Author: Susan Shorten

Thomas Russell Infants’ School
‘Our children blossom through nurture and challenge’

Newsletter number 17. 26.01.2024

Team captains
As we explained in last week’s newsletter, all of the children in school last Friday had the opportunity to vote for their team’s captains.
We are pleased to introduce our successful candidates. They all wrote excellent statements to apply for the position and we look forward to seeing them lead their team with pride.

Parent consultations
This is advanced notice that after half term we will be sending out booking details for our next parent consultation meetings. Please keep an eye out for the booking text. Below are details about the dates and times of the meetings for you to make a note of:
Wednesday 6th March—3.30pm—6.00pm
Wednesday 13th March—1.20pm—4.00pm for 1SB, RT and 2MS
Thursday 14th March—1.20pm—4.00pm for 2W, RC and 1L
At the meeting you will have the opportunity to chat to your child’s class teacher about their progress, ask any questions that you may have and look through their work.

Email: tri-office@tri.jtmat.co.uk website: www.thomasrussellinfants.co.uk Twitter:@trisschool

New Play Equipment
The children have been delighted with the new playground equipment that has been purchased by the PTA. Basketball hoops, pushchairs, clipboards, dinosaurs and large construction were all things that the children asked for when they were surveyed by the school council last term.

Safeguarding
Parental Controls on New Devices
At this time of year, it’s highly possible that children or young people have a new phone, games console or other digital device at home. Many parents also prefer to place some protective measures on those gifts – to keep their child shielded from potential Online Safety risks – while others would like to, but aren’t sure where to begin. The National College and National Online Safety teams have produced Top Tips for setting up parental controls on new internet-enabled devices, from smartphones to laptops to consoles.
Staffordshire Emotional health and wellbeing service
With so many pressures on families currently, parenting can be the hardest job of all, and supporting a child or young person with new emotional health and wellbeing can be challenging. Their difficulties often impact the whole family and especially you as parent/carers, its ok not to be ok, and important to reach out and ask for help and support when you need it. At Action for Children, staff are available to support you too!
Visit their website at www.actionforchildren.org.uk to see advice and support for parents and carers. Whether you need a listening ear or advice tailored to your situation, speak to a trained parent coach via parent talk. Parent talk gives advice to support your anxious child or young person.
Silvercloud — Making Space For Healthy Minds at silvercloudhealth.com If you want to understand more and access tips and resources quickly on issues such as low mood, stress, self-harm, anger and more, see the self-help videos and information in the Advice and Guidance section of their website. You can also sign up to one of their virtual workshops or join one of their in-person peer support sessions. Hearing others have similar difficulties helps us understand we are not alone.

NSPCC Numbers day Friday 2nd February 2024
It is a non-uniform day and the children can wear anything with a number on it if possible.

Vacancy - Casual Lunchtime Supervisor
We are seeking somebody to join our lunchtime supervisor team on a cover basis, to cover for staff absence and holidays. The hours are approximately 11.50am—1.15pm.
This is a great opportunity if you are interested in gaining experience of working with children in school. Staff who have started off as casual lunchtime supervisors often then go on to apply for permanent positions in school, with some even then training to become teaching assistants. Please speak to Mrs Burton or Mrs Moore if you would like to know more.
If you are interested in finding out more then please speak to Mrs Burton or Mrs Moore on the gate or call into the office.

Notice of roadworks
We have been asked to make you aware that there will be significant roadworks starting on the 10th February when the A38 Branston interchange improvement scheme starts. The works are expected to last until Spring 2025 and will include widening the A38 Northbound off and on slip roads to provide additional traffic lanes, installing new traffic signals on the roundabout and a third lane westbound.
Further information can be found here https://www.staffordshire.gov.uk/Highways/roadworks/eaststaffs/A38-Branston-Interchange-Proposed-Highway-Improvements.aspx.

Crossing safety
Please could we ask that you remind your child to stay with you as they approach the pedestrian crossing outside school. We have had complaints from road users that children are often running or scooting towards the crossing causing vehicles to stop suddenly— but the child then stands and waits for their parent to catch up with them. There are concerns that drivers are becoming frustrated as they aren’t sure whether to carry on driving or whether they should wait.

PTA News
Love is in the air, and we’re thrilled to announce our Valentine’s Disco on 23rd February! While it’s post-half term due to resource constraints, we promise an afternoon filled with joy, music, and dancing.
Valentine’s Disco Details:
Date: Friday February 23rd
Time: 3.15-5pm
Children can come to school in their Valentine Disco party wear for the day.
PTA Call for Support:
Our PTA plays a crucial role in creating memorable experiences for our school community, but we need your help. In the next 18 months, our committee will shrink to 2-3 parents. We’re on the lookout for enthusiastic individuals willing to contribute their time for planning, sourcing goods, and running events.
If you can spare some time and want to make a difference, please consider joining the PTA. Your support ensures the continuity of these fantastic events for our children.
Get Involved:
For more information or to express your interest, reach out to us at thomasrussellpta@gmail.com or just flag one of us down, we're happy to chat. Every contribution, big or small, is invaluable in fostering a vibrant school community.
Thank you
From Thomas Russell Infants' School P.T.A.
Becky, Gemma, Hardeep, Kirsty, Lily, Mae, Rachael and Sarah

