Education

Education PRIMARY SCHOOL

PLAY SCHOOL NOTRE ECOLE PLAYGROUP LITTLE HANDS MVC VILLAGE COLLEGE U3A

EDUCATION

Melbourn Primary School

Little Hands Karen 01763 260964

Melbourn Playgroup Jane Crawford 07842 151512 Notre Ecole Janet Whitton 261231 Pippins Children’s Centre Alison Wood 223460 Primary School Headteacher Stephanie Wilcox 223457 U3A (Univ. of Third Age) Chairman Tony Garrick 01223 510201 Village College Principal Simon Holmes 223400

Available at the Community HUB

Ofsted visited us in March. We hope that you have seen our banner which displays we were judged to be GOOD in all areas. We are delighted with this news and the report which validates our determined efforts over the last two and a half years. The report describes our school well. In addition to recognising the improvements in the quality of teaching and pupil outcomes, much of what could be considered hard to measure areas, such as our work around establishing a whole school ethos, has been recognised too. The fact that there is a “happy atmosphere in class, an aspirational culture among staff and pupils and that pupils develop good levels of confidence and self esteem” make us all proud. This is what primary schooling should be about.

It takes determination to hang onto the wider aspects of primary schooling in the present climate. Every new communication from the Department for Education (DofE), pronouncement from the government and every newspaper article suggest that the whole focus should be on English, maths and grammar. However, the National Curriculum outlines that the curriculum offered by primary schools should be broad and balanced. We believe that by offering children opportunities in sport, the arts and science we are allowing them opportunities to develop skills and knowledge that will help shape them as individuals. Whilst we agree totally that all our children should leave us ‘secondary ready’, and have high expectations in the core skills of English and maths, we want them also to be interested in the world around them, love learning and know that they have specific talents and areas of personal skill. How fabulous to know, for example, that you are a talented artist, proficient sports person, able to work collaboratively and identify trees and birds.

That having been said, this year the demands of the external tests at the end of Year 2 and Year 6 have been increased to unprecedented levels. Our school was chosen to participate in the early testing of the KS1 SPaG test. You will have read in the press that the Spelling Punctuation and Grammar (SPaG) test for 7 year olds has been cancelled for this year. However, our year 2 children still had to participate in the early administration of the test, despite the actual test having been cancelled. The children were tested on their knowledge of prefixes and suffixes, nouns, verbs, and their ability to be able to identify a command, question or statement. Whilst for 11 years olds, the tests will require the children

birth to pre-school - free-range fun for your child

Age-appropriate rooms and activities: Caterpillar, Ladybird, Bumblebee, Butterfly, Grasshopper and Dragonfly rooms* Caterpillar, Ladybird, Bumblebee, Butterfly, Grasshopper and Dragonfly rooms*

all-weather playgrounds and large open grass areas to run, jump and skip! jump and skip! The great outdoors is a very important part of life at Bumpkins; even babies go for The great outdoors is a very important part of life at Bumpkins; even babies go for Outdoor Fun walks around the farm in the comfort of the Bumpkins buggy

Learning through play: Music, Dancing, Art and Craft, Story time, Cookery, Dressing Up, Role-play, Music, Dancing, Art and Craft, Story time, Cookery, Dressing Up, Role-play, French and Spanish; NEW Montessori equipment for the pre-schoolers

Pre-school care

Art and Craft

Building independence in your child as they grow, in preparation for “big” school

Home cooked food using only the best local ingredients

Individual care and support for each and every child Bumpkins offers a loving family environment created by qualified happy staff

Bumpkins Day Nursery

“Children like to explore the environment and enjoy messy play... make good use of the enclosed outdoor space... are highly imaginative... make up their own games.” OFSTED, 2014

facebook.com/ bumpkinsnursery *pop over to our website to discover how we chose our nursery room names

Open 7.30am - 6.30pm, Bumpkins is based on a working farm in Whaddon, nr Royston. For all children aged farm in Whaddon, nr Royston. For all children aged 3 months - 5 years old. 3 months - 5 years old. Come and see for yourself the difference that Bumpkins can offer you and your child. Call us today to arrange a visit

caring with a difference www.bumpkinsnursery.co.uk 01223 208 777