Keep up to date with all the news happening in the school at the moment. Articles are added during the week. Parents are encouraged to check regularly. Our weekly bulletin, emailed directly to parents, summarises content for the week.

• Garden news

  Wed 27 Mar 2024 Elise Laird

  Spring has definitely arrived in the garden...

   

  • After seeing lots and lots of frogspawn in the pond in late February and early March, the children have been eagerly looking for tadpoles. None were spotted for a while then on Friday the children in 2S finally spotted them. Well done 2S!
  • Hundreds of daffodils, and a few tulips, have bloomed in the garden this spring, which has brought a feeling of brightness to some otherwise dull and damp gardening days. A variety of bulbs planted by year 2 in the middle playground have also started blooming. More should hopefully be in bloom after the Easter holidays. Year 2 have been helping to nurture the bulbs by watering them at break times, when required.
  • Pupils in years 6 through 3 have been getting an early start to the growing season by planting seeds to germinate on the school windowsills. They have planted tomato, cucumber, strawberry and aubergine seeds. Now that many (not all unfortunately) have successfully grown shoots they will continue to grow in the polytunnel over the break. Thank you to Easter club for agreeing to water them. 
  • Some First Early Casablanca variety potatoes were also chitted early in the term then planted outside by year 3 in March. We hope to have a good crop of yummy new potatoes by the end of summer term. 
  • Year 2 were able to directly plant broad beans into the ground outside last week and next term many children will hopefully get to enjoy the beans that years 1 and 2 have planted in the garden.   
  • Every group in years 2-6 have been planting sunflower seeds along the edge of the field for a sunflower growing competition.  At the summer fair we will measure the height of the sunflowers - the tallest one wins the class a prize!  So after the Easter break classes should remember to come along to the garden to water their sunflower, if the weather has been dry. 

  

• ISS New Lunch Menu April to October 2024

  Wed 27 Mar 2024 Office

  ISS's new menu from w/c 15th April to October 2024 is now available to view.
   

  School meals are planned around a three week menu cycle.

  Children can take any meal for any number of days and should pre-book their meals through the Feeding Hungry Minds website.
   

  Copies of the menu are also available from the School Office. 
   

  ISS Lunch Menu

• PTFA: SAVE THE DATE: School Disco 11 May 2024

  Wed 27 Mar 2024 PTFA

  Saturday 11 May is the annual Fielding School Disco Day and this year we are offering a disco for the kids in the school hall with snacks and drinks available to purchase, and a refreshment area for the adults outside. The disco is £2 per child - adult tickets not necessary..

  
  Timings are as follows:
  Nursery & Reception  12.30pm – 1.30pm
  Year 1 & 2:  1:50pm - 2:50pm
  Year 3 & 4:  3.10pm – 4:10pm
  Year 5 & 6:  4:30pm – 5.30pm
  
  Only children for correct year groups can enter the disco at that time. Children remain parents’ responsibility at all times; at least one adult per five kids please. We look forward to seeing you there!

  
  Volunteers will be needed on the day. Please contact the PTFA if you help on the day – fieldingptfa@gmail.com

   

  

• Are you a parent of a child who has SEND? This invitation is for you. - Thursday 2nd May

  Tue 26 Mar 2024 Clare Haines

  Parent information & discussion session
  2nd May 1.45pm-3.10pm

  Main hall

  Click here for flyer 📰

  Join us for the first in a series of sessions for parents of pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND). Come together with school leaders to talk about SEND provision. The session will be hosted by the Ealing Parent & Carer Forum and will be joined by representatives from Ealing Local Authority

  Focus for this session:

  • SEND support, our current position
  • Parent Q&A
  • Share what’s important to you and your child.

  Let us know you are coming

  To help us plan for the session please scan the QR code attached or click on this link.

  

• Whole Class Reading Books for the Summer Term

  Tue 26 Mar 2024 G. Robinson

   

  As we look to next term, we ask parents of children in Years 2-6, to purchase a copy of the Whole Class Reading Book for their child. These lessons run in a similar format to English lessons and explicitly teach the children a range of reading strategies in a challenging and engaging way. You can find the book titles, and a link to purchase the book for Summer Term, on your child's Year Group Noticeboard.  

    

  If your child has a Pupil Premium Passport, we will provide your child with a copy of the class text free of charge. Please speak to your child's class teacher if you do not receive a grant but will be unable to provide the book due to financial reasons. Many thanks for your support. 

• Supporting the charity - Cancer Research

  Tue 26 Mar 2024

  Each year, we ask our children to choose three charities they would like to support. We choose one local charity, one national charity and one global charity to support throughout the school year. For more information about how we choose charities, please see here.

   

  This year we have already held a school fundraiser for Ealing food bank in the Autumn term. On Wednesday 24^th April we will hold our second charity event for the national charity Cancer Research.

