Autumn Term 001 19 October 2016

Dear  parents  

I  cannot  believe  we  are  already  at  the  end  of  our  first  half  term.  It  has  been  a  lovely  half  term  packed  with  memorable  experiences,  Roald  Dahl  week,  Harvest  Fes@val  and  Parents  Evening.  

Thank  you  to  all  parents  for  the  generous  dona@ons  for  the  Harvest  Fes@val.  The  charity  Loaves  and  Fishes  will  receive  the  dona@ons  so  they  can  help  families  who  are  in  need  of  some  extra  support.  

SMSC (Social Moral Spiritual Culture)Our  year  group  chari@es  this  year  are  ;  Nursery  –  Young  Minds  (Mental  health  in  children  and  young  adults)  Recep@on  –  Au@sm  Awareness,    Year  One  –  Bri@sh  Heart  Founda@on,  Year  Two  –  Down  Syndrome  Awareness  Day,  Year  Three  –  Comic  Relief,  Year  Four  –  Na@onal  Deaf  Children’s  Society,    Year  Five  –  Loaves  and  Fishes,  Year  Six  –  Remembrance  Day  (The  Bri@sh  Legion),  Pupil  Leadership  Team  –  Macmillan  Cancer  Research  

e-Safety and Safeguarding of our ChildrenEsafety  is  incredibly  important  for  all  of  our  children  and  it’s  something  we  promote  con@nuously  in  school.  

To  help  you  to  keep  your  child  safe  when  online,  we  are  holding  a  parent  workshop  for  parents  of  KS2  children  on  3rd  November  at  3:30pm  –  4:30pm.  The  workshop  will  be  led  by  BT  and  promises  to  be  very  informa@ve.  We  look  forward  to  seeing  you  there.  

Pupil Leadership TeamInterviews  have  been  taking  place  this  term  for  the  children  who  have  applied  for  a  role  on  a  pupil  commiZee.  The  children  have  all  done  incredibly  well  in  their  interviews  and  the  commiZee  members  have  been  selected.  Look  out  for  their  photos  in  the  School  Recep@on.  

Blackheath Primary �1

Staff Training/School Improvement

Following  on  from  Ofsted,  one  of  our  priori@es  is  raising  the  profile  of  reading  across  school.  Our  training  day  on  31st  October  will  focus  on  Reciprocal  Reading,  a  new  strategy  we  are  going  to  be  using  with  our  children  to  help  them  become  more  confident  with  reading  and  further  develop  their  comprehension  skills.  

PFA

The  PFA  will  be  holding  a  Halloween  disco  on  2nd  November.  Further  details  of  Christmas  ac@vi@es  will  be  sent  out  a\er  half  term.  

Staffing

We  would  like  to  congratulate  Miss  Bailey  our  Business  Manager  on  the  birth  of  her  baby  boy,  Freddie.    We  would  like  to  wish  Mrs  McElwee  all  the  best  as  she  will  be  taking  maternity  leave  a\er  half  term.  

NEWSLETTER

Harvest assembly

Autumn Term 001 19 October 2016

Curriculum Topics The  children  have  all  par@cipated  in  their  memorable  experiences  this  term  to  provide  a  stunning  start  to  their  topic  work.  

Whilst  Nursery  have  been  focusing  on  seZling  into  their  new  building  and  school  life,  Recep@on  enjoyed  visits  from  the  Police  and  Fire  Service  &  guide  Dog  in  school,  Year  One  had  a  trip  to  Conkers  where  they  took  part  in  a  Nursery  Nature  Ramble.  Year  Two  had  a  visit  from  the  ‘Bee  Man’  and  explored  minibeasts.  Year  Three  spent  a  morning  at  Tesco  learning  all  about  how  food  is  produced  and  did  some  food  tas@ng.  Year  Four  had  a  visit  from  Titus  the  Centurion  where  they  explored  Roman  weaponry  before  taking  part  in  a  Roman  baZle  and  all  the  children  looked  fabulous  in  their  Roman  costumes.  Year  Five  observed,  handled  and  sketched  minibeasts  and  amphibians  for  their  Beast  Creator  topic.  

