Friday 15th November
Headteacher's Update
As I write this Newsletter direct from Stubbington Study centre, I can say that our Year 4 pupils have had a wonderful few days learning and living away from home. If you're interested to see what the Year 4's have been up to there are blog updates here. My thanks to the staff team who accompanied the children on this fantastic learning opportunity.
The recent Scholastic book fair was a resounding success. It has raised an amazing £414 in new books for the library. Our pupil librarians will work with Mr Dickson to choose the titles. Children have asked for more graphic novels, comics and joke books. My thanks to Mrs Dickson for organising this opportunity and to all the families who supported it.
We have also received a thank you from West Berks Foodbank for the donations so far this year.
Governor Update
Chris McGowan - Chair of Governors Gemma Duff - Vice Chair
As Chair and Vice Chair of the School Governors we would like to take this opportunity to introduce the role of the School Governors.
School governor is a voluntary role providing strategic leadership and accountability in schools. Holding the head teacher to account for the educational performance of the school and its pupils; and overseeing the financial performance of the school and making sure its money is well spent. We are therefore not involved in the day to day running of the school.
The Governor Board is made of up of:
- Members of staff, including the Executive Headteacher;
- Foundation Governors, who's appointment is approved by the Diocese (Church);
- Parent Governors, elected by Parents; and
- Co-Opted Governors, appointed by the Governing Board to provide necessary skills or experience.
In addition to the Full Governing Body which meets twice per term we also have sub committee's covering Teaching & Learning and Resources. The Full Board meets twice per term and will receive a report from the Head Teacher as to progress at the School and any ongoing issues. Our role is to question the Leadership Team and benchmark performance against Education Performance across the school, Safety, SEND, Policy and Compliance and ongoing school budgets. As part of this overview Governors will visit to school to observe and monitor teaching and the daily life of the school.
We are pleased to celebrate several recent highlights within the life of the school.
Excellent educational outcomes across the school highlighted by our SATS results.
A very positive appraisal from the recent LLP (Local Learning Partner) visit. This is visit from the Local Authority which highly praised the School overall. Nice for us that the Governing Body also received high praise for our role in school life.
The launch of our Outdoor Learning facility
Good uptake for the various school clubs
We would like to take this opportunity to thank the pupils, teaching staff, support staff and parents and families for your support and contributions to Woolton Hill Schools.
More information regarding the Governors can be found on the school web site. Additional Governors will be introducing themselves in future issues of the Newsletter.
Governors are approachable and can be contacted on any issues or concerns you may have via the School Office.
Outdoor Learning Update
Our school grounds improvements continue! At the start of the year our Junior School Councillors asked classes 'what would make our school an even better place to be?'
Responses were varied and there were lots of good ideas shared, which the School Council are working on with Miss Knapp. One of the improvements the children wanted was more seating on the field. We have installed a new log circle for use at lunchtimes in the summer months and for Outdoor Learning lesson inputs. We think it looks great and the children love it!
The Eco Team have helped to set it up and move the logs which were donated free of charge to the school from a local business 'Butlers...the tree people'. We want to say a huge thank you from the school community to Butlers for their kind donation to the Schools of Woolton Hill.
We are quickly gaining a reputation for excellence in outdoor learning. Hampshire Outdoors have recently published an article about the Outdoor Learning journey at the Schools of Woolton Hill, you can read the article here.
Clubs at the Junior School
We wanted to make parents aware that the school gates at the Junior School will remain closed from 3.35pm until all school clubs have finished. This is to ensure pupils remain safe i.e. that strangers are unable to wander onto the premises. Pupils will be dismissed from the gate at the end of the club.
School Trips
We have a calendar of our curriculum enrichment opportunities which can be found on our website here. This provides parents with a guide to which trips and school-based workshops accompany each topic. Although costs change, typically an in-school experience is priced at £5-£10. An off site trip is priced at £20-£30 depending on coach travel costs.
Starting Infant or Junior School in September 2025?
Does your child start junior school in September 2025? Do you know someone who is looking for a Year 3 place for next year? Come along to our next open morning on Tues 26th November @9am to meet staff and children and to see our brilliant school in action.
Due to extra demand we have added an addition Open Morning tour on Thursday 9th January 2025.
