${item_alt_tag}$

Friday 24th November 2023

Messages from the Principal, Miss Jarrett

${item_alt_tag}$

Good Afternoon,

It was lovely to see so many parents and prospective parents over the last couple of weeks attending our vision and values parent workshop and our open day for prospective parents (Reception Sept 24). We loved the feedback from parents, with comments including:

"Phoenix Infants is a fantastic school. The team is very supportive and caring towards their pupils, staff and parents. Very welcoming environment and really friendly".

During both sessions we spoke about what makes us Phoenix - our school values of Honesty, Empathy, Respect, Optimism, Independence and Curiosity and how we have built our school curriculum to be aspirational, have a focus on communication and provide a wealth of opportunities for our children. All of which enable them to be happy, healthy and successful ready for the next stage in their educational journey.

If you have a child currently in nursery, who will be 4 by 31st August 2024 or have a child in Year 2 at the moment please do get your applications in now for next year. This year both Phoenix and Godolphin Juniors had waiting lists so you must get your application in now to have the best chance of a school place in September.

We welcome feedback from parents and our annual Autumn Term parent survey is now open! Please do complete this as it is a great opportunity to share your views on the school. Follow this link:

h https://forms.office.com/e/ausT8BQRZy tt ps://forms.office.com/e/ausT8BQRZy

Have a lovely weekend - do get out and about and make the most of what will hopefully be a cold, but sunny weekend!

Best wishes

Miss Jarrett

SAFEGUARDING

${item_alt_tag}$

Road Safety Week 2023

This week is Road Safety Week, but the messages we give are relevant all year round.

Let’s talk about SPEED. Five people die on UK roads every day, so why do we still think it’s OK to speed?

We all drive too fast sometimes...

"I didn’t notice I was going so fast!"
"Everyone else is doing it so why can’t I?"
"A few miles an hour won’t make much difference will it?"

But every time we driver faster than the speed limit, or too fast for the road conditions, we increase the risk of a crash – and we increase the chance that someone we love will be killed or hurt on a road.

${item_alt_tag}$

The roads around our school are incredibly busy during school drop off and pick ups. Please drive carefully. We strongly advise parking further away from school and walking - this is healthier for your child and if fewer cars park on Devon/Warrington Avenue the streets will be safer for our children.

We are also trying to get the Zig Zag yellow road markings outside Devon Avenue repainted. Please help us by reporting this to the council (we have done so on multiple occasions since the Summer term but are still waiting). Report a highways issue | Instructions – Slough Borough Council

Be Safe Be Seen

We are always mindful for the safety of our children near roads and conscious of how vulnerable they can be. At this time of year, with reduced visibility for drivers your child is even more vulnerable near roads. With new bikes and scooters arriving at Christmas for some, the temptation to go out in the evening will be even stronger so I have included some safety tips below so that you can discuss with your child/ren how important it is to be visible when near roads. These tips emphasise how wearing brightly coloured clothing shows up well in daylight but, as it gets dark, reflective clothing and accessories are far more effective in signalling pedestrians or cyclists to drives. For more information and activities to do with your child(ren) please visit: https://www.think.gov.uk/resource/be-bright-be-seen-game

${item_alt_tag}$

Slough Safeguarding Partnership

Everyone has a role in keeping people safe in Slough; it is a concern for all of us. Parents/carers, those caring for vulnerable adults do all they can to safeguard their loved ones from harm. All agencies working with families also have formal responsibilities around safeguarding. The Safeguarding Partnership brings together all those partner agencies to ensure we have a co-ordinated approach. There are over 120 people involved in our partnership and they are actively working together to continually improve how we keep people safe.

If you are interested in learning more about the Slough Safeguarding Partnership follow this link for their latest newsletter: Safeguarding Partnership Newsletter November 2023 | The Link (slough.gov.uk)

ONLINE SAFETY TIPS:

${item_alt_tag}$

Celebrating our Children!

