Dear Parents and Carers,
Local Governing Body Update
I met with our governors on Thursday afternoon and was pleased to welcome two new members to our Local Governing Body. Rev Gary has joined the team. Gary has served Beaford and the surrounding parishes for many years and knows the school well. Kat Jackson has also joined as a parent governor and I have no doubt she will provide fantastic support to the school.
During the meeting, we discussed progress against this year's School Improvement Plan and had in-depth discussions about attendance, predicted attainment and the importance of the school providing rich experiences as part of the curriculum.
Core Skills
The children in Year 1 and Year 4 completed their statutory Phonics and Multiplication Checks this week. Both are excellent examples of how regular practice helps children develop fundamental but challenging skills.
At school, the children practise these skills daily, we are rigorous in ensuring they are taught systematically and thoroughly because they are skills that will serve them throughout their lives. Once mastered, reading and maths become enjoyable subjects rather than a constant struggle.
At home, I would encourage all parents to establish simple routines around reading and mental arithmetic practice. For reading, dedicating ten minutes each day can make a significant difference. Getting the children interested in magazines, comics and online reading linked to their interests can also help foster a genuine love of reading. Regular visits to the library are also a great way to promote reading.
For maths, games are a fantastic way to develop number fluency. Card games, in particular, provide excellent opportunities for children to practise mental calculations. Asking children to add up scores, compare totals and think about the most efficient ways to score points can be incredibly powerful in developing their confidence with numbers.
The key is a little-and-often approach and not letting perfect get in the way of good. We will teach these skills at school, but we often see the greatest progress when parents make learning a priority at home too.
This Week
On Monday, Rev Gary led an assembly on the story of Daniel and the Lions' Den. The children explored the importance of hope, doing the right thing even when it is difficult, and how making positive choices benefits both ourselves and those around us.
There have also been several trips and sporting events this week. On Tuesday, Zenna and Jane took children from across the school to compete in the Torridge Swimming Gala, and on Wednesday our Reception children travelled to Putsborough for beach safety and lifesaving lessons. Today, year 5 and 6 children are taking part in a cricket tournament - best of luck Beaford!
As always, the children represented both the school and their families beautifully. One of the great joys of taking children out of school is hearing the positive comments we receive from activity leaders and members of the public about their behaviour, manners and enthusiasm. They are a real credit to Beaford.
A Huge Thank You to Our Volunteers
With so many trips, sporting events and activities running this week, we could not have done it without the support of our wonderful parent volunteers. Thank you so much to everyone who gave up their time to help. Your support is incredibly valuable to us and ensures these rich experiences can happen.
Enjoy your weekend.
George Myers
Head of School
