YOU make the difference: Let's work TOGETHER for our Tudorites!
Newsletter 10
Thursday 6th February 2025
Dear Parents/Carers of Tudor Primary School,
We look forward to seeing all children being represented by their parents at the mid-year consultation evenings next week. There will be lots of important information to share with you about how your child is progressing at this key assessment point. We have recently completed an assessment cycle and the teachers have been meeting with senior leaders in pupil progress meetings. The focus on assessment is vital in making sure we meet the needs of all the children as well as adapting and refining our teaching approaches so that everyone can flourish.
Whilst we enjoy excellent outcomes in the national tests that all primary children take, the results are due to the hard work that goes on before the tests are taken! Tudor continues to invest significantly in additional learning interventions and supplementary provision and it is clearly evident when the children (and families) work in partnership with us. Well done to the office team who have chased up on those final few families who have not been able to make an appointment- let’s aim for EVERY child benefitting from TRUE partnership between home and school. What happens now SHAPES their FUTURE!
Reading- making sure we are school (and life!) READY!
It was evident from our pupil progress meetings this week there is a (growing) concern that reading for pleasure is becoming less valued by children. Whilst experience tells us that the vast majority of parents are supportive with reading schemes and support their child to read at an early age, this significantly drops off as the children move into year 3 and beyond. Tudor Primary has always invested a lot in new books, schemes and adult support in school but we continue to feel a sense of sadness (and frustration) when we do not see children and/ or families recognise just how important it is to develop and widen their experience of books. From SIGNIFICANTLY developing the child’s experience of language and vocabulary, books can truly entertain and enhance well-being. We have tried to use rewards to ‘encourage’ more commitment to reading but we know that this does not always work. We will NOT give up though! Even though we do not expect children to bring in pens, pencils, mathematical equipment and more (we’ll supply all that!), we do EXPECT every child to have their reading book with them each day. Furthermore, we remind all the school community of a fair expectation that they spend some time with that book at home. Families can support massively with this by asking their child about their reading too.
Whatever we do in school, children will always learn MOST from their parents. We worry about children spending too much time on screens; do ask yourselves if you are modelling the right behaviours! Teachers will continue to share suggested and age appropriate texts. If a book is not working, let’s enable our Tudorites to enjoy comics, magazines and more! Parents- we NEED your help with this. I doubt there is anyone who would challenge the need to reduce screen time and re-direct these young (and older 😉) minds to something more worthwhile…
Inclusion at Tudor Primary- a message from Miss Reading- our Leader for Inclusion:
Families in Focus are offering a free online course for parents called 'Handling anger of children with Autism & ADHD'. This course supports parents to gain greater understanding and learn tips that can reduce angry reactions and increase emotional regulation. For more information email: Bookings@familiesfocus.co.uk. Family Lives have released details about their spring term workshops, for more information about support available please follow the link: https://www.familylives.org.uk/ Supporting Links offer parenting support through workshops, courses and 1:1 parent mentoring - all can be booked via Eventbrite: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/o/supporting-links-15053924960 If you cannot find details of courses you are looking for remember to look at Hertfordshire's SEND Local Offer: https://www.hertfordshire.gov.uk/microsites/local-offer/the-hertfordshire-local-offer.aspx
FOT- Save the date- the circus is coming to Tudor!
More information will be coming your way but the Friends of Tudor have managed to source the country’s leading school circus experience for the weekend of May 31st/ June 1st.
This is the second weekend of the summer half term break and it is sure to be a truly unforgettable occasion for the school community. There will also be some extra special surprises during the weekend. DO NOT MISS OUT.
Important Dates:
Assemblies:
2R-13th Feb
1P- 13th March
1O- 20th March
5W- 27th March
5X- 3rd April
Parent Consultations- NEXT WEEK! Monday 10th and Thursday 13th February
The Tudor Circus Weekender! - Saturday 31st May and Sunday 1st June
Nursery Applications for 2025-2026- our youngest Tudorites
The closing date for nursery applications is Friday 21st March. Tours are also available if you would like to come and visit. For more information, follow: https://www.tudor.herts.sch.uk/page/?title=Pupil+Admissions&pid=116
The School Choir are off to Wembley Arena! Good luck to Miss Williams and her school choir. On Tuesday they will be part of the Young Voices concert at Wembley Arena. We know that they will have a wonderful time and make some amazing memories.
PLEASE READ- The tougher choice is often the right one- building RESILIENCE; building FUTURES!
Spending time with secondary leaders recently has highlighted how a number of schools are investing in helping families support their children with making the right choices. This may relate to children simply not wanting to attend school and/ or do things that they do not want to do. Looking at this in more detail, I think that by secondary school, the values and views of the children are already set- in fact it could be argued that it’s probably too late. As someone who has now worked in education for over 30 years, there is, without doubt a developing situation where children are enabled to now share (or even dictate) to their parents what they will, or will not do. As this newsletter highlights earlier, by FAR the biggest influences on the future outcomes of our Tudorites will be those people they love the most- their parents. It is vital to consider, therefore, that the correct decision is not always the easiest one. In fact, it is often the choice that creates the most challenge or tension that’s correct. How can we build resilience and a confidence in children if we allow (and enable) them to make decisions for which they are simply not mature enough to fully comprehend the impact? There will be days when children ‘do not want to come in’ and/ or ‘to join the extra learning club’ that has been provided for them. But, whilst we know this, the long-term gain FAR EXCEEDS the short-term pain! Please be assured that our outcomes (social as well as academic) for the vast majority of our children should fill us with pride, we want EVERY child to succeed and be aspirational for a fantastic future. Whilst school can help facilitate that goal, it is the DUTY of the parent to help guide it. We are ALL #TeamTudor