We would like to say thank you to all our parents, carers and wider school community for their support and commitment to our school during the past school year. It seems almost hard to believe that we have already reached the end of another school year. We are delighted with the outcome of all national assessment results across the school. Our Year 1 phonics test results are higher than local and national, as are our KS1 results and Year 4 multiplication tables check. Our Year 6 results are particularly pleasing with almost every area well above both local and national levels. We would like to thank all our children for their continued hard work throughout the whole year and our parents and carers for supporting us to ensure all our children achieve the best possible outcomes.

This term, has been particularly busy with many of our year groups out on school trips. Once again it has been so pleasing to receive such positive feedback from staff at a number of venues regarding the behaviour of our children. It was extremely pleasing earlier in the term to receive a phone call from a member of the public who had witnessed the positive behaviour and good manners of all our children on public transport. We would also like to thank our PTA and wider school community for organising and supporting our Summer Fair. 

What a brilliant success!

On a personal note, this term has obviously been very different to any of the previous ones during the past 27 years. I truly feel that I have been so lucky to have spent the past 27 years working with so many amazing children and an absolutely wonderful school community. I am so grateful to have received so much support and understanding from parents and carers over the years. I am sure the school will continue to grow and thrive under the new leadership and I look forward to visiting during the next academic year.

Please ensure you all have an enjoyable, restful and well-deserved summer break. 

Martin Nicholson

The year 1 Rights Ambassadors would like to share with you all of the exciting things that they have enjoyed doing this year:

Mason - 'I have enjoyed making sure that the plants in the year 1 yard area have

been watered so that they grow and we have a nice environment to play and

learn in.'

Heidi & Azhaan - 'We loved writing a script and doing an assembly for the

Reception and year 1 children explaining all about ‘Earth Day’ and why we

celebrate it each year.'

Kendra & Namiyah - 'We have enjoyed making bright, colourful posters to

encourage the adults and children at Grafton to try and eat more fruits and

vegetables and to walk to school instead of taking the car.'

Alya - 'I enjoyed learning about vegetables and how to prepare them in our ‘Eat

them to defeat them’ workshop.'

Jesse & Mohsin- 'We really enjoyed being ambassadors, meeting Mrs Bancroft

each week and completing the challenges that she set us.'

Our approach to Writing

At Grafton, from Nursery through to Year 6, we use a book-based approach to teaching Writing.  Each year-group uses an agreed range of books to inspire children to write for different purposes.  Examples include: children in Reception who, after reading The Hungry Caterpillar, write a list of the food that their caterpillar eats each day; children in Year 3 who, after reading The Tin Forest, write their own animal fact files and children in Year 6 who, after reading Macbeth, create suspense by writing the build up to King Duncan’s murder. 

Publishing our Writing

At Grafton, every child is an author and we create opportunities for children to share their writing with a wider audience. This includes reading their stories and poems to peers, producing a class book for the reading corner or displaying their writing around the school. You will even find some of our published books when you visit the school library. 

Meeting authors

This year, many children across the school have had the opportunity to meet a published author.  Selected children from Years 2 - 6 have attended Aim High Writer days where they worked with an author to develop their writing skills.  

Also, earlier this year, we welcomed two poets, Kimba and Michael de Souza to Grafton.  Children enjoyed poetry assemblies and worked with the poets over two days, creating their own poems.  What fantastic poets we have here at Grafton!

Handwriting

Neat handwriting is a key consideration when publishing work for others to read.  Our aim at Grafton is that most children receive a pen licence by the time they start in Year 6. This year, we introduced a KS1 handwriting award.  Children receive a Golden Pencil when all letters are formed correctly, when all letters 'sit' neatly on the line and when they use small finger spaces between words. We’re extremely proud of all the children who achieved a Golden Pencil or their Pen Licence this year.