Issue 11 - Spring 2025
Proud to be ELSTON! Empowered, Listeners, Successful, Together, Open-Minded, Nurturing
Dear families,
Welcome to the second half of Spring term! It has been wonderful to see the sun shining and feel slightly warmer weather this week. We've had a very busy couple of weeks back in school!
On Monday's INSET day, staff completed Autism Awareness training and some completed Makaton training, providing additional strategies to support learners across school. Staff also spent time working on curriculum development, particularly focusing on progression in skills over time in all subjects.
Over the past couple of weeks, SEND meetings have been held to share pupils ILSP targets. Thank you to families who have been able to attend these. If you would like to meet with your child's teacher but haven't yet had the opportunity, please contact school.
On Wednesday 26th February, we welcomed visitors from the Maths Hub who have been supporting us to develop our maths provision across school. Our visitors said, ‘We had such an informative day and were so impressed by the enthusiasm and passion for maths shown by all staff and children!' We are proud of everyone involved in this, particularly our Year 3 and 5 pupils who confidently talked about their learning with our visitors.
Children across school have taken part in so many exciting activities!
We were also delighted to welcome Reverend Taiwo from St James' Church who delivered an assembly to KS2 on Tuesday. Pupils listened and responded brilliantly, showing all of our ELSTON values!
Our PCSO visited Reception: PCSO Visit to Reception
Year 1 visited Cedar Grange care home as part of their Unity in the Community topic: Year 1 Visit to Cedar Grange
Year 2 have been dancing and learning about Josephine Baker! Year 2 Dancing Spy! In English, they used the outdoors to inspire instructional writing in English! Year 2 (Feb 25)
Thank you to all families who attended the Year 3 Art workshops. We hope you enjoyed getting your hands dirty when making a coil pot! Photos can be found here: Year 3 Art Workshop Year 3 have also been making Paper Mache pots! Year 3 Paper Mache! As well as this, the Dog's Trust visited Year 3. Dog's Trust Visits Year 3
Last Thursday, our Year 4 pupils visited the Mosque to enhance their RE learning. Please see our blog here for photos and more information: Year 4 Visit to the Mosque. We were also pleased to welcome Year 4 families into our Year 4 Art Gallery! The Big Bens which families made at home were incredible - we have some very talented families at Elston Hall! Photos can be found here: Year 4 Art Gallery
On Thursday we celebrated World Book day. I think the costumes this year were the best I've ever seen - thank you for your support with this! Pupils enjoyed a day full of reading. See below for more information.
Phew! Looking forward to another couple of exciting weeks ahead.
Thank you for your ongoing support. Enjoy your weekends,
Miss E Foster
Headteacher
Attendance
We track attendance weekly and monitor any pupils falling below 96%. School attendance remains at 95.3%. This is above the most recent national average published (94.8% - 10.2.25). We are currently sitting 21st out of 71 schools in the Local Authority. We remain in the top 40-50% of schools nationally - well done! We'd love to see our attendance increase above 96%. Well done to Year 4 who continue to have the highest attendance so far! Reception and Years 2, 3 and 5 have improved attendance - brilliant!
Please could we remind families to inform school of any absences before 9am. Please call 01902 558866. If you are calling before 8am, please leave a voicemail and this will be picked up and reasons for absence recorded on Arbor. Families can now also email attendance@elston.org.uk to report any absences. Families may now also report absences on the Arbor app!
If your child has a medical appointment, please bring them to school before and after wherever possible.
Year group | Up to 6.3.25 |
Whole School (Without Reception) | 95.3% |
Reception | 94.8% |
Year 1 | 95.4% |
Year 2 | 95.8% |
Year 3 | 94.9% |
Year 4 | 96.1% |
Year 5 | 95.1% |
Year 6 | 94.8% |
Punctuality is vital to ensure that pupils have a calm and organised start to the day, and can make the most of every minute in school! Please note that any pupils arriving after 9:30am will receive a 'U' mark which affects their attendance.
World Book Day
A huge well done to all of the amazing costumes we had on display for World Book Day! The children had a fantastic day starting with an assembly led by our reading ambassadors and lots of reading activities in class. One highlight was our Y5 children who wrote and read stories to out Y1 children during the afternoon – this was thoroughly enjoyed by all children. More pictures can be found on our website https://www.elstonhall.org.uk/post/a-world-book-day-to-remember
Reading for Pleasure Scrap Book
On World Book Day, in each class, we have introduced a reading for pleasure book - to promote the love of reading at Elston. When your child is given the book follow these instructions:
Reading Ambassadors visit Molineux
Our Y5/6 reading ambassadors were lucky enough to attend a session at the Molineux this week to meet author Carolyn Ward. The children had an interesting talk from Carolyn and also had the opportunity to have a tour of the stadium and museum! More pictures can be found here: Reading Ambassadors Meet Author!
