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Flintham Primary School Inholms Lane

Flintham Notts

NG23 5LF Tel: 01636 525371

E-mail : office@flintham.notts.sch.uk

Some useful dates

for your diary

INSET DAYS Friday 14 February 2020

Friday 22 May 2020 Monday 20 July 2020

Life Education Day Monday 10 February, 2020

Yr5/6 School Council Hindu Temple Visit

Tuesday 25 February, 2020

Class 4 RAF Syerston Thursday 27 February, 2020

Nottingham Forest Football Club Assembly

Tuesday 3 March, 2020

Class 4 Residential Meeting Wednesday 4 March, 2020

African Drumming Day Thursday 12 March, 2020

Equals Trust Story Telling Event

Thursday 26 March, 2020

Yr 4 Conkers Residential 26-27 March, 2020

Year 6 First Week of Toothill Workshops

Wednesday 18 March

Class 4 Hagg Farm Residential

24—26 June, 2020

KS2 SATS Week Week beg. 11 May 2020

Dear Parents and Carers,

Four weeks into the new term already, where did January go? The new year has certainly got off to a flying start, with so many enrichment activities having already taken place or planned. These events will always from an important part of our curriculum enabling our children to have first hand experiences and bring their Science, Geography and History topics to life.

Another success we have had this new year is the revamping of the playground. We are so pleased with our smart new playground surface and replacement of the wooden posts on the climbing frame. The children are certainly making the most of it. This photo is Class 1 the very first morning! Thank you to all those who have contributed in some way to fundraising for the school. Half the costs of the works was met by school fund.

Thank you to all those parents who completed our Annual Parental Survey, 2019/20. We received 22 forms. It is very important to us that we gather your opinion of the school. Once again an overwhelming selection of positive comments, it is fantastic to hear that you have such faith in the

school. For the full analysis, please look in the Parents Section on the website and I have proudly put the positive comments on our front door and the next page.

We take parents comments requesting changes seriously and from those returned if there was more than one parent (and at the most 4 parents) making a similar comment, a response has been provided:

FPS Parking: We are going to have new banners and will be launching a KS1 and KS2 ‘Design our FPS Parking Banners’ Competition. Also, NCC are looking into replacing our existing signs and delivering Road Safety sessions in school.

Sports/Activity Clubs: Newark Rugby Club Tag Rugby, Forest School for Reception, Art, Mindful Colouring and Library Clubs – new during the Spring Term. All teachers and parents run clubs voluntarily. Head teacher to canvas parents for clubs they would like children to have and be willing to pay for.

Information regarding pupils’ progress.: At present, Flintham has two Parents Evenings annually, a Celebration of Work Evening, a written report which can be discussed with teachers, weekly reading record and weekly spellings and time tables tests and Class 1 share information with parents using Tapestry. Teachers will always discuss children’s progress with parents as the need arises or if a parent wishes to meet with a teacher. There are no plans to increase our pupil progress information sharing.

Governors Profile: Our governors have been ‘In the Spotlight’ as part of our newsletters over the past year and a hard copy of these is available in the school foyer. Several of our governors are keen contributors to our FOF fundraising meeting and meet with the HT to monitor the areas of school they have responsibilities for. We are very lucky to have such a dedicated group of people. A profile of each of our governors is also on the school website – however, this is being updated due to new members beginning their term of office this term. Congratulation to Mrs Adey and Mrs Jenkins who are warmly welcomed as our new Parent Governors.

Amount of Homework: Parents often have conflicting views regarding the amount of homework given. At FPS we try to provide the balance - practising and embedding those core essentials which really help your child progress- Reading, Spellings, Tables, Fluency Facts, whilst leaving time for families to be together and children to pursue their hobbies. There are no plans to alter our homework schedule. If you wish your child to have more homework, please look online or in book shops – there is a wealth of homework material available.

Yearly Calendar mapping key events each term: This a great idea! HT to do this at the beginning of the school year.

Kind regards,

Mrs K. Bartlett

READING As you know, this year we are promoting how important it is for you child to be able to read well and practice regularly at home. I have added a reading tab to the website in the Parents section, with useful tips on how to help your child read, authors’ websites, recommended books and expectations for each year group. We have begun a weekly library club and teachers are enjoying reading their favourite childhood books to the children. Look out for the School Council’s exciting sponsored reading competition, which is coming soon. It does sound fun!

What are Mrs Sharphouse’s favourite childhood books? Look on page 4 to find out.

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Parental Survey 2019/20

What Flintham Primary School is doing well Lovely, friendly school. Great teachers and staff. No concerns re teaching, content and learning.

Any issues have been looked into and responded to immediately.

This school is one of the most supportive schools in the area. I feel not only does it support

academic ability but also emotional well-being that enables children to meet their full potential.

You’re the very best.

Teachers and all staff are amazing. A very encouraging environment.

Creating a positive learning environment, fulfilling children’s educational and emotional needs.

Children are happy to come to school.

Keeping the children happy, motivated and inspired to learn. Mrs Crawford’s drama and choir

sessions are great.

Nurturing the children in a rounded way. Teaching them to be good people not just academically.