Register at these links:
Christmas Dates
We have a packed programme of events taking place across the Federation in the run up to Christmas. Here are the dates for your diary:
Thursday 12th Dec 10am | EYFS Nativity Performance to Parents |
Mon 16th Dec 9.30am | KS1 Nativity Dress Rehearsal |
Mon 16th Dec 2pm | KS1 Nativity Performance to Parents |
Mon 16th Dec 5pm | Lower KS2 Carol Concert to Parents |
Tues 17th Dec 5pm | KS1 Nativity Performance to Parents |
Weds 18th Dec | Infant Christmas Jumper & Lunch day |
Weds 18th Dec | Junior Whole School Pantomime at the Watermill Theatre |
Weds 18th Dec 5pm | Junior Musical Extravaganza |
Thurs 19th Dec | Junior Christmas Jumper and Lunch Day |
Thurs 19th Dec 9.15am | Christmas Church Service - pupils only |
Fri 20th Dec | Junior Ambassador Charity Fund Day |
Our Nativity Plays
This year the school is producing to separate Nativity plays. One for pupils in KS1 (Badgers, Owls and Otters) and another for pupils in Year R (Hedgehogs class.)
Key Stage One
Tickets for the play are limited strictly to two per family in total due to space in the Church. It is important that you only book two tickets in total so each parent has the opportunity to watch the Nativity. Please follow the link below and select the performance you wish to come to and book your tickets. Each child is expected to be at both performances. Any questions regarding costumes please speak to your child's teacher.
EYFS
This year Hedgehogs class will perform their own Nativity play. This will take place at St Thomas' Church at 10am on Thursday 12th December. You can initially book two tickets here:
Prayer Group
Would you like to meet with other parents for support and to pray for the children and teachers at The Schools of Woolton Hill?
If so, do join us for coffee, chat and prayer on Wednesday, 20th November at 9 a.m. We will be meeting in Room 2 of Woolton Hill Church Hall (WHCH) next to the Infants School.
If you are interested and would like to join us, please just come along on the 20th Nov. If you are interested but can’t make this date, but would like to meet up with us another time, please let us know, either by email fionaash@btconnect.com or phone Tel: 07980009790. We look forward to hearing from you and meeting with you.
Alice Maclean and Fiona Ashworth (Foundation Governors).
'Right To Choose' for Autism and ADHD assessments:
What is Right to Choose?
This means that you have the legal right to choose which mental healthcare provider you want to be referred to for assessment and treatment. This means that if you decide the waiting time for your Autism/ADHD assessment (in our case this is west Berkshire CAMHS) is too long, then you can choose another provider.
The process of assessment starts with an appointment with your GP and they then make the referral. This is a quicker process than referring through a school.
There are many Mental Health assessment providers which you can explore through a google search. This one is local to us in Basingstoke.
Psicon (the provider) say: "Psicon can offer your child an assessment for autism, ADHD (or both) and, following a Psicon assessment, ADHD medication at our Basingstoke, Hampshire clinic. If clinically appropriate, we may also be able to offer online assessment (ADHD only) regardless of where you live in England. From 1st November 2024, the wait time is 9-12 months from the date all pre-assessment paperwork is returned."
West Berkshire CAMHS continue to offer a great service but parents might find Right To Choose is a quicker route to assessment for their child. We do recommend this page for more details about how parents can access help and support whilst they wait for assessment.
Please discuss your concerns with our SENCO Miss Knapp before reaching out to your GP for referral.
Hampshire Healthy Steps
Hampshire Healthy Steps is a new service in Hampshire for families with children aged 2-12 years supporting families health and wellbeing. They can offer practical advice on healthy eating, physical activity, sleep and dental care. More information including how to contact them and what will happen next is in the leaflet below.
Star Awards
The following children received Star Awards this week! They should all be really proud, well done!
8th November: Maisie S, Alfie D, Willow H, Jack D, Molly S, George C, George R, Rohan P and Frankie B
15th November: Florence R, Albie M, Tilly P, Hugo G, Erin D, Bethany R, Finley S and Jack T
Life Learning
Resilience
15th November: Lorenzo F, Evelyn B and Billy D
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