Amazingly, next week it the last week of this half term and it has gone so quickly. The children have taken great strides in settling into new teachers, routines and learning spaces and are certainly ready for a break. Thank you for all your support this term.

Reminder to all parents and carers of pupils in Year 6 that the deadline for applying for secondary schools on the Devon County Council portal is 31st October.

Dates for the diary:

• • Thursday 22nd October Year 1 & 2 harvest festival celebration 2.45pm in the school hall
  • Nursery and Reception classes Harvest Festival 2.30pm 20th October in the school hall
  • Year 7 Assessment & Activity Day at West Buckland School, taking place on Wednesday 28 October, see here
  • Friday 6th  November 5-6pm Reception – Y2 Halloween Disco and 6.30-7.30pm Y3-6
  • Friday 4th December School Christmas fair 3.30pm

Wishing you all a good weekend

From Jeremy Cooper and all the children and staff (more…)

The most recent winners of our House Cup was Atlantic (green), so all children in Atlantic can wear non-school uniform (with something green) on Friday 16th October.

Calling all girls in Years 2 & 3 – Bideford Blues and Appledore JFC has recently started a new U8 girls team for school years 2 and 3, but need help finding more players. For more information please see here. Training Wednesdays 5-6pm

Devon County Council SEND department is currently being inspected by Ofsted. If you want to complete Ofsted’s questionnaire about the service the SEND department please see this QR code 

As part of our Harvest celebrations, we collect food donations for a local homeless charity. We are asking for contributions of non-perishable food items only, such as:

• Tinned goods (soup, vegetables, fruit, baked beans, tuna, etc.)
  Dried pasta, rice, and noodles
  Breakfast cereals and oats
  Packaged biscuits, crackers, and snacks
  Jams, spreads, and sauces
  Tea, coffee, and long-life (UHT) milk or juice

Important Note on Fresh Produce: Please do not send in any fresh fruit, vegetables, or perishable items due to storage limits and distribution guidelines. Thank you as always for your continued generosity and support.

Dates for the diary:

• • Thursday 22nd October Year 1 & 2 harvest festival celebration 2.45pm in the school hall
  • Nursery and Reception classes Harvest Festival 2.30pm 20th October in the school hall
  • Friday 6th  November 5-6pm Reception – Y2 Halloween Disco and 6.30-7.30pm Y3-6
  • Friday 4th December School Christmas fair 3.30pm

Wishing you all a good weekend

From Jeremy Cooper and all the children and staff (more…)

Our PTA is vital for raising funds for all children at Appledore School and have paid for things they otherwise would not have benefitted from.  Please see here for the details of an invitation to their next meeting when they will be planning the year ahead. They can not do it without you, so please try and give them some of your time so they can continue their important work.

Please be aware that there will be road works close to the school on 6th, 7th and 8th October that are very likely to affect your journey time and parking. We have recently emailed all families about an arrangement we have come to with Skern Lodge whereby they are opening-up a field for you to park in and then opening the gate at the top of the field for you to exit it at ‘Lookout’.  Please see here for a map showing where this parking is available and the walking route to school. Additionally, please remember that Kingsley Avenue is a private road and parking is not permitted.

As part of our Harvest celebrations, we collect food donations for a local homeless charity. We are asking for contributions of non-perishable food items only, such as:

• Tinned goods (soup, vegetables, fruit, baked beans, tuna, etc.)
  Dried pasta, rice, and noodles
  Breakfast cereals and oats
  Packaged biscuits, crackers, and snacks
  Jams, spreads, and sauces
  Tea, coffee, and long-life (UHT) milk or juice

Important Note on Fresh Produce: Please do not send in any fresh fruit, vegetables, or perishable items due to storage limits and distribution guidelines. Thank you as always for your continued generosity and support.

