Welcome back to a new academic year at Birklands!
I hope that all of our children, families and staff have enjoyed a restful and enjoyable summer break and have had the opportunity to spend quality time together. A particularly warm welcome goes to the many new children and families who have joined the Birklands family this September. We are delighted to have you with us and look forward to getting to know you over the coming months and years.
It has been wonderful to see our pupils return to school with such enthusiasm and positivity. I have been incredibly proud of how quickly they have settled into their new classes, embraced new routines and reconnected with friends. The calm, purposeful atmosphere around school has been a real pleasure to see, and it provides a fantastic foundation for another successful year of learning and personal development.
Over the summer holidays, several areas of school have undergone improvements. Our newly refurbished toilets have certainly been one of the biggest talking points amongst the children, and it has been lovely to hear their excitement about the changes. We are also putting the finishing touches to our new library areas, which will provide inviting spaces for children to develop a lifelong love of reading. Looking ahead, plans are underway to further enhance our Key Stage 1 playground, and we look forward to sharing more information about this as the project develops.
This newsletter marks the first of our regular communications for the year. Following this edition, newsletters will be shared every four weeks to keep families up-to-date with school news, achievements and forthcoming events. In between newsletters, we will continue to use our Teachers2Parents text messaging service to share important reminders and updates, helping us to maintain regular communication with all families.
As always, we greatly value the partnership between home and school and welcome your feedback. If you have any comments, suggestions or questions, please do not hesitate to get in touch. Working together ensures we can provide the very best experiences and opportunities for all of our children.
Thank you for your continued support. We are excited for the year ahead and look forward to sharing many successes and memorable moments with you.
Miss Watson
We are incredibly proud to share the outcome of our recent Ofsted inspection. Inspectors recognised the significant strengths of our school and judged five key areas as Strong Standard, with all safeguarding requirements fully met.
This report reflects the dedication of our pupils, families, staff, Trust colleagues, governors and the wider school community. It recognises the caring, ambitious and inclusive school that we have worked hard together to build.
Click on the link below for the full report:
Highlights from the Inspection
Inspectors found that:
"High aspirations and a determination for every pupil to succeed shapes every aspect of the school's work."
"By the time pupils leave the school, they are well prepared for secondary education and future success."
Achievement was judged to be a Strong Standard, with inspectors recognising that pupils achieve well across a range of subjects and that published outcomes are above national comparators. They also highlighted the effective support provided for pupils with SEND and those facing barriers to learning.
A School Where Children Feel Safe and Belong
Inspectors praised the positive culture across the school and the strong relationships between staff, pupils and families:
"Inclusion shapes daily life at Birklands."
"Parents and carers trust staff to work alongside them when challenges arise."
They found that pupils learn in an environment where they feel:
"safe, respected and ready to learn."
Safeguarding was confirmed as fully effective, with inspectors recognising the open culture where safeguarding is everyone's responsibility.
Strong Leadership and Community Partnerships
The report recognises the work undertaken during a period of significant change and highlights the commitment of leaders and governors to improving outcomes for children:
"A clear sense of purpose drives the work of leaders and governors at Birklands."
Inspectors also noted that:
"Partnerships with families and the wider community are a notable feature of the school's work."
Personal Development Praised
One of the strongest messages throughout the report is the recognition of the broader opportunities provided for children beyond the classroom.
Inspectors found that pupils leave Birklands as:
"thoughtful, well-rounded young people who are ready for the next stage of education and eager to embrace future opportunities."
They also highlighted the extensive opportunities for leadership, enrichment, visits and wider experiences that broaden pupils' horizons and raise their aspirations.
Looking Ahead
The report identifies two next steps for the school: continuing to improve consistency in teaching across all subjects and further developing the outdoor provision in the Early Years. Inspectors recognised that leaders are already addressing these priorities and continue to demonstrate a strong commitment to improvement.
Thank You
We would like to thank our wonderful pupils, dedicated staff, supportive families, governors and the wider community. This report celebrates what makes Birklands special: a school where children are known, valued and supported to thrive.
