Ixworth Church of England VC Primary SchoolNewsletter Number 3Dear Parents/Carers,It’s been another busy week at Ixworth, unfortunately so busy I have struggled to tweet many photos, but I will try harder next week so please keep an eye on our twitter feed. Thank you to those who have already followed us.

Having spoken to several parents this week, Mr Berry and I feel it appropriate to confirm when school starts each morning. We ask that children are on the playground by 8.50am. The bell will ring at 8.55am and teachers will lead children into class and registers will be taken, so lessons start at 9am sharp. It is important that all children are on time for school as every moment really does matter. Being late into class can leave your child feeling confused and it can disrupt the learning of others too.

At Ixworth, we believe it is important for the pupils to feel a sense of belonging and empowerment. Pupil voice is fundamental in achieving this so we hold a weekly collective council. This is our name for a school council which debates issues which matter to the children and gives pupils a chance to support school improvement too. These sessions are led by a team of Year 6s known as Air Crew. This week, I held interviews after receiving application forms from those interested in the role. I was very impressed by the calibre of application and how well each child performed at interview.

One of the highlights the children mentioned during the Collective Council debated this week was the anticipated school trips. First hand experiences are key to engaging children with their learning. Mrs Hyndman is the staff member responsible for Educational Visits and this week she led training for all teachers on an online system known as Evolve. This is used for planning educational visits including the risk assessments that take place before we leave the school. All our trips will be stored on this system. This ensures not only that our trips are as safe as possible but also ensures they have educational worth too.

Please be mindful when parking your car outside the school. The yellow zig-zags should not be used for dropping off children and please remember that cars should not be parked opposite T-junctions (see Highway Code Rule 243). These ensure all our children are as safe as possible at our busiest times.

Our theme for collective worship this half term is Generosity which fits in well with sharing at Harvest Time. We have been thinking about cheerful givers and how we feel when we share what we have. We would like to invite you to join us at the Church next Thursday 28th at 10.15. We are asking the children to bring in a small donation of food, tins, pasta, tea etc which will be shared with Gatehouse Foodbank, Bury St Edmunds, 01284 754967Gatehouse is working in partnership with other organisations, churches and individuals throughout Bury, supported by local County and Borough Councillors, providing three days of emergency food to local people in crisis. Those in need are

identified by local care professionals and also signpost people to organisations able to help solve the longer term problem. We look forward to you joining in this annual service.

School Improvement Update Clare Lamb, National Leader of Education, returned this week to continue the support with our SEND provision and this is moving forward with many things now securely in place. The senior leaders carried out a KS2 work scrutiny. This involves looking at the children’s books to ensure the work meets the needs of the children and that they are making good progress through planning, teaching, marking and feedback. Mr Berry has carried out lesson observations watching teachers at work but more importantly watching children learning. These observations are unannounced ensuring that the quality of education observed is the provision the children receive on a daily basis. These will continue over the coming weeks.

Best wishes, Louise Clark13 13 September 2017

arch 2018.

Although there is no process for formally expressing views until the consultation openson 2 October, I would like to hold a meeting for parents/carers to discuss the way forward and to organise a robust and thorough response. The date for the first meeting will be Wednesday 20 September, starting at 7:00pm at Thurston Community College. If you would be willing to share some responsibility for the work of this group, please contact me in advance of the meeting so we can discuss possible ways in which to best use the meeting time.Once again, I would like to thank you for your tremendous support. There is absolutely no doubt in my mind that this proposed change in policy is ill thought through and discriminatory and, if implemented, it will undoubtedly have a disproportionate effect on children living in rural parts of Suffolk who will no longer have the option of free travel to their catchment school.I have today met with Council Officers and will be doing my utmost to work with them to devise some alternative solutions to save money from the Home to School Transportbudget. At the meeting they provided me with their definitive list of villages in the Thurston Community College catchment area whose nearest school is not Thurston

Community College. I have amended my original list accordingly (see attached document).I would like to reassure you that Thurston Community College will continue to argue vigorously that these transport policy proposals should not be implemented. Yours faithfully,Helen WilsonPrincipal