Friday Update - 17.10.25
Posted 17th October 2025
Miss McNamara's Message
What a wonderful week it’s been at Coppice Valley!
Our Eco Warriors have been out in force this week, taking part in our Rewilding Project. Armed with metre-squared quadrats, they began collecting baseline data by counting the variety of plant life within each square. This hands-on approach not only gives our children valuable scientific experience but also deepens their connection to our school grounds and local environment. We can’t wait to see how our rewilding efforts help biodiversity flourish over the coming months.
We were also delighted to welcome Tom Gordon, our local MP, into school. He joined us to discuss our exciting nursery development, which is now set to begin on 14th November. This marks a huge milestone for Coppice Valley - the creation of a nurturing, purpose-built space that will give more children the very best start in their education.
Another highlight of the week was our Big Book Look during staff meeting. Every classroom’s books were laid out, allowing us to quite literally ‘walk our curriculum’ - stepping into our children’s shoes and experiencing their learning journeys from their perspective. It was a powerful point of reflection and pride as we looked at the progression of knowledge and skills across subjects, the quality of work our children produce each day, and the thoughtful learning tasks our teachers design to stretch and inspire them.
Autumn 2 After School Clubs - Autumn 2
We’re really excited to launch our Autumn 2 clubs, running from 3rd November to 12th December 2025. Booking goes live on Arbor this Monday at 7pm—don’t miss it!
There’s loads to choose from! Spy School and Micro:bit Coding kick off the week, along with festive fun in Christmas Storytime and Crafts. Football fans can join Harrogate Town’s sessions, and creative kids will love Drawing Club and Doodle Den. If your child prefers a calmer vibe, Winter Wellness is perfect, while Escape Room Club brings teamwork and mystery-solving to life.
Young Voices Choir is back for Years 3 to 6, getting ready for a huge concert in February. Animal Club is great for curious minds, and Random Acts of Kindness Club is all about spreading joy.
What a brilliant mix of clubs this term!
Places go fast, so make sure to log in to Arbor on Monday evening to book your child’s spot.
PTFA Halloween Dress Up or Dress Down
🎃 Last Friday of Term – Halloween Dress Up or Dress Down! 👻
On Friday 24 October, children are invited to take part in our PTFA Halloween Dress Up or Dress Down Day! Whether they come in costume or keep it casual, it’s all about having fun and getting into the spooky spirit.
Please bring a £1 donation to support the fantastic work of our PTFA.
♻️ Costume Swap Shop – Open in The Hub!
To keep things eco-friendly, we’re encouraging families to reuse and recycle. Bring in any old costumes your child has outgrown and take one that suits them now. It’s a great way to save money, reduce waste, and support our eco values. No need to buy new – just swap, share, and celebrate sustainably!
Christmas Dates are coming soon! 🎄
We’re getting ready for a festive end to the Autumn term – keep an eye out for details of our Christmas performances, Crafternoon days, and lots more seasonal fun! Dates and times will be shared shortly so you can plan ahead and join us in the celebrations.
Parents & Carers Evening – Booking is open!
- Booking opened Thursday 16 October at 6pm
- Book your slot via Arbor

Crochet and Craft Afternoon
Join us for an afternoon of creativity and community spirit. With a cuppa, biscuits and great conversation. Whether you're a crochet pro or just curious to give it a go we'd love to see you there!
- Date: Wednesday 19th November
- Time: From 2pm until 3.15pm
Bonfire Chilli Recipe Bags – Available Wednesday! 🔥
Warm up your midweek with a delicious treat! Our Bonfire Bean Chilli Recipe Bags will be available this Wednesday from 3.30pm at the Community Hub. Each bag includes all the ingredients you need to make a hearty chilli – perfect for cosy autumn evenings or your Bonfire Night celebrations.
Come along, grab a bag, and enjoy cooking up something warming and wonderful. First come, first served!
⭐Highlights for next week!⭐
- Beech Class will be diving deeper into number bonds to 10 with more fun, hands-on activities. In Science, we'll continue exploring materials with a new absorbency investigation, and in English, we'll be sharing their own versions of Some Dogs Do—with brand-new characters and creative twists!
- Apple Class will be spending time as reading buddies in Oak Class, and creating our final art piece inspired by LS Lowry.
- Sycamore will be doing their life saving swimming session where they learn all about how it feels to swim in clothes!
- Oak Class are so excited for our growns up to join us at Stay and Play. This will be at 2-3pm on Monday. Beth from Funky Foods will be joining us!
Autumn 1 Menu - Week 8
🍁 Outdoor Tip:
⭐ Attendance ⭐
Class |
% |
Oak |
98% |
Beech |
96.7% |
Ash |
98.7% |
Sycamore |
94.7% |
Apple |
96% |
Chestnut |
94.3% |
Willow |
97.9% |
Whole School |
96.6% |
Do you have a child starting school in September 2026?
Autumn 1 Key Dates
Monday 20 October - Oak Class Stay and Play 2pm
Friday 24 October - Halloween Dress Up or Dress Down
Friday 24 October - Closes for half term
Autumn 2 Key Dates
Monday 3 November - School Opens for pupils
Monday 17 November - Parent/Carer Evening
Monday 17 November - FEAST vouchers released
Tuesday 18 November - Family Breakfast
Wednesday 19 November - Craft & Crochet Afternoon
Thursday 20 November - Parent/Carer Evening
w/c Monday 8 December - EYFS/KS1 Nativity Performances (TBC)
Tuesday 9 December - Y4 Roman Trip to Murton Park
Monday 15 December - KS2 Carol Concert at St Johns Church 10am.
Friday 19 December - School Closes for Christmas Holidays