This week at Gainsborough…
Summer 2
This half term we are focusing on:
As Summer term. Our reflections on our current learning tell us we need to focus on the following:
- Improving the academic achievement in maths, for both children finding maths hard and those who work really efficiently in maths
- Developing our music curriculum and wider music offer for children
- Developing a play strategy for children and families
- Applying the teaching and learning policy to all areas of the curriculum
- Developing the application of SCERTS at Gainsborough to support children with communication and language needs
Heatwave
What a week. We are sorry to all of the families adversely affected by the decision to close the school this week. We are clear we made the right decision for Gainsborough and we are aware we need to plan so that this does not happen again in the future. The school already takes all immediately possible actions to combat extreme weather and we will continue to work on implementing these measures through any further instances: using fans in all spaces, relocating groups to cooler spaces, introducing more water play to learning, rest and cool down moments in lessons, individual water bottles for all children, cold lunches when the weather is hot and less physical play and PE lessons and inviting staff and children to wear a relaxed uniform.
We are also exploring the following actions, some as a result of this week and some were already in process:
- working with Hackney Council on a longer term project to install a heat pump and ventilation system across the entire estate
- writing bids to improve our outdoor areas, adding more shade, planting and water butts to ensure our outdoor areas are more shaded and the children have access to water outside more readily
- installing air conditioner units in our sleep rooms and preschool rooms as young children find regulating their temperatures much harder
If there are members of our school community who have expertise in grant funding or landscaping we would really like to work with you on our approach to combatting extreme weather. Please speak to a senior leader on the school gate if you are able to support with this.
We are looking forward to seeing you all on Monday 29th June, with all normal services resuming.
Gainsborough at the Hackney Music Festival- Parents in Class
As you are aware classes from Reception to Year 5 were due to take part in the Hackney Music Festival at the Round Chapel again this year. Unfortunately due to the weather the trips did not go ahead as planned. We would like to invite families to see their children perform, instead of parents in class events this week.
Reception – Family Friday 9-9.30am Friday 3rd July
Years 1 and 2 – Parent’s in Class event will now be a short concert, 3pm on Friday 3rd July, middle hall
Years 3 4 5 – Parent’s in Class event will now be a short concert, 3pm on Friday, top hall
Gainsborough Summer Fair
Please join us on Friday 3rd July, 3.30-5.30pm, for the annual school summer fair. We have an exciting raffle, the bouncy castle, under 5’s space, amazing food, water pistols, football competitions, arts and crafts and of course the usual tattoos, face paints and fun! We look forward to seeing you there.
Gainsborough Play Strategy
The children have fed back that they are enjoying the new additions to the playground and enjoy having a larger variety of different things to do at playtime. We are collecting loose parts play items to build further play opportunities for children at Gainsborough. The weekly donation suggestions last half term did not yield much for us to put into the playground. We have put together a half termly request and would like to ask families to all donate ONE item over the half term, just ONE! If everyone donates one unused item from their home we will build a really useful set of play resources. We have labelled 3 large boxes in the office area for families to drop in donations as and when they can. We are collecting buckets and spades and sand play, dressing up clothes (bags, hats, outfits, accessories) and utensils for sand and mud kitchen play.
