Westcountry Schools Trust Parent Portal

Dear Colleagues,

As we move further into Term 6, I want to begin by acknowledging the important milestone that took place across our primary schools this week. Our Year 1 children undertook their Phonics Screening Check (PSC), and I want to extend my very best wishes and heartfelt thanks to all those involved.

This moment represents the culmination of months of expert teaching, thoughtful planning, and sheer determination. From reading leads and classroom teachers to support staff and leaders, your tireless work has laid the foundation for these children not just to meet the expected standard, but to step confidently into a lifetime of reading. Across WeST, your efforts to foster early literacy and instil a love of reading. There is no better gift than the gift of fluent reading.

On Tuesday, we had the pleasure of welcoming our Primary Headteachers for a purposeful and energising morning of discussion and collaboration. The session brought primary leaders together to reflect on the year so far and set sights on the road ahead. We explored themes including early reading, curriculum impact, inclusion, and leadership development. The strength of thought, mutual respect, and clarity of purpose was uplifting. There is something particularly powerful about leaders learning alongside and from each other—offering honest reflections, posing questions, and sharing practice in service of a shared goal. Thank you to all who attended and contributed.

Running alongside this, the Early Reading Network—led by our excellent Early Reading Lead, Heidi Longworth—met to examine phonics progress and fluency across the Trust. With just 27 school days remaining, the focus was clear: finish strong. Leaders were encouraged to double down on closing the earliest gaps, uphold fidelity to phonics programmes (RWI or Little Wandle), and embed strategies like 1:1 tutoring, shuffle time, and the ever-popular “Tiny Teachers.” Reception and Year 2 trends are encouraging, and the drive in Year 1 remains laser-sharp. A huge thank you to Heidi for her energy, expertise, and relentless drive for improvement.

Later in the week, we hosted our two-day Level 3 Child Protection Initial Training for safeguarding leads and senior staff. The training was grounded, real, and highly relevant—exploring statutory duties, managing disclosures, and working collaboratively with external partners. Participants engaged thoughtfully with complex scenarios, demonstrating the depth of care and professionalism that underpins our safeguarding culture. These sessions not only built confidence and knowledge, but also reinforced our unshakeable commitment to keeping children safe.

As always, it is a privilege to lead and learn alongside such dedicated colleagues. Whether supporting early readers, protecting the vulnerable, or shaping strategy, your work matters deeply. Thank you for everything you do.

Best wishes,

Rob Haring

CEO