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Queen’s Hill Primary & Nursery School
Newsletter February 2015
Having had a fairly mild winter the cold weather has really kicked in
this week! Please ensure that your child has suitable (named) clothing –
we still have some children arriving at school without a winter coat.
As I write this, the Key Stage 2 children are sitting their mid year
assessments. The amount of effort the children are putting in has
really started to pay off and they are being able to see the benefits
themselves. Our drive remains on getting every child to show a passion
for learning. Please make sure you ask your children what they have
been learning at school. Reading is the key to success and we have lots
of children who are now on track to gain their Bronze Award.
I was fortunate to visit some “Outstanding” schools in London last week.
What was reassuring from my point of view was the number of systems
in place that are the same as we have at Queen’s Hills. The difference
was that their pupil cohorts were stable, so they do not have children
joining other than in Reception. The other difference was the level of
funding that the schools get. It is a difficult time for the State Sector
at the moment and with the forthcoming election it seems that
everyone has a view on how to improve the education system. Whatever
happens and whatever new initiative is introduced at National level,
know that the staff at Queen’s Hills work their hardest for the best of
all the children in their school. Wrongly or rightly we are determined
that your child has a love of learning rather than just being taught to
“pass a test”. Last week 24 Y5/6 pupils came with me to The Theatre
Royal as a reward for showing grit and determination. We got a guided
tour backstage and the children were fortunate enough to be able to
learn and experiment with the sound and lighting too. The children
asked some very good questions about how things worked and how to
get a career in the theatre industry. Their enthusiasm, energy,
politeness and passion for learning were praised by the Theatre staff. I
wonder who will be rewarded next?!
Penny Sheppard
CongratulationsCongratulationsCongratulationsCongratulations
Seb’sSeb’sSeb’sSeb’s
Friend of the WeekFriend of the WeekFriend of the WeekFriend of the Week to all of Seb’s Friends of the Week
during January 2015 for
showing a positive attitude to their learning
Chelsea D, Sophie P
Dylan H, Yasmin A Chelsea D
Ben L, Bethany-Kate, Lucy C, Emily B,
Cameron, Izzy G, Anais, Harry G
Norfolk's Special Educational Needs and Disability
(SEND) Local Offer Consultation 2015
Since its launch on 1st September 2014 when the Children and Families Act
2014 came into force, Norfolk’s SEND Local Offer has continued to be
developed. There has been a slight restructure and new content, links and
photographs have been added to make the web pages more user friendly,
and to help young people, parents/carers and professionals more easily find
the information they are seeking.
Norfolk’s SEND Local Offer can be found within the NCC website from
the Children’s Services home page, it can also be easily found using Google
or you can go direct to www.norfolk.gov.uk/send.
Our aspiration is to make Norfolk’s Local Offer a one stop shop for
information on SEND provision and services in Norfolk and beyond and to
also develop this further to outline our overall support to enhance and
improve inclusion for all children and young people across Norfolk.
Today we are launching a consultation on Norfolk’s SEND Local Offer using
Smart Survey. We want to know from those who use the Local Offer, how
we can best improve it. Additionally we would also like help in shaping the
future of this Speech and Language service and so have also included some
questions about this.
We would be grateful if you could encourage all staff and governors within
your school to take the time to look at Norfolk’s Local Offer and then
complete the Smart Survey following the link below.
http://www.smartsurvey.co.uk/s/SEND2015
We would also encourage you to advise parents/carers/young people of this
consultation and provide the link to the survey in your regular newsletters
or school updates while the consultation is open.
There will also be a series of focus groups with young people, families and
professionals to drill down further into various themes during February
and March. The consultation opens on Friday 16th January 2015 and closes
on Friday 27th March 2015.
A report will then be prepared during April which will provide analysis of
the feedback received and outline the next steps in the development of
Norfolk’s SEND Local Offer.
Parking Outside School
A near miss incident has
recently been reported to us.
Please park and drive
carefully around the school as
careless parking puts our
children at risk.
Please also note that car park
is for staff only
.
This term we have appointed
three new members of staff.
Reception parents may have
already met Mrs Julieann
Challen who started with us in
January. Mrs Maria
Nesterowicz will be starting
in February in Les Coccinelles
Class and Mrs Manuschka will
be starting after Easter
working as an HLTA in Y3/4
School Dinners
&
Breakfast Club
Please remember that
payments for School Dinners
and Breakfast Club should be
made in advance
or on the day the meal is
taken. We do not have a
facility for being in arrears
and if payment is not received
in a timely fashion
a reminder will be sent out
on the day the meal is taken.
BREAKFAST CLUB
SESSIONS have been increased by
15 minutes.
Sessions are from
7.45 – 8.30am.
£2 per session
Booking is not necessary just
come along to the School
Hall from 7.45am onwards
Monday 23rd February 2015
On Monday 23rd February it is the 100th day of the
school year, and children in every class will be taking
part in activities based around the number 100 . They
might be writing words in a short story, making lists
of 100 countries, foods, animals etc and they will
certainly be doing some counting activities up to 100,
and beyond for the older children.
As part of these celebrations we would like all the
children to start to collect 100 objects they can
bring in for their home learning.
Your child will be given a plastic bag, us before half
term. Please can they collect 100 of ‘something’ to
put in the bag (if you need to use a bigger bag, please
do!). Examples might be 100 cheerios, 100 paper clips,
100 stones, 100 sequins. We will be making a display
of the items, and using them in school for counting
etc. Please let us know if you want the 100 items
back.
