Trinity First School, Nunney Road, Frome, Somerset, BA11 4LB
Tel: 01373 461949 Email: office@trinityschoolfrome.org.uk
Head’s Update
20.12.24
We have reached the end of a very long Autumn term, so if your children are feeling tired it is not surprising. The children have worked really hard across the term and achieved a great deal in their learning and in their personal development and I think are very deserving of a break from school. Likewise the staff, who have worked tirelessly, as always, to ensure children at Trinity get the very best education and care possible. Whether parents are ready for two weeks with the children at home or not, I am not so sure!
Christmas is a really exciting time for the children, and certainly the children in Year 1 and Year 2 were very much looking forward to everything Christmas brings when I saw them this morning in our Stars assembly. They were especially excited about the thought of Santa coming, and some classes had even caught a glimpse of him in the air above our school. Yesterday I went to visit Sunshine and Rainbow classes to read them a story all about how Santa might get down the chimney and I can report that I heard some brilliant ideas from the children!
As lovely as Christmas is for lots of families, I am also always mindful that it can be a very difficult time as well with the pressure to buy gifts, cook special meals and be endlessly happy. If you find this time of year tricky, please be kind to yourself and seek support when you can. And remember that nobody is perfect! Listening to the children in Year 2 at their carol concert, there were three main things the children were looking forward to – a Christmas dinner, presents from Santa and time to spend with their families. I wish all of our Trinity families the opportunity to enjoy those things this year.
Thank you for all your support for the school throughout the year. See you in 2025!
13.12.2024
If I wasn’t in the Christmas spirit at the beginning of the week, I certainly am now after all the wonderful performances this week! Watching the various plays and concerts is one of my favourite parts of my job, and I really hope that all the parents, grandparents, brothers and sisters who have come to join us so far have enjoyed the shows too. It really is important to us at Trinity that we give the children as many opportunities as possible and the chance to perform to an audience is just one of those opportunities. Over the course of time that the children are at Trinity, I see them develop so much confidence and assurance when they are performing. Of course it is always a delight to witness those moments when a star is born on our stage, especially when it is the child you would least expect!
The children and staff put so much hard work into the performances, and I know that lots of families will have heard songs being sung at home, and mums and dads will also have helped children learn their lines – it really is a team effort. The children work hard to learn the songs and their words, but there is also a lot of learning that isn’t as obvious. Knowing when and how to come onto the stage is a big thing for young children, as is being able to behave impeccably even in those moments when you aren’t directly involved. Standing on the stage in front of an audience is a really daunting experience for most children (and grown ups!) so it is to their credit that most of the children take it in their stride – and hardly a surprise when occasionally it feels too much for one or two.
The children are, rightly so, the stars of the shows, but I have to say that the teachers and teaching assistants work tirelessly to ensure the shows are as good as they can possibly be. It takes a huge amount of skill and patience to guide such young children towards performing to such a high standard, and I know that we are fortunate at Trinity to have a team of adults who are so dedicated. All they want is for the audience to see how brilliant the children can be, and for you as parents to feel proud of your children as they perform for you on the stage. I certainly feel that they have achieved that with all of our performances this week, and I hope that you agree!
06.12.2024
This week has been all about community, starting with the brilliant Christmas Fayre last Sunday. It was great to see so many families coming along to join in, and lots of parents and staff helping the FOTFS committee to make sure the event ran so smoothly. The Fayre and raffle combined raised over £2,500, which is a fantastic amount of money so thank you all for your contributions towards this. All of the money raised goes towards enhancing the children’s experiences in school and it makes a real difference to what we are able to offer.
The whole school went to Trinity Church on Tuesday morning for our advent service. It was the first time the children in Sunshine and Rainbow have been to the church with us and we were so impressed with the way they managed the whole event. Each year group sang one of their Christmas songs and we also sang together as a whole school. Our Year 3 and Year 4 children led the service brilliantly. We don’t have many occasions when we come together as a whole school, and so whenever we do it always feels special. I hope you have enjoyed the clips of the songs Mr Reid put on Dojo for you, and that you are looking forward to coming to see your child perform over the next couple of weeks.
Yesterday, the children in Year 4 had a really special treat as they were invited to a magical retelling of The Little Match Girl at The Lucky Chance in Frome. The performance was outstanding and the children and adults were all absolutely raving about it when they returned to school! The costs of the tickets were covered by Arts Council funding and philanthropic donations, so not only was it brilliant, it was also completely free!
Finally, this morning we have welcomed local childminders, Bright Stars nursery and some residents from Greenhill Grange to watch a dress rehearsal of the Sunshine and Rainbow nativity. It is always lovely to open our doors and welcome people in to share some of the wonderful things that happen at Trinity.
