Hillside Avenue Highlights

Dear Parents and Carers,

Now that we are beyond the October half-term, we are already thinking about Christmas in school. The dates are in the diary for all of the performances that the children will be engaging in and rehearsals are very much under way. Thank you to the school staff for giving their time to make all of this possible and to the parents who drop their children off early and pick them up late for the practice sessions. This sort of thing really is a team effort and is something that sets Hillside apart from other primary schools. We really prioritise music and performance. 

The diary is pretty full between now and Christmas, with lots of tours for prospective new starters, parent’s evenings, Children in Need, and when we get to the start of December we start the festive performances and Hillfest (6th December). Thank you in advance for your support with the costumes, evenings sat on folding chairs and in cold churches, it really is a special time for the children as they get to take part in some of the traditional aspects of primary school life. 

I hope that you all have a restful weekend.

Mr Hutchinson

 

Notifications/ Reminders:

 

Royal British Legion - Poppy Appeal 

We have a few merchandise to sell on behalf of the Royal British Legion for Poppy Day. Year 6 pupils will be going around classes on Monday and Tuesday to sell if you would like your child to bring in some money for the collection boxes.  (Suggested donations range from 50p to £3)

 

Christmas Lunch 10th December

The deadline for ordering Christmas lunch is Friday 28th November, no orders can be made after this date.  Please be reminded this will be the only meal available on this day.  If your child does not have a Christmas lunch ordered you will need to provide a packed lunch from home. 

 

 

School Photographs

A reminder on Tuesday 11th November children will have their individual and sibling photographs.  Please can all children wear full uniform - NO PE kits to be worn on this day - Thank you

 

Parent Consultations Autumn Term

A reminder - you still have time to book your parent consultations which are happening next week in school on Tuesday 11th November between 3:30pm and 5pm and Thursday 13th November  between 3:30pm and 7pm. 

To book your 10 minute slot with your child's teacher you will need to log into your Arbor Portal/ APP - bookings go live from Monday 20th October  @ 6pm and close on Monday 10th November @ 8am

 

 

Flu immunisations 

A reminder - Flu immunisations are taking place in school for Yrs Rec - Yr6 on Wednesday 19th November.  If you do not want your child to have it, you will need to OPT OUT via this link https://eastanglia.schoolvaccination.uk/flu/2024/Norfolk

 

Children In Need

We are taking part in Children In Need again this year and we invite children to come into school on Friday 14th November in something yellow, spotty or you could even wear some Pudsey ears!  In return we ask if you could make a donation to Children In Need via our JustGiving page. 

Link to JustGiving page

 

Scholastic Bookfair

We are having the bookfair again this year 26th November - 3rd December.  Please keep an eye out for a separate email with details.

 

 

Attendance and Punctuality

Please ensure your child arrives on time for school each day and is ready to learn.  Arriving after registration is recorded as an unauthorised absence.  Pupils must be in school by 8:55am after this time you will need to bring your child to the office doors to be registered as a late arrival.   

 

Absent from school - please report any absence to the office by leaving a voice message on 01603 433453  or email office@hap-edu.uk . Please state the child's name/ class/ reason for absence and expected length of absence.  

Please refer to our Attendance Policy for further guidance https://www.hillsideavenue.org/attendance/

 

NHS Mental Health Support Team 

 

Norfolk NHS Mental Health Support Team are running some parent/carer webinars during November & December.  These are free for parents and carers to access online.  Please click on the links below for further information and to book.

 

Parent & Carer Webinars

 

SLEEP: supporting healthy sleep patterns

 

BIG EMOTIONS: Supporting positive behaviours

 

ANXIETY: Helping your child with fears & worries

 

 

Norfolk County Council Public Information Road Closure 

We have been notified that part of Thunder Lane will be closed from 17th November for approx 14 weeks.  Please bear this in mind for pick up and drop for school.  Further details our in this letter from Norfolk County Council Click here for letter of road closure

 

 

Dear Parents and Carers,

Behaviour has been a big focus for us in school over the last couple of weeks. This has been on two levels; attention in class and behaviour on the playground. Two of our school rules are Be Ready and Be Safe - this is why this is important to us. 

In class, the focus has been on making sure that all children are giving 100% of their attention to the person talking. This is important, because we can only learn what we give our attention to, and therefore if we are fiddling with a ruler, looking out of the window or doodling, then there is a reduced chance that the child will understand what is being taught. The drive this week has been on every child having empty hands when the teacher is talking, this is a simple way of making sure that there are no distractions. (Children who use fidgets to help them concentrate will still be able to use these.) 

On the playground, we have noticed an increase in overly physical behaviours from some children. Because we want all children to Be Safe in school, we are focusing on consistent responses to behaviour as well as trying to anticipate unsafe behaviours before they take place. We are also buying more resources for the playground to help children to engage in positive play. 

We understand that behaviour is communication and that behaviour is also learned and taught. This means that we seek to understand why things might have gone wrong and then we teach more positive responses. This can take the form of educational and protective consequences for which we will always hope to have your support. Please discuss these points with your child so that every child can feel safe at school and flourish at Hillside Avenue.

Mr Hutchinson

 

Notifications:

Parent Consultations Autumn Term

Autumn term parent consultations will be on Tuesday 11th November between 3:30pm and 5pm and Thursday 13th November 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 from Monday 20th October  @ 6pm

 

 

School Play Equipment 

A reminder that the play equipment (Trim Trail) on the KS2 playground is for use during school time only. It is not to be used by families before or after school. Thank you for your cooperation.

 

 

Friends of Hillside

 

Following a successful AGM I'd like to take this opportunity to say a huge thank you to the committee of the Friends for the past 3 years.  As we've mentioned previously, a number of members have stepped down after putting in huge amounts of effort over the years . You've all been fabulous! Vicko and I have both stepped down from the positions of Chair and Treasurer . Like much in life one is often replaced by someone younger and smarter. We are thrilled to welcome Rob Elvin and Elena Hewett to the positions of Chair and Treasurer for the charity, and are delighted to have Ariel, Yzelle and Ric join the committee this year.  If you couldn't make it to the AGM but are interested in joining the Committee then please do get in touch with Rob at chair@hillsidefriends.com. 

 

So, it just leaves me to personally say it’s