Foundation Stage & Key Stage 1: A host of new characters popping up at Primary School

Zippy, Apple and their friends

Yesterday, as part of our INSET (or staff training), the Y1, Y2 and Y3 teachers and TAs worked with Dr Angie Wigford, a renowned Educational Psychologist working with the International Educational Psychology Service. The day comprised of an introduction to Zippy’s Friends and Apple’s Friends, a mental health promotion programme that we intend to launch early next year.

It is a programme that has been successful around the world. It is a preventative approach with a strong evidence base. Zippy’s Friends and Apple’s Friends help all children develop emotional resilience and a wide range of coping strategies. They practise and develop effective coping and social skills through stories, role-play, drawing and discussion, activities and games.

Before the launch we will be inviting parents to attend a short series of workshops, but in the meantime click on this link if you would like to find out more about the programme.

A visit from the Mathsmagician

Last Thursday in Primary School we welcomed visiting Maths Consultant, Mr Andrew Jeffrey, the internationally renowned ‘Mathsmagician’. Andrew provided staff with a full-day of professional development on making big impacts through small changes in mathematics.

Andrew has taught for more than 20 years and has been an inspector, lecturer and author. His passion for helping children learn was demonstrated in the five lessons he taught across Key Stage 1 and 2. These lessons allowed STA staff to observe and share pedagogy.

Staff were introduced to new strategies using Numicon and Cuisenaire and worked on embedding the Concrete, Pictorial and Abstract (CPA) approach using manipulatives in class. Andrew gave an inspiring keynote speech on Growth Mindset in Maths.

This visit was an invaluable and positive experience. There was a real buzz amongst attendees. Staff not only enjoyed the event, but went away with ideas of ways to stretch and challenge children in maths.

Book Week

This year, Book Week takes place during the week beginning 25 March. We usually have a visiting author, however, this year, for a change, we will be inviting an author and illustrator - Karin Littlewood - to work with the children. As always, during the week the children will take part in a range of activities and competitions based around books. The week will finish on 29 March with our annual Book Character parade. You have plenty of time to start getting creative and think of a fantastic book character costume for your children to wear for the parade.

Leavers’ Survey

Thank you to everyone who has already completed the Leavers Survey that was sent out. If you have not yet done so, we would appreciate your response as soon as possible as work is already underway to make sure that classes for next year are balanced and will give every student the best possible learning experience. It is also very important for our Admissions Team to have an idea of how many new families we will be able to welcome into our community.