Weekly Blog Friday 1st May 2026
Date: 30th Apr 2026 @ 8:15am
Bank Holiday Monday 4th May
Just a quick reminder that school will be closed on Monday for the bank holiday. We look forward to seeing everyone back in school on Tuesday 5th May.
Attendance
Every week in our Celebration Assembly, we celebrate the class who has achieved the highest attendance for that week. This week Mrs Parkes' class had the highest attendance with 99.31%. Well done Year 4!
Please see below the attendance figures for this week. The target attendance for all children is currently set at 97%.
Nursery - 84%
Reception - 95.62%
Year 1 Mrs Davies - 97.04%
Year 2 Mrs Ward & Mrs Walker - 94.20%
Year 3 Mrs Ronan & Mrs Wood - 96.03%
Year 4 Mrs Parkes - 99.31%
Year 5 Mrs Pickersgill - 93.14%
Year 6 Miss Dunn - 94.69%
Celebrating fantastic attendance!
Each week, each class with 100% attendance on a particular day will receive one letter from the word MAYFLOWER to put on their classroom door. Once a class has spelt out the word MAYFLOWER, a member of the class will bring all their letters down to the office to claim their prize from our box of Awesome Attendance Activities!
Please see below where each class stands at the end of today:
Nursery - M A Y F L O W E R M A Y F L O W E R M A Y F L O W E R M A Y F L O W E R M A Y F
Reception - M A Y F L O W E R M A Y F L O W E R M A Y F L O W E R M A Y F L O W E R M A Y F L O W E R
Year 1 - M A Y F L O W E R M A Y F L O W E R M A Y F L O W E R M A Y F L O W E R M A Y F L O W E R M A Y F L
Year 2 - M A Y F L O W E R M A Y F L O W E R M A Y F L O W E R M A Y F LO W E R M A Y F L O W E R M A Y F L O W E R M A
Year 3 - M A Y F L O W E R M A Y F L O W E R M A Y F L O W E R M A Y F L O W E R M A Y F L O W E R M A Y F L O W E R M A
Year 4 - M A Y F L O W E R M A Y F L O W E R M A Y F L O W E R M A Y F L O W E R M
Year 5 - M A Y F L O W E R M A Y F L O W E R M A Y F L O W E R M A Y
Year 6 - M A Y F L O W E R M A Y F L O W E R M A Y F L O W E R M A Y F L O W E R M A Y F L O W E R M A Y F L O W
This week, Reception completed MAYFLOWER for the 5th time and Year 4 for the 4th time, so both classes will be choosing their reward to enjoy next week. Well done!
Stars of the week
Each week in our Friday Celebration Assembly, we celebrate our stars of the week. Each class teacher chooses 2 children from their class each week who have really impressed them. Here are the children who have been chosen this week.
Nursery
Alma has worked really hard in maths this week, she has been brilliant at comparing numbers, knowing which are bigger and smaller, more and less (fewer). I have been really impressed with how well she has been able to represent numbers and explain how she has done something. Fabulous work Alma, well done!
The adults have noticed an improvement in Sophie’s confidence and her willingness to try things and have a go at something new. She has impressed Miss Limb and Miss Hoggart with how hard she has worked this week. She has worked hard at her maths, her phonics and with her morning tasks. Well done Sophie!
Reception
This week’s first star this week always works hard in everything she does! She comes into school with a brilliant have a go attitude and tries her very best, even when she is a little bit unsure. We love seeing her positive attitude and the pride she takes in her learning. Not only does she challenge herself, but she also helps her friends to do their best too, especially in maths and writing; giving them a helping hand to model new concepts or sharing her phonics knowledge in writing, she cheers them on with lots of smiles and kind words. We are so proud of your kindness, determination, and fantastic attitude. Well done, Izzy 🙂
Our second star has been working so hard this week (and half term). She has shown fantastic enthusiasm in all of her learning activities, taking her time, thinking carefully, and giving everything her very best try. She is showing lots of pride in her writing, making sure she forms her letters correctly and having another go if it's not quite right. She has also been a wonderful friend, showing kindness, being respectful, and looking after others when they’ve had a bump or just needed someone by their side. Her caring heart has really shone this week. Well done, Ivy 🙂
Year 1
Riley has worked exceptionally hard in all aspects of his school work this week. He has been determined to join in with every lesson in the classroom, especially his maths and writing, and is making great progress. Mrs Fuller has also been very impressed with how hard he has worked in RWI all week. We are all very proud of you and your fantastic attitude to learning, Riley. Well done!