We are immensely proud of this outcome and remain committed to building on these strengths so that every child continues to receive the very best education and opportunities possible.
Our recent Ofsted success, along with our academic outcomes, have recently been celebrated in The Mansfield Chad. Please click on the link below should you wish to read this article:
We are incredibly proud of our current Year 5 pupils for their outstanding swimming achievements during the last academic year. Through determination, resilience and a positive attitude, the cohort made excellent progress in developing their confidence and competence in the water. A significant number of pupils successfully met or exceeded the expected swimming standard, demonstrating their ability to swim competently, confidently and proficiently. Their commitment and enthusiasm throughout the programme were exemplary, and we would like to congratulate all of the children for embracing the challenge and representing the school so well.
We are excited to celebrate Harvest Festival at St Peter and St Paul’s Church on Wednesday 30th September. This annual event is a wonderful opportunity for our school community to come together and reflect on the importance of gratitude, kindness and helping others.
We would greatly appreciate parent volunteers to accompany children on the walk to and from church. If you can help, please contact your child’s class teacher.
As part of the celebrations, we will once again be collecting donations for the local food bank. Donations of non-perishable items such as tinned food, pasta, rice, cereal and sauces can be brought into school during the week beginning 21st September. All donations should be received by Friday 25th September.
Thank you for helping us support our local community and for your continued partnership with the school.
Our annual school photographs will take place on Thursday 24th September. Sibling photographs for children where one or more siblings do not attend Birklands Primary School will be taken before the start of the school day from 8:00am. Sibling photographs for brothers and sisters who all attend Birklands will be taken during the school day. If your child normally has PE on this day, please send them to school in their full school uniform for their photograph. They should bring a pair of trainers to change into later for a lower-key PE session. We look forward to capturing some lovely memories of our pupils!
A huge congratulations to all of the children who recently received a Work Hard or Be Kind certificate in our Celebration Assembly. These awards recognise pupils who consistently demonstrate our school values through their actions, attitudes and dedication to learning. Whether by showing determination and resilience in the classroom or by displaying kindness, compassion and respect towards others, each child has made a positive contribution to our school community. We are incredibly proud of their achievements and the excellent example they set for their peers. Well done to all of our certificate winners for living our values every day and helping to make our school a wonderful place to learn and grow.
A huge well done to our attendance champions! Last week, Woodpecker Class achieved an excellent attendance figure of 99.01%, and this week we are celebrating a joint first place, with Jay Class and Siskin Class both achieving an outstanding 99.2% attendance. Thank you to all of the children and families who have supported such strong attendance. As a reward for their achievement, the winning classes will enjoy a non-uniform day. Class teachers will be in touch soon to confirm the details. Keep up the fantastic work!
You’re invited to our SEND Coffee Afternoon!
Being a parent or carer can sometimes feel like a whirlwind, and we’d love to invite you to take a breath and join us for a friendly, informal chat.
Whether you have specific questions about support, or you’d just like to meet other parents over a hot drink, please join Miss Scrivener, our SENDCo, in the School Hall on Wednesday, 24th September at 2:15pm. No pressure, no agenda - just community and conversation. Everyone is welcome!
Parking and Drop-Off Reminder
Please help us keep all children safe by not parking, waiting or dropping off on the zig-zag lines outside school. These markings are in place to ensure good visibility for children and families crossing the road and to help keep traffic moving safely at busy times.
We appreciate that mornings can be hectic, but your support in following these restrictions makes a significant difference to the safety of our school community. Thank you for your cooperation and consideration.
Climbing Frames Before and After School
Please can we remind all parents and carers that children must not play on the climbing frames before or after school. We also kindly request that adults do not sit on these.
This is a health and safety requirement. The equipment has been risk assessed for use during the school day only, under the direct supervision of school staff, and the risk assessment has been approved on this basis. Outside of these times, there is no staff supervision in place and the equipment must not be used.
We would be grateful for your support in ensuring that children remain off the climbing equipment at the beginning and end of the school day, helping us to keep everyone safe. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.
Birklands Primary School
Train to teach with the Nottinghamshire Torch SCITT