Dear Colleagues, 

As we settle into the rhythm of the new term, it is already heartening to see the Trust-wide commitment to excellence.

This week has brought several highlights which remind me once again of the strength we hold when we come together.

On Tuesday, many colleagues took part in the RWInc training session, with a clear focus on strengthening phonics instruction and early literacy across our primaries. The session reinforced the importance of systematic synthetic phonics as the essential foundation of early reading success. Colleagues explored how RWInc can be embedded consistently across classrooms so that every child - regardless of starting point - has the strongest possible chance to develop secure decoding, fluency, and comprehension skills. It was also a chance to reflect honestly on practice, share challenges, and collaborate on solutions. This sits right at the heart of our school improvement priorities and directly supports our aspirational target of 92% of Year 1 pupils meeting the expected standard in the Phonics Screening Check.

Later in the week, we gathered for a Joint Headteachers’ Meeting - a terrific opportunity to connect, share insights, and plan ahead for the autumn term. The energy in the room was tangible; conversations reflected both the realism of current challenges and a shared determination to continue moving forwards with purpose. These moments of professional collaboration matter enormously - they help ensure that our ethos and values remain visible and consistent across all of our schools.

At WeST HQ, we also hosted a number of NPQ conferences, particularly for colleagues undertaking NPQH and NPQSL. These programmes provide a structured yet reflective space for leaders to learn from each other, think deeply about leadership in practice, and prepare to take the next steps in their professional journey. It was inspiring to see the depth of discussion and the generosity with which colleagues shared both successes and setbacks. Leadership development is never about individuals alone - it is about strengthening the culture and capacity across the whole Trust.

Another important session this week came through our Safeguarding training, delivered by Richard Woodland, our Director of Safeguarding. Richard’s expertise and clarity always make a powerful impact, and his reminder was timely: safeguarding is not simply a statutory requirement or a policy document—it is a responsibility we all share. Every adult in WeST plays a role in creating safe, secure, and nurturing environments for our children.

We are delighted to share some very positive news regarding the national pay awards for all staff. For the first time in many years, the government has laid legislation in good time, enabling us to implement the 2025 inflationary pay awards alongside processing incremental progression for eligible colleagues. This means that in the September pay run – scheduled for Thursday 25th September – colleagues will see the inflationary uplift applied straight away. Importantly, this removes the recent pattern of several months’ “back pay” being processed in December.

Finally, a word on attendance. The figures matter, of course, but what matters most is the difference our actions make in supporting children and families. Every day in school counts, and every child deserves to feel their presence is noticed, valued, and vital. Sustaining high attendance will be one of the most important things we can achieve this year.

Thank you, as always, for your dedication and energy. Whether through teaching, leading, training, or supporting behind the scenes, your contributions continue to make a profound difference. Let’s keep building on this early momentum—together, we are shaping something truly remarkable.

With warmest wishes,

Rob Haring

CEO

Word Of The Week!

This week's word is "Perseverance."

Definition:Perseverance - the steady, continued effort to achieve something despite difficulties or delays.

Reason: By highlighting perseverance, we celebrate the steady, determined effort that turns ambitious plans into real improvements. It reminds us that, even when deadlines loom and unexpected challenges arise, sustained commitment and resilience help us deliver the best learning environments for our children.

Paediatric First Aid Training

Mark Johnson from Elite Training will be leading a comprehensive Paediatric First Aid course at WeST headquarters. This one-day, in-person workshop is followed by a second day of guided self-study to consolidate your understanding and ensure you feel confident responding in any early years setting.

Training Details:

• Date: Friday 24 October 2025
• Location: WeST HQ, PL97GN, 51 Encombe Street
• One full day in-person
• One self-study day

Registration and Logistics
Spaces are limited, so please register early. To secure your place:

•  Email markjohnson@elite-training.org.uk with your name, role, and school.
•  Include any access requirements or special considerations.
• Await confirmation and pre-course materials.

Paediatric First Aid certification is a valuable professional credential that not only meets statutory requirements but also provides peace of mind. By completing this course, you’ll be better prepared to keep our youngest learners safe and cared for in any situation.

Clinic Requests Deadline: All clinic requests must be submitted by 8:00 pm on 23^rd September. The system will therefore go live on or around 24th September and will remain open until 48 hours before the clinic.

Booking Required: You must book in advance to attend a clinic. Walk-ins are not guaranteed and will only be accepted if there is both spare vaccine stock and available time slots, for example, due to non-attendance.

Paper Vouchers: These are available in limited supply. Please only request a paper voucher if necessary.

Queries: For any questions or concerns, please contact HR@Westst.org.uk.

Information Access: All relevant details are available on the MS form and within the promotional materials.

Important Reminder: Please encourage anyone submitting a request to carefully read the summary box on the MS form and ensure all responses are accurate.

Important Data Protection information - Action needed by all staff

Our email storage policy is changing. From January 2026, no email will be stored in Microsoft Outlook for longer than 2 years. This means that:

• All emails of 2 years old or more will be automatically deleted from Outlook on 6 January 2026.

• From then onwards, all emails will be automatically deleted from Outlook 2 years after you receive them.

All staff using Microsoft email need to back up essential emails and/or attachments that are needed long-term to an appropriate storage area (like OneDrive).

The deadline to complete this before the Christmas holiday is 18 December 2025. 

Any emails not backed-up outside of Outlook by then will be lost permanently.

Please click here to see our detailed guidance.

(For now, Callington and Chaddlewood staff using Google Mail rather than Microsoft are exempt, but this will apply when your email is transferred to Microsoft in the future. Separate Google Mail guidance will follow, but consider proactively backing up any important emails from now on.)

Please start thinking and acting on this as soon as possible! Once you have read the guidance linked above, if you are concerned or confused please book onto a support session using the form at the bottom of the guidance page.