Latest News
Latest news
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Democracy - Voting for our new school councillors.
Thu 15 Sep 2022The theme in this weeks assembly was 'Democracy', which led nicely into preparing pupils for or School Council Elections.
If interested in running for the position, pupils were asked to prepare a speech and deliver it to their class to explain why they would be good for the role.
Today, our KS1 and KS2 pupils voted for their school council representatives. We had a ballot box and votes were completed confidentially, as they would be at any election.
The votes have been counted and the pupils with the most votes, will be announced in tomorrows celebration assembly.
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Keep checking our class pages.
Wed 14 Sep 2022Not only will we be posting information and news on this page, but teachers will also be telling you all about the work that they do, on their individual class pages.
To view these, please go to the home page, click on the tab labelled 'Children' and then scroll down to 'Class Pages'. There you will find all the different classes.
We hope you enjoy sharing our learning journeys.
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The POWER of reading.
Wed 14 Sep 2022Reading at Oughterside Foundation School
Why is reading so important?
There can be few things as powerful as regularly reading to a young child. It has astonishing benefits for children: comfort and reassurance, confidence and security, relaxation, happiness and fun. Giving a child time and full attention when reading them a story tells them they matter. It builds self-esteem, vocabulary, feeds imagination and even improves their sleeping patterns.
Regularly reading to a child for the love of it provides a connection between parent and child from the very early days and helps build strong family ties. Lines from favourite stories enter the family lexicon. Families who enjoy reading together have more opportunities for discussion, developing empathy and attachment.
By starting the journey of building a lifelong love of reading for pleasure, parents are giving their child the opportunity to be the best they can be: children who read for pleasure do better in a wide range of subjects at school and it also positively impacts children’s wellbeing.
What are we doing in school?
Our library sits at the heart of our school and it is our belief that reading is at the heart of everything we do.
From the youngest age, in our two year old provision, children are read to and share library time, ensuring that books are an important feature of their day. Our EYFS classroom has an array of picture books that engage pupils and promote good use of vocabulary and questioning.
As the pupils progress through the Early Years, our love of picture books continue, but we also use the ‘Literary Curriculum’; accessing high quality books that engage pupils in literacy, but also gives them a stimulus to use in the wider continuous provision environment.
We have recently started our journey as a ‘Read, Write, Inc’ school, ensuring that phonics is taught consistently and effectively throughout EYFS and Key Stage 1. We also ensure that children who need support higher up the school, get what they require, at a level that is suitable to their needs.
As you move through the school, the Literary Curriculum continues to be used, ensuring that the texts that we access and the authors that we discuss, are exciting, from a range of ethnic and cultural backgrounds and also captivate our children; ensuring that they want to access the books and are desperate to hear ‘What happens next?’
This curriculum is subsidised by Accelerated Reader – used to assess our pupils and also give them the opportunity to test their comprehension of books that they read. It sets them challenges and gives them scope to speak to their class teachers about what they have understood. It also ensures that staff monitor engagement and gives them the opportunity to signpost pupils to genres that they may not be accessing.
In Years 5 and 6, our pupils also access ‘Reading Plus’, an online reading intervention that has shown excellent results with regards to improving reading stamina and understanding texts.
How can you, as a parent, help your child?
We will always work hard in school to help your child progress effectively, but your input at home is incredibly powerful and can help your child succeed.
- We ask that all children, read to a parent / carer / older sibling AT LEAST three times per week and record it in their reading journal. We will be running incentives to promote this in school.
- Story sacks are available to loan out – please ask us if you would like to borrow one.
- Support your child to engage in any literacy homework that they are set from school.
- Communicate with us if you have any issues, or concerns, regarding your child’s reading development.
Reading at Oughterside Foundation School
Why is reading so important?
There can be few things as powerful as regularly reading to a young child. It has astonishing benefits for children: comfort and reassurance, confidence and security, relaxation, happiness and fun. Giving a child time and full attention when reading them a story tells them they matter. It builds self-esteem, vocabulary, feeds imagination and even improves their sleeping patterns.
Regularly reading to a child for the love of it provides a connection between parent and child from the very early days and helps build strong family ties. Lines from favourite stories enter the family lexicon. Families who enjoy reading together have more opportunities for discussion, developing empathy and attachment.
By starting the journey of building a lifelong love of reading for pleasure, parents are giving their child the opportunity to be the best they can be: children who read for pleasure do better in a wide range of subjects at school and it also positively impacts children’s wellbeing.
What are we doing in school?
Our library sits at the heart of our school and it is our belief that reading is at the heart of everything we do.
From the youngest age, in our two year old provision, children are read to and share library time, ensuring that books are an important feature of their day. Our EYFS classroom has an array of picture books that engage pupils and promote good use of vocabulary and questioning.
As the pupils progress through the Early Years, our love of picture books continue, but we also use the ‘Literary Curriculum’; accessing high quality books that engage pupils in literacy, but also gives them a stimulus to use in the wider continuous provision environment.
We have recently started our journey as a ‘Read, Write, Inc’ school, ensuring that phonics is taught consistently and effectively throughout EYFS and Key Stage 1. We also ensure that children who need support higher up the school, get what they require, at a level that is suitable to their needs.
As you move through the school, the Literary Curriculum continues to be used, ensuring that the texts that we access and the authors that we discuss, are exciting, from a range of ethnic and cultural backgrounds and also captivate our children; ensuring that they want to access the books and are desperate to hear ‘What happens next?’
This curriculum is subsidised by Accelerated Reader – used to assess our pupils and also give them the opportunity to test their comprehension of books that they read. It sets them challenges and gives them scope to speak to their class teachers about what they have understood. It also ensures that staff monitor engagement and gives them the opportunity to signpost pupils to genres that they may not be accessing.
In Years 5 and 6, our pupils also access ‘Reading Plus’, an online reading intervention that has shown excellent results with regards to improving reading stamina and understanding texts.
How can you, as a parent, help your child?
We will always work hard in school to help your child progress effectively, but your input at home is incredibly powerful and can help your child succeed.
- We ask that all children, read to a parent / carer / older sibling AT LEAST three times per week and record it in their reading journal. We will be running incentives to promote this in school.
- Story sacks are available to loan out – please ask us if you would like to borrow one.
- Support your child to engage in any literacy homework that they are set from school.
- Communicate with us if you have any issues, or concerns, regarding your child’s reading development.
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Lots of exciting changes in school!
Tue 06 Sep 2022What a busy summer it has been!
We had lots of plans before the summer, but we never imagined just how much we would manage to get done in six weeks!
The first of our improvements are to the outdoor areas. We have had fresh bark placed on the outdoor play area and have had the yard completely resurfaced! We can't wait to get the new markings down.
Outdoors, we have also installed a shed, to help with storage and help improve the environment indoors.
On the inside, we have had a new kitchen installed, which doubles up as a storage area. There has also been a renovation within one of the classrooms, turning it into three separate areas, which has created two, much needed intervention and nurture spaces.
Our main corridor in school has been opened up and decorated, creating a lovely, airy space. And finally, Crummock and Derwent class have been decorated.
Wehave shared our changes in school with the children this week, and we are now proud to share them with you too!