Dear Parents and Carers,
The 2024/25 academic year has been a time of significant change at Hillside Avenue. I have written about some of the things that we have been working on in this newsletter previously and many of them have borne fruit now. From new signs to the staffing structure and the installation of exciting new and revamped resources such as the Nursery play equipment, the snazzy library and the sensory room that will be in place by the end of the year. The children’s outcomes are also on the rise and we are predicting improved and high results at each of the statutory testing points throughout the school. This is the result of amazing hard work and dedication from school staff, parents and children as well as the support of the wider school community too.
The biggest change that we are working through at the moment is the re-organisation of the Reception and Year 1 classes to combine them into 3 mixed-age classes. We know that this change is going to be challenging for many members of the school community. Apart from being a significant logistical challenge in school, this change requires us all to work together to help the children to realise the benefits next year. The Reception children will have ready made role models in the class who will be able to show them how school works and that coming to school is fun and that they will be OK. The Year 1s will benefit from more exposure to an EYFS style classroom which many
educationalists agree is beneficial for young children (see the Scandinavian model of school organisation) - not just those who are under 5 years old - whilst experiencing the Year 1 curriculum too. The biggest benefit is that by having classes of nearly 30 (which is when schools are at their most effective) each R/1 class will have full-time TA support throughout the week. This means
that the youngest children will have access to the most support to help them to succeed early in their school journey so that they can really flourish in their time at primary school.
Thank you to all of the parents who have engaged with the conversation around this so far and to those who will be attending the drop-in session for new Reception parents on Tuesday at 2:30pm in the main hall. We have created a set of FAQs for parents which can be accessed here (FAQs). Everything mentioned here has been the result of brave decisions that I and the SLT have made through the year to help Hillside Avenue to continue to go from strength to strength. Thank you for your part in this journey.

Mr Hutchinson

 

Classes for September 2025
Over the next couple of weeks, the class teachers will be meeting to form the classes for next year. Before they do this, they will ask each child to write down 4 children that they would like to be in a class with and we will make sure that they get at least one of their choices. The current plans are to mix up the classes in current years R, 2, 4 & 5.  Most children will find out their new class teachers on Monday 7th July (a paper slip will come home for parents) and will meet them for a transition day on Thursday 10th July. The new R/1 classes will be announced at the welcome meeting on 3rd July.

 

Before and after school:
We are incredibly lucky at Hillside Avenue to have generous and extensive grounds
that are full of exciting areas to play and be with friends. This also presents a small
challenge around making sure that everyone is safe at all times on site. These are
the main points to consider:
● School staff supervise the children between 8:45am and 3:15pm (plus any school-run after-school clubs). Outside of these times, children should not be using the grounds or equipment for play as they will not be insured if an accident should happen.
● Older children with mobile phones should only use them when off the school site.
● Children who walk/cycle to school unaccompanied should aim to be on site just before the 8:45 start time. There is no need to be really early as there is no adult supervision available.
● All children should walk bikes and scooters on site so that there are no accidents.
Thank you for keeping everyone safe before and after school.

 

 

Help wanted! New Treasurer required for Friends of Hillside Avenue
The Friends of Hillside Avenue are seeking a new Treasurer to manage our finances and
support our fundraising efforts. We are looking for someone to take over the role from
October 2025.
We have big plans to raise money and fund important projects for our school , and we need
someone who likes to count every penny to help us do it. If you secretly love to categorize
expenses and create color-coded pie charts (and your sense of fiscal responsibility is
rock-solid), you have what it takes to be our parent group treasurer!
The Treasurer is responsible for overseeing all financial transactions, including budgeting,
record-keeping, and reporting, while working closely with the PTA committee. If this may
be of interest and you’d like to learn more – please contact Vicky Macleod at
money@hillsidefriends.com.

 

 

News
Sports Day
EYFS on Tuesday 17th June starting at 9:30am
KS1 on Tuesday 24th June, starting at 9:15am
KS2 on Thursday 26th June, starting at 9:15am
If children could come dressed in their PE kit with their House colour T-shirt if possible on their
relevant day. Parents are more than welcome to come and support the children from the
stated start times above. The event should finish mid to late morning, when parents will then
be asked to leave the school site.

 

 

National Sing Up Day - June 18th 2025
On Wednesday June 18th in our normal Singing Assembly we plan to video the children
singing the Sing Up Day song for this year so that we can then send this video into Sing-Up to
enable us to become part of the 2025 Digi Choir. We hope that you will feel happy about your
child being part of this digi choir but if you DO NOT want your child to be in the video please let
the office know as soon as possible office@hap-edu.uk. Children without social media
consent (on Arbor) will be able to join in but will be seated so that they are not recorded.
Please take a look at some of the digi choirs from the past few years by doing a google search
of 'digi choirs' but here is an example from 2023 in which Hillside features several times.
https://youtu.be/DWgKlWpK3Yc
This year's song is all about self-belief and tapping into our inner power. At Hillside we have
been learning the specially commissioned song called In me I trust by Ashleigh-Mae
Schoburgh-Crooks. The song’s lyrics are full of uplifting affirmations which leave the children
feeling very empowered.

 

 

FRIENDS
The Scarecrow Mum’s in Year 3 would like to thank everyone for supporting our 2nd Thorpe St
Andrew Scarecrow Trail! Alongside organising a great community event, and raising the profile
of the school, we are pleased to announce we raised £1604.72! This is all profit as we have no
overheads 🥰 We will be drawing the winners of the odd one out this week! Please watch our
facebook page for this announcement!
https://www.facebook.com/share/g/16ST3SAkkq/?mibextid=wwXIfr
Thank you again to everyone who supported us and see you again next year 😉
Father's Day gifts will be on sale in the KS2 playground from 3pm on Thursday 12th and Friday 13th June. All gifts priced at £3.
If unable to purchase in person on those days please email Alex to place an order:
preloveduniform@hillsidefriends.com

 

Dates for the Diary

June
Tuesday 17th - EYFS sports day 9:30 start
Wednesday 18th - National Sing Up Day
Tuesday 24th - KS1 sports day 9:15 start
Thursday 26th - KS2 sports day 9:15 start
Monday 30th - Yr1&5 Space Wonderdome

July
Wednesday 2nd - Yr4 trip to Dragon Hall
Tuesday 8th July - Wimbledon trip
Thursday 10th July - move up day to visit new classroom and teacher
Friday 11th July - School reports go home.
Wednesday 16th - Yr6 show to parents 1:30-3pm
Friday 18th - leavers assembly to parents 2:30pm
Monday 21st - Yr4 sleepover in school & Y6
Rounders and Afternoon Tea on the field.
Tuesday 22nd - end of term