29.11.2024
It is beginning to look, and sound, a lot like Christmas at school! The decorations are starting to appear around the school, including a lovely tree in the hall, kindly donated by Mole Valley Farmers. This has been delivered and decorated in time for the FOTFS Christmas Fayre on Sunday. The Christmas Fayre is always a really lovely event, with lots of activities for the children to take part in, all included in the ticket price per child. Several of the classes will be singing some of their Christmas songs on Sunday, and it would be lovely to see lots of families coming along to join in the fun. I am very grateful to the FOTFS committee for organising the event, and to the staff and parents who will be coming along on the day to help run all the stalls and activities.
This week the children in Year 1 have written letters to Father Christmas, making sure they are using their best writing skills to ensure their messages to Father Christmas are perfectly clear. Chestnut class will be walking to the post box to post their letters this afternoon, and Beech class will be posting theirs on Monday. The children have been very excited about their letters, and we know that having a real purpose to the writing task makes it so much more meaningful for the children.
Across the school, all the children are very busy learning songs and lines for their Christmas play or concert – I am sure plenty of parents will be quite familiar with them too! The hall is in use for rehearsals pretty much all day and it is very enjoyable to hear the progress the children are making with their songs as I sit in my office. It is so important to us that we give the children the opportunity to perform regularly during their time at Trinity. I love seeing how the children grow in confidence from year to year as they progress through the school. We know that for some children, being on the stage is when they absolutely come alive, but we are also mindful of those children for whom the thought of performing fills them with dread. The teachers do an amazing job of juggling all the different personalities and talents within their classes, and making sure that the children all feel valued for the contribution they make towards the whole performance. I can’t wait to see all the performances, and I am sure you are looking forward to seeing your children perform too.
22.11.2024
This week there have been some exciting PE activities taking place. In school, the children in Year 2 and Year 3 had an introduction to fencing with Mr Sing on Tuesday. It is so lovely to see the children having the opportunity to try sports they might otherwise not come across, and things which enable them to focus on different skills. There was a lot of concentration on show as I made my way across the hall as there are many new things to think about when you are trying something for the first time. The Year 3 children also had a trip to Liberty gym this week, so they have had two chances to try sports that aren’t normally on offer to them in the school week.
As I am writing this, the children in Reception are out and about on a road safety walk. This is something we do with the children every year as we help them to learn how to walk safely to and from school. The walk builds upon learning the children do in school, but there is nothing quite like having a practical aspect to learning. I am sure our road safety walks reinforce messages shared with the children by parents, grandparents and childminders, and as it is getting darker and gloomier as the children are walking to and from school, it is so important that they know how to be safe.
This week I have also heard the loveliest thing said about Trinity school. We have recently welcomed a new pupil into Year 2, and while talking to their teacher about school, they said how happy they are to have come to Trinity because ‘everybody is just so kind’. As parents will be aware, kindness is one of our values at Trinity, and something we feel is hugely important, so it was just lovely to have that endorsement of our ethos, and the work we do here to make sure Trinity is the most welcoming and nurturing school it can be.
15.11.2024
We have enjoyed welcoming some visitors to school this week.
On Monday we were joined in our Armistice Day assembly by Jamie Jones. Jamie served in the British army for 22 years and is now in the reserves. He talked to the children, at an appropriate level, about the importance of recognising the sacrifices that our armed forces personnel have made across many conflicts around the world, and it was very clear to see his pride in having served his country for so many years. Being able to see a soldier in uniform take part in our silence with us is something I hope the children will remember. It was certainly a moving experience for the adults present. Jamie was really impressed by the children’s existing knowledge and their curiosity to know more.
We have also welcomed a regular visitor to our school this week, Tina, who came in her capacity as manager of Hunting Raven. Tina, or one of her colleagues, comes every half term to introduce the children to a couple of new books that we buy copies of for our library. This week Tina came to talk to the children in Years 1 and 2; next week it will be the turn of Years 3 and 4. Tina’s selections always contain at least an element of fun, and the children love listening to Tina read to them. We are so lucky to have the support of Tina and Hunting Raven, helping to make sure we are always giving the children a wonderful selection of excellent books to read and share. The books Tina chose to share this week were a collection of stories by Michael Rosen and a brilliant picture book about a dancing dog. We were especially excited to note that Michael Rosen’s Totally True and Totally Silly Bedtime Stories is illustrated by Emily Fox, a former Trinity pupil and daughter of Mrs Fox, who is a teaching assistant in Oak, Beech and Willow classes!
Our third visitor this week was someone far less exciting for the children, but equally as important to the school. On Wednesday morning we discovered water was dripping from the ceiling in one of the classrooms and quickly reported this to the sites team at the Trust. Our 1970s flat roof is an ongoing concern, especially during periods of heavy rain, so while it was not a surprise to see water coming in, it was a worry given how dry it has been for the last few days. Happily Nick from the Trust was here within an hour and up on the roof to see what the problem was and what needed to be done to remedy it. It was a very efficient and speedy response!
