Costessey Matters
September 2015
We hope you all had a relaxing and restful break. It
has been lovely seeing all of the children again and hearing all of their lovely holiday tales. We have welcomed 3 new
reception classes into the Infant School and 3 new classes into Year 3 and already these pupils have settled in well. We
also welcome a number of new staff members to the team. It is important to us that you know who to contact about your
child’s education and so we have included a new staff list in this newsletter for you. Please make sure you keep in touch
with us, we want to continue the
we have established over the last year. I will be
attending coffee and chat sessions at both schools this half term and would love to see lots of you there, either to just
come and introduce yourselves or maybe you have an issue you would like to raise. Whether a positive or a negative, we
want you to get in touch!
I always like to start the year with some
Costessey Junior School now proudly holds the Sainsburys School
Games Bronze Mark. This is a fantastic achievement earned by our terrific sports provision and involvement in
tournaments in the last academic year. I am even more proud to share the success of the schools in the end of Key Stage
assessment results. We were thrilled with how our pupils did, it really is testament to the hard work of both the children
and their teachers.
Early Years Foundation Stage
% of pupils achieving a Good Level of Development
2013
72%
CIS
2014
24%
2015
72%
Norfolk
2015
65%
National
2015
66%
We not only improved our result by 48% but we beat the Norfolk and the National scores for this year!
Key Stage 1
% achieving an expected phonics level at the end of Year 1
2013
51%
CIS
2014
74%
2015
79%
Norfolk
2015
73%
National
2015
77%
We continued to improve our results in this area this year and beat the Norfolk and National scores!
% achieving L2 or above in Reading at the end of Year 2
2013
93%
CIS
2014
94%
2015
94%
Norfolk
2015
91%
National
2015
91%
We have maintained our great results from the last two years and stayed above the Norfolk and National scores.
% achieving L2 or above in Writing at the end of Year 2
2013
88%
CIS
2014
93%
2015
93%
Norfolk
2015
88%
National
2015
88%
As in reading, we have maintained our great results from the last two years and stayed above the Norfolk and National
scores.
% achieving L2 or above in Maths at the end of Year 2
2013
93%
CIS
2014
100%
2015
98%
Norfolk
2015
93%
National
2015
93%
We have maintained our great results from the last two years and stayed above the Norfolk and National scores.
Key Stage 2
% achieving L4 or above in Reading at the end of Year 6
2013
94%
CJS
2014
94%
2015
90%
Norfolk
2015
87%
National
2015
89%
Although we have dropped 4% from the past two years we have stayed above the Norfolk and National scores which is great
news.
% achieving L4 or above in Writing at the end of Year 6
2013
92%
CJS
2014
100%
2015
93%
Norfolk
2015
84%
National
2015
87%
We have maintained a good percentage in Writing this year. Although not as good as last year, we have stayed above the
Norfolk and National scores which again is great news.
% achieving L4 or above in Maths at the end of Year 6
2013
98%
CJS
2014
98%
2015
95%
Norfolk
2015
84%
National
2015
87%
We were really pleased with our Maths results this year which remain far above both the Norfolk and the National scores.
% achieving L4 or above in Grammar, Punctuation and Spelling at the end of Year 6
2013
71%
CJS
2014
84%
2015
80%
Norfolk
2015
74%
National
2015
80%
Our score is in line with National figure which is a real positive, we remain above the Norfolk average.
Please look out for our screens and our next newsletter (October 2015) to share in more of our good news
stories!
