We now have a pedestrian road crossing! Please encourage your children to use it and please be aware that with it come parking restrictions that will become clearer as the painting of road markings and signage is complete.

Our Halloween discos last Friday were a big success and thank you to Friends of Appledore School for organising and attending and to school staff who volunteered to attend to ensure the safety of the event. Thank you also to Blak Estate Agents from Bideford for donating the fireworks for our Foundation Stage fireworks night and for a few photos taken on the night please see here.

Please see here for our monthly attendance newsletter which this month includes helpful information regarding how long a child should be off school for specific illnesses.

Assembly this week included remembrance and safeguarding monitoring focused on consent. For both children demonstrated impressive awareness and understanding. Staff received anti-racism training this week.

The PTA would welcome donations of chocolate items for the Chocolate Tombola at our forthcoming Christmas Fair. Please could parents bring in donations to the school office before Friday 6th December. Anything chocolate based would be welcome – small bars of chocolate would be great as well as slightly bigger chocolate products. Please avoid items that obviously contain nuts (I.e. snickers bars)  although we realise most chocolate products seem to contain a nut warning.

Diary dates:

• Online workshop on how to support your child reading at home 2-3pm, 19th November – see here
• Turtles and Dolphins Christmas play, 2pm, Tuesday 10th December, school hall
• Year 1&2 Christmas performance, 2.30pm Monday 9th December and 9.30am Tuesday 10th December, school hall
• Year 3-6 Christmas Service, 2pm, Friday 20th December, St Mary’s Church
• Christmas fair, after school, Friday 13th December in the car park

Have a lovely weekend everybody

Have a good weekend everybody

From Jeremy Cooper and all the children and staff (more…)

Welcome back and we hope you had a good half term. This half term is always a busy one, so please keep an eye on here and your email and texts for notice of events.

FSU fireworks display last night and Halloween discos tonight conclude a busy week.

Dates for the diary:

• Sport, drama and music scholarship application for year 7 entry into West Buckland School deadline 6th November – see here 
• Halloween Disco, Dolphins-Year 2 5-6pm, Year 3-6 6.30-7.30pm, Friday 8th November, school hall. Tickets on sale in the playground after school on Friday
• Wear spots and stripes for Children in Need, Thursday 14th November, a day early due to school photos on official Children in Need day!
• School photos 15th of November. If you want a photo to include siblings who don’t attend Appledore School these photos will be taken 8-9am
• Online workshop on how to support your child reading at home 2-3pm, 19th November – see here
• Year 3-6 Christmas Service, 2pm, Friday 20th December, St Mary’s Church
• Christmas fair, after school, Friday 13th December in the car park

Have a lovely weekend everybody

Have a good weekend.

From Jeremy Cooper and all the children and staff (more…)

Last week it was Key Stage 2 celebrating harvest with you and this week it has been Foundation Stage and Key Stage 1. Thank you for your donations that we will be taking to a homeless charity later today.

Another busy week, including school trips for various classes, so please do read the Around the Classes section later in this post to see what has been happening this week in your child’s class.

Cake sale today after school after school on the bottom playground. Please click here to see the poster made by our (newly appointed) cake sales Director of Marketing and Coms. Cake donation to the school office on Friday 25th please. Thank you.

Dates for the diary:

• Multi-sport holiday camp at Atlantic Racquet Centre, Bideford, during October half term – see here
• Messy play for children (and siblings of) with SEND, 1.30-2.30pm 30th October, Bideford Family Centre, Victoria Park, Bideford
• Two Rivers Forest School Halloween stay and play in the woods 31st October  – see here
• Girls only football day camp, 31st October, Barnstaple, see here
• Stories and Fun, 10am-11am Saturday 1st November, Bideford Family Centre, Victoria Park, Bideford
• Sport, drama and music scholarship application for year 7 entry into West Buckland School deadline 6th November – see here 
• Halloween Disco, Dolphins-Year 2 5-6pm, Year 3-6 6.30-7.30pm, Friday 8th November, school hall. Tickets on sale in the playground after school on Friday
• Wear spots and stripes for Children in Need, Thursday 14th November, a day early due to school photos on official Children in Need day!
• School photos 15th of November. If you want a photo to include siblings who don’t attend Appledore School these photos will be taken 8-9am.
• Year 3-6 Christmas Service, afternoon of Friday 20th December, St Mary’s Church (time to be confirmed)
• Christmas fair, after school, Friday 13th December in the car park

Have a lovely weekend everybody

Wishing you all a good half term and we look forward top welcoming you back on Monday 4th November

From Jeremy Cooper and all the children and staff (more…)

A lovely week that included a magical crow and scarecrow celebration of harvest in St Mary’s church, a trip to the Eden Project and some top 3 finishes (in races with well over 150 runners) at a local cross country event. Next week entails more trips out and about, including year 5 on their residential trip and year 2 to Rosemoor. Please read the Around the Classes section later in this post to find out what has been happening this week.

