Post on 13-Mar-2018
transcript
Governors’ News Autumn Term 2014
Welcome to our 2nd edition!
We published the first edition of Governors’ News during the summer term -‐ we hope you found it informative and useful. There is always so much to talk about in a busy, exciting school such as Molescroft, so it’s a case of what to leave out rather than how to include enough for a newsletter. However, we hope that the contents of this edition are of interest to you -‐ don’t forget that you can always email us to ask questions or suggest topics for future coverage. This has been a busy term for all involved with the school. In fact, it is hard to believe how much has happened and how quickly the time has passed since September. May we take this opportunity to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year and to thank all the staff and families for making Molescroft School such an enriching place to be.
nicolabailey99@hotmail.com
Following reconstitution, as per the School Governance (Constitution) (England) Regulations 2012, our governing body is now formed as follows:
Chair of Governors and local authority governor: Tony Knight
Vice Chair and co-‐opted governor: Melissa Blencoe
Head teacher governor: Michael Loncaster
Staff governor: Linda Hemphill
Parent Governors: Adrian Adamson, Alex Lazenby, Kathryn Ratcliffe, Karen Towse and Richard West
Co-‐opted Governors: Nicola Bailey, Pat Beckley, Matthew Britton and Victoria Scarborough
In this edition…
Pupil Premium
Riding Forward Teaching School Alliance
Plus …
Ø The new SEND code of practice Ø Introducing Mr Dave Platten, our new
caretaker Ø Spotlight on governors Pat Beckley
and Kathryn Ratcliffe
Pupil premium • introduced in April 2011; • extra budget in addition to main school funding; • allocated to schools to work with pupils who have been registered for free school meals
at any point in the last six years (known as ‘Ever 6 FSM’); and • designed to narrow the gap by ensuring that funding reaches the pupils who need it
most. (adapted from AQA at: http://www.aqa.org.uk/about-‐us/what-‐we-‐do/products-‐and-‐services/the-‐pupil-‐premium)
Sir John Dunford (2014), national pupil premium champion, says:
Closing the gap between the achievement of disadvantaged pupils and others is the biggest challenge faced by our generation of teachers and school leaders. Pupil premium funding is about making sure that disadvantaged children aren’t held back by their background. Too many children do not achieve the qualifications they need to improve their life chances and as a consequence the chances of their children and their children’s children.
Molescroft School and the Pupil Premium The school has received: ü 2012/13 £9,000.00 ü 2013/14 £13,500.00 ü 2014/15 £18,000.00
Funding has been used for: ü 1:1 tuition in English and Maths ü small Group Work ü specific intervention programmes – for example,
dyslexia support ü booster classes in English and Maths ü additional Teaching Assistant support ü social language groups ü music lessons
You can find out more on the school website – look under ‘Key Information’
You can read the full article at: http://news.tes.co.uk/b/opinion/2014/09/10/39-the-biggest-prize-for-the-pupil-premium-is-to-close-the-attainment-gap-39.aspx
Introducing our new caretaker and lollipop man …
Mr Dave Platten Since joining the school in August 2014 Mr Platten has become a familiar face to us all as he has cheerfully gone about his many duties. We have all been relieved to have had the crossing patrol reinstated for the safety of our children, so for that we are most grateful to him.
Mr Platten has enjoyed a previous career building tunnels in London, across Europe and in the USA. Amongst many other projects he has worked on the Jubilee Line and the Channel Tunnel. He’s well-‐travelled, only underground as opposed to out and about seeing the sights. You might say, then, that it’s quite fitting he should end up a ‘mole’ at Molescroft! Once a mole, always a mole …
Outside of work Mr Platten is a keen judo enthusiast and coach. Now that the weather has turned colder you might have noticed him wearing his woolly hat; closer inspection reveals the logo not to be of a football club but of the East Yorkshire Judo Academy.
