Mr Moore's News Update
Dear Parents and Carers,
We have had a busy week with a trip to Howletts, parental engagement sessions in Year 6, football tournaments and guide dog learning talks. We take personal development very seriously and plot learning experiences across the academic year to enrich our classbased learning. These are broken into careers, community work, charities and further opportunities to experience the world around us. If you feel you would like to share your profession, culture, language or passion with the children then please speak with your child's class teacher or email the academy office. Opportunities to hear from family members is profoundly inspirational and helps us all see the connections throughout our community. Together we can open the childrens eyes to careers, hobbies and the world around them, which in turn supports them on their learning journey before moving into secondary school. Such holistic learning is central to our mission here at Paddock Wood.
Unfortunately I have had several reports from parents that members of our community have been overheard using inappropriate language on the school grounds within earshot of the children. Please refrain from using such language particularly on busy playgrounds with children within earshot. It is important we all model the values we expect of them and I thank the vast majority of you who do this extremely well.
Please also reinforce that when on the school site children should disembark their scooters or bikes. Cycling and scooting on site has resulted in a number of near misses and a few bumps recently. I want everyone to remain as safe as possible whilst on our grounds so please can we support our children to walk safely onto and off of the school grounds.
Have a lovely weekend.
Yours sincerely,
Mr. Moore
Principal
Leigh Academy Paddock Wood
Office Messages
Class Photos - Children will be having class photos taken on Thursday (26th March). All children should come into school in their full school uniform on this day (no PE kits please).
Year 5 - the next instalment is due for the Rootd Residential trip by Friday 27th March. Please make payment via MCAS>Outstanding Payments if you haven't already done so.
Year 5 - There are still a few places remaining for Bikeability in September. Please see MCAS>Announcements for further information on how to sign your child up. Your child's place is not confirmed until you have made BOTH payment via MCAS AND completed the separate consent at https://consent.bikeability.org.uk/needs-many-spare
Year 6 Summer Trips - you should have now paid the deposit for the upcoming trips for Year 6 children. The next instalment is due by Friday 27th March. Please make payment via MCAS>Outstanding Payments if you haven't already done so.
23.03.26 1P Parental Engagement Session 2.30pm - 3.15pm
24.03.26 1B Parental Engagement Session 2.30pm - 3.15pm
25.03.26 1M Parental Engagement Session 2.30pm - 3.15pm
26.03.26 Class Photos
26.03.26 Year 2 Parental Engagement Session 2.30pm - 3.15pm
27.03.26 Year 2 visit to National Maritime Museum
30.03.26 Year 4 Parental Engagement Session 2.30pm - 3.15pm
31.03.26 Year 5 Parental Engagement Session 2.45pm - 3.15pm
01.04.26 Rocksteady Concert
01.04.26 EYFS Parental Engagement Session 2.45pm - 3.15pm
02.04.26 End of Module 4 (normal school finish time)
20.04.26 Start of Module 5
WB 11.05.26 Year 6 SATs
19.05.26 Year 6 to Chessington
22.05.26 End of Module 5
Next week - Week 1
EYFS: 94.4%
Year 1: 96.3%
Year 2: 96.7%
Year 3: 96.2%
Year 4: 97.4%
Year 5: 96.1%
Year 6: 96.9%
overall school attendance: 96.2%
Winner of the Attendance Cup this week goes to ...
Year 4!!
Well done!!
The National absence figures are in - the absence rate across the 2025/26 academic year to date (up to Friday 6th March 2026) in state primary schools was 5.12% in state-funded primary schools (3.74% authorised and 1.38% unauthorised)
Our Academy has a 4% absence rate
(3.3% authorised and 0.8% unauthorised)
The importance of a full time education cannot be underestimated and supports all children to reach their potential. Please always consider any absence and whether your child needs to have a day off but especially any term time holidays - both can impact your child's learning and mean gaps in their education.
House Points this week...
Proud at Paddock Wood
Jake swam 5 metres this week!
Well done Jake, we are so proud of you! 🏊🏼♂️
On Saturday Izzy took part in her first rugby tournament for the TJs under 10 team, in Ashford.
Izzy and her team played 4 fantastic games, winning 3 of them and only lost the 4th by 1 try.
🏉
What an achievement! We're super proud of how she pushed herself out of her comfort zone and gave her all. Well done Izzy!
🌳 Forest School Pilot Sessions 🌳
Over the past few weeks, a small group of Year 3 and Year 4 children have had the exciting opportunity to take part in our Forest School pilot sessions—and what a fantastic start it has been!
From the very first session, the children approached the new Forest School site with curiosity and enthusiasm. They began by exploring the area, learning how to move safely through a natural environment while noticing the different features of the space.
A highlight for many was learning how to create bird feeders using stems of willow. This learning experience helped the children understand how we can support local wildlife. Their growing interest in nature continued as they used magnifying glasses and bug tubs to investigate minibeasts, carefully identifying habitats and discussing why different creatures live where they do.
The children were also introduced to the safe use of real tools, including secateurs and loppers. Under close supervision, they used these tools responsibly to cut willow and help construct a willow fence, which will form part of the Forest School boundary.
Importantly, the children have begun to take on the role of environmental stewards. They have helped to prune areas of the site to make them safe and accessible, as well as digging and preparing soil ready for sowing wildflower seeds and plants. Through this, they are developing a real sense of ownership, care, and responsibility for the environment.
Perhaps most importantly of all, the sessions have fostered teamwork, collaboration, and a shared sense of purpose. The children have worked together, supported one another, and taken pride in contributing to something meaningful.
These are just some of the wonderful experiences the children have enjoyed so far. We are incredibly proud of their enthusiasm, resilience, and growing connection with the natural world, and we look forward to seeing how the Forest School continues to develop.
#WakeUpWednesday is a campaign by the National Online Safety organisation. It's designed to help parents and carers stay informed about the latest online trends and platforms that their children might be using.
Every Wednesday, a new guide or resource is released, offering simple tips and advice on how to keep children safe online. These guides cover a range of topics, from popular apps and games to general online safety issues like cyberbullying and privacy. The goal is to start a conversation between adults and children about staying safe in the digital world.
We will upload these guides/resources here every week.
Click on the buttons below to go to your child's year group page