..
Dear Parents/Carers,
I hope that you have a restful, play filled half term and continue to be safe and sensible. There are a few schools in and around Hereford with Covid cases and year groups isolating, it is still real and we need to gradually relax our procedures but slowly and safely (you may notice the 2M markings are gradually fading, hopefully we will never have to reinstate them).
I am part of some national forums and one of the positive aspects is reflecting on how you as parents/families engage with the school and how the majority of people always try to do 'the right thing.' I have taken part in some virtual meetings both locally and nationally in the past few weeks where stories of parental complaints and behaviours have been appalling (even people being asked to park sensibly reflecting on how it would added minutes to their day !).
Thank you for your support of the school, your 'common sense', values and the manner in which you all conduct yourselves, it isn't 'luck' it is our sense of community, hard work and shared values that make us who we are !
1. Bags in school
Bags should not be coming into school except on forest school days. We will gradually ease towards cloakroom use again but there won't be any need for big bags in school ever again.
2. Processes and procedures after half term
- Masks will still need to be worn around school please (more news in the first week back)
- Timings will remain the same.
3. Class 'indoor' garden competition
The competition is 'hotting up' with Year 1 holding a very successful cake sale and now have funds towards their plans. Parents have been helping out with plant purchases and we will have those in school after half term.
4. Attendance = 96 % for the school (Class 6 and Class 4 were the highest with over 98 %).
Lateness - a small minority of children are arriving late on a regular basis and it is becoming a habit. When we had a 'no late' entry policy it wasn't happening. Occasional lateness due to vehicle issues etc are acceptable but not regular lateness.
5. Police presence monitoring traffic and parking
As many of you will have seen PCSO Pete Knight was outside of school yesterday monitoring the traffic and parking. Compared to the majority of schools in the area ours is good. Our only issues are a minority of parents/carers who 'drop off', turn in inappropriate places and aren't very considerate. The majority are really good and you make life easier for everyone !
PCSO Knight will also be coming to school after half term so the children aren't scared of uniforms and they understand the role that the Police actually play in helping our communities.
Attached is a flier for Luctonians.
Have a good half term.
kind regards
Mr Batstone
Attachments
Sports Sections Poster Luctonians .png
|
Good morning,
A rather wet week but everyone has been very sensible and adapted well. Thank you for the common sense and co-operation with parking etc. Another busy week with lots of diverse experiences and learning for all of the children. Lots of children have been using our new digital cameras (excellent value cameras but a cheap case) and I have attached some examples of their work.
1. The importance of reading at home (at least 10 minutes a day but preferably 20 minutes)
Older children (Year 5 and above) - everyone needs to read, regardless of their age, and children still need assistance with certain words (pronunciation or meaning).
Younger children - need to be reading daily to an adult at home (school will not be every day as it is logistically not possible and they have reading in many other aspects of school).
Fiction or non-fiction ?
Children need to be encouraged to read a range of books but non-fiction is just as important. Fact books, newspapers, magazines are all part of a 'balanced reading diet.'
Can reading records come back into school ?
The risk of transmission on a reading record and books is minimal and, if people have good sanitising habits, then books and reading records can be coming backwards and forwards to school (as they won't be touched by others except tested staff and you/your child). It does not mean children need big rucksacs or bags again (as the last year has shown us we won't need to return to that).
'40 reads' - we still have the '40 reads' where children are rewarded with a book for 40, 80, 120 etc reads. We trust parents/carers to complete the record of reading honestly.
2. Behaviour and expectations - we have very high expectations of the children and appreciate your support with those expectations. Incidents are very rare and are dealt with swiftly. Our expectations are that children (and everyone else) follow our school code of positive values that are everywhere around the school and near the entrance.
3. What will or won't change for us as a school as we move forward ?
- Entry and exit procedures will stay the same for the rest of the year and from September using the same gates/ timings may adjust slightly but with a smaller timed gap (this has a positive impact on the 'flow and go).
- PE kit - Children in most year groups will wear PE kit to school on PE days (younger children - it is a skill to get dressed and part of the early years assessments so we may or may not have something different for Year R and 1 but we will let you know).
- Forest school - I really enjoy teaching every year group but it is not sustainable (as I have 3 mornings to run a school and the 'day job' is being done in the evenings or at weekends, even more than normal) but I don't want to give it up so we may have alternate weeks of off-site/on-site forest school and utilise the many people who are trained forest school leaders. Our on-site forest school would be the envy of many schools but our children don't really see it as forest school as they are extremely lucky to have a real 'forest !'
