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

• Happy Diwali

  Thu 24 Oct 2024

  Mrs Scott wished all children a happy and safe half term holiday during assembly this morning while mentioning the importance of staying safe around fireworks, sparklers, bonfires and candles especially at this time of year. She also shared some special messages for our families who will be celebrating Diwali including:

  Wishing you a Diwali filled with love, light and laughter. May the festival bring joy and prosperity to your lives. May the light bring you peace, happiness and success.

  Happy Diwali to our school community.

  

• Pride and progress in Year 5 writing

  Wed 23 Oct 2024

  As the end of this half term approaches, children in Year 5 are reflecting on the wonderful work they have completed over the course of the year so far. This morning, the children have reflected on all of the writing they have produced to enhance and publish the piece of work they are most proud of.

   

  Children have been publishing setting descriptions, character descriptions, narratives and diary entries amongst other pieces. It is great to see our values of success and independence in action so early in the academic year.

  

• Y5 Dodgeball success!

  Wed 23 Oct 2024

  On Monday, a team of Year 5 children represented Greswold in a Dodgeball tournament at Lode Heath. Unlike usual sporting competitions, the idea behind the  tournament was to award the children for points based on the School Games values of honesty, respect and team work. 

   

  The students of Greswold did what they do best and impressed all of the other schools and volunteers so much so that they came first!

   

  Well done Year 5, you should be very proud of yourselves and the way you worked together to succeed!

   

  

• End of term singing treat for KS2 pupils, courtesy of our school choir!

  Wed 23 Oct 2024

  During this morning's KS2 music assembly, the children were treated to a performance from our school choir.  This year, the choir has grown to 25 pupils from KS2 who gave the audience a treat with a number of entertaining songs.

   

  They will be performing soon, once again, at Solihull Hospital where they can entertain the local community as well as the patients.  Well done children, you are a credit to Greswold and your families.   

  

• House lunch

  Tue 22 Oct 2024

  Thank you to our Y6 House Captains who organised Greswold's first ever House Lunch. From meeting with Mrs Card to decide on the menu to decorating the hall, from serving drinks to showing children to their tables. Mrs Scott was very proud of them and the children from across the school really enjoyed it.

  

• Y6 house captains help to launch special Greswold House day!

  Mon 21 Oct 2024

  Our value of Belonging was at the heart of this morning's first House Point assembly of the year, hosted in part by our wonderful new year 6 House Captains. 

   

  Each captain introduced themselves to all the pupils in both KS2 and KS1 assemblies, sharing with the audiences a bit of information about themselves and why they're proud to be a house captain.

   

  The audience was hooked! So much so, as to prompt Mr Hornsey to declare the captains should take the whole assembly next time! 

   

  The house captains have also worked closely with Mrs Scott and Mrs Card, our head cook, to hold a special lunchtime event where the children can sit in their houses and enjoy a special menu. 

   

  Congratulations to Y4 Nightingales (97.9%) and Y2 Badgers (97%) who received certificates for the best attendance in their phases so far this year.

   

  Finally, the House Challenge leaderboard for 2024-25 is already very close with St George's and St Patrick's currently sharing the lead with only seven points separating all the teams.    

  

• It's beginning to look a lot like.....Parent Consultation Week!

  Fri 18 Oct 2024

  Spirit levels are out in force this week as school staff begin displaying the children's fabulous learning in time for Parent Consultations next week, and we're sure our parent community will be mightily impressed.

   

  Below is a small taste of what you'll be able to view and enjoy next week.  

   

  Well done to the staff for their creative, eye-catching displays and very well done to the pupils for the pride and care they've taken to provide the learning for everyone to enjoy and learn from! 

  

• Minutes from Parent / Carer Forum on Monday 14th October 6:00-7:30pm

  Fri 18 Oct 2024

  Parent/Carer Forum Minutes: 14/10/24

   

  Attendees: Mr Hornsey, Mrs Woodcock

  8 Parents of children in Bumblebees, Owls, Nightingales, Otters, Nursery, Oaks, Robins, Rabbits, Dragonflies

   

  Mr Hornsey shared key information and headlines about the school.

   

  Leave of Absence Requests

  • A parent shared challenges relating to requesting a Leave of Absence for children to travel, at short notice, abroad because of a bereavement.  Request was denied which caused emotional stress at a very difficult time. Parent felt there should be different rules in place for bereavement.

