Headteacher Message

A huge well done to our Year 6 children who completed their SATs last week. We are incredibly proud of the hard work, determination and maturity they demonstrated throughout the week—they approached each day with great responsibility and resilience.

Big School Camp

You may have noticed the tents on the field recently—our Year 4 children took part in “The Big School Camp.” This was the first time we have run this event, and it was a fantastic success. It was wonderful to see the children in a different context, building independence and showcasing such strong teamwork skills. Due to its success, we have already booked this again for next year and look forward to establishing it as a meaningful school tradition.

FOGWS Summer Fete - Saturday 27th June

A huge thank you to FOGWS, who are working hard behind the scenes to organise the upcoming Summer Fete. Please keep an eye out for further information, as we will be looking for volunteers to help on the day. If you are able to donate any raffle prizes, this would be greatly appreciated—please contact the school office.

Celebrating Inclusion & Reading

It has been a busy and rewarding few weeks across the school. We recently took part in an Inclusion Review provided by Essex County Council. Once again, our children represented the school brilliantly, demonstrating our ASPIRE values with confidence and pride. I am delighted to share a few excerpts from the review:

• “Relationships between pupils and adults are positive and make a significant contribution to the school’s calm and nurturing ethos.” 
• “Pupils say that they feel safe in school and that incidents of bullying are rare.” 
• “Pupils have trusted adults they can approach if they have any concerns or need support.” 
• “Wellbeing is prioritised throughout the school.” 

These comments reflect something we hold at the heart of Great Waltham—ensuring that children feel safe, supported and ready to learn alongside strong academic provision.

We also took part in a Reading Peer Review in collaboration with colleagues from the River Chelmer Partnership schools. It was a highly positive experience, and we are proud to share some of the key findings:

• “Great Waltham Primary School demonstrates a strong commitment to developing confident, enthusiastic readers.” 
• “Reading is clearly prioritised across the school, with a coherent and consistent approach from Early Years through to Key Stage 2.” 

The review also highlighted:

• Strong leadership and strategic oversight of reading 
• Positive pupil attitudes towards reading 
• Calm, purposeful learning environments 
• Consistent use of assessment to inform provision 
• Strong staff subject knowledge in phonics 
• A clear culture of reading across the school 

We are very proud of these outcomes and will continue to build on this success.

I hope everyone has a refreshing half term holiday and we look forward to welcoming the children back on Wednesday 3rd June.

Mrs Justine Brooks