Paddock Wood Primary Academy

Newsletter

Mrs Fidock's news update

As you know we had a whole school review last week, completed by Challenge Partners and we are delighted with the final report which can be found here.

Some key strengths:

  • Warm and productive relationships between adults and pupils, and between pupils, are an important feature of school life. Pupils are encouraged to show agency in their work and have excellent attitudes to all aspects of school life, which leads to a very positive climate for learning.

  • The learning environment is engaging and well-resourced, with a consistent approach evident in all classes and impressive displays celebrating learning across the curriculum. The outdoor areas are spacious and well-maintained, having been enhanced recently with an extended Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) dedicated space.

  • Pupils benefit from a wide range of extra-curricular activities, including many visits and visitors, which enrich school life. The school’s minibuses are used extensively to enable classes to undertake frequent trips. For instance, Year 6 pupils currently attend a local high school to experience their specialist science resources. There are also many well-attended lunchtime and after-school clubs. These include pottery, chess, church fun club, rugby, football, athletics, karate and French.

  • The IB curriculum framework commences from EYFS onwards. The high expectations and real-life experiences evident in the provision help to make the youngest children curious, independent and ready to learn. This ethos continues throughout pupils’ time at the school.

  • The curriculum is adapted to best meet the needs of pupils with additional needs or other vulnerabilities. The high expectations of all are exemplified by teachers’ planning starting with consideration of any SEND needs. Adaptations are further helped by the ready use of laptops for every pupil, so additional needs can be discretely supported with different overlays and resources.

Areas for development:

  • Provision for SEN is effective but even better if pupils with SEND were enabled to access the strategies and resources provided with greater independence.

  • Even better if pupils were able to further articulate and celebrate their love of reading.

  • Provision is effective but even better if there was greater consistency in teaching and learning to build on the best practice found.

We are now working as a team to both celebrate all the positives, but also to look at what we need to do next to address these areas for development. Some of these will already form part of our Academy Performance Agreement which is summarised in our Next Steps @ PWPA Document below. These 4 key areas are the focus for us as a team for the coming academic year and we refer to these when we consider any focus work or monitoring in school. As a team we will also be holding workshops sessions to share good practice with one another for areas such as marking, writing and planning.

Thank you to all those families who were able to donate for the Community Storehouse as part of our Harvest Celebrations. I know that the team will be delighted to recieve all of your goodies on Monday.

Don't forget to book your tickets to the PTA Disco next Friday - all the information can be found on previous newsletters or on information sent previously, it's an own clothes day for the whole school too.

Have a wonderful weekend.

Next Steps @PWPA

Proud@paddockwoodcommunity

This week we are really proud of...

Cucina staff

Well done to Ruth and the team for achieving a 5 - star hygiene rating in the kitchen. We all think the kitchen staff deserve a huge thank you for all they do - we are super proud of you!

ELIJAH

Elijah has played rugby since he was 2 years old and he currently plays for the Tonbridge Juddian’s U8 team. He has won so many different medals for taking part in festivals and tournaments this past year and will always play whatever the weather. Well done for showing such a high level of skill in this sport and for your enormous commitment.

Year 4

For an informative Harvest Festival about the differences between Harvest in Paddock Wood and Bereko - our partner school in Tanzania. You presented this brilliantly in St. Andrew's and thank you to Hanna for taking part too. Well done to all of Year 4.

Curriculum corner

Each week we want to give you ideas to enable you to support your child at home with a particular aspect of the curriculum. Our subject leaders will be sharing hints and tips to help you along the way and will be offering further ideas and resources that you might like to access at home. This week our focus is....

Languages

Word of the week: Autumn in Chinese is 秋天 (Qiūtiān)

To help support our teaching of French, but also to help our children with English as an additional language (EAL) we now have access to Language Nut in Key Stage 2. This online platform will allow us to set homework related to class learning, but will also help some of our children learn English. We can use this to help us communicate in other languages as well.

If you haven't had your login details please speak to the class teacher in the first instance.


