Hillside Avenue Highlights

Dear Parents and carers,

 

When I write these bits for the newsletter, my comments are often inspired by the things that I read in the rest of the document. This time around I am drawing on the wide range of opportunities, guidance and support that we offer our children and families. From practical items such as school photo day, new lunch menus and information about secondary school, to supportive offers which include speech and language support, guidance for parents around online safety and our holiday club too. 

I feel that this exemplifies what we are aiming to achieve at Hillside Avenue. We are setting high expectations for all children and supporting  their achievement through consistent routines, improved communication and a helping hand where needed. At the same time we continually adapt our provision to try to meet the needs of all children and their families too. Our holiday club is all good to go for the 1st week of the 2-week October half term, and there are still spaces available. Please book on Arbor. 

At Hillside Avenue, we aim to meet individual needs. This takes many forms as different people need different things at different times, but I hope that there is something here that is helpful for you and/or your child. As ever, feedback is a gift, so please give generously and with kindness so that we can continue to improve what we do in school each day.  

Mr Hutchinson

 

From the school log:

19th October 1951 - Concert at school given by New English Orchestra - 23 players - 2-3pm. Seniors and J4s.   Music has always been important to the school and this will continue as our new Mrs Smith is leading our music provision in school now. This includes the famous Hillside Band as well as 2 choirs and a Ukulele group too. Please ask at the office if your child wants to join in.

 

Notifications/ Reminders:

 

Attendance & Punctuality Reminder: Good attendance and arriving on time gives your child the best start to their day! Please ensure your child is at school by  8:45 AM ready to learn. Every minute counts! If your child is absent due to illness, please contact the school office by 9:00 AM. The national benchmark for good school attendance in England is 95%, if your child's attendance falls below 90% you will be notified as this is classed as persistent absence.  Thank you for your continued support in helping your child succeed! 🏫🕒

 

School Individual photos and consents - Ahead of individual and sibling photos on Friday 6th November, please can we ask that you log into Arbor to give consent (Photo Consent - External Photographic Company). This will be listed under consents and may also be under notices. This is an updated consent to include sharing names, class and Arbor ID numbers with Horizon Photographic. Please note that they will be unable to take your child's photo without this consent.

 

Parent Consultations Autumn Term

Autumn term parent consultations will be on Tuesday 17th November between 3:30pm and 5pm and Thursday 19th March between 3:30pm and 7pm. These will be held within school, which gives you the chance to view your child’s work books and class displays.

To book your 10 minute slot with your child's teacher you will need to log into your Arbor Portal/ APP -bookings go live on Tuesday 3rd November  @ 6pm

 

Aspens new Autumn/Winter menu - Aspens are launching their new Autumn/Winter menu which will be starting after half term. Monday 2nd November will be week one, you can view the menus on the school website - click here

 

Thorpe In Action - any families considering Thorpe St Andrew and Sixth Form for their child are welcome to attend the school during the normal school day, visit classrooms, see lessons taking place and experience the culture of the school first-hand. Thursday 8th and Tuesday 13th October 8:45am-10am.  See attached  flyer

 

Music Payments - Music lesson payments are now due for this term.  Please check Arbor over the next few days to make the payment.  

 

Music Lessons - If you have received an email offering your child a music lesson place after half term, can you please confirm as soon as possible if the space is still required. 

 

NCC Free Workshop - you would have all received an email about the free Children’s Digital Safety Workshop being run by Norfolk County Council - this was very popular last year.  This is a four week course, starting Tuesday November 3rd. Please sign up via Arbor under clubs.

 

ISLTS - are holding Communication Stay & Play Sessions in Norwich led by experienced Speech and language Therapists in October half term. Please  click here  to find out further information and how to book.

 

October Half Term Holiday Club - If you are needing childcare for the first week of the half term break there are still spaces available each day -Monday 19th to Friday 23rd October  9am to 3pm.  Please book via Arbor. 

 

FRIENDS of Hillside - Autumn School Disco on Friday 16th October from 15:15pm.  You have until Tuesday 12th October 8pm to purchase your DISCO tickets via Classlist APP. 

 

 

 

15th Norwich Scout Hut - have their annual fireworks display on Saturday 7th November - please see flyer for further details  Fireworks Night 

 

North Walsham Vikings Rugby Club - new players welcome.  Please see their flyer for details North Walsham Vikings Rugby Club 

 

Open Academy - Year 6 Open Evening  click here   for further details 

 

Norwich Penguins Swim Lessons - For more information please get in touch on 01603984949/ Norwichpenguinslts@gmail.com / www.norwichpenguins.com or see the attached fliers.

 

Norwich High School for Girls - are holding an event ‘we are girls who sing’ a one day workshop, and performance open to girls in Years 2-5. Places are limited and can be booked via their website

 

                    Please follow us on Facebook and on Instagram too.

