leigh academy paddock wood
Newsletter
Newsletter
Dear Parents and Carers,
I hope you are all well and having a fantastic week.
Reading through our newsletter has left me very proud today. To see so many children challenging themselves both inside and outside of the classroom is refreshing and inspiring and this really is just the tip of the iceberg, there is so much more happening that we love to hear about. To see budding dancers, sports stars and performers flourishing alongside their Paddock Wood peers is so impressive.
There is such a buzz to partake in extra-curricular opportunities and we will continue to ensure that our offer of clubs is varied, rich and engaging for all pupils. From speaking with yourselves in the mornings and after school I really value your feedback and ideas as to how we can continue developing our personal development offer. If anybody has community connections with alternative clubs to what we currently offer then please don't hesitate to contact the school office.
Once again, please ensure you have signed up via MCAS for a parents evening slot later this term on the 25th or 27th March to find out about your child's progress and development.
Yours sincerely and have a lovely weekend,
Mr Moore
This week our overall academy attendance has been 95.7%.
Our winning year group is Year 3 this week with 96.4% so congratulations to all pupils for being in school as much as you can!
All Year 3 children have received some additional playtime today to celebrate this...and of course will be the holders of the Attendance Weekly Cup for a week!
This week we are really proud of...
Anna completed her Brownies Gold Award this week. What an amazing achievement Anna, we are so proud of you!
For bringing in some amazing Inquiry projects this past module! Children from all three classes have really showcased their learning and steered their thinking in new directions. All the children that brought one in were very proud to explain and highlight their interests from learning all about discoveries! Well done.
Last Sunday over 80 Phoenix Dancers performed at The Stag Theatre in Sevenoaks. Our final rehearsals were full of excited energy and I was bursting with pride which flowed into the weekend.
What these children have achieved is so wonderful. Phoenix is a family and it shows more than ever around events, such as Showtime. The children from EYFS right up to Year 6 and beyond all love and support each other and it comes so naturally and beautifully to them all. Each of them are amazing individuals and I’m so honoured that I get the chance to nurture and help them grow the spark in them that makes them who they are. They have been on such a journey to get to the show, the nerves, anxiety, worry, excitement, fear, happiness; they embraced it all to shine like the true stars they are.
We are nurture, we are all awesome individuals who come together to celebrate our own strengths and use them to create something beautiful. Phoenix.
Well done you dancing legends, I'm one proud dance teacher.
Laura x
Year 3 Living History Workshop - Consent and payment is due today for the upcoming Living History workshops. Please go to MCAS>Trips if you haven't already done so.
Year 6 Secondary School Offers - don't forget to accept or decline the offer of your child's school place by Monday 17th March 2025.
Year 5 Plas Pencelli Trip - there are still a few February instalments outstanding. Please go to MCAS>Outstanding Payments if you haven't already done so. The final payment is then due by 31st March 2025.
Parents Evening Consultations - Don't forget to book your appointments for our upcoming parents evenings if you haven't already done so via MCAS. Booking closes on 21st March.
School Meals - we will be on Week 2 of the school meal menu next week.
Some dates for your diary:
17.3.25 Living History Workshop for 3G & 3M
20.3.25 Stay & Play Session 3.45pm - 4.45pm
25.3.25 Parents Evening 1.55pm - 4.40pm (Booking via MCAS from 3.3.25) NO Year 3/4 Football Club or KS2 Chess Club
Stay & Play session 9.10am - 10.10am
Living History Workshop for 3HE
27.3.25 Class Photos
Parents Evening 3.30pm - 6.30pm (Booking via MCAS from 3.3.25) NO Y4,5,6 Choir Club or KS2 Girls Football Club
31.3.25 The Wizard of Oz Theatre Club Performance 6pm (doors open 5.30pm). TICKETS SOLD OUT!
1.4.25 The Wizard of Oz Theatre Club Performance 6pm (doors open 5.30pm). TICKETS SOLD OUT
2.4.25 Rocksteady Concert
4.4.25 End of Module 4
22.4.25 Start of Module 5
22.4.25 - 25.4.25 Year 5 to Plas Pencelli
30.4.25 Vision Screening for EYFS
12.5.25 - 16.5.25 SATs week for Year 6
23.5.25 End of Module 5
2.6.25 Inset Day (No children in school)
3.6.25 Start of Module 6
Callum
For your fantastic communication and thinking skills. You worked well together with your partner and approached the learning with an open and pragmatic mind. This resulted in you identifying suitable ways to make your circuit function.
