Take a look on our website to understand a little more about becoming a governor. www.extendlearning.org/becoming-a-school-governor/

 

Please get in touch with us if you think you can help! Thank you

 

 

 

Have you got that Friday feeling yet? Have you come to realise that you'd like to enhance your personal and professional skills AND support your community AND help shape and enhance the provision of education for children?

 

Walliscote Primary School are looking for you to join them!

 

Not really sure what a school governor does, or just how important the role is, or the expectations? Then hop over to https://www.extendlearning.org/becoming-a-school-governor/ to find out a little more.

 

Call Walliscote on 01934 621954 today to see how you can use your skills to support them.

 

 

Today, for the first time in years, many of our senior leaders and team leads from schools and the trust were able to meet together (- yes in person!) at the lovely Sidcot School.

It's rare to be able to take so many of us off-site to focus on new initiatives for children and work together on strengthening the wider team. Some of the team hadn't ever been together in person because they'd joined since the pandemic began, so today was an even more valuable experience for all who could attend.

We have a few more collaborative projects with Sidcot that are in the early planning stages following on from today so please watch this space!

Thank you Sidcot for your hospitality today - it was lovely as always.

 

 

Each school within the Extend Learning Academies Network (ELAN) has a Local Governing Body (LGB) who have defined delegated responsibilities.

 

The LGB within each school provides focused governance at a local level, working to represent the needs of their school community and using their varying skills, strengths and expertise from all walks of life to enrich the provision and governance of their school.

 

You can find out more about the expectations by going to:

www.extendlearning.org/becoming-a-school-governor/

 

#schoollife #schoolgovernor #schoolgovernors #schoolgovernment #schoolgovernance #schoolgoverningbody #schoolgovernorsmatter

#westonsupermare #northsomerset #northsomersetlife

This week has been Mental Health Awareness Week

9-15 May 2022 with a focus of Loneliness.

 

One in four adults feel lonely some or all of the time. There’s no single cause and there’s no one solution. After all, we’re all different! But, the longer we feel lonely, the more we are at risk of mental health problems. Some people are also at higher risk of feeling lonely than others.

 

Children also feel lonely too. It might be hard to understand how children can sometimes feel lonely, even when they are at school with their friends.

 

Free app, Ollee, funded by BBC Children in Need’s A Million & Me initiative, helps 8-11 year-olds identify and understand their feelings, and offers them support when their emotions might seem overwhelming. Building positive relationships is essential for children to find support and understanding – whether they are feeling sad, melancholic, misunderstood, lonely – or when they are not sure what their emotions are.

Go to https://parentzone.org.uk/ollee to find out more

I’m so proud of all our year 6 pupils. SATs came and went this week and it was a privilege to see them calmly getting on with it: a fantastic example of independence and resilience in action.

 

Special thanks to all the staff who facilitated the process, got in early to make breakfasts and made sure there was plenty of fun learning to do during the week.

 

Thanks to all the parents for doing such a great job in supporting your children through SATs.

 

Please have a great weekend and enjoy the (hopefully) sunny weather.

 

Adam Matthews

CEO, ELAN

In March 2022, Walliscote Primary School in North Somerset welcomed inspectors from Ofsted into school for a two-day Section 5 inspection.

 

Walliscote was graded a good school and was particularly praised for its work with SEND children and their understanding of complex needs, safeguarding, teamwork and children’s wider development and experiences beyond the classroom. The school was also highly praised for its development of the school’s strong reading culture and the priority of reading at all stages of their education and at all levels.

 

“Staff make sure all activities interest and build on children’s important learning. Leaders provide effective training, so that all adults give children skilful support. Children learn and use a wealth of new vocabulary. They confidently take part in routines. Leaders think about how learning in Reception connects with learning that pupils will encounter in the future. Children have a strong basis to build on.”

 

The Ofsted inspector reported that: "Pupils feel part of a unique and welcoming school. Some call it the ‘Walliscote family’. Pupils are polite, respectful and helpful in lessons. They listen well and enjoy learning in a caring environment. Pupils are confident, independent and engaged in their lessons. All ages play well together at break times. Staff and pupils are warm and respectful to one another. Pupils learn to be thoughtful and appreciate others. They attend regularly and enjoy coming to school. Even the youngest pupils know and understand what it means to stay safe at school and in the community."

