Energy Saving Poster Competition

Fierté Trust Student Council launched a poster competition for their campaign to help save energy in schools and homes across Fierté. This is something we would like children to have a go at in their own time at home. 

• It should be on A4 paper or card.
• Your own choice of media - coloured pencil/felt tip/paint etc.
• closing date is Wednesday 3rd June. 

The best entries from each year group in the 10 Fierté schools will be judged by the Trust Student Council on 4th June. The overall winners will be copied and displayed across the 10 schools to encourage energy conservation.

Posters might include a catchy title, logos and images to encourage practical ways of saving energy, such as switching off lights, closing doors and windows in cold weather, turning down heating, walking to school etc.

So, get those creative juices flowing and let's see if we can have a Manor winner!

Safeguarding - Operation Encompass

We have been asked to periodically remind parents that Manor Primary is part of a scheme called Operation Encompass. This is an agreement with Staffordshire Police that participating schools are notified each time there is a child present when police are called for a domestic abuse incident.

The notification goes to the DSL (Designated Safeguarding Lead - Mr Robson at Manor) who is then able to check the welfare of that child/children in school. The DSL must have carried out Operation Encompass training in order for the school to be included in the project.

It is important to understand that no further details of any incident are included, including the identity of the adults involved and the nature of the incident. The child or children are not questioned about it but may have a quiet welfare check-in by an adult to see that they are settled and okay. The information is kept confidential by the DSL but staff working closely with a child may be asked to look out for and monitor their welfare.

Safeguarding - Monitoring Software

Another aspect of our safeguarding armoury in school that we would like to remind parents of, is our monitoring software called SENSO. This software monitors every keystroke and image that appears on the screens of Fierté devices for staff and children. Any letter combinations are checked against an extensive and regularly updated library of terms that may cause concern. This can range from simple swear words to abbreviations and acronyms added by cyber police from their intelligence gathering. It also includes mental health triggers such as someone saying they are 'fed up' or similar.

Any alerts are screenshot and emailed to the DSL to be checked at least weekly. Thankfully, at least 99.9% of the alerts are 'false positives' from typos, letter combinations within words or legitimate use of words such as 'gun' or 'bomb' when researching the Second World War in history. In fact, I have just received two emails from SENSO for writing that last sentence! As DSL, I will not deal with these two notifications, but will leave those for the Deputy DSL (Mrs Armstrong) to deal with as they were from my account. Across the Trust, from CEO to lunchtime supervisors, every IT user has their use monitored and checked by another trained DSL.

There have been a small handful of times over the years that there have been 'captures' of words that have been written deliberately. These have all been children who have thought it would be clever to write a swear word (usually mild!) then delete it. Unfortunately for them, it records any keystrokes and the username, so they were spoken to and parents informed. This helps children understand that anything they share online can be seen and can have consequences.

While this is a useful tool to manage children's behaviour online, the most important reason for using this software is for safeguarding and keeping our children safe.

Flute Performance

We were treated to a performance by a world-class flautist from the philharmonic orchestra last week. Jo Marsh wanted to celebrate the 80th anniversary of the Philharmonic Orchestra by performing her flute in 80 different schools. When the offer of a free world-class musical performance came through, we replied immediately and booked our slot. The children loved the magical sound and were inspired by Jo's skill. She was very complimentary of our children as an audience, with 3-year-old Ducklings to 11-year-old Penguins all equally enthralled. Maybe she has sparked the aspiration of a future musician!

Green Growth

I never thought I would say to a child to not eat too much lettuce! The growth of the flowers and vegetables around school is amazing to see and the raised bed of lettuce that the children walk past on their way to the field each day is very tempting. 

Reading for Treasure

The first raffle draw for reading took place in assembly today and the lucky winners are pictured above with their choices from the treasure box. To get a ticket for the draw, children need to have their reading record books signed four times by an adult. Each read would be for 20 minutes in KS2 and would be reading their reading book all the way through in KS1 and EYFS. (Owls class are getting their reading diaries sorted and will be included next time.) Prizes include World Cup stickers, badges, bookmarks, commemorative coins, teddies and of course, books!

Forest School Fires

Next week is the final session of Forest School for our Year 1, 3 and 5 children and they are inviting their class mates (Year 2, 4 and 6 ) to join them to see what they have been doing and to cook some s'mores on the campfire. This will be Owls on Tuesday and Swans and Penguins on Thursday. Please can children come to school on those days dressed for Forest School with their uniform to change into after they get muddy and smokey!

Holidays and INSET Days 2026/27

For those of you who like to plan ahead, the holiday and INSET Days are decided for next school year and can be found on the school website on this link.

Don't forget that next Friday 22nd May is an INSET Day too, and that we finish on the Thursday!