Welcome to the Piddle Valley First School
Link to Piddle Valley First School's own website .
Below are articles from News & Views about the school. Larger versions of the photographs are on the gallery page of this website.
Jan 2015
On behalf of the Chairs of Governors of a group of five First and Middle schools in the Dorchester area please find attached a consultation pack on the proposal to establish the Greenwood Tree Academy Trust. Comments are invited by 12th Feb 2015. Details are available by clicking on this link, which will open a new page.
Nov 2012
We are lucky to have the wonderful support of Vickey Steven, Anne Bere and members of the local community who come into school throughout the year, using drama, mime, props, costume - even the children and staff themselves - to present Bible stories in ways that are lively, engaging, informative ... and great fun for everyone involved!
These 'Open the book' assemblies, a programme of themed and dramatised Bible stories approximately 15 minutes in length, are slotted into our timetable of assemblies that celebrate the achievements and uniqueness of every child and provide opportunities to reflect on their own experiences and learn about the world around them.
'Open the book' is just one of the ways that the community provides the wonderful experiences that make our school a wonderful place for children to learn and grow as individuals. If you have a child or grandchild at our school, just ask them about Mrs Steven's assemblies and they will share their excitement with you!
If you would like to support one of the sessions then please speak to Mrs Steven (Governor) or Mrs Jones, Headteacher / 01300 348219
Nov 2012
A 'Forest School' is a unique educational experience using the outdoor environment of the forest as a classroom. Our 'Forest School' has been set up in our school grounds and has been enjoyed by Years 3 and 4 over the last few weeks. They have been having fun whilst keeping safe; learning to look in detail by tracking what can be found on the site; learning new skills such as gathering fire wood and handling tools, and developing skills in teamwork and cooperation. The remainder of the school will take part over the next few weeks.
Research into Forest schools has concluded that the provision:
• Increases self esteem and self confidence
• Improves people's ability to work together
• Counters a lack of motivation and negative attitude
• Encourages an improved understanding of the outdoors
• Increases the skills and knowledge of those who take part
'It was a different experience and exciting. I learned new skills like how to peel elder to make an instrument.' - Freya.
'Everything was fun. I learned how to make a spark with a fire-lighting iron on dead grass tinder.' - Sam.
'We did lots of activities. The footprint hunt was fun in the woods. I found nuts cracked open by squirrels.' - Jacob.
Nicole Lefebvre-Woods, teacher
March 2012
Piddle Valley CE VA First School, in Piddletrenthide, is proud to be recognised as an 'outstanding' school in its Ofsted inspection in March 2012. The school was judged under the new inspection framework which has been widely publicised as raising the bar with only 4% of schools expected to fall into the outstanding category.
The full article can be read here