Isaac embodies our school rule of working hard. Quietly and conscientiously, he always tries his best and always works hard. We have been particularly impressed with his writing this week - he has used good examples as models to produce the most wonderful description of Paddington Bear using multiple adjectives separated by commas! You have an amazing attitude to learning, Isaac, and you are a role model for others. Well done!
Year 2
Since the start of the Summer Term, Skyla has shown a fantastic attitude towards her learning. She has been working incredibly hard and is always eager to share the wonderful things she knows. Her focus and determination to stay on task and always do her very best have really stood out. It has been wonderful to see her demonstrating what it means to be a hard worker - well done, Skyla. Keep it up!
David truly demonstrates what it means to work hard. In every lesson, he applies himself fully, shows great determination and displays a real desire to complete his work. He confidently asks for help and is eager to improve or challenge himself further. He readily shares his ideas and is often the first to put his hand up. He goes the extra mile by practising new skills at home and sharing these with his peers. His effort and dedication consistently stand out - well done, David. Keep it up!
Year 3
Matthew has had a fantastic week in school this week. He has worked incredibly hard in lessons and has tried his best with his work. Matthew has planted lots of seeds and is looking after them every day, checking that they have enough light and water so they can grow. We are very impressed with Matthew's concentration and hard work this week. Well done Matthew and keep looking after the plants please!
Gabe works hard all of the time and in every lesson. He always tries his best no matter how tricky the work is. Gabe really impressed us in our humanities lesson this week as he was determined and focussed when finding countries from the Roman Empire and recording them on a blank map. Keep working hard Gabe!
Year 4
Keira always works hard. She is determined to succeed and always does things the Mayflower Way. She is a kind and caring partner and is always supportive of others. Keira listens carefully to instructions and is able to identify if she needs any further support with her work. Keira always listens to and acts on feedback given. Keep it up.
Sadie is a driven and motivated learner. She always has a positive attitude towards all areas of the curriculum and is keen to learn new things. Sadie has become more confident in knowing when she needs support and can scaffold herself with resources that are available to her. Sadie is a role model to her peers. Keep it up.
Year 5
“Doing your best means never stop trying.” – Benjamin Franklin
Noah works hard every day and always tries his best, even when tasks are difficult. When he faces challenges, he overcomes barriers with determination and resilience. He never gives up after making mistakes and instead learns from them with a positive attitude. Well done Noah - we are proud of your hard work and determination!
Skaila-Mai is a child who works hard and always gives her best effort. She is not afraid to ask for help when she needs it, showing confidence and a strong desire to learn. Skaila-Mai does not let anything stand in her way and continues to push forward, showing perseverance and a positive attitude in everything she does. Well done Skaila - we are proud of your resilience and determination!
Year 6
Our focus this week through school, has been on one of our school rules: work hard. We have been noticing, in particular, those children who work hard in every lesson in order to achieve the very best that they can. This week's Stars of the Week in Year 6 have been chosen with that in mind.
Sophia A - Sophia has worked hard this term in all lessons and, as a result, is making great progress. In maths in particular, she is working hard to apply the strategies that she knows in arithmetic lessons and, coupled with her new-found confidence, this has led to a huge improvement in her arithmetic scores. I am so proud of how hard you work Sophia and of how well you are achieving.
Rory - Rory has worked hard this week in lessons to check his work to ensure that it has been completed to the very best of his ability. He has taken more time to check his work to ensure that it is accurate, particularly in writing, and this has resulted in fewer errors. I am proud of how hard you have worked this week Rory and all that you have achieved as a result of this - keep it up!