08.11.2024
Welcome back! I really hope all our families had a good week last week. After an eight week half term, I know the children were ready for a break from school! It has been lovely to see them back this week, looking refreshed and ready to continue their learning. The next few weeks will be busy and exciting in equal measure as we make our way towards Christmas and all the fun that happens in school at this time of year.
The week started with an exciting trip out for the children in Pine and Sycamore classes. They had a fantastic visit to the Frome Museum, finding out about three different and important aspects of local history. They learned about weaving, metalwork and animal care. The museum guides were very knowledgeable, and they were certainly tested by some of the brilliant questions the children asked. The visit is part of a wider study on the history of Frome and was a great way of bringing key aspects to life for the children.
All of the children were very excited to come back to school and discover our new climbing wall. This is another fantastic addition to our outdoor play offer for the children and they have loved exploring it throughout the week. Having a smaller wall as part of our Trim Trail, we were confident the children would love it, and we are very grateful to FOTFS for making it happen. We are so grateful for all the support you give FOTFS at their fundraising events, as this is what makes all of the wonderful enhancements possible for the children.
18.10.2024
Each Friday morning we hold our Stars assemblies to celebrate some of the special achievements from the week. There are usually two stars from each class, and the class teachers explain to everyone in the assembly why each child is a star. It is also the time we celebrate the children’s achievements in reading and anything else they bring in from home to share with us from football trophies to carnival prizes. In addition to this, each class takes it in turns to share some of their recent work with us so we can get a flavour for what has been happening in different classes each week.
Sharing the work in this way is a great opportunity for the children to practise speaking in front of a large group. In addition, it is a way of enabling the learning to become more embedded as the children explain what they have learned to others. If we are able to explain something to someone else, it shows we have a good understanding of it ourselves, if, or perhaps because working out how to explain it can test our knowledge in a different way.
This morning it was the turn of Hazel class and Chestnut class. Chestnut class have been learning all about instruction writing and shared their instructions for making a woolly mammoth, along with some of the beautiful woolly mammoths they have made. Hazel class told us about their work in geography, Literacy, science and art. This included using balloons to show everyone where the equator and lines of latitude and longitude are; explaining food chains and reading out some of their diary entries. The children from both classes were really proud of the work they were sharing and it is always a lovely way to end the week.
11.10.2024
I have really enjoyed chatting to lots of parents this week as you have come in for your appointments with class teachers. Our relationship with parents is really important to us, and it is great to see so many parents making the time to come into school to find out in a bit more detail how things are going so far this academic year. While the teachers are always available at the beginning and end of the school day for a quick chat, it is important to make time to sit down together to enable a more in-depth conversation as well. I hope all of our parents found their meetings useful and informative, but as ever, do please get in touch if there is anything else you would like to discuss.
The next ‘formal’ opportunity to find out more about your child’s progress will be the Share my Work sessions for all children from Year 1 up to Year 4. These will be taking place after the Christmas break and are designed to allow the children to share work they feel proud of with parents or grandparents. It is a great opportunity for the children to talk about their learning, as well as to look back and see how much they have achieved. There will be separate times for Reception parents to come into the classes and take part in specific activities with their children instead of the Share my Work sessions, so do look out for more information about those if you have a child in Sunshine or Rainbow. We know that by working together with parents, we can achieve the best outcomes for the children and really value the positive relationship we enjoy with parents and carers.
It was also lovely to see so many parents, grandparents and younger siblings joining us for the Harvest Festival yesterday afternoon. We were so pleased that the weather enabled us to be outside, so that we could share the occasion with our wider community. Obviously, being outside does bring with it issues in terms of sound, but we hope everyone who came was able to enjoy the event, even if they couldn’t hear everything that was being said. As always, we are extremely grateful for the kind donations of food for Fair Frome. Whilst it may not make as pretty a display as the traditional fresh produce, it will make a real difference to several families locally and is a small demonstration of the power of a community coming together.
In class this week, the children from Year 1 up have enjoyed art workshops with a company called Magic Lantern. Each year group has had a different theme to their workshops and the children have had a fantastic time. During lunch, the children from Year 4 were telling me about their workshop on Street Art. Amongst other things, they were amazed to learn about the Banksy artwork that shredded as soon as it was sold! Our Reception children aren’t quite old enough to enjoy the art workshops, but they have had several visitors into class over the last few weeks as various parents have been in to talk to the children about their jobs. The children are learning all about the people who help us and have loved being able to welcome visitors into their classes.
04.10.2024
As we reach the end of the fifth week of this school year, it is really clear to see how well the children have settled into new classes and new routines. It is also lovely to see how much wonderful learning has been taking place. However, it is not just the fact that great learning is taking place, it is the passion that accompanies that learning that really stands out.
