Keep up to date with all the latest news happening in school at the moment.

• Chance to Shine cricket sessions have started!

  Fri 09 May 2025

  All year 4 and year 5 pupils have started taking part in Chance 2 Shine cricket coaching sessions.  These sessions which range between 4 and 6 are run by Warwickshire County Cricket coaches and culminated in cricket festivals which each year group will be involved in against other schools.

   

  This annual event has been running for several years now and also enables school staff to develop their own teaching of cricket skills as well.

   

  Look out for news of the two festivals taking place next half term.  

  

• Phonics Workshop for parents a real success!

  Fri 09 May 2025

  This week, Miss Jones (Phonics Subject Lead) has been leading phonics workshops for Greswold parents.  For parents, it was a chance to see how phonics is taught in school using our current scheme Supersonic Phonic Friends. Each workshop reflected what everyday phonics sessions looked like and were intended to give parents a better idea on how they can best support their children with reading and spelling at home.

   

  The sessions each consisted of an initial recap, lots of segmenting and blending, reading with speed, teaching of the rules (if there were any) and strategies that we use if there is no rule.  The sessions also demonstrated how new learning was then applied to the children's own writing and how they then edit their work by giving themselves a tick or fixing it quick!

   

  Thank you to the parents who gave up their time to attend the workshops and we hope you found that very useful.  

  

• Meeting with ex-pupils to help Greswold's current pupils

  Fri 09 May 2025

  This morning, Mr Hornsey met with a group of ex-Greswold pupils from Lode Heath school to discuss the very important topic of homework or, as we call it, home learning. 

   

  The year 7 pupils enthusiastically brought their learning for Mr Hornsey to view and had a 30 minute conversation about expectations of homework.  They were asked several questions about homework, particularly around whether they felt they were well prepared from their time at Greswold.

   

  The children shared some really interesting suggestions that we are going to discuss further before amending and updating our own policy.  Greswold parents will receive an opportunity to feedback on our future home learning proposals at our next Parent Forum early next half term. 

   

  However, this type of visit very much proves that Greswold will be seeking feedback from lots of different stakeholders in order to make the right decisions for the pupils, their futures and their families. 

• Y4 Olympic gymnast in the making!

  Fri 09 May 2025

  Amazing news from Y4, one of our pupils has recently won a silver medal at a national gymnastics competition!

   

  Esme competed in the vault discipline against 16 other gymnasts using the exact same equipment from the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris! 

   

  The standard was very high but to come 2nd and win a silver medal is something she'll cherish for a very long time.  Her family and Greswold, as a whole school community, are very proud of her.  

   

  Her family mentioned just how much Esme enjoyed the bonding experience with other members of her squad, something we entirely agree with and support.  Being part of a team or club can have such a positive impact on a child's confidence and self esteem.

   

  Well done Esme.

  

• Watch out, there are animals about! It's Y2 Africa Day!

  Thu 08 May 2025

  On Wednesday, Year 2 celebrated Africa Day.  The children looked fabulous dressed as an African animal and took part in various fun activities. 

   

  In the morning, they tasted African food and made necklaces, decorating them with African patterns, played an African maths game called Shisisma, made an African flag and drew African animals. 

   

  In the afternoon, they played African drums, learnt an African dance and played African games outside.  The children had a wonderful day and it was a super way to end our topic on Africa. 

• Every Greswold child receives a free book!

  Thu 08 May 2025

  On Wednesday, Greswold welcomed Lucy from Touchwood and Avni from Expect Amazing who presented children with a free book. This was part of a 'Gift a Read' scheme, aimed to supply schools or children with books in order to foster a love of reading. Greswold had the choice of receiving more books for the school library or providing every pupil from Reception to Year 6 with a free book. We decided that it was an exceptional, rare opportunity to gift every single pupil with a new book and we were delighted to accept such a generous offering from the parties involved. We hope that the children enjoy reading through their new stories!

• Greswold commemorates VE Day!

  Thu 08 May 2025

  This week, the pupils have been taking part in various activities to commemorate VE Day.  Yesterday, at Forest School, pupils created a lovely display using recyclable materials, eventually being hung on the KS2 pedestrian gates, while Mrs Howell (History Subject leader) hosted a special whole school assembly on VE Day, which included a special song sung by the children at the end.  

   

  Children have also been creative themselves at lunchtime helping to remember VE day and several year groups have taken part in special History lessons throughout the week.  Mrs Scott will also remember VE Day tomorrow in Star Pupil assembly. 

  

• Greswold pupils demonstrate self awareness through Pupil Voice

  Thu 08 May 2025

  Last term, years' 1-6 were involved in a Pupil Voice morning.  This is a special morning which is organised every year to provide forums and opportunities for children to speak honestly about school life.  The children are split up into mixed age groups and allocated to a class teacher to discuss a specific topic. 

   

  Topics include different curriculum subjects areas as well as other school systems and topics including lunchtimes, Collective Worship, SEND and behaviour.  The children's responses are then recorded and evaluated to help identify ways of improving learning and whole school experiences for all children.

   

  After evaluating this year's responses, it was really pleasing to see just how aware the children were of themselves and their needs, and what was happening around them.  They also expressed a desire for more opportunities to develop their independence through time, space and activity.  Pleasingly, they were very appreciative of all the support given to them by class teachers in lessons and other members of staff around school.  Below is a summary of the responses made:

   

  • The children were appreciative of rewards systems, of the praise given by staff and of how polite staff were too.
  • They recognised that staff used a variety of ways of feeding back to the children on their learning, both verbally and visually.
  • The children could tell when a teacher enjoyed a subject they were teaching.
  • Children felt there was a great deal of respect between pupils in class.
  • Children liked calm environments and the use of music to maintain this.
  • Children could recall memorable events and lessons easily.
  • Children were aware of the differences between the mornings and afternoons at school.
  • Children recognise challenges in learning and are aware of times when there is low level disruption.
  • There is a desire for more time and space to develop their own independence.
  • They’re aware that more guidance is needed when having constructive partner talk so that participants stay on task.
  • Of all the values, the children feel that respect needs to be modelled more often so that they’re aware of all the forms of respect.
  • The children demonstrated awareness of systems, strategies and routines implemented to support learning and independence.  
  • Children value individuals and communities being reflected in our curriculum offer and have asked this to happen more.  
  • There is genuine enjoyment of learning about the lives, beliefs and cultural traditions of others.

   

  The staff have already been given time to reflect on and explore the themes contained within the responses given by the children and will continuously look for ways to provide those opportunities which the children have asked for. 

   

  Well done to all of the children who took part.  Your thoughts, opinions and ideas reflected the growing maturity of all our learners here at Greswold. 

   

   

   

   

   

• Cantonese is May's Language of the Month

  Tue 06 May 2025

  We have over 25 pupils in school now who are fluent in speaking Cantonese so it's a perfect opportunity to celebrate their language by dedicating the month of May to Cantonese for Language of the Month. 

  

• Children and staff take plaudits for impressive Nurture Award

  Fri 02 May 2025

  This morning in Star Pupil assembly, we celebrated the awarding of a special Nurture Award for everyone at Greswold. Mrs Sullivan (SENCo) was presented with a plaque and certificate whilst staff, parents and pupils involved were also congratulated too.

   

  The National Nurturing Schools Award is evidence of a school's success in implementing and embedding a nurturing culture that responds to the social, emotional and mental health needs of its pupils, alongside their academic studies.  The award itself took nearly two years to gain and highlights Greswold's understanding that education, in modern times, is to develop the 'whole' child. 

   

  Well done to everyone involved for their continued commitment and hard work.