Dear Parents/Carers, 

We’ve had a purposeful and uplifting start to the second week of the spring term.

The week kicked off with Taekwondo taster sessions, which proved to be incredibly popular! The children thoroughly enjoyed learning new moves, building confidence and developing discipline through this engaging martial art.

On Tuesday, we were delighted to welcome an assessor from the Inclusion Quality Mark (IQM) for Forest Academy’s annual review of our inclusive practice. The assessor spent the day touring classrooms, conducting learning walks, and meeting with staff, parents and pupils to see firsthand how we support every child to thrive.

It was a wonderful opportunity to showcase our warm and inclusive ethos, with the assessor noting the exemplary behaviour and confidence of our children. We are thrilled to share that the feedback was overwhelmingly positive, and we are proud to announce that Forest Academy has retained its IQM Flagship Status for a third consecutive year! A huge thank you to all the staff, parents and pupils who spoke so passionately about our school community, this recognition truly belongs to all of us.

On Thursday, it was fantastic to see so many parents and carers at the Year 4 Sharing Assembly. The children took to the stage with great pride to present a debate, showcasing not only their subject knowledge but also their growing oracy skills and confidence in public speaking. It was a joy to see their learning come to life, well done to everyone involved.

Thank you, as always, for your continued support.

Mrs Lloyd & the Forest Academy Team

This week in Year 1, the children have been learning all about setting description through our core text, 'The King Who Banned the Dark'. They explored how authors use descriptive words and the senses to help readers imagine a place. To support this, the children went on a sensory walk, where they carefully looked, listened, and thought about what they could see and hear around them. They made some wonderful observations and were very excited to spot a cobweb, which inspired some fantastic descriptive language and discussion.

In maths, the children have been doing brilliant work adding numbers to 20, using practical resources and number lines to build their confidence and understanding. 

In history, the children talked about leaders and what makes a good leader, linking this to the King in our story. 

In science, they have been learning all about the changing weather, sharing their ideas and observations. The children have shown great enthusiasm, curiosity, and effort across all areas of learning, and we are extremely proud of them.

This week in Year 3, the children have begun to explore our core text this term, 'The Kapok Tree'. Through this engaging story, we are delving into the environmental issues and challenges that face the rainforest. It has been wonderful to see the children asking such curious questions about rainforests and the environment, demonstrating their eagerness to learn and understand more about our planet.

In English, we have been focusing on writing scientific descriptions of both the desert and the rainforest. The children have been encouraged to think critically about their use of subordinate conjunctions and commas in lists, which has greatly enhanced the quality of their writing.

In maths, the children have continued to develop their skills in multiplication and division. A highlight was our manipulatives lesson using multi-link cubes, where they explored the concept of remainders in division. Their enthusiasm during this hands-on activity was fantastic!

In geography, we have started to investigate where rainforests are located around the world, enriching our vocabulary along the way.

In science, the children have shown remarkable initiative with their home learning, which has complemented our ongoing exploration of rocks. They particularly enjoyed getting hands-on with different types of igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic rocks. Keep up the great work, Year 3!

Year 5 have had a fantastic start to the new term. They began by exploring aspects of Jamaican culture linked to their core text 'Windrush Child' by Benjamin Zephaniah. The children enjoyed listening to reggae music, trying Jamaican patties, and learning about the island's history. In English, the children have focused on using descriptive vocabulary, such as figurative language and noun phrases, to describe the main character's thoughts and feelings about leaving Jamaica on the Empire Windrush.

In maths, the children have learnt how to multiply by 1 and 2-digit numbers using short and long multiplication calculations. They started by using the grid method before moving on to using the formal written method. In art, the children have started a project titled 'Out of This World'. They used mixed media, including oil pastels and water colours, to bring to life an adjective they would use if they were an astronaut in space. In science, the children have been learning about the planets in our solar system. They researched one of the planets and presented their research in books. In geography, the children have learnt about climate zones and biomes. They identified the biomes of the UK and the Caribbean and discussed why the biomes are so different. In French, the children have learnt how to say and write key locations around town, including the train station and swimming pool.

The highlight of the new term was their trip to the Polka Theatre to watch 'The Firework Maker's Daughter'. The children were amazed by the performances and clapped at the end. Thank you to Mrs Pizzy for organising this free trip!

If you have concerns about a child (or their families) welfare, contact Croydon Council’s Single Point of Contact (SPOC) 

Telephone: 020 8726 6400 

Out of hours: 020 8726 6400 (ask for out of hours team) 

Email: childreferrals@croydon.gov.uk 

Office Hours: Monday – Friday 9:00 – 16:00 

If you think a child is at risk of immediate harm telephone 999