Welcome to Kingsbridge Primary School

Kingsbridge Primary School Recognised Nationally for Supporting Premature Children

 

Kingsbridge Primary School is proud to announce that it has been officially awarded The Smallest Things Prem Aware Award, recognising the school’s commitment to understanding and supporting the needs of children born prematurely.

Awarded by The Smallest Things, a national charity dedicated to raising awareness around premature birth, this recognition celebrates schools and early years settings that go the extra mile in supporting children who may face additional challenges as a result of being born early.

The award follows months of dedicated work by the school to increase awareness and embed inclusive practices across its classrooms and support systems. Staff have engaged in training and development to better understand how premature birth can impact learning and development, with a particular focus on areas such as processing speed, memory, visual-spatial skills, attention, and mathematics.

Premature birth can have lasting effects, even when a child doesn’t have formal special educational needs. Research shows that children born preterm are more likely to experience learning difficulties compared to their full-term peers, making the school’s proactive approach even more important.

With an average of two to three children in every classroom born prematurely, Kingsbridge Primary School is proud to be part of a growing national movement that puts awareness and early support at the centre of education.

Parents of children born prematurely are encouraged to speak with the school about any specific support their child may benefit from as they progress through their educational journey.

Gareth Howells, headteacher at Kingsbridge Primary School, said:

“We are incredibly proud to be recognised as a Prem Aware School. At Kingsbridge Primary school, inclusion is at the heart of everything we do. This award reflects our commitment to supporting all children, particularly those who may face unseen challenges, so that they feel valued, understood, and equipped to succeed.”

Matthew Shanks, CEO of Education South West, said:

“This award is a testament to the dedication of the staff at Kingsbridge Primary School and their unwavering belief in every child’s potential. The Prem Aware status exemplifies our Education South West’s mission to transform lives through education by creating nurturing, inclusive, and empowering environments for all children.”

 

Devon Family Hubs update

We are still offering Single sessions via the Parent request for contact , and our Advice and Guidance line will still be active for parents to make contact 

Devon Family HUBS - Parent Carer Request for Contact

Advice and guidance Line 0800 538 5458 (Mon-Fri 10am- 4pm) 

TRANSITION TO NEW FAMILY HUBS SERVICE FOR DEVON

From 1 April 2025, the Family Hubs service for Devon will be transitioning to a new service which will provide increased, targeted help to support families in the community.

Last year, Devon County Council announced that like many authorities across the country, it would follow Government guidance in developing the previous Children's Centres into Family Hubs which provided open access to all families without the need for referrals.

Since then, the council has conducted consultations with families, to gauge opinion and develop a plan which will now see support for families provided in village halls, community centres, and other existing places that parents and carers will already be familiar with in their local communities.

The purpose behind Family Hubs is to provide support to families with children from 0 to 19, or to 25 for young people with special educational needs and disabilities. The help families receive is to prevent them from needing more targeted help later on.

"Why should a parent with a young child or children, who might rely on public transport to get around, have to travel miles to their nearest Children's Centre building in order to get the help his or her family needs? Providing support to families, in their communities, at the right time can prevent them from needing more targeted support in future. I wish to thank Action for Children for their dedication and contribution to Children’s Services over the last 20 years” says Councillor Andrew Leadbetter, the Council's Cabinet Member with responsibility for children's services.

From April, families will begin to see a new community-focused service developing that will continue to improve access to support, bringing together education, public health, NHS, early years, community and voluntary sector groups. Parents will be directed to them in settings closer to home in their own communities.

Some group sessions that are currently delivered in Family Hub locations will change, with families who have complex needs being referred to other community-based services through the new system from April.

Devon County Council would sincerely like to thank Action for Children for all their hard work and contribution to the running of Devon’s Children’s Centres and the Family Hubs for the last 20 years.

 

Kingsbridge Primary School To Demonstrate Best Teaching Practice To Teachers Across The South West

Kingsbridge Primary School is thrilled to invite education leaders, teachers, and educators to an immersive Talk for Writing Showcase Open Morning this month.

Kingsbridge Primary is proud to have been awarded Showcase School status, one of only eleven in the UK,  after just two and a half years of implementing Talk for Writing. While their journey is ongoing, this event provides an ideal opportunity for school leaders and educators to explore a proven, high-quality approach to writing and learn how to embed it in their own schools.

Talk for Writing is a teaching framework that raises standards and accelerates progress.   Based on the principles of how children learn, it enables children to imitate the language they need for a particular topic orally, before reading and analysing it, and then writing their own version.

The open morning is on Thursday, 27th March from 9:15 AM to 12:00 PM and during the event teachers will have the opportunity to:

• Observe: Watch Talk for Writing lessons being taught in real classrooms, offering insight into the approach's dynamic and effective methodology.
• Explore: View pupils' work and see the direct impact of Talk for Writing in their books, showcasing the progress students make.
• Learn: Discover more about the approach and its benefits, enhancing your understanding of how it supports writing development.
• Discuss: Engage with staff about our implementation journey, ask questions, and share ideas on how this approach can be integrated into other schools.

