1. Bring Your Parents To School Day 9th February 2017

2. Enfield Learning Trust Governance
John West (Chair of Trustees)
Charlie Byham (Chair of Local Governors)
They were here to talk to parents at refreshment time to explain the governance and Trustees roles.
Do contact them or Karen Holmes (Associate Headteacher) if you are interested in becoming a Governor

3. Reading at Chesterfield
One of the key priorities at Chesterfield Primary School this year has been to raise attainment in reading, through promoting a love of reading.
Creating a love of reading in children is potentially one of the most powerful ways of improving academic standards in school.
There can be few better ways to improve pupils’ chances in school, or beyond in the wider world, than to enable them to become truly independent readers.

4. Promoting a love of reading
We began the year by discussing as a staff, ways to promote and develop a love of reading from our children.
We’d like to share some of the strategies that we have implemented and how you can best support your children at home in reading…

5. Drop Everything and Read
Drop Everything and Read was introduced in Autumn term, to give 15 minutes weekly, devoted to independent reading.

6. Drop Everything and Read
Hopefully, your children have spoken to you about D.E.A.R time as we call it, and are enjoying the opportunity to lose themselves in their books!

7. Drop Everything and Read
Everyone takes part in D.E.A.R time –adults included –as it’s vital that children see how important we all view reading!

8. Get Caught Reading
Alongside D.E.A.R time, the children have been encouraged in school to ‘Get Caught Reading’

9. When the children ‘Get Caught Reading’, their photos are displayed to celebrate it!

10. Sixth form pupils from Oasis Academy have been visiting Chesterfield and listening to children read.

11. Get Caught Reading Beyond School
Now we need your help! We would like all of our children to ‘Get Caught Reading Beyond School’...

12. Get Caught Reading Beyond School
If you ‘catch’ your child reading outside of school, please take a picture, it to the office and the photos will be displayed in our Celebration Assemblies! And remember –reading doesn’t just mean reading a book –there are hundreds of opportunities for reading in the environment! We are surrounded by print that communicates a message –from newspapers and magazines to signs and labels –even getting your child to read and help you find things on your shopping list will help them develop their reading!

13. Supporting reading at home
Make reading visible - have books available in your home
Share books every day
Boys need to see that reading is something men do
Talk about books
Sit and listen - don’t do chores around the reader!
Respect choices.

14. Hearing your child read
Choose a quiet time and give your child your full attention
Give support if required using the strategies explained next
Explain the meaning of new words
Talk about the text using open-ended questions
Encourage your child to read a wide range of things! (From newspapers to shopping lists to packaging!)

15. What to do if your child is stuck
Encourage sounding out first (Fred Talk). Can you say the sounds in the word? Blend them together.
Read to the end of the sentence. What would make sense?
What is the text about – what might fit here?
Does it sound right?
Look at the picture. Does it help?

16. Reading to your children
Introduce your children to different types of books; classic fiction, chapter books, short stories, joke books, poetry, non-fiction.
Read them the book that was your favourite when you were a child.
Read slowly, with expression. Try to use different and funny voices for characters.
Follow the words and read the story using the pictures.
Talk about what is happening and what might happen next. Leave the story on a cliffhanger!

17. Talking about books It is not a test! Do you like this book? Why?
Who is your favourite character? Why?
Tell me about a character in the book.
Which words tell you what the character is like?
How would you feel?
What do you think will happen next?
What would you do?
What can you tell me about…?

18. Learning a musical instrument
Enfield Music Service arranges instrumental and vocal lessons for students who go to school in Enfield.
Instruments include piano, violin, double bass, guitar, keyboard, drum kit, recorder, saxophone, trumpet, trombone, singing and many more.
Lessons can be one-to-one or as part of a pair or a group.
It is recommended that children do not start to learn a musical instrument before they are in year two.
If your child receives free school meals or is in local authority care, the school will pay for group lessons.
Students will need an instrument for lessons and practice at home. Many instruments can be hired. 
Some of the brain benefits of learning a musical instrument include increased comprehension and maths skills, better coordination, and a greater capacity for memory.
If you would like to apply for your child to learn to play an instrument, forms will be available during the coffee break today. Please speak to a member of staff if you have any questions.
Closing date for applications: Friday 24th February 2017

19. Mobile Phones off!
Have you noticed how your phone is taking over your life?
How much do you talk to your children at home time about how their day has been, what have they learnt about today?
Trial mobile phones off in the playground before and after school next half term until Easter.
Please support this trial- other Enfield Schools have tried it and found it very successful! (Don’t be offended if a member of staff politely asks you to put your phone away!)
E.safety! Please be aware of what your children are logging onto online- we are having some issues re youtube and online gaming !

20. DATES
3rd March World Book Day (Friday) - non uniform- dress up as a book character.. £1 or more towards books for school
13 to 17 March Walk to School Week
23rd March- Learning Conference day
24th March Red Nose Day- noses on sale from 20th March
31st March last day of term 2pm

21. New Website launches on 20th February.uk