Our school focus value this term is “Excellence” which I think is very appropriate given the way the Earls Barton Primary School community have worked together to re-open our school in this post-COVID era. The risk assessments were written, the staff training occurred and the contingency plans were all in place, all that was needed was the children to return!  

It was a delight to welcome back our children in Years 1 – 6 on Friday 3^rd September. Fittingly, we had a rainbow balloon arch over the main gate and positive, upbeat music to welcome the children back to school. The children were delighted to be back in school: seeing friends; beginning new topics; learning new things; singing; playing and starting to get a semblance of normality back into their lives.  

It will, inevitably, take some time to fully adjust back to the old ways of working as we cautiously proceed towards the “new normal”. Some children were in school such a short while before the first lockdown that the everyday joys of assemblies and sharing a playground with friends from other classes is almost new to them. We pride ourselves on the pastoral care we have in-place for all children who need it. We have a dedicated pastoral team who are available to support all children who need a little bit of extra help or reassurance in these challenging times. 

 We are taking the path out of COVID slowly and I am pleased to say our families support this approach and are working with us to try and keep COVID out of school. Hand-washing remains a vital and frequent part of our everyday routines and we are proceeding with caution for visitors and whole school events which are both on hold for the time-being. Nonetheless, we feel our children are having an excellent time being back in school with a full curriculum of lessons, sports, art, music, singing and extra-curricular clubs to enjoy already this term. 

On Wednesday 8^th September, we welcomed our new Reception children into the school community. As a parent of a Reception child myself, I understand the emotional wrench of your child starting “big school” and I am delighted that these new families have entrusted their most precious possession to us to start their learning journey. We sent the parents home with a little gift bag and poem written by our excellent Reception team and I am sure the children will have a fantastic first day in the wonderful Earls Barton Primary School community and will go home smiling. 

Our September in school has been excellent so far and I am looking forward to leading the school and building on this excellence in the months and years ahead. 

Miss Marie Lally 

Headteacher