Dear Dorchester Families

At the end of the first full week of the spring term, school is as busy as ever - the holiday already seems a distant memory.

This morning’s Big Friends / Little Friends assembly was a highlight. Seeing our older children looking out for, supporting and encouraging their little friends is always special, and today was a wonderful reminder of the kindness, confidence and sense of responsibility that grows from these relationships.

It’s also been great to see our co-curricular clubs programme getting up and running. It is fantastic that we are able to put on such a wide variety of clubs - the buzz around school at the end of the day is fantastic, and it’s always lovely to see children trying new things, building skills and enjoying time with friends in different ways. If you haven’t had a chance to look at the options yet, you can find full details of our clubs here: co-curricular clubs.

At the beginning of a new term, I’d like to take this opportunity to remind everyone about the importance of daily reading with your child. We often talk about the academic benefits of reading – and they are significant – but reading together offers so much more than that. It’s a chance to slow down, share time, talk, laugh, wonder and escape into another world together. It helps children build confidence, empathy and imagination, and for many children it becomes a comforting and enjoyable part of their daily routine. Just a few minutes each day can make a real difference.

Thank you, as always, for the support you give your children and our school. It really does make such a difference.

Have a lovely weekend.

Cathy Bell
Headteacher