4. Uniform
- Trainers should only be worn on PE days (unless you have mis-laid shoes). Plain black trainers are not school shoes.
- Jewellery - plain studs only.
- No nail varnish or make up.
Have a good weekend and lets hope for better weather next week.
regards
Mr Batstone
IMG_9968.JPG
Oak face.JPG
Welcome to Wednesday !
Some really important information is contained below.
1. Food donations (very important) - the past year has been very hard on some families in terms of money and food etc. Locally Madley Church and Madley Charities have provided food parcels for members of the community and families who receive free school meals. It is always a 'tricky' conversation as everyone has a great deal of pride and always thinks that others are more in need.
The church community has again offered food parcels for half term but really need to know who needs them. We always operate very discreetly so please phone the office if you would like to receive one by the end of today (Wednesday) so we can let them know. We may also contact some families, please take this in the spirit of support.
Criteria
- in receipt of free school meals through income or circumstance.
2. What is changing in England on 17 May?
Have a good day.
kind regards
Mr Batstone
Welcome to the week !
Please can we ask that all children have a waterproof coat and wellies in school everyday as the weather is changeable this week and we will be outside for breaks and lunchtimes if we can.
Attached is a collage of a 'sample' of some of the work classes have undertaken at our amazing forest school site (a private site we have with permission of the Duchy Of Cornwall (Prince Charles) on a yearly license, we have built a very positive relationship with the Duchy over the past 10 years). We are so lucky and every class gets to experience it regularly for a range of learning. We also have fourteen Level 3 Forest School leaders (most schools have one or two).
Photography, 'writing in the woods', geometry, map reading, history, science, art, maths and music were all part of the learning this week alongside nature expeditions, deer tracking (and spotting) and well being. We have updated the children's waterproofs with the support of the PTA (a cost of approximately £4000 with some 'super shopping !!').
Thank you for your support with the NSPCC 'number day.'
1. Attendance - last week the overall attendance rate was 98.3%.
Year 1, Year 4 and Year 6 had 99% + for the week.
Six out of seven year groups were 98% +
Holidays - please do not book holidays during term time, the government, not school, dictate what is allowed and no holidays (except in extreme circumstances can be authorised). Please discuss any needs (and 'exceptional' circumstances) before booking anything, we understand that costs etc increase dramatically during the summer holidays. 'Myth' - families are 'allowed' 10 days of holiday per school year.
2. The Card Shed is running free ‘Escape to the Woods’ sessions for the families of those serving in the Armed Forces or Ex-Service families living in Herefordshire. The sessions are aimed at children aged 8 – 12 years (school years 5 to 7).
Activities will include: Den building/ creating a shelter, Bush crafts, Green woodworking skills, Willow working and Outdoor cooking
The sessions will run from 10am – 3pm on the following dates at The Card Shed, Devereux Wooton, Norton Canon HR4 8QN.
June - Wednesday 2 & Friday 4
August - Wednesday 4, Thursday 5, Friday 6 & Wednesday 11, Thursday 12, Friday 13
Places are limited to only 15 children per session.
To book email info@thecartshed.co.uk or phone 01544 318 231 / 07552 872749
The Card Shed have asked that only parents and carers transport their children to the sessions. Transport may be available if required to enable attendance.
The sessions include a hot meal and other refreshments will be provided.
Covid-19 government safety measures will be in place.
3. Covid awareness (not 'scare mongering just ensuring awareness) - Number of cases of isolation due to in-school COVID contact almost doubled last week, according to DfE data. Nearly 47,000 pupils were off last Thursday due to potential contact in-school - an increase from 25,200 the week before. We have all managed well so far and we will be careful and cautious as we move forward.
4. Hereford Rugby Club - Summer Camp flier is attached.
5. Eco challenge - attached is a bingo challenge for families.
More information to follow later in the week. There are no further changes to any of our expectations or processes in school at the moment. Have a good start to the week.