Oscar
For your great work in science when learning about circuits. You used your prior knowledge and took risks to construct your circuit in a different manner which led to a great learning opportunity. Well done Oscar.
Beau
For being an exceptional communicator and knowledgeable learner. You have taken the time to share your maths strategies with your peers which is helping you to achieve your targets.
Edison
For going above and beyond with your learning this week. You have shown excellent resilience and enthusiasm - asking insightful questions to deepen your understanding. Well done!
Elijah
Eli has made fantastic progress in his writing this module. He has really thought hard in his draft to ensure that he is uplevelling his vocabulary and using varied sentence starters to engage the reader. Well done and keep up the great work.
Sonny
For your amazing work this week. You have impressed us all with your independence - especially in your maths when you were comparing decimals. You have shown such enthusiasm and determination - keep up the great learning!
Archie
Archie you have been an open minded inquirer this week throughout all of your learning. From investigating electrical insulators using your knowledge of circuits, to communicating your clear understanding of renewable energies through careful, detailed writing. We are so impressed!
Shaurya
Shaurya has found working with fractions enjoyable this term. Working systematically and using his thinking skills, he mastered subtracting fractions from a whole. He has also been conferencing with his peers to help their learning. Keep being fantastic, Shaurya.
Florence
You have been amazing this week, taking risks in your maths and growing in confidence. Keep pushing yourself and you will grow into a great mathematician. Well done, Florence.
Bella
Bella has pushed herself forward to try new things in all areas of the curriculum this week, taking risks, learning about Egyptian Pharaohs and mummies. She has also worked especially hard with her narrative writing and maths. Keep it up Bella.
Alex
Alex has been a great researcher this week. She independently found out some interesting information about Egyptian Gods and Goddesses and communicated them using slides with some fantastic animations. Well done Alex!
Harry
Harry has been principled and reflective this week when applying his handwriting skills and conferencing to improve his Bronze Age boat narrative. Keep up the good work, Harry!
Harry
This week Harry has shown great self-management skills. He has tried really hard to ignore distractions around him to focus on his learning, especially in maths where he has been using classroom tools to work independently. Well done Harry, keep it up!
Jesse
Jesse has been an open-minded learner this week. He has been working independently to form his own sentences and adding adventurous adjectives! Jesse has also been participating in class discussions well. Keep up the amazing effort Jesse, you are really showing your true strength!
Irie
Irie has been reflective this week. She worked well when researching Antarctica, discovering the underwater life on the continent. Irie read through her writing and decided to add more by using the research sheets. Well done Irie!
Fraser
For being a risk-taker and wonderfully principled throughout the whole week. You have worked extremely hard to complete a range of tasks. You have been very keen to complete your work independently and have shown that you are becoming a great mathematician. Well done for also being a superb role model for your peers this week. We are very proud of you!
Jack O
You have been an amazing principled learner this week Jack! You have really set the bar high with your behaviour and your learning. It is lovely to see you becoming more independent with your learning and increasing your stamina when it comes to your writing. Keep up the amazing work!
Oliver
You have been a tremendous learner this week. You have shown every learner attribute, impressing the class incredibly with your risk-taking and thinking skills in maths. You have also shown great communication skills when discussing tens and ones in maths. Well done, everyone is super proud of you - including you!
Louis
For being a very knowledgeable inquirer this week. He has been sharing lots of information with other children that he has learned about living things, particularly plants. He told the class all about how sunflowers follow the sun and knew that they do that because they need sunlight to live! Well done!
Alannah
For being a knowledgeable inquirer this week! Alannah has been very keen to share her thoughts about how we should develop our garden area. She has shared some fabulous ideas and been exploring the best ways we can showcase our wonderful space.
Harper
For being a risk taker this week! You have been determined to complete your observational painting of wild flowers using water colours. Well done!
Charis
For your continued hard work this week in writing. You have used interesting grammatical choices to engage the reader and been reflective through your editing to improve your writing further. Well done!
Dominykas
For your hard work with your writing this week. You have written at length when constructing a blog from the point of view of Alex Rider. You listened to feedback and reflected effectively upon your learning. Nice one Dominykas.
Elijah
During our learning this week, you have been independent, supportive and a courageous thinker - challenging yourself in new ways. Well done for approaching our learning with an investigative mind and positive attitude!
Benji
For always completing your work to the highest standard! It's been wonderful to see you so engaged and take such pride in your work. You've also been a true team-player this week, working collaboratively with others in the class. Well done!
Esther
Esther has been recognised for always working 100% and being resilient, especially in her writing skills. She has tried hard to reflect on her writing; looking for ways to edit and improve.
