Term 4

Leigh Academy Hundred of Hoo

Primary Bumper Bulletin

Message from Mr Etheridge

As the days lengthen and the promise of warmer weather is around the corner, it feels almost unbelievable that we have reached the end of module 4. 

Whilst I know I say this often, I am confident that you will have seen for youselves at our recent parent's evenings, our students have made exceptional progress since the start of this academic year. Whilst you have had the chance to look at your child's work and to hear an update from the class teacher, I am in the priveleged position to be able to not only see the work which has been completed, but the incredible lessons which take place allowing for this to happen.

During the school day, the overwhelming majority of children show how mature, hard-working and committed to their education they are and teachers and support staff work collaboratively to ensure that pupils are supported and challenged to achieve their very best. Visitors to our academy often comment on what a special place Leigh Academy Hundred of Hoo is and we never take this for granted. 

Amazing progress only happens, though, with support from parents and carers.

Children are in school for approximately seven hours per day, the other seventeen are spent with their other teachers: You! It is for this reason that we strive to build positive relationships with parents and carers; you truly are the experts in your child and can often provide the puzzle piece which helps to ensure we can give them the very best opportunity to make the most of their education. Additionally, the more support you can give us in terms of instilling good manners, showing respect for themselves and others and having a positive attitude towards learning, the more progress we can help your child make in all of these areas too. 

Together we're creating something special: the adults of tomorrow.

We hope you have an incredible Easter break full of rest, fun and too much chocolate and all very much look forward to welcoming you back for module 5.

Mr Etheridge 

Primary Principal

Parent Survey Results

As you will be aware, during module 3 parents and carers were invited to complete the annual Leigh Academies Trust survey. This was the opportunity for parents and carers to share with the Trust to share your views around a number of subject areas. Firstly, I would like to thank the parents and carers who found the time to respond to this survey. I genuinely read every response and welcome discussions with any parents who want to work together with the school on how to make our academy the very best it can be for the children within it. 

Whilst not all decisions I make in the school will make all stakeholders happy, I can assure you that these are always made with what I feel are the children's best interests at their core; I feel that the results below highlight our shared understanding and the excellent offer we are able to provide the children at Leigh Academy Hundred of Hoo.

My child/children feels safe at this school

95%

My child/children are happy at this school

95%

My child is well taught at this school

95%

My child/children not been bullied or have been bullied and the school dealt with the bullying quickly and effectively

95%

My child can take part in clubs and activities at this school

100%

The school is well led and managed

95%

My child does well at this school

95%

The school lets me know how my child is doing

95%

I would recommend this school to another parent

95%

The one area which fell lower than the others was the statement: 

The school supports my child’s wider personal development.

75%

Of the 25% who did not agree or strongly agree, 20% of respondents reported, "I don't know".  With this in mind, our focus over the course of Module 5 will be to report more frequently on how we do support your child's wider personal development as there are a very wide range of opportunities and strategies to do so!

Once again, I want to thank all parents and carers who take the time to speak to the Academy directly about your concerns as opposed to keeping these within Whatsapp groups or to yourself; by sharing we can continue to work for all of the pupils at Leigh Academy Hundred of Hoo Primary.

Children and Phone Safety - NSPCC 

As parents and carers, you may well have been asked by child whether they can have their own mobile phone or you may be in the position whereby you have already provided your child with their own device. 

Whilst there can be benefits to your child having their own mobile phone, it is important to remember that, without strict supervision, you are providing them with everything that the internet has to offer. This includes a wealth of information, access to trusted friends and family members as well as the opportunity to engage with apps which can support them with their learning. 

However, there are also a wide number of websites, third parties and situations that pose safeguarding risks which I am sure you would be keen to protect your child from.

As a school, we often find after investigating online safety concerns that parents are surprised or shocked that their child has been involved in accessing content they did not think their child would access or engaging with people they were not aware that they are engaging with.

If you decide to provide your child with a device that has access to the internet, I strongly urge you to read the following advice provided by the NSPCC; whilst this is not an exhaustive list of the steps you can take to support your child with their device, it is certainly a good place to start.

