Parent Update

Dear Parents,

Further to my communication at the end of last term, I have now had time to analyse the results from the Parent Survey and to read all the individual comments.

Thank you to the 39% of parents that completed the survey – your feedback is always welcome. The headline figures can be seen below:

Having combined the headline figures with the individual comments it is clear to me that there is one main priority: I need to do a better job of keeping parents informed regarding life inside Horsmonden.

Over the past few years parents and visitors have been kept out for Covid reasons and the survey shows that parents simply don’t know about all the wonderful things happening in school that we as staff take for granted. This is highlighted by the amount of parents who selected ‘don’t know’ for questions highlighted above.

A way of me addressing this is by getting parents back into school! Already this term, there have been 3 occasions where parents have been invited into school: Coffee Morning, Fabulous Females and Parent Consultations. I am confident that with events like this regularly back in the diary, all parents will have the opportunity to get to know the school once more and feel confident when answering the next parent survey.

Coffee Mornings will be held once a term going forward. It was lovely last week to meet with those of you that came in for a chat over a coffee. It was an informal morning where parents could ask me and Mr Alabi questions about anything they wanted to within school and find out more about what we offer and how things work. The feedback from those that attended was extremely positive and I am sincerely looking forward to the next one.

The class newsletters still need some work to help parents find out more about what their children will be covering each term. We made some changes to the last one, but I still think we could do better. Look out for your child’s class newsletter after Easter that will have more information about your child’s learning.

Thank you to everyone who completed the survey and for your individual comments. It is by listening to feedback that we can move forwards together as a whole school community to ensure Horsmonden is the best it can be for your children.

Co-Curricular Clubs

Our co-curricular clubs for next term will be available to book after the holiday. Parents will have between 4pm on Tuesday 19th April and the deadline of 4pm on Friday 22nd April to book a place for your child. The Cooking Club will only be open to those children who have not attended previously.

Mondays (25th April, 9th, 16th and 23rd May)

• Coding Club with Mr Alabi – KS2
• Rugby Club with Miss Jones – EYFS and KS1
• Choir with Miss McCulloch and Mrs Huby – All Children

Tuesdays (26th April, 10th, 17th and 24th May)

• Cricket Club (now outdoors) with Mrs Sharp – KS2
• Cooking Club with Mrs Turvey and Miss Card – KS2

Wednesdays (27th April, 11th, 18th and 25th May)

• Netball Club with Mrs Maynard – KS2
• Mindfulness Colouring with Mrs Kerr – All Children
• Art Club with Mrs Bellingham (parent) – KS1

Breakfast and After School Club Survey

Thank you to everyone who completed the Breakfast and After School Club survey. I am in the process of reviewing the results and will have a further update for you after Easter.

FoHPS Events

There have been two very successful FoHPS events this term: the rescheduled Valentines Disco and the Easter Egg Hunt. Thank you so much to the FoHPS committee for organising such great events for all the children to enjoy! They absolutely loved the Easter Egg Hunt yesterday, especially the visit from the Easter Bunny!

Forest School

In preparation for the Forest School pilot sessions taking place after Easter, we are kindly asking for donations of the following equipment: pots and pans for cooking, watering cans and wellies. We are not looking for new items, just items that are of no use to you any longer. If you have any of the items listed above that you no longer need, please bring them to the school office. Thank you

Facebook

Remember to keep an eye on our Facebook page to see daily updates from inside school.

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 support this.

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.

Have a fantastic Easter break and I look forward to seeing you all on Tuesday 19th April.

Kind Regards,

Hayley Sharp
Principal

2021-22 Diary Dates

Term 4

• Friday 1st April – End of Term 4

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
• Monday 16th to Friday 20th May – Bottle and Crockery Collection for FoHPS Summer Fair
• Friday 27th May – End of Term 5

Term 6

• Saturday 4th June – FoHPS Summer Fair
• 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