Harold
For your brilliant writing this week! It has been wonderful to see you so engaged in your learning - listening and asking questions to deepen your knowledge and understanding. It's been a pleasure to read your writing - well done!
Nevaeh
Nevaeh has developed amazing painting skills this week, using a range of watercolour techniques to build towards her final painting. Well done Nevaeh, we can't wait to see your finished piece.
Kieran
Kieran has thoroughly enjoyed our inquiry into Earth’s resources and how we can better use them to look after our planet. He wrote a great information text on renewable resources and I am sure he will be doing his part to save our planet! Well done, Kieran.
Kaden
Using your research skills, you enriched our lesson on electricity and simple circuits. You used your conferencing skills well, showing your peers how energy is transferred. Well done, Kaden.
Lillie
Lillie has been working incredibly hard in maths this week, learning about fractions as part of a whole, on a number line, and equivalent fractions! Great job Lillie!
Darcie
Darcie has worked amazingly hard this week. Whether it’s fractions, researching Gods and Goddesses or making and testing an Egyptian shaduf, she has put in her best effort and has produced interesting and informative work. Well done Darcie!
Rei
Rei has worked exceptionally well this week. Her explanation about how ancient Egyptians mummified people was very clear and her home learning was really interesting. Well done, Rei.
Darcie
Darcie has worked really hard with all aspects of her work this week, showing great enthusiasm to challenge herself both in school and at home where she has been working really hard on her spellings! Keep it up Darcie!
Bertie
Bertie has been a knowledgeable learner this week. He has been working incredibly hard on his phonics with Mrs Sheridan and Mrs Sapsford. He has also impressed Miss Robinson with his amazing reading! You have been a superstar, keep up the great work!
Leah
Leah has been working hard with her phonics . We have been so impressed with Leah's efforts with decoding and blending a range of words with Mrs Sheridan. Well done Leah, keep it up!
Mason
For being a fantastic communicator in our writing lessons this week. You portrayed your creativity beautifully by designing your own courage creature. You challenged yourself by using a range of conjunctions and adjectives in your independent writing and enjoyed generating your creature digitally using AI. Keep up the amazing work!
Ada
You have been brilliant this week Ada! Your writing has gone from strength to strength. It's amazing seeing you being a risk taker and working to improve your learning. You wrote a lovely character description for your courage animal which came out beautifully when we used AI to bring them to life. Keep up the fantastic work! Well done!
Jenson
For being a sensational writer this week, full of enthusiasm to create your own courage animals. By applying your lovely neat letter formation and carefully selected adjectives you surprised yourself with a brilliant design through AI. You have also achieved being a part of the school council this week by our litter picking campaign and role-modelling. Well done!
Lily-May
For writing a list of all the seeds that she wants to grow in our garden. We also researched which seeds are able to be planted currently and shared her positivity, excitement and knowledge for plants with her friends. Well done!
Autumn-Rose
For helping us plant new flowers in our outside area! Autumn stood out for being very knowledgeable and careful when planting posies. She helped others plant as well and showed them some of the best techniques. Well done for being such a role-model to your class!
Henry
For making us smile every day! I love that you come into school enthusiastically and want to share jokes with us! You have also tried hard to make choices efficiently to help your learning. You have been an all round superstar! Well done!
Following consultation with hundreds of young carers and with input from the Young Carers Advisory Panel, Young Carers Trust chose ‘Give Me A Break’ as the theme for Young Carers Action 2025. The ‘Give Me A Break’ theme for this year’s YCAD allows us to explore two crucial areas of support young carers need.
First, young carers have so much responsibility on their shoulders that they often have little time for themselves and are at serious risk of burnout. They need a break. We know that young carers are significantly more likely to report severe psychological distress than their peers without a caring role. They need time out from their caring responsibilities to rest, recharge and focus on themselves – be it for a hobby, or just spending time with friends, like other people their age.
The ‘Give Me A Break’ theme also speaks to young carers’ need for education professionals and employers to give them a break in life. This could be offering more support at school to young carers, recognising that their responsibilities at home can mean they often feel overwhelmed at having to juggle their caring responsibilities with their schoolwork. By trying to understand these pressures more fully, and helping young carers manage them, education professionals can give young carers the break they need to succeed at school and in further and higher education.
Here at LAPW we understand the importance of our Young Carers. Our Wellbeing Champions made it their mission to make sure we 'gave the KFC club a break they deserve'. They each had time to unwind in our chill out room and we gave them time to remember who they are outside of their caring role.
Happy Young Carers Action Day to all your Young Carers at LAPW!