Manadon Vale Primary School

That's MY name!

Small things can mean a big deal. A coat peg or book tray with their name on it is often the first thing that makes school feel like theirs.

However you and your family are feeling about September, Connect schools are here to make sure your child gets the best start possible.

☀️🌑

Planning to watch the solar eclipse on Wednesday 12 August? 🌘

There are a few different ways to see it safely – but never look directly at the Sun without proper eclipse glasses.

🥣 Colander
Stand with your back to the Sun and hold the colander so its holes project onto the ground or a piece of white paper. Each hole will create a tiny image of the eclipse. Look at the projection, not AT THE SUN through the colander.

📝 Paper projection
Make a small pinhole in one piece of card and hold it above a second white sheet. The light will pass through the hole and project an image of the eclipse onto the paper below. Again, keep your back to the Sun and don’t look AT THE SUN through the pinhole.

📦 Cereal box viewer
Sunlight enters through the pinhole in the foil and projects an image onto the white surface inside the box. Look through the separate viewing hole to see it.

🕶️ Eclipse-safe glasses
These allow you to look at the Sun safely, but they must meet the ISO 12312-2 standard and be free from scratches, tears or holes. Ordinary sunglasses won’t protect your eyes.

The eclipse also links nicely to our primary science schemes. Pupils learn about the Sun in Year 3 light, before exploring the movement of Earth and the other planets in Year 5 space.

Children should always be supervised when viewing an eclipse.

🌟 It’s official! 🌟

Our Gold Rights Respecting Schools Award is now officially listed on the UNICEF UK website! 🏆

And we’re incredibly proud to be the only school in Plymouth currently listed as a Gold Rights Respecting School.

What a fantastic way to end the school year! ❤️

Flexible places full of friendly faces

Being 'ready' to start school isn't about knowing the alphabet or times tables. It's being able to ask for help, toilet trained, enjoy books, get their coat on and try something new. We know every child will have a different level of readiness. And that's ok. Our schools are flexible places full of friendly faces – we're confident your child will find their readiness.

However you and your family are feeling about September, Connect schools are here to make sure your child gets the best start possible.

New friends!

Do you remember your primary school bestie? Reception is often the first time children build friendships entirely on their own terms and it's such an exciting time for them.

However you and your family are feeling about September, Connect schools are here to make sure your child gets the best start possible.

🎉🌟 RECEPTION 2026 – YOU’RE INVITED🌟🎉

📚 UPDATED SCHOOLS - DONT FORGET TO BOOK 📚

Starting Reception in September 2026? We’d love to welcome you and your little ones to a special Reception 2026 Stay & Play Session at Drakes Den.

🏫 Children from the following schools are invited to join us for a fun-filled afternoon of play, making new friends, and meeting other families before the big school adventure begins.

📅 Wednesday 12th August 2026

⏰ 2:30pm

🎟️ SPECIAL OFFER

Enjoy 50% OFF entry using discount code: EYFS2026

📲 Book your place today and don’t forget to use code EYFS2026 at checkout.

https://drakes.bookmyparty.co.uk/book/1023/booking.aspx

💜🎈✨

Try a practice run

The school gate, the playground, the walk to school. Some children feel like it's a little less big if it's not brand new on day one. Why not give a practice visit to the school gate a go during the summer and see how it feels?

However you and your family are feeling about September, Connect schools are here to make sure your child gets the best start possible.

Connect Academy Trust is an inclusive, values-based family of 9 primary schools in Newton Abbot, Torbay and Plymouth. We educate and support 3,300 children, including a high proportion of children who are disadvantaged, have additional needs and do not have easy access to local educational sites.

With our schools spread over South Devon, we need a second minibus to enable these children to get to sports fixtures and complete educational visits as part of our curriculum, including 30 Ways to Connect.

Fundraising activities include Stuart Bellworthy (CEO) and friend Peter Healy walking the 100 mile South Hams Way this summer and future fundraising events in each Connect school in 2026/27.

Help us reach our target via our GoFundMe page here: https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-children-at-connect-schools-have-a-second-minibus

Anyone spotted our two new speed signs on St Peter's Road? 👀🚸

Another proud moment made possible through the hard work and determination of our School Parliament. Their campaigning has helped make our community a little safer for everyone.

Well done to all involved – your voices really do make a difference! 💙

GOLD lunch celebrations👏⭐👏