Hill West Primary School Issue 5, October 2012
Pedagogical Newsletter – October 2012 Accelerating Pupil Progress Did you know that a Report by the Sutton Trust found that teaching approaches that are most successful at accelerating pupil progress include - Effective feedback - Metacognitive and selfregulation strategies - Peer assisted learning - Homework
In this issue: Accelerating Pupil Progress Authorised Absence Spelling, punctuation and grammar (Spag) Impulsive Behaviour Behavioural, social and emotional difficulties Curriculum innovation Building learning Power E-Safety
Reminders: Parents Evening Tuesday 16th and Wednesday 17th October Parent representatives wanted to join the Parent Council
AUTHORISED ABSENCE According to the Sunday Telegraph, Secretary of State Michael Gove is to crack down on parents who take children out of school during term time for holidays. Head Teachers will no longer be able to allow authorised absence during a school term. Discretionary absence is intended to cover illness, bad weather and
bereavements, but Head Teachers often come under pressure to allow it so that children can be taken on holidays at times when it is less expensive. The move which will be accompanied by tougher fines for parents of children who regularly truant, follows a review of school discipline. We will advise you of any further guidance issued to school as soon as we receive it.
Spag Test for Year 6 As a result of the findings in the Bew Review, the coalition government have introduced a new test for all Year 6 pupils in England. This test will be administered during their SATs week in May. The English Spennling, Grammar and Punctuation test will only include questions that assess elements of the current English curriculum. The Department for Education are introducing
the test because they want to make sure that when children leave primary school they are confident in spelling, punctuation and grammar. The test has been designed, suggest the DfE, to ensure that primary schools place a stronger focus on the teaching of these skills than in previous years. It will be administered in a similar way to other Key Stage 2 tests.