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Kingsbridge Primary’s Early Years Team Wins National Teaching Award for Outstanding Innovation

Kingsbridge Primary School is celebrating a momentous achievement as the school has been honoured with a Bronze Award in the category of ‘Early Years Team of the Year’ at the 2025 Pearson National Teaching Awards. 

The Pearson National Teaching Awards were founded in 1998 by Lord Puttnam to recognise the life-changing impact schools and teachers can have on the lives of the young people they work with. 

Recognised for its outstanding commitment and impact, Kingsbridge Primary School has not only transformed children's academic journeys but also their confidence, communication skills, and personal growth.

Through thoughtful innovation, KPS staff have introduced a pioneering model that combines Reception and Year 1 pupils, allowing for a slower-paced, deeply personalised learning experience. This approach has significantly boosted oracy and vocabulary development, enabling children to become articulate, confident communicators at an early stage.

The team’s dedication is reflected in its bespoke small-group teaching, collaborative planning with educational coaches and specialists, and a proactive approach to professional development. 

Outdoor learning is another standout aspect of the provision. From treasure hunts and mud kitchens to vegetable gardens and balance bikes, children are encouraged to explore, create, and take thoughtful risks, developing essential life skills through play.

Beyond the classroom, the Early Years team is a driving force behind the Kingsbridge Community Hub. Their inclusive work, including collaborations with organisations like The Fidget Project to support children with sensory processing differences, exemplifies their commitment to every child’s success.

Ofsted has also praised the school's early years provision, noting children’s rapid development of independence, strong routines, and the consistent prioritisation of reading and phonics from the moment they join Reception.

The team’s success is a testament to their joyful professionalism, collaborative ethos, and unwavering belief in every child’s potential. Kingsbridge Primary School continues to shine as a beacon of excellence in early years education.

Gareth Howells, Headteacher at Kingsbridge Primary School, said:

“This award is a true reflection of the passion, dedication and creativity of our Early Years team. Their work transforms lives every single day, helping our youngest learners grow in confidence, curiosity and communication. We’re incredibly proud to see their efforts recognised on a national stage.”

Matthew Shanks, CEO of Education South West, said:

“We are thrilled that Kingsbridge Primary School’s Early Years team has received this well-deserved national recognition. Their innovative approach and unwavering commitment to every child’s development exemplify the very best of what education can achieve. They are a credit to our trust and an inspiration to the wider sector.”

Kingsbridge Primary Showcases Coaching Culture to Visiting Educators

Kingsbridge Primary School welcomed 15 visiting educators this month, 13 from Wales and 2 from the Reach Academy, as part of the Pembrokeshire 100 professional development programme. The visitors spent the morning observing how Kingsbridge Primary School has embedded a strong coaching culture among staff that is transforming teaching practice and driving rapid improvement.

The day was led by Assistant Headteacher, Miranda Martyn, a trained instructional coach, who offered insight into the school’s coaching model and its tangible impact on classroom learning. Instructional coaching is a way for teachers to receive one-on-one support to improve their teaching skills, helping them to deliver even better lessons and boost student learning. Kingsbridge Primary headteacher, Gareth Howells, also shared his personal journey into school leadership, giving visitors a deeper understanding of the school's development and vision.

The visit, organised by Suzannah Wharf, director of education at Education South West, highlighted Kingsbridge Primary’s commitment to continuous improvement and its growing role as a model of best practice within the education community.

Feedback from the visitors was overwhelmingly positive, praising the school’s balance of “humility, enthusiasm, realism, and drive” and commending the professionalism of staff throughout the morning.

Kingsbridge Primary is proud to be part of a growing movement focused on teacher development and instructional excellence and looks forward to supporting more schools on similar journeys in the future.

Gareth Howells, headteacher at Kingsbridge Primary School, said:

“It was an absolute privilege to host such passionate educators. We’re incredibly proud of the coaching culture we’re building here. It’s collaborative, reflective, and deeply focused on improving outcomes for every child. Seeing our staff share this with such professionalism was a real highlight.”

Matthew Shanks, CEO of Education South West, said:

“Kingsbridge Primary School is quickly establishing itself as a beacon of excellent practice. Hosting colleagues from across the UK and sharing their journey with such openness is a testament to the strength of leadership and the positive culture in the school. It’s exciting to see the seeds of what will become a powerful coaching hub.”

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."