   

  On the day the pupils will be learning about the importance of supporting charities and how this links to one of our school values, empathy.  In class pupils will be making a class empathy paper chain, sharing their ideas of how else they can demonstrate empathy towards others.

   

  To support the charity, we ask families to donate a small monetary contribution on Wednesday 24^th April (we suggest £1.) The money will be collected from classes and donated to the charity to support the important work that they do.

   

  Teachers have carefully planned the values lesson to be mindful and sensitive to pupils who have been directly impacted by cancer. 

• The Power of Times Tables: Boosting Your Child's Math Confidence

  Tue 26 Mar 2024 Dan Thomas

  Mathematics is often seen as a daunting subject for many children, and as parents, we strive to support our little ones in their journey to mastering it. One fundamental aspect of math that serves as a cornerstone for further learning is understanding times tables. While it might seem like a simple concept, the importance of times tables cannot be overstated, especially in the early years of a child's education. So, why are times tables so crucial, and how can parents help their children excel in this area?

   

  1. Foundation for Mathematical Skills: Times tables provide the foundation upon which numerous mathematical concepts are built. From multiplication and division to fractions, decimals, and even algebra, a solid grasp of times tables lays the groundwork for more complex mathematical operations. Just as a house needs a strong foundation to stand tall, a child needs a firm understanding of times tables to tackle more advanced math with confidence.

  2. Speed and Accuracy: Proficiency in times tables enables children to solve mathematical problems quickly and accurately. Imagine trying to navigate through a maze without a map – it would be slow and frustrating. Similarly, without knowing times tables, children may struggle to solve problems efficiently, leading to frustration and a lack of confidence in their mathematical abilities.

  3. Confidence Booster: When children know their times tables inside out, they feel more confident in their mathematical abilities. Confidence is key to success in any subject, and math is no exception. A confident child is more likely to actively participate in class, take on challenging problems, and ultimately, excel academically.

  4. Real-World Applications: Times tables have numerous real-world applications beyond the classroom. From calculating shopping bills and telling time to understanding interest rates and cooking measurements, multiplication skills are used in various everyday scenarios. By mastering times tables, children develop practical skills that they can apply throughout their lives.

  5. Building Mental Math Skills: Knowing times tables by heart enhances children's mental math abilities. Mental math is not only useful in everyday situations where a calculator may not be available but also strengthens critical thinking and problem-solving skills. By practicing times tables regularly, children sharpen their mental math abilities, making them more adept at tackling mathematical challenges.

   

  So, as parents, how can we support our children in mastering times tables and reaping the benefits that come with it?

  • Practice, Practice, Practice: Encourage your child to practice times tables regularly. Set aside dedicated time each day for practicing multiplication facts through games, flashcards, or online resources. Every KS2 child at Fielding has access to Times Table Rock Stars and every KS1 child has access to Numbots. We recommend that children engage with these programs at home at least 4 times a week for between 8-10 minutes.

  • Make it Fun: Incorporate fun activities and games into learning times tables to keep your child engaged and motivated. Whether it's a multiplication bingo game or a times tables race against the clock, making learning enjoyable can significantly enhance retention. Check out this article from Third Space Learning for ideas of how to learn times tables at home.

  • Use Real-Life Examples: Show your child how times tables are used in everyday life. Involve them in activities that require multiplication, such as baking, setting the table, or calculating pocket money. Connecting times tables to real-world scenarios makes learning more meaningful and memorable.

  • Provide Positive Reinforcement: Celebrate your child's progress and achievements in learning times tables. Offer praise and encouragement to boost their confidence and motivation. Positive reinforcement reinforces the importance of mastering times tables and encourages continued effort.

   

  Understanding times tables is not just about memorising numbers; it's about building a strong mathematical foundation, enhancing problem-solving skills, and boosting confidence. Use this Easter break as an opportunity to do each of these things and enjoys maths together with your child.

• Easter TTRS Battle of the Bands - Who will win?

  Tue 26 Mar 2024 Dan Thomas

  As we approach Easter, pupils are eagerly awaiting the start of the next TTRS Easter Battle of the Bands.
   

  Times Tables Rock Stars (TTRS) continues to be the greatest phenomenon of learning times tables at Fielding as it is fun and challenging for all of our pupils. Through its carefully sequenced programme of daily times tables practice, it ensures no child is left behind in practice and for those that are confident, over-practice is ensured to increase higher levels of automaticity.

   

  What is a Battle of the Bands? 

  A Battle of the Bands is a fun way to get groups of pupils competing against each other and a great way to sustain pupils' enthusiasm in practicing times tables on TTRS. This battle will be between all classes in Years 3, 4 and all classes in Years 5 and 6. 

   

  When will it begin/end?