 

Headteacher, Heidi Hudd said: “We are thrilled with the outcome of our recent Ofsted inspection. The children and staff, supported by our wider school community, demonstrated their resilience after what has been a difficult two years. Their commitment to Walliscote resulted in a ‘good’ outcome.”

 

Huge congratulations team Walliscote. We hope that you are very proud of yourselves and the contribution that each and every one of you makes. This is a great achievement and reaffirms all of the good things happening at Walliscote. 

“Leaders have a clear vision for the school. They are outward looking and welcome the challenge and guidance they receive from the trust. Decisions made by the trust have brought about much improvement in the school’s work.” Ofsted 2022

 

In March 2022, Locking Primary School in North Somerset welcomed inspectors for Ofsted into school for a two-day Section 5 inspection.

Locking was graded a good school and was particularly praised for its leadership, safeguarding measures and children’ attitude to, and participation in, school life, especially reading where the inspector noted that: “Leaders prioritise the teaching of reading. Staff are well trained in the school’s phonics programme. In the early years, adults prioritise developing children’s language and communication skills through songs and rhymes. Pupils read with increasing accuracy using the sounds they know to read unfamiliar words. Books are usually well matched to the sounds pupils know. Pupils who need to catch up with their phonics receive the right support and develop into confident readers.”

 

The Ofsted inspector reported that: Pupils play an active role in the school. They take great pride in their responsibilities, including being school librarians and classroom monitors. This supports pupils to develop a sense of responsibility and respect for others. Staff encourage them to work hard. Pupils respond well to this. The new behaviour system prioritises resilience and has supported pupils to develop good attitudes to learning.

 

Locking Primary said: “We are delighted that the school has been graded as ‘Good’ in all areas of inspection. After such a turbulent time during the pandemic and considering that Ofsted have revised their handbook and raised expectations, this is a huge achievement. The report belongs to the whole community of Locking Primary, not least our wonderful children and dedicated staff.

The school has been on a journey since its previous inspection, and we recognise that there is still work that needs to be done. Ofsted inspections are milestones, not destinations, and whilst we are delighted with this feedback, we are committed to continuing this journey towards provided an extraordinary education for all.”

 

Locking is a well-established, nurturing village school within the heart of the community. With large, natural greenspaces, Locking Primary School provides a beautiful environment in which children learn and play. If you are interested in finding out more about Locking Primary School and available places for September 2022, please contact the school office on 01934 822867 to arrange a visit. Go to the website to find out more about the school. www.locking.n-somerset.sch.uk

Educating our children in 'Online Safety' is such an important part of keeping children safe and we really need your help in ensuring that our children have responsible online role models when posting and sharing content on social media sites. We love social media and we love the engagement between school and home that happens every day.

 

We are always working collectively to make sure that all members of the community behave safely and appropriately online. We promote responsible internet use and acknowledge how important your role and our role is in setting a good example of positive and responsible online behaviour for your child. 

 

As responsible adults, we all must consider the potential impact and implications of online behaviour for ourselves and our families, as well as other members of the community. We ask you to consider how comments may be misunderstood or misinterpreted when shared online, and the possible impact and consequences on others of our online actions. 

 

Naming people online puts them at safeguarding risk, wether this be a child, member of staff, another parent and so on. It causes threats to privacy and reputation as well as potential harassment and identifying an individual.

 

We know that things aren't always perfect and there is always room for improvement and if you have any concerns or complaints regarding a school, then we we have official channels and processes to follow. By doing so, we can all work together to help resolve the concerns. 

 

The complaints procedure, anti-bullying policy, safeguarding and child protection policy and behaviour policy are available online via our website https://www.extendlearning.org/policies-trust-wide/

 

We really do appreciate your ongoing help with keeping safe online.

 

#onlinesafety #safeguardingeveryday #safeguarding #KCSIE #primaryeducation #onlinesafetytips