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Sunny days and light nights
25th March 2022
What a joy to be writing this briefing on a spring morning. With the challenges of the pandemic, it feels like it has been a long, damp winter, but we are starting to see spring in all its colourful glory. The spring term is always a personal favourite of mine working in schools. It is the time where school improvement can truly take place and be fairly uninterrupted by other pressures of the school calendar. Whilst I acknowledge this spring term has continued to be challenging for all of our schools with much staff sickness and pupil absence, there has been phenomenal amounts of work carried out in our schools and lots for us to celebrate.
This term all our schools have been working extremely hard developing foundation subjects. With middle leaders at primary and secondary working hard on curriculum development. Networks across our school trust have been established and there has been some real collegiate work between primary and secondary colleagues. Our CPD programme has been packed with a real focus and drive on pedagogy and we are starting to see this come to fruition in our classrooms when we teach our learners. Our lead practitioners for primary and secondary have been a real driving force.
It has now been a full 12 months since we welcomed back all learners into the classroom. Schools were quick to establish the learning gaps and plans were rapidly put in place to narrow those gaps. However, we are now starting to really see the impact the last two years have had on families and the communities we serve. Our schools continue to be a haven for those who need us most, our staff and governing bodies ought to be commended for the relentless pastoral work they carry out. I am privileged to see this work first hand across our trust schools. We can never underestimate the personal difference we make simply by being kind. I had to smile the other day when a note was pushed under my door by 4year old Alice.
It read “I no you are veree bizy but i howp you are okA” and whilst I was indeed very busy, this put a real smile on my face not only because little Alice had put pen to paper (those phonic lessons must be paying off!) but that she was astute enough to recognise the importance of understanding others and being kind. The accompanying love hearts and smiley emojis now don my notice board! When the going gets tough, and we relentlessly focus on improvement plans, data outcomes and progress measures, take a moment to remember why you do, what you do.
As we head into the Easter break, I hope all of you manage to take some time to recharge the batteries ready for the summer term challenges. Here’s to bright, sunny days and light nights ahead
Kathryn Krynicki, Director of Primary Education, Learning Partners
What a joy to be writing this briefing on a spring morning. With the challenges of the pandemic, it feels like it has been a long, damp winter, but we are starting to see spring in all its colourful glory. The spring term is always a personal favourite of mine working in schools. It is the time where school improvement can truly take place and be fairly uninterrupted by other pressures of the school calendar. Whilst I acknowledge this spring term has continued to be challenging for all of our schools with much staff sickness and pupil absence, there has been phenomenal amounts of work carried out in our schools and lots for us to celebrate.
This term all our schools have been working extremely hard developing foundation subjects. With middle leaders at primary and secondary working hard on curriculum development. Networks across our school trust have been established and there has been some real collegiate work between primary and secondary colleagues. Our CPD programme has been packed with a real focus and drive on pedagogy and we are starting to see this come to fruition in our classrooms when we teach our learners. Our lead practitioners for primary and secondary have been a real driving force.
It has now been a full 12 months since we welcomed back all learners into the classroom. Schools were quick to establish the learning gaps and plans were rapidly put in place to narrow those gaps. However, we are now starting to really see the impact the last two years have had on families and the communities we serve. Our schools continue to be a haven for those who need us most, our staff and governing bodies ought to be commended for the relentless pastoral work they carry out. I am privileged to see this work first hand across our trust schools. We can never underestimate the personal difference we make simply by being kind. I had to smile the other day when a note was pushed under my door by 4year old Alice.
It read “I no you are veree bizy but i howp you are okA” and whilst I was indeed very busy, this put a real smile on my face not only because little Alice had put pen to paper (those phonic lessons must be paying off!) but that she was astute enough to recognise the importance of understanding others and being kind. The accompanying love hearts and smiley emojis now don my notice board! When the going gets tough, and we relentlessly focus on improvement plans, data outcomes and progress measures, take a moment to remember why you do, what you do.
As we head into the Easter break, I hope all of you manage to take some time to recharge the batteries ready for the summer term challenges. Here’s to bright, sunny days and light nights ahead
Kathryn Krynicki, Director of Primary Education, Learning Partners
