Year 1 Dinosaur Workshop...

What a great way to introduce a new learning project to Birch Class...our Year 1 children became palaeontologists for the morning and worked alongside Dr Helen from Palaeo-Quest to learn all about fossils and dinosaurs.

It was an excellent morning! The children were highly engaged in a hands-on and fully interactive session discovering some amazing facts about the pre-historic dinosaurs from millions of year ago.

Thank you to Miss Selby and her Year 1 team for organising this absorbing and enjoyable session - a brilliant start to their new topic for Term 2. I can't wait to look at and read some the children's work following this activity.

Take a look at some of the images taken during the workshop...

Using paintbrushes to gently remove the sand to discover fossils...

Wow! Look what we've discovered!

A magnifying glass helps us to see more detail...

Looking CLOSELY for detail and information....

Have you ever seen a bone this big?

A palaeontologist needs to have good observational skills...

Carefully does it...don't damage the fossils!

Highly interactive and engaging...

Teamwork required...gently does it.

Recording skills are required too...

Term 1 reflections....

As we come to the end of Term 1, I thought I would share just a few reflective thoughts. Here goes...

Term 1 (September/October 2016)
Lots of our children have made good progress this term. This has been supported and driven by dedicated and talented staff who are keen to see the children achieve as well as they can. We are currently introducing a new approach to Mathematics this year and, with time, this will be highly effective in raising standards. We are also prioritising reading comprehension and want the children to really be confident in answering questions about a text and able to use evidence from within to support their ideas.

Not only have staff supported our youngsters, but they have also been supported by their parents. In particular, children who have 'flown' this term have been those whose parents read regularly with them, help them to learn their times-tables, play games with them and take a serious interest in their education. We cannot do this alone and we need every parent to be actively involved in their child's learning.

Daily reading is vital to success along with talking about the book, discussing ideas and making inferences about plot and characters. The more they read, the wider the children's vocabulary will grow....we are really trying to promote and push a broader range of vocabulary for the children to use verbally, in writing and in order to help them improve their comprehension skills. Again, any home support is welcome!

Our new children who have joined Apple Class this September have settled brilliantly and there has been some amazing progress and development seen over the past few weeks. Well done to all of our youngest learners in EYFS!

We have had some issues with parking and road safety this term and I would urge everyone to demonstrate care and consideration for others, especially at home time collection. With 207 children now on roll, we are at our busiest to date so please do take care when leaving the school grounds.

Attendance has been OK but I'd like it to be BRILLIANT (along with punctuality)...daily school attendance is absolutely vital to success and achievement.

Here's to more good teaching and learning next term...have a great half term and see you all ready for Term 2 on 31st October 2016.

Saftey reminder - hometime collection...

I would like to remind all children, parents/carers and anyone who collects their child at home-time that we must all act safely when leaving the school grounds. This week, we had a 'near miss' when a pedestrian left the safety of the pavement and walked along the road. This is unsafe and must not happen please.

Drivers - please park with consideration - not only for the safety of our children but for the good of the local neighbourhood community. I received a phone call on Wednesday from a local resident complaining about parking -they weren't best pleased. The school is planning on getting 'give way' road markings at the end of the exit gate - cars must be driven slowly and with care.

If your child cycles to school, please ensure that they are cycling safely and showing respect for the road and pedestrians.

When crossing roads, please remind your child to 'stop, look and listen'...the green cross code is really important.

I would like home-time/collection to be smooth and safe. Thank you for helping us to achieve this.

Kind regards - Mr Edwards 

Term 1 Update

There has been some great learning already this term and I am delighted with the way that the children have settled back in to daily school life...

Over the past few weeks there has been lots going on -

Year 1 visited Joyden's Wood to begin their learning project called the 'Enchanted Forest'.

Year 2 have spent time with the firefighters of Swanley Fire Station as part of their project 'Street Detectives'.

Cruella Deville has already visited Year 3 (and threatened to their dogs!) as part of their introduction to 'Heroes and Villains'.

Year 4 have made Anglo-Saxon warships - even adding scary figure heads to frighten their enemies - as they have begun 'Traders and Raiders'.

Year 5 have discovered the delights uncovered by Howard Carter in Egypt all those years ago, studying The Ancient Egyptians this term.

The learning project for Year 6 children is 'ID'. The local police have been booked to come in and do finger-print analysis and forensics...all exciting stuff!

And last, but by no means least, our new Year R children have joined us....and made a fantastic start!

Thank you to everyone for the energy, enthusiasm and commitment to learning!

Welcome back! September 2016...

Where do I begin?

Perhaps I should open by saying 'welcome back' to Downsview Primary School - welcome to another academic year...September 2016 - July 2017!

That is the Downsview Primary School that "continues to be a good school" in the eyes of OfSTED!



Yes - that's right! Our inspection took place on Tuesday 12th July 2016 when Mr Robin Hammerton (HMI - Her Majesty's Inspector) visited us for the day.  After a lengthy wait (due to the summer break), we received the final outcome letter from OfSTED this week and are both delighted and very proud of its contents...we are a "continually improving school" that "does a great job for its pupils."

I felt extremely proud of the whole learning community when reading through the final letter as I truly feel that it captures and reflects the ethos and essence of our school.  We, and when I say 'we', I mean everyone (children, staff, parents and Governors) involved within our school have worked hard to maintain standards and drive learning and progress whilst also ensuring an engaging and varied curriculum. And I'm thrilled that this balance has been recognised. We do strive to make learning fun and give our youngsters memorable experiences but we also do have ambition, aspiration and drive. I am one very happy Headteacher!

To read the full report please visit our school website, www.downsview-primary.org.uk, go click on the quick link to OfSTED.

In the meantime, we have started the new academic year positively and the children have settled quickly. Whilst we are still buzzing from the feedback received by OfSTED, we haven't forgotten our core purpose and will be continuing to work hard to further improve this year. Watch this space...

Downsview Country Dancing Team

Apologies for the late blog on this, but I wanted to congratulate everyone in the Downsview Country Dancing Team who participated in the recent festival at St Paul's. Our dancers shone throughout (yes - I know I'm biased!) and displayed great skill, timing and teamwork. Thank you to all of the pupils involved - a fabulous effort! Thank you also to Mrs Morgan, Miss Page and Miss Selby who accompanied the team...along with willing parents who supported them.

Below are some team photos! These were taken before the performance...they danced eight different dances and then finished with a dance with their Mums and Dads! Phew!

Downsview explores Hampton Court Flower Show 2016

What a fantastic day! I was lucky enough to accompany twelve Year 1 pupils and two Year 6 pupils to Hampton Court today...for the extraordinarily good Flower Show 2016! To be honest, I don't have the greenest of fingers, but I was blown away by the size and scale of the event...and the amazing plants and garden designs on display.

The grand Hampton Court Palace in the background...a wonderful venue for a wonderful event!

Whilst there, we visited Mr Saturn, our school entry in the 2016 Scarecrow Competition and spent time enjoying the other sixty three entries.

Then, with lunch in our bellies, we explored other aspects of the show including the Flower Marquee. Have a look at some of the beautiful creations...

We are hoping to create a new gallery showing more of this amazing event very soon. To find it, please go to www.downsview-primary.org.uk and look for the galleries section.