Headteacher Award & Shout Outs
Each week in our Celebration Assembly, Mrs Powell chooses someone who has really impressed her during the week and presents them with her Headteacher Award. My Superstar award this week was a really tough choice as lots of our children ‘work hard’ in every lesson every day. My choice this week goes to Darcy (Yr6) who tries her very best to always go the extra mile. She even brought her tap shoes in on Monday for our trip to Nourish where her performance wowed the crowd from the community and church parish who go there every Monday for a warm meal and a catch-up with friends. What a wonderful gift to share with others!
Well done Darcy, enjoy your star award this week to remind you how amazing you are!
My ‘shout-outs’ for giving 100% to the MAYFLOWER WAY this week go to Lockie (Rec), Ottavia (Y4) and Katie (Y6). Well done!
Makaton Sign Of The Week
The children are continuing to learn Makaton's 'Sign of the week' each week. Each Monday, the children learn the new sign for that week. We thought it would be useful to share the following week's sign with parents/carers on our Friday blog so you can get involved too if you wish.
Online Safety
Doncaster Council's Safeguarding Team has asked us to share information with our families regarding a current trend/challenge where children/young people are encouraged to run away from home without getting caught and travel around the country, avoiding paying fares. There has been some reported association with Tik Tok, although this hasn't been confirmed at this time. Some online games/sites are stating that children/young people can gain points for how many times their missing poster is shared and there seems to be some online games called 'runaway' which adds to the concerns.
We would ask you to continue to supervise your child when they are online. In school, we will of course listen out for any conversations that the children may be having around this trend/challenge and will keep you informed if there are any further updates on this.
Year 6 transition to Secondary health questionnaire
If your child is in Year 6 and you haven't yet completed their health questionnaire in preparation for their move to Secondary school, the School Nursing Team would appreciate it if you could please complete this as soon as possible. Details were provided in our School Spider message on 13th April.
Deadline for disco slips & payment - Wednesday 6th May
Our PTA will be holding their Summer disco on Wednesday 13th May. The timings for this have changed very slightly as below:
Nursery/Reception/Year 1/Year 2 - 3.10pm to 4pm
Years 3 to 6 - 4.10pm to 5pm
The cost of the disco going forward will be £1.50.
Letters came home with the children this week with a slip on the bottom for parents/carers to complete and return, together with their payment of £1.50, by the deadline of next Wednesday 6th May.
If your child would like to attend the disco, please ensure you return both the slip and payment by the deadline, as we cannot accept any slips after Wednesday 6th May.
Music Tuition 2026-2027 - deadline for responses Friday 8th May
Following on from our School Spider message last Tuesday, don't forget that the deadline to express an interest in your child starting/continuing guitar or woodwind lessons for the next school year is next Friday, 8th May.
As advised in our message, please only respond if your child is definitely going to be starting/continuing as once the tuition time has been booked, we cannot amend it and have to pay the full cost.
Can you help us?
The children have been busy weeding, digging and planting in our allotment. We can already see garlic and tomato plants growing! We do desperately want to finish the last few planters but we need more compost. If anyone has any spare at home or would like to donate some to our Mayflower garden, please drop it in to the school office.
Wraparound Care
Please see below the latest flyer from First Step Active Care, who run the breakfast and after school club held in school. For any queries regarding the wraparound care, please contact First Step directly using the details on the flyer.
The latest information about wraparound care is also shared on the 'Wraparound care and holiday club' page on our school website.
'Togetherness' Wellbeing Update
Doncaster Council's Family Hubs Team has asked us to share information about the NHS's 'Togetherness' wellbeing site.
Togetherness is a free online learning environment developed by psychologists and health practitioners providing accessible learning about emotional health and wellbeing, proven to positively impact mental health, behaviour and relationships.
Please click on the link at the bottom of this page to view their latest wellbeing update.
New Dance Classes
Family Sports Day Saturday 13th June
Save the date for Bawtry Family Sports Day. Further details to follow once timings etc have been confirmed.
Autism Pride Day Saturday 13th June
Lunch Menu for week commencing 4th May 2026
Please see the menu below for next week. As always, Mrs Stanfield our School Cook will continue to monitor the children's likes and dislikes and there may be changes to these menus in light of these.
Diary Dates
Please see below our current diary dates. It may be that there are dates on here that involve your child that you haven't had any information for yet. Please don't worry, information will come out in plenty of time prior to the date concerned. Dates that have been added since the last blog are shown in bold.
