Consultation dates – 6th March 2025 to 1st April 2025 Dear Parents/Carers, Students, Staff, Governors, and Other Interested Parties Proposal Aquila, The Diocese of Canterbury Academies Trust is proposing to extend the age range of Eastchurch CE Primary School from 3-11 to 2-11 years of age. The proposed implementation date, if the proposal is approved, will be 1st September 2025. Background Eastchurch CE Primary currently has the nursery class, Little Owls, which provides places for children aged 3 and 4. Eastchurch CE Primary School is proposing to extend the age range of the school from 3-11 to 2-11 years of age. If approved, the school’s Nursery Class would continue to operate from the purpose-built nursery building and extend into the school building to provide shared access for nursery aged children to the current Reception class outside area.  The children attending the pre-school would be registered on the school roll. Parents would still need to make a separate application to Kent County Council for a place in the Reception Class. Benefits of the proposal The school will be able to build strong partnerships and relationships with parents across Sheppey at the earliest opportunity. This will enable the school to both support the early development of the children and the early identification of needs which is critical to their future successes. Our commitment to the strongest start will also enable a smooth and fluid transition into our school Reception class. The leadership and management of a school must be strong, efficient and effective to enable high quality services to be delivered. As nursery children will be on the school roll, protocols around information sharing will be straightforward. The nursery team will be able to access all the resources and activities that are available through the school, including the expertise of staff and governors to support the operational and managerial aspects of the nursery. Parents will also be able to purchase a school meal for nursery pupils. All 3 and 4 year olds are eligible for the ‘universal’ early years funded childcare (up to 15 hours per week) from the start of the funding period following their third birthday until they start school (usually at statutory school age – the term following their fifth birthday). 3 or 4 year olds of eligible working parents can get an additional 570 hours of funded childcare (up to 30 hours per week) A 2-year-old can receive funded childcare if the parent/carer lives in England and is entitled to qualifying benefits. Parents who wish to pay for childcare will be able to do this via Tax Free Childcare or via MCAS directly to the school. Staff If the proposal is approved, qualified early years staff will be employed directly by the Academy Trust. A school is required to work to the statutory Early Years Foundation Stage framework that governs the ratios and qualifications of staffing. Process and Decision-making The consultation period will run from 6th March 2025 to 1st April 2025. All responses to this consultation will be carefully considered by the School and the Aquila Trust before any decision is made by the Academy Trust to submit an application to the Department for Education (DfE) to change the age range of the school from 3-11 to 2-11. If a decision is made to proceed with the proposal, following consideration of the consultation responses, an application will be made to the Department for Education (DfE) South East Regions Group. It is the DfE’s South East’s Region Group who will make the final decision on the proposal to extend the Nursery Class at Eastchurch CE Primary School through the changing of the age range of the school from 3-11 to 2-11. The DfE will make this decision after considering responses received to the consultation and the application submitted by the Academy Trust. Please note that consultation responses will also therefore be shared with the DfE South East Regions Group. Capital and planning This proposal will not affect the Published Admission Number (PAN) for the school, nor the capacity for school aged children, and will not put pressure on classroom space for school aged children. Responding to the consultation This consultation will run from 6th March 2025 to 28th March 2025. The Trust welcome responses on this proposal by the closing date of 1st April 2025. There are three ways to respond to this consultation: 1.    Emailing: enquiries@aquilatrust.co.uk   2.    In writing: Eastchurch CE Primary, Warden Road, Eastchurch, ME12 4EJ. 3.    Google form: QR Code/ https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeOvWTCjajOIalUkXI8KZafZAwfsffMWM5yvpZuRtAJD3nw_g/viewform?usp=header All responses to the consultation will be considered and will be shared with the school’s leadership team, Board of Directors and Trustees. Responses will also be shared with the Department for Education as the decision-maker, but we will not send individual responses to any specific points made. Kind Regards Mrs Sarah Bone Headteacher

This week St Clement’s celebrated their first ‘Headteacher for a Day’ in line with their revised policy.  They encourage their children to achieve their very best and Varush was an amazing Headteacher!  He flourished throughout the day, making an important call to the Aquila Trust central team to discuss finances available for some new technology.  He met with governors to discuss the available funds and calculated the cost.  He conducted other duties such as; sending an important email to all staff, writing a report, completing health and safety walk, learning walk, monitoring playtime provision and collecting pupil voice.  St Clement's are very proud of Varush for his achievements this term.  Varush, pictured below with Headteacher Kelly Lockwood and the Chair of Governors Anne Panayiotou, is conscientious and hardworking.  He is an outstanding young man and was determined to achieve the top award for the term and still has that to look forward to.  St Clement's have had an amazing term celebrating their children’s behaviour and they have made their parents, teachers and school community proud.  The ‘Headteacher for a Day’ is a celebration day and also an opportunity to develop important skills for the workplace, raise aspirations and develop literacy skills.  Each of the activities that Varush engaged with was purposeful and planned to develop confidence.  He flourished though out the day and when asked his thoughts he said, “It was hard work, but I really enjoyed it!” 

