Nash Mills CofE Primary School

School News

Friday 13th February 2026

Glow Dance

Today, Year 2 and 3 were visited by DSSN organisers to participate in a fun, upbeat 'glow in the dark' event. The children listened very carefully before bopping along to the beat with their glow sticks. Everyone had a blast (even the teachers!).

Safer Internet Day

This week we celebrated Safer Internet Day with a special KS2 assembly, focusing on how we can use technology safely, respectfully and responsibly. Our KS2 assembly and class discussions explored what it means to live out the value of Ubuntu, “I am because we are”, in our online world.

Children learned how to:

Show kindness online, understanding that their words and choices affect real people.
Recognise unacceptable behaviour and respond in ways that keep themselves and others safe.
Identify and assess online risks, including unsafe messages or misleading content.
Understand the importance of accurate and reliable information, and how untrue or unkind messages can spread quickly.
Know when and where to seek help, whether from a trusted adult, teacher or built‑in reporting tools.

By connecting these lessons to Ubuntu, we reminded pupils that our digital actions can build up our community or hurt it. Kindness, respect and responsibility online help everyone feel safe and valued.

At home, you can support this by:

Talking to your child about how they show kindness in games, chats and social apps
Encouraging them to think before they post: Is it true? Is it kind? Is it helpful?
Reminding them they can always speak to you if something feels wrong online

Amazing writing

You may remember that a couple of weeks ago we shared with you the beginnings of some writing in Year 4, where the children were creating newspaper reports. Well...this week we were treated to a set of fully printed newspapers, which have been shared around the school and enjoyed by each class. Well done Year 4!

Slam Jam!

On Monday some Year 5 children took part in a school games competition, Slam Jam.

The fast-paced basketball games were end-to-end and the children did really well against some strong competition. There was a minute of music where points were doubled and we managed to secure extra points this way through Ffion, Jacob, Finn, Phoebe and Oliver.

One team came 3rd and the other 5th and as always, the children showed great teamwork and support for each other throughout. We are very proud of you all. Special mention to Phoebe, who stepped in when we were a player short.

MVP - Ethan, for his wonder shot from a long way out from the basketball hoop!

Mrs Lewis

Science Week Update

As shared last week, for World Book Day and Science Week this year, we shall be looking at the theme of animals and biodiversity. As part of this, we have some exciting plans to develop the area behind the Year 4, 5 and 6 classrooms into a Biodiversity Garden that all of the children will use during class time and at break and lunchtimes.

During this time, we will ask you for two things:

World Book Day on 5th March will be an opportunity for the children to dress up if they wish. This could be as an animal, explorer or their favourite book character!
Non-uniform day on Monday 9th March. In return for this, we would like to ask each pupil to bring in an outdoor plant, which we can put into our Biodiversity Garden. This could be a small shrub, flowering plant or something else that you can donate...

After school on Wednesday 11th March, you are welcome to come and see the work that the children have been doing as part of our Science Fayre!

WE NEED YOUR HELP TO START THIS PROJECT! The area we wish to develop has not been used for a number of years. To start our project, we need some help to clear and level the area. This will require some machinery, possibly a digger. We can get a skip to remove any waste. If you know anyone who might be able to help with this, please get in touch! Thank you

Do you have any old Animal Fancy Dress?

Our Nursery and Reception classes have asked that if you have any unwanted animal-themed child fancy dress costumes or props at home, they would gladly take them! Both classes have animal-themed topics after half term and these resources are always very well used in their role play areas!

After Half Term, our lunchtimes are changing!

Currently, we provide organised activities for children in Years 1, 2, 3 and 4, and these activities are limited to the main playground. This year, we have been part of a special pilot project, working with a charity called Learning Through Landscapes, to explore how we can make lunchtimes even more engaging and give children greater choice in how they spend their time.

After half term, we will be introducing different activity zones for the children to choose from. One of these zones will be linked to forest school, allowing pupils the opportunity to play on the field using the parts for building and exploring. However, children will only be able to use this area if they have wellies and coats; waterproof trousers might be helpful too if it is particularly wet!

Over half term, each class will have a space created where wellies can be stored so, if you would like to, you can leave them in school.

To help make this zone accessible to everyone, we are also asking for any donations of old or outgrown wellies that you no longer need. Having a bank of spare pairs will ensure more children can enjoy this space. If you have any wellies that no longer fit your child, we would be very grateful if you could send them in after half term.

Thank you!

Mr Shane

Nursery Admissions - September 2026

Please share with friends and family that applications to come and join our wonderful Nursery for the next academic year are now open! Our Nursery pupils love coming into school each day to enjoy all of our fantastic facilities and benefit from the care of our dedicated Nursery staff who create a friendly, safe and stimulating learning environment.

In September 2026, we shall be admitting children born between 1st September 2022 and 31st August 2023 and are pleased to share that we offer either:

15-hour morning provision from 8.50am-11.50am

For working families in receipt of 30-hours government funding, daily provision from 8.50am-2.50pm, with the option to extend the day to 3.15pm for an additional cost of £12.50 per week.

Please do encourage family and friends with Nursery-aged pupils to come and see us - Click here for upcoming tour dates.

Star of the Week!

Nursery

Preston

For listening so well to our visitor who shared lots of information about the Luna New Year.

Reception

Elliotte-Cali

For your bravery and positive attitude at school. You have shown wonderful progress and growing confidence. We are so proud of you!

Year 1

Khoosh

For showing super effort to listen and work more independently, even when it feels tricky.

Year 2

George

For making great choices recently in class, which is having a really positive impact on his learning and the quality of his work.

Year 3

Jamie

For his growth in confidence, his determination in all his subjects and being an overall considerate boy. Thank you!