  The Fielding Battle of the Bands will being on Friday 29th March at 7.00am and will end on Sunday 14th April at 6.00pm. Two battles will take place during these dates and times:

  • Lower KS2 (Years 3 & 4) 
  • Upper KS2 (Years 5 & 6)

   

  How to play:

  Pupils can login via their personalised username and passwords. If they are unsure of this, they can check with their class teacher. 

  Click here to access the site.

   

  Check out TTRS '3 Top Tips for Battle of the Bands' video so you know how to give your class the best chance of success.

   

  How to earn points: 

  Every correct answer in any game type is worth 1 point towards the class team. Pupils can play in Garage, Rock Slam, Soundcheck, etc and earn 1 point per correct answer. 

   

  Pupils should not confuse Battle points with coins! Coins are separate. They will still earn 10 coins per correct answer in the Garage, 5 per correct Soundcheck and 1 coin per correct answer everywhere else. 

  Prizes

   

  The winning class will be announced when we return to school in April and will win: 

  • The TTRS Trophy to keep until the end of term
  • An inflatable guitar to keep until the of term 
  • TTRS Certificate
     

  From the winning class, the pupil who scores the most points for their class team will win: 

  • TTRS Keyring
  • TTRS Pencil 
  • TTRS Certificate 

   

  TTRS promotes the "little and often" technique which is why pupils only need to play between 8-10 minutes a day as part of their daily practice and whilst doing this over the holiday they will be earning those points for their class band! To promote this further, a competition minutes restriction has been set to '30 minutes' to stop children from excessive screen-time during the holidays.

   

  As Maths Lead, I am really egg-cited to see which classes will be crowned Easter champions!

   

  The question is... who will it be?

  

• A note from the governors.

  Mon 25 Mar 2024 Governing Board

  Another successful term comes to an end.  A key focus for the school continues to be preparing pupils for the next phase of their education, whether that is progressing from Nursery to Reception, Key Stage 1 to 2, or from Year 6 on to high school.  We were thrilled to see that the hard work of the leadership team, school staff and pupils culminated in Fielding finding itself in the top 2% of primary schools in the country as a result of the maths, reading and writing key assessments last year.  Well done everyone!

   

  Thank you to all the parents that took part in the Annual Parent Survey which the governors have reviewed as part of our processes.  We were delighted to see an overwhelmingly positive response in respect of parents’ views that pupils feel happy and safe at school and a recognition of the school’s outstanding provision and standard of education.  The survey has given the governors and the leadership team an insight into areas for further development and progress for which we continue to strive in order help Fielding pupils be the best version of themselves that they can possibly be.

   

  We wish everyone a good break and look forward to seeing you back for the summer term!

• No Outsiders, Book 5. What will your child be learning about after the Easter break?

  Sun 24 Mar 2024 Clare Haines

  Preparing children for life in modern Britain

  This week marks a year since we introduced our No Outsiders programme in school.

   

  During the first couple of weeks after the half-term break, children will be thinking about No Outsiders and how everyone is welcome in our school. During assemblies myself and Mr Dunmall will be using the No Outsiders assembly resources to talk about disabilities. We will link this to our core value of resilience.

   

  In class the children will be listening to and discussing the 4th book (spring 2) in the series for their year group. 

  • No outsiders curriculum

  Our No Outsiders books will be available in the key-stage 2 library for you to view, during parent consultation meetings on 19th February. 

   

  Here is the list of books, with links, for the first half of spring term:

  • Reception, Mommy, Mamma and Me (to celebrate my family)
  • Year 1 My World, Your World (I share the world with a lot of people)
  • Year 2,All Are Welcome (To know I belong)
  • Year 3, The Hueys in the New Jumper (To recognise and recognise people who are different to me)
  • Year 4, When Sadness Comes to Call (To look after my mental health)
  • Year 5,The Girls, (to explore friendship)
  • Year 6,  Introducing Teddy, (to show acceptance, gender and friendship)

   

  The 'No Outsiders' programme educates children about diversity within our communities and addresses issues such as sexism, ageism, race and different types of families.

   

  It is taught to each year group through the use of age-appropriate books. Through these beautiful picture books, the children explore the concepts of equality, diversity, acceptance of differences and of the right of someone to have an opinion different to their own. .

  More information

  • Click here to find out about the books we use.
  • Click here to find out more from the No Outsiders website.
  • Example Lesson plan
  • Assembly plans

  How does No Outsiders fit into the curriculum?

  The No Outsiders lessons fit alongside many of the things we already teach in school. They align with our core values of respect, resilience, reflection and empathy. They will also form a part of our relationships lessons, which are part of our RSHE lessons and our Monday assemblies.

  • DfE Relationships Education, Statutory requirements
  • Our RSHE lessons