A MESSAGE FROM MS PAULSON

Dear families, it has been another busy and productive week at Haydn and as I walk around school each day, it is a real pleasure to see how engaged the children are in their learning. Now that we are well into the autumn term, it is clear that classes have settled into their routines and that the positive relationships between children and their teachers continue to grow. The enthusiasm, resilience and pride that children are showing in their work is wonderful to see.

We are looking forward to welcoming many of you to Parents' Evening next week. These meetings provide a valuable opportunity to celebrate your child's achievements so far this year and to discuss the next steps in their learning. We greatly value the strong partnership between home and school and look forward to seeing you there.

On Tuesday, our Year 6 pupils enjoyed an exciting visit to Lakeside Arts as part of their history learning. During the visit, they took part in archaeological excavation activities and explored Stone Age art, bringing their classroom learning to life through hands-on experiences. The children represented the school brilliantly and returned with a wealth of new knowledge and enthusiasm for the topic.

Thank you, as always, for your continued support and I wish you all a lovely weekend.

Harvest Festival Donations

As mentioned in assembly this week, we are collecting donations for our Harvest Festival. All donations will be given to Arnold Food Bank to support local families in need.

Harvest is an important time for reflecting on the things we are thankful for and considering how we can help others. By donating, our children can see first-hand the positive difference that acts of kindness and generosity can make to the lives of others. It is a valuable opportunity to reinforce our school values of compassion, community and caring for those around us.

Donations can be brought into school from now until Thursday 15^th October. Thank you for your continued support and generosity. 

Communication at Haydn Primary School

At Haydn, we know that children thrive when school and home, work together. We value the strong relationships we have with our families and are committed to keeping communication open, positive and supportive.

Our Communication Policy explains the different ways we keep families informed, including Class Dojo, email, telephone calls, meetings and newsletters. It also outlines what parents can expect from us, including that teachers will respond to Class Dojo messages as soon as they are able between 8.00am and 6.00pm, although they may not be able to reply during teaching time. We kindly ask that urgent messages are always shared through the school office.

The policy also sets out how parents can raise questions or concerns, our expectations for respectful communication and how we can work together to maintain a safe, welcoming and inclusive school community for everyone. We encourage all families to take a look at the full policy, available on our school website. Thank you for your continued support and partnership.

Ready for Autumn: Please Remember a Warm, Waterproof Coat

As autumn weather arrives, please ensure your child brings a warm, waterproof coat to school every day.

At Haydn, children continue to learn, play and explore outdoors throughout the year, including during break times, OPAL time, PE lessons and outdoor learning activities. Autumn weather can be unpredictable, with conditions often changing quickly from sunshine to rain or wind, so it is important that children come to school prepared.

Please keep the following in mind:

• Label everything - Please ensure your child's name is clearly written on the labels of coats, jumpers and cardigans. This helps us return any misplaced items quickly and easily.
• PE days - On PE days, children should continue to come to school wearing their active uniform/PE kit (shorts or tracksuit bottoms, a white T-shirt and a navy hoodie or sports jacket). They should also bring their usual outdoor coat, as this will still be needed during breaks and lunchtime.
• Be prepared for autumn adventures - Outdoor play is an important part of the school day and occasionally, children may get a little damp or muddy while having fun. A sturdy, waterproof coat that can be easily washed is highly recommended. All children should have a pair of wellies in school please.

Thank you for your support in helping us keep children comfortable, active and ready to enjoy learning outdoors in all weathers.

SMART PHONE FREE CHILDHOOD ASSEMBLY

We would like to say a big thank you to Rachel Tavener, one of our parents, for joining us in assembly last Monday to talk to the children about the idea of a screen-free childhood. Rachel encouraged pupils to think about the importance of balancing screen time with other activities and shared a range of ideas for things children can do instead of spending time on phones and devices. The children were fully engaged and enjoyed contributing to the discussion, sharing their own suggestions, including playing outdoors, reading, taking part in sports, spending time with friends and family and exploring creative hobbies. It was wonderful to hear so many thoughtful ideas. Thank you Rachel, for inspiring our pupils to reflect on healthy habits and the many ways they can have fun, learn and connect with others beyond a screen.

SECONDARY SCHOOL APPLICATIONS

Please note that the deadline for your application for your child’s secondary school is 31^st October 2026. Please click on the following link to access the schools admission page:

School Admissions - Nottingham City Council

A MESSAGE FROM NOTTINGHAM FREE SCHOOL

Nottingham Free School is currently consulting on its proposed admission arrangements for the 2028/29 academic year. The consultation will run until Monday 16^th November 2026.

As part of the consultation, we are seeking the views of parents and carers of children within the local area.The consultation documents can be viewed on the admissions page of our school website, which can also be found by clicking the link below: https://www.nottinghamfreeschool.co.uk/page.php?p=transfer

There are no significant changes proposed to our admission criteria. The consultation is being undertaken as part of the school's statutory consultation cycle.

Parents and carers wishing to comment can find details of how to respond within the consultation letter. The consultation closes on Monday 16^th November 2026.

WEEKLY % ATTENDANCE FIGURES – THIS WEEK’S WINNERS ARE: FS & 4P 

FS	99.62%	FW	88.52%	1G	96.17%	1W	97.10%	2DT	98.33%
2F	95.71%	3G	99.33%	3T	97.60%	4H	98.67%	4P	100.00%
5C	98.00%	5W	98.62%	6C	98.99%	6CH	97.90%

 

 

 

 

 

100% ATTENDANCE WINNERS – KS1: River (1W) KS2:Alexia (4P)  

 

DATES FOR YOUR DIARY

6C Swimming	Friday 2nd October – Friday 16th October
Mental Health Support Team Coffee Morning for Parents & Carers	Thursday 15th October – 08.45am – Dining Hall
Last Day of School	Friday 16th October
Half Term Holidays	Monday 19th October – Friday 30th October
Back to School	Monday 2nd November
5C Swimming	Friday 6th November – Friday 20th November
Inset Day	Friday 27th November
PTA Christmas Fair	Wednesday 2nd December
Year 4 Ancient Egyptians Workshop	*New Date* - Friday 4th December
Last Day of School	Friday 18th December
Christmas Holidays	Monday 21st December – Friday 1st January
Back to School	Monday 4th January
Year 5 Stratford-upon-Avon Residential	Wednesday 6th January – Thursday 7th January
Last Day of School	Friday 12th February
Half Term Holidays	Monday 15th February – Friday 19th February
Back to School	Monday 22nd February
Last Day of School	Thursday 25th March
Good Friday (School & Nursery Closed)	Friday 26th March
Easter Monday (School & Nursery Closed)	Monday 29th March
Easter Holidays	Tuesday 30th March – Friday 9th April
Back to School	Monday 12th April

 

Signposting

What’s On Nottingham

Please click on the following link for events happening in Nottingham over the next few months:

https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/UKNCC/bulletins/42e4bae.

Macademia Creative Holiday Clubs – October Half Term – Creative, practical and future-focused workshops for children aged 8+. Art, street art, fashion design, engineering, architecture & model making, product design, young inventors, business & entrepreneurship, creative writing & storytellying. Book now! – spaces filling fast! Flexible booking: Book one half-day, a full day or multiple sessions. To book your child’s place phone 0115 646 2016 or email info@macademia.co.uk.