Nursery and Reception classes use Tapestry, an online learning journal that helps staff and families celebrate their children’s learning and development using photos, videos and diary entries.
Over the past four years the school successfully used a learning platform called Edmodo. This has now ceased to operate.
From September 2023 Aycliffe Drive School will be using Class Dojo to share photographs, videos and messages with families.
All schools in England must provide swimming instruction either in Key Stage 1 and/or Key Stage 2.
In particular, children will be taught to:
Swimming timetable for 2023/2024
Hawthorn – 19/09/23 – 28/11/23
Willow – 05/12/23 – 26/03/24
Laurel – 16/04/24 – 04/06/24
Year 6 – 11/06/24 – 16/07/24
You will need to provide your child or children with appropriate swimming kit which is clearly labelled and contained in a waterproof bag.
This should consist of swimming costume or swimming shorts/trunks, towel, swimming hat, goggles (if required).
If it is sunny/hot weather, please apply water resistant sun cream that will last before your child comes to school. You may also wish to provide additional sun cream that can be applied after swimming.
https://www.booksfortopics.com/year-6 – Have a look at this website which recommends 50 books to read in Year 6.
The Eco council is a special kind of council, designed to help the school help the environment. It is made up of one elected pupils from each class who meet with the ECO Leader Mrs Lambert regularly to discuss and plan how to improve our own school environment and that of the wider world. The representatives hold class reviews of their meetings to keep everyone informed of their plans.
In 2019 we were award the Eco Schools Bronze Award, and we are pleased to announce that in 2020 we were awarded Eco Schools Silver Award.
We are at present working towards our Green Flag Award from the ECO schools organisation. Eco-Schools is an international award programme that guides schools on their sustainable journey, providing a framework to help embed these principles into the heart of school life.
Environmental issues are covered within our curriculum and, where appropriate , the ECO council will help support the issue being studied.
Birch – Jeremiah
Sycamore – Poppy
Chestnut – John
Laurel – Summer-Rae
Willow – Leonor
Hawthorn – Victoria
Maple – Logan
Oak – Hector
Redwood – Iosia
Please find below this academic years archive of Parent Letters:
Information and Achievement newsletter June
Information and Achievement newsletter May
Nursery Open Mornings and Afternoons 2024
Laurel Games Event at JKF School
Foundation Stage Newsletter 15.09.23
As part of the school’s planning for emergencies, parents are reminded that incidents that necessitate school closure include such things as extreme weather and loss of essential electrical, water or heating services. Details of school closures will be texted to parents via Arbor. Please ensure we have your correct contact details.
They will also be displayed on the front page of the school website. On days when the weather conditions are poor but the school is open, parents are advised to walk to school if possible.
We hope you appreciate that the decision to close is never made lightly, as the safety and welfare of our children, school staff and parents/carers is of paramount importance, and no one would like to see this compromised.
In the event of closure due to snow, local radio stations will provide updated information on school closures. There will be information on the Hertfordshire County Council website after 7.45am. at www.hertfordshire.gov.uk/ .
We will do our best to open unless travel is deemed to be unsafe.
We will be making the most of the snow if we have any, so make sure the children are wrapped up warm!
Please do not call the school office until you have checked all of the above. Unless we have stated otherwise school will be open.
All year 5 and 6 pupils are leaders. They wear badges that identify their role in the school. As leaders they represent the school and learn important life skills e.g. team work, taking initiative, making decisions and helping others. Year 6 pupils are also Buddy Leaders.
This involves working with a group of pupils from each year group (one child per year group) to do activities such as Christmas Crafts, sponsored walk, etc. Occasionally Year 4 pupils may be asked to volunteer to cover leader roles, in addition all teachers allocate monitors in their classrooms to cover daily tasks, including things like handing out books. This encourages team work and responsibility.
Pupils in School Council and Year 6 have been discussing their understanding of spiritual, moral, social and cultural development at Aycliffe Drive Primary School.
Please read their ideas shared below.
Breakfast club – Please click for more information
Spring Term 24 Clubs
Our Club – everyday at lunchtime for children who have struggles at break time. Please contact your child’s class teacher if you would like your child to join this club.
Library Club – Tuesday lunchtimes
Yoga Club Year 5 and 6 – Tuesday afterschool
Athletics Club Year 3 and 4 – Wednesday lunchtime
Football Club Year 3 and 4 – Wednesday aftershool
Reception Dance Club – Wednesday afterschool
Choir Club Year 3 and 4 – Wednesday afterschool
Game On Years 4 – 6 Football Team- Thursday lunchtime
Girls Football Club KS2 – Thursday lunchtime
Board Game Club Year 5 + 6 – Thursday lunch time
Building with Bricks Years 3 + 4 – Thursday lunchtime
KS1 Choir Club – Thursday afterschool
The ethos at Aycliffe Drive is one of care and consideration for others. We have a therapeutic approach . Every class has a learning charter that children have a say in developing and it is expected that pupils keep these rules. The staff encourage the development of qualities and values such as responsibility and an increased understanding of right and wrong.
Staff respond promptly to allegations of bullying or racial discrimination. The school’s behaviour policy sets out clear guidelines on how to proceed in such situations. Unacceptable behaviour is dealt with appropriately by staff. This may include loss of privileges or part of lunchtime. Parents/carers are involved in discussion and the handling of persistent bad behaviour.
Good behaviour is rewarded by a system of coloured dots called House Points . These dots can be issued by any member of staff at Aycliffe Drive for hard work, kindness, helpfulness and general good behaviour. When ten dots have been awarded pupils receive bronze, silver and gold certificates during school assembly. Pupils who reach the gold level become eligible for a gold star badge. All Year 6 pupils are expected to carry out a leadership role in a responsible manner. Some duties include caring for Foundation Reception pupils during lunchtime, running clubs and keeping the school tidy and litter free.
As a school we like to refresh our reward system every few years to keep it interesting and exciting for the children.
A postcard from the Headteacher is given to the parents/carers of pupils who have achieved something outstanding (this could be academic or behavioural) to acknowledge their accomplishment. The postcard will detail their exact success. These will only be sent out in exceptional circumstances and will be accompanied by a gold Headteacher Award sticker.
Other reward stickers, usually but not always, from SLT are rewarded to the children for good work, e.g. homework awards, excellent award stickers or gold stars for timetables.
Star of the Week is awarded to one child each week per class and the reason for the badge is shared in assembly.
If pupils misbehave they will:
Children please do not forget that the midday supervisors and teaching assistants are on the playground and in the dining room to look after your safety and to help you if you are hurt or in trouble. Please be polite to them at all times. The year 5 and 6 leaders will also be there to help children with minor problems at playtimes.
