January 2024

Another week has flown by and as always the children and staff have been really busy. Here at Lea Forest, we are passionate about providing an exceptional, innovative education that inspires and empowers our pupils, in every class, every day! We aim to develop confident, resilient, independent lifelong learners and this has been evident in all of the lessons I have visited this week. I am always blown away by the children’s articulation about their learning and the pride they have in themselves. 

House of Lords

Lea Forest were mentioned in the House of Lords this week with Baroness Barran commending our efforts in ensuring children are in school every single day and not missing out on an education. See the video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wGXcwEgtINI 

In the News

New data has revealed the Birmingham primary schools with the highest reading, writing and maths scores for 2022-23.  In Birmingham, two schools – St James Catholic Primary School and Four Oaks Primary School – lead the way with 90% of eligible students achieving the expected standard in reading, writing and maths in key stage two.  They were followed by:

• Lea Forest Primary Academy, where 89% of pupils met the standard

• Montgomery Primary Academy, where 88% of pupils met the standard

• Little Sutton Primary School, where 88% of pupils met the standard

• Walmley Junior School, where 88% of pupils met the standard

See the full article here:

https://www.birminghamworld.uk/your-birmingham/birmingham/revealed-the-primary-schools-in-birmingham-with-the-best-reading-writing-and-maths-attainment-4481476 

Attendance and Punctuality

This week has been another fabulous week in terms of attendance. We are pleased that overall attendance is closer than ever to our 97% target. With your continuing support we believe that this remains achievable and we will continue to provide your children with outstanding educational opportunities every day. Some children are missing out on part of their education by arriving late to school. The gates are open from 8:45am. Please make sure your child arrives before 9am when the gates close. 

We are monitoring punctuality very closely and may contact you if we have a concern.

Number Day 2023

We will be celebrating NSPCC Number Day on Thursday 1 February. It’s maths, but not as you know it! To celebrate NSPCC Number Day, we have planned a fun and engaging day.  The children can dress up in ‘Number’ based costumes, have opportunities to play a range of maths games, solve maths puzzles and complete different maths  activities.  Throughout the day there will also be a range of Times Table Rockstars competitions both nationally and within school as we are taking part in the NSPCC Rocks competition with the opportunity to win a variety of individual and class prizes. For wearing non-uniform or dressing up in their ‘Number’ based costumes, we will be asking for a donation of £1. 

Have a great weekend!

Mr. Clarke-Castello

overall attendance is closer than ever to our 97% target. With your continuing support we believe that this remains achievable and we will continue to provide your children with outstanding educational opportunities every day. Some children are missing out on part of their education by arriving late to school. The gates are open from 8:45am. Please make sure your child arrives before 9am when the gates close. We are monitoring punctuality very closely and may contact you if we have a concern.

It’s great to see everyone working so hard to achieve our 97% target.  

We can only do this if we all work together!

Our attendance for 

the week is

97.38%

Our attendance for 

the year to date

96.83%

Keep up the great work!

Article 3

In all actions concerning children, whether undertaken by public or private social welfare institutions, courts of law, administrative authorities or legislative bodies, the best interests of the child shall be a primary consideration.

Please see term dates for the remainder of the school year listed below. Ensure any holidays are booked during the period of times highlighted in red:

Spring 1

09/01/24

08/02/24

Spring Half Term

12/02/24

16/02/24

Spring 2

19/02/24

22/03/24

Easter Holiday

23/03/24

07/04/24

Summer 1

08/04/24

24/05/24

Summer Half Term

27/05/24

31/05/24

Summer 2

03/06/24

19/07/24

INSET Days - 

School will be closed to pupils on the following dates for teacher training:

09/02/2024

17/06/2024

02/05/2024 - Election Day: 

School open to Year 6 pupils (am) only

Mrs Cunningham will kick start Children’s Mental Health week with a whole school assembly centred around this year’s theme “Your Voice Matters.” Follow up work will be completed in classes. An Express Yourself day will take place on Thursday 8 February. We want to empower our children to celebrate what makes you…you! 

It has been amazing to see so many of you practising your fluency of your number facts and times tables in school and at home. 

Here are this week’s Numbots stars:

Year 1 - Leon Lowe

Year 2 - Rehan Ali

Gruffalos - Aleem Yousaf

This week’s Rock Legends are:

Year 3 - Lennon-Rogue Cook 

Year 4 - Emmie Byard

Year 5 - Layla-Lei Murphy- Atkins

Year 6 - Zahra Tanha

Safer Internet Day is the UK’s biggest celebration of online safety and was created to cover an online issue or theme that speaks to the things young people are seeing and experiencing online. Safer Internet Day 2024 will take place on the 6th of February 2024, with celebrations and learning based around the theme ‘Inspiring change? Making a difference, managing influence and navigating change online’.  