If your child is in Chestnut or Beech class, I am sure you are well aware of the antics of Evil Pea over the last few weeks, and know just how much the children have loved having this as the focus of their English work. On a parent tour we happened to go into Beech class and as soon as we arrived, we were told exactly where Evil Pea was lurking and what mischief he had been up to. The excitement was so clear to see, and such a brilliant example of how well the teachers plan the learning to ensure it fully engages the children and really captures their interest. This week, the children have been writing their stories and there have been some amazing ones. On Wednesday morning on the gate, I was greeted with the most wonderful piece of writing. It was an absolute joy to read it and a real pleasure to see the pride with which it was shown to me. And if that wasn’t enough, how amazing that it was so important to share that it was the first thing that child did in school on that day.
Also on Wednesday, I happened to notice that the furniture in Sycamore class had been rearranged so I popped in to see what was going on – completely embodying our school value of curiosity! It turned out that the children were about to go on a bus journey as part of their English learning and so their chairs were all arranged to create the seating pattern of the bus. When I arrived, the children were very excited and couldn’t wait to find out where their bus was going to take them. They invited me to join them on their trip, but sadly I had to decline as I had a meeting to attend. However, I said I would pop back again later to find out about their trip. When I returned to the class, it was later in the afternoon. By this time, their bus trip had been overtaken by their afternoon activity. They were so busy, making human skeletons with plasticine. It was such a fantastic way of learning about the structure of the skeleton and they were all totally engrossed in their task. Ribs were proving some of the trickiest bones to create, but many of the children had made very realistic skeletons, and most importantly, could name the bones they had made.
Each week in our Stars Assemblies one class shares some of the work they have been doing and this morning it was the turn of Maple class. The children have been learning all about Brazil and were able to tell us about the weather in Brazil, some of the most important buildings and also about deforestation. The children love being outside and making the most of our natural environment at Trinity and so learning about deforestation made them feel sad that beautiful natural spaces could be willfully destroyed. The children channelled their sadness into letters they wrote to the Prime Minister, asking him to take action on their behalf. When the children returned to their class after assembly, they had a letter delivered to them, which was a response from Downing Street! The children were so excited to receive a reply to their letters, and very proud to read the sentence ‘thank you for your excellent letters.’ I think they are all standing just a little bit taller as a result!
27.09.2024
Yesterday evening was the Friends of Trinity First School AGM and it was lovely to see both familiar and new faces at the meeting. All parents, staff and carers are automatically part of the Friends of Trinity First School (FOTFS) and we are lucky to have a brilliant committee dedicated to providing community events and fundraising to enhance the children’s experiences at school. The meeting yesterday included a review of last year, during which an incredible £11,500 was raised at various events across the year. These events included the Christmas, Easter and Summer Fairs, the Colour Run, school discos for the children and quiz nights for the adults. The money raised is used in a number of ways to support the school and the children. Each class is given a sum of money to use in the way they feel is best. Last year’s uses included buying playtime toys and games for both indoor and outdoor play, funding special visitors to the classrooms, buying books to support whole class reading and to augment class libraries and subsidising trips out.
Having had such a successful year last year, there are plans to use some of the funds raised to install a climbing wall on the small playground for all the children to be able to use and enjoy. Our trim trail has a small climbing wall already, which the children love, and we are looking forward to having an additional opportunity for the children’s play. FOTFS also fund our annual pantomime, and are exploring a new play scheme, which would be an extension of our very popular PlayPod. So, there are some very exciting plans for the year ahead to put the funds raised to good use!
The meeting also provided the opportunity to discuss events for the coming year and there are some fantastic things for children and families to enjoy. This morning as I type, there is a lovely coffee morning taking place in the hall. This is to raise funds for Macmillan and for FOTFS. It is great to see so many parents supporting the event. Next Friday will be the first quiz night of the school year, again taking place in the school hall. This is a really fun event, with a fabulous cheese platter included in the price of £30 for the team of up to six. There will also be a bar throughout the evening so do get a team together and come along and see if your team can win the bragging rights this time!
Later in the year, the Christmas Fair will be returning. This is a really family-friendly event, with lots of activities for the children to do, as well as the chance to see Santa. There are refreshments available throughout and hopefully lots of children singing carols and songs from their Christmas performances. We are fortunate to be supported by many local businesses who make generous donations for the Christmas raffle, which is another fantastic fundraiser. Later in the year, there will be children’s discos, a family quiz and Easter Egg hunt and the brilliant colour run. Plans are in the very early stages for a summer event so look out for more information nearer the time.
All of this happens due to the hard work of the FOTFS committee and the support of the wider school community. I love the events where we are able to open the school to parents and families and am extremely grateful for the support we receive as a school. The committee is always happy to welcome volunteers to help plan and run the events and they are very open to hearing new ideas and suggestions so do get in touch if you would like to be involved.
20.09.2024
As well as settling our new children into school, this term is also the time when parents start looking for schools for their children due to start school next September. As with any aspect of school life, we need to be both in the moment for our current children, making sure we are doing everything we can for them, but also looking forwards to ensure we are also doing everything we can to secure a positive future for our school. As a school we would never sit still and rest on our laurels, we are always looking outwards to see what we can do to keep on getting better. As as wise head once said to me, a school that isn’t moving forwards is actually going backwards. That is not what we want for Trinity at all!