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Senior Leadership Team
Principal: Mrs K Lawson
Assistant Headteachers: Miss V Musgrave and Mr R Watson
Special Educational Needs Coordinator: Mrs N Chaplin
Assessment Coordinator: Mr M Copping
Pastoral Team
Head of Pastoral Care: Mrs K Butcher
Costessey Infant School Pastoral Care Assistant: Mrs A Youngman
Supported by: Mrs S Smith
Costessey Junior School Pastoral Care Assistant: Mrs K Daynes
Supported by: Miss T Sandell
Reception Team
Lion Class Teacher (Tuesday-Friday) and Head of Early Years: Mrs S Green
Lion Class Teacher (Monday): Mrs B Hopkins
Tiger Class Teacher: Mr S Coomer
Zebra Class Teacher: Miss B Harris
Reception Teaching Assistants: Mrs R Bradford; Miss M Curtis; Mrs H Petherick; Mrs S Randell; Mrs C Thackham; Mrs E
Waller; Mrs C Williamson;
Year 1 Team
Owl Class Teacher (Monday-Thursday) and Year 1 Leader: Miss K Davison
Owl Class Teacher (Thursday-Friday): Mrs J Burley
Owl Class Teaching Assistant: Mrs S Boxall
Parrot Class Teacher: Mrs A Childerhouse
Parrot Class Teaching Assistant(s): Mrs A Love and Mrs S Oldman
Bear Class Teacher: Miss S Palmer
Bear Class Teaching Assistant: Mrs M Casey-Buckland
Year 2 Team
Giraffe Class Teacher; Year 2 Leader and Maths Leader for CIS and CJS: Mr A Land
Giraffe Class Teaching Assistant: Mrs M Starling and Miss E Davy
Leopard Class Teacher: Miss E Partridge
Leopard Class Teaching Assistant: Mrs H McVeigh
Penguin Class Teacher: Miss E Hunt
Penguin Class Teaching Assistant: Mrs V Hunter
Additional Teachers and Teaching Assistants working across year groups
Miss C Bizley; Mrs D Anderson; Mrs T Reynolds
Year 3 Teacher Team
3M Class Teacher; Y3 Leader and English as an Additional Language Leader: Miss C McGrath
3D Class Teacher: Miss H Davis
3S Class Teacher: Mr B Simon
Year 4 Teacher Team
4B Class Teacher and Y4 Leader: Mrs A Bolden
4SH Class Teacher (Monday-Wednesday): Mrs N Shulver
4SH Class Teacher (Wednesday- Friday): Mrs M Hutcheon
4M Class Teacher: Miss J Martin
Year 5 Teacher Team
5R Class Teacher and Y5 Leader: Miss T Rutter
5L Class Teacher: Miss N Laniado
5M Class Teacher: Mr J Matthews
Year 6 Teacher Team
6S Class Teacher and Y6 Leader: Mr B Serruys
6C Class Teacher: Mr B Coulter
6P Class Teacher: Miss A Parker
CJS Teaching Assistant Team
Miss T Bartlett
Mrs P Browne
Miss H Ewing
Mrs G Hemming
Mr M Hill
Mrs N Kelf
Mrs S Loades
Mrs D Notley
Mrs L Poll
Mrs B Rayner
Miss T Sandell
Miss K Thacker
Miss C Youngman
Additional Teaching Staff
Mrs J Sage; Miss C Bizley
Office Team
Business Manager: Mrs M Girdlestone
Costessey Infant Office Team: Mrs D Brown; Mrs L Draper and Mrs A Artherton
Costessey Junior Office Team: Mrs J Blanch and Mrs F Magin
Site Management
Costessey Infant School: Mr T Creighton
Costessey Junior School: Mr N Preston

Lunches
It is great to see so many of you are taking up our delicious school lunches. There is a large variety of
options to choose from every day: Hot meal of the day which includes a yummy dessert; a vegetarian
hot meal option; jacket potatoes with cheese, baked beans or both, or a school packed lunch. All meals
for children in reception and KS1 are funded by the Universal Free School Meals scheme. At KS2, the
cost of a school meal is £2.10.
You should all have been issued with a copy of the lunch menu, if you need an additional copy of this,
please contact the School Office. Each day the school packed lunch sandwich option changes, please
see below:
Sandwich Menu
All pupils can order their school lunch each morning during registration. At KS2, children will need to
bring money with them for their lunch.
If your child brings a packed lunch to school, please ensure that it is in a lunch box with his or her name
on the outside. We do operate a healthy eating policy and would ask you to ensure that you provide a
healthy, balanced packed lunch. Children who bring a packed lunch eat in the dining room with the
rest of the school. We provide drinking water in the dining room (plus milk for Reception, Year 1 and
Year 2), but if your child brings a drink, please ensure that it is not fizzy or in a glass container.
We encourage all children to drink plain water during the day and we ask that you send your child
with a water bottle which can be refilled when needed. Only plain water may be drunk by children
during the school day. In addition a piece of fruit is provided for all children in EYFS and KS1 daily.
Children in KS2 are encouraged to bring into school their own healthy snack such as of fruit or a cereal
bar to eat at playtime.
