We Are a Gold Rights Respecting School!

We are absolutely delighted to share the news that Fountaindale School has been awarded the UNICEF Rights Respecting Schools Gold Award, the highest level of recognition available.

The Gold Award recognises schools where children's rights are embedded throughout school life and where pupils are respected, valued, listened to and empowered to make a difference.

The assessor identified many strengths across the school, including:

"A strong commitment to children's rights and to RRSA leading to consistent messaging about rights and respect underpinning every dimension of the school's work."

"A nurturing family atmosphere with strong relationships with parents/carers who also value and engage with the school's Rights Respecting work."

"A focus on inclusion and dignity where all pupils are celebrated and feel valued and supported to be the best they can be."

"The extent to which pupils are listened to and involved in decision making at all levels. Children feel empowered to drive change within Fountaindale."

This achievement reflects how we work together every day to ensure that children's rights are at the heart of everything we do.

Special thank you to our teacher Hayley who leads on this fabulous area of school!

Gold Award Celebration:

To celebrate this fantastic achievement, we will be holding a Gold Rights Respecting Celebration Party on Friday 2nd October.

Pupils are invited to come to school in non-uniform and, if they wish, wear something gold to help us mark the occasion. We will be enjoying a gold-themed celebration with music, karaoke, special treats and plenty of opportunities to celebrate together.

We are incredibly proud of this achievement and want to give the pupils a celebration to remember!

A Fantastic Start to the New School Year!

As we come to the end of a fun-filled first week back, it has been wonderful to see our pupils settling in so positively and embracing all that school has to offer.

This year, we are continuing to develop and expand our curriculum offer, and we are delighted to welcome a number of external providers into school. Pupils have begun accessing exciting opportunities including Forest Schools, Samba Sports, Music Therapy and Dance.

Our lunchtime clubs are also now up and running, providing pupils with even more opportunities to explore their interests, develop new skills and enjoy time with friends. This term's clubs include:

• Boccia
• Samba Sports
• Parachute Club
• Choir
• Dance

End of Year Zootopia Video:

Before the summer break, pupils and staff came together to create a fantastic Zootopia-themed video inspired by Try Everything. The video celebrates the amazing achievements, experiences and memories from across the school year and perfectly reflects our BEE values of Belong, Engage and Enjoy.

You can watch the video here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DPMfpXGAIrs

National Teaching Assistants' Day - We'd Love to Hear From You!

"The influence of a great Teaching Assistant or PCA can last a lifetime."

As we look ahead to National Teaching Assistants' Day on Friday 25th September, we would like to celebrate the incredible contribution our Teaching Assistants (TAs) and Personal Care Assistants (PCAs) make each day.

Our support staff play a vital role in helping pupils learn, communicate, develop independence, build confidence and thrive. Their kindness and commitment make a real difference to children and families across our school community.

We would love to hear your messages of thanks and appreciation. If a member of our support staff team has had a positive impact on your child or family, please take a few moments to complete the form below. We will use your comments to help celebrate our amazing team as part of National Teaching Assistants' Day.

https://forms.cloud.microsoft/e/7fLMJENh6P

Buccolam Administration at Home:

If your child has been administered Buccolam at home, parents and carers must inform the school as soon as possible before their child attends. This information is essential to ensure staff can provide appropriate support, monitoring and follow any relevant healthcare guidance throughout the school day.

Thank you for helping us keep your child safe.

Exploring New Ways to Keep Families Updated:

I am currently exploring the possibility of creating private Facebook and Instagram pages for Fountaindale, exclusively for parents, carers and staff.

Alongside Seesaw, Parent Mail and our website, these pages could provide another way to share updates, celebrate achievements and send useful reminders. As a parent myself, I know how helpful a quick social media reminder can be for things such as non-uniform days and school events.

Any content shared would continue to follow our existing permissions and safeguarding procedures regarding photographs and videos of pupils.

At this stage, I am simply gathering views. If you have any thoughts, suggestions or concerns, please do let me know before I finalise any plans.

Weekly Safeguarding Update - Key Terminology:

What does "Early Help" mean?

• Early Help is support provided to children and families as soon as challenges emerge, helping to prevent issues from becoming more serious.

What is a DSL?

• A Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) is the member of staff responsible for leading safeguarding and child protection arrangements within the school.

What do we mean by "online safety"?

• Online safety helps children stay safe whilst using the internet, social media, gaming platforms and digital devices.

What is a "cause for concern"?

•  A cause for concern is any worry about a child's safety, wellbeing or welfare that may need further support or investigation.

What is contextual safeguarding?

•  Contextual safeguarding recognises that risks to young people can occur outside the home, including online, in the community or through peer relationships.

See you next week!

Headteacher

bnorman@nexusmat.org