2025-2026 School Year
2026
Monday 4th May - bank holiday - school closed
Wednesday 6th May - deadline for reply slip and £1.50 payment for PTA disco to be returned.
Monday 11th May to Thursday 14th May - Year 6 SATs
Wednesday 13th May - non-uniform day - no donations requested
Wednesday 13th May - PTA discos - Nursery, Reception, Year 1 & Year 2 3.10pm to 4pm (Nursery & Reception parents to stay at the disco with their children). Years 3 to 6 4.10pm to 5pm (slight change to timings shown previously)
Monday 18th May - Year 1 visit to Austerfield Study Centre
Monday 18th May - Year 4 pedestrian training
Tuesday 19th May - Inclusion Open Morning - places to be pre-booked
Tuesday 19th May - Year 3 parents meeting for Austerfield residential
Tuesday 19th May - Year 4 pedestrian training
Wednesday 20th May to Friday 22nd May - Year 6 London residential
Friday 22nd May - last day at school before half term
Monday 25th May to Friday 29th May - half term
Monday 1st June - Training Day - school closed
Tuesday 2nd June - first day back after half term
Tuesday 2nd June to Friday 12th June - Year 4 multiplication checks
Wednesday 3rd June - class photos
Monday 8th June to Friday 12th June - Key Stage 1 Phonics screening week
Monday 8th June - visit to Nourish Group - parents/carers of those involved will be notified
Tuesday 9th June to Wednesday 10th June - Year 3 residential to Austerfield Study Centre
Friday 12th June - Reception visit to Boston Park Farm - parents to drop off and collect from Boston Park Farm
Monday 15th June to Sunday 28th June - Bawtry Festival
Tuesday 16th June - Rail safety workshops with Volker Rail
Wednesday 17th June - choir taking part in Sing Out concert
Thursday 18th June - Sports Day - times to be confirmed
Friday 19th June - PTA Gifts for a loved one shop during the school day
Monday 22nd June - Year 3 class assembly 10.45am - parents/carers invited. Please ensure you arrive at school ready for the assembly to start at 10.45am please. ***CHANGE OF TIME***
Tuesday 23rd June - Year 2 visit to Cleethorpes
Wednesday 24th June - Rocksteady & Guitar/Woodwind/Brass concert 2pm - for those taking part in Rocksteady sessions and/or music lessons with Doncaster Music Service
Wednesday 24th June - performing arts on the school playground as part of the Bawtry Festival 3.10pm - further details to follow
Wednesday 24th June - PTA Summer Fair
Monday 29th June to Wednesday 1st July - Year 4 Hollowford residential
Tuesday 30th June - Inclusion Open Morning - places to be pre-booked
Monday 6th July - Year 6 transition evening at The Hayfield School for parents and children
Tuesday 7th July to Wednesday 8th July - The Hayfield School transition days
Tuesday 7th July to Wednesday 8th July - Queen Elizabeth's High School Gainsborough transition days
Tuesday 7th July to Thursday 9th July - XP Secondary School transition days
Wednesday 8th July - New Parents Evening at Queen Elizabeth's High School Gainsborough
Wednesday 8th July - move up day - children move to their new classes for the day to spend the day with their new teacher
Monday 13th July - Year 4 class assembly 10.45am - parents/carers invited. Please ensure you arrive at school ready for the assembly to start at 10.45am please. ***CHANGE OF TIME***
Tuesday 14th July - Big Talk Education in school - further details to follow
Wednesday 15th July - PTA Colour Run
Friday 17th July - Year 6 leavers assembly AM - breakfast and then assembly
Friday 17th July - last day at school before Summer holidays
Monday 20th July - Training Day - school closed to pupils
2026-2027 School Year
2026
Tuesday 1st September - Training Day - school closed to pupils
Wednesday 30th September - individual/sibling photos
2027
Wednesday 2nd June 2027 - class photos
Monday 7th June - Training Day - school closed to pupils
Monday 19th July - Training Day - school closed to pupils
Tuesday 20th July - Training Day - school closed to pupils
Wednesday 21st July - Training Day - school closed to pupils
