It has been wonderful to welcome our pupils back to school and see so many smiling faces around Fountaindale. We hope everyone has had a happy and restful summer break.

The new school year is already off to a fantastic start, and we have lots to look forward to in the months ahead, including exciting learning opportunities, trips, celebrations and special events. We are looking forward to working together to help every child have a successful and enjoyable year.

Thank you for your continued support, and here's to a great year ahead!

New staff:

We are delighted to welcome several new members of staff to Fountaindale this year. Rachel joins us as the Woodpeckers Class Teacher, Jess as the Butterflies Class Teacher, and Jonathan as our new Site Manager (an introduction to him can be seen below). We have also welcomed a number of new PCAs, who have started with us this week.

We are very pleased to have them as part of the Fountaindale team and hope they enjoy their time working with us. Please join us in giving them a warm welcome!

Updated Website:

Over the summer, we have spent time reviewing and updating our website to ensure that key information is up to date and that pages are organised in a way that makes them easier to navigate.

We would particularly like to draw your attention to two pages:

• Curriculum Topics 2026/27 - https://www.fountaindaleschool.org/page/?title=Curriculum+Topics+26%2F27&pid=114
• Key Dates - https://www.fountaindaleschool.org/page/?title=Key+Dates&pid=113

Please do take a look around our website when you have the opportunity. We will continue to add new content and make further improvements over the coming weeks.

• Visit our website: https://www.fountaindaleschool.org/

School Culture:

On our INSET day, staff spent time reflecting on what we want to see, hear and feel at Fountaindale. Through discussion and collaboration, we explored the values, behaviours and experiences that make our school such a special place to learn and work.

Together, we created a shared vision of the culture we want to continue building. From the way we communicate and work together, to how we celebrate success and support one another, we recognised that every interaction helps shape the culture of our school.

Our key message was simple: a strong and positive culture leads to successful outcomes for young people. By creating an environment where everyone feels valued, safe, respected and inspired, we give our pupils the very best opportunity to thrive.

Reminder: Nut-Free School Environment

A gentle reminder that we ask parents and carers not to send any nut products into school as part of packed lunches, snacks or other food items.

This is because we have pupils in school with severe nut allergies, and avoiding nuts helps us to reduce the risk of accidental exposure and keep everyone safe.

Term Dates 2026/27:

Please see below our term dates for the 2026/27 academic year.

Autumn Term:

• Tuesday 1st September 2026 - INSET DAY
• Wednesday 2nd September 2026 - INSET DAY
• Thursday 3rd September 2026 - Pupils Return to School

Half term: Monday 19th October – Friday 30th October 2026

• Friday 18th December 2026 - End of Term

Spring Term:

• Monday 4th January 2027 - Pupils Return to School

Half term: Monday 15th February - Friday 19th February 2027

• Monday 22nd February 2027 - INSET DAY
• Thursday 25th March 2027 - End of Term

Summer Term:

• Monday 12th April 2027 - Pupils Return to School

Half term: Monday 31st May – Friday 4th June 2027

• Friday 2nd July 2027 - INSET DAY
• Wednesday 28th July 2027 - INSET DAY

INSET Dates:

• Tuesday 1st September 2026 - INSET DAY
• Wednesday 2nd September 2026 - INSET DAY
• Monday 22nd February 2027 - INSET DAY
• Friday 2nd July 2027 - INSET DAY
• Wednesday 28th July 2027 - INSET DAY

Dystonia Awareness Month:

September is Dystonia Awareness Month. While we will not be running any specific activities in school, we would like to help raise awareness of this neurological movement disorder and share some useful information for families who may wish to find out more.

Useful links:

• Dystonia UK (the UK's leading dystonia charity): https://www.dystonia.org.uk/
• Dystonia Awareness Month: https://www.dystonia.org.uk/pages/category/dystonia-awareness-month
• NHS Information on Dystonia: https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/dystonia/

These resources provide information about what dystonia is, how it can affect individuals, and the support available for those living with the condition.

Weekly Safeguarding Update: Reminder of Key People and Processes at Fountaindale

At Fountaindale, safeguarding is everyone's responsibility and the safety and wellbeing of our pupils remains our highest priority. We want to remind families that if you ever have a safeguarding concern about a child, please contact the school so that we can provide support and take appropriate action.

During school hours: 01623 792671
Out of hours or during school holidays: 07512 301996

Our safeguarding team is:

• Rob Mulvey - Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL)
  RMulvey1@nexusmat.org | 01623 792671
• Gayle Bowmer - Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead (DDSL)
  gbowmer@nexusmat.org | 01623 792671

You can also contact our safeguarding team via: fountaindale.safe@nexusmat.org

For further information, including our safeguarding policies and procedures, please visit our website: Fountaindale School - Safeguarding

We have a range of safeguarding information and support links available for families, including Nottinghamshire MASH, Nottinghamshire Safeguarding, and the NSPCC.

If you are worried about a child's safety or wellbeing, please don't hesitate to get in touch. Working together helps us ensure all children remain safe, supported and able to thrive.

Have a lovely weekend!

Headteacher

bnorman@nexusmat.org