So Tuesday morning saw the first of a series of tours that we are running over the next few months as we promote Trinity to a whole new set of families. I love doing parent tours as these offer me the opportunity to do two things I particularly enjoy – showing visitors how wonderful our children and staff are, and talking about our school, which I can do at great length, given the chance! Being able to walk around the school, and see the children busy at work or play, is one of the great pleasures of my role. Whenever I show visitors around, we always see children who are calm and purposeful, and visitors rarely fail to comment on that. This doesn’t happen by accident. Trinity staff make it an absolute priority to build positive relationships with all of the children in their care, making sure they know them well and are well-placed to meet their needs – academic, social, emotional and physical. It would be easy to imagine when walking around the school that we never experience challenging behaviour or children who find school a struggle. Of course we do, but we make it our business to be curious about our children and what they need to succeed. It takes a lot of work, over a sustained period of time to have the atmosphere and ethos we have at Trinity; it is crucial to our success and a fundamental part of our vision for the children. The children have one childhood and it is our responsibility to make their school life the best it can be.
Visitors to our site are often surprised by how extensive our grounds are and how many different opportunities there are for outside play and exploration. On Tuesday, the weather was beautiful and really showed our site off at its best. We are so lucky at Trinity to be on the edge of town and to have playgrounds and fields that are not hemmed in by other buildings. Equally, we are able to walk the children to different areas and buildings within our local community, which is an important part of learning about our community and how we fit into it.
It is lovely that there is always a high level of interest in Trinity, with lots of parents wanting to see what we have to offer, but we want to get our message out to as many parents as possible so if you happen to know of anyone looking for a school for next September, do please let them know the tours are happening, and can be booked via the school website. I am lucky to be supported by Mr Reid, Mrs Griffin and lots of our school governors on our tours so parents also get to hear from other people, not just me. We have several tours between now and December, and also offer some Stay and Play sessions for the children to come along and enjoy as well….the tours can be a bit dull if you are only 3 or 4! If you have a younger child due to start school next September, you may not feel the need to book a tour, but do please book to come to a Stay and Play session with them if you can.
13.09.2024
We are continuing to settle into the new school year really well. Our Reception children have all come in every morning this week, and they have stayed for lunch as well. I have been so impressed with how well they have taken to the lunch routine, which is undoubtedly different to anything they have experienced before. Next week they will be starting full days, and while I am sure the children will be tired, I am equally sure parents will be happy that ‘normal’ school days are starting! We know it can be difficult managing this part time entry into school, especially for working parents, but it is so important that we make sure we settle the children well from the start. They have a long school career ahead of them and we want to make it as successful as it can be for them.
Thank you for your patience as we have moved to a new catering system. We know it has not been a smooth transition and it has been really frustrating for the office staff as they have no control over the new system at all so they have limited ability to help out. Please rest assured that we are passing on any concerns shared with us to the catering manager. I know he is taking note of them and I am sure he will adjust wherever possible. We do still have the same lovely team of staff who come to us each lunchtime to serve the meals, so please be assured that the meals are still served with a smile and that the staff that we see here at Trinity are very keen to make sure they children have a positive meal experience.
Last week, I wrote my update before heading off to Hooke Court to spend the morning with the Year 4 children on residential. The children had the most wonderful time, but probably considerably less sleep than they usually have! They were very tired on Friday morning last week, but absolutely wonderful in the way they conducted themselves. All the Year 4 children were recognised and praised this morning in our Stars assembly for their fantastic behaviour and attitude throughout the trip, and rightly so. I could not have been prouder of the children when I joined them last week. They were doing teamwork and problem solving activities and the staff from Hooke Court were amazed at how brilliantly the children did. They remained kind and caring towards each other throughout, which is no mean feat when you are a little sleep deprived, and especially when you are so young. The children managed the wet weather so well, and took the activity changes required by the weather conditions in their stride. I am looking forward to the year ahead with such fantastic leaders and role models in our year 4 children!
06.09.2024
We have had a lovely start to the new school year. It was so good to see the children again after the summer break, and to welcome our new children into Sunshine and Rainbow. We have also seen quite a few of our children starting year 5 at their middle schools this week so we have been able to catch up with them and find out how they are getting on so far. Six weeks off has made me a little rusty with names, so the children are often halfway across the playground before my memory catches up, but hopefully I’ll speed up soon!
Thank you all for your fantastic efforts to have the children in school at our new earlier start time, and for following our one way system in the morning. So far, from our perspective, this is working really well, but we will continue to monitor it and make any changes we see are needed.
