HT Blog
Friday 6th February 2026
The amount of time that toddlers spend looking at screens has soared to more than 2 hours/day, a survey shows.
Nearly a fifth of 2-year-olds are playing computer games instead of learning basic skills such as speech, research by the DfE found.
The World Health Organisation recommends no more than an hour a day of sedentary screen time, which is defined as watching TV, videos or other digital content, for children between 2 and 4.
The report warned that ‘higher screen time’ was independently associated with lower vocabulary development.
Ministers are preparing to issue the first ever guidance to families to help them set ‘healthy’ screen habits for under 5s. Education Secretary, Bridget Phillipson said:
“Screens are part of family life now. The question parents are asking is how to use them well. We know from the evidence that too much passive screen time can start to crowd out the talking, playing and reading that are so important for children’s language and development in the early years.”
Catriona Williamson
Friday 6th February 2026
We welcomed a work experience and a student teacher to Mere School and the newsletter was available to download on Monday.
Some members of staff attended on line and in person training and various professional visited the school to support our children. We enjoyed a challenging but very useful day with an OFSTED inspector. He visits us every term – a great way of monitoring and school improvement.
I held attendance meetings during the week and my very useful Head Teacher Lunch.
The Pyramid Dance Festival was held here on Thursday – our children performed so well.
It was my pleasure to meet with our Class Parents on Friday and swimming/gymnastics started again at Port Regis for Green and Gold Classes.
Catriona Williamson
Friday 30th January 2026
I popped into every class to observe teaching and learning. This is always such a pleasure.
Our governors met on Tuesday evening.
Purple Class had a fascinating visit to ‘We Are The Curious’ in Bristol on Wednesday.
There was some online training for some members of staff throughout the week and I met with my cluster colleagues on Thursday morning.
Catriona Williamson
Friday 23rd January 2026
The second newsletter of the term was available to download on Monday and our clubs started.
Staff attended a selection of meetings and courses during the week – Mr Rich and I attended a very useful one on AI in schools (that is why recorder club is starting a week later).
The children enjoyed 2 Science Days in school – kindly funded by The Friends and supported by the many parents who came in to talk to the children about their science-based jobs. Thank you to Miss Willcox for organising this.
Catriona Williamson
Friday 16th January 2026
Our first full week back in school after Christmas and the children have settled really well.
A team of professionals have been in school supporting our children and staff have attended various virtual courses.
It was a busy day on Monday with our Fire Risk Assessment and kiln service.
Our football team also lost a football match at Milton School so we have now been eliminated from The Davison Cup. Mr Rich felt that we were the better team but we just could not get the ball in the net!
Our hockey team had more success on Wednesday as they were runners up at the Pyramid Tournament.
The Autism reality Experience was in school on Thursday and all members of staff were able to visit. A neurodiverse specialist also completed a sensory learning walk in school on Friday morning accompanied by Miss Fletcher and our SEND governor, Mrs Ritter.
Our Curriculum Governors met after school on Thursday as well.
Travel to School data was collected at the end of the week and I met with a specialist to look at a proposed sensory garden project.
There has been a lot of staff absence this week and I am so grateful to our staff team for covering. We have an amazing team at Mere School.
Catriona Williamson
Friday 9th January 2026
We had a useful T D day on Monday with a focus on English.
It was lovely to welcome the children back to school and hear about their exciting Christmas holidays.
The newsletter came home in hard copy.
Travel to School data was collected on Friday.
Catriona Williamson
Friday 19th December 2025
This week is my favourite in school. I love sharing the excitement of the festive period with the children.
The newsletter came home on Monday and Mrs Jennings and I completed a final run through of our productions with the children.
Parents were invited after school for our termly ‘Book Look’.
Several professionals were in school during the week to support individual children.
We were so proud of how well our children performed on Tuesday – a real treat for our parents and friends.
English and maths Pupil Progress meetings were held during the week.
Mrs Clements continued with her library stock take.
Every child visited Father Christmas in his grotto on Thursday and enjoyed a delicious Christmas Lunch. A huge thank you to The Friends for funding this.
