helen Foundation and Children's Hospice South West. Well done and thank you to everyone involved!

A booking form for Clubs has been emailed home to parents - please complete this before 12noon Monday 10th January. Clubs will start week commencing 17th January, with the exception of clubs lead by Mr Keast which will start week commencing 10th January. 

We have had cases of headlice reported in various classes. Please be vigilant in checking your children's hair and treating when necessary.

Dear parents and carers, 

We are now in mid winter and will still have windows and doors open in school to mitigate the risk of Covid 19 transmission, so please ensure that children have additional layers underneath their uniforms and warm coats/ hats/ gloves as they return. 

Many thanks 
School Office

Dear parents/carers

 

We all hope that you have had a relaxing and enjoyable break and that you have managed to stay Covid 19 and bug free during all the festivities. 

 

This communication is to remind you of where we currently are with Covid 19 (as I write this, it is up to date, but of course this may change!)

 

It is absolutely the right intention that schools remain open during this new wave, however we are all aware that, at times this could be challenging, particularly with school staffing. As a school staff we have had very few positive cases throughout the pandemic and although staff have been keeping up to date with their vaccinations, it does not prevent them from catching the virus and with the new variant being so transmissible this could prove difficult to manage at times. We will of course do all that we can to maintain the highest standard of education and try to cause as little disruption to their learning and to you as possible by keeping all pupils in school, however the worst case scenario would be the need to close classes or the school but we would change to remote learning which we did this time last year. 

 

Currently we are under the government's Plan B, as we were in the last week before the holidays. The expectation is that this will remain in place until the end of January. Of course, the data may change in the next few days/ weeks which could mean a change to the plan, and we will of course communicate to you any changes that effect education. As a school we will continue to follow all the guidance provided to us from the DFE and Public Health England.

 

As a reminder

 

Pupil Absence

 

1. If a pupil is unwell they should remain at home

1. If a pupil has covid symptoms they must get a PCR test (the same as adults)

1. Pupils with positive results must remain at home during for 10 days, 7 if they have 2 negative LFT's on day 6 and 7

1. Siblings of a pupil who test positive for Covid 19 can continue to attend school, but should take a daily LFT

1. Parental concerns about Covid 19 are not a reason to keep your child/ren at home. This would be an unauthorised absence. 

The start and end of the day drop off/pick up will remain the same as before Christmas. We would like to minimise visitors on the school site, so if your enquiry can be completed over the phone, email or Seesaw, then please chose one of these routes instead of coming into the school office. 

 

We would be grateful if all adults and children over the age of 11 (Year 7+) could please wear a face mask (unless exempt) at drop off/ pick up times to protect the children, other parents/carers and staff. 

 

I would anticipate a bumpy start to the new year, but as the last couple of years have shown us, as a community we will continue to get through these challenging times.

 

Thank you for your fabulous support.

 

Happy new year and best wishes.

 

Leila Naldrett

Head of School

 

Dear parents and carers

If you are struggling financially, there is help available.

Visit https://www.teignbridge.gov.uk/coronavirus-covid-19/funding-support/household-support-fund/ or get in touch with Dawlish Food Larder. Please see posters attached for both.

Our Family Support Worker can be contacted via email, and will be more than happy to offer help and support where possible. Please get in touch: familysupport@gatehouse.devon.sch.uk

Many thanks

School Office

Dear parents and carers,

I am writing to you to explain the schools decision to hold all of this year’s nativity performances and carol service virtually.

 

You will all be aware that as a school, we have had a steady flow of Covid 19 cases this term and more recently, this has increased. This means that we continue to be on the Covid 19 contingency plan, which we have been on since just after half term. As part of the plan we do not have all year groups mixing and do not hold assemblies in the hall in order to mitigate the risk to the children, staff and then you as families. All schools, whether locally or nationally will be in contrasting positions with regard to how many Covid 19 cases they currently have and each will make their own decisions in terms of being able to hold ‘live’ performances. As an example, just before half term our rates were very low and so we did offer live performances for Harvest whereas many schools did not do a Harvest production live.

 

As a school leader (as well as a mum), I fully understand how disappointing this must be, especially as this will be 2 years in a row that the children have not been able to perform to you as an audience at Christmas. However, we also have to balance the health and safety of the school community and do not want families or staff to need to self isolate over the Christmas period due to a Covid 19 outbreak caused by the school. From the schools perspective it is much simpler to have you attend in school or attending at the church than putting together a recorded performance. However, we do not believe, that at this time that it is sensible to have e.g 200+ key stage 2 children, plus staff, plus the audience all squeezed into the local church and 90+ KS1 children, plus staff and the audience squeezed into the school hall over multiple performances, and with little ventilation in both locations.

 

As a team, we intend to be as creative as we can for the remainder of the academic year, to have you in school with your children as much as possible.

 

We continually appreciate your support.

 

Best wishes

 

Leila Naldrett

Head of School