In our whole school assembly on Tuesday morning, I had the pleasure of sharing a wonderful new book with the children. It is called The Bridges, and the author/illustrator is Tom Percival. The book shows the power of reading through one child’s experience of building ever stronger and more exciting bridges the more she reads. I used the story to show the children that throughout the year we will be building bridges as we learn together in our classrooms, making connections in our learning and discovering all sorts of amazing things. The illustrations are beautiful and I thoroughly recommend looking out for the book in the library or bookshop if it sounds interesting to you. It is pretty new, published just last week, but hopefully copies will be appearing soon.
I am writing this update early, before I head off to Hooke Court to spend the morning with the year 4 children on their residential visit. The residential is a fantastic experience for the children, with lots of brilliant activities for them to do and quite possibly less sleep over two nights than might be desired! It is always one of the key memories that our children take with them from their time at Trinity, and whenever I meet former pupils, it is always something they remember fondly. Being away from home for two nights is a big thing to do at the beginning of year 4, but the children get a huge sense of achievement from the whole experience, and we often see aspects of their characters that the school day doesn’t always reveal – not least who can work out how to put a cover on a duvet!! I am really looking forward to my morning, my waterproofs are packed, and I know that even though it is likely to be a bit soggy, it will also be a lot of fun.
19.07.2024
This is the last update of this academic year, and what a year it has been! There is always so much packed into a school year that it is no wonder the children (and staff!) are feeling weary as we approach the summer break.
In some ways it feels like no time at all since we waved the Year 4 children off on their residential and welcomed our new reception children into Sunshine and Rainbow at the beginning of last September. In week two of the year we experienced an extremely successful Ofsted inspection, which validated the excellent standards of education and care across the school. We have continued to build upon this, ensuring that our standards remain high at all times. Alongside our high expectations, we are fully committed to ensuring that life at Trinity is fun, and that the children all have plenty of opportunities to try a wide variety of different things. We want to make sure that every child has the chance to shine, whether that is in the classroom, on the sports field, on the stage or on the playground.
The progress all of the children have made this year has been fantastic. Whatever they are doing, and wherever they are, the children always do their best. We love to take them out and about in the community and to welcome visitors into our school because we know that the children will always do us proud. Our Leavers’ Concert on Monday evening was a brilliant example of this. The children were outstanding throughout, their singing was absolutely stunning and they spoke with such confidence. These are children who had a tricky start to school life with regular interruptions in their first few years due to the pandemic. The cohort also includes lots of children who do not naturally find school the easiest place to be. However, I could not have felt prouder of them than I did on Monday night. It is testament to their hard work, and to the dedication of our staff team that they have been able to achieve as they have done.
I have the fortune to lead an incredibly gifted and committed staff team. Trinity staff care so deeply about the children and always make every effort to ensure that everything is the best that it can be for the children. Everyone on the Trinity team – the cleaners and caretaker, the office staff, our volunteers, the lunchtime supervisors, the IG team, the support staff and the teaching staff (including Mrs Crawley, our amazing SENDCo) works tirelessly to provide the very best we can. These staff are very deserving of their summer break, and I am sure you will join me in wishing them the rest and relaxation they need over the next few weeks.
Trinity First School isn’t just the children and the staff. We are so lucky to have an amazing community of parents (and grandparents!) around us, and without your support our job would be so much harder than it is. I am truly grateful for everything you do. I know that the summer break brings its challenges to families in different ways and I hope you are able to enjoy the next few weeks without the rigour or the school run at least.
For the families returning to us in September, I look forward to reconnecting with you all then. For those families moving on, thank you for being part of our school. You will be missed!
12.07.2024
It is that time of year when school is incredibly busy! There are so many different things happening and classes are often not where they usually are. The hall is busy with rehearsals for the Year 4 Leavers Concert and the Year 2 play. We are also getting ready for a day of musical joy next Wednesday as we belatedly celebrate world music day. There are trips out and about, visitors coming in and wherever and whenever possible classes are making use of our outdoor spaces, especially as they are able to find some extra time as more and more of the planned curriculum is completed.
The balancing act at this time of year is between enjoying the moment, celebrating our current children in their current classes and looking ahead and trying to make sure we are all (children and adults!) ready for the changes to come. One of the joys of the children staying in the same class for two years is that depth of knowledge and understanding of the children, but of course it can make moving on (or letting go!) so much harder. I know it is also a time that can make parents feel a little anxious too, especially when you have had two years to get to know your child’s teacher. Please be assured that the staff put a great deal of thought into class groupings and are always sensitive to the needs of the children. We know sometimes it feels hard to think of your child in a new group, but we make sure the children settle well and quickly, and would certainly be in touch with you if we felt there was anything to be concerned about.
It always feels like our Year 4 children are leaving us too soon, although we know they are equipped with the skills they need to face the challenges ahead. Change can be both exciting and daunting and navigating change with and for children can be hard. We are fortunate at Trinity to have a very skilled team of staff, who know the children so well and who are incredibly sensitive to their needs. This particular group of children had the most difficult start to their time at Trinity, with most of them missing out on half of their reception year, and then the spring term of Year 1 as well. We are so proud of the way the children have faced up to the challenges this has presented them with, both with their learning and in their social development too. I know this cohort of children will have a special place in our hearts for many years to come.
