This is a short but very busy term: Year 6 SATs, preparing for the year 4 multiplication check, working towards year 1 phonics screen and preparing to be ready for the next stage of your children's education. Alongside this we have a Year 3/4 sports festival, the Summer Cup, the netball Champions day, a skipping day, tennis taster event amongst other exciting activities coming up!
Ice cream Van
There will be an ice cream van after school on the 13th May. (Next Tuesday)
This is a mid week treat for Year 6 (we will buy their ice cream).
Pupils may buy an ice-cream after school. You can send cash if your pupil is in club or if your are collecting, you can purchase in the staff carpark.
SEND Focus
There are a wealth of resources for parents in the Parent Carer Forum.
An example:
Practical approaches to working with Children who demonstrate PDA characteristics
Useful Phrases-indirect speech:
- “I wonder if anyone can help me with this?”
- “ I wish I knew someone who could help me with x task”.
- “I wonder how we can get this done?”
- “Would you like to do x or y tasks?
- “ Would you like to do it sitting here or upstairs?”
- “Would you like to do it at x or y time?”
- “You chose, what can I do to help you?”
- “What would x character do in this situation?”
Spotlight on Safeguarding
There are many different reasons that families are late for school.
Some of our parents tell us that they are late for everything including school in the morning.
Here are some tips to help you break the habit.
Being 10 minutes late a day adds up to 50 minutes a week, over 31 hours a year or more than a school week!
Being late can create stress but it can also create excitement! Without knowing, are you craving the adrenaline?
- Figure out exactly how long it will take to get somewhere, then build in extra time. Some people, including children, need a lot of time to wake up before they are able to start completing tasks.
- Surround yourself with clocks! Don't rely on guess work.
- Set lots of alarms. I have 5 to make sure I stay on track each morning!
- Create artificial deadlines. If you absolutely have to be out of the house at 8.30 a.m., tell yourself you’ll leave by 8.00, or else. “You’re fooling yourself, but we do lots of things to fool ourselves, and it works,”
- Don’t start an enjoyable — or important — activity before leaving for school or allow/spend time on gadgets.
- Plan what you’ll do if you’re early. Enjoy a chat with your child? Do some reading? Even 5 minutes in the car doing a game- on the proviso that you are early- could be a big motivator. Or your child could enjoy playing in the playground if you make it for 8.30am.
- Envision how you’ll feel if you’re late. When an alarm goes off, signalling that it’s time to start getting ready, imagine what it will be like if you’re late to your appointment. How are you or your chid going to feel walking in late, especially when there’s a group involved?” Transporting yourself to that moment, and imagining the consequences of being late in visceral detail, can be very motivating.
Tips for organising if chaotic mornings are an issue:
- Create a “Night Before” checklist and routine
- Make Weekday breakfasts self-serve
- Create a morning “Must Do” list
Decide what’s most critical to you. Here are some items that probably need to stay on the morning list:
- Wake Up: Make sure kids have their own alarm clock (not phone) in their room.
- Brush teeth: Which sink is closest to the departure door? Leave a set of toothbrushes and toothpaste there!
- Get dressed: Kids who bathe at night can sleep in the clean t-shirt they’ll be wearing to school and save one step of their morning routine!
- Assign morning chores sparingly and focus on giving those chores to your “morning” people: pets, dishwasher, etc.
- Create a peaceful environment (starting with yourself)
- Greet kids with a smile, hug, and a “good morning.”
- Leave all phones, TVs, and computers off for the first 30 minutes of the day.
- Don't sweat the small stuff: Is making their bed in the morning important to you? Consider having a duvet cover and no top sheet so that making the bed is simple. Or, give up on the bed making!
- Shape your child’s path by using visual prompts or morning routine checklists that remind them what to do or ensure that potential distractions are out of sight.
- Set a departure time with a 10-15 minute “cushion.”
- Organize your departure items
- Create positive morning connections. Avoid asking about homework or assignments, as those are conversations that can raise the stress level.
- Talk about the “why” behind your new morning routine(s)
- Try to stay positive!
Free Atom Home 11+ materials
Year 5 Assessment arrangements for September 2026 entry to Priory Ruskin – Sport
As a specialist Academy for Sport and Visual Arts, the Academy will admit up to 21 places on aptitude. Parents who wish to seek a place at the Academy for their child based on aptitude are asked to present their Year 5 child for an aptitude assessment.
To allow your child to participate in the aptitude assessments, please visit the academy website under Academy Information/Admissions to complete the online aptitude application form.
- The aptitude places should be considered as an additional entry route for your child, and does not constitute an application for a place at the Academy. Applications for a place at the Academy must be made in the normal way, via Lincolnshire County Council’s Common Application Form. Should you wish your child to be considered for an aptitude place, please complete the online application form by Friday 4 July 2025.
- There is no preparation needed before the assessment. However, students will need to wear clothing appropriate for taking part in physical activities. This should be a plain kit (no local or national team or squad kit to be worn); they will also need to wear trainers with soles which will not mark the Sports Hall floor. They may also wish to bring a bottle of water with them.
- Students will need to know their home address, home telephone number and the name of their current primary school. This may be written on a piece of paper and brought with them on the day.
- Should you or your child require special arrangements – e.g for access or SEND – please provide details on the application form.
- If your child is injured (e.g. has a broken limb) or unwell, please inform the academy as soon as possible. Arrangements can then be made for your child to take the assessment at a later date.
Please note: they do not accept portfolios or references from coaches/teachers for the Sport assessment.
Year 5 Assessment arrangements for September 2026 entry to Priory Ruskin – Visual Arts
- The aptitude places should be considered as an additional entry route for your child, and do not constitute an application for a place at the Academy. Applications for a place at the Academy must be made in the normal way, via Lincolnshire County Council’s Common Application Form.
- If your child wishes to apply for a place with a Visual Arts specialism, they will be required to submit a portfolio of work which can include photographs, drawings, paintings or mixed media images. The portfolio may include images that have been produced at home or at school.
- The portfolio must be clearly labelled with the student’s name, full address, telephone number and email address.
- The Visual Arts portfolios will be available for parents to collect from main reception on Tuesday
- 15 July and Wednesday 16 July. Please ensure you collect your child’s portfolio on one of these dates. After these dates, it may be disposed of.
Credits:
Created with images by Przemyslaw Iciak - "Honey bee covered with yellow pollen collecting nectar from dandelion flower. Important for environment ecology sustainability." • Kubista - "Tęczowe gałki lodów ze świeżymi jagodami i miętą ułożone na białej powierzchni" • FOTO SALE - "Clock tells the concept of working with valuable time, time management and time keeping." • Brian Jackson - "Calendar appointment"