1. Year 8 Parent Support Evening Speakers: Chris Panting – Deputy Head teacher (Curriculum) Jay Simmonds- Head of Lower School

2. How can parents support learning outside of the classroom?

3. The dilemma How do we encourage, challenge and support yet avoid alienating, threatening, stressing or doing for?

4. How do you help to motivate students? Major concern- Should you interfere and tell pupils to work yet run the risk of confrontation? How do you encourage pupils? One of the major questions we get asked by parents

5. How did we support our children when they were in Year 1?

6. What did we do? Sit and read Ask “What new things did you do today?” Children bombard us with questions Excitement Enthusiastic Why is this? Does this happen when our students reach secondary school?

7. What can we all do Listen Remember all want to do well Recognise the positives and praise Always have positive expectations Allow students to make mistakes in their learning

8. How can parents support learning outside of the classroom?

9. How do we monitor progress? Progress Review Report ‘My Bubbles’ Tracking Sheets Follow up intervention/ letters

10. The Progress Review Attainment- 1-6 1= top 20% 2= 20-40% 3= 40-60% 4= 60-80% 5 and 6= 80-100%

11. Study Skills and Attitudes Attitude and effort Grade A-D

12. Dates Progress Review- late February Report- early July Both reports are key- are there any changes from Year 7

13. My Bubbles

14. Allows school to track performance from report to report Will ultimately be available through on-line reporting Very good starting point for a conversation about progress Small changes can be very revealing

15. Student Tracking Student tracking sheet spreadsheet Brings together: 1. attainment 2. study skills 3. detentions 4. attendance punctuality Aim: reward success and challenge underachievement

16. What can you do to support the report stage? Have a good conversation about the report Try to focus on what went well? Why was that a success? Link the report to previous reports so you get a sense of progression Ask school if you do have any questions

17. Organisation and Environment

18. Preparation Safe and comfortable environment – Basic preparation: – Tidy room – Tidy desk – Filed notes – No TV – Computer and related issues- multi tasking – Sound? – Organisation helps relieve stress – Check Planner – Homework Timetable – Timetable for the school week

19. Preparation – Equipment: New stationery All files, books, paper, pens Buy a calculator Pack bags on night before

20. The importance of literacy and reading

21. Reading is at the heart of learning Help pupils learn about the world we live in – understand about processes, history, places, themselves Good writing starts with good reading Pupils learn how language work – apply this to their own writing Pupils learn what they like and don’t like – become critics Pupils learn – crucial to learning and becoming an independent learner Why is reading important? Reading in school Independent reading Shared reading Individual reading Reading in other subjects Reading in the community

22. Reading is at the heart of learning Read lots yourself – important to value reading yourself Look for reading opportunities in everyday life Read to your child Be willing to share different books and texts Books for car journeys Subtitled films Be positive about reading What can parents/carers do at home? What should we be reading? Books, newspapers, TV listings, internet, instructions, packets, magazines, leaflets Don’t expect reading to happen overnight. It can take a long time for children to learn to read.

23. Homework support Skills based Worksheets Skill area and criteria for success are featured on every sheet Extension task provided Homework How can you help? Make sure they are completing it Encourage your child to assess their own work in front of you using the criteria for success Help with homework when necessary

24. n “So please, oh PLEASE, we beg, we pray, Go throw your TV set away, And in its place you can install, A lovely bookshelf on the wall.” Roald Dahl, ‘Charlie and the Chocolate Factory’ Make your home a reading home

25. Maths and numeracy My Maths Username- Ashcombe Password- polygon Key Stage 3 and Fronter

26. Fronter- Maths Key Stage 3 page

27. Fronter Schools virtual learning environment Pupils have passwords Contact the school if you don’t have details Online reporting Also resources on internet

28. I-tunes

29. Pod casts Apps Video

30. On-line documentaries

31. Books- Alistair Smith- Help your child to succeed?

33. Visits Museums Library Conversations with other adults

34. Summary All students want to do well Parents can provide a vital support in organisation Students benefit from parents who are actively engaged Please contact the school at any stage if you do have any worries

35. Helpful websites: www.familylinesurrey.org.uk www.surreycc.gov.uk/parenting www.connexionssurrey.co.uk www.parentlineplus.org.uk

36. Questions related to the curriculum/ subject lessons- panting.chris@ashcombe.surrey.sch.uk panting.chris@ashcombe.surrey.sch.uk Pastoral concerns- simmonds.jay@ashcombe.surrey.sch.uk simmonds.jay@ashcombe.surrey.sch.uk