  • Mr Hornsey thanked parent for sharing situation and offered condolences.
  • Mr Hornsey then shared processes and protocols as outlined by the Department of Education in its policy called ‘Working together to Improve School Attendance’.  All schools have to adhere to government guidelines.
  • The Local Education Authority in Solihull help local schools to interpret that guidance in a document called ‘Attendance Enforcement Team: Leave of Absence Practice Guidance for Schools’.
  • The key phrase in the guidance is ‘exceptional circumstances’ but these have not been defined by the DfE or the Local Authority.  
  • Mrs Scott spends a significant amount of time considering and deliberating each LOA request.
  • Mr Hornsey made it clear that the school response to parents about their request is a government template which seems quite generic and not personal.  This is to retain consistency and fairness and is aligned with all other schools.
  • Mr Hornsey then shared data about how many LOA requests there were in 23-24 which was over 170.
  • Mr Hornsey then shared information, he’d sourced from a school in Birmingham who receive similar requests, to ensure expectations were consistent which they are.  
  • A parent shared that in their profession, it would be a panel of people who considered similar requests.  However, government guidance stipulates that it’s the Headteacher of a school needs to make the decision to be as consistent as possible.
  • There was then a discussion about whether there should be a change in the law regarding bereavement and school shared that parents have the right to appeal penalty notices, however the point that the DfE sets the statutory guidance was reiterated.
  • Mr Hornsey then spoke about the need to take children out of school for a long period of time for such circumstances is still a choice, however difficult that may be and encouraged parents to consider all possible alternatives which would in turn avoid the need to refer absences of five days or above to the Enforcement Agency.    
  • There was a question about the different reasons which families request LOA: bereavement/funerals, weddings, religious observance, exams – music/school, holidays.
  • Question about whether there could be a list of exceptional circumstances that we could share in the attendance policy? Follow up discussion about whether this may lead to further difficulties.

   

  Action: Mr Hornsey and Mrs Woodcock to share feedback from discussion with rest of Senior Leadership Team.

   

  AOB

   

  Drop-off at KS1 gate

  • Drop-off can be a little hectic and it’s difficult to see the children actually going through the gate because of parents congregating close to the actual gate. Parents are aware that they can wait a little later but some have already waited after dropping off for Nursery.
  • Staff do remind parents to stand back/to the side and it can be busy at the start of the year but it doesn’t seem to have settled down.
  • Similarly, parents are standing in the doorway to Nursery or coming into the porch area which can block children – staff do ask parents to move to the side.
  • Could we create a system whereby parents stand back and there is a parent-free zone e.g. ask parents to wait at the edge of the grass.
  • Would a one-way queueing system coming in through one gate and out of the other help?

   

  Action: Mr Hornsey and Mrs Woodcock to communicate reminder to parents about standing back and also the fact that at 8.43/44 it is a lot quieter.  They will also consider other amendments if things don’t get easier.  

   

  Homework (Y5)

  • Discussion around children not knowing how to complete homework or haven’t been taught homework topic yet. This was mainly related to Maths.  Some English homework was felt to be a bit repetitive.  
  • There was some confusion about phonics homework in Y2 where one group had a sheet but the others didn’t.
  • Discussion around avenues of communication for children if they don’t understand in class but are reluctant to tell their teacher.
  • Mr Hornsey shared that the Home Learning Policy was to be reviewed soon anyway.

   

  Action: Include feedback in Homework Policy review

  INSET Day – discussion with staff about homework communication.

   

  Pupil Productions

  • Always popular with parents but this has reduced since Covid. However, an increase in opportunities is planned for this year.

  • Year 1/2 Spring production planned – Y2 will take the lead
  • KS! Father’s and Mother’s Day Stay and Play.
  • Y3/4 will have performance opportunities to showcase their whole class instrumental lessons.
  • Year 5 curriculum production
  • Year 6 Production and Leavers’ Assembly planned for Summer as usual
  • Reception and Nursery Christmas performances – parents would like dates/times asap to book time off work.
  • Discussion around how we promote instrumental (peripatetic) opportunities to parents. Open afternoon? Fayres?

   

  Action: share dates with parents once confirmed and consider recording instrument assemblies or showcasing music lessons at whole school events.

   

   

• Year 5 pupils combine their skills to produce writing to be proud of!

  Fri 18 Oct 2024

  Pupils in Year 5 this week have impressed their teachers with their ability to combine knowledge of the Mayans with fantastic grammar and presentation as well as the ability to design a non-chronological report.

   

  The children had time to research key aspects of a Mayan city and organise this into a plan; they then went onto write and design a double page spread showcasing their knowledge and understanding of Mayan cities.

   

  Here you can see a selection of children's work from Elms. Mr Hobbis was very impressed.

  

• Our Year 6 pupils demonstrating their 'green-fingered' prowess!

  Fri 18 Oct 2024

  This week, year 6 pupils spent an afternoon clearing our school allotment in readiness for fresh planting later on in the year.  below are some very impressive before and after shots!

   

  Year 6 parents, take note! We're sure the children will be eager to help you out at home with your gardens too! 

   

  Well done children, it's lovely to see our pupil community coming together to look after our wonderful school grounds and demonstrating our school value of Belonging.