Caring Curious Courageous

Enabling all children to learn and grow

Dear all families,

We have had a very exciting week at school filled with science, maths and music. On Thursday, there was excitement in the air for the X Factor final. The children thoroughly enjoyed taking part, either by performing or as the audience. Your children have all been so supportive of each other showing a real sense of caring. It was a very positive whole school event. Thank you to Miss Bracegirdle for bring the X Factor to The Vineyard - I am sure it will be back next year.

Thank you to all the staff and parents who have really got behind STEM week. Florence Nightingale has been interviewed, some children have made rainbows using felt tips, kitchen towel and water. In other year groups children have made origami antibodies which included learning about viruses and why our bodies need them. In maths, Year 4 read Maryam's Magic which is a story about a mathematician called Maryam Mirzakhani. She started her school journey by not enjoying maths but when learning geometry, she realised that every number held a story and this inspired her imagination. She became a very famous female mathematician in Iran.

Every child in Year 3 have been learning either the violin, viola or cello this term through the Wider Opportunities programme run by Richmond Music Trust. They performed to their families this week. I was very impressed by their confidence, skill and knowledge after only a few weeks. Hopefully some children will feel inspired to continue to learn a musical instrument. Year 3 have been extremely busy as they also made some bread, which was very tasty!

I hope to see many of you at the science fair after school today and at the festival of sport events next week. If you scroll down you will see when your child will be taking part.

Happy Eid to those of you who have been celebrating this week!

Wishing you a wonderful weekend,

Frances Bracegirdle

Headteacher - headteacher@vineyard.richmond.sch.uk

Safeguarding

This week, the children we reminded about how to keep safe online and follow our SMART rules (below). Please do discuss this with your children to ensure they are keeping safe online. 

Next work rail have shared with us some important information about how to keep safe on trains or near railway tracks. Please read here.  

Attendance

The attendance has been a little bit lower this week. Well done to Year 2, 3 and 4 for all having attendance above 96%!

Lates

There are lots fo children arriving after the registers close. This means they are missing vital learning. Please ensure children are in their classrooms by 8:45 latest.

If your child is late for school please bring them to the office. The child should go straight to class and the adult should sign them in.

Miss McArdle- Assistant Headteacher 

Teaching and learning

Year 6 writing

We are so pleased to announce that following our Year 6 writing moderation, validated from an external writing moderator from the borough, 84% made expected progress to above. The high expectations that the teaching staff hold of our children has meant the year group have reached above last year's national and Richmond borough averages in writing and a 10% improvement from our school data.

The areas of quality first teaching that we have focused on this year, which we believe has driven up results in writing are:

• A new approach to the way we structure writing lessons
• Using boxed success criteria as a scaffold – please talk to your children about how this works in our school
• Year 6 teachers working with neighbouring outstanding schools to share teaching and learning expertise
• Strong assessment for learning

Our aim is to further develop this new school approach in writing across the school next year.

Year 1 Phonics Screening Test

In addition to this, we would like to celebrate the hard work and dedication of the Year 1 team whereby 93% of pupils passed the Phonics Screening Check. The local authority average last year was 83% and the national average was 76%.

Year 4 Multiplication Tables Check

Our Year 4 children scored an average of 23.6 in the statutory MTC in June. The total marks possible were 25. This is an excellent result and is down to the staffs' determination to ensure the children at The Vineyard know their times tables.

You will receive your child's individual data on their school report on 14th July. 

Ms Reilly- AHT Teaching & Learning

Cake sale

We would like to say a big thank you to everyone who made cakes and helped set up. I would like to say a massive thank you to the adults that made this possible: Miss Sherry and Miss Bryan-Kerr. With everyone's help we raised £239.70! Thank you to all of those who helped!

- Annebel and Sydney

How to prepare you child to be ready for secondary school?

On Tuesday 4^th July at 9am, there will be a talk at school by some students and their teacher from Tiffin Girls on transition to Year 7. This is a generic talk, not specific to Tiffin Girls. The talk is for parents and carers only, not pupils. We hope you can join us!

ISEB tests for 11+ entrance exams 2023/24

Some families have been asking about whether we will host the ISEB tests next year. We will do this on 11^th November at 9am. Families can register their child from August. All the information can be found here: https://info.iseb.co.uk/cpt-parents-guardians The fee will be £150. If you are interested, please ensure you have set everything up on ISEB nearer the time and email me.

Miss McArdle- Assistant Headteacher 

A message from the PTA - End of Term Party for adults

The PTA invites all parents and staff of the Vineyard to the End of the Year party in the school grounds on Tuesday 18th July from 19:00 to 22:00. We will be saying our goodbyes to the staff leavers, including our beloved Mrs Axbey. We will also say thank you for the whole year of hard work to the entire staff team and our parent volunteers. All the adult school community are welcome (this is an adult only event). There will be a complimentary welcome drink provided by the PTA and then further drinks will be available to buy from the PTA bar.
We look forward to seeing you on Tuesday 18th July!