School review
On Wednesday we hosted a visit from Mrs Cripps who is the Headteacher at Church Gresley Infant School, Mrs Allen who is the Headteacher at Fradley Park Primary School and Mrs Farmer who is the Trust School Improvement Partner (and used to be Co-Headteacher here). Both Church Gresley and Fradley Park schools are also part of the JTMAT. We have been working together in a triad having the opportunity to visit each others school and looking at the school improvement work that is taking place. During the day Mrs Cripps, Mrs Allen and Mrs Farmer worked alongside Mrs Burton and Mrs Moore to observe lessons and look at children’s work. They also chatted to both the staff and children, focusing on areas of our school improvement plan that we have been working on.
Even after the first few visits to classes, our visitors couldn't speak highly enough of what they were seeing and said they were thoroughly enjoying being at TRIS! Everyone loved spending time around school and it made us feel very proud of the team we have and the work that everyone does for the benefit of the children. Some of the key positives though were:
-the way our children engaged in their learning and rose to the challenges that they were being set. Lessons were well adapted to meet everyone’s needs.
- how eloquently our children spoke about the expectation that ’only their best is good enough’.
- the impact that the development of continuous provision in the Reception classrooms is having on the children’s independence and imagination.

Early Years Link Governor Visit—Tim Hopkins
One of the most important parts of governance is visiting the school, meeting the children, and seeing the curriculum and actions for school improvement in person. I visited the reception classes on Tuesday this week and had such a lovely time and added to my knowledge that TRIS really is an amazing place for children to blossom through both nurture and challenge.
Thank you to both the teachers and teaching assistants who welcomed me into their classrooms as always. A huge thanks to all the children who invited and let me be a part of the ‘adventures’ they were having throughout the morning. I was able to see some phonics teaching and learning, drawing club and spent some time with the children in continuous provision both inside and out, as well as discussing with Mrs Toft the role of the adults and the changes that have been made to the classroom environment to further the children’s experiences each and every day.
I am sure you don’t need me to tell you that the provision is excellent, and the team work so closely to ensure that all children’s needs are met. The children are happy, polite, and ready to learn as soon as they enter the classroom and eager to share, collaborate and have a go at everything offered to them.
The expressive and adventurous vocabulary the children use and teachers’ model to them is fantastic. Their use of phonic skills and mark making was a delight to see. Maths made fun using a game to demonstrate number bonds to five really got the children working hard whilst having fun.
I look forward to being able to share my visit fully with governor colleagues when we meet next, and I am already excited for my next visit into school. Thank you so much to all in RT and RC.

RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch 2024
During forest school this week the children have had the opportunity to take part in the RSPB Big Garden Birdwatch. The official dates for taking part are the 26th—28th January. If you would like to find out more or take part as a family then please submit your results here
rspb.org.uk/whats-happening/big-garden-birdwatch/submission

Stars of the week
2MS - Poppy for showing resilience in her writing
2MS - Hannah for showing resilience in maths, working with the 2D and 3D shapes

Easter Church Service
On Thursday the 21st of March we will be taking the whole school to St James Church for our Easter assembly which will start at 2pm. We recommend a maximum of 2 adults per family due to the space available. You will be able to take your child home when the assembly has finished but we ask that you wait outside the church for them to be dismissed to you in the normal way. If you aren’t collecting your child after the assembly then they will be walked back to school by the school staff.
If you are able to volunteer to walk to the church with us then please let your child’s teacher know. We will be leaving school at 1.30pm to allow us plenty of time to get everyone settled and organised in the church.

Dates for your Diary
Lunch menu from Monday 22 January will be Week 3

Fri 2 Feb - NSPCC Number Day (non-uniform)
Fri 9th Feb - Inset Day school closed to pupils
Mon 12th Feb - Fri 16th Feb - Half term (school closed)
Fri 23 Feb - PTA Valentines Disco (non uniform)
Wed 5 March—Parent consultations
Thu 7 March - World Book Day
Wed 13 March—Parent consultations
Thu 14th March—Parent consultations
Thu 21 March - Easter assembly in church 2pm
Fri 22 March - Last day of term
Mon 8th April - Back to school new term starts
Mon 6th May - Bank holiday
Tue 7th May - Country dancing and whole school singing to parents 2.30pm
Fri 24 May - Inset Day school closed to pupils
Mon 27 May - Fri 31st May - Half term (school closed)
Wed 12th June - Sports Day & Summer Fair
Wed 26th June - Reserve Sports day
Fri 5 July - Inset Day - JTMAT Staff Training Day (school closed to pupils)

Have a lovely weekend
Mrs Burton and Mrs Moore