The report of the inspection of the Early Years Department, carried out by the Care Inspectorate has been finalised. The department has received a grading of ‘Very Good’ in both areas assessed.
The report is a fantastic result for the children, parents and staff here at Bell’s Brae who have all contributed to this great achievement!
You can view the report by logging in to the Care Inspectorate’s website or by clicking on the link below.
Scottish National Standardised Assessments (SNSA)
As you may be aware from the National Press, the Scottish Government have, this school session, introduced National Standardised Assessments in literacy and numeracy at the P1,P4,P7 and S3 stages of your children’s education.
School staff have recently received training in their implementation and we will conduct the assessments with pupils before the end of March this year. The assessments are online in format and will be administered as part of normal classroom activities.
The results are diagnostic to provide teachers with information about children’s learning rather than simple “marks”. Teachers can then tailor teaching and learning activities appropriately. No results will be sent home but teachers will probably refer to these within the normal school reporting cycle or during parent/teacher appointments.
Finally, it is important to note that the assessments will not be used to compile league tables of schools.
If you would like further information about SNSA there is a section specifically for parents on the SNSA website at:
P7S had an extremely busy week last week! We went to the street to see this year’s Guizer Jarl, Stewart Jamieson and his squad on Tuesday for Up Helly Aa day and were lucky to get a visit from them in the afternoon. We had a visit from Jill Charleson on Thursday who works for the NHS. She was speaking to us about making healthy choices. She showed us some artificial lungs and what they would look like for a non-smoker/someone who smokes up to 20 cigarettes a day – the pupils in P7S were shocked to see the lungs that had been exposed to so much smoke. On Friday we finished up with our hop at Sound school which we all really enjoyed – it was good to spend time with the P7 pupils from Sound and also great to see some of the Jarl Squad again! On Friday we also said our goodbyes to Miss Clubb, who has been with us for a month as part of her teaching practice.
Pupils in Primary 6 took part in a Holocaust Memorial Service today at the Town Hall. Some pupils shared poems they had written after learning about Anne Frank. Two pupils laid a wreath on behalf of the staff and pupils at Bell’s Brae Primary.
Do you have any unused Hama Beads and boards that you could donate to the school? P1 – 3 would love to receive any spare beads and boards to use at Golden Time. You can drop them off at the office. Thanks in advance from P1 – 3.
Just to remind you that the school is closed on Wednesday 31 January for a local holiday and re-opens at 9am on Thursday 1 February.
Due to staff and pupils having a shorter lunch break the school closes at 2.45pm on Tuesday 30 January. There will be no study club next Tuesday.
There will be a public service bus available to take children to the North Road at 2.45pm.
Dear Parents/Carers of Early Years pupils
Welcome back to school for 2018, we are now settled into the new term and are looking forward to the year ahead in Bell’s Brae. I would like to take the opportunity to introduce myself as Acting Depute Head Teacher (Early Years). I will be in the post for approximately 6 – 8 weeks and you can get in touch using the above information.
Students
Megan Leask and Rachel Baronet will continue their work placements in Rooms 1 and 2 respectively. These placements form part of their studies Shetland College (University of the Highlands and Islands) and will continue up until May.
Up Helly Aa
We will be looking for volunteers to provide additional supervision on Up Helly Aa day, just let someone know if you can help. We will be walking to the bottom of Harbour Street to see the galley and the Jarl Squad weather permitting.
Adverse weather
Just a reminder that information about school closures due to bad weather will be announced on local and national radio – Radio Shetland at 5.30pm, Radio Orkney at 7.30am and SIBC. Information is also available on the SIC internet homepage and parents/carers can also follow alerts on ‘twitter’. A direct link to this can be accessed through the Shetland Islands Council home page www.shetland.gov.uk click on twitter ‘follow@shetlslandsCll’ button at the top right corner of the page. However, parents/carers are responsible at all times for deciding whether to send their children to nursery.
Primary 1 Enrolment
Enrolment Week will take place from Monday 5 to Friday 9 February. During this time, enrolment forms will be available outside each EY room for parents/carers to complete for children eligible to start school in August 2018.
Appointments will be available for parents/carers of children in their pre-school year in the week beginning Monday 20 February. These will provide you with an opportunity to discuss your child’s progress and ask any questions you may have regarding their upcoming transition into Primary 1.
Please speak to a member of the EY team to let them know whether you would prefer a daytime or an evening appointment – this will allow you to arrange a time that is mutually convenient for yourselves and them. For your information, evening appointments will take place on Wednesday 21 February. A crèche will be available in the main school.
Dates for your diaries
Another reminder of some key dates for this term –
Tuesday 30 January – Up Helly Aa Day
Wednesday 31 January – Holiday
Monday 5 – Friday 9 February – Primary 1 Enrolment Week
Friday 23 February – Holiday
Monday 26 February – Holiday
Friday 30 March – Last day of term
As ever, if you have any questions about any of the above, or anything else, please ask a member of the Early Years team or contact myself.
Yours sincerely
Wendy Fraser
Acting Depute Head Teacher (Early Years)
We were delighted to have visiting Scotland coach Leighanne Carragher up coaching us alongside Sound Primary After School Netball Club. She was very inspiring and motivating!
The girls learned new skills as well as having a lot of fun learning new ball drills and playing games.
Just before the October holidays, P6n undertook the “mannequin challenge”… It required a lot of concentration!
One of our school improvement priorities this session is to improve the health and wellbeing of our young people. Part of this priority was to improve our arrangements for lunchtimes and breaktimes.
We are now writing to you to keep you informed of the improvements we have made and to ask for your support in promoting our approach.
For this to be successful we require all children to come to school with suitable clothing and footwear for outside play. If you would like your child to bring and leave a pair of wellington boots in school we would be happy to store them in the classroom. Please ensure your child’s name is on them! We would also be happy to receive any surplus boots that may be used throughout the school.
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