My children love attending FPS. They enjoy the topics covered, are very engaged with the

teachers and always look forward to Mondays! Parents are encouraged to take an active role

in the school and we are always made to feel welcome!

Eco- Conscious. Would like it to be pushed to all children and try to involve friends/families.

High standards and expectations from everyone at school. Keeping students motivated, very

friendly environment.

My children are happy, enthusiastic learners thanks to Flintham . Love the increase in sporting

activities we saw over the summer.

A huge thank you to Mrs Hill, Lisa and the rest of the Kids Club team for the fantastic job they

do. Our sons love attending, I don’t know what I’d do without them!

Our son loves coming to school and is doing so well. Teachers are very approachable – we are very

happy with the school on the whole. Thank you.

The help for our child has been invaluable – Mrs Bacon is always approachable, and Mr Knott has

also been very understanding and happy to do what he can to keep our child integrated in all

class activities.

Children are exceptionally well prepared for the transition to secondary school.

A great school that has helped my daughters reach their full potential both academically and emo-

tionally. As well as creatively through music and drama.

I’d like to take this opportunity to thank all of the staff at FPS, it’s a fantastic school and

I feel very lucky that my children are able to spend their formative years in such a

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ROMAN

AND

CELT

DAY

Class 3

NEWARK Rugby Club Coaching

Following on from our Year 2 cricket coaching sessions in Class 2 in the Autumn Term , it is now the turn of Class 3 and Class 4 to have a series of Tag Rugby coaching sessions with a rugby coach from Newark Rugby Club. Both classes have thoroughly enjoyed learning and applying their new skills with Jed and it has been great to see so many children joining in and getting pretty muddy! It is hoped the training sessions will culminate in a tournament at Newark against other schools who are also receiving the training. We were so proud of our children last week when Jed said that out of all the schools he visits, FPS children are the most polite. Well done, FPS and thank you Mr Knott for organising the sessions.

Water

Assembly On Tuesday 14th January Philip Pearce from Severn Trent Water came in to lead an assembly for the whole school. It was very funny and informative. He taught us that only 1% of the world’s water is drinkable for the entire world. He explained how this water has to be cleaned before it reaches our taps. We learned that our drinking water would have at sometime been drunk by the Romans and even dinosaurs! Philip asked us to think about ways that water is wasted and ways we can reduce the amount we use. He has set us all the chal-lenge to save water when we brush our teeth. He gave the school an Eco-schools action plan, story book, and water saving kit. Free water saving kits are available to all families at this web address: https://www.stwater.co.uk/wonderful-on-tap/save-water/free-ways-to-save/ Thank you Mrs Barker for organising this assembly. Our next guest assembly is with representatives from Nottingham Forest Football Club.

A very different day was had by Class 3 on Monday 13 January, as a Roman Centuri-on come to visit. The children looked fabulous in their Roman or Celt costumes. In the morning the class found out where the Romans invaded and took part in a quiz about clothing, food and

houses. The afternoon was spent learning how to march and prepare for battle as either a Roman soldier or Celt warrior and how they fought in different ways. Lots of warrior cries could be heard throughout the

What an amazing day we had on Monday 20 January, as all our children had an African dance workshop and then got to perform their dances to each other at the end of the day. The staff are so im-pressed with how much the children learned in one day. A big thank you to R and R Productions for leading the sessions, the children thoroughly enjoyed learning the different steps. This day is part of our Tanzania project and an African Drumming Day is booked in March. We are looking forward to welcoming the Tanzanian head teachers and especially Renatus from-Nianjema Primary School, in June.

school during the afternoon. Eleaonor said, ”The best part of the day was learning about the Colosseum and pretending it was the Empress’s birthday. Some of us were gladiators and others blessed them as they were entering the arena. Another fun part of the day was playing board games. One was called Delta.” Thank you Mrs Holley for organising such an exciting day.

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The Owl Who Was Afraid Of The Dark… This is definitely a childhood book I will always remember. It holds such special memories for me. I remember sitting with my Mum reading it together; she would read a page and then I would read a page. In fact I remember my Mum and Dad re-reading this book a number of times because I loved it so much. I think this book came at a time when I had just ‘clicked’ with reading too. I was so proud that I was able to read a chapter book! I recently dug it out of a box in my garage to read to my children. It is about a young barn owl named Plop, who was afraid of the dark. Each night, Plop learns something new about the dark; dark is exciting, dark is kind, dark is fun, dark is fascinating. He is gradually persuaded that the dark actually has it’s advantages as a barn owl! Peace at Last…

This was my son’s favourite book and has since be-come one of my daughters favourites too! They love to join in with the the sound effects and noises in the story; the birds tweeting, the refrigerator humming, Mrs.Bear snoring! I still have a video of my son re-telling this story and just love to watch it back.

I love this story too…perhaps as it reminds me of my own sleepless nights; just nodding off when all of a

sudden my daughter wakes me up or my son needs the toilet or my husband starts snoring! Eventually falling to sleep when

the awful sound of the alarm wakes you up. We’ve definitely all been there!

“The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go.” – Dr. Seuss