The Friends sold raffle tickets all week. The raffle was drawn on Friday.
Lost property was in the entrance hall throughout the week then recycled at the end of the week.
Our festive week ended with our traditional Carol Service in St Michaels’ Church and school closed at 3.20 pm for the Christmas holidays.
Catriona Williamson
Friday 12th December 2025
The excitement is mounting in school!
We had a fabulous visit to Salisbury Playhouse on Wednesday kindly funded by The Friends. The children behaved so well – I was incredibly proud of them all.
We held several rehearsals for our productions and Carol Service with our dress rehearsals on Friday. It was lovely to welcome Mere Pre-School to our KS1 production.
Mere Pre-School performed their Christmas entertainment to their parents in our hall while we were at the pantomime.
Library books were collected in so Mrs Clements could do a stock take and we had a non-school uniform day on Thursday, in exchange for a confectionery prize for our Christmas raffle.
The children thoroughly enjoyed their disco on Friday evening.
Catriona Williamson
Friday 5th December 2025
The school nursing service administered the flu vaccine on Monday morning.
Our ELSAs went to a regional meeting and due to the weather our Davison Cup football match at Milton School was postponed.
Thank you to parents for sending in the Christmas play costumes – rehearsals are going well!
Mrs Broom attended another day of her ELSA training and Mrs Cole met with Mr Rich to complete some PSHE monitoring across the school.
Mrs Shannon also met with a team of governors to discuss and adapt our Sustainability Action Plan.
Clubs ended on Thursday until the new school term.
Two of our children switched on the Mere Christmas lights on Friday evening.
The Friend’s wreath making workshop on Sunday was enjoyed by over 50 people.
Catriona Williamson
Friday 28th November 2025
There is lots of rehearsing going on in school at the moment – for the productions and Carol Service.
Mrs Glen Ings completed some governor monitoring with the children, talking to them about safety in school.
Visiting professional were in school supporting individual children throughout the week. The school nurse completed the measurement checks in year 6 and I welcomed new parents to look around the school.
Miss Santry went on an RE course on Thursday and I taught Gold Class. Yellow Class walked into Mere as well that day.
Catriona Williamson
Friday 21st November 2025
The newsletter was available to download on Monday.
Two PCSOs worked in Purple Class on Monday morning as well, looking at the dangers of knife crime.
There were various meetings during the week and I took several children to take part in the Cluster Council meeting on Thursday afternoon.
The governors met on Tuesday evening.
All of the classes ‘met’ an author virtually and I met with our lunchtime supervisors.
Christmas rehearsals are going well!
Catriona Williamson
Friday 14th November 2025
It was Anti-Bullying Week and the children were involved in all sorts of related activities.
We marked 2 minutes of silence for Remembrance Day on Tuesday.
Mr Rich held a phonics information meeting for parents on Wednesday morning.
I taught Yellow ClassMH on Monday as Miss Hanby was doing jury service.
Several professionals visited to support children during the week and the Families Reading Together project continued on Wednesday afternoon.
Some of our year 3 and 4 children attended a netball festival on Wednesday.
Classes met an author remotely on Thursday and the School Council visited Bramley House.
It was Children in Need on Friday.
Catriona Williamson
Friday 7th November 2025
It was lovely to welcome the children back to school after the half term break.
The teachers had a busy day on Monday developing our maths teaching.
The newsletter was available to download on Tuesday.
Miss Santry and Mrs Cripps took our tag rugby teams to a tournament on Wednesday which we won again!.
Our ‘Families Reading Every Day’ project took place on Wednesday.
Silver Classes had a very interesting visit to Salisbury Cathedral on Thursday.
Mere School Fireworks took place on Saturday – what an amazing event!
Catriona Williamson
Friday 24th October 2025
We welcomed a potential new teacher to Mere School for work experience.
Mrs Rawlings and I met with our Education Welfare Officer and the Families Reading Together project took place on Wednesday afternoon.
Our girls’ football festival at Gillingham School was cancelled due to the rain.
We enjoyed meeting parents on Thursday evening at our Parent Interviews.