Term Dates
Date
Event
Date
Event
w.c. 14.9.15
Safeguarding Week
2.11.15
School starts again after Half Term
16.9.15
Tiger Parent Lunch
3.11.15
Reception Reading Café 9.00am – 10.00am
17.9.15
Year 1 Parents Meeting 2:20pm
4.11.15
Year 5 to Norwich Castle
17.9.15
Coffee and Chat at CIS 1.45pm – 2.45pm
4.11.15
Leopard Parent Lunch
18.9.15
Year 6 to Costessey Library
6.11.15
Year 3 Reading Café 9.00am – 10.00am
18.9.15
Coffee and Chat at CJS 8.40 – 9.40am
21.9.15
CIS Harvest Assembly (children only)
6.11.15
Year 3 to Costessey Library
22.9.15
Year 6 to Kentwell Hall
9.11.15
Reception Assembly
22.9.15
Year 2 Parents Meeting 2:20pm
10.11.15
Y1 to Earlham Early Years Centre (tbc)
23.9.15
Lion Parent Lunch
10.11.15
Y2 Reading Café 9.00am – 10.00am
24.9.15
Year 4 to Africa Alive
11.11.15
Remembrance Assembly and Workshops (children
only)
24.9.15
CJS Harvest Assembly (children only)
11.11.15
Giraffe Parent Lunch
25.9.15
Macmillan Coffee Morning
13.11.15
Year 2 to Costessey Library
28.9.15
Year 3 to Norwich Theatre Royal – Ministry of
Science Show
13.11.15
Year 4 Reading Café 9.00am – 10.00am
30.9.15
Zebra Parent Lunch
13.11.15
Children in Need fundraising event
30.9.15
Year 1 to Cromer
17.11.15
Year 1 Reading Café 9.00am – 10.00am
30.9.15 – 2.10.15
Year 6 Residential to Brancaster
18.11.15
Penguin Parent Lunch
1.10.15
Year 5 Assembly 1.00pm – 1.30pm
20.11.15
Year 1 to Costessey Library
5.10.15 – 9.10.15
CJS Parents to Lunch Week
20.11.15
Year 5 Reading Café 9.00am – 10.00am
7.10.15
Year 4 African Drumming Workshop
27.11.15
Year 6 Reading Café 9.00am – 10.00am
7.10.15
Owl Parent Lunch
27.11.15
Reception to Costessey Library
8.10.15
Coffee and Chat at CJS 8.40 – 9.40am
14.12.15
Year 6 Christmas Assembly 1.30pm
8.10.15
Year 6 Assembly 1.00pm – 1.30pm
15.12.15
Year 5 Christmas Assembly 1.30pm
9.10.15
Y5 to Costessey Library
15.12.15
Year 1 Christmas Assembly 10.00am
9.10.15
Coffee and Chat at CIS 2.00 – 2.45pm
15.12.15
Junior School Christmas Production 6.00pm
12.10.15
Year 2 Assembly 2.15pm – 2.30pm
16.12.15
Junior School Christmas Production 6.00pm
12.10.15
Year 4 Assembly 1.00pm – 1.30pm
16.12.15
Year 2 singing at St Helen’s Church (tbc)
14.10.15
Reception Classes to Post Office (tbc)
16.12.15
Year 4 Christmas Assembly 1.30pm
14.10.15
Bear Parent Lunch
17.12.15
Reception Christmas Assembly 10.00pm
15.10.15
Norwich Forum Project – ‘A Nurse
Misremembered?’ at Junior School
17.12.15
Year 3 Christmas Assembly 1.30pm
16.10.15
Year 4 to Costessey Library
18.12.15
End of Autumn Term
19.10.15
Year 2 Assembly 2.15pm – 2.30pm
4.1.16
Training Day – School Closed for Pupils
19.10.15
20.10.15
Costessey Infant School Parent Consultation
Evenings 3.00pm – 7.00pm
Costessey Junior School Parent Consultation
Evenings 3.00pm – 7.00pm
21.10.15
Parrot Parent Lunch
21.10.15
Costessey Infant School Parent Consultation
Evenings 3.00pm – 7.00pm
22.10.15
Year 3 Assembly 1.00pm – 1.30pm
22.10.15
Costessey Junior School Parent Consultation
Evenings 3.00pm – 7.00pm
23.10.15
School ends for Half Term
5.1.16
School reopens for Pupils
The Notice Board
Walking Bus
We are pleased to announce that we will be
continuing our successful Walking Bus scheme this
academic year. You can join in by catching the bus at
The Crown PH or at Breckland Library from 8.10am
each morning.
We are always looking for parent volunteers to help
us on the bus. If you are able to help, please contact
Mrs Butcher at the School.
We will be continuing to reward children for
walking, biking or scootering to school each day.
They will collect a token on the gate, which they can
exchange for house points. Please be advised that
your child will only receive their token if they are on
time for School. Any children arriving after the
School Bell, will not receive a token. This new rule
will commence in week commencing 21.9.15.
Contact Details
Please note our new office email address for Costessey
Infant School:
admin@costesseyinfant.co.uk
Please use this to contact any member of staff and they will
get back in touch as soon as they can.
Alternatively, you can contact Mrs Lawson on:
Principal@costesseyinfant.co.uk or
Principal@costesseyjunior.co.uk
PE Kit
Please make sure your child has a suitable PE kit
in school. This should include a white polo shirt,
navy/black shorts, navy/black tracksuit (for
colder weather) and a pair of outdoor trainers.
