School News

Friday 6th June 2025

Nash Mills CofE Primary School

Year 6 have a tree-mendous time in the New Forest

This week, Year 6 went on a week-long residential trip to the New Forest in Hampshire.

We visited Ferny Croft Campsite in the middle of the New Forest. It was very rural and, while we were having breakfast one morning, a herd of deer trotted past. In the lodge in which we stayed, most of the class were in 4 large dorm-rooms; some of the rooms were very untidy and there were a few gassy smells too!

Whilst at the campsite, we took part in a number of adventurous activities, which included rifle shooting, paddle games, crate stacking and the zip line. They were mostly really good because they pushed some of the class out of their comfort zones and gave new challenges. The instructors were friendly and really helped us to feel better about the different tasks.

While on the trip, we had to change our plans due to some really bad weather. But not to worry, we went to the cinema to watch a film instead! One evening we also visited the RNLI in Lymington and found out all about how the volunteers help to save lives.

The food was very good, with different things on the menu each day, including amazing puddings! We were well fed - during our pizza making evening, some people had four pizzas and still had space for pudding!

We are grateful to all of the adults who helped to make this trip possible and made it such a fun experience for us all. We have had a extraordinary time this week and will have lots of memories to share and laugh about for years to come!

By Kamran, Ifan and Siddhant

Swimming successes!

It has been fantastic this week to see so many of the children taking part in swimming lessons! The staff have been blown away at how well most have taken to the pool and the efforts that they have seen. The children seem to have had a brilliant time, learning and playing with their friends, which is fantastic to see.

At Nash Mills, we believe that the children learning to swim and having a safe relationship with the water is vitally important. Living so close to different bodies of water, swimming is a life skill.

We look forward to lots for fun over the next two weeks and cannot wait to see the progress made by our children. Thank you for your support with this (and for drying costumes ready for lessons, which we know is a challenge!).

Bubble Run Sponsorship!

Just a reminder that if your child has collected any sponsorship money from our Bubble Run, to please send this into school by Thursday 12th June at the latest.

This week, we heard about the stellar efforts of Bella, who not only raised a fantastic £155 through her “first official fundraising” experience, but she also went the extra mile by personally writing heartfelt fundraising and appreciation letters to each of her sponsors. Her dedication, thoughtfulness, and community spirit shine through in every aspect of her involvement. Well done Bella!

Attendance

As we settle back into the rhythm of school after the half-term break, this week’s attendance figures show some positive signs, though there’s still room for improvement. Year 2 takes the lead with a fantastic 97.5%, closely followed by Year 6 at 97.4% and Year 4 at 97%. Year 5 also performed well with 96.6%, while Year 3 and Year 1 both came in at 95.7%.

However, Reception and Nursery saw lower attendance this week, with Reception at 86.3% and Nursery at 89.5%. We know that sometimes illness and other circumstances can affect attendance, but we’re hopeful to see these numbers bounce back next week.

Thank you to all our families for your continued support—every day in school really does make a difference! Let’s aim high and finish the term strong!

Times Tables Rockstars and Numbots!

This week, our TTRS leader board reflects the increase in accuracy of answers over the last week, well done to our top three!

Our Numbots leader board shows the most correct answers over the last week. Well done to our leaders.

Mr Shane

Leader board this week

1st - Ava (Y2)

2nd - Ruby (Y2)

3rd -Azelea (Y1)

Leader board this week

1st - Lola (Y5)

2nd - Archie (Y4)

3rd - Edward (Y4)

Star of the Week!

Nursery

Lyra A

For joining in more during carpet time, especially phonics!

Well done Lyra we are really pleased to see you showing us your abilities.

Reception

Fraser

For showing such a positive attitude and amazing resilience by continuing to attend school and participate in learning, even with a broken leg this week. Well done Fraser!

Year 1

Beau

For being truly delightful to have in class—cheerful, kind, and always ready with a smile!

Year 2

Teona

For showing amazing dedication, hard work, and focus throughout the year! Your determination and effort are truly inspiring!

Year 3

Samuel

For consistently pushing himself and trying his best in all lessons. Keep it up Sam!

Year 4

Finn

For a fantastic, humorous satirical poem about a poem not being a poem. Well done Finn!

Year 5

Lydia-Rose

For her positivity even when the learning is tricky and her fantastic cricket bowling action in PE!

Year 6

Shawn

For being amazing in Year 5 this week, helping to lead a computing lesson, taking initiative and designing resources to help others to learn how to use YuStudio. Well done Shawn!

Upcoming Dates

2nd-20th June - Whole School Swimming!

9th-13th June - Y4 Multiplication Check week

9th June - Weekly music workshop sessions for Nursery to Year 2 begin

9th-13th June - Y1 Phonics Check week

10th June - Y2 Class Assembly

11th June - Y4 Trip to Hampton Court Palace

17th June - Y3 Class Assembly

18th June - Y2 Trip to London

20th June - Reception Trip to Ruislip Lido

24th June - Y1 Class Assembly

24th June - Y4 Electric Umbrella event at St Albans Cathedral

25th June - Reception Coffee Morning

26th June - Nursery Coffee Morning

26th June - Y1 Trip to RAF museum

30th June-4th July - Sports Week

1st July - Y4 Class Assembly

3rd July - Sports Day - 11am EYFS and 12pm KS1 and KS2.