For further information or to book your place, please contact Miranda Martyn at miranda.martyn@kingsbridgeprimary.org.uk

Miranda Martyn, Assistant Headteacher at Kingsbridge Primary School, said:

"We are incredibly proud to be recognised as one of only eleven Showcase Schools in the UK. This open morning provides a unique chance for education leaders to witness the transformative power of Talk for Writing firsthand and discover how it can elevate writing standards in their own schools."

 

 

New Kingsbridge Community Hub Opened to Support Local Families

 

Kingsbridge Primary School proud to announce the launch of the Kingsbridge Community Hub, a new initiative designed to provide vital space and support for local charities and community groups serving families and children in the area. 

Located in the building that once housed the Sure-Start Children's Centre, the hub will offer facilities to charities like Action for Children, The MotherBorn Collective CIC and The Fidget Project, with more community partnerships expected in the coming months. The MotherBorn Collective CIC empowers families through compassionate support and The Fidget Project aims to offer practical interventions from a sensory specialist to children.

While Kingsbridge is relatively isolated with limited access to services, the school is determined to bridge that gap by providing a safe and welcoming space for organisations dedicated to helping the local community. 

The project aims to make a positive impact on the Kingsbridge community by allowing organisations to deliver outreach work and support services in an area with few local resources. This initiative aligns with Education South West’s mission to contribute to support all children, from the early years onwards, and ensure they have the very best start in life.

The Hub is already hosting community groups and the school will continue to work to further enhance the space for community use.  Action for Children has begun running baby massage sessions at the centre with lots of parents and little ones turning up for the inaugural session.

The Fidget Project is launching a pilot initiative to support children with sensory processing differences (SPD) at the Hub.  The project aims to provide essential support for children whose behaviors may be linked to unrecognised SPD, helping them self-regulate, engage in learning, and improve overall wellbeing.  This will include parent and guardian support groups, SPD awareness-raising sessions, and practical demonstrations by an occupational therapist using project equipment and activities.

The MotherBorn Collective CIC empowers families through compassionate support throughout pregnancy and the early years of parenthood.  They hope to provide 1:1 breastfeeding and bottlefeeding support by appointment, along with drop-in sessions for both breastfeeding and bottlefeeding advice. Additionally, they will host various parents and baby groups, some of which collaborate with local experts to offer families the support they need to thrive.

Gareth Howells, headteacher at Kingsbridge Primary School, said:

“We’re excited to offer this space to groups, organisations and charities which play such a vital role in the lives of families here. I am excited that the Hub is now open and look forward to forging more partnerships going forward. By working together, we can help ensure that families in our area have access to the resources they need to thrive.”

Matthew Shanks, CEO of Education South West said:

"We believe in the power of collaboration to make a difference and the Kingsbridge Community Hub is a wonderful example of how schools can work alongside local organisations to improve the wellbeing of families and children. We are so proud to be able to play a part in bringing a space like this back to the town for the benefit of young families.”

 

 

 

 

Ted’s Triumph: Inspiring the England Rugby Team

Kingsbridge Primary School is celebrating one of its own this week after a truly inspiring achievement by 7-year-old Ted, who had the honour of being an England rugby mascot during the Six Nations match against Scotland.

Ted’s story is nothing short of remarkable.  Born deaf in one ear, he lost all hearing in his ‘good’ ear by the age of 18 months, which led to three major surgeries and the fitting of cochlear implants. Ted had to not only learn to hear with his processors, but also to speak -a process that continues today.

Despite these challenges, Ted has never let his deafness stop him from living life to the fullest. Known for his incredible confidence, Ted has tackled activities others may have thought impossible for him, including rugby, karate, skateboarding, and climbing.

His passion for rugby runs deep, and his dream is to one day play for England. His parents nominated him to be an England mascot last November, hoping it would give him the opportunity to show that no challenge is too great. When the England rugby team heard his story, they were so inspired by Ted’s perseverance and positive spirit that they invited him to represent the team during their clash with Scotland.

Ted’s unforgettable moment as an England rugby mascot is just one chapter in his inspiring journey, and Kingsbridge Primary School couldn’t be more excited to follow his future successes.

Gareth Howells, Headteacher at Kingsbridge Primary School, said:

“Ted is a true example of our school value of aspiration. His determination and courage are an inspiration to us all. We couldn’t be prouder to have him as part of our school community.”

Matthew Shanks, CEO of Education South West, said:

“Ted’s journey is a reminder that anything is possible, no matter the challenges one faces. Everyone at Education South West is beyond proud of Ted and excited to see what he accomplishes next.”