Most importantly, according to our Year 6 House Captains, there is a cake sale next Friday after school on the bottom playground. Please click here to see the poster made by our (newly appointed) cake sales Director of Marketing and Coms. Cake donation to the school office on Friday 25th please. Thank you.

Dates for the diary:

• Turtles and Dolphins Harvest Festival, 2.45pm Tuesday 22nd October in the school hall
• Years 1&2 harvest festival, 2.30pm Friday 25th October, school hall
• Messy play for children (and siblings of) with SEND, 1.30-2.30pm 30th October, Bideford Family Centre, Victoria Park, Bideford
• Two Rivers Forest School Halloween stay and play in the woods 31st October  – see here
• Stories and Fun, 10am-11am Saturday 1st November, Bideford Family Centre, Victoria Park, Bideford
• Sport, drama and music scholarship application for year 7 entry into West Buckland School deadline 6th November – see here 
• Halloween Disco, Dolphins-Year 2 5-6pm, Year 3-6 6.30-7.30pm, Friday 8th November, school hall. Tickets on sale in the playground after school on Friday
• School photos 15th of November. If you want a photo to include siblings who don’t attend Appledore School these photos will be taken 8-9am.
• Year 3-6 Christmas Service, afternoon of Friday 20th December, St Mary’s Church (time to be confirmed)
• Christmas fair, after school, Friday 13th December in the car park

Have a lovely weekend everybody

From Jeremy Cooper and all the children and staff (more…)

Harvest festival rehearsals are fully underway. Please see below for the details. Each year we collect donations of ‘harvest’ that we donate to Harbour ‘hope for homeless’ charity. If you want to make a donation, please hand it in to our school office from Monday 21st October

Do you know anyone who might be interested in the following school vacancies? For more information see here 

School cleaner, term time only, 2 hours per day (3.30-5.30pm or could be later start if required), Monday to Friday. £11.59 per hour (pay increase pending) and to start asap

Meal Time Assistant and Kitchen Assistant, 2 hours per day (12pm-1pm supporting children on the playground and 1pm-2pm clearing the kitchen), Monday to Friday. £11.59 per hour (pay increase pending) and to start Monday 4th November or as soon as possible thereafter.

Flu vaccinations will take place in school on the 4th of November for children in Dolphins/Reception to Year 6. If you haven’t already, please complete the form available here, even if you do not want your child to take part. Our school code is DV113125

Dates for the diary:

• Years 3-6 Harvest Festival, 2.15pm, Wednesday 16th October at St Mary’s Church
• Turtles and Dolphins Harvest Festival, 2.45pm Tuesday 22nd October in the school hall
• Years 1&2 harvest festival, 2.30pm Friday 25th October, school hall
• Messy play for children (and siblings of) with SEND, 1.30-2.30pm 30th October, Bideford Family Centre, Victoria Park, Bideford
• Two Rivers Forest School Halloween stay and play in the woods 31st October  – see here
• Stories and Fun, 10am-11am Saturday 1st November, Bideford Family Centre, Victoria Park, Bideford
• Halloween Disco, Dolphins-Year 2 5-6pm, Year 3-6 6.30-7.30pm, Friday 8th November, school hall. Tickets on sale in the playground after school on Friday
• School photos 15th of November. If you want a photo to include siblings who don’t attend Appledore School these photos will be taken 8-9am.
• Year 3-6 Christmas Service, afternoon of Friday 20th December, St Mary’s Church (time to be confirmed)
• Christmas fair, after school, Friday 13th December in the car park

Have a lovely weekend everybody

From Jeremy Cooper and all the children and staff (more…)

The school calendar is filling up, so please take a look at the dates below for various school events.

Some really good attendance percentages this week that can be seen here.

Dates for the diary:

• Messy play for children (and siblings of) with SEND, 1.30-2.30pm 30th October, Bideford Family Centre, Victoria Park, Bideford.
• Stories and Fun, 10am-11am Saturday 1st November, Bideford Family Centre, Victoria Park, Bideford
• Years 3-6 Harvest Festival, 2.15pm, Wednesday 16th October at St Mary’s Church
• Turtles and Dolphins Harvest Festival, 2.45pm Tuesday 22nd October in the school hall
• Halloween Disco, time to be confirmed, Friday 8th November, school hall
• Year 3-6 Christmas Service, afternoon of Friday 20th December, St Mary’s Church (time to be confirmed)
• Christmas fair, after school, Friday 13th December in the car park

Have a lovely weekend everybody

From Jeremy Cooper and all the children and staff (more…)

A busy week dodging the rain with lots going on, as reported in Around the Classes below, including book festival author visits, so please read on… 

FOAS (Friends of Appledore School, ie our Parents Association) is holding their annual general meeting this evening at 7pm in our Art Studio. The art studio is the building at ethe bottom, of our front playground. everybody is welcome. 