Ofsted praises Brenzett Church of England Primary School  Inspectors have praised Brenzett Church of England Primary School in Romney Marsh, which has just four classes for its 97 pupils aged four to 11. In a report just published, Ofsted inspectors said pupils’ behaviour was “exemplary” and that they “blossomed academically and emotionally” at the school. They described Brenzett, which has not only a field and playground, but an on-site forest, as having a “joyful atmosphere” and being a “caring, safe and ambitious” environment. Teachers have “consistently high expectations and pupils meet them impeccably well,” the inspectors said. “The values of gratitude, friendship, respect, community and resilience permeate school life from the classroom to the playground.” The inspectors praised the teaching of reading, writing and maths and the support given to children with special educational needs and/or disabilities. Ofsted said parents had told inspectors that the school’s caring ethos extended to families in the community. “Brilliant leadership and shared values ensure that this school goes from strength to strength,” the inspectors said. Until this September, Ofsted gave graded judgments to schools and Brenzett had previously received “Good”. Rowan Wright, Brenzett’s Headteacher since April, said: “We are so proud of our school. As Ofsted has said, we have high expectations for all our children and take pride in the joyful, caring atmosphere we have created.” Annie Wiles, Chief Executive of Aquila, the Diocese of Canterbury Academies Trust, said Ofsted’s findings were “testament to the hard work, commitment and expertise of Brenzett’s superb staff and the support of the wider community.”

Ofsted praises children’s “exceptional attitude to learning” at Reculver Church of England Primary School The school inspectorate Ofsted has heaped praise on Reculver Church of England Primary School for its happy atmosphere and children’s “exceptional attitude to learning”. In a report just published, inspectors said pupils “thrive” at Reculver Church of England Primary School in Herne Bay and that its “highly ambitious” teachers ensure children have a “rich understanding of the content they learn”. Ofsted said pupils “are well prepared for their next steps” and “enjoy school”. The inspectors lauded the “high-quality pastoral support” and praised how pupils who need additional support are quickly identified and helped. “Pupils have exceptional attitudes to learning,” the report says. “They listen intently and work hard in lessons. Teachers know the pupils who require additional help to behave well. Staff ensure these pupils have the skills and strategies they need.” Until this September, Ofsted gave graded judgments to schools and Reculver has previously received the top rating - outstanding. Schools no longer receive a graded judgment, but inspectors said that the school “had maintained the standards identified at the previous inspection”. Reculver is part of Aquila, the Diocese of Canterbury Academies Trust, which is a family of 16 primary schools across Kent. The school has recently finished building new early years classrooms and has worked hard to develop a successful Special Resource Provision, which helps children with special educational needs. Stella Collins, Reculver’s Headteacher, said: “We are a happy school where all children, their families, staff and other adults work together. We are rightly proud of our school and are always aiming ever higher to ensure the best for every child - it’s excellent that Ofsted has recognised this. “I feel privileged to be leading this school and working with such a motivated and talented group of staff and governors.” Annie Wiles, Chief Executive of Aquila, said: “Anyone who has visited Reculver will know just how wonderful this school is. It is inspirational to see the hard work, dedication and expertise of the staff.” The Ofsted report can be found here: https://files.ofsted.gov.uk/v1/file/50264879

Kent primary wins Green School Award for 'bug hotel'   A Kent primary school has won the prestigious Green School Award for pupils’ environmental work with their local church. Temple Ewell Church of England Primary School, part of Aquila, Diocese of Canterbury Academies Trust, received the award for encouraging nature to flourish in the grounds of St Peter and St Paul’s Church, near the school. Pupils at the school collected natural materials from their local area to create a ‘bug hotel’. They regularly observe and care for the insects and creatures that have made it their home. Social Enterprise Kent, which runs the Green School Award, praised the pupils’ dedication to the project. Zachary, aged 10, and Olivia, aged 11, collected the award for the school and said "We really enjoyed participating in the project as it helped us learn more about our environment and what we can do to look after it." Nicholas Robbins, a senior leader at the school who organised the project, said: “We are so proud of the children and their success in receiving this award. Together, both the church and the school have worked closely to make this possible and we look forward to even more success in the new year and beyond.” “We are very active in encouraging the children to be responsible citizens. We are near the end of a project run by Global Action Plan where children are given a voice on environmental issues. The project this year was centred around recycling and the impact litter can have on the local area. The children created sculptures using crisp packets of different animals affected by litter. In January, we will begin the Blue Influencers Scheme run by Kent Wildlife Trust.”

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