This week’s free online safety guide, provided by the National Online Safety (NOS) website, focuses on ‘Trolling and Online Abuse’.Trolling is a form of ‘cyberaggression’. It involves the sending of malicious, abusive or derogatory messages by one user (a ‘troll’) to another user online with the intention of upsetting or harassing them or damaging their reputation. It is often anonymous and does not meet the definition of bullying yet might develop into online bullying. If you are a victim of ‘trolling’ NOS advocate: Reporting the incident to the platform, collecting as much evidence as possible and seeking professional advice. 

Monitoring online safety

This week, we are focusing on the importance of online monitoring. Take time to talk to your child about the dangers they may face online - be honest and open with them. Ensure that they have the correct privacy settings on their devices and that you have parental controls on. Children should be aware that a person they think of as a friend online could in fact be a complete stranger. Online abuse takes many forms which include; bullying, blackmail and general trolling. Remind children that social media apps have age restrictions designed to keep them safe. Encourage your child to report to an adult if they feel uncomfortable with anything that they access online.

Following much discussion in recent weeks, our Key Stage voters have been exploring the Horizon scandal and the impact of ITV’s Mr Bates vs The Post Office on public opinion. They have considered what happened at the time, what has happened since, and whether financial compensation is a substitute for the suffering of hundreds of subpostmasters. Their VoteTopic question was: 

“Does money make up for injustice?”

Meanwhile, our Key Stage 1 voters have taken a broader look at the concept of injustice, and reflected on situations in which they have or may experience unjust treatment and what to do about this. They have voted on: 

“Do you know what to do when you are treated unfairly?” 

Mutual respect goes beyond simple politeness. It's about recognising and valuing the worth of everyone we encounter, regardless of their differences. It means treating each other with kindness, consideration, and fairness, even when we disagree or hold different opinions. 

Why is Mutual Respect Important?

Lea Forest Academy is a happy and productive learning environment built on mutual respect. When we respect each other, we can:

• Feel safe and supported: Knowing we are valued and treated fairly allows everyone to focus on learning and reaching their full potential.

• Build positive relationships: Respect fosters deeper connections and friendships between students, teachers, and staff.

• Learn from diversity: By valuing different perspectives and backgrounds, we enrich our understanding of the world and each other.

• Create a collaborative atmosphere: Working together becomes easier when we trust and respect each other’s contributions. 

It has been another fabulous week at Lea Forest with attendance remaining high and wonderful learning opportunities taking place across the whole school.  I have the pleasure of visiting lessons and witnessing learning from Nursery to Year 6 on a daily basis, speaking to the children and listening to their experiences.  

Important Visitors

Today, we had the distinct honor of hosting our CEO, Becks Boomer-Clark, and the distinguished Baroness Barran. Their visit was a celebration of our collective achievements in ensuring that our children are not only attending school regularly but also receiving an excellent education each and every day.  It was a momentous occasion as they took the time to witness firsthand the dedication and hard work of our pupils, staff, 

and families. Our school community's commitment to fostering a positive and enriching learning environment has not gone unnoticed, and we are elated to have received recognition at such a high 

level.  Both Becks Boomer-Clark and Baroness Barran commended the efforts of our entire school community in creating an atmosphere where education thrives, and pupils are eager to learn and grow. Their visit served as a testament to the outstanding work that is being done by everyone involved in our school.  As we reflect on this achievement, it is essential to recognise that our success is a shared victory, made possible by the collaborative efforts of pupils, parents, and staff alike. This visit reinforces our commitment to providing the best possible education for our pupils and encourages us to continue striving for excellence in all aspects of their academic journey.

Year 6

Year 6 booster classes have officially started this week in preparation for the upcoming SATs in May. These classes are designed to provide additional support and focused learning opportunities for our pupils to excel in their assessments.  These additional classes are an integral part of our commitment to preparing our Year 6 pupils for SATs. The focused sessions aim to reinforce key concepts, address any questions or concerns, and build confidence among the pupils as they approach this 

significant milestone in their academic journey.  Doors for Year 6 open at 08:30 daily. We will also be holding holiday booster clubs during the February half term. 

Wishing you all a fabulous weekend!

Mr. Clarke-Castello

We would like to thank all of our families who have attended school daily for the first two weeks of the Spring term. Our attendance for the whole academic year so far is 96.8%. We are very close to achieving our 97% target, but this target can only be met if all children attend school regularly. Please don’t let us down. Where there is ongoing unauthorised absence and parents are not engaging with school regarding attendance, it is the school’s duty to make a referral to the Local Authority Legal Intervention team and legal action, including penalty notices, may be considered.  

It’s great to see everyone working so hard to achieve our 96% target.  

We can only do this if we all work together!

Our attendance for 

the week is

97.06%

Our attendance for 

the year to date

96.8%

Keep up the great work!

This week, voters have been exploring the conversations we have around our wellbeing and deciding how easy these are to have. In KS1, they’ve been exploring why it can be challenging to express our emotions: “Is it easy to talk about your feelings?” KS2 voters have considered who we might talk to about our wellbeing, and why this is important: “Would you feel comfortable having a conversation about your mental health?”

