Hilltop Infant School Newsletter Hill Avenue, Wickford. Essex. SS11 8LT Tel. No.: 01268 762531 Email: hilltopinf.admin@heartsacademy.uk Website: http://hearts-hilltopinf.uk

Thursday, 9th January, 2020 Spring Term Issue No. 15 Executive Headteacher: Mrs K Mackenzie

Diary Dates:

January

Friday 17th, 2:30pm -

Hedgehog Class Sharing

Assembly

Friday 24th, 2:30pm -

Squirrel Class Sharing

Assembly

Friday 31st, 2:30pm -

Rabbit Class Sharing

Assembly

February Friday 7th, 2:30pm - Deer Class Sharing Assembly

Friday 14th, 2:30pm - Fox

Class Sharing Assembly

Friday 21st, 2:30pm -

Badger Class Sharing

Assembly

25th, 3:30 - 6pm,

Parent Consultations

27th, 4:00 - 7:30pm, Parent Consultations

Friday 28th, 2:30pm - Owl

Class Sharing Assembly

Friday 6th, 2:30pm - Otter

Class Sharing Assembly

W/C 13.01.20

Reception Homework

Don’t forget to check on the website for the

learning link information.

School Dinners Week 2

Forest School Group B

This Week In School

This week in Reception we have been exploring the stories “The Gruffalo” and “The Gruffalo's Child”. We have shared the books and watched the animated version of “The Gruffalo”. We have written descriptions of the Gruffalo and practised rhyming, just like Julia Donaldson. In Maths we have created beautiful calendars for 2020. We have ordered the months of the year and ordered the seasons. We have also been thinking about Winter and the seasonal changes

What a fantastic start to the first week back. The children have settled into the school life and the routine. They are very excited about our new topic, Kenya! In Geography, we have been revisiting our core knowledge about continents and oceans and have been learning all about Kenya. We will be collecting more information in preparation for writing a fact file about Kenya next week. In Maths, we have been focussing on our number formation and counting forwards and backwards to numbers up to 70. We have also been showing the value of numbers using a number line. In RE, we have been discussing books that are special to us and in Art we have been exploring drawing lines to make a pattern. A fantastic start to the Spring term.

It has been a fun packed first week back in Year 2 - We have developed our number knowledge in Maths by exploring missing numbers, sequencing numbers and ordering them. We also combined our Maths lesson with our Topic lesson and explored temperature, reading temperatures and understanding the difference in temperature between England and Kenya. In geography we have explored and learnt about Kenya. We have used the internet, pictures and non fiction texts to learn more and improve our knowledge on this African country. We have started to plan a Kenyan fact file in our English lesson, learnt how to stay safe on the internet in PSHE and in Art we have used lines to create drawings using different shades and tones to create an effect.

Welcome Back

Welcome back and into a new decade! All the children have returned with enthusiasm and ready for our new term. This term there are lots of exciting things planned with school trips and enjoyable activities in school. We would like to welcome Elsie into Year 2, she has already made lots of friends. Welcome also to Vicky Scorey who has joined the team in Hilltots, Lynn Hargreaves, who is our new SENCO and will be at Hilltop Infant School on Wednesdays and Coral Pye who has joined as a trainee teacher and will be working across Year 1.

Happy New Year to all of our families at Hilltop Infant School.

Thursday 9th January, 2020 Spring Term Issue No. 15 Executive Headteacher Mrs K Mackenzie

Hilltots

Hilltots have a few afternoon spaces available for 3 year olds.

Contact hilltots@heartsacademy.uk for more information or pop in for an application form.

Pupil Premium

In some circumstances, the school can claim additional funding for children (Pupil Premium). To do this we need your National Insurance Number and date of birth. If you volunteer this information, we will only use it for this purpose and it will be destroyed when your child leaves this school. If you have a child in Reception or Year 1 and have not already provided us with this information, please complete a form from the school office.

Outdoor Learning Please can you ensure that your child comes to school with their named wellington boots/outdoor shoes in a carrier bag.

Tuesday - Fox Class

Thursday - Owl Class

Reading Tip of the Week!

Read whenever you get the chance – Have a book or magazine with you for any time your child has to wait, like at the doctor's or the dentist.

Warm Clothing

Please would all families make sure that children return to school in January with a warm coat, hat and gloves or mittens. We really want the children to enjoy their time playing outside but they do need to be wrapped up warm during the winter months.

Sharing Assemblies

Friday 17th January - Hedgehog Class

Friday 24th January - Squirrel Class

Friday 31st January - Rabbit Class

Friday 7th February - Deer Class

Friday 14th February - Fox Class

Friday 21st February - Badger Class

Friday 28th February - Owl Class

Friday 6th March - Otter Class

All family and friends are welcome to attend

Reception Health Checks

The health checks for Reception children will be taking place on the following dates:

Monday 13th January - Hedgehog class

Tuesday 14th January - Squirrel class

Monday 20th January - Rabbit class

Congratulations!

Congratulations to Mr & Mrs Wesson on the safe arrival of Freddie Thomas. Mother and baby are doing well. Freddie was born on 7th January 2020 weighing 7lb 2oz. We look forward to meeting him soon.

