May 2021

Throughout the academy, we aim to deliver a science curriculum that is embedded through 'science in the world around them'. We promote a continuous process of thinking and working, where children will have the opportunity to discover, explore and investigate a variety of topical issues. We put a lot of emphasis on the children being taught practical investigation skills that support teaching of key scientific concepts. This also allows students to practise cross-curricular maths and writing skills.

Our teachers plan lessons and investigations, using a 5-part ‘Mastery Flow Model’, that supports the broader curriculum and helps our children to understand the world as they see it.

We actively encourage our pupils to express their ideas both written and orally. All theories are accepted with respect so that children feel confident in sharing ideas, they can develop a positive attitude towards science and so that their natural curiosity towards scientific thinking is nurtured. We want children who experience our science curriculum to develop an understanding and awareness of the importance that science plays in influencing our lives on all levels.

We had a remarkable number of children cycling and scooting to school on Monday - a total of 55 bikes and many scooters!

It is wonderful to see so many children being active, especially in the morning to feel fresh and ready to learn.

A massive thank-you to Shaun and Ben, our mechanics, who worked tirelessly all day until after 5pm to check and fix all our bikes as best as they could, using spare parts including inner tubes and so many brand new brake cables! This fantastic service was provided by The Active Wellbeing Society, who also delivered our Bikeability training, all completely free of charge to our community - check them out here: https://theaws.co.uk/

And now, the competition winners who have all won a voucher to spend, making their bikes even better!

Bring your bike:

EYFS/KS1 - Kian 2BS KS2 - Harleigh 6BP

Bling your bike:

EYFS/KS1 - Tamsin REK KS2 - Kyla 4TH

Children's author Fay Evan's will be visiting our children in Reception, Year 1 and Year 2 on Tuesday 15th June. Children will be participating in a storytelling workshop and have the opportunity to interview Fay and find out about her latest storybooks Bob's Beard and Fred the Fire Sneezing Dragon. Look out for more information on ClassDojo soon. We can't wait to welcome her to Lea Forest.

Thank you for your responses last week to the parent pulse survey. Your answers and feedback are important to us developing the right vision for our Remarkable Education in 2025 but also to ensure you and your child(ren) are feeling supported each day. This is the second and last of our parent pulse surveys this half term and I would be grateful if you could take the time to complete them. Here is this week’s survey: https://edurio.com/poll/VNRESc

I shared the amazing news last week that we have been 1 of 8 primary schools shortlisted as TES Primary School of the Year. We ask that you keep those fingers crossed over half term and until Friday 25 June when the winner will be announced. To find out more about the TES awards, please check out the website: https://www.tesawards.co.uk/tesschoolsawards2021/en/page/home

Thank you for all your support this term. I think we have had a really successful half term with a well deserved break ahead and much to look forward to before the summer holidays, especially with the ‘unlocking’ continuing.

Wishing you all a wonderful and safe half term break. We look forward to seeing you all again on Monday 7th June.

On Wednesday we celebrated National Numeracy Day. National Numeracy Day tries to highlight how much numbers are used in our lives, every day. This can range from the sports people watch, the games people play, the jobs people have and in the shops when using money.

To celebrate this day we read stories based on a mathematical idea and completed different activities based on the text that we read. There were also different activities and challenges that are aimed at building our number confidence.

www.nationalnumeracy.org.uk

We are looking to expand the multicultural section of our remarkable virtual library with stories read in other languages.

We are looking for volunteers to be recorded reading a short story translated into another language. If you are interested and would like to know more please contact Miss Jones, Miss Evans or Miss Francois.

The EAL Hub is an English enriched environment that provides our EAL children with a personalised and customised curriculum. The Hub not only nurtures our children’s well-being, it teaches survival language, social skills, functional and academic language through real-life experiences in hands-on, engaging lessons. These skills give our children the confidence and oracy they need in order to flourish in their language learning journey, and be able to choose a remarkable life.

At Lea Forest we teach phonics through letters and sounds, using Phonics Bug to support. Phonics Bug is a great mixture of videos, writing opportunities and online reading books. Children have the opportunity to apply their new phonic knowledge while still recapping on previously taught sounds.

In Early Years and Key Stage 1 phonics is taught everyday. Children’s phonic knowledge is monitored closely during phonic sessions and monthly phonic checks. Any gaps are highlighted and focused phonic interventions take place regularly to ensure all children are working at their expected phonic stage.