 

                                                       #itshappeningathillside 

 

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Hillside Avenue Highlights

Dear Parents and carers,

Now that we are a few weeks into the school year we can clearly see the things in school that are working really well. The children have settled into their new classes really quickly and learning started straight away. The new carpets, rugs and furniture through the school has really given our learning spaces a lift and the overall atmosphere in the building is calm and purposeful.  The new ‘Orchard Class’ has made a great start to the year with children making good progress and routines being established whilst the ‘Basecamp’ wrap around provision is often fully booked and is even expanding out to include a holiday club in October. 

A big driver of the successes that we have seen in school over the last couple of years has been the result of a continual drive towards greater consistency. This week I have spoken with adults and children to hear their views about the areas of school life that need a bit more clarification as it is often uncertainty and variability that leads to confusion and maybe even upset. These are the topics that were raised:

• Squishies / toys / key chains etc:  There is no need to bring these into school. If they get broken or lost then children tend to get upset. (Some children with SEND have individual plans in this area.)
• Bracelets / jewellery / make-up etc:  These are best enjoyed at the weekend and during school holidays. Stud earrings are OK and so are (non-smart) watches. 
• Waterbottles:  Named please and only water inside. 
• Snacks:  Younger children get fruit at school, older children still enjoy a snack though, the healthier the better. 
• PE kits:  Our approach to uniform is very inclusive, but does not include wearing football kits. Save these for non-uniform days please.
• Parking:  There are solid lines to prevent parking close to the school, this is to keep our children safe. Thank you to all parents who park a little further away and walk. 

If any further clarification is required, please let me know.

Mr Hutchinson

 

From the school log:

30th September 1997: Friends of Hillside A.G.M. Chairperson, Treasurer and Secretary were elected. The A.G.M. of the current Friends of Hillside Avenue is coming up in the diary soon. They are always looking for more parents who are willing and able to contribute some effort and time through committee meetings, discos, bingo nights and of course, Hillfest!. Each year the Friends contribute to a wide range of additional activities and experiences that really make a difference to the children of the school. I am sure that they would welcome any new volunteers! 

 

Notifications/ Reminders:

 

Allergy aware school - a reminder we are an allergy aware school, so if families could  be mindful of not adding nut products to their child’s home pack lunch, this also includes nut based spreads like Nutella.  We also ask that children do not share their food with other children. Thank you for your understanding.

 

Macmillan Coffee Fundraising - we look forward to seeing as many parents as possible on Friday 25th September.  Please check class Dojo/Tapestry for individual class times. Donations to be made online only as we are a cashless school.  There will be QR codes to use in class.

 

Harvest Festival - on Monday 28th September Fr James will be joining us for our school assembly to talk about Harvest Festival.  As per previous years we will be supporting Norwich Foodbank and asking if children can bring in a tin of food or other dry packet food like cereal or pasta.  

If you would like more information on Norwich Foodbank or know a neighbour or family who could benefit from the scheme please click here Norwich Foodbank Website for more information.

 

Smith’s Shelves - (new book newsletter) see attached 

‘’I thought I’d start sending these this year as a way to communicate book recommendations for different year groups. Hopefully, this will help your children find something new to read or something to rediscover together as a family. Happy reading!’’ 

Mrs Smith year 5 teacher 

 

Hillside Avenue Highlights

 

Dear Parents and carers,
Welcome back!
I hope that you all had a lovely summer holiday, resting, relaxing and doing nice things in the sunshine. In some ways it has been nice to have a little rain over the last week, the gardens are certainly grateful for it.
In school we have been very busy developing new provisions, refining systems and doing everything that we can to make the return to school as smooth as possible for all children and families. The signs are good as when I have walked the school in the mornings, the children have been settled in class and focused on learning. The school really is a calm and purposeful place where
all children are experiencing success - it is lovely to see.
Our two new provisions are the breakfast and after school club - known as Basecamp - and the Enhanced SEND Provision which is called The Orchard.
The children in The Orchard are settling in nicely, doing work and playing together and are really thriving. The Basecamp is the place where the children get ready for the day and then rest and relax after a day at school.
Places can be booked through Arbor up to the night before and are proving to be the hottest ticket in town! We are delighted that it has been so well supported in its first week of life.
A massive thank you to all of the staff who have been involved in the creation of both of these provisions, it has been a lot of work and has made a massive impact on the day to day life of children in the school.
#itshappeningathillside
Mr Hutchinson

 

Notifications/ Reminders:
Website - The following policies can be found on our website along with other trust policies.
Hillside Safeguarding Practice
Hillside SEND Information Report 2026
BHET Safeguarding & Child Protection Policy

Entrance and Exits to school : Please be reminded the gate at the back of the field is open
from 7:30am daily and is locked at 9am. It reopens at 3pm in time for the end of the school
day and remains open for after school activities and gets locked approx 6pm for the evening.

