Current Newsletter

And He who was seated on the throne said, ‘Behold, I am making all things new.’
Revelation 21:5

Dear Friends,

Welcome to the new school year. I do hope you are well and that you had a fantastic summer break – what weather we had!

A new school year means lots and lots of new experiences, opportunities and possibilities ~ and, yes, new challenges. September marks a new ‘season’ for the school as a community; a fresh start, a clean slate, requiring new ways of thinking, learning and being as the school welcomes new members, new lessons and new expectations.

The great thing about any new season is that it gives everyone the chance to truly see God’s purposes working out in exciting ways. All that will unfold as the school year progresses doesn’t happen by accident. It’s through prayer, being with God, seeking His will, His strength and His encouragement in all that we do that we explore ‘the new’. We are never along in the new; God is always with us, for as John says we may have “confidence in approaching God and when we ask anything according to His will, He will hear us. 

We never walk into the new alone. Of course, it takes courage and confidence, but it offers the chance to grow and expand. The new also allows us to let go of things which might hold us back: Isaiah suggested we should “forget the former things; not to dwell on the past, for God is doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not see it?

At the start of this new term, I hope everyone in our amazing learning community can confidently look forward rather than backwards, grasping all that God has planned for us, all that He will gift us and that this is another wonderful year in the life of the school.

Gracious God,

thank you for the gift of this new school year and for the promise of a fresh start.

You are the Lord of new beginnings, and we thank you for your faithfulness through every season. 

As we step into this new season, fill our hearts with new blessings, joy, and peace.

Give us a fresh vision for the future and a hopeful expectation that Your goodness is coming.

In your name we pray,

Amen

Blessings and thanks

Jonathan
Rector

Wylye and Till Valley Benefice. 

24^th November 2025

Dear Parents and Carers,

We are incredibly proud of all the fantastic work that was happening across our school last week—and every week! The dedication, enthusiasm, and resilience shown by our children continue to impress us.

Celebrating Positive Behaviour and Anti-Bullying

Efforts Following last week’s Anti-Bullying campaign, we are delighted to see how thoughtfully the children have responded. They are showing real maturity by approaching adults when they are unsure if behaviour meets the high standards we expect. Many are also taking proactive steps to resolve conflicts and reflect on their choices, demonstrating a growing sense of responsibility and empathy. These are life skills that will serve them well far beyond the classroom. Please remind your children at home to 'spot it, say it, stop it' and to always tell a grown up quickly so we can take steps to resolve any problems that occur quickly.

Reading Success Stories

It’s wonderful to see so many children striving to achieve their 20 minutes of reading each day. This habit is a powerful way to build vocabulary, comprehension, and confidence. We were thrilled to award a Green Rainbow Award to a child who has already accumulated an incredible 2,520 minutes of reading! This level of exposure to language and words has a profound impact on children’s academic outcomes, supporting not only literacy but overall learning success.

Welcoming New Staff

We are delighted to share that our new team members have settled into school life beautifully. The children have been so welcoming to our new TAs, Miss Clements and Mrs Rideout, and we hope you will join us in giving them a warm welcome to our school community. We are also very fortunate to have Mrs Sage, an experienced classroom teacher, stepping in as a supply teacher whenever needed. Her teaching experience and familiarity with our school ensure continuity for the children— maintaining high behaviour expectations and delivering engaging, joyful lessons.

Homework Club

It was wonderful to see our Kestrel Class children completing their homework during Cosy Club on Friday afterschool. Homework can have a significant positive impact on student outcomes when implemented effectively. According to the Education Endowment Foundation (EEF), homework is associated with an average of five additional months of progress. Quality matters more than quantity—well-designed homework that reinforces learning is more beneficial than large volumes of work. This is why we have implemented Doodle Learning for Maths and English because it targets areas of learning specific to individual children. If you find completing this homework challenging at home, Mrs Sage will support children on Friday after 4.30 to complete it – just sign up to our cosy club session.

Thank you for your continued support in helping us make our school a safe, happy, and inspiring place for every child to thrive.

Warm regards,

Hannah Shillito