If you have any questions about how to further support your child with their device, please do not hesitate to speak to myself or Mr Bullock who will be very happy to help.

https://www.nspcc.org.uk/keeping-children-safe/online-safety/children-phones-online-safety/

Leadership Information

You may be aware that every school has a different leadership model which outlines how leaders across the school operate and work.

At Leigh Academy Hundred of Hoo (Primary) our Senior Leadership Team (SLT) is comprised of a number of key individuals across the school and I thought it was important to share with you who is on this team and their role.

Senior Leadership Team

Mr Etheridge - Primary Principal

Mr Bullock - Primary Vice Principal 

Mrs Chandler - Primary Vice Principal 

Mrs Albert - Primary Assistant Principal 

Mr Knighton - Primary Assistant Principal 

Mr Paterson - Primary Assistant Principal

Whilst Mr Paterson has sat on the Senior Leadership Team for some time as Inclusion Lead, we felt it was important to recognise the importance of his role and he will now have the title of Assistant Principal. Mr Paterson will keep the same responsibilities as before and there will be no tangible change to his role other than his title.

PTA Easter Egg Hunt

Our fabulous PTA have been at it again in organising some super events to both raise funds for the school and add a littel extra loveliness to the academy.

As you know, they recently organised and ran the very popular Mothers' Day Gift Shop where children had the agency to choose their own gifts for the special women in their lives. The PTA were so impressed with the behaviour and thoughtfulness of the children whilst in the gift shop and overwhelmed by the positive feedback parents and carers gave them in relation to this event.

Additionally, the PTA ran an Easter Egg anagram hunt around the school site with the children searching for hidden clues to find the all important 'The Easter Bunny' password! This led to a marvellous chocolate treat bought and paid for by the PTA.

None of this would be able to take place without your support and the commitment of our amazing PTA members.

Thank you all for your ongoing loyalty, time and support of our academy.

Congratulations to Miss Callaghan

We are very pleased to announce that Miss Callaghan is pregnant and expecting a new addition to her family. Miss Callaghan is expected to stay until the end of the academic year and her maternity leave will start from the beginning of next year. I am sure you will want to join me in congratulating Miss Callaghan and her family for this exciting news. 

Operation Encompass - What is it?

Operation Encompass is a police and education early information safeguarding partnership enabling educational settings to offer immediate support to children experiencing domestic abuse.

Operation Encompass ensures that there is a simple telephone call or electronic notification to the school's Designated Safeguarding Lead prior to the start of the next school day after an incident of police attended domestic abuse where there are children related to either of the adult parties involved. 

Information is shared with the academy's DSL prior to the start of the next school day after officers have attended a domestic abuse incident. This sharing of information enables appropriate support to be given, dependent upon the needs and wishes of the child.

Children are negatively impacted by experiencing domestic abuse and without early intervention and support this negative impact can last through a child’s life course. Domestic abuse can impact upon social, psychological, physical, emotional and behavioural outcomes with an often negative impact upon a child’s academic success. Experiencing domestic abuse has been identified as an Adverse Childhood Experience.

Operation Encompass aims, by directly connecting police and schools, to secure better outcomes for children, to enable schools to better understand the impact living with domestic abuse has upon children, to help schools to better understand a child’s living experience and to therefore be able to support and nurture each child, making a child’s day better and giving them a better tomorrow.

Key Dates

Monday 20 April 2026 - Start of Module 5

Friday 24 April 2026 - PTA Movie Night

Tuesday 28 April 2026 - Pastoral Coffee Afternoon (TBC)

Monday 4 May 2026 - Bank Holiday

Friday 8 May 2026 - PTA Colour Run (TBC)

Week commencing 11 May 2026 - Mental Health Awareness Week and KS2 SATs

Friday 15 May 2026 - PTA Hawaiian Fiesta (TBC)

Monday 18 May 2026 - Year 5 & 6 Parent Book Look

Tuesday 19 May 2026 - EYFS, Year 1 & 2 Parent Book Look

Wednesday 20 May 2026 - Year 3 & 4 Parent Book Look

Friday 22 May 2026 - End of Module 5

Monday 1 June 2026 - Start of Module 6