Friday Update - 05.06.2026

Miss McNamara's Message

I think this week has been one of the busiest we have ever had at Coppice Valley, and I am fairly certain our staff are currently holding their eyes open with matchsticks!

The week began with a staff INSET day, where we had the opportunity to trial our new pizza oven (well done to Mrs Brook!). We have also started nursery tours for families interested in our brand-new nursery, which opens in September, welcomed a film crew into school, and hosted the RKLT Education Board. It was a pleasure to welcome the Chairs and Vice Chairs of Governors from across the Trust, alongside members of the RKLT Senior Leadership Team, who visited Coppice to see our school in action and hear a presentation from myself about securing grant funding. 

As if that wasn't enough... this week we also hosted our very first Bushcraft Residential.

This has been a huge milestone for us at Coppice Valley and something we have been working towards for around 18 months. Through successful grant funding, we have been able to secure the equipment and infrastructure needed to make this happen, including bell tents, compost toilets and all the other practical elements required to create a genuine outdoor residential experience for our pupils.

To see the children enjoying this opportunity has been incredibly rewarding and it is a exciting addition to everything we already offer at Coppice. 

This week, however, I want to dedicate this section to our staff.

I continue to be amazed by the commitment, enthusiasm and sheer hard work of the team at Coppice Valley. Time and time again, our staff demonstrate that they will go above and beyond to create memorable experiences for our children. They genuinely will move mountains - or, in this case, some very heavy bell tents - to make things happen for our children. Events like this simply cannot happen without everyone going above and beyond. Behind the scenes, an enormous amount of work has gone into completing the risk assessments and developing the procedures needed to run an on-site residential safely and successfully. From planning, mowing and installing solar-lit pathways and outdoor teeth-brushing routines to creating wildlife-interference procedures and countless other details that most people will never see, every aspect has been carefully considered. It is this commitment, professionalism and attention to detail that allows us to provide such memorable experiences for our children.

A huge thank you must also go to Mr Gilmore, Mr Cutting and Mrs Barlow-Jones for helping us pitch the tents, with varying levels of assistance from the children and a particularly unhelpful wind determined to make the task as challenging as possible! Their support, along with the efforts of our staff, has made this week's success possible.

I am incredibly proud of what we have achieved together this week. Whilst everyone is certainly ready for a well-earned rest (after our PTFA Colour-Run this Saturday), it has been another reminder of what makes Coppice Valley such a special place: a team of people who care deeply about our children and are always willing to go the extra mile.

Crossing Patrol Update

We would like to let you know that Danny will sadly no longer be serving as our school crossing patrol at Coppice. We are incredibly grateful for the care and dedication he has shown in helping our families cross the road safely each day.

However, we are delighted to welcome Tessa, who has now joined us in this important role. Many of you may have already seen her on the crossing, ensuring everyone gets to and from school safely. Tessa is very happy to be part of the Coppice community, so please do say hello and give her a warm welcome!

Tessa will be back with us on Tuesday next week as she is away on Monday.

Sports Day Timings Update

Please note that Sports Day timings have changed slightly due to other commitments in school—please see the updated timings below. We’re so excited for the day and are keeping everything crossed for fabulous weather! We’ll be there to meet you at the gate, so feel free to join us for the whole event or just the parts your child is taking part in.

• 9-10am - Y5/6
• 10-11am - Y3/4
• 11-12:30pm - YR/1/2

Polite Reminder - Outstanding Balances

As we approach the end of the academic year, we kindly ask all families to check their accounts to ensure any outstanding balances are cleared. Please take a moment to log in and review:

• Arbor – for school meals and trips
• Enrolmy – for clubs and wraparound care

Clearing balances before the end of term helps us ensure a smooth transition into the new academic year and allows us to finalise our accounts. If you have any queries or need support accessing your accounts, please don’t hesitate to get in touch, we’re happy to help.

Coppice Gold - Yummy Treats for our Community!

After School Clubs – Spaces Available!

We still have a limited number of places available in some of our after school activity clubs this term. If your child is interested in taking part, please sign up as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.