Please click here for an overview of what your children will be learning each term this year. 

Clarification regarding the 48 hours absence rule regarding diarrhoea and vomiting.
A change in bowel pattern in young children that has resulted in liquid or semi-liquid stools within a 24 hours period necessitates 48 hours absence from school after symptoms have stopped and provided your child is well enough to return. Vomiting on more than one occasion during 24 hours necessitates the same period of absence. If your child is unsure and you are unsure what to do, please call the school when your child is ill for guidance. If your child is able to attend school following such a call, please be reassured that we will keep an eye on your child and if we become aware of further diarrhoea, vomiting or other related symptoms we will notify you for collection of your child.

Dates for the diary:

• Stories and Fun, 10am-11am Saturday 1st November, Bideford Family Centre, Victoria Park, Bideford
• Years 3-6 Harvest Festival, 2.15pm, Wednesday 16th October at St Mary’s Church
• Year 3-6 Christmas Service, afternoon of Friday 20th December, St Mary’s Church (time to be confirmed)

Have a lovely weekend everybody

From Jeremy Cooper and all the children and staff (more…)

It’s always good to get the minibus on the road, because it means the children are busy enjoy extra curricular activities and this week has seen a tag rugby festival and tennis at ARC, Bideford, with Judy Murray.

Secondary school open days are coming up for year 7 entry are approaching. Typically aimed at pupils currently in Years 5 & 6, please click on the school name for a link to the details and check whether it applies to current Year 5 and/or Year 6 pupils.  For current year 6 pupils Atlantic Academy, Bideford College, Great Torrington School, Kingsley School, Park Community School, Pilton Community College and West Buckland School.

Next Wednesday (25th September) a free community cricket programme starts for children aged 8 years+ ate starting at 6.45pm at Pilton Community College. For more information please see here and here.

Dates for the diary:

• Years 3-6 Harvest Festival, 2.15pm, Wednesday 16th October at St Mary’s Church

Have a great weekend everybody

From Jeremy Cooper and all the children and staff

(more…)

The end of the first full week back and the children look like they are ready for the weekend – hopefully you will all get a lie in as a result!

Success at the Appledore Carnival with 1st place for the Junior Float. Thank you and well done everybody involved.

Please click here to view the notification letter regarding the pedestrian crossing that is being installed on Richmond Road. Work is planned to begin on 9th October with a planned duration of four weeks.

Starting at the end of September, and once a month, the North Devon Cross Country league holds a race for both children and adults at a beautiful locations . The children’s races are for u9 and u11 and prove very popular and for more information see here .If your child does participate and wants to do so wearing a school running vest, please let us know and they can borrow one for the season.

For parents and carers of children with additional needs, drop-in mornings are scheduled to meet and socialise with others in similar situations once a month on a Friday morning. For more information, please see here.

Dates for the diary:

• Years 3-6 Harvest Festival, 2.15pm, Wednesday 16th October at St Mary’s Church
• Book Festival Free Family Fun Day, Saturday 14th September, 10.30am-3pm see here for more information

Have a super weekend and see you all on Monday.

From Jeremy Cooper and all the children and staff (more…)

Welcome back everybody and we hope you had a good summer. A shorter than usual first week and the children have returned full of enthusiasm and ready to go.

We are running after school clubs (Lego – Tuesday, multi-sports – Wednesday, football- Thursday and eco – Friday) during the week in addition to our usual before and after school club (AOOSC) and you should have received an email earlier this week with a letter with more details. There are few spaces in some of the clubs and please contact the office if you are interested. If you didn’t receive the email, here is the letter and please confirm with us that we have your correct contact details.

For any girls in Year 6 interested in rugby, Barnstaple Rugby Club is looking for new players. Just turn up at 6.30pm on a Friday ate Barnstaple Rugby Club. More information here

Our term dates for this academic year and the next are available here.

As part of our art curriculum the children have the opportunity to work towards an art award. Mrs Bannister, our art subject leader, has written a piece about this that was recently published. You can read her article here.

Instilling good attendance habits is very important to ensure children don’t miss a step of their sequenced lessons. Of course children get ill and please only keep them off school if they are unable to come to school. If you are unsure, please call us and be reassured that if we see that your child is unwell and we believe unfit for school we will contact you. For our latest attendance newsletter please see here

Wishing you all a good weekend and see you on Monday

From Jeremy Cooper and all the children and staff (more…)

The end of another packed year draws to a close and wish all the very best for children and families leaving us this year and ask that they stay in touch. It has been a fun year with so much achieved, so please do read the Around the Classes section one last time for this year to see what has been happening during our last week of term.