Space does not permit us to list all of Mr Platten’s duties as our caretaker, but here are just a few …
sweeping and general tidying; setting alarms and turning them off again, plus attending alarm calls; opening up in the morning and locking up in the evening; making sure cleaners and contractors have everything they need; checking all windows are closed every night; ensuring the floor cleaner is charged and ready to use; maintaining a comfortable level of heating throughout the school; replenishing toilet rolls and soap; emptying hoovers and replacing bags; greenhouse repairs; installing anti-‐slip wire mesh around the wildlife area; PAT testing of all electrical equipment; light repairs; moving of furniture; setting up temporary stages for school events; daily checks of the adventure playground; making sure water heaters are all in good working order; keeping an inventory of every item in the school; relaying pavers and repairing brickwork; painting the red and yellow lines on the car park and playgrounds; leaf sweeping; crossing patrol; attendance at Green Team meetings; going on courses, such as Working at Heights; painting the sheds; maintenance of locks and arranging for new keys to be cut; removing frogs from the various drains round the school; ensuring the security of the perimeter fence; adhering to COSHH regulations; general equipment checks; lighting repairs; cleaning of roofs, gutters and gulleys; testing fire alarms each Wednesday; maintenance of drains; putting bins out for collection; repairing laminators; erecting new shelves; ensuring all clocks are working; general daily checks;
and anything else he is asked to do …
Sounds exhausting!
Spotlight on Kathryn Ratcliffe, parent governor
For how long have you been a governor at Molescroft School? I became a Governor in February 2012, so just over two and a half years.
Can you tell us a little about what this involves for you? Being a school governor involves attending three full Governing Body meetings per year, with two other smaller committee meetings each term. I have a responsibility for a specific area of the school improvement plan, which involves working alongside and supporting the relevant member of staff in school, to ensure that the objectives are met.
What do you think are the main challenges currently facing education? A difficult question for me to try to remain impartial, as I am in the teaching profession; however, like many other areas in the public sector, I would have to say that the greatest challenge today is the lack of funding for education, particularly in the East Riding, which I believe is one of the poorest funded local authorities.
What do you do for a living? I am a teacher at Walkington primary school.
Any time for hobbies? Having three children, being a taxi service for their out of school clubs and parties and working full time, I have very little spare time these days for myself. I do, however, enjoy music and dancing and I have just started a street dance class. It's good fun and a great way to relax.
What music, books or films have inspired you? This is tricky to answer as I enjoy such a wide variety. I do, however, have a passion for musical theatre and I have been greatly inspired by the work of Claude-‐Michel Schönberg and Alain Boublil, whose work includes the amazing musicals 'Les Misérables', 'Miss Saigon' and 'Martin Guerre'. Apart from these, I am a great fan of Andrew Lloyd Webber's work, including 'Phantom of the Opera', 'Jesus Christ Superstar' and 'Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat.' The list is endless! I am hoping to inspire my own love of theatre into my children, having taken them to see 'The Lion King', 'Charlie and the Chocolate Factory', 'Mary Poppins' and 'Chitty Chitty Bang Bang' over the past few years.
What would be your ideal holiday destination? Somewhere hot, with a beautiful golden sandy beach and turquoise sea, but most importantly surrounded by my family.
Describe Molescroft School in three words … enriching, inspiring & inclusive!
What prompted you to become a governor? I feel very passionate about providing the best education for our children. After seeing how my eldest daughter thrived during her primary years spent at Molescroft, I wanted the opportunity to work with the school, in order to support their fantastic efforts in maintaining such an outstanding environment for our children.
For you, what are the highlights of the school year at Molescroft? There are so many; Molescroft is such an exciting and vibrant place to be. A definite highlight for me, however, has to be the theatre club production every year. It gives the children the most amazing opportunities, at all levels, to develop self-‐confidence or showcase talents which may well have remained hidden.
Spotlight on Pat Beckley, co-opted governor
For how long have you been a governor at Molescroft School? I've been a Governor at Molescroft Primary School for eight years.
Can you tell us a little about what this involves for you? There are regular meetings for updates on policies and practice at the school, such as curriculum initiatives or health and safety. As a Governor I have been invited to other events, for example as part of an interview panel. I also oversee aspects of practice, which are presently Early Years, Computing and R.E.
What do you think are the main challenges currently facing education? The main challenges seem to be keeping pace with wider changes, such as new technologies and changes in society. Education policies respond to these, which poses further challenges for those implementing them in school.
What do you do for a living? My job is a university lecturer and I specialise in Early Years education. It is very rewarding to see the progress of children at Molescroft.
Any time for hobbies? I enjoy cycling-‐ but don't do enough!
What music, books or films have inspired you? I like to read a range of books, but if I don't have time to choose I go for anything by Thomas Hardy. My children (I have a grown-‐up son and daughter) encourage me to read more modern authors, so I'm currently reading Gone Girl. I enjoy popular or classical music, particularly listening to Einaudi at the moment.
What would be your ideal holiday destination? When I taught in schools I took year six children to Robin Hood's Bay so it's a special, memorable place. We've had happy family holidays there too.