Year  Six  will  be  enjoying  their  memorable  experience  next  term  linked  to  their  topic  Frozen  Kingdom.  What  a  fabulous  start  to  their  learning!  

Pupil Premium Pupil  premium  funding  con@nues  to  be  targeted  to  help  improve  children’s  progress  and  aZainment.  This  has  been  reiterated  by  our  recent  OFSTED  inspec@on  which  stated  ‘Pupil  Premium  funding  is  used  effec@vely.  Addi@onal  teaching  and  teaching  assistants  focus  well  on  improving  eligible  pupils’  English  and  Mathema@cs  skills.  As  a  result,  the  progress  of  these  pupils  has  improved  quickly  and  the  aZainment  gap  between  disadvantaged  pupils  and  other  pupils  in  the  school  has  nearly  closed  by  the  end  of  Year  6.  

The  school  is  now  focusing  on  suppor@ng  reading  through  the  use  of  this  funding  and  we  will  keep  you  informed  with  new  developments  in  this  area  over  the  coming  terms.    

Building School ImprovementThe  new  Nursery  playground  is  now  near  comple@on  and  children  will  be  able  to  use  this  fantas@c  space  a\er  half  term.    We  have  also  had  an  adventure  zone  installed  next  to  the  shed  on  the  KS1  playground.    Children  will  have  access  to  this  on  a  rota  at  play@mes  and  lunch@mes.  

Thank  you  for  your  pa@ence  with  the  change  to  using  only  the  main  entrance.  

Governor UpdateGovernors  have  aZended  mee@ngs  this  half  term.  Governors  have  also  met  with  school  leaders  to  talk  about  this  years  priori@es.  

Reminder- Please park safely around school

- Please ensure that children bring water only in their water bottles. Squash, juice, flavoured water is not permitted. Thank you

Blackheath Primary �2

Parent Partnership

A  School  Nurse  will  be  available  for  parents  to  come  and  meet  with  to  discuss  any  health  issues  or  behaviour  concerns  you  may  have  about  your  child  on  Tuesday  15th  November.    The  Nurse  will  be  available  from  9.00am  un@l  11.00am  on  a  drop  in  basis.  Please  report  to  school  recep@on  between  these  @mes  to  access  this  service.    

Events & Dates

November  Monday  31st  October  -­‐    School  Closed  to  Pupils    Wednesday  2nd  -­‐  KS1  &  KS2  Halloween  Disco  (PFA  event)  Tuesday  8th  –  Year  5  Visit  to  Leicester  Space  Sta@on  Wednesday  9th  –  Year  3  Inspire  Day  Tuesday  15th  –  School  Nurse  Parent  Drop  In  9am-­‐11am  Friday  18th  –  Children  in  Need  Charity  Day  (Children  to  wear  spoZed  Clothes)  Wednesday  23rd  –  Maths  Parent  workshop,  2.45pm  Thursday  24th–  Year  2  Assembly,  9.00am  Monday  28th  &  Tuesday  29th–  Recep@on  Christmas  Visit  to  Safari  Park  December  Thursday  1st  -­‐  Flu  immunisa@ons,  Yr1,  2  &  3  Friday  2nd    -­‐  Nursery  Christmas  visit  to  Thomas  Land  Tuesday  6th  &  7th  -­‐  Nursery  &  Recep@on  Na@vity    Thursday  8th  –  KS1  Na@vity    Friday  9th  –  KS2  Visit  to  St  Giles  Church  Monday  12th    -­‐  Santa  Visits  Explorers  Academy  -­‐  Last  Swim  session  for  Class  2R  Tuesday  13th  –  Pantomime  in  School  Wednesday  14th    -­‐  Santa  Visits  Creators  Academy    -­‐  Christmas  Lunch    -­‐  KS2  Christmas  Disco  Thursday  15th  –  Christmas  Par@es  Friday  16th    -­‐  Christmas  Jumper  -­‐  non  uniform  day    School  Closes  1.15pm  on  Friday  16th  December