Dates for the diary:

• • 6th October Atlantic Academy open evening for pupils in years 4, 5 & 6 see here and here for details of their Christmas Fayre

• • 8th October, 2pm, Key Stage 2 (years 3-6) Harvest Festival at St Mary’s Church, Appledore – we hope to see you there!
  • For details of open mornings and evenings at Great Torrington school for current year 6 pupils see here 
  • For information on Kingsley School open days for entry into year 7 see here
  • Park School opening morning and evening are next week see here
  • Year 1 & 2 harvest festival celebration 2.45pm in the school hall
  • Nursery and Reception classes Harvest Festival 2.30pm 20th October in the school hall

Wishing you all a good weekend

From Jeremy Cooper and all the children and staff (more…)

Unbelievably, we are halfway towards half-term already! It’s been a good week in school and you can read all about it in Around the Classes.

The Devon Educational Psychology Service (EPS) is running group sessions which aim to reduce worrying in children and young people. The sessions can help parent carers develop skills that can be helpful in managing worries and supporting school attendance.Please see here for more information and how to reserve a place.

In continuance of support for a family known to many of us, please see here for a new fundraiser happening on Saturday 4th October.

Dates for the diary:

• • • For information on Bideford College Open Evening on 1st October see here

• • 6th October Atlantic Academy open evening for pupils in years 4, 5 & 6 see here and here for details of their Christmas Fayre
  • 8th October, 2pm, Key Stage 2 (years 3-6) Harvest Festival at St Mary’s Church, Appledore – we hope to see you there!
  • For details of open mornings and evenings at Great Torrington school for current year 6 pupils see here 
  • For information on Kingsley School open days for entry into year 7 see here
  • Park School opening morning and evening are next week see here
  • Nursery and Reception classes Harvest Festival 2.30pm 20th October in the school hall

Wishing you all a good weekend

From Jeremy Cooper and all the children and staff (more…)

What a week and it ended with cricket on the field and year 6 returning from their week long residential trip

Harvest festival for Years 3-6 will be on Thursday 8th October at 2.00 pm. We hope you can join us at St. Mary’s church for what is a shaping up to be a beautiful celebration. The children have been hard at work rehearsing the songs and dances and writing the readings. Details for harvest festivals for our younger children will publicised soon.

Devon Highways have notified us they will be carrying out Route Based Treatment works on Churchill Way under Temporary Traffic Lights between Monday 21st September – Friday 23rd October, 09.30 – 15.30. These improvements to the highway will include patching works in the carriageway (estimated to take 10 working shifts), cleaning of signs, clearing vegetation off footpaths etc. Our operatives will be working towards Appledore, working under one set of Temporary Traffic Lights at a time. This disrupt journey times and impact on parking. Please do allow a little extra time for your journeys to mitigate against your children don’t miss valuable learning and please be extra respectful to residents when you search for a parking space

Dates for the diary:

• For information on DadFest 18th, 19th & 20th September please see here
• 6th October Atlantic Academy open evening for pupils in years 4, 5 & 6 see here and here for details of their Christmas Fayre
• 8th October, 2pm, Key Stage 2 (years 3-6) Harvest Festival at St Mary’s Church, Appledore – we hope to see you there!
• For details of open mornings and evenings at Great Torrington school for current year 6 pupils see here 
• For information on Kingsley School open days for entry into year 7 see here

Wishing you all a good weekend

From Jeremy Cooper and all the children and staff (more…)

A warm welcome to all our new families and welcome back to all ‘previous’ families. The children have returned with boundless energy and enthusiasm and we look forward to the year ahead with you. We also warmly welcome Mrs Hamilton and Mrs Reaney in Year 1 and Mrs Cooper in our art studio.

Please set a reminder on your phone (or whichever device is your preference) to log on to our website Friday evening to read our weekly newsletter. The weekly newsletter includes information relevant to all of you and also a weekly round-up of what has been happening in each of the classes.

Please be aware that Kingsley Avenue is a private road and cars are not permitted to park there at drop-off and collection. Free car park passes for Oden Road car park are available from admin@appledoreprimary.co.uk upon request for your use. If local residents or school staff ask you not to park on Kingsley Avenue, please be respectful in your response as we try and support the neighbours of the school.

