Dear Parents,
We have all been busy in school this week working with an external review company called Challenge Partners to review the provision of education for all children at Horsmonden. The team was led by a practising Ofsted inspector, although I should point out this was not an Ofsted Inspection, and the team scrutinised all areas of the school.
Challenge Partners do not work for the Trust and are completely independent. They reviewed the school in an unbiased, objective manner looking for areas of strength as well as areas for development.
Everyone, staff and children, shone brightly and did Horsmonden proud! We demonstrated a wonderful learning environment with purposeful, engaging lessons in all classes. Children’s behaviour was noted as a real strength as well as their attitudes to learning. This is credit to the whole staff team who demonstrated their high expectations of behaviour, conduct and engagement in lessons.
Children were happy and could talk confidently about the school, their lessons and behaviour. Two groups of children spoke in more detail to the reviewers and their parents should be very proud of them, as I am. They spoke articulately, politely and showed a real passion for Horsmonden talking about what they enjoy at school and how lessons challenge them.
As a staff team, we are incredibly proud and happy with the feedback and it helps validate our own thoughts and opinions about the fantastic education and opportunities we provide at Horsmonden.
I recognise it is difficult for me to share everything that is going on in school through updates and Facebook posts so I would like to invite parents into school more now that Covid restrictions have been lifted. It is important to me that you all see for yourselves the wonderful things happening in school, how much children are learning and how the school is going from strength to strength.
For that reason, I am going to start hosting ‘Friday Coffee Mornings’ open to all parents with children in school to come in, enjoy a hot drink and a biscuit and find out more about the school.
The first Friday Coffee Morning will be on Friday 25th March straight after drop off until 9:45am.
Parent Consultations – Tuesday 29th and Wednesday 30th March, 3:30pm – 5:30pm
Next week your child will come home with a paper letter regarding Parent Consultations and how to request an appointment. The process will include your child returning a slip the next day with your preferred appointment day and time on. Appointments will be allocated on a first come, first served basis so please return the slip as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.
Ukraine
Thank you to everyone who has already donated to the support effort for families fleeing and still in Ukraine. You have been so generous, just see below to see how much was collected at the beginning of the week!
If you are still planning to donate, please do so by tomorrow. The following items are needed: sleeping bags, first aid supplies, infant formula milk, lactose free formula, baby food, nappies (all sizes), warm socks, blankets, torches, batteries, sanitary pads, new pants, fleeces (khaki colour), ibuprofen and paracetamol.
Clubs
You are aware that the deadline has now passed for registering children for clubs this term. It is important that we stick to the deadline, to enable Mrs Janes to perform all the administration duties associated with running clubs. Towards the end of this term, the new set of clubs for next term will be promoted giving you the opportunity to register your child ready for after Easter.
Year 6 Legacy Events
Please see the diary dates below regarding the upcoming fundraisers for the Year 6 Legacy – Krispy Kreme doughnut sale and pyjama day.
‘Fabulous Females’ Afternoon
On Monday 28th March from 1:45pm your child will be able to invite a ‘Fabulous Female’ (close female relative or friend) into school to share their learning for the afternoon. The event will be similar to the Parent Partnership Afternoon in term 2. ‘Fabulous Females’ can arrive anytime between 1:45pm and 3:00pm and drop in and out of classes to see multiple children within the family.
Attendance
Children should be in school every day unless they are too ill, attendance is mandatory, as set out by the Department of Education. We have high expectations of behaviour, learning and attendance at Horsmonden and will use the full extent of our Attendance Policy to enforce this.
Further to the letters already sent to identified families, the next round of letters are being prepared. For some families, medical evidence will be requested if their child is ill, attendance meetings will be arranged with school Governors or Penalty Notices will be issued.
Parents should aim for 100% attendance for their children. When children are not in school regularly it not only affects their learning, but also their behaviour, routines and ability to make and retain friends. We often find that those children that have friendship issues are the same children who have poor attendance. There is also a direct correlation between attendance and attainment. Children have missed out on too much education over the last couple of years and I am asking for your support in ensuring your children are in school every day.
As always, if there is anything you wish to discuss, you can arrange a meeting with your child’s class teacher, send an email, or catch me at the gate. I am out there mostly every day, along with Mr Alabi.
Kind Regards,
Hayley Sharp
Principal
2021-22 Diary Dates
Term 4
- Monday 14th March – Class Photos (Profiles Photography)
- Thursday 17th March – Year 6 Trip to Furness Pond
- Friday 18th March – Red Nose Day (Children can come dressed in red for a donation of £1 on ParentPay)
- Wednesday 23rd March – FoHPS Rescheduled Valentine’s Disco
- Thursday 24th March, 3:20pm – Year 6 Krispy Kreme Doughnut Sale in aid of Year 6 Legacy
- Friday 25th March, 8:40 to 9:45am – Parent Coffee Morning
- Friday 25th March – Pyjama Day in aid of Year 6 Legacy – donation buckets on the gate
- Monday 28th March, 1:45pm – Open Afternoon for Mums/Nans/Aunts to celebrate Mother’s Day
- Tuesday 29th March – Parent Consultations (3:30pm – 5:30pm)
- Wednesday 30th March – Parent Consultations (3:30pm – 5:30pm)
- Thursday 31st March – FoHPS Easter Egg Hunt
- Friday 1st April – Year 4 Roman Day
- Friday 1st April – End of Term 4
- Monday 4th April – INSET Day for Teachers
Term 5
- Tuesday 19th April – Start of Term 5
- Monday 2nd May – May Bank Holiday (School Closed)
- Tuesday 3rd May – Year 4 Maypole Dancing on the Green
- Friday 27th May – End of Term 5
Term 6
- Monday 6th June – Start of Term 6
- Monday 13th to Friday 17th June – Year 6 Residential to Windmill Hill
- Thursday 14th July – FoHPS Summer Disco
- Friday 22nd July – End of Term 6