Mon 2nd Sept – Thur 19th Dec

Half Term

Mon 21st Oct – Fri 25th Oct

Spring Term 2014

Mon 6th Jan – Fri 4th April

Half Term

Mon 17th Feb – Fri 21st Feb

Spring Break

Mon 7th Apr – Mon 21st Apr

Summer Term 2012

Tue 22nd Apr – Fri 23rd July

Half term

Mon 26th May – Wed 30th May

We have looked at what type of Monarch Henry VIII was and why he had so many wives. At the end of last half term we also had a visit from Henry VIII.

In our topic we studied The Mary Rose and court life.  We have even created and performed a Tudor dance and our own sea shanty.

Next, we will be learning about the rich and the poor through the film ‘The Prince and the Pauper’.

We have had lots of fun studying the Tudors and we hope you enjoy the photographs and videos of some of the activities we have done.

Goldilocks and the Three Bears

Handa’s Surprise

Castles

Firefighters

Thomas Gray Mission Statement

Autumn Term Update

In our attempts to gain the L.P.P.A this term we have had two very successful parent and child workshops. Fruity Faces for Nursery and Healthy Lunchboxes for Reception which were both well attended. Some parents also completed an after school Family Cookery Club. Thanks to all who attended.

Also, thanks to all those parents who supported their child with their learning challenge homework, the results were fantastic!

We have had our first P.T.A. meeting and a number of parents are now supporting are fundraising attempts,

Thanks to the parents/grandparents who help out at the Tuck Shop and the recent bag pack at Asda – school raised £714.00 – this is going towards purchasing I pads for school.

Future events to look out for:

Christmas Hat Making Foundation, Year 1 and 2

Read Write Inc demonstration lessons

Lets Learn Together Course

Cake Decorating

Cultural Craft Club

Moving on with Maths

The Leading Parent Partnership Award (LPPA)

The LPPA is an exciting national award that the school is hoping to achieve in the next 15 months. It provides a framework that will help us to involve parents and carers more fully in every child’s learning experience.

One of the principle criteria of the Award is the promotion of and participation in lifelong learning within school for parents and carers. It is vital that parents and carers understand and support their children’s learning and development. Family learning can reinforce their relationships with their child and the school as well as developing their own skills and knowledge.

The LPPA offers long term benefits such as improved pupil attendance and behaviour and increased parental involvement and support. We hope to improve communication between school and home and nurture the child/ parent relationships by highlighting the benefits of adult learning and the positive impact this can have on a child’s own education.

This is a challenging but rewarding venture that should impact upon every child, parent, carer and member of staff at our school.

A school that encompasses parents and carers in its vision is a school that can create a wholly successful learning environment for its pupils.

We would like to inform you of our commitment to achieving the Award but also ask for any assistance that you might be able to provide to support us in furthering parental engagement through your own connections with us.

Communication and Language, Physical Development, Personal Social and Emotional Development, Literacy, Mathematics, Understanding of the World and Expressive Arts and Design. The areas below underpin all areas of learning and are vital to children’s progress and development.

Communication and Language.

In Reception we have been learning to listen to others and talk to each other, taking turns during conversation. Staff encourage these skills in various ways, for example, during Circle Time, in small group activities and within the role play area and small world imaginative play. Stories and rhymes are important in developing children’s communication and language skills and are an integral part of our daily routine.

Personal, Social and Emotional Development.

Having enjoyed nursery there is no problem with children settling into reception. With children who are leaving parents for the first time we support them in separating from their Parents/Carers and settling into the new environment. Planned activities aid the children’s interactions with one another and we support children in expressing their feelings and developing a respect and awareness of others. During the first term of Reception we focus on the development of self-help skills, e.g. dressing and toileting, and encourage children to be independent.

Physical Development.

At Thomas Gray Primary, the children have daily access to the outdoor area. Activities are set up to develop gross and fine motor skills both indoors and outdoors. To aid gross motor skills there are opportunities to climb, ride on bikes and use large construction equipment. Fine motor skills are developed via activities such as threading, manipulating play dough and using small construction equipment.

Expressive Arts and Design.

This area of learning covers art, music, dance, drama and elements of design and technology. We have a creative table, a movement area where children can dance and enjoy role play and have access to musical instruments. The creative table offers opportunities for drawing, painting, model making and exploring malleable materials. We encourage children to develop their imagination and storytelling through role-play and small world play. Children can explore movement to different styles of music and engage in singing activities daily. Children have access to a variety of materials and resources to design and make their own models.

” Behaviour is outstanding.”

” Children make a good start in the Early Years Foundation Stage and make good progress, particularly in communication skills.”

OFSTED March 2012

Our last inspection was in March 2012.

OFSTED Report 2012

Bear Year 2 (Unicorn class) have had a great start in their new class, working on the topics of unicorns and bears. They have produced some amazing work which you are quite welcome to come and see on display in class.

Our first topic looked at Unicorns. We based a lot of our work from the book “The Midnight Unicorn”. Children discovered facts and wrote their own stories. Finally they created a unicorn from clay

We then began our first learning challenge – What do I need to look after a bear? This was based on the old favourite Paddington bear. We looked at Spectacled bears from Peru (Paddington’s relatives), their habitat and what they fed on. This then lead to our science topic “healthy eating” with children creating a healthy diet for Paddington. Too many sticky buns and marmalade sandwiches are not good for you! Finally we designed a new suitcase with wheels looking closely at wheels and axles and how they worked! Refelcting on our work we developed a Paddington PowerPoint with our OWN voice over!!!!

Why don’t you watch the first ever episode of Paddinton Bear while you’re here.

 Speaking of Paddington Bear, have a look at the new suitcases Unicorn class designed for him to go back to Peru.