Dear Parents and Carers,

I hope you have all had a wonderful and restful summer break. It is with great pleasure that I welcome you and your children back to another exciting academic year at Norman Pannell. The staff have been working hard over the break to prepare for your return, ensuring we provide a stimulating and supportive environment for all.

Term starts for children and families on Wednesday 3rd September, following two INSET days for staff on 1st and 2nd .

I wanted to get in touch to update on a couple of important things and to give a few reminders as the new school year approaches.

Headteacher Absence

Unfortunately, our Headteacher, Mr Simpson, will be absent from school for a period of time due to illness. During this time, I (Mrs McMaster) will assume the role of Acting Headteacher and will be responsible for the day-to-day running of the school. We hope to see Mr Simpson back as soon as he is fully fit and ready to return to work. Welcome New Members of Our Community

We are delighted to welcome some new faces to the Norman Pannell family. A special welcome to Miss Bethany Mason, our new Year 5 teacher, Miss Eve Lund, our new Year 2 teacher (job share with Mrs Brown), Mrs Jenny Thompson, our new Nursery teacher and to all the new families who have joined us.

Building Refurbishment Update

If you have passed the school site during the holidays, you will have seen that a lot of work has taken place on the 5th and final phase of the whole school refurbishment, however the refitting of the school kitchen, junior hall and staff room areas are running approximately three weeks behind schedule. The kitchen will not be ready until at least the 19th September, with the aim to start serving hot meals again the following week. We will continue to follow the same procedures as before we broke up in July. The Community Room will continue to be the temporary kitchen. We have worked closely with the kitchen staff and Food for Thought, our school meal providers, who have designed an exciting menu for the children, with a cold food service, buffet style theme for the next three weeks. Please see attached the menu which was used prior to the summer break.

Parent Class Welcome meetings for every class – September 2025

The role that parents / carers and family members play in the running of the school is vital, which is why we want you to understand how your child’s class runs. During the first week back to school, each year group will invite all parents / carers into the class. During this time, you will sit with your child and the teacher will present important information about what your child will be learning this year and how the school week works e.g. homework, P.E. days, reading books. You will also have the opportunity to ask any questions. In addition, you will also be given a new home / school agreement, common to many schools, which explains clearly the responsibilities of the school, children and parents / carers. I have attached the Headteacher: Mr R Simpson agreement for you to read through prior to the meeting. If you are not able to attend, we will send the agreement home or try to catch you in the playground to read and sign. If you are unable to attend, a copy of the slideshow will be uploaded to the class webpage.

Meetings will take place for parents in different classes on the following days:

Year 1 - Wednesday 3rd September (9:00 – 9:30am)

Year 2 – Wednesday 3rd September (9:00 – 9:30am)

Year 3 – Thursday 4th September (9:00 – 9:30am)

Year 4 – Friday 5th September (9:00 – 9:30am)

Year 5 – Wednesday 3rd September (2:45 – 3.15pm)

Year 6 – Thursday 4th September (2:45 – 3.15pm) Reception Stay & Play – Friday 5th September (half class am and other half pm – Miss Shaw has sent a letter home with further details)

Nursery Stay & Play – Friday 5th September (9:00 – 10:00am)

Attendance and Punctuality

As we begin the year, please remember the importance of regular attendance, which is vital for your child's academic success and social development. Being on time and in the line is so important – our teachers work hard to prepare each day so that children are benefiting from learning straight away in their classroom when they come in. If your child is not on time, they are at a real disadvantage. Teachers also go through the plan of the day, which is very important for many children’s sense of routine. School begins at 8:50am for all Y1-Y6 children (8:45am for Nursery and Reception). School finishes at 3:20pm for Y1-Y6 (3:15pm for Nursery and Reception).

Uniform

Please ensure that your child wears correct uniform so that they can feel part of the class and school family, knowing and achieving what is expected. Please label and name every item of uniform and coat in case it is lost. Feeling smart and consistent with every other pupil in the class is important for your child’s understanding of school rules, having self-respect and high expectations of themselves in their work and behaviour.

Working Together

The partnership between home and school is essential for our students' success. We encourage you to get involved in school life and to support your child's learning at home. We are looking forward to a successful and rewarding year ahead, working together to ensure every child at Norman Pannell reaches their full potential. I am looking forward to welcoming the children and yourselves back into school on Wednesday 3rd September.

Kind regards,

Michelle McMaster

Acting Headteacher