Sounds-Write

17th July 2026R Cave

 

Dear Parents and Carers,

We are absolutely delighted to share some incredibly proud and exciting news with you! Our school has officially been accredited with the prestigious Sounds-Write Silver Award as part of the Sounds-Write Schools accreditation programme.

This is a phenomenal achievement that reflects our absolute commitment to providing your children with the highest quality phonics education—the very foundation they need to become confident, passionate, and proficient readers and writers.

Receiving the Sounds-Write Silver Award is a huge milestone. It recognises the exceptional leadership, passion, and expertise in phonics teaching across our entire school. Our wonderful staff have worked tirelessly to ensure the programme is delivered with total consistency and energy, and our brilliant students have risen to the challenge beautifully.

While we are thrilled to celebrate this milestone, our journey doesn’t stop here! We remain deeply dedicated to continuously elevating our practice to ensure every single student achieves their absolute best.

We want to take this opportunity to thank you for your ongoing support at home, which makes all the difference. If you would like to learn more about how we teach phonics or how you can support your child’s reading journey, please visit the Sounds-Write website or follow the link below for some fantastic, parent-friendly resources:

https://sounds-write.co.uk/support-for-parents-and-carers/

Thank you for being such a wonderful part of our school community. Here’s to many more reading successes!

Great British Summer Saving Scheme

10th July 2026R King

Rising prices can make life’s little treats harder to afford, especially during the school holidays when costs build up for families. This Government have announced the Great British Summer Savings scheme.

From 25 June to 1 September 2026, the Government is temporarily cutting VAT from 20% to 5% on children’s meals in restaurants, children and family tickets to cinemas, theatres, concerts and exhibitions, and admission to a wide range of attractions. Combined with free bus travel during August for children aged 5 to 15 in England, families and young people will be able to enjoy experiences that make summer special, including visits to the kinds of cultural and educational attractions that enrich children’s lives outside the classroom.

There is an attraction finder website which allows you to type in your postcode and find participating venues near you to make the most of summer savings.

To use the attraction finder, please visit https://summersavings.gov.uk.

 

OPAL – Plan for Play

26th June 2026R Cave
To parents and carers, 
 
As you know, your child is fortunate enough to attend an OPAL school; a school who take play seriously. 
 

Outdoor play is essential for children’s health, development and wellbeing, but has almost disappeared from their lives.

Schools are well placed to address this. But even though playtime makes up 20% of every primary school child’s day, very few schools have a plan for play. Without a strategic plan, this time is wasted and often leads to problems.

Evidence from more than 2,000 OPAL schools shows that having a plan for play transforms behaviour, equality, wellbeing and learning.

OPAL believe that every primary school needs a plan for play.

We are reaching out to you, parents of children who thrive by accessing high-quality play daily, to support OPAL’s (Outdoor Play and Learning) Plan for Play campaign. 
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“We call on the Government to require every primary school in England to publish a plan for outdoor free play at breaktimes and lunchtime, and for the Department for Education to produce statutory guidance defining what quality provision looks like, with Ofsted required to inspect against it.”

 

As a fellow organisation who recognise and value the need for play within our local communities, please support this campaign by asking colleagues and visitors to sign the petition to ensure all primary schools are required to demonstrate how they provide quality outdoor free play for every child.

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Please show your support by:

– clicking this link to complete a quick online petition.

– sharing @opalnortheast social media campaign posts to raise awareness

Huge thanks for any support you are able to offer this campaign.

Reducing the cost of the school day

15th June 2026R Cave
Welcome to the June edition of our Reducing the Cost of the School Day newsletter.
In this issue, you’ll find updates on pilot programmes, upcoming events, training opportunities, and financial support available to schools and families.
Rising costs are impacting families more than ever—but schools continue to step up. Across South Tyneside, 34 settings are already taking action to reduce the cost of the school day and make education more accessible for all.
Active Uniform Pilot
We are pleased to see growing interest in the Active Uniform approach, with two schools currently taking part in the pilot and a further 10 schools expressing interest in adopting the model.
Across the two pilot schools, 1,098 pupils will receive a quarter-zip top to support the transition to a more practical and inclusive uniform. This initiative has been made possible through funding from RISE and Sport England, helping to reduce costs for families while promoting greater participation in physical activity throughout the school day.
Prom Project
A group of women wearing dresses AI-generated content may be incorrect.
The Prom Project continues to make a meaningful difference by reducing financial pressure on families and ensuring that all students can take part in this important milestone. By improving access to free prom items, schools are helping to create a more inclusive experience so that every young person can celebrate without barriers.
Supporting Active Play Through Social Value
A row of bicycles in front of a building AI-generated content may be incorrect.
Through the Pledge’s Social Value commitments, alongside support from a local charity, we have been able to provide 12 brand new and 5 pre-loved bikes to a local primary school.
These bikes will support OPAL provision, helping to ensure that all children have access to bikes during the school day. This is particularly important for pupils who may otherwise be unable to participate due to a lack of equipment at home, with many families unable to afford one.
T‑O Bike School Offer
T‑O Bike, run by Tyneside Outdoors, has a number of usable bikes available for primary‑aged pupils who need them. These bikes are not for resale but can be refurbished and provided through schools to support children who would benefit from access to a bike.
Please note:
  • Requests must be made by schools only (families should not contact or visit the shop)
  • Schools are responsible for requesting, collecting, and delivering the bike to the student
  • This offer is not open to the general public
  • T‑O Bike does not require recognition for providing the bikes
For requests, contact T‑O Bike:
📧 [email protected] | 📞 0191 323 2033
📍 101 Prince Edward Road, South Shields
Opening hours:
Mon–Wed 9:30am–5pm | Thu–Fri 1pm–5pm | Sat 10am–4pm
Get involved
If you would like to learn more about how we can support your school to take advantage of these opportunities, we would love to hear from you.

5 Blue transition day

15th June 2026R Cave

5 Blue visited Hebburn Comprehensive last week for a transition day…..and the feedback from the staff and the AHT was amazing!

 

“I just wanted to pass on some feedback from our staff about your Year 5s who came for a visit yesterday.

All our staff involved have come to see me to say how wonderful the pupils were – so polite, respectful and completely engaged in the activities. I had a quick chat with some of them as they were leaving and it was delightful.

We’re looking forward to meeting the other class next Thursday.”

Well done 5 Blue, we are all very proud of you!