 

Parking - we ask all parents to be considerate to our neighbours and not to park/ obstruct
driveways. The Indian restaurant kindly allows parents to park there at the beginning and the
end of the day to alleviate congestion towards the school.

Dogs - a polite reminder to not bring dogs on to the school grounds. Please wait outside the
school entrances.

Data Check - Please check all personal details including emergency contact numbers are
correct on Arbor. Please let the office know if there are any changes to be made.

Medical/Dietary Changes - if there have been any medical or dietary changes over the
summer, please let the office know. If your child uses an inhaler, please ensure you have
completed the form from the office before handing over the medication.

School Uniform - Shop is now open via Arbor

Music Lessons, Payments etc - You would have already received an email with the start
date of the music lessons. Payments for those lessons will be set up on Arbor shortly and you
will be emailed when that is done and payment can be made. Thank you to those parents who
have emailed the office to say they would like to put their child on the waiting list, Mrs Gant will
reply to you shortly.

 

School meals - A reminder that parents must order their child's lunch via Arbor before the cut
off time of 9am. Please note from Monday 14th September Aspens have increased the price
of the school meal to £2.66.

Free School Meals - NCC has expanded the criteria to claim free school meals.
Have your family circumstances changed? Not sure If you are eligible for free school meals? 
Want to find more information on the changes being made to FSM in September 2026? 
You can find further information and apply via Norfolk County Council website
https://www.norfolk.gov.uk/38166 or email fsm@norfolk.gov.uk
(paper copies of the NCC application form are also available from the school office)

 

 

Dates for the Diary
September 2026
Thurs 3rd - Term starts back
Fri 25th - Macmillan coffee morning (details to follow)

October 2026
Tues 6th - Open Day 9:30-10:30
Thurs 15th - Open Day 1-2pm & 5-6pm
Mon 19th - Fri 30th Half term holiday

 

 

Kids; support parent carers with children with additional needs and disabilities - please see links for
community events this term.
Coffee & Connect
Autumn Workshops
Dad time

Family Voice - please click here for August 2026 Newsletter

Mini Athletics Norwich - new session starting @Dussindale Community Centre. Click here for further details.

Norwich Cathedral Children’s Choir - Yrs 2-6 are invited to be a Chorister for the day on Saturday 10th October. Please click here for further details.

Hillside Avenue Highlights

Dear Parents and carers,

 

In previous newsletters I have reflected on the positive changes that we have made in school over the last year and how they have led to improved outcomes and levels of service in the school. In short, pupil outcomes are up and getting better every year whilst parent feedback suggests that we are getting better at meeting needs and solving problems too. All good things to hear!  

 

In this final newsletter of the school year, I am drawn to write about changes and developments that are taking place in school so that we will be ready to meet the needs of our children and families in September.  These come in the form of a new Breakfast and After-School Club (new name to be decided) and the start of an additional SEND provision that will be targeted at our children who need a more bespoke offer to really flourish in school. The SEND offer will be based in the external building next to the Nursery and will be overseen by Miss Pendleton, our SENCo.  The wrap around care offer is coming together nicely. At the time of writing, the recruitment is almost complete and the IT support is taking shape too. In essence,  bookings and payments will take place through Arbor and the model will look similar to the previous Hilldale provision with respect to locations, timings and the general experience. The key differences will be the staffing and an overall reduced cost to parents. The finer detail on how to book will be released next week. Thank you for your understanding and support. 

 

I hope you all have a lovely summer.

Mr Hutchinson

 

Notifications/ Reminders:

 

Smartwatches - Please can we remind everyone that smart devices are not permitted in school, this includes smartwatches which can have functionality which could create a safeguarding issue. If children in Y6 need to bring a smart phone into school because they walk on their own, this continues to be ok as it is securely stored for the duration of the school day. 
 

Lost Property - we have a large amount of lost property.  This will be on a table outside near the school office Tuesday and Wednesday next week in the afternoon.  Anything that doesn’t get claimed will be given to the Friends.

 

Music Lesson Payments - if your child has music lessons, can you please ensure that all payments for the lessons for this term are made by Wednesday 15th July.  Many thanks.

 

Music Waiting List - if your child is currently on the waiting list, please check your emails as spaces have become available for music lessons and some children have been offered lessons from September.  Please email the school office to accept/decline the place as soon as possible if you haven’t already done so.  

 

Medical/Dietary Changes - if your child’s medical needs or dietary needs have changed, please let the office know who can send you the relevant form to complete.

 

Friends - Preloved Uniform sale - will be on the playground Friday 10th July @ from 3pm.  Class tea towels will be available to collect too.  

 

Orders For School Uniform will close on the 13th July to enable orders to be processed by the end of term.  Some items are currently out of stock but please keep checking as we are expecting a delivery of stock soon.  Uniform orders will be open again on 1st September.

