The Autumn
Term Review
It’s rather incredible that little old Dumpton is celebrating its 120th year this year. From a tiny boys’ boarding school on the Kent coast, it’s been quite a journey to become the thriving co-educational day school that it is today. We’re proud of our history and the rich tradition of the school; at the same time, our vision for the future remains as ambitious and forward-looking as ever. Through our #BeKind #AimHigh culture, outstanding classroom teaching, and innovative approach to character education. Through ‘The Dumpton Way’, we aim to help every child fulfil their academic and personal potential: to get the very best set of grades they can... but also to become the very best person that they can be.
As the pages of this review show, the Autumn Term was a brilliant one here at Dumpton. A huge thank you, as ever, to our superb staff team who work so hard for the pupils, and of course to our brilliant pupils for making so much of the amazing opportunities on offer.
Christian Saenger, Headmaster
Wow Stars were given this term to children for special efforts and behaviours.
for the children to make winter mark making in the snow.
Nursery
children spotted their brother or sister at play this term and shared a hug. It was wonderful to see siblings together this term.
The Bluebell class were educated on the importance of Remembrance Day.
Nursery enjoyed a wet welly walk.
The
Nursery children examined Autumn Fruit.
Water play is always a favourite in the Nursery Garden.
“This little piggy made his house out of straw”.The children role played their topic of Nursery Rhymes with the help of Mr Cox.
The children chose colours to design their own rainbow with this wonderful pattern and sequencing tool.
Nursery children loved to create with these magnetic shapes this term.
Nursery painted some Christmas cards for family in time for the holidays.
The ‘big bad wolf’ looked at the little pig who made his house out of sticks. The children loved this Nursery Rhyme topic this term.
“10 fat sausages sizzling in the pan”. The children used the Outdoor classroom with Mr Cox for this Nursery Rhyme.
Nursery children planted flower blubs with Simin the Gardener - we look forward to seeing them in Spring.
Reception handmade decorations were displayed in the front entrance of the main school.
Pre-Prep enjoyed lessons with our native French speaker Mme Curson.
Pre-Prep children loved being part of the Christmas musical performance at the fayre.
Pre-Prep took part in our whole school
Pre-Prep congratulated their friends at the End of Term Award ceremony.
Year 1 learnt about the planets during Space Day.
The children loved Christmas jumper day and all the festivities building up to Christmas.
Remembrance Service.
Year 2 enjoyed making Christmas granola in Food Tech.
Everyone loved the fake snow at the Christmas Fayre.
Prep
These children had fun in dance lessons as part of after school club.
Reception created some inspired pieces of abstract art after studying the artist Kandinsky in class.
Reception teacher Mrs Al-Masri shared a very informative talk ‘Supporting your child’s reading through phonics’.
Year 2 considered and created book reviews as part of literacy this term.
Year 2 enjoyed a trip to Highcliffe Castle as part of the popular topic ‘Knights and Castles’.
As part of Space Day,Year 1 made their own ‘planet pizzas’ in Food Tech.
Pre-Prep children took time in the allotments to nurture vegetables and plants this term.
The children loved den building in Forest School.
The children in Year 2 created some wonderful firework art.
A group ofYear 5 children were invited to learn about ‘Cracking the Code’ at Sherborne School.
A lucky few children had the opportunity to learn fantastic underwater skills with scuba diving sessions at school this term with ‘Dorset Diving’.
The children learnt about chemical reactions with practical science experiments this term.
This term,Year 4 learnt about our local environment and pond habitats.
Year 8 faced new challenges in Scotland with the Ridgway Adventure trip.
Year 5 explored the coast and made happy memories on their Purbeck camping trip.
Year 8 completed their climbing challenge and enjoyed the views from the top of the Scottish mountain.
5
Year
canoed to Brownsea Island in teams on their Purbeck Camp.
Prep children enjoyed our climbing wall at break or as part of Outdoor Learning this term.
Prep
We
We saw some fantastic performances from the Prep children as part of
Year 6 children enjoyed using the apple press with Mr Cox and made juice from the Dumpton orchard apples.
Year 7 baked Spiced Apple Muffins in Food Tech class this term.
honoured the fallen in our whole school Remembrance service.
Year 3 had a great day at Stonehenge leaning all about the Stone Age.
Year 8 Academic Scholars read and studied together with the Headmaster this term.
Year 8 challenged themselves abseiling in Scotland.
Year 6 boys experienced some great success in the football season.
the Christmas Fayre.
Year 7 discovered some marine wildlife on a trip to Kimmeridge.
Meet the EdX Team
Dumpton celebrates every pupil’s unique strengths, as part of our inclusive community. EdX is a dedicated department that provides enhanced teaching, learning, and pastoral support. Our dedicated team work tirelessly to ensure that all pupils feel valued and heard, regardless of their abilities. Our goal is to equip all pupils with the toolkit needed to thrive both academically and personally.
In partnership with parents, we support every child to navigate their own, special learning journey. We offer guidance, support and a listening ear, whenever it is needed. Positive relationships are at the heart of everything we do.
Vicki Wakefield is the Head of EdX. She is an experienced teacher and SENDCo and holds a Specialist Teacher qualification in Dyslexia. Anna Appleby Ingram is our SEND & Inclusion teacher and has worked for many years as a teacher at Dumpton. Sophie Skinner HLTA (Higher level teacher assistant) is ELSA trained (Emotional Literacy Support Assistant).Tim Yorke is part of the team in Year 3 and has been in education for many years.
