In light of recent news surrounding the proposed social media ban for children, we wanted to highlight our Year 6 pupils at their very finest in personal development. While much of the conversation focuses on the impact of screens and social media on young people, OPAL provides a wonderful reminder of the incredible benefits of real-world play, interaction and collaboration. Through outdoor play opportunities inspired by our OPAL approach, our Year 6 children demonstrated resilience, teamwork, creativity, communication and problem-solving skills in abundance. They negotiated rules, resolved disagreements, supported one another, took risks, adapted their ideas and showed genuine leadershipall without a screen in sight. These moments remind us that play is far more than just fun. It is how children develop confidence, independence, emotional intelligence and the social skills they need to thrive. The equipment was simplecrates, tyres, ropes and loose partsbut the learning was extraordinary. Children's imaginations transformed everyday objects into opportunities for adventure, cooperation and growth. As discussions continue about protecting children online, let's also celebrate and prioritise the experiences that help them flourish offline. Every child deserves the time, space and freedom to play. A special thank you also goes to Mrs Woodward for her passion, commitment and leadership in driving our OPAL journey forward.

We were very pleased to welcome Bishop Debbie into school in May to meet with our children and explore the theme of "heroes"

Year 1 & 2 had a fantastic day out at Cotswold Wildlife Park! The children had great fun exploring the park, seeing a wide variety of amazing animals, and learning lots of interesting facts along the way. It was a wonderful opportunity to bring learning to life and create some special memories together. A big thank you to all the staff and volunteers who helped make the day so enjoyable!

For anyone that has not seen this message....... Dear Colleagues, Due to forecast temperatures exceeding 30°C this week, and following advice from our health and safety provider, Handsam, we have made the decision to postpone our Cross Country event scheduled for Wednesday. Rather than cancelling the event outright, we recognise that some schools may already have incurred costs for coach transport and other arrangements. We would therefore like to propose an alternative date of Tuesday 7th July, with all races starting at the usual time of 4:00 pm. We are sending this communication to all schools that have entered the event. If the majority of schools are able to attend on the new date, we will proceed as planned. If there is insufficient availability, unfortunately we will have to cancel the event for this year. We would be grateful if you could confirm whether your school can attend on Tuesday 7th July by 9:00 am on Friday 26th June. Thank you for your understanding and prompt response. Kind regards, Alison Crockford Head of School

Reminder......Year 6 smoothie sale Various fruit flavours will be available to buy for 50p per cup- cash only please. We can't wait to see you on the top playground after school on 18th June

Please share.... Job vacancy - Apprentice SEN Teaching Assistant at Woodford School All details of this role are included in the link but if you do need any further help or assistance please do not hesitate to contact the school office.

We are super proud of our Fresh Start team for achieving a 5-Star Food Hygiene Rating! This fantastic result reflects the team's hard work, dedication, and commitment to maintaining the highest standards every single day. Thank you Paige & Jeanette for being so committed to your job and for always providing amazing food for our children & staff

Reception 2026 Places Available Choosing the right school for your child is such an important decision, and at Woodford Halse CE Primary Academy we are proud to offer a nurturing, exciting environment where children can learn, play and thrive. We currently have spaces available for Reception 2026. Our large school site offers: Forest School A large school field OPAL Play opportunities Several separate play zones designed to inspire imagination, adventure and fun If you would like further details or would like to come and look around our wonderful school, please get in touch we would be delighted to show you what makes our school so special. We would love to welcome you to our Woodford family

FREE ITEMS..... We will have these items become available once we break up for summer so if you know of anyone that would like either a microwave, fridge/freezer (food not included) or dishwasher please get in touch. We would prefer collection as soon after the 17th July as possible

Nursery Spaces Available at Woodford Halse CE Primary Academy We currently have Nursery spaces available for an immediate start or for children joining us in September! If you are looking for a welcoming, nurturing environment for your child, we would love to hear from you. We offer a large, engaging setting led by an experienced teacher, helping children learn, grow and thrive through play and exploration. Immediate and September places available Nursery tours welcomed Get in touch for further details or to arrange a visit - 01327 265900 Come and see what makes our Nursery such a special place to begin your child's learning journey!

Year 6 are creating different flavour smoothies (to be announced soon) as part of their enterprise project which will be sold on the top playground, Thursday 18th June. 50p per cup. Availability will be limited.

Year 3's Wonderful Visit to Oxford Botanic Garden Year 3 had a fantastic time on their recent trip to the Oxford Botanic Garden! The children enjoyed exploring the beautiful gardens, discovering a wide variety of plants from around the world, and learning about how plants grow and support our environment. It was a wonderful day filled with curiosity, exploration, and hands-on learning. The pupils were excellent ambassadors for our school, showing enthusiasm, respect, and a real passion for discovery throughout the visit. A big thank you to all the staff and volunteers who helped make the trip such a memorable experience! #Year3 #SchoolTrip #OxfordBotanicGarden #OutdoorLearning #LearningBeyondTheClassroom #CuriousMinds #MemorableMoments

To kick start their new topic 'Full of Beans', Year 6 enjoyed their Chocolate Workshop delivered by Linny Lane Chocolatier. The children were able to see the journey of how chocolate is made- from cocoa beans to what we know and love today. Each child made a chocolate lolly to take home.... not that many made it past the school gates! Some children were brave enough to try chocolate in its raw form as cocoa nibs, this led to some interesting facial expressions!

We have some exciting opportunities coming up within our trust so if you like the sound of joining a trust who supports each other please have a look at our vacancies

Year 5 and 6 enjoyed the Blue Butterfly presentation given by the Policing Team. They all made us very proud of their attitudes and engagement. "I would also like to compliment the Year 5 and 6 pupils at Woodford. They were extremely well behaved, fully engaged throughout, and actively participated in the presentation. Their positive attitude was very noticeable and made it a real pleasure to deliver the session."