Year 4

Lilly-anna

For her excellent effort and concentration in all lessons resulting in high quality work - well done.

Year 5

Jonny

For working really hard - always striving to improve his

work and being a great role model.

Year 6

Archie

For his enthusiasm towards his work, contributing well in class discussions and confidently sharing his ideas.

Times Tables Rockstars and Numbots!

This week's TTRS leader board is the most correct answers over the last seven days, our top 3 scored a total of 6,266 correct answers!

Our Numbots leader board reflects the total amount of coins earned in the last week, our 3 leaders amassed a whopping 28,656 coins! That is truly outstanding.

After half-term the TTRS cup is changing to make it more competitive, watch this space.

Well done to all our leaders.

Mr Shane

Leader board this week

1st - Lily (Y1)

2nd - Eddie (Y1)

3rd - Lana (Y2)

Leader board this week

1st - Bella (Y3)

2nd - Fred (Y5)

3rd - Emel (Y5)

Attendance

As we reach the end of the half term, we’re delighted to share some excellent attendance figures. Reception leads the school with a perfect 100%—a fantastic achievement! Year 6 also had an outstanding week with 99.5%, followed closely by Year 2 at 98.8% and Year 5 at 98%.

Year 3 recorded 95%, while Year 4 reached 94.7%, and Year 1 finished at 94%. Nursery ended the week with 92%.

We hope everyone enjoys a well‑deserved break over half term. Let’s aim to get off to a flying start when we return, with strong attendance right from day one. Every day in school helps pupils build knowledge, confidence, and momentum—so let’s make the next half term our best yet!

PTA

The PTA are busy organising 2 upcoming events as per the adjacent flyers.

Payments are now open on Arbor for the Someone Special 'Thank you' Sale which will take place during school hours on Friday, 13th March. Please note that the deadline to pay is Wednesday, 25th February - the PTA will be unable to accept late payments.

Payments for the Jewellery Workshop will open on Arbor on our return to school after Half Term.

Thank you for your support.

As you know, reading regularly at home with your children is incredibly important. A good bedtime story is not only helpful in maintaining a strong routine in the evening, it also helps children to develop their imagination and vocabulary.

Each week, we will ask our staff what their current recommendations are for the best bedtime reads. We hope that it provides you with some ideas!

Best Bedtime Reads!

Mrs Lewis is currently reading Twitch by MG Leonard

Mr Maher's son, Zack, lent me this book and I love it!

The main character, Twitch, is an expert on birds and has made the most amazing den in the woods for birdwatching - I would love to go and camp out in it. He gets caught up with bullies and baddies and it's so exciting.

I learned some fantastic facts about birds too - did you know hummingbirds are the only bird that can fly backwards?

What I really liked is that it shows how people can change for the better, if people believe in them and give them a second chance. Also, that children are so brave and clever in difficult situations.

World Book Day Reminder - 5th March

This year, World Book Day will take place on Thursday 5th March and, as in previous years, children are welcome to come dressed as their favourite book character. Our theme for both World Book Day and Science Week will be the wonderful variety of life in our world. With this in mind, we are setting an additional challenge: we would love to see how many children can come dressed as an animal from a book. We are already looking forward to spotting Gruffalos, Fantastic Mr Foxes, and perhaps even a few monsters from Where the Wild Things Are!

The theme of biodiversity will then continue into Science Week, where the children will explore how we can care for the world around us, considering the plants and animals that share our environment.

As part of the National Year of Reading, we are also developing a new whole-school reading challenge. To support this, we are creating a “best reads” list and would love to include your recommendations. If you have a favourite book that you have shared with your child—particularly one that offers a good level of challenge—please follow the link to share it with us. We look forward to telling you more about this new reading challenge on World Book Day!

Upcoming Dates

9th February - Reception Coffee Morning

10th February - Y1 Class Worship

10th February - Safer Internet Day

16th-20th Feb - Half Term

23rd February - All pupils back to school

24th February - Nursery, Y5&Y6 Forest School sessions start

24th February - Y4 Pedestrian Skills Training

25th February - Young Voices Performance 2.30pm

26th February - Nursery Coffee Morning

3rd March - Y5 Class Worship

5th March - World Book Day and start of Science Week (Biodiversity)

9th March - Bring-a-plant Non-uniform day

10th&11th March - Parents' Evenings

11th March - Science Week Fayre - 3.30pm

12th March - Y3 Trip to Hudnall Park

13th March - Reception Coffee Morning

13th March - PTA 'Thank You' Sale

16th March - Nursery Coffee Morning

17th March - Reception class Worship

17th March - Y6 trip to Bletchley Park

18th March - Y4 River Study Trip

19th March - Reception & Nursery Trip - Hertfordshire Zoo

19th March - Y2 to Roald Dahl Museum

19th March - Last clubs of term

20th March - Red Nose Day Non-uniform

23rd March - Art Week - Sculpture

24th&25th March - Y3&4 Production

25th March - Y5 Trip to Kew Gardens

26th March - Whole School Church Service

27th March - End of the Spring Term 1.30pm

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!

Final Thought

As we reach the end of a busy half term, we look back with real pride at all the fantastic learning and creativity that we have seen in our classrooms; there have been so many happy moments. We also know that this time of year can sometimes feel a little heavy. The grey skies, chilly mornings and dark evenings can make some days feel a little low. It’s perfectly normal to feel that way at times—and it makes the kindness we show one another all the more important.

When we return after half term, we’ll be moving closer to Easter and, with it, the first real signs of spring. We can look forward to lighter evenings, buds beginning to bloom and hopefully a little more sunshine. Alongside the brighter weather, we have an exciting school calendar ahead, filled with opportunities to learn and play together.

Brighter days are on their way, in more ways than one!

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