At the end of year 1, children sit a phonic screening where they are presented with 40 words which they have to read using their phonic knowledge.

As phonics is delivered in highly engaging sessions with opportunities for children to apply their phonic skills knowledge it means we consistently achieve above the National Average set by government for the year 1 phonic screening. Once children have learnt how to read, they are able to read to learn!

Come to school everyday from Monday 19 April until Friday 28 May and have the chance to win a fantastic £10 voucher.

What do you need to do?

Come to school every day for 29 days, from the 19th April until 28th May. If you have to self isolate, complete online learning instead.

How can you win?

Those that complete the 29 day challenge will have their name put in a prize draw to be carried out on Friday 28th May. There will be a prize draw per year group

(eight £10 voucher prizes in total) so a pupil in every year group has the chance to win.

Wow! We've had an amazing week of walking, skipping, scooting and cycling to school!

Well done to everyone for taking part and helping us to reduce cars and pollution around the school.

Our most active classes were 6BP, 5NN and 2SJ both score an amazing 98% active score for the whole week! We'll be sending a prize to both classes on Monday.

As a school we managed to record over 1800 car free trips to school this week! Well Done Everyone!

Thank you for all your support this term. I think we have had a really successful half term with a well deserved break fast approaching and much to look forward to before the summer holidays, especially with the ‘unlocking’ continuing.

Our second 2 week burst of parent pulse surveys starts this week and I would be grateful if you could take the time to complete them. As promised at the start of term, the questions have continued to evolve away from covid to the future of education and how we can better support you and your children’s learning at home, what practices we should keep from lockdown and how you might see the curriculum and school day changing over time. Here is this week’s survey - https://edurio.com/poll/CH2LEt

I truly hope that we can continue to safely come out of lockdown and enjoy a summer with friends and family. To play our part in the lockdown easing, I would urge you to continue taking CV-19 lateral flow tests, provided free by the government, each week and should you or your child test positive the school is ready to continue to support learning virtually.

In the meantime and as always, should you have any questions or concerns please do not hesitate to contact me.

Mr Clarke

On Friday 21st May, Lea Forest Primary Academy will be celebrating World Cultural Diversity Day! Our students will spend the day immersed in a variety of cultures from all over the world; some they may be familiar with, some that may be brand new to them. The aim of the day is to promote tolerance, respect and curiosity towards the world we currently live in.

To help celebrate the day, we are inviting our students and staff to 'Dress to Express!' This could be traditional cultural garments, your favourite party dress, dress-up for your future career, a home-made t-shirt, a costume displaying things important to you - anything that you feel expresses your cultural identity. We are looking forward to seeing some amazing outfits!

In addition to this, KS1 will have the opportunity to cook Italian pizzas with Mrs Hudson, while KS2 will be exploring different forms of cultural dances with The Education Group. Mr Croxon is also going to be building the planet using lego with a few remarkable and lucky students from each class.

If you have any questions about the event, please contact Mrs Hicklin.

Our school is taking part in Walk to School Week (17-21 May). The nationwide event is organised by walking charity Living Streets and designed to help pupils experience first-hand the importance of walking to school. Children will be well on their way to reaching their recommended 60 minutes minimum of physical activity per day before even reaching the school gates! Not only will it set them up for a positive day in the classroom, but it will also help create healthy habits for life.

The theme of this year’s event is ‘Walking Superpowers’ and through the week, pupils will be introduced to five different Walking Superpowers who will teach them all about these benefits and reinforce the power of walking, superhero style!

We are challenging all of our children to walk, wheel, scoot, cycle or Park and Stride) to school every day for one week using wall charts and stickers to log their journeys. Each class will work collectively to make as many active journeys to school as possible across the week.

We have noticed LOTS and LOTS of litter around the perimeter of the school and this seems to be getting worse lately. Please make sure that you do your bit too and don’t add to the problem!

A group of children from Lea Forest will be working with local residents to carry out regular litter picks to keep our school environment clean, tidy and safe.

Lea Forest is being used as a polling station on Thursday 6th May. School will therefore be CLOSED to all pupils and staff on this day to ensure everyone’s safety. For this day we will be setting Character Curriculum tasks to complete.