The Courier

Dear Parents

We enjoyed a lovely final two days of the term here in school, with lots of celebration events including the Spring Concert on Monday and Tuesday's Easter Service. I hope this sent all of the children home with a spring in their step looking forward to a long awaited and well-deserved holiday.

For me, I am looking forward to a few days on a remote Scottish island with my wife to celebrate our 25th wedding anniversary. When I tell people this they often say ask me ‘What is there to do there?’ The answer is very little, other than walks and time to read and contemplate, which is exactly why we chose it. Having said that, a week of rain and mist might be in store, after which I might not be quite so sure that it is the perfect mini break after all. We will see.

If you have something planned with your family, I hope it goes well and in any event I hope you get to spend some quality time with your children and to find space to relax and time to wind down. I look forward to seeing the children all again back safe and sound on Monday 25 April at the beginning of what promises to be an exciting summer term.

Best wishes

Joe Thackway
Headmaster

Next term we are looking forward to the commencement of our outdoor learning programme for all of the children across the school from Years 1 to 6. As we announced at the beginning of the school year this will replace swimming for the final term and will take place each week and in the same slot on the timetable.

Outdoor learning will consist of a combination of forest school activities as well as orienteering, team building and leadership skills training. This is a structured and fully planned series of activities that will develop in the children collaborative work skills and enhance their growth mindset in problem solving situations. It will also give them the opportunity to learn and work outdoors during the warmer period of the year.

We will be guided by the John Muir Programme of Outdoor Learning to build a cross curricular programme which encourages children to learn new skills, to take care and pride in their school and local community, whilst developing problem solving, teamwork and critical thinking skills.  Progressive learning experiences will motivate children to become successful learners and to develop as healthy, confident, logical, problem solvers as well as responsible and reflective citizens.  

Pre-Prep will be looking at developing their outdoor learning areas, Year 3 and 4 developing the Forest School area and Year 5 and 6 developing school grounds with sensory garden and planting trees as well as moving into the local community of Bilton.

The teachers running this programme will be Mrs McCollin, Mr Adkins and Miss Humphries. There will also be teaching assistants working with the groups. Miss Humphreys has recently completed her fully accredited forest school training course and is excited about delivering these sessions to the children in our recently extended Jubilee Wood.

What to wear:

On those days, please send your child to school in their normal school uniform. They should bring with them their PE kit, including tracksuit bottoms or black leggings and a long sleeved top. Planting activities we have planned should not require heavy digging so trainers will be fine as footwear.