As we come to the end of a busy half term, it is really important for our young learners to be reflective. One way of reflecting on learning is to tell and show others what you have learned. This skill was highlighted today in our Phase 2 Exhibition which was attended by an amazingly high number of parents and other teachers. Children in Year 2, 3 and 4 practiced using formal spoken English as they guided visitors around displays of their learning and I know that our visitors were very impressed by their increasing confidence as well as attainment. Click here to find out more about this event.
Ms. Lina Rojas, Head of MFL and TESMC (Teaching English as a Second Language in Mainstream Classrooms), also talks about types of learning in her article highlighted below. At BIS, spaces have now been created for quiet learning whilst other areas are designated for collaboration in English and separate areas for chatting in home language. All of these are important for advancing our language skills.
Finally, for some students the sitting of formal tests has been a focus this week. Regular assessment is important for a number of reasons. For teachers, it is a good way of identifying areas for further development which informs the future planning of lessons. For students, feedback from assessments enables the setting of targets to ensure a focus for individual learning.
I wish all members of our community a restful and enjoyable holiday and look forward to welcoming everyone back to school on Monday 29th October.
Ms Sue Hill
Principal