Please see here for an online safety parent’s guide and here for on aimed at under 5’s online safety

If you like to support very worthy causes, please click here following requests from a number of you to share this request.

Dates for the diary:

• Free martial arts taster sessions om 12th September see here
• For information on DadFest 18th, 19th & 20th September please see here
• 6th October Atlantic Academy open evening for pupils in years 4, 5 & 6 see here and here for details of their Christmas Fayre
• For details of open mornings and evenings at Great Torrington school for current year 6 pupils see here 
• For information on Kingsley School open days for entry into year 7 see here

Wishing you all a super weekend

From Jeremy Cooper and all the children and staff (more…)

And that’s the end of another year!  Thank you Year 6 for your leavers’ assembly today and we wish you every success at your new schools. A large number of our Year 6 children have been here for 8 years and it has been a pleasure and a privilege to be part of every journey of every child in the year group.

Atlantic won the House Cup this term and the scores were as follows. Arctic (blue) 1205,  Pacific (red) 1214, Indian (yellow) 1342, and Atlantic (green) 1476. We will arrange a non-uniform day in September for Atlantic House. Well done Atlantic, because it’s been a while and one year 6 pupil in Atlantic was correct when they said, ‘… the last time we won that I was in Reception class’!

Yesterday also saw our Appledore’s Got Talent final. Following stringent rounds of auditions, judged by peers, each year group offered up their entry today and we were treated to a musical, dancing, comedy and magical treat. Congratulations to all the entrants and yesterday’s finalists and many house points were won.  We also handed out the prizes for the PTFA sunflower growing competition wit the tallest getting close to 2m tall!

For the PTFA summer newsletter please see here.

We say goodbye to Cathy Ley today and thank her for everything she has done. Working in Reception Class, Cathy is one of the lucky few who know nearly every child in the school at any point and all of those children have been lucky to have received Cath’s care and expertise. We all wish Cathy well in her new job.

Please see here for our latest attendance newsletter.

Dates for the Diary and local events

• Holiday club information at Tapeley Park Woods Forest School please see here
• For information about Appledore Library events this summer see here and for the Summer Book Quest see here.
• Dadsfest and and South Devon Fun With Dad camping details are here and here
• Science Lab in Green Lanes, Barnstaple, for hands-on activities for all ages during the summer holiday see here
• North Devon Biosphere photo competition see here
• Atlantic Racquet Centre  (ARC) FREE Family Open Dayon Saturday, 18th July, from 1pm – 4pm for a free community Open Day see here
• Summer activity camps at West Croft School 27th July – 14th August 5-13 years old, open to all and free for those on benefit related free school meals. See here
• DICE is a 4 week (4x 2hour online sessions) free universal support for parents/carers of pre-teens and teens who are worried about parenting in the modern world, with the risks and challenges this presents. For information on dates and course content see here and here.
• Bideford Rugby Club taster session for children in years 2-8 of all abilities Sunday 6th September 11am-1pm see here
• If you like to run or walk (or run and walk!), Families in Grief is holding an eight mile run or walk and one mile run for children called Barney to Beach on Sunday 13th September. For more information see here

Wishing you all a happy summer holiday and we look forward to seeing you again next year when school returns on Monday 7th September

From Jeremy Cooper and all the children and staff (more…)

A trip to Lundy island, dancing with the Royal Opera House in support of children’s rights, a school play, a visit to Appledore Library, Open the Book at Appledore Baptist Church, working with an environmental ranger in our woodland, inspirational environmentalists and insulators…so much for winding down towards the end of term!

As holidays approach and children have more time on their hands, please consider a review of safeguarding settings on their devices. See here for a range of organisations that provide good advice.