05.07.2024
This week began with a monitoring visit with our School Improvement Partner. Derek Watts has worked with Trinity for a number of years. Initially this was funded by the LA, but more recently has been something we have continued as a school and funded ourselves as we value the opportunity to welcome support and challenge from external experts. Derek is a former headteacher and Ofsted inspector who works with schools across the south west. It is so useful to have the viewpoint of someone who has such a wealth of experience, and who also gets the chance to see what lots of other schools are doing and so is able to share great new ideas!
On Monday, Derek and I looked at samples of children’s work in RE, science, history and Art from across the school. In some cases, the children have filled more than one exercise book and both the quantity and quality of work on show was hugely impressive. It is always such a pleasure looking through a child’s work across the school year and seeing the progress that has been made. Being able to see work from every year group and see the learning that is achieved in a particular subject over a child’s 5 years at Trinity is equally wonderful.
Derek and I also carried out a ‘learning walk’ – a visit to each class to see the children in action. Everywhere we went, we saw children who were calm and purposeful in their learning, and very happy to talk to us about the learning they were doing. In Reception, we saw some amazing writing in progress, as well as lots of child-initiated play. Across the school, Derek was impressed by the quality of the artwork on display, taking photos to share both in our written report and with other schools.
The third aspect of the visit is sharing recent data and comparing that with national figures. I am delighted to report that Trinity is doing extremely well in this regard! There are three national measures that affect us – data at the end of the Reception year (known as the Good level of Development), the phonics screening check at the end of Year 1 and the multiplication tables check at the end of Year 4. 83% of our Reception children have achieved the good level of development, 97% of our children passed the phonics screening check, and our average score in the multiplication tables check was 22 out of 25. The phonics scores and good level of development put us significantly above the latest national figures, and our tables check average is slightly above the national average. All three are worthy of celebrating, and Derek was suitably positive about them all.
It was a very successful visit, and reflects the hard work and dedication of staff and pupils alike!
28.06.2024
What a lovely week we have had! Our sports and wellbeing week started in the most amazing way, with an hour of Mojo Moves. If only we could do that every Monday morning! The children had such fun, and nearly all of them joined in with great enthusiasm – as did the staff.
Throughout the week the children have had the opportunity to take part in different sports. We have had some brilliant dance sessions with Georgie from Dance Works, and some fantastic rugby coaching with Paul from Frome Rugby club. Both of them are passionate about their sport and so keen to share that passion with the children. We all recognise that a positive relationship with sport can bring so much to children, and indeed adults and if we can encourage that from a young age, so much the better. We are so grateful to them for giving up their time to be here with our children.
Mr Sing has been amazing as ever, and led each year group through their sports days this week. The children all adore Mr Sing, and love their weekly lessons with him, and I could not think of anyone better to lead sports days. Mr Sing really gets to know the children over the course of the year and encourages and supports them so well, with kindness and with humour. It is lovely for parents to see some of the Mr Sing magic too!
Earlier in the week, each class had a lesson with Jane from the health education team in Somerset. These sessions focused on the children taking age-appropriate steps to look after themselves, and helped the children to understand the importance of a healthy lifestyle. We have also completed our wellbeing survey with the children and we will be looking at their responses to see what tweaks we may need to make to aspects of our school day.
When the children have been in their classes this week, which hasn’t been too often, they have each been finding out about a famous British sports person. This morning’s assemblies were devoted to hearing about those people. We had Olympians and Paralympians, a footballer and a tennis player. The children had linked their research to our school values and discovered that each of the athletes could demonstrate all of our school values in some way or another. The most obvious links are resilience and teamwork and of course all of our elite sports people demonstrate respect for the rules of their sport. Swimmer Ellie Simmonds was highlighted for her kindness in making sure she used her platform to raise awareness of disability, and Mo Farah was identified for having shown curiosity in seeing how far and how fast he could train his body to run.
It has been a thoroughly successful week, and my thanks must go to all the adults who have made it possible – Mr Sing, Mrs Sandquest, Mrs O’Connor, Mrs Griffin and Mrs Wheeler, who have worked together to put an excellent and very varied programme of activities together for the children to enjoy.
21.06.2024
The summer term is always such a busy time, with all sorts of things happening at school and away from school. Next week (hopefully!) will see all of our sports days taking place, as well as the Summer Fair next Saturday. There are lots of trips out and plays, performances, concerts and leavers’ events all going on between now and the end of term.