A big thank you to FOAS (Friends of Appledore School) for organising last week’s summer fair and other fundraising activities throughout the year. If you are able to volunteer to help the small band of parents who make up FOAS next year, please email admin@appledoreprimary.co.uk and we will pass your details onto them.

Next year, we will be offering the following clubs after school and for more detailed information please click here:

• Tuesday: Lego club – for years 1 to 4 – 3.30pm to 4.30pm – cost £5
  Wednesday: Sports club – for years 3 to 5 – 3.30pm to 5pm – cost £6.25
  Thursday: Football club – for years 2 to 4 – 3.30pm to 4.30pm – cost £5
  Friday: Eco Rangers – for years 1 to 6 – 3.30pm to 5pm – cost £6.25

Holiday events and activities for children:

• For free family events with the Northam Burrows Rangers please see here
• For Torridge Family Hub summer 2024 timetable of activities see here
• For summer rugby camps for all abilities please click here
• For summer tennis camps in Bideford please click here
• For cricket summer clubs in Westward Ho! please click here
• For summer football camps please click here
• Aimed primarily (although not exclusively) at our Year 6 pupils leaving for Bideford College and Atlantic academy is a summer reading challenge. For more info please see here

Wishing you all a great summer holiday and we look forward to seeing you again in September (but if you are in Year 6, please stay in touch!)

From Jeremy Cooper and all the children and staff

(more…)

Winding down for summer holidays – no chance!  Please read Around the Classes to see what has been going on in (and outside) the classes that includes trips to Lundy, Appledore Library (including a visit to Hockings ice cream van) and an way football fixture and pond dipping, tennis and talent show and much more back at school.

If England win on Sunday it’s wear red and white for the day on Monday.

And well done to Indian House (yellow) for winning the House Cup for the summer term! So on Thursday, Indian House (yellow) and Pacific (red) can wear their house colours for the day. Pacific won it last term, but didn’t have their day!

For summer rugby camps for all abilities please click here,     For summer tennis camps in Bideford please click here and for cricket summer clubs in Westward Ho! please click here

For children in Years 1-6 their school report is in their Google Drive. If there is anything in the report you would like to discuss with their class teacher please contact the school office to make an appointment.

Wishing you all a good weekend – come on England!

From Jeremy Cooper and all the children and staff (more…)

A week that is included: Year 6 play – it was very good; talent show auditions; Greek mythology; two football matches against other schools; exploring an ancient Egyptian tomb; members of the choir once again on the road performing; musical workshops at Bridwell  Park and an online safety workshop for upper key stage two are a few examples of the breadth of enriching activities that happen in any given week.

As part of Devon’s work on Ordinarily Available Inclusive Provision (OAIP) Devon CC would like to invite parents/carers to co-produce the section of the framework which outlines expectations for Working in Partnership with Parents. They are holding a parent workshop on Tuesday 9th July 9.30-11am at Roundswell Community Primary School open for all parents who have children in any primary or secondary setting to attend. For more information please click here and here.

Matters relating to penalty notices for unauthorised absence have changed and that information can be found here.

Working with Exeter City FC, North Devon Regional Talent Centre are looking for Year 3 Footballers! If you would like to come along for a free coaching session and trial please register here

Wishing you all a good weekend

From Jeremy Cooper and all the children and staff (more…)

Dragon eggs, River Nile and writing quest stories is just a sample of what has been happening and is documented in Around the Classes, so please read on to find out more…

To view the Summer 2024 edition of Family First, supporting Department of Health and NHS in improving mental and physical wellbeing of families, please click here 

CCTV is now installed covering the front gates and car park for safety and security and our CCTV policy is available to view here 

Diary date: 3.30pm – 5pm on Friday 5th July the summer fair is on the school field

Wishing you all a super weekend

From Jeremy Cooper and all the children and staff (more…)

Apologies for the late posting of last week’s newsletter (technical hitch) and please do read it, because there is important information on there as is there also below and in the Around the Classes section further on in this post. Not to mention the whole of main school recording their own song..!

Staffing of classes will remain the same next year, which means: Nursery is Steph Olliffe, Lucy Davie-Llewellyn,  Nicky Elphick, Michelle Wilson and Emily Day; Reception is Claire Bannister and Cathy Ley; Year 1 is Sarah Malyn, Fleur Monroe and Helena Grant; Year 2 is Eleanore Stanbury, Jane Halloway and Jillian Harris; Year 3 is Emily Wetz and Sue Hughes-Whiffing; Year 4 is Olivia Avery and Kellie Evans; Year 5 is Julie McMorine, Lisa Evans and Sue Evans and Year 6 is Kathryn Mitchell, Lisa Evans and Kay Carstairs.  Teacher release time in Years 3-6 will be covered by Jo Carr.  Children will meet their new teachers next Thursday morning.

Wishing you all super weekend

From Jeremy Cooper and all of the children and staff (more…)