Reception children baked biscuits last week to celebrate the birthday's that took place during September and October - they were delicious and enjoyed by all!

Year 1 have continued to learn about adjectives and have been describing Buzz Lightyear. Zainab from Heron wrote some particularly good descriptions.

${item_alt_tag}$

Student Leadership

This week we held an open day for new Reception Parents (children starting school in September 2024). Hadi, Alina, Hadiya and Maryam from Year 1 helped out and led our prospective parents around on a tour of Reception! They loved sharing their favourite memories of reception and demonstrated our school values and vision excellently. We are so proud of them.

Sporting Updates

${item_alt_tag}$

Speed Stacking Competition

9 children from year 2 went to a speed stacking festival and had lots of fun doing a variety of cup stacking activities led by Seniors at a local secondary school.

Hrishita - I found it fun and really enjoyed the game when we had to stack the cups really quickly.

Ubaid - I liked it when we were passing the passing speed stacking cups to build the towers as a team.

The children were fantastic and thoroughly enjoyed it and it was a different kind of sporting experience which we are aiming to open more children to.

Mr Pell

${item_alt_tag}$

Celebrating Teachers and Everyone Working in Education

This week, the incredible work of those working in education has been celebrated as the Gold Winners of the National Teaching Awards have been announced on The One Show on BBC. All our teaching staff here at Phoenix are committed to realising the potential of children and young people, and we want to say a genuine thank you to everyone for all your hard work.

The 2024 Teaching Awards are now open for nominations so don’t miss the opportunity to nominate a special teacher. This is a great way to show someone you appreciate their outstanding work and commitment. Head to: https://www.teachingawards.com/the-2024-pearson-national-teaching-awards/?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery to nominate.

Alternatively, why now thank a teacher with an e-card, by heading to the Thank a Teacher website: https://thankateacher.co.uk/thank-a-teacher/thank-a-teacher-form/?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery

The Big Ambition National Survey

The Children’s Commissioner for England has recently launched ‘The Big Ambition’ to hear directly from children, young people and parents across the country. They want to hear from all children, in every part of the country and in every setting. This is your chance to tell key policymakers what is important to you ahead of the general election. Take part now and ensure your needs are reflected in the decisions that will affect you in years to come.

The Children's Commissioner has said "I must reiterate that it is vital that all children have their voice heard through this survey because, as Children’s Commissioner for England, I have a statutory duty to protect and promote the views and interests of children. The Big Ambition provides a much-needed opportunity for the children of England to tell political decision makers what is important to them ahead of the General Election. I will be sharing their responses with Government to ensure that children’s voices are heard."

This survey is for all children aged 0-18, parents, carers / other adults can complete on behalf of children who are under 6 or for children who need extra assistance. Please complete this survey with your child as soon as possible.

Children or parents should complete the survey here: www.childrenscommissioner.gov.uk/thebigambition

${item_alt_tag}$

Childcare Choices

Childcare Choices is a Government website that is designed to ensure you have the most up to date information about what childcare support is available for you. This has been updated recently as changes are coming in April 24. Please head to: https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk/ for more information. It may also be worth subscribing to their newsletter to receive updates/changes.

Baylis Court Nursery and Slough Centre Nursery both offer excellent provision for children aged 2 years old and up so worth looking at if you have younger children and don't yet have them in nursery!

Christmas Fair

We are looking forward to our Christmas Fair on Friday 8th December.

Please can you bring in donations of the following items as soon as possible and before Wednesday 6th December:
- toys
- bottles
- sweets

We will also need donations of cakes - please bring these in on Thursday 7th or Friday 8th December.

Thank you in advance for your support.

${item_alt_tag}$

English Language Course for Parents

We are currently exploring options for English language lessons for parents. If you are interested - or know someone who would be interested please complete the forms survey via this link: https://forms.office.com/e/DcSshyuqF2