Office Messages

As you may be aware we are moving from ParentPay to online payments with MCAS. ParentPay will cease on 31st October. We will remain a cash free school. Please ensure your dinner payments are paid up to date before 17th October to enable the data to activate the transfer process. All payments for clubs, dinner, trips etc will all be on MCAS from 1st November 2022 unless stated otherwise. If you have credits on school meals, after school club or breakfast club on Parentpay this will be transferred to MCAS. If you have credit in your ParentPay parent account this will need to be requested by you to refund your bank account. Thank you for your support during this transition.

Dates ahead

Some dates for your diary:

10.10.22 6C to Tonbridge School

WB 10.10.22 Year 5 trips to Paddock Wood Library

11.10.22 3TL to Dover Museum

12.10.22 3B to Dover Museum

14.10.22 PTA Autumn Disco Years 1 - 6 / Own clothes day for all pupils.

17.10.22 3L to Dover Museum

WB 17.10.22 Year 4 trips to Paddock Wood Library

18.10.22 6J to Tonbridge School

19.10.22 6S to Tonbridge School

21.10.22 End of Term 1

6.11.22 PTA Family Fireworks event

7.11.22 Term 2 begins

9.11.22 Open Evening for prospective parents EYFS September 2023 entry 6:30 -8pm

10.11.22 Kent Fire and Rescue Assemblies

11.11.22 Open Tours for prospective parents EYFS September 2023 entry, 10 - 11.30am

Year 6 to PW War Memorial

14.11.22 & 15.11.22 Pupil Photos

16.11.22 Open Tours for prospective parents EYFS September 2023 entry, 10 - 11.30am and 2.00 - 3.15pm

Nasal Flu Vaccination Year R to 6

25.11.22 Open Tours for prospective parents EYFS September 2023 entry, 10 - 11.00am and 2.00 - 3.15pm

6.12.22 Jack and the Beanstalk Pantomime

14.12.22 Christmas Lunch

20.12.22 End of Term 2

School finishes at 1:30pm (no After School Club)


Learner Profile / Approaches to learning Certificates this week go to:

6C

Caitlyn & Hope

For both displaying a consistently positive and inquisitive approach to your learning and displaying joy in your efforts.

6J

Emelia

Showing great creativity when presenting your inquiry work and becoming more confident to ask questions which help develop your understanding in lessons.

6S

Evie

For persevering as a thinker and showing a determined attitude to improve her knowledge. She has worked brilliantly on her Maths this week - accurately rounding to the nearest 100,000.

5G

Finlay

For showing his thinking skills working to solve two step problems and helping others this week, well done Finlay.

5J

Bay

Bay has shown creative agency and thinking skills when writing her newspaper article. She went above and beyond and used a variety of writing techniques as well as extending her vocabulary when completing the task. Well done, Bay :) you will make a great journalist one day.

5M

Bradley

For showing that you are a risk-taker, not being frightened to have a go and finding real success this week with your Maths. Well done Bradley.

4DP

Ruby

Ruby has been a reflective and principled learner this week. She has been organised, ready to learn and super focussed. Well done Ruby.

4G

Noah

Noah has been a principled learner this week. You are always ready to learn and putting in lots of effort leading to great results!

4T

Freddie

For being a careful and creative thinker, able to use Maths equipment to help him solve addition and subtraction problems - well done Freddie!

3BE

Jax

For writing a wonderful story based on our class text. You included a range of interesting vocabulary including similes and adverbs as well as a variety of sentence openers. You were a reflective learner by independently editing your own work.

3L

Alfie

For being a principled learner. You have shown excellent focus this week and put huge effort into all your work, well done.

3TL

Jo Jo

For showing such a huge improvement in your writing this week. You are applying your phonics knowledge and using interesting vocabulary to write your Stone Age report. Well done!

2CR

George

You have been a good inquirer this week. You worked well in a pair when using maps in Geography. Well done!

2P

Henry

For being a principled member of the class this week. You have tried your best to regulate your emotions and produced some brilliant work, particularly in your Science lessons. Well done!

2T

Eva

For being caring this week! She kindly read sentences to her partner when she saw they needed help. Super work Eva!

1E

Millie

For being a reflective communicator when writing a character description of Lila. You worked independently using a wide range of adjectives. You were also a risk-taker and challenged yourself to extend your sentences using because.