Our KS2 children came to school in their pyjamas on Friday for their ‘Snuggle Up Day’.
School closed for half term on Friday.
Catriona Williamson
Friday 17th October 2025
The newsletter was available to download on Monday and Mrs Hyde and I had several budget related meetings during the week.
I held my half termly Head Teacher lunch and the children, as usual, gave me some really useful feedback about the school.
Our ‘Families Reading Every Day’ project took place on Wednesday.
The week was filled with our usual activities.
Catriona Williamson
Friday 10th October 2025
I had the pleasure of teaching Green Class on Monday, as Mrs Hall was on a course and our Sports Ambassadors attended some training at Gillingham School.
The Bikeability team worked from Tuesday onwards with groups of children in Purple Class.
As always, I was thrilled to show some new parents around the school during the week and we welcomed several visiting professionals while Mrs Broom attended the next day of her ELSA training.
I visited every class during the week – our children have excellent attitudes to learning in wonderful classroom environments.
On Friday afternoon I met with the Class Parents. This is a most valuable meeting for the school.
Catriona Williamson
Friday 3rd October 2025
The newsletter was available to download on Monday and Walksafe worked with Gold Class, learning how to keep safe when walking around Mere.
An advisor from the Local Authority came to work with Miss Fletcher on Tuesday, considering our SEND provision.
I attended a face to face course on Wednesday morning and our Family Learning event – ‘Grown My Learning’ was launched.
Yellow Class walked into Mere on Wednesday afternoon as part of their Geography work and Mrs Cocker completed a maths ‘book look’.
We celebrated Harvest Festival in school on Friday morning with parents and carers.
Catriona Williamson
Friday 26th September 2025
Our clubs programme started this week – the school is now back ‘to normal’ after the summer break.
Walksafe worked in Yellow, Gold and Purple Classes on Monday and Mrs McClelland and Mr Jacobs (our IT governor) monitored our computer provision across the school.
Mrs Broom attended the second day of her ELSA training and our governors met on Tuesday evening.
Purple Class went to Nothe Fort on Wednesday and Mrs Hyde and Mrs Rawlings completed some online training.
We welcomed our cluster head teachers to Mere on Thursday for our half termly meeting and I met with our lunchtime supervisors on Friday.
Catriona Williamson
Friday 19th September 2025
School life is almost back to normal.
Individual and family group photos were taken on Monday and there were various meetings held during the week.
I met with The Friends on Tuesday evening.
Some key members of staff updated their Epi-Pen training.
Red Class visited the Ancient Technology Centre on Thursday – a great way to start their topic for the term.
The Curriculum Governors also met after school.
Travel to School data was collected in on Friday.
Catriona Williamson
Friday 12th September 2025
Our first full week back in school – the children have settled really well.
We welcomed out OFSTED consultant who worked in school for 2 days – analysing data with Mr Rich and working with the Senior Leadership Team on our OFSTED documents.
Head checks took place during the week and Mr Rich met with our TAs.
Visiting professionals resumed their work with specific children and I attended various remote and in person meetings.
Catriona Williamson
Friday 5th September 2025
Wednesday was a TD day and the teachers were busy in school preparing for the new school year and working on English planning.
The school opened on Thursday and the parents stayed a while in the playground, after drop-off, to enjoy a coffee and croissants served by The Friends.
The newsletter came home in hard copy.
Our KS2 children enjoyed their first games session of the new school year on Friday afternoon.
It was lovely to welcome the children back to school!
Catriona Williamson
Friday 18th July 2025
The school is gradually heading towards the summer break and many of our usual activities did not take place.
We held appraisal meetings during the week and the lost property was on display in the entrance hall.
We welcomed parents and children to visit their new classes and meet their new teacher after school on Tuesday.
Some year 6 children attended a PE transition project at Gillingham School on Wednesday and Mrs Jennings and Gold Class performed well at our recorder assembly. It was lovely to welcome so many parents.
Gold Class visited Orchard Park Farm on Thursday and a large team of our athletes competed at the rescheduled Area Sports event at Gillingham School.
Silver and Blue Classes enjoyed their Forest School session.
Catriona Williamson