In addition to planning and leading these events, over the last few weeks the focus for the teachers has been writing an individual end of year report for each child in their class. The teachers put a great deal of time and effort into writing each report and our intention is that every report is as individual as we can practically make it, reflecting the individuality of each child at Trinity that we support and celebrate. Obviously, it is impossible to condense a year full of learning into a couple of sides of A4, and writing something longer would make it unmanageable for staff and probably quite off-putting for most parents to read. However, I hope when you come to read your child’s report you will feel you have got an overview of their learning, together with a snapshot of the year your child has had, written by someone who knows and respects your child.
With just shy of 300 children at Trinity, my next sentence may sound quite odd, so please bear with me. It is my pleasure to read each child’s report. Obviously there are those moments when I feel like I have corrected the same typo a hundred times and perhaps pleasure isn’t quite the word I would choose in that precise moment. Added to this, reading and commenting on nearly 300 reports takes quite a lot of time and could feel like a chore rather than a privilege. I promise you, it doesn’t. I know how hard the staff and children work throughout the school year, every year, and I love having that glimpse into that journey that the end of year report brings me. Often I when I am reading a report, I will smile at the way a teacher has described an individual child, or a specific event. Usually (hopefully!) because this is familiar to me. The words the teachers choose to describe your children are so often the exact words I would use. This can make writing my comment hard if I want to be original, but that’s what happens when you are the last to comment!
The end of year report is our chance to put in writing what we love about your child, what we want them to feel proud of from their year, what makes them special. Sometimes there are tricky things that need to be said too, but there is always something positive to share, always something to be celebrated. It can be easy to miss or forget something said to you in the middle of a busy day, but something put in writing lasts. If it is committed to paper, if it has made it into the end of year report, then it matters; it must be true.
I hope when it comes home next month that you enjoy reading your child’s report, and take pride in your child’s achievements this year. If you do, then maybe you won’t think I am mad to say reading every child’s report is a pleasure. Nearly 300 opportunities to read about a child being celebrated; nearly 300 opportunities to feel proud of what has been achieved in our school this year. A privilege, not a chore.
14.07.2024
This week has been a week of adventures, with some really memorable experiences for several of our classes.
On Tuesday, the children in Year 3 visited the Tiny Forest at Egford Park. We helped to plant the forest a couple of years ago, and also returned to check on progress last year. When the children went to measure the trees last year, most of them were around half a metre tall. This year, the trees were all taller than the children and the area has become quite dense as well. The children loved exploring the area and going on a mini-beast safari.
Yesterday, our Year 4 children were invited to visit Frome College, where they took part in a series of workshops on space. The workshops were led by Frome College students, and included identifying space rocks which had come directly from NASA. The children loved the Starlab, an inflatable planetarium, and talked so enthusiastically about their visit in our assembly this morning.
Finally, on Wednesday our Reception children went to the seaside and had the most brilliant day. So many children told me it was the ‘best day ever’! The children travelled by coach and train, went paddling in the (freezing cold!) sea, built sandcastles and moats, and had an ice cream. They were brilliant all day, and it was an absolute joy to spend the day with them. The staff had planned the day with military precision and were so well supported by parents and helpers who gave up their time to come with us. The train travel was funded by Platform Rail, who also provided a safety workshop with the children before the trip, and staff to accompany us on the day. While the children were having their picnic lunch on the beach, the lifeguards also came to chat to them, explaining what they do to keep everyone safe. It really was a fantastic trip, and hopefully one the children will remember for many years to come.
07.06.2024
At the end of last week, we had some very exciting news. Prior to the half term break, I had submitted a bid for some funding to enable us to create two new spaces at Trinity, a sensory room and a space we can use for the various therapies we offer to the children who need them. Last Friday I had confirmation that our bid had been successful! The spaces will be created by repurposing existing rooms at Trinity, both of which are dull, tired spaces that we use because we have to but which are not at all inviting. The rooms adjoin our new quad room, and together they will form a therapeutic hub at the centre of our school.
I am really proud of the different ways in which we are able to support the wellbeing of the children at Trinity, and I am also often in awe of the skill and dedication of the staff who work so hard to meet the needs of the children. We offer our Nurture provision every afternoon; we have two trained ELSAs (Emotional Literacy Support Assistants) who between them are able to meet with children on an individual basis or in small groups, again on a daily basis; we have a member of staff who offers Drawing and talking therapy and we are also able to offer play therapy through the Frome Learning Partnership. The majority of our children don’t need to access these services, but for those who do, having a purposefully created space to use will be a real benefit, and hopefully help to make the impact of the therapy even better. I also hope it will be a real boost to both the staff and children involved because I hope it will reinforce for both the value we place on that therapeutic work.
I am also hoping that we will be able to carry out a small amount of structural work, which will enable us to reinstate our cooking and therefore enable us to involve the children in a wider variety of cooking activities. Preparing food and eating together is a key component of good nurture provision and our nurture staff are very creative with the limited resources available to us, but it would be brilliant to be able to extend the skills the children are practising, and also to enable children across the school to engage in cooking as well. As with lots of things in education nowadays, that will depend on the money stretching far enough, but we will certainly do our best to ensure that it does.