 

Summer Reading Challenge The Summer Reading Challenge is a free activity for children aged 4-11 delivered by The Reading Agency in partnership with public libraries and powered by Universal Music UK. It's all about reading for fun, aiming to improve children's skills and confidence over the summer holiday. Children can pick up their Summer Reading Challenge pack and free magazine from their local library. More info here!
 

Family Voice Norfolk -  please click here to read June Newsletter 
 

Big Norfolk Holiday Fun: 20th July - 2nd September

Families can now book children on to Big Norfolk Holiday Fun Activities! Children aged 5-16 (or 4 if in Reception) receiving benefits-related free school meals can enjoy free activities including a free, nutritious lunch.       

 

Free School Meals - NCC has expanded the criteria to claim free school meals.

Have your family circumstances changed?  Not sure If you are eligible for free school meals?  Want to find more information on the changes being made to FSM in September 2026?  

You can find further information and apply via Norfolk County Council website https://www.norfolk.gov.uk/38166  or email  fsm@norfolk.gov.uk 

(paper copies of the NCC application form are also available from the school office)

 

Active Norfolk are spreading the word about Safe To Play  and are encouraging parents and carers to ask five simple safeguarding and welfare questions when choosing a sports club or activity for their child. These questions help families identify organisations that prioritise children's wellbeing and create opportunities for young people to learn, develop and enjoy being active in a safe environment. A parent information pack is available here:

https://email.activenorfolk.com/p/7L30-K19/safetoplay

 

 

 

Norwich Tutors - Miss Bates is offering private tuition in Norwich and online http://norwichtutors.co.uk/

 

Calm Cats -  you can book summer sessions via this link https://www.calm-cats.com/book-now

 

Premier Education - Summer Holiday Club, please click here for a flyer with further details.

 

The Big Norfolk Holiday Fun activity programme provides holiday activities for children and young people aged 5-16  throughout the holidays. Please click here for further information via the website. Bookings open on Sunday 21st June via booking system Eequ

Families who are eligible for free school meals can sign up for FREE.

 

FREE Summer Holiday Activities at the Norfolk Record Office - please click on the links below for further details Coded Kites & Flower Power

 

Holiday Camps - please click here  &  here  for details 

 

Strumpshaw Fen 2026 - please see flyer for details of activities this summer

 

Langley School  - Explorers Holiday Camp -  click here  for further information

 

National Trust Blickling Estate - has a number of family friendly events over the summer, check out their website for more information blickling@nationaltrust.org.uk

 

Thorpe St Andrew Community Garage sale - see flyer for details 

 

Norwich City Community Sports Foundation - Football Holiday Camps this summer! - click here for flyer and further information

 

 

Hillside Avenue Highlights

Dear Parents and carers,

Well, I think that we can safely say that summer is here! Thank you to everyone for the calm and measured approach that we have seen around school during the current heatwave. I am glad that a change of clothes, regular drinks, shorter playtimes and lots of windows open have helped school to continue uninterrupted this week. I believe that things will cool down a little over the weekend and will be back to normal soon. That will certainly be a relief. 

In the summer we also have lots of school events taking place and the results of standardised tests start to come through too. It was delightful to see the children from Nursery to Year 2 trying their best in their respective sports days last week, all trying their best to run, jump and throw in front of their parents and carers. The Y5 and Y6 event is scheduled for next week, so at least things will have cooled down a bit by then. There are lots of trips happening at the moment too. Thank you to all of the staff for organising them and the parents helping too. I hope that everyone has a lovely time. 

Positive outcomes at Hillside Avenue come in many different forms. From balancing an egg on a spoon for the first time on sports day, to doing an abseil on a residential, performing in an end of year concert or show or passing your Year 1 Phonics Check. These are just some of the ways that children flourish in our school and are only possible when everyone is working together with the shared intent to make them a success. Thank you for being part of this journey. 

Mr Hutchinson

 

From the school log:

27th June 1951: School closed pm. Boys gave display of physical culture and pyramids and girls gave a display of country dancing on the Thorpe village green by the river. A very well attended and pleasant afternoon. It was lovely to see our Reception children showing their maypole dancing skills at the Hillfest: Summer Evening last Friday, as well as the boys and girls of the choir singing their songs too. I am proud that all children have so many opportunities to perform at Hillside Avenue. Long may it continue.  

 

Notifications/ Reminders:

 

Norwich Foodbank would like to send a huge Thank You to Hillside Avenue students,families and staff who have donated 158kg of food since September  This is enough to provide 53 days worth of food.  Please click here to see the certificate which also has a QR code for further information on items that can be donated at anytime.

 

Orders For School Uniform will close on the 13th July to enable orders to be processed by the end of term.  Some items are currently out of stock but please keep checking as we are expecting a delivery of new stock soon.  Orders for new uniform will open again on 1st September.