Here is a message from Citizens Advice we received this week…we know that having the kids at home for the holidays means spending can go up on essentials like food and energy. If you’re having problems meeting your outgoings this summer, get in touch with us at Citizens Advice. We can: Provide energy efficiency advice to help save money; Look at whether you’re eligible for grants to help pay your bills; Make a budget to balance your income and outgoings; Check you’re receiving all the benefits you’re entitled to; Provide a voucher for your local food bank if you’re struggling to buy food; Help make a plan to deal with any debts you’ve accrued. If you need advice this summer, you can reach us by phone, email or in person. Free Adviceline: 0808 278 7999 Energy advice team: 01237 879 233, energyadvice@citizensadvicetnmwd.org.uk
Our opening hours vary from office to office, so please check our website before coming to see us. Our office opening hours can be found here.

Dates for the Diary and local events

• For information about Appledore Library events this summer see here and for the Summer Book Quest see here.
• Dadsfest and and South Devon Fun With Dad camping details are here and here
• Atlantic Racquet Centre  (ARC) FREE Family Open Dayon Saturday, 18th July, from 1pm – 4pm for a free community Open Day see here
• Summer activity camps at West Croft School 27th July – 14th August 5-13 years old, open to all and free for those on benefit related free school meals. See here
• DICE is a 4 week (4x 2hour online sessions) free universal support for parents/carers of pre-teens and teens who are worried about parenting in the modern world, with the risks and challenges this presents. For information on dates and course content see here and here.
• Bideford Rugby Club taster session for children in years 2-8 of all abilities Sunday 6th September 11am-1pm see here
• If you like to run or walk (or run and walk!), Families in Grief is holding an eight mile run or walk and one mile run for children called Barney to Beach on Sunday 13th September. For more information see here

Wishing you all a lovely weekend.

From Jeremy Cooper and all the children and staff (more…)

Message from the PTFA… hopefully everyone’s sunflowers have grown well. Please email friendsofappledoreschool@outlook.com by 5pm on Thursday 9th July with the final height of your sunflower – remember to include the name of your child and year group. Ideally we’d like a photo of the sunflower if you can attach one!  If your flower didn’t survive please feel free to draw/paint a picture of what it should have looked like. Please write your name and age on the back – A4 largest size and pop into the school office by 9am on Thursday 9th July. Prizes will be handed out in school during the last week of term for the tallest sunflower in Turtles, KS1 and KS2 plus a prize for the art pictures.

Time to set up the fair for this afternoon and we hope to see as many of you there as possible.

Dates for the Diary and local events

• School Summer Fair Friday 3rd July 3.30-5pm
• For information about Appledore Library membership and their Summer Book Quest see here.
• Dadsfest and and South Devon Fun With Dad camping details are here and here
• Summer activity camps at West Croft School 27th July – 14th August 5-13 years old, open to all and free for those on benefit related free school meals. See here
• Bideford Rugby Club taster session for children in years 2-8 of all abilities Sunday 6th September 11am-1pm see here
• If you like to run or walk (or run and walk!), Families in Grief is holding an eight mile run or walk and one mile run for children called Barney to Beach on Sunday 13th September. For more information see here

Wishing you all a lovely weekend.

From Jeremy Cooper and all the children and staff (more…)

A stop start week for us all and thank you for your patience and understanding as we try to navigate the school safely through this challenging weather.  The children have responded well in school and we also managed to safely complete offsite trips and activities. Thankfully, the temperature dropped enough to enable us to reopen the school today. We ask that you continue to send the children to school with sun hats, sun cream applied and water bottles and normal school, shoes please  with a closed to (no Crocs too please).

Dates for the Diary and local events

• School Summer Fair Friday 3rd July 3.30-5pm
• For information about Appledore Library membership and their Summer Book Quest see here.
• Dadsfest and and South Devon Fun With Dad camping details are here and here
• Summer activity camps at West Croft School 27th July – 14th August 5-13 years old, open to all and free for those on benefit related free school meals. See here
• Tabsfest, in memory of an Appledore Pupil, is a family music festival at The Big Sheep, Saturday 13th June. See here for info.
• If you like to run or walk (or run and walk!), Families in Grief is holding an eight mile run or walk and one mile run for children called Barney to Beach on Sunday 13th September. For more information see here

Wishing you all a lovely weekend.