Describe Molescroft School in three words … inspirational, caring and outstanding!
For you, what are the highlights of the school year at Molescroft? There are so many highlights at Molescroft! The school always seems an exciting place to be, with wonderful assemblies, exceptional Christmas events, super multi-‐cultural activities and not forgetting the governor and staff Standards Meeting in November.
What prompted you to become a governor? Education is such a vital area of life that I wanted to be involved with developments as a Governor at Molescroft.
Teaching School Alliance Riding Forward, led by Molescroft Primary School and now in its third year, is possibly the largest teaching school nationally, with over 100 members comprising nursery, primary and secondary schools (including two special schools), plus a pupil referral unit (PRU). Mostly these are in the East Riding but some are located within Hull, North Lincolnshire and North Yorkshire. Rather uniquely, the East Riding of Yorkshire Council (ERYC) is one of the core partners and has a strong input.
1) initial teacher training education (School Direct); 2) continuing professional development (CPD) – the training catalogue for newly-‐qualified
teachers (NQTs) and general CPD continues to grow; 3) leadership development for leaders at all levels; 4) school-‐to-‐school support 5) identification of SLEs (specialist leaders in education); and 6) research and development (R&D).
Our two NQTs (newly-‐qualified teachers) – Miss Sophie Power and Mr Jonathan Williams – were trained through our School Direct programme. You can hear their feedback by following the Riding Forward link on the school’s website or:
School Direct -‐ the Story Please click here to listen to the testimonials from two of our School Direct Students 2013/14.
v Teacher training is increasingly becoming school-‐led.
v Places on university-‐based
training courses have reduced by as much as 20%
v School Direct places
2014-‐15 15,254 2015-‐16 17,609
Figures appeared in the TES (Times Educational Supplement, 31 October 2014, p8.
Following initial designation as a Teaching School in 2012, Molescroft must go through the re-‐designation process every three years.
Andrea Tonks, Manager (left) Jenny Lines, Administrator (right)
The new SEND code of practice The Children and Families Act 2014 introduced a new code of practice to help children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). As part of this, local authorities – in our case the East Riding of Yorkshire Council (ERYC) – are required to publish a ‘local offer’. This details services available in the area for young people, aged 0-‐25 years, having SEND.
You can read the Government’s report at:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/send-‐code-‐of-‐practice-‐0-‐to-‐25
Categories of SEND: v Children having a (funded)
statement of special educational needs (pre-‐ September 2014)
v 0-‐25 year olds having an
education and health care plan (EHCP) (funded) as from September 2014
v SEND support children
(formerly known as School Action Plus and School Action).
Molescroft School has published its own local offer, which is available on the website under ‘Key Information’:
https://molescroftprimaryschool.files.wordpress.com/2014/11/localoffermolescroftprimaryschool.pdf
Excerpts from Molescroft’s local offer document
What is the ETHOS of the school regarding Children and Young People with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND)?
We aim to sustain and continue to develop a community based on positive attitudes, a promotion of excellence and a celebration of achievement. A valued environment in which: “everybody cares, everybody learns, and everybody matters”. Molescroft Matters
How does the school identify and assess Children and Young People with SEND?
Initial concerns about a child will be raised by the child’s class teacher and/or parent with the SENCO. The child’s progress will then be closely monitored by the SENCO, and discussions will be held with parents/carers. Support/interventions may be introduced for the child.
Who are the best people to talk to in your school about a Child or Young Person’s difficulties with learning/ Special Educational Needs or disability (SEND)?
Mrs Julie Hakner -‐ SENCO Mrs Sarah Charlton -‐ Interventions Teacher
Governor footprints Did you know that every time a governor attends a school event, makes a visit into school or communicates with a member of staff, he/she completes a governor visit form? This ensures that our ‘footprints’ are recorded in case Ofsted comes calling. It also means that the school receives our feedback.
In conversation … One of our governors attended an assembly in September and witnessed a little girl, who had just started school, receive a gold certificate. The following (lovely) conversation later took place:
Governor: “What did you get in assembly today?”
Child: “I don’t know.” Governor: “What did you get for doing really well with your numbers?”
Child: “A yellow ticket.”
And finally … Molescroft Primary School will be 40 years’ old on 15 April 2015! See the spring edition of Governors’ News for some interesting historical facts and figures on our favourite school. Also, the spotlight will be firmly on one of our governors, who also has a 40th birthday in 2015. For now, guess which governor’s brother features in the photograph below of the school’s 10th birthday celebrations?