 

The Big Norfolk Holiday Fun activity programme provides holiday activities for children and young people aged 5-16  throughout the holidays. Please click here for further information via the website. Bookings open on Sunday 21st June via booking system Eequ

Families who are eligible for free school meals can sign up for FREE.

 

Free School Meals - NCC has expanded the criteria to claim free school meals.

Have your family circumstances changed?  Not sure If you are eligible for free school meals?  Want to find more information on the changes being made to FSM in September 2026?  

You can find further information and apply via Norfolk County Council website https://www.norfolk.gov.uk/38166  or email  fsm@norfolk.gov.uk 

(paper copies of the NCC application form are also available from the school office)

 

Music Lessons - if your child would like to learn a musical instrument, please let the office know who will put their name on the waiting list.  If your child currently has music lessons and does not want to continue, please let the office know as soon as possible before the registers are prepared for September.

 

 

 

 

Norwich Swan - Please click here to see their advert for learn to swim sessions this summer

 

Calm Cats -  you can book summer sessions via this link https://www.calm-cats.com/book-now

 

 

Premier Education - Summer Holiday Club, please click here for a flyer with further details.

 

 

Kids - NCC Parent Carer Service for Norfolk have a number of workshops and events coming up, please click the links below for more details;

Self care Sunday

July wellbeing session

Summer workshop

Summer events

Dad's time

 

                  Please follow us on Facebook and on Instagram too.

 

                                                       #itshappeningathillside 

 

      Link for facebook page Facebook page       Link for Instagram page  Instagram page

 

Hillside Avenue Highlights

Dear Parents and carers,

At Hillside Avenue we are committed to working with parents and families to help every child to flourish in their primary school years. This work takes many forms and includes activities such as the recent parent consultations on the new RSHE* curriculum (both in-person and online), recent maths cafes in Reception/Year 1 and some upcoming workshops delivered by Norfolk County Council that are designed to help children and families with the challenges of modern life. 

The first of these is the ‘Transition to High School’ session on the 19th June which will give advice and support for parents of our wonderful Year 6 children who are preparing for the next step of their education as they move to Year 7 at high school. Following this will be a session on the 26th June on the topic of ‘Growth Mindset’ which is an idea that really helps children to understand that confidence and self esteem can be built through knowing that hard work and taking the opportunities that are available to them. 

The Autumn term will see the return of the popular ‘Protecting Children Online’ (3rd November). This was well attended last year and I hope that it will be just as popular this time too. We have english and maths based sessions planned for later in the year too, all future dates will be shared in September. 

If there is an area of school life that you would like some support or guidance on that is not currently covered, please let me know.

Mr Hutchinson

 

 

* RSHE is an abbreviation for relationships, sex and health education. A mix of RSE (relationships and sex education) and PSHE (personal, social, health and economic education.)

 

From the school log:

June 11th 1984: Parents of the children who will be in Mrs Neville’s class next year spent the afternoon at school with their children. We have many transition activities planned for new children over the last 5 weeks of the term. From stay and play in Nursery and Reception to the move up morning where children will spend time with their new teachers on Thursday 9th July. New classes and teachers will be shared on Friday 3rd July. Thank you to all parents who have completed the preference surveys, these will close on Monday 15th June. 

 

Notifications/ Reminders:

 

Personal property on school grounds - a polite reminder to all families that if you choose to leave bikes/scooters etc on the school grounds that they are left at your own risk.  Where possible we advise you to padlock items to the bars under the bike shelters.  Please be mindful of taking the correct item home at the end of the day. 

 

Year 4 Bikeability - just a reminder that this is on Friday 26th June.  If your child is taking part they will be bringing home a Bike Checklist shortly.  Please don’t forget their bike and helmet for the day!

 

Norfolk County Council Workshops - we have two free workshops coming up; Friday 19th June 2pm - 3pm Transition to High School and on Friday 26th June 2pm - 3pm Growth Mindset.  More information will be sent out via Arbor. 

 

Children's Commissioner for England - would appreciate for as many families as possible to complete the national survey, The Big Future.  

More information can be found here https://www.childrenscommissioner.gov.uk/the-big-future/

 

Please click here  http://www.childrenscommissioner.gov.uk/thebigfuture.

 

FRIENDS

 

It’s the COLOUR RUN at Hillfest Summer Evening next week!! The excitement around

school is growing! Please sign up on Class List by Monday 15th. 

 

Are you able to help throw ‘COLOUR’ at the runners?

Please let a member of the committee know so we can add you to the rota

 

If you are first aid trained would you be willing to be available if needed?

 

Please give your name to a member of the committee

 

Thank you for all your support for our many fundraising activities to support your

children in school

 

Sara Richards

Chair of Hillside Friends committee

chair@hillsidefriends.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thorpe St Andrew FC - coaches and players wanted, click here see to see flyer for further details 

 

 

Family Voice Norfolk May 2026 Newsletter - please click here to read 

 

 

Premier Education - Summer Holiday Club, please click here for a flyer with further details.