Rocksteady
Groups of our children from Y2 – Y4 have started their rocksteady sessions this half term. So far, the children have been familiarising themselves with their instruments and learning the importance of keeping a beat and playing as part of a band. There are a limited number of places left in the Rocksteady sessions. Look out for information on how to sign up in forthcoming weeks.
After school clubs
After school clubs have continued as before half term. New clubs starting this week have included Cheerleading for our Y5/6 girls and KS2 choir. There are still places available for choir sessions which will lead to the children performing at the Halls in Wolverhampton. Please sign up via Arbor for Choir if you child would like to attend.
MP visit
We were delighted to welcome MP Sureena Brackenridge to Elston Hall to view our Y4 work. Sureena met with Y4 and answered children’s questions about being an MP. Sureena commented on our wonderful school and the lovely atmosphere that she again experienced on her return visit. MP Visits Year 4 Art Gallery. Well done Year 4!
Sports News
Football Tournament
Our football team participated in a football tournament last week against 23 other schools at Compton Park. Despite losing their initial game, the team made it all the way to the final playing some excellent football. Sadly, the team were beaten in the final. A huge well done to the team for their incredible skill and teamwork.
Cricket
Earlier this year, we hosted Chance 2 Shine cricket sessions which included an after school club for our Y5/6 girls. The coach who delivered these sessions has informed us of some cricket opportunities for girls based at Fordhouses Cricket Club which may be of interest. Scan the QR code on the poster for more information.
Comic Relief - Friday 21st March
This year school will be supporting Red Nose Day. Our school council will be selling red noses across school. Further details of this will be sent nearer the time. On the day, children are invited to wear their red noses or a red accessory (no additional charge).
Parent consultation bookings
Our spring parents evenings will take place on Tuesday 8th and Wednesday 9th April. Booking for these events will go live on Arbor on Monday 17th March at 6pm. Please ensure you have the Arbor app downloaded to book an appointment. A letter with further details will be sent next week.
Arbor and communication
As you know, we use Arbor to share key information. 99% of our parents are signed up and use Arbor regularly! Attendance, clubs and trips can all be viewed on there. Please remember to enable notifications in order to receive in-app messages. Emails will also be sent via Arbor. These may have gone into Junk recently so please check and mark us as a 'safe sender' to ensure no emails are missed. Thank you for your continued support with this!
Inclusive Play
Before half term, 60 Year 5 and 6 pupils received Play Leader training from Helen Bourton and Wayne Clark from ConnectEd. They were taught how to work collaboratively to support and include all pupils in PLAY at lunchtime.
This week, Play Leaders launched a range of activities on KS1 and 2 playgrounds. This includes 'boxes of fun', skipping and dancing! Its been wonderful to see children (and adults) dancing along to the Macarena, Cha Cha Slide and Call Me Maybe (a KS2 favourite!)
Lunchtimes are now even more active and fun!
Lunch menus
Our regular lunch menus can be found here: Lunches | Elston Hall. Please review these with your children so that they know what is on offer each day. Thank you.
Key Dates
Spring term 2025
Thursday 13th March - Year 1 Dinosaur Day
Tuesday 18th March - Class photos
Friday 21st March - Comic Relief
Monday 24th March - last week for boosters and clubs
Thursday 27th March - Reception Mother's Day assembly
Monday 31st March - Wednesday 2nd April - Y6 Residential to Laches Wood
Friday 4th April - Animal Man to visit Year 2
Tuesday 8th April - Parent consultations 4-6pm
Wednesday 9th April - Parent consultation 3:30-5pm
Monday 14th April—Friday 25th April—Easter break
Summer term 2025
Monday 28th April —Pupils return to school. Swimming resumes.
Monday 5th May - Bank holiday - school closed to pupils
Monday 12th May—Thursday 15th May—Year 6 SATs
Monday 19th May - Wednesday 21st May - Y4 Conwy residential
Monday 26th May—Friday 30th May—Half term
Monday 2nd June—Friday 6th June - Year 4 Multiplication Checks
Monday 9th June—Friday 13th June - Year 1 Phonics screening and Year 4 Multiplication Checks
Monday 16th June - Y2 Beaudesert residential
Friday 20th June—INSET day—School closed to pupils
Friday 18th July—Last day of summer term
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