4th July - PTA Summer Disco

7th July - Reports sent home

9th-11th July - Y5 Residential Trip to Phasels Wood

10th July - Pupils in new Classes in school. Y6 to their new secondary schools.

14th-18th July - Art Week

14th July - Music Performances

15th&16th July - Y5/6 production 'Oliver with a Twist' - 2.15pm

17th July - Church Service

17th July - Y6 Leavers Party

18th July - Leavers Assembly

18th July - Last day of term - school closes at 1.30pm.

21st-23rd July - school closed for INSET and Occasional Days.

School reopens for the new school year on Thursday 4th September.

Good Shepherd Booking

Good Shepherd Club—to book spaces at Breakfast or After School Club, please visit

http://www.goodshepherdclubs.co.uk/

Logging Absences

Thank you to those who have now managed to log child absences on Arbor. It has really helped the office, meaning that we know where all of the children are more quickly in the morning. If The instructions on how to do this are set out below.

If your child is unwell, Hertfordshire Attendance team require that the nature of the illness is recorded, so please include this in your message (cough, cold, temperature, vomiting etc.). Please note that any absence requests for future dates will still need to made through the school office. In line with our attendance and safeguarding policies, a reminder to report your child's absence every morning, by 8.30am, until your child is well enough to return to school.

Step 1 -Click on Quick Actions button and then click Attendance followed by the green Log Absence button (top right).

Step 2 - Enter the absence details. If your child will be absent all day, there is no need to edit the start and end times that will automatically appear. If your child is ill, please ensure that you enter the nature of the illness and then press the green Log Absence button.

Step 3 - Once you have logged the absence, the school office will 'accept' it. Approved absences then appear in the Attendance tab of the Arbor App. It is not possible to edit an absence once it has been approved, so if you have any queries, please email the school office who will be able to help.

Pupil Premium

Did you know that your child may be able to receive additional support in school in addition to free school meals, if you qualify for certain benefits?

If you receive any of the following, your child may well be eligible for the Pupil Premium. This provides them with free school meals throughout their time at school, but also a range of additional things in school to help with their learning and engagement. If your child might be eligible, please visit the following site (https://www.hertfordshire.gov.uk/ufs/HCWH.eb?ebd=0&ebz=1_1717745705707) or speak to the school office who will be happy to help.

Income Support
Income-based Jobseekers Allowance
Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
Support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
The guaranteed element of State Pension Credit
Child Tax Credit (as long as you’re not also entitled to Working Tax Credit and you don't get more than £16,190 a year)
Working Tax Credit run-on (paid for 4 weeks after you stop qualifying for Working Tax Credit)
Universal Credit (with annual earned income of no more than £7,400 after tax and not including any benefits you get).

The application process only takes a few minutes and we are more than happy to provide support if it is needed.

Clothing Bank

Thank you for your donations towards our clothing bank. If you have any old clothes following clear-outs, please drop things in. The clothing bank is emptied regularly so should be ready for more donations.

The school carpark is open between 7am and 6pm on weekdays. Members of the local community are more than welcome to use it too so please spread the word!

Birthday Celebrations

Due to a number of incidents of allergic reactions across Hertfordshire, the council have recently changed their guidance in that schools should not be allowing children to hand out sweets for birthdays and other special events. Staff and parents are obviously unaware of what is being provided and so it presents a risk to certain members of our school population.

We still think that it is important that the children have some way of celebrating their birthdays in school and so moving forward we can share that, on their birthday (or the day closest to it), children are welcome to come to school wearing their own clothes. This will help them to feel special on their birthday and to help them celebrate with their friends for the whole day.

Please note that teachers are no longer able to support the children in handing out sweets at the end of the day.

Thank you for your understanding with this change.

Electric Vehicle Charging

You may have noticed that the school has recently had some Electric Vehicle (EV) chargers fitted in the car park.

Please remember that at weekends, these chargers are available for use by the general public through the Monta Charge app. The use of these chargers is at a greatly reduced cost compared with other local public charging points and will help to raise further funds for the school. Public Charging is available from 5pm to 8am weekdays and during weekends and school holidays, subject to terms displayed in the car park.

Please share this information with family and neighbours. We hope that it is a useful addition for the local community!

Final Thought

For many Christians, this weekend marks the end of the Easter season, with Pentecost.

Pentecost is a special time when Christians remember how God sent the Holy Spirit to Jesus’ friends, the disciples. It was like a big surprise from heaven—there was a sound like a rushing wind, and little flames appeared above their heads, but no one got hurt! The disciples felt brave and happy, and they started telling everyone about God in many different languages. Pentecost reminds Christians that God is always there, helping people to be kind, brave, and to share love with others, just like the disciples did.

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