Park Hill Infants News & Notes Issue 12 Autumn 2019

Greetings from the Park Hill Infants Headship Team…

We are so glad to see all of our Year One and Year Two back with us for another

wonderful year at Park Hill Infant School - your new teachers are excited to get to

know you all and help you achieve your best!

On behalf of the whole school community, we’d like to extend a huge

welcome to our new Reception children who are starting with us this month.

We look forward to working with all parents and carers to ensure that their

child’s school life is happy and successful.

As usual, we are hosting many events involving parents and carers; please check

the calendar dates in the ‘Parent Info’ section of our website so you can attend where possible.

Best Wishes,

Park Hill Infants Headship Team

High Five!

You may have heard your child talking to you at home about the ‘High Five Values’ -

Courage, Respect, Kindness, Positivity and Honesty.

We encourage the children to display these qualities in their daily interactions with their

family members and all members of the school community. Discussing these attributes

with your child at home will help them to see where they can apply them in their

everyday life.

These run alongside our already embedded ‘Superskills for Learning’ - being curious,

being reflective, being a good collaborator, persevering, risk-taking, being

resourceful, being confident, making connections and being a good communicator.

We are teaching the children that the Superskills for Learning are skills for their Brain (to

help them be good learners), and Values are for their Heart (to help them be a good

person).

Punctuality

Since returning to school Ms Charman and Mrs Parry have noticed that the number of children arriving at

school after 9.10am has increased. Whilst there may be a day where, due to unforeseen circumstances, your

child arrives late to school this should by no means be a regular occurrence.

The school gates are opened at 8.50am. Your child should be waiting outside their classroom before 9.10am every day so they

can be welcomed into their class by their teacher when the buzzer sounds. Please make every effort to give your child the best

possible start to their day by being on time.

On the same note, please ensure that your child is collected at 3.30pm every day. We are unable to provide childcare

under any circumstances including parental work commitments or appointments. If you are unavoidably running late and have

exhausted all other pick-up or after school care options, please contact the school office on 020 8680 0747 to provide an

estimated time of arrival.

SCHOOL PRIORITIES

Each year the Governing Body and Headship Team, along with members of teaching and support staff, create a

School Improvement Plan. The plan summarises the school’s priorities for 2019-2020 and details the action we will

be taking to ensure that Park Hill Infant School continues to provide a stimulating learning environment where all

children can grow, develop and be happy!

We thank you for your continued support in helping us to achieve our goals in order to make our school the best it

can be for all our children.

What are we working on this year? What is the goal?

To ensure the vast majority of pupils from all

groups, with a focus on vulnerable groups,

make at least expected progress in order to

work towards attaining the expected

standard, or working at a greater depth

within the expected standard, at the end of

the academic year.

High levels of progress and attainment for all pupils across the school, will be

maintained, resulting in narrowed gaps for our focus groups / areas.

Seek ways to further enrich our curriculum

with a focus on Art and Geography through

trips, in house workshops and visitors to the

school.

Embed a systematic approach to ‘active recall’

across the school with a focus on phonics and

mental maths.

All pupils will acquire the knowledge and cultural capital to succeed in their next

phase of their education and life, with a particular focus on Art and

Geography.

Pupils will use this ‘active recall’ learning and apply it to deeper learning e.g.

Maths investigations, reading and writing.

To embed ‘ROSE’, (Respecting Our School

Environment), based on the GEMBA

philosophy, across the whole school to create a

‘visual workplace’

There will be a positive and respectful school culture—respect for each other and

respect for the school environment—linked to our five school values.

The school will provide a calm, decluttered learning environment across the school

to benefit the whole school community.

Pupils will make a highly positive contribution to the life of the school by

respecting and looking after the school environment.

Promoting positive mental health amongst

whole school community, applying the school’s

‘High Five Values’ and through the

introduction of the daily mile.

Children will understand the importance of Kindness, Respect, Positivity, Honesty

and Courage and will use these values in their daily life.