From Jeremy Cooper and all the children and staff (more…)

Thank you for all your support on Sports Day and we hope you enjoyed it. Well done to Pacific (red) for scoring the most points – it was close!  The final positions and scores were as follows: Pacific (red) 650; Indian (yellow) 605; Arctic (blue) 530 and Atlantic (green) 455.

Drumming rhythms reverberating across the school, castle building, sports festival participation, choir performances, mumification, alfresco cooking and island hopping are some of what the childrne have been up to this week. Please read on to Around the Classes to find out more…

Dates for the Diary and local events

• For information about Appledore Library membership and their Summer Book Quest see here.
• Dadsfest and and South Devon Fun With Dad camping details are here and here
• Summer activity camps at West Croft School 27th July – 14th August 5-13 years old, open to all and free for those on benefit related free school meals. See here
• Tabsfest, in memory of an Appledore Pupil, is a family music festival at The Big Sheep, Saturday 13th June. See here for info.
• If you like to run or walk (or run and walk!), Families in Grief is holding an eight mile run or walk and one mile run for children called Barney to Beach on Sunday 13th September. For more information see here

Wishing you all a lovely weekend.

From Jeremy Cooper and all the children and staff

(more…)

The weather is changeable and we are really hoping we can host Sports Day on Tuesday 16th June. We decide on Monday if it will go ahead, once we have been able to assess weather forecasts, and let you know either way.. Fingers crossed this time!

Dates for the diary:

• Sports Day has been rescheduled for Tuesday 16th June all day for Years 1-6 and the afternoon for Reception/Dolphins information is here.
• Summer activity camps at West Croft School 27th July – 14th August 5-13 years old, open to all and free for those on benefit related free school meals. See here
• Tabsfest, in memory of an Appledore Pupil, is a family music festival at The Big Sheep, Saturday 13th June. See here for info.
• If you like to run or walk (or run and walk!), Families in Grief is holding an eight mile run or walk and one mile run for children called Barney to Beach on Sunday 13th September. For more information see here

Wishing you all a lovely weekend.

From Jeremy Cooper and all the children and staff (more…)

Welcome back and we hope you had a good half term break.

The Children’s Commissioner is asking for your support in helping children to take in her national survey, The Big Future. This is a valuable opportunity for children and young people to reflect on their experiences, share what matters most to them, and tell the Commissioner about their hopes and ambitions for the future in their own words. The survey is available here.

Dates for the diary:

• Appledore’s first ever Pride will take place around the village on Saturday 6th June (see here) and please see here for a competition for children to win £50 and here for story reading in the library
• Bude Lifeboat Junior Fun Run, 10 June, races for each primary age and younger, see here for information
• Tabsfest, in memory of an Appledore Pupil, is a family music festival at The Big Sheep, Saturday 13th June. See here for info.

• Sports Day has been rescheduled for Tuesday 16th June all day for Years 1-6 and the afternoon for Reception/Dolphins information is here.

Wishing you all a lovely weekend.

From Jeremy Cooper and all the children and staff (more…)

Wasn’t that a short half term and a shame that the weather wasn’t suitable for our sports day on Wednesday? It has been rescheduled for Tuesday 16th June and please see here for more information. Here’s hoping we have better weather and thank you for your understanding.

Over half term there are many activities organised in our local area, so please take a look at the list below.

Dates for the diary:

• Half term activities at Burton Art Gallery see here
• Free events on Northam Burrows over half term please see here and here
• Children’s Theatre event at Appledore Library on 27th May see here
• Football clubs for boys and girls of all abilities are being run across the region over May half term. See here.
• Skern Lodge celebrates 50 years and is hosting a family afternoon of activities on 30th May. See here for info
• Appledore’s first ever Pride will take place around the village on Saturday 6th June (see here) and please see here for a competition for children to win £50 and here for story reading in the library
• Tabsfest, in memory of an Appledore Pupil, is a family music festival at The Big Sheep, Saturday 13th June. See here for info.

Wishing you all a lovely half term and please note that pupils return to school on Tuesday 2nd June.

From Jeremy Cooper and all the children and staff (more…)