1P

Scarlett

For being a great inquirer and risk-taker. The whole class is impressed by her home learning with her rain gauge and the challenges she has been taking with her writing and segmenting in class.

1T

Oscar

For being a polite and caring member of 1T. You always lend a helping hand to others in need. In particular this week you offered to cut up another child's meal.


collection times - Gates

It's been noticed that on occasions some parents are staying on after collection to let their children play on the equipment.

Whilst we would love to let this happen, we have both After School Club who need access to these playgrounds asap and sports clubs - so to keep our children safe we must lock the gates as close to 3:30pm as possible.

ACHIEVEMENT CERTIFICATES THIS WEEK GO TO:

6C

Jasmine

For some terrific work on animal adaptation. You tried to do something different with your work than you would usually and even when you made mistakes you were reflective and found a solution.

6J

Roxy

Your massive improvement in confidence within the swimming pool this term. You have focused amazingly during lessons, always following the instructions you have been given and it has really paid off. Brilliant job Roxy!

6S

Ronnie

Each day you showcase a positive attitude and drive to achieve the challenges in class. Your enthusiasm is wonderful and you are a real role model to everyone in our school.

5G

Mia

Welcome to Paddock Wood Primary Academy Mia, you’ve settled right in to your new class and have done some great work this week!

5J

Josie

Being an ambitious and aspiring learner, Josie is continuously pushing herself to improve by asking great questions and showing reflection. I am always impressed by her general knowledge and the great input she has during class discussions.

5M

Isabel

Taking great pride in the presentation of your work, always producing a high quality end result. Keep it up. 😊


4DP

Isaac

For being so focussed and hard-working this week. You have achieved a great deal and have taken special care over the presentation of your work. Well done Isaac!

4G

Erin

Always smiling, Erin has come in every day with a fantastic positive attitude and produced wonderful work all week.

4T

Amelia

For continually setting herself and achieving high standards in all subjects. Her inquiry book has been used as an example of excellence in Year Four - well done Amelia!

3BE

Ernie

For a really good effort this week with all your work. You have also been very helpful around the classroom.

3L

Orson

For a fantastic story based on our class text. You included a range of fronted adverbials and wonderful similes, great job!

3TL

Joseph

For your hard work in literacy this week. You researched facts about the Stone Age and have made an excellent start on your Stone Age report. Well done!

2CR

Hendri

For working hard and producing an impressive map with a key and symbols.

2P

Isabelle

For a huge improvement in focus and quality of work this week. You have been trying really hard and made some major progress in your confidence in Maths. Keep it up!

2T

Libby

For trying her best with her writing this week! She has concentrated well, taken care with her handwriting and produced some brilliant pieces of work. Well done Libby!

1E

Lucia

For being a fantastic member of 1E. It has been wonderful to see your confidence growing throughout the week. You have been challenging yourself when completing independent tasks and have been partaking beautifully in our class discussions.

1P

Elijah

For showing great resilience this week. Having been poorly, Elijah returned to school earnest to show his learner attributes by being a knowledgeable and reflective member of class. We loved your independent English work from Thursday. Well done!

1T

Leyana

For consistently working hard in all aspects of the curriculum. It has been great to see your confidence grow during class discussions.



Bike safety

Please can we remind all parents that any child riding to school on a bike should be wearing a proper bike helmet.

We have seen children and been alerted by other parents that some children are riding to school with no helmets and in the middle of busy roads.

We have spoken to a number of children about this, but please reiterate this again at home. Our children are too precious to take unnecessary risks on their bikes.


families needing support

Please contact Charlotte Gunning (charlotte.gunning@paddockwoodprimaryacademy.org.uk) to discuss any support needed should you have and/or are experiencing domestic abuse at home. There are support agencies that we can signpost you to for additional guidance and help. At school we will be running a Children's Freedom Programme after half term for any children identified that may have been affected by domestic abuse. The course is run by DAVSS (Domestic Abuse Volunteer Support Services).


EYFS Dressing Up

We are sure you have all noticed how lovely EYFS is looking and all of the changes. We are trying to make our provision more real for the children in Early Years. If you have any shirts, jackets, hats or costume jewellery you would be happy to donate to us for our dressing up area we would be very grateful!