Oatlands School Newsletter
March 2016
Dear All,
The term has been short, but action packed with so many activities and events.
School Events
January saw Year 2 staff inviting parents and children to their second maths workshop. Attendance was
excellent and feedback was again very positive and we hope to make these events part of the annual calendar.
Year 1 Maths evening also took place, although we were very disappointed by the attendance and will be
reviewing running this event in the future. Parent Consultations took place in February and it was lovely to
catch up with many of you whilst manning the creche. After half term we had our Community Weeks with us
all trying to do our bit to make life happier and more fulfilling for everyone. The Art Workshops for Years 1 and
2 were very well attended and the children just loved having family members in to help. We are all looking
forward to seeing the finished result. The King’s Soup was a lovely relaxed family event enjoyed by all those
who attended. Children in Year 2 visited a local retirement home and entertained the residents with songs and
presented baskets of peppermint creams made in classes. The singing was so enjoyed we have been invited
back in the summer. Year 1 made their collection for Oasis. Reception too have had special events with family
book making, learning clapping games with Year 1 and enjoying time, sharing stories with Year 2 children. In
addition we have had our normal Year 1 visit to Brooklands and 4 class assemblies in which we heard all about
what the children in Classes 4,5,6,and 7 have been learning. The term finished with our Easter Assembly and
Hat Parade which was very well attended as usual.
Our support has not just been local. We are very fortunate to have Grandparents who visited the Happy House
in Kenya and took out a suitcase of equipment for their school. Many thanks to them for taking it over. I know
the items were much appreciated.
Finally we must mention our parent runners who took part in the Surrey Half. They did a wonderful job and
have raised over £6000 to be shared between White Lodge Nursery School and the PTA. A truly community
minded effort.
P.T.A. Events
In addition to the Surrey Half, the PTA has been very busy, with a highly successful Sponsored Bounce in
January, a Quiz Night for Parents in February and the Mother’s Day Market in March. A huge thank you to all
those parents who helped in both the organising and running of the events.
We will be holding a school working party on Saturday 23rd April, please look out for details. If you have not
yet been able to support the school in some way, then here is your chance. Lots of helping hands are always
appreciated. The next PTA Meeting is Tuesday 19th April at 7.45 in the school hall.
The major events for the Summer term are the School Ball on Saturday 7th May, the Family Fun Day to be
held on Sunday 26th June and Camping on the weekend 15th -17th July. Please support these events.
Donations for prizes are very much welcome.
Governor Update
It’s been another busy term for the school governors. Our priority has obviously been the head teacher
recruitment process and the Selection Panel have devoted significant time and energy in their quest to find the
right candidate for this pivotal role at Oatlands. The second round of advertising was more fruitful than the
first, enabling the Selection Panel (together with their professional advisers) to schedule an Interview Day for
the shortlisted candidate. See attached letter.
Alongside this important process, each committee has made effective progress with its ongoing responsibilities
in terms of curriculum visits/monitoring, school budget review, staff management and improvement/
maintenance of facilities. An ongoing aim in the School Development Plan has been for governors to raise their
profile within the school community. Despite it being a short term, governors have availed themselves of three
opportunities to further this aim. Firstly, governors built on last year’s success by putting on a second
“Governor’s Assembly”. Governors were able to show the children who the governors are and what they do, as
well as how they use Values to help them in their role. Secondly, governors enjoyed a productive School
Development Day at which we were able to engage with teaching, learning support, lunch and administrative
staff, as well as representatives from the PTA. The day involved a review of last year’s school priorities as well
as the chance for blue-sky thinking / considering ideas for incorporation in next year’s School Development
Plan. Finally, governors enhanced their relationship with the PTA by virtue of the inaugural “Governors Q&A”
which took place on 1 March. This involved an update on the work of the governing body and provided a
forum for parents to raise specific questions (sent in advance). Please see the PTA Minutes for a note of the
discussion. Feedback on this initiative was positive and we hope to repeat it at appropriate intervals.
The Sensory Room
This has now been in place for a year and recently I have been very fortunate in sharing every class’s
experience in the room. Children from Reception to Year 2 have been enjoying visits to underwater worlds,
fairy tale cottages, forests, first flights, Kenyan Savannahs and the home of the Good Samaritan. The facilities
provide a very rich learning experience for the children which has helped them produce a range of excellent
work. A huge thanks to the PTA who raised a substantial amount of money last year to enable us to have this
resource.
It’s Learning
At home, use of the Learning Platform seems once again to have dwindled. Please remember to log-on at least
once a week to catch up with what your child has been doing at school. Use the links on the learning platform
for a whole array of activities and games. Parents of Year 1 children should ensure they use all the phonic links
to support their children’s learning. Remember to view our Espresso video clips on your iPads you need to use
the App called Puffin Web Browser. It is free to download. If you need further help please speak to me.
Attendance
I would like to remind all parents that the threshold at which children will be classed as a persistent absentee
was raised this year. Children will be classed as a persistent absentee if their attendance drops below 90%.
(expected school attendance is 95+%). We have a number of children who currently fall into this category. In
the majority of cases it is the result of term time holiday. Although I am aware that sometimes there are
extenuating family circumstances, parents should not book term time holidays. Our current attendance is
running at 97.5%, which is .5% below our expected target, so come on everyone help us meet the magic
98%.
Future Events
Class Photos will be taken on Friday 22nd April. (Girls in summer dresses please)
Mini Marathon will take place in the afternoon of Friday 22nd April (details to follow)
Mufti-Day Friday 6th May (details to follow from PTA)
Class 2 assembly Thursday 12th May at 9.15 in the school hall. (Please remember to queue in
kitchen entrance)
School Closed
The school is closed on Monday 2nd May, Thursday 5th May and Friday 27th May. Half term is 30th to
3rd June.
New Opportunities
At a recent PTA meeting the possibility of organising a Parent and Child running club was discussed. It was
thought that it could be a popular club appealing especially to children less keen on team games and those who
enjoy exercising with family members. We are therefore going to trial the Club. The first session will be held on
Saturday 23rd April at 9.00 am at the school field in Pantile Road. Further details will be sent out in the new
term. I think it will be a great way of getting fit and spending quality time together.
Reminders and Requests
•Remember to update your details on Arbor.
•A reminder to parents that children should NOT help themselves to school balls and equipment either
before or after school from either the PE containers or verandahs.
•Yet again I need to remind all parents and carers to not park in private areas in the Hungerford Close
area, to think about every child’s safety by not parking on the zig-zags outside the school or on the white
lines where Mr Carroll does the crossing. It upsets me to know that there was an unfortunate incident last
week by a member of our community who did not practise our values when parking outside the school in
the morning.
•Lastly, I continue to find coats, jumpers and PE kit that is unnamed, making it time consuming to find
the rightful owner. Please respect staff time by spending a few minutes to name clothing. It really does
help your children with their independence.
And Finally
Attached to this newsletter you will find a letter from our Chair of Governors confirming that we are thrilled to
announce that the Governing Body has successfully recruited a Head Teacher to take up the post in September
2016 on my retirement. Mrs Tanya Mooney, an experienced Head of School will I believe be the absolutely
right person to take on the Oatlands mantle and lead the school through the forthcoming Government changes
and challenges. We will be inviting Mrs Mooney to share events and meetings and to begin to learn all about
the school from after June half term. I am sure you will join with me in giving her a very warm welcome to the
school.
May I take this opportunity to wish you all a peaceful and enjoyable holiday and we hope to see the children
returning rested and relaxed ready for our very busy Summer term on Monday 11th April.
Yours sincerely,
Mrs P.Beechey