Please see term dates for the remainder of the school year listed below. Ensure any holidays are booked during the period of times highlighted in red:

INSET Days - 

School will be closed to pupils on the following dates for teacher training:

09/02/2024

17/06/2024

02/05/2024 - Election Day: 

School open to Year 6 pupils (am) only

Spring 1

09/01/24

08/02/24

Spring Half Term

12/02/24

16/02/24

Spring 2

19/02/24

22/03/24

Easter Holiday

23/03/24

07/04/24

Summer 1

08/04/24

24/05/24

Summer Half Term

27/05/24

31/05/24

Summer 2

03/06/24

19/07/24

All dates can be found on the website by clicking here or searching Lea Forest Term Dates 

We've been busy recording our trips to school this week and have recorded 3763 active journeys to school so far this month.  Our most active classes this week are: 

RFH, 2BE and 5SJ.

Key assessments taking place this half term: 

Year 1 (and Year 2 resit pupils): Phonic Screening. Week commencing 23rd January.

Year 6: Mock SATs papers (full suite). Week commencing 23rd January.

Year 4: Multiplications Times Tables Check. Week commencing  29th January.

Years 2-6: NGRT Resist for pupils stanine 1-4. Taking place throughout January and February.

As we head into 2024 it is a fresh start for many and a time for optimism and hope. For some people however, it can be a more difficult time as all holiday festivities have ended and the nights can often seem long and dark. It is important to look out for those around you and offer help if needed. This could be to a neighbour who just wants someone to talk to, it could be to a friend who is finding life hard to navigate or to  a family member who might just need some extra help. Kindness goes a long way and sometimes you just need someone to ask if you are okay. For help and support these organisations can be contacted.

Shout             Mind         Young Minds

NHS        Samaritans       NSPCC    

Say No To Palm Oil

Say no to (or opt for sustainably-sourced) palm oil. Palm oil is a major driver of deforestation and exploitation as well as air pollution, water pollution, and biodiversity loss—and it’s found in everything from toothpaste and shampoo to peanut butter.

As we settle into the new year, I wanted to take a moment to wish you all a very happy and healthy 2024! I hope the festive season was filled with joy, laughter, and precious moments spent with loved ones.

Now, with renewed energy and optimism, I can't help but feel a buzz of excitement as we embark on 2024 together. At times we can face challenges, but within classrooms lies incredible potential, ready to be unlocked and nurtured. And that's why, here at Lea Forest, we're setting the bar high – aiming for nothing less than excellence as our standard.  I'm not talking about simply achieving good outcomes in assessments, although that's important too. It's about instilling a love of learning, a thirst for knowledge, and a drive to go above and beyond. It's about nurturing critical thinking, creativity, and problem-solving skills – the vital tools our children need to navigate the ever-changing world.

This commitment to excellence starts in every classroom, every day. Our dedicated teachers are passionate about creating engaging lessons that spark curiosity, challenge thought, and inspire confidence. We're continuously innovating, exploring new pedagogical approaches, and fostering a dynamic environment where ideas can flow freely.  Excellence isn't just about what happens within the four walls of a classroom. It extends to every interaction, every conversation, every decision we make as a school community. It's about fostering a culture of respect, understanding, and inclusivity where all students feel valued and supported.

So, let's make 2024 the year we truly unlock the potential of every child. Let's work hand-in-hand to create a school where excellence is not just a destination, but a daily adventure.  I'm excited to see what we can achieve together in this new year.

Visitors to school

We had the privilege of hosting our esteemed Education Director, Claire Heald, along with 10 school leaders from Cornwall this week. It was an excellent opportunity for us to showcase the outstanding work and dedication that defines Lea Forest.  During their visit, we had the chance to highlight the excellence that our school community consistently strives for - from innovative teaching methods to the nurturing and supportive atmosphere that characterises our school.

Excellent Attendance

I am thrilled to extend my heartfelt congratulations to each and every one of you for your outstanding attendance this week! Your commitment to your child's education has truly surpassed our expectations, with attendance rates exceeding our 97% target.  Your active involvement in your child's school life is a testament to the strong sense of community we have here at Lea Forest. Your support plays a vital role in creating a positive learning environment for our pupils.  Thank you for your continued dedication and collaboration in 

fostering a culture of excellence. Let's keep up the fantastic work together!

Reception places - September 2024

If your child was born between 1st September 2019 and 31st August 2020, they will be able to start school in September 2024.  The deadline and closing date for applications is 15th January 2024 at 11:59pm.  Click here to apply.

We would like to take this opportunity to say THANK YOU to all of our families who consistently ensure their children’s attendance and punctuality is good. Getting these important habits established early on in your child’s life will make a difference to their future.There is a proven link between attendance and achievement and we want your children to have the best possible start in life. A child should attend school every day that they are well enough. Unnecessary absences can affect them in many ways, for example by damaging friendships or them missing out on exciting activities.

It’s great to see everyone working so hard to achieve our 97% target.  

We can only do this if we all work together!

Our attendance for 

the week is

97.60%

Our attendance for 

the year to date

96.80%

Keep up the great work!