PE Days
Costessey Infant School – Monday and Thursday
Costessey Junior School – Tuesday and Friday
Coming Soon…
Mrs Lawson
Many of you have spotted Mrs Lawson’s growing bump …
Mrs Lawson is pregnant and will be going on Maternity leave at
Christmas. In her absence, Miss Musgrave and Mr Watson will be
running the two schools. The management team work very
closely together at present so for children and parents, there will
be little change in Mrs Lawson’s absence.
Parents into School
Back by popular demand we have included a number
of activities throughout the year for parents to get
involved with School Life.
These sessions include:
Parent Lunches
Reading Cafes
Maths Cafes
Year Group Assemblies
School Trips
Coffee and Chat
Please look out for letters about these events and
come and join us – we would love to see you there!
Improving School Communications with
ParentMail
Communicating with parents is an important
part of what we do, making sure you get the
correct information about activities, events and
things that really matter is something we care
about.
Traditionally we have used printed letters but
delivery of these can be unreliable; they are also
expensive, take time to produce and are not
environmentally friendly.
From October Half Term we will be using
ParentMail, in both Schools, a service used by
over 6,000 schools, nurseries and children’s
clubs to communicate to parents. ParentMail
will be beneficial to you because:
* Messages will get to you reliably and on time
* We can send messages directly to mums, dads
and other carers at the same time
* Emergency or important information can be
sent by text message
* iPhone and Android Apps available for parents
on the go.
The Notice Board
Parent Readers at Costessey Infant School
Attendance
Why is it important for children not to miss school?
Most parents want their children to get on well in life. Nowadays,
it is more important than ever to have a good education behind
you if you want opportunities in adult life. Children only get one
chance at school, and your child’s chances of a successful future
may be affected by not attending school regularly.
If children do not attend school regularly they may struggle to
keep up with school work or miss out on the social side of school
life – especially at primary school. Poor attendance can affect
children’s ability to make and keep friendships; a vital part of
growing up.
Why do we need to make every minute count?
Being late for school reduces learning time.
If your child is 5 minutes late every day they will miss three days
of learning each year.
If your child is 15 minutes late every day they will miss two
weeks of learning each year.
Rewards
To promote attendance in school, we will be rewarding pupils
with certificates for attendance of 98% and above each term.
These pupils will then be entered into a draw to win a £10
Chapelfield voucher.
We would like to continue to invite parents
into school to read with their child. We have
changed the days of these sessions so that
parents with children in more than one year
group are not in the awkward position of
having to choose which child to read with.
Reception: Wednesday mornings 8.40 – 8.50
Year 1 – Thursday mornings 8:40 – 8:50
Year 2 – Friday mornings 8:40 – 8:50
Infant School Celebration Assemblies
Please look out for a letter about attendance this week. It clarifies
our new policy and how we will be challenging unauthorised
absence.
Coffee and Chat
I would like to let you all know about the coffee and chat
sessions we have in the diary at both the Infant and Junior
School, the dates are as follows:
Thursday 17th September Costessey Infant School
1.45pm – 2.45pm
Friday 18th September Costessey Junior School
8.40am – 9.40am
Friday 25th September Costessey Junior School
8.40 – 10.40am – World’s Biggest Coffee Morning –
fundraising for Macmillan Cancer Support.
More info to follow!
Thursday 8th October Costessey Junior School
8.40am – 9.40am
Friday 9th October Costessey Infant School
2.00pm – 2-45pm
Please do feel free to pop along to the meetings at either
school, we would love to see as many of you as possible.
Sheena Chapman our joint PTA Chairperson will be at our
first coffee & chat meeting at each school. She would love to
meet you all and if you have any questions about joining or
supporting our PTA, any fund-raising ideas or things you
would like the PTA to fund-raise for, she would love to hear
from you.
Also, if you have any suggestions for future coffee meeting
themes or visitors you would like me to invite then I would
love to hear from you.
I look forward to seeing as many of you as possible there.
Mrs Butcher
Head of Pastoral Care
Please note that these assemblies will now
be taking place on Friday afternoons,
starting at 2:15pm. You will be notified in
advance if your child will be receiving an
award during this assembly and you will
be invited to share their success with
them.
Adult Education Classes
Adult learning sessions are back again! Due to the
fantastic response last year we are running adult
learning sessions again this year. They will be held
on Tuesday mornings in the library at the Infant
School, between 9 and 10:30, however they are
open to parents and friends of either school. These
are friendly, relaxed sessions covering how we
teach the children in school. So if you would like to
learn more about how your child learns Maths,
English or ICT then pop along. We will also be
looking at how we can encourage our children to
become independent both in their learning and at
home by discussing our 5Rs, why not find out all
about how a tortoise, a spider and a dog can help
your child!
This term we are looking at Maths. You will find out
how the children use a number line, what a 100
square is for and what an array is, as well as many
other useful tips to support your child at home.
If you are interested just drop into the Infant School
reception on Tuesday to find out more. We look
forward to seeing you there.