 

Kids registered charity that supports parent/ carers with children with additional needs and disabilities.  Please click here for their June newsletter along with a flyer for their new Dads group. 

 

Thorpe Football Academy Player development camps over the summer.  Please click here for flyer information.    

 

                    Please follow us on Facebook and on Instagram too.

 

                                                       #itshappeningathillside 

 

      Link for facebook page Facebook page       Link for Instagram page  Instagram page

 

 

 

 

 

Hillside Avenue Highlights

Dear Parents and carers,

Back in the Autumn term, I asked for feedback from parents on a whole range of things about school life. Thank you again to everyone who responded and let me know their views. As I am sure you appreciate, school life can be extremely busy and sometimes it is important to stop and reflect on the things that we have achieved together. So here goes…

Between 80% and 90% of parents feel that their children are happy at school, feel safe and are making progress in their learning. That is great to hear as these are all really important aspects of coming to school. To support the other 10%, school staff are seeking the children and parents out and offering support where they can. Please let us know if there is more that we can do.

It is clear that parents want communication to improve in school. Whether this be about behaviour incidents, bullying or SEND support, it is something that we need to improve. This year we have prioritised ‘in person’ conversations rather than using the phone or email to show that these contact points are important to us. This is why we ask you to pop into school to talk so often! We really value our relationship with you, the parents and promise to continue improving in this area. 

One area of school life that has come up in surveys and parent meetings a couple of times is the importance of children’s outcomes and test results. Whilst external expectations are clearly focused on academic outcomes as a measure of schools, I would like to focus on helping Hillside Avenue become the kind of school where children learn a lot (be inquisitive), remember a lot (be engaged), experience a lot of positive things (be involved) and are ready and confident to succeed at secondary school and beyond. This also looks like high outcomes, however the focus in school is helping every child to achieve their best everyday and to have the confidence and knowledge that they need to succeed in the future. They are two sides of the same coin. 

Thank you for helping all children to flourish at Hillside Avenue Primary and Nursery School. 

Mr Hutchinson

 

From the school log:

19th May 1981: Gilder Cup Netball final at Hillside.  Hillside 9, Kinsale Avenue Middle 8. Well done to the netball team from 45 years ago who won the cup final! Over the last 2 years, we have worked hard to increase the sporting opportunities that are available to our children. This has included football, girls’ football, X-country, basketball and cricket. I hope that these opportunities will increase further next year too. More info to follow. 

 

Notifications/ Reminders:

 

Friends of Hillside 

Please see their separate newsletter for an update and information on upcoming events!

 

Year 6 Leaver’s Hoodies

Receiving your primary school leaver’s hoody is a special moment for all children at the end of Year 6. So that all children can feel individually special and have their own special moment, we would like to present them in the celebration assembly on Friday 3rd July. With high school transition events happening in the following week, this will give every child at least a week of wearing their prized hoody in school. 

 

We are expecting delivery sometime towards the end of June, so this will be the first real chance to hand them out. I know that the children will treasure these memories and the hoodies themselves for years to come. A special time indeed. 

 

Music Lessons - if your child is in years 2 - 6 and is interested in learning to play a musical instrument, please contact the school office to put their name on the waiting list. We offer piano, woodwind, guitar, trumpet, drums, cello and violin.  

 

Minimoons - to book Minimoons after school club for after half term, please use this link https://minimoonsco.com/collections/after-school-clubs

 

Macie’s Bumble Bees - Macie in year 5 has made 12 bumble bees on a 3D printer at home!  These have been hidden around the school for the children to find.  Please encourage your child to search high and low around the school to locate them, then hand a piece of paper (named) with the 12 bees’ locations into the school office by Thursday 4th June. Thank you to Macie! 

 

Olympic Day - this is happening on Friday, trainers will be ideal along with your sporty non-uniform (for the Friends’ tombola).

 

 

The Children’s Commissioner’s National Survey – The Big Future 

The Children’s Commissioner wants to make sure that she hears from as many children as possible, aged 0-18, from all backgrounds, in all schools and colleges, and in every part of the country. To do that, she is asking children about the changes they want to see in their communities, their biggest concerns, and their hopes for the future. More than anything, what children think a good childhood should look like today.

More information can be found here https://www.childrenscommissioner.gov.uk/

Families can complete the survey here:  http://www.childrenscommissioner.gov.uk/thebigfuture.

 

Hillside Avenue Highlights

Dear Parents and carers,

Before the Easter holiday, I shared a survey with all stakeholders of the school. This was a simple survey that was looking to understand what is held to be most important about school life from the perspective of the parents, staff and governors so that I can set the strategic direction for the next few years. Thank you to everyone who responded to the survey, your feedback is very much appreciated and has led to these 5 things being identified as most important:

• Developing character, integrity and ethical behaviour.
• Promoting mental health and emotional wellbeing.
• Cultivating creativity and innovation in learning.
• Academic excellence and intellectual curiosity. 
• Ensuring safety and a supportive learning environment.