Kind regards
Mr Batstone
Attachments
20210509_105537.jpg
Delete
IMG20210509WA0000.jpg
Delete
Collage_20210506_200310.jpg
Delete
|
Welcome to Friday ! I hope you have had a good week and enjoyed the 'chilly' bank holiday and 4 day week (if you weren't working !). It is still really chilly so please ensure your child (of any age) has their coat in school. Could we also ask that ALL children have a pair of wellies in school (we will send home any that are at the end of their life) and wellies for all will be an on-going expectation beyond the end of this year.
1. 'Gradual easing' in school - class groups have started mixing at break and lunchtimes (same year groups each session) and it has worked well after initial suspicion of each other ! - some classes have used areas they may not have used for a year e.g the Trim Trail. - Year 1 and Year R eat in the hall again on separate tables.
Mixing is still very limited, classes have their own entrances/exits to school and we will keep our toileting arrangements until the end of term.
Nothing else will change at the moment (for at least the next two weeks) within school and the 'flow and go' and masks for parents/carers will be in place for quite a long time. The current national situation is really positive and numbers are down but we still need to be sensible and cautious.
2. Gardening and the benefits - Forest school, gardening and using the outdoors are really good for children and adults and are not an 'add on' at Madley. They are a really important part of our learning for all children. I have attached a flier with the benefits of gardening. Attached is a photo collage of an area outside of Class 3 that Year 4 built a bed for Year 1 and then tidied the area. Year 1 have been busy planting. The Year 3 classroom has had the slope replaced with a concrete one (the old one was about to fall apart).
3. Standards and the curriculum - we are currently looking at and reviewing all of our curriculum areas. This week we were looking at maths as the expectations of knowledge, skills and vocabulary has risen dramatically over the past few years and children are now expected to do work and achieve in areas that were previously two years or more ahead e.g Year 6 doing previous Year 8 expectations. That also applies to the vocabulary that is used. We will need to plan some work with parents/carers over the next year to ensure everyone is using the correct vocabulary, methods and understanding.
4. Independence (really important) - Please could we ask that ALL children carry their own book bags, drink and lunchbox into and out of school. All of our children are more than capable of doing it and can demonstrate a lot more independence than this on a daily basis. It may seem minor but it has a big effect on mindset, self awareness and organisation and expectations.
Have a good weekend. regards Mr Batstone Attachments |
|
Welcome to Wednesday. An exciting week in school as begin to mix a few classes together for breaks and lunchtimes, the children have been a bit wary as it is a new 'habit' again but they have coped well and it has been lovely to see some 're-connections' in school (we know that some children mix outside of school). This is a slow, cautious approach and we will monitor closely the impact.
The responsibility to each other and for everyone is still part of our expectations of you, keep up the good work (it is helpful if families are self testing, we don't need to know the result but it gives our community a sense of 'sharing and caring' and our community some peace of mind).
1. Park and Stride - this starts soon and information will be shared separately. There is plenty of parking in the village and a very short walk from school. Generally people park well and we have a very small minority who park where they want, turn in the road and don't show awareness for others, the majority exemplify the values of the school brilliantly.
2. Coaches and practitioners in school - we are slowly building up the practitioners and outside coaches that we have in school (all of them have lateral flow tests before they come to our school an they follow strict protocols to keep everyone safe). Mr Thomas - teaches rugby and cricket to Years 4 and 5 on Mondays. Jack Ludwig teaches Irish Dancing to Reception on Thursday morning, Musical Theatre to Year 5 on Thursday afternoon and works with Year 6 on Friday (their Legacy production for the end of year).
After half term Mr Richards returns to teach construction to some year groups and Aiden Chester from Luctonians will be coaching rugby with some year groups. Encore Music (2 different teachers) teach Year 3,4 and 5 Ukelle and Samba on Tuesday and Wednesday
3. Attendance (or 'survival' as we like to call it in school, nothing you can do if you are ill !) - 98.3% overall (Class R had 99.3% and Class 2 had 99.6% last week).
4. Values for May - 'Diversity' and 'Co-operation' are the focus values. Please discuss them at home and define them for your family as well as school and the wider world.
5. Children's photography - we have bought a set of cameras (good lens and function but cheap plastic casing) for the children to experience and learn photography. Attached are some examples of the Year 4 photography from forest school, it is also a good way to develop awareness and appreciation of where we are and what we see. Attached are a few examples of Year 4s work and working. All of the attached images were taken by 8 and 9 year olds with a focus on light, shape and context, amazing work. This was also their first experience of using the cameras !
regards Mr Batstone Attachments |