Thursday 9th January, 2019 Spring Term Issue No. 15 Headteacher Mrs K Mackenzie

Reception admissions for academic year starting in September 2020

As you may be aware, the primary school (Reception) admissions opened on 11 November 2019 for parents of children to apply for a Reception school place for the academic year that start in September 2020. The closing date for applications is 15 January 2020.

The website www.essex.gov.uk/admissions also has a copy of the Primary Education in Essex 2020/21 booklet and the Schools Admissions Policies Directories contain details of all admission policies.

Applications for Year 3 places for the academic year starting in September 2020 Applications for Year 3 places opened on 11 November 2019 . The closing date for applications is 15 January 2020. The families of all children in Year 2 must apply for a Junior School place for their children before the closing date as there is no automatic transfer to Hilltop Junior School for our pupils. Please speak to staff in the school office if you would like any assistance with your application.

The website www.essex.gov.uk/admissions also has a copy of the Primary Education in Essex 2020/21 booklet and the Schools Admissions Policies Directories contain details of all admission policies.

Bullying

Although the children at Hilltop Infant School are very well behaved there may be occasions when bullying occurs. We will always treat this very seriously and will act promptly. The schools defines bullying as the following:

‘Behaviour by an individual or group usually repeated over time, that intentionally hurts another individual or group either physically or emotionally’.

How does bullying differ from teasing/falling out between friends or other types of aggressive behaviour?

There is a deliberate intention to hurt or humiliate.

There is a power imbalance that makes it hard for the victim to defend themselves.

It is usually persistent.

Occasionally an incident may be deemed to be bullying even if the behaviour has not been repeated or persistent – if it fulfils all other descriptions of bullying.

At all times, the social and emotional needs of any victim of bullying are given a high priority. Support includes the time and input of a member of staff who will teach coping strategies, the support of the school counsellor, class buddies and play partners amongst other support.

Kerry Westbrook

I am Kerry Westbrook, your school counsellor. In 2000, I studied and gained qualifications in psychology. It then felt a natural progression to take up a diploma in therapeutic counselling, after which I qualified as a therapeutic integrative counsellor in 2006. I worked for St. Lukes Hospice and Thurrock Mind during my time studying and then CAMHS. After joining the Wickford Cluster schools in 2012, my portfolio has increased to 7 schools across the area.

I am very passionate about supporting the emotional well-being and promoting good mental health of our young people, their families and the school staff, taking care of them during the school day.

Married with 3 grown up sons, I have a vast amount of life experience to draw on, as well as my counselling skills and having connections with many outside agencies to be able to offer holistic support that is child centred. If you would like to book a confidential consultation, please ask a member of staff to contact me.

Thursday 9th January, 2019 Spring Term Issue No. 15 Headteacher Mrs K Mackenzie

Extreme weather

As we move into the colder months of the year we are reminding parents and carers of our policy on school closure during critical incidents and extreme weather. During these times our key priority is keeping pupils and staff safe.

1. Our school rarely closes. We are a service funded by the taxpayer and we have a duty to open in all but the most extreme circumstances.

2. We make decisions based on the level of service that we can provide.

3. Headteachers make decisions at the time of need.

4. All notices to close will be announced on twitter accounts first, then texts/emails/class dojo.

5. If there are no announcements the school is open.

6. If the school is closing, we will make all efforts to let you know as early as possible. Usually by 7.45 am. We do not make closure announcements the day before except in the most extreme cases.

7. Site staff/senior staff assess the site only and not the surrounding roads.

8. It is up to parents to make their own risk assessment and decide whether it is safe to travel to school.

9. If schools need to close during a school day parents will be informed by the same means identified at point 4.

10. School staff stay at school in all critical situations until the last pupil has left. If there is an emergency and they need to move pupils from the site parents will be informed via twitter/class dojo/text.

11. During critical periods school staff are very busy keeping the site and pupils safe. Please do not call to ask if the school is closing. In many cases the answerphone may be on. Monitor your twitter/dojo/texts. This helps us to keep pupils safe and focus on their needs and not on answering individual calls. During these busy times the telephones may be on answerphone.

Happy Birthday 1st Hilltots!

The children, parents and staff have made banners and cards and enjoyed baking cakes to mark the occasion. Staff

and children have been sharing their favourite memories from the past year, which include:

Stay and Play sessions where parents and carers have joined their child for a session in the preschool

Sports Day and Picnic event

Graduation ceremony for the children starting school

Sponsored Nursery Rhyme concert

Performing in the EYFS Nativity

Thursday 9th January, 2019 Spring Term Issue No. 15 Headteacher Mrs K Mackenzie

Services and interventions offered to all schools:

Professional supervision for all staff

Counselling

Signposting and referring to outside agencies

Parent workshops: resilience

New intake meetings

Staff workshops: mental health awareness; self resilience; loss and bereavement;

NSPCC assemblies and workshops

Support and consultation

Report writing

Data collation

Observations

Transition support

Services essential within all schools:

Professional supervision to NQT’s and support staff of vulnerable children (LSA & TA)

Counselling for children, families and staff (when required)

New intake meetings to introduce ourselves and our service also incorporate a brief presentation and booklet on

resilience – this can be extended to include a parent workshop on a future date if interest is sufficient

CLC presentation to NQT’s – mental health awareness and self resilience

NSPCC assemblies and workshops

Data collation