Dumpton Friends
Our wonderful volunteering parents really went above and beyond this term with some fantastic events enjoyed by all the Dumpton community. Please see our Dumpton Friends page on the website for future events, https://www.dumpton.com/dumpton-friends and how to get involved.
Dumpton Talks
“
Fairness is not giving everybody the same, it is giving them what they need.
Fintan O’Regan
We were delighted to welcome Fintan O’Regan to our Autumn Dumpton Talks series. Fintan is one of the leading Behaviour and Learning specialists in the UK; currently an ADHD, Neurodiversity and Behaviour Consultant for a number of schools and organisations and an associate lecturer for higher education. Fintan’s wealth of experience in this field has helped to develop a balanced perspective of the issues facing schools, teachers and families regarding behaviour and learning differences.
Fintan is a dynamic and inspirational speaker and at the heart of everything he says is ‘the child’. In EdX, we believe that the ability to thrive comes from outstanding relationships between our pupils, our parents and our teaching community. Fintan worked alongside all of these groups, shared useful insights and held the door open for powerful discussions. He champions the idea that we are all unique, important and valued. Life does not come without its challenges but working together provides us with the best possible outcomes.
Dumpton Talks
We also welcomed our own Reception Teacher Mrs Al-Masri to speak with us about the importance of language and ‘Supporting Your Child’s Reading Through Phonics’ .
..the more words children know and understand before they start on a systematic programme of phonic work the better they are to succeed......a broad and rich language experience for children ..is the hallmark of good early years practice.
The Rose Review
In summary Mrs Al-Masri shared with us some important tips for success for reading with children; Have lots of conversations, read to them and with them, encourage your child to ask questions, explore new words and respond in full sentences, notice sounds and explore them, ensure sounds are pronounced correctly, and practice sight recognition of tricky words.
How you can help your child at home
Work on listening skills, taking turns and encouraging your child to look at you when you are speaking. Practise segmenting and blending words. Look for familiar sounds and words in the world around you. Such as, when in the supermarket, can your child find words on your shopping list or recognise letters on food packaging?
When outside, can they recognise letters on street names or on car number plates?
When in the house, can they recognise letters or words in magazines or letters you receive?
Practise the new sounds and graphemes your child brings home. Remember to use ‘pure’ sounds when pronouncing the sounds and model the correct letter formation as is taught in school.
Support your child to complete any homework they bring home. Read to and with your child every day.
Finally, remember to ask your child’s class teacher if you are unsure about any aspect of your child’s phonics learning. A consistent approach is important.
Christmas Plays
“All four of our Christmas plays this year showed such incredible confidence from even our youngest performers.With catchy songs, bright and colourful costumes and well-delivered lines, there was something for everyone. It’s always a bit of a rite of passage once the pupils get to Year 3 for their final Christmas play before they move onto the Junior and Senior productions of the prep school, but
their presentation of the folk tale ‘Babushka’ was both funny and moving, and it’s so exciting to see how those superstars continue to blossom in the performing arts as they move through the prep school. Huge congratulations to every sheep, villager, roman soldier, celestial being, and to so many more, wonderful characters.”
SARAH OAKES - DIRECTOR OF PERFORMING ARTS
Carol Service
“The response we had from this year’s Carol Service was overwhelming and that is due entirely to the commitment from our pupils, their wonderful singing and their mature appreciation of the tone of this very special and sacred event.The standard of their music making was incredibly high and how lucky we are, to have the space and ability to demonstrate such musical beauty across the whole age spread of our school in such a wonderful building.”
SARAH
OAKES - DIRECTOR OF PERFORMING ARTS
A Warm Welcome
Barbara Schneegass
Barbara joins our Pre-Prep team in Reception
“After only a few days I have already experienced what is called ‘The Dumpton Way’. The children really enjoy learning and are kind and respectful to others being supported by staff who clearly love what they do. I am very excited for the rest of the year and to get to know everyone.”
Jillie Wilcox
Jillie is now our Dumpton Nursery & Pre-Prep Music Teacher and Singing Teacher
“I have been teaching singing at Dumpton for the last 6 years in the Prep school and I am really excited to now be teaching the Pre-Prep and Nursery children too. Music is filled with magic and I feel very lucky to be able to be at the very start of the children’s musical journey at Dumpton. I can’t wait to get started!”
Katherine White
Katherine joins our busy Catering team of 10 and is happy with a role which enables her to balance family life with work.
Liz Radford
Liz joins as Pre-Prep Music Teacher.
“I’m delighted to join the flourishing Performing Arts department at Dumpton and grateful for the warm welcome. The vibrancy and commitment to excellence is clear to see. I look forward to many future performances, productions and opportunities for the children to realise their own creative potential and shine.”
Term Dates 2024/25
Summer Term 2024
Monday 15 April: Staff INSET
Tuesday 16 April: Term Starts
Monday 6 May: Early May Bank Holiday
Monday 27 May to Friday 31 May: Half Term
Friday 5 July: Term Ends
Monday 8 July to Friday 19 July: Summer Holiday Club
Autumn Term 2024
Monday 2 September: Staff INSET
Tuesday 3 September: Staff INSET
Wednesday 4 September: Term Starts
Thursday 24 October to Friday 1 November: Half Term
Wednesday 18 December: Term Ends
Deans Grove House, Wimborne, Dorset BH21 7AF 01202 883818 . www.dumpton.com