Welcome to Creavery Primary School's Website
September 2025
Dear Parent
Welcome to the new school year and I am delighted to have been asked to continue to be responsible for the day to day running of the school on Tuesdays and Thursdays when you will find me present on the school campus.
It’s now my 41st year in primary education and in all those years here’s what I have discovered and try to pass on to the teachers under my leadership:
- Education goes in cycles; trends and approaches rise and fall in popularity. It really is a case of ‘wait long enough and it’ll all come around again.’ BUT… with this in mind, the only true constant is the child.
- Children haven’t changed. They need to play, read, run, laugh, and their classrooms must be wonderful places in which they get lost in their learning.
- Being able to tell stories across the curriculum is a teacher’s (and a parent’s) secret weapon. I always say to teachers (and parents) to be a brilliant storyteller and the children will learn!
- We must remember that they’re still young (even the P7’s!). Everything most days is new and exciting. We must try to find out what’s important to the children and get interested in their lives. A child’s new puppy or their fishing or camping trip IS momentarily more important than phonics or long multiplication! We will do everything to get to know your child(ren) and what interests them.
- We will try to structure the school day with an ebb and flow. Children can’t work at 100 mph all day.
- Get the children outside as much as possible. Children thrive & are usually much calmer with lots of outdoor time.
- Get them to sing, to dance and be silly. There aren’t many chances later in life to embrace a little levity.
- Prioritise reading. It’s their key to everything else and opens up the world to them. If in doubt, READ!
- A broad and balanced curriculum is important but it needs to sit on firm foundations (That’s why P1 & P2 are referred to as the Foundation Stage). Have the confidence to focus on prioritising fluency in the basics.
- Make them fall in love with their learning, not through contrived activities but by providing opportunities to talk and wonder, to discuss & be listened to, to hear you speak with passion and awe about the things we teach.
- Plan simply. The simpler the format and resourcing, the more space there is to focus on the learning. It shouldn’t take you longer to resource a lesson than it did to actually teach it.
- Develop great relationships with families – that starts today if it hasn’t already started. They’re their child’s first and most enduring educator. Chat as much as possible and keep lines of communication open.
- Channel the wonderful approach of one of my previous P1 teachers who, on a child’s P1 Induction Day in June before they started their primary education journey, knelt down, looked him in the eye and simply said, ……. ‘Oh, you and I are going to have the best adventures; let’s go!’
The new school year will be exciting in many ways not least with the arrival of our new intake of 7 pupils into Primary One and up the school. We hope that all our new starts settle into the “Creavery Family” as we strive to develop their potential to the full in the most stimulating and caring environment that we can possibly offer.
Starting school or changing school can be a daunting task not only for the children but also for adults! I would ask everyone already associated with the school to ensure that anyone new to our “family” feels a part of the Creavery community as quickly as possible, thus affording all stakeholders the opportunity to develop to the full within a caring and stimulating environment.
I look forward to welcoming everyone else back to another school year, one which I’m sure will be a good one – full of surprises, challenges, experiences, and no doubt many successes.
Good communication between parents and teachers are to everyone's benefit. If you are worried about anything do come and see us. If you are particularly pleased about some aspects of our work, do tell us!
Finally, please support us in everything that we do in the year ahead as we strive to do the very best for your child and the school.
T R McMaster MBE - Associate Principal
School Dinners