Somersham Primary School

About Our School : What's New Archive

Feeling valued - Investors in People Recognition: 19th March 2010

Inspirational leadership, a clear emphasis on valuing people and a strong sense of teamwork were picked out as just three of the many strengths of Somersham Primary School by national Investors in People assessors this week.

The school was first recognised as an Investor in People in September 2001. This is the school’s third successful revalidation since then, which involved a thorough reassessment that the school has passed with flying colours. Discussions with staff and governors revealed that everyone knows what’s going on and what they are supposed to be doing. All the staff, including teachers, teaching assistants, midday supervisors, and office and site workers feel involved in setting priorities, making plans and developing successes, for their teams and the school as a whole. One member of staff told assessors “This is a great school to work in – we get completely involved and certainly feel valued. We’re encouraged to constructively criticise and challenge, and that’s how some of our best ideas originate.”

Staff training and development was also praised. Staff feel they are encouraged to make the most of training opportunities and to take on new responsibilities with the right backup and support. Deputy Headteacher, Martin Dawe, who co-ordinated the assessors’ visit, said “I am particularly pleased that that the importance we attach to developing all our staff has been highlighted. Raising the performance of children is a key objective for the school and this cannot be achieved without constantly updating our own knowledge and skills.”

Chair of Governors, Daniel Bates, said “The Investors in People standards are held in high esteem across commerce and industry. The whole team at Somersham Primary School takes staff involvement, development and training very seriously and can be rightly proud that they have met and exceeded these exacting national standards.”

You can read a copy of the IIP report in full in the Reports section.
 

 

 

Write On: 8th March 2010

An inspiring whole school 'Everybody Writes' week - reviewed by Mr Dawe

Our writing week at Somersham was planned with the main objective of getting pupils 'fired up' and enthusiastic about writing, and throughout the week it was clear to see that we had been successful in motivating them to discuss, plan and write stories. On arrival at school on Monday morning, to find mysterious 'lily pads' all around and outside the building, some half hidden by snow, the sense of excitement was tangible.

Many theories were put forward as to how the lily pads might have got there, including a KS1 pupil who suggested that they were sent by angels to carry yellow flowers; the first signs of Spring spreading across a winter landscape. An amazing thought! Some adults claimed to have seen frogs using these pads to fly on, in the early hours of the morning! Sure enough, in the middle of the week, real life frogs started to appear on the playground. Just a coincidence?

Children from Reception through to Year 6: all worked with our chosen text - 'Tuesday', and all found something to respond to at different levels. Staff used five key 'Talk for Writing' strategies to help the pupils: Get to Know the Text; Capture Ideas; Analyse Language and Organisation of the Text; Plan; Write and Evaluate

The quality of discussion, role-play and final written outcomes was reported by staff to be outstanding. But the pupil's engagement didn't stop there. In many cases, staff built on the pupils' enthusiasm, to extend the project into areas such as Science, ICT and Art, resulting in a stimulating hall display.

With your support, we are confident that we can capitalise on the excitement surrounding our 'Tuesday' week, to challenge the children to continue the improvements they have made with their writing, whether in the form of increased confidence to use 'Wow Words', or through the use of more complex sentences and punctuation.

Some examples of the children's achievements and many exciting photos are on display in the school hall, and a selection can also be viewed in the Children in Action section on the latest school newsletter.
 

Ongoing works: 19 February 2010

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

To see more visit the Hygiene Room Gallery.
 

Making the connection: 11th February 2010

Announcing a capital project that joins Lower School and Early Years teams Mrs Hammond reports

In the mid-1990’s, the construction of a new classroom block added greater capacity and an improved learning environment to the school. In time, these two classrooms and the outdoor space beyond have been transformed into a specialist area for Early Years teaching, incorporating skilled practitioners and good quality resources. But since this classroom block is not physically joined to the main school building, there remains a sense of detachment, as though the learning and growing of our Reception children is separate to that which takes place elsewhere in the school.

This is a lingering impression that we are keen to correct. From Easter 2010, a new internal walkway will enable children and staff to move freely between the Early Years block and the rest of the school, unhindered by secured doors and the vagaries of the British weather! The project’s plans are available to view at the school or online. The new walkway will include a fully functioning hygiene room for disabled and able-bodied children and adults, as well as a remodelled Early Years’ entrance. It will be a light, airy and colourful space. Parents and visitors to the school will have an opportunity to step inside and enjoy displays of work by our younger children, without interrupting the children’s learning at the beginning and end of the school day.

This Hygiene Room Project will begin in earnest during Spring half term, with works scheduled for completion in ten weeks. This means that the facility should be in use at the beginning of the Summer term 2010. In the meantime there will, of course, be some disruption to the daily school routine, and we ask for parents’ patience and cooperation for the duration of the building works. Some important health and safety guidelines have been sent via a letter to all parents and carers this week.

Completion of this project will open the way for us to further enrich outdoor learning opportunities for all children in Early Years and Lower School. Further details of our exciting ‘Inside Out’ ambitions will follow shortly.
 

Thinking of others: raising funds for victims of the Haitian Earthquake: 5th February 2010

Mr McArthur reflects on a wonderful team effort

Children from Somersham Primary took the lead this week in co-ordinating the school’s fund-raising effort in response to the devastating recent events in Haiti. Having watched some video footage during a whole school assembly, an ambitious target to donate £500 to the DEC Haiti Earthquake Appeal was agreed. Key Stage 1 children organised a cake break, which was magnificently supported by parents and carers, and all of the munching raised a total of £142! Other events were run by extra-curricular club members such as the gardening group, and our support staff team held a ‘Hats, Heals and Handbags for Haiti’ costume day, raising £85.

The grand finale was a Friendship Fair, conceived and organised with great efficiency by the School Council. This after school event included traditional stalls, competitions and a raffle, and literally hundreds of enthusiastic children, parents and relatives flocked to the hall. The fair raised £338. With other donations all included, the final total of £567.43 represents a brilliant team effort, and one that warmed all of our hearts in the knowledge that we can make a real difference in times of need.

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