I intend on crafting these into a strategy which will guide our school improvement plans over the next few years and will share more details in due course. For now, you can be assured that we will continue to encourage every child to be the best that they can be, to work hard, to experience success and to really enjoy their time at school. Our school strap line has not changed, we will always want every child to flourish at Hillside Avenue. Thank you for being part of that journey.

Mr Hutchinson

 

From the school log:

5th May 1943: Attendance low (am) following air raid. Present 401 out of 623. A few things have changed since this entry was written 86 years ago as we don’t need to worry about air raids and we have 378 children rather than 623!  One thing that hasn’t changed is the importance of school attendance. The office staff and I have been pleased to note that our recent attendance communications have resulted in more children attending school every day and on time. This really makes a difference to their learning as well as their wellbeing too. Lovely to see. The next attendance prize assembly will be in the week before half term, with one entry per whole week of attendance. We will look forward to celebrating that in a few weeks. 

 

Notifications/ Reminders:

 

Governor Opportunity 

We are seeking passionate and dedicated individuals to become Governors at Broad Horizons

Education Trust (BHET). At BHET our vision of improving life chances for all pupils is at the

heart of everything we do. Governors play an essential role in school-level governance to

help to achieve this by working closely with school leadership teams to provide oversight,

challenge and support within the framework of the Four S’s. Please click here  to see a PDF flyer with details.

 

 

The Norwich Brick Festival is an exciting celebration of all things LEGO - please click here for further details 

 

Norfolk T2T - Please click here for May & Summer holiday activity brochure.  Bookings go live on Tuesday 5th May at 10am

 

Family Voice Norfolk - April Newsletter 2026 - please click here  to view 

 

Norwich Penguins Intensive Splashdown Courses - click here for further details 

 

Open Academy - Parent Coffee Morning on 13th May for any future interested parents. This is a great opportunity to meet other parents, chat with staff, and get a feel for our school community in a relaxed and friendly setting. This event is open to:

• Parents of children currently attending Open Academy
• Parents of children in Year 5 or Year 6 who will be joining us in the future

Please sign up via the QR code here

 

Hear for Norfolk - Cuppa Care, where we visit local venues to provide friendly, drop-in hearing support and advice. It’s a relaxed, informal way for staff, parents, and carers to access guidance around hearing health. Please see flyer for further details 

 

 

                   Please follow us on Facebook and on Instagram too.

 

                                                       #itshappeningathillside 

 

      Link for facebook page Facebook page       Link for Instagram page  Instagram page

 

 

 

 

Hillside Avenue Highlights

Dear Parents and Carers,

Before the Easter holidays, I asked for your feedback on what you thought the school should prioritise, in other words, what you think school is for and where we should put our energies over the next few years.  If you would like to add your voice to this conversation, the survey is still open and can be found here. My intention is to draw together everybody’s viewpoints, compare it with national expectations and to then share a clearly articulated vision of what it is to be part of the Hillside Avenue school community and what will be held as important in the school over the next few years. Please contribute to this discussion over the next few days, I will start collating the results and forming the vision by the end of next week. I will keep the survey open until Wednesday. Thank you in advance for your contributions. 

Mr Hutchinson

 

From the school log:

Friday 8th April 2011 - Mrs Hanley wrote one of the last school log entries that were written in school. It is too long to recreate here but it is interesting to note that as well as reflections on her time as Headteacher of the school, she also mentions - ‘The whole week has been filled with events such as the Easter Parade (Foundation Stage) and Easter Egg Hunts.’ It is nice to see that although we are required to continually develop and improve in schools, some things remain the same. We did these very same activities on the last day before Easter and will do again next year. Meanwhile I will use your contributions to the survey mentioned above to shape where we go in the future. 

 

Notifications/ Reminders:

 

Community newsletter

We would like to thank everyone who took the time to respond to last term’s road safety and pollution survey. Your feedback has been invaluable.

We are pleased to share this community newsletter please click here to view, which brings together the survey results alongside your comments and insights. It also outlines how we plan to support meaningful changes and improvements, helping to create a safer and healthier environment for everyone within the school and the wider community.

 

Year 6 SATs week 11th-14th May

Following last year's successful SATs breakfast we will be inviting all year 6 children into school early from 8:15am on Mon 11th-Thurs 14th May to be offered a variety of breakfast foods  and drinks.  This helps the children settle prior to the test and creates a calm, supportive environment.  Thank you to Friends for the funding to allow us to buy the food and drink. 