Attendance at school and legal
intervention This is a reminder to all parents/carers regarding the law that
requires them to ensure that their child attends school regularly.
The Government remains very clear that schools must aim to have
the highest attendance possible for all of their pupils in order for
them to achieve their maximum potential.
The Local Authority operates a system where any pupil who has an
attendance of 85% or less with at least 15% unauthorised absence
over a 6 week period OR 10 consecutive sessions unauthorised
absence, will meet the criteria for legal intervention which could be
in the form of a Fixed Penalty Notice.
Any pupil in Queen’s Hill Primary School who meets either of the
criteria, will be referred to the Local Authority for action to be
considered.
If a Fixed Penalty Notice is issued it is a fine of £60 per parent
per child which must be paid in one payment in 21 days. If unpaid, a
further invoice for £60 per parent per child is issued; both
individual invoices would then have to be paid making a total payment
of £120 in 28 days.
Failure to pay the total amount within the timescale will result in
legal action being taken. We have had a case in the school where a
parent has been prosecuted and sentenced to a fine totalling £590.
Research has shown that children often do not catch up on work
missed, which can have serious consequences for their learning and
progress. Our aim is to ensure that all our pupils receive the most
from their education. I hope we can count on your support in this
matter.
Would you like
to save over
£350 per year?
Dependent upon your family
circumstances,
your son/daughter may be entitled
to a free school meal every day or
when they choose to participate
in our Special Meals
(Christmas lunch,
Family lunch week etc).
If this is the case, the local authority
has funds allocated for this purpose.
Please contact the School Office
this week and ask for Form FSM1.
All information is completely
confidential.
We are participating in the
World Read Aloud Day and would like to hear as many pupils
read aloud as possible.
Would you like to volunteer to help
support us by coming into school
to listen to the children read?
If you can give an hour on
Wednesday 4th March
please sign up at the
School Office
or email [email protected].
We look forward to hearing from you.
The Government has introduced new legislation regarding
food in Schools with effect from the 1st January 2015. At
Queen’s Hill Primary School we always encourage our
children to make sensible choices and regularly discuss the
importance of a balanced diet. We would like to remind you
that breaktime snack should only consist of fruit or
vegetables. We will be discussing our new updated Food
Policy at the next Parent Forum on 26th March. It would be
great to see you there ☺
Useful websites for lunchbox inspiration…
…
http://www.nhs.uk/Change4Life/Pages/change-for-life.aspx
http://www.foodafactoflife.org.uk/Activity.aspx?contentId
=56§ionId=37&siteId=3
http://www.freshforkids.com.au/lunch_box/lunch_box.html
Thank you for your support – Mrs E. White (PSHE Leader)
Diary Dates
February 2015 Thursday 5th Paddington Bear Lunch – story telling in library
Friday 6th Les Lapins Show & Share Assembly
Friday 13th Safety Awareness Day
Mon 16th
To Fri 20th
Half Term Holiday
Monday 23rd 100 Day
Thursday 26th 3.15 LKS2 Reading Café
Friday 27th 2.30pm Les Taupes Show & Share Assembly
March 2015 Monday 2nd 3 – 6pm EYFS Parents/Teacher Interviews
Tues 3rd The Tale of a Nail – Science based drama -KS2
Wednes 4th Read Aloud Day
3.15-4 UKS2 Reading Cafes
Thursday 5th World Book Day (dressing up as a book character)
3 – 6pm EYFS Parent/Teacher Interviews
3.45 QH Football team away @ West Earlham
Friday 6th 2.30 pm Les Sauterelles Show & Share Assembly
Mon 9th Science Curriculum Day to launch Science week @
QH
Wed 11th Governor Activity Day
Friday 13th 2.30pm Les Coccinelles Show & Share Assembly
Friday 20th 2.30pm Les Souris Show & Share Assembly
Thursday 26th 9am Parent Forum with Mr Roughsedge
3.45 Away football match @ West Earlham
Friday 27th 2.30pm Les Grenouilles & Les Papillon Vert Y1 pupils
Show & Share Assembly
Last Day of Spring Term
April 2015 Mon 13th Children return for start of the Summer Term
Mon 27th Travelling Book Company here for the week
Term Dates
2014/15
Spring Term 2015
Tuesday 6th January to Friday 27th March
Half Term holiday: Monday 16th February to Friday 20th February
Summer Term 2015
Monday 13th April to Tuesday 21st July
Half Term holiday: Monday 25th May to Friday 29th May
(May Day Bank Holiday: Monday 4th May)
2015/16
Autumn Term 2015
Thursday 3rd September to Friday 18th December
Half Term holiday: Thursday 22nd October to Friday 30th October
Spring Term 2016
Tuesday 5th January to Thursday 24th March
Half Term holiday: Monday 15th February to Friday 19th February
Summer Term 2016
Monday 11th April to Wednesday 20th July
Half Term holiday: Monday 30th May to Friday 3rd June
(May Day Bank Holiday: Monday 2nd May)
***Please Note*** The Local Authority is currently consulting on the term dates for 2016/2017.
As Ormiston Victory Academy and Costessey Junior and Infant schools are
Academies they are able to set their own term dates. This means there are
different times when we may be open and siblings at the OVA on holiday and
vice versa. Whilst this is unfortunate, Queen’s Hill School can only deviate from
the Local Authority Term Dates if we give 18 months’ notice and have consulted
all stake holders.