28.11.2022

• Class Structure 2024-2025

  Fri 03 May 2024

  As you will have seen from yesterday’s communication we are in a really fortunate position; our pupils numbers have been rising over the last few years, while many small schools nationally are struggling. We aim to give pupils at Kettlefields Primary School the best possible education which is why we are really excited to announce that Mr Kettle will be staying with us as a full-time class teacher which enables us to move to 5 classes from September 2024.

   

  Please see the letter sent to parents yesterday for the class structure for 24/25.

• We've become a Prem. Aware School

  Fri 03 May 2024

  The Smallest Things baby charity has named Kettlefields Primary School as a Prem Aware School. This is another piece of hugely positive news for Kettlefields.

  Research tells us that, on average, there will be two to three children in every typical classroom who were born prematurely (before 37 weeks). While this does not automatically mean they will have additional educational needs, it does increase the chances they will require extra support.  

  We have met all three Prem Aware requirements to gain the award: training staff; asking new parents if children were born prematurely as part of the admissions process; and requesting feedback from parents on any extra support provided. 

  By becoming a Prem Aware School, the teaching staff will have a better understanding of the lasting effects of premature birth, be able to identify issues early and provide the practical and emotional support children may need on their education journey. Teaching staff found the training incredibly interesting and informative and we feel much more equipped to be able to support children who are born prematurely. It has given us a greater awareness of how having a premature child can impact the whole family. We are keen to use the strategies and knowledge we have gained to positively impact the lives of our children.

  Catriona Ogilvy, founder of The Smallest Things, says "This is fantastic news for families of children born prematurely who attend Kettlefields Primary School. Our recent survey revealed nine out of 10 parents of children born prematurely felt there was a need for more awareness and understanding in schools. Having trained teachers who know what to look out for and how to help, will make a big difference to children in the classroom. We hope this will inspire other schools to take this step.”  

  Further information: 

  • The Smallest Things Prem Aware Award 

  • The Smallest Things Prem Aware schools guidance pack

• PTFA Minibus Fundraising

  Mon 11 Mar 2024

  Kettlefields are looking to raise £20,000 to buy their own minibus.  You can find more information on the Kettlefields Primary School PTFA Just Giving page here.

• Library project

  Tue 25 Apr 2023

  At Kettlefields Primary School in Dullingham, we fundraised to build our very own school library!

  We had an area on the school grounds that had been fenced off and was very over grown, it had been like this for many years. We asked the children to come up with ideas around how to use this space. The children took part in a competition in May 2021, they entered designs for ‘The Big Project’. We then shared their ideas with the rest of the school community. We had a range of ideas such as a wildlife garden, school farm, swimming pool and our favourite idea – a school library!

  We are lucky at Kettlefields that we have extensive school grounds with lots of wildlife and although we loved the idea of a school farm, we wondered how we would care for the animals in the school holidays.

  Reading for pleasure has been shown to have many non-literacy benefits and can increase empathy, improve relationships with others, reduce the symptoms of depression and improve well-being throughout life. Children who read for pleasure make significantly more progress in vocabulary, spelling and maths than children who read very little. So having a school library is very important!

  We have been busy raising funds for our school library. We had a target of £40k. By September 2022 we had raised £33 through capitalising some of the schools own money and through PTFA fundraising. So in the autumn term we had our last fundraising push so that we could start building our library in November 2022. The building was completed in December 2022 with finishing touches such as painting and furniture fittings in January 2023.

  We had lots of events planned by the PTFA such as: fireworks night, break the rules day, bake sale, dodgeball tournament, quiz night, just giving page and a school disco which all helped to raise further funds.

  We have also been lucky to have obtained donations from Tesco, Godolphin, Mr Gredley, Tattersalls, The Newmarket Charitable Foundation, Cambridgeshire Local Authority and Thomas and Young Chartered Financial planners.

  On Friday 27^th January, we had the official handover from Cambridge Garden Studios who built our library. We then set about building furniture and filling the library with books. We started using it just in time for National Story Telling Week on Monday 30^th January. We then planned the area around the library to provide a reading garden. Landscaping the area with bark, picnic benches and raised flower beds.

  We trained some of our year 4 pupils to be librarians so the library can be open at lunchtimes. All classes also have a timetable library slot each week.

   

                          Mrs Gadsby, the staff and the children of Kettlefields Primary School

  

• LATEST OFSTED INSPECTION

  Tue 29 Nov 2022

  We are very pleased and proud to announce that Kettlefields Primary School has been officially recognised as a GOOD school during our recent Ofsted inspection. The report judges us to be a good school in all areas of the inspection framework.