 

Nut Free school

We are a Nut Free School. Due to severe, life-threatening nut allergies among our students, we ask that you do not send any nut-based products into school in packed lunches or as snacks. This includes peanut butter, nutella, and items containing nuts.  Please check packaging, as many items contain nuts. We thank you for your cooperation in keeping our children safe. 

 

E-Scooter safety: what families need to know

Norfolk County Council have issued a safety guidance for the use of E-Scooters.  Please have a read of this information in the attached document. 

 

 

Monday: 

• KS2 Hillside Litter Picking Club 3:15-3:40 

 

Tuesday: 

• Art Club Yr1-3 only (cost) starts back 21st April book via: norwichsummerartclub@gmail.com 

• Minimoons Drama Club (cost) book here via Minimoons website 

• Casma Choir - last rehearsal sessions is 21st April 3:30-4:30  

 

Thursday: 

• PAV Sports Yr1& 2 only, 23rd April -16th July 3:15-4:15pm.  Please sign up via Arbor (max 20 places).  All places are now filled. 

 

Friday: 

• Minimoons Fitness Stars (cost) click here  to book via minmoons website

 

 

Hillside Avenue Highlights

 

Dear Parents and Carers, In this edition of the Hillside Avenue Highlights, I would like to focus on the school community. There are three topics in particular that are at the forefront of my mind due to recent events and future plans; Safety in schools (lockdowns), Child safety at drop off and pick up times, Shared vision for the school. Yesterday afternoon we ran a ‘staying safe in school’ drill to practice what we would do if there was some external danger. After the incident that happened at Thorpe St. Andrew School a few weeks ago, school safety is naturally at the front of many people’s minds. I can assure you that our drill went very smoothly. The children were sitting quietly on carpets with doors locked and windows shut. The school was calm and everyone was safe. Thank you to the staff and children for making it so successful. We all know that the local roads are busy at the beginning and the end of the school day. This is true of roads around schools all over the country and can be a source of stress for some due to finding parking places, maneuvering around and worrying about being late for school. I would like to say thank you to all parents who park a few minutes away and walk the last bit, including using the car park at the Merchants of Spice and other suitable locations. Whilst this might be a difficult problem to solve, we can all be mindful of the safety of children at each end of the day so that they all stay safe. This week the office shared a link to a survey. This is my attempt to gather the views of all members of the school community regarding our shared vision for the future. There has been a school here for almost 90 years, and I would like to take the opportunity of this milestone to clarify what we are all aiming to achieve together. Early results suggest that parents' views align well with my own, which is a great start to the process. The survey will be open until the end of the Easter holidays and I will share results and a clear vision in the Summer term. Please let me know what you think.

 

Happy Easter all!

 

Notifications/ Reminders:

Comic Relief - Red Nose Day It was lovely to see so many children supporting Comic Relief on Friday and wearing red. So far we have raised £193. If you still wish to donate please do so via the JustGiving page which has been set up; JustGiving page for donations

 

Music Lessons If your child is in year 2 - 6 and is interested in learning to play either the piano, violin, cello, woodwind, guitar, drums or trumpet please let the office know and we will put them on the waiting list.

 

FRIENDS Newsletter - please see the separate newsletter from Friends of Hillside with important dates of upcoming fundraising events. Thank you

 

Dates for the Diary

April 2026

Mon 13th - staff inset day

Tues 14th - summer term begins

Thurs 23rd - Casma choir event

Mon 27th - Year 3 Eaton Vale trip

 

May 2026

Mon 4th - bank holiday

Wed 5th - class photos

Mon 11th -14th Year 6 SATS

Fri 15th - Friends summer disco

Fri 22nd - finish half term break 3:15pm

 

Advertisements

● FREE Dental Screening 0-11years - please click here for further details on the flyer ● Futsal Club ages 6 - 12 - please see the separate attachment with details of a new club run by PAV Funball Academy

 

● ESKA Karate - please see flyer for details on activities over the Easter holiday

 

● Easter Art Club@ art4youth, Carrow House King Street. click here for details on their flyer

 

● T2T Easter Brochure - Broadland DIstrict Council Big Norfolk Holiday Fun - please click here for brochure with details on how to book

 

● Young Carers - The Benjamin Foundation & Community Sports Foundation have set up a free club for young carers - please click here for further details

 

● Free Pond Dipping at NWT Thorpe Marshes - on the last Sunday of every month. See flyer for details

 

● Shrumpshaw Fens - Easter activities please click here for further details

 

● Could you foster? Nexus Fostering is seeking compassionate individuals and families to become foster carers Please contact us on 0800 389 0143 or email Leanne at leannea@nexusfostering.co.uk.

 

● Broadland Community Awards 2026 - For more information and to nominate please visit our website, Broadland Community Awards | Broadland and South Norfolk

 

● Broadland Family Hub - Free Easter activities - click here for more information. ● Girlguides - Rainbows Sprowston has space for girls age 4-7 - please click here for information