Children will know how to keep themselves physically and mentally healthy and

understand that both are important.

To improve practitioner’s knowledge and

understanding of creative approaches in Early

Years education—sharing of good practice and

reflection of teaching methodologies based

upon the Reggio Emilia approach.

Improved provision and quality of practice leading to accelerated progress across

all groups of pupils in Reception —linked to learning in the community -

planned according to the context of our school.

To embed existing and introduce new

strategies to maintain/improve staff

wellbeing/reduce staff workload and further

improve teamwork within the school.

Leaders at all levels, including the new EY lead , will ensure a climate in which

teachers are motivated, work highly effectively as part of a team and

report high levels of support from leaders for well-being issues.

Leaders will ensure a climate where issues raised re staff workload are dealt

with quickly, appropriately and consistently. As a result, teaching will

continue to be highly effective across the school, leading to continued

outstanding outcomes for all pupils.

Playground Revamp!

As you may have noticed our playground has undergone a refreshing update over the summer with new play

equipment installed on a soft play surfacing and brand new markings for additional play and movement

opportunities.

The staff think it’s brilliant, but let’s hear it from those who really matter:

“I look forward to playing on the treadmill” - Yahia, Year 1

“I like the new stuff in the playground. I have played on the ‘clock’ and new alphabet

snake. The playground is amazing!” - Tiana-Rose, Year 1

“I think the playground is good because of the new equipment and exercising place. It’s

better than it used to be.” - Aratrika, Year 2

“The playground is very cool! It’s more fun and helps us get fit. My favourite part of the

new playground is the new equipment” - Riley, Year 2

“I really like the Chinese dragon on the floor in the playground. My favourite

piece of equipment is the bar.” - Zidane, Year 2

“I like the gym equipment—my favourite is the treadmill. The playground is

better now. We can exercise to be healthy.” - Scarlet, Year 1

In line with R.O.S.E, the children have been taught how to take

care of the new equipment, how to use it safely and respect each

other’s space.

Sports leaders from every class demonstrate how to put away all

mobile play equipment , such as hula hoops and balls, at the end

of every break and lunch time.

As parents and carers, we ask that you kindly make sure that they

do not use any of the equipment before or after school as it is only

intended for use during school hours.

Thank you for your ongoing support and

contributions.

We look forward to continuing to work with you to

ensure another fun, wonderful and inspiring year at

Park Hill Infant School.

Scooters and Bikes

To ensure the safety of everyone on site, your child

must dismount their scooter or bike at the school

gate and walk with it whilst on school premises.

Storage pods, located outside the school office, are

available for use if you wish to leave your child’s bike

or scooter during the school day. Scooters and bikes

are left at your own risk.

Reception 2020

If you have a younger child who was born between

1 September 2015 and 21 August 2016, you must

apply for a place in Reception before 15th January 2020.

Please visit https://www.croydon.gov.uk/education/

schools-new/school-admissions/starting-primary-school

for information on how to apply.

Year 2 to Year 3 Transfer

If your child is currently in Year 2, you will need to apply

for a Year 3 place in a Junior School of your choice by 15th

January 2020. Please visit https://www.croydon.gov.uk/

education/schools-new/school-admissions/infant-to-junior

for information on how to apply.

Dates for your Diary

October 2019

2nd - Year 2 Virtual Reality Space Workshop

3rd - FUN LUNCH

3rd - Welcome to Reception Meeting - 9.30am

9th - E-Safety Workshop for Parents - 2.30pm

11th - Dental & Medical Needs Information

Session for Parents - 9.30am

15th - Harvest Festival Performances

Key Stage One only

9.30am or 2.00pm

(please attend one performance per family)

18th - Headteacher Awards

(by invitation only)

21st - 25th October 2019 - Half Term Week

28th - INSET DAY - School closed for pupils

29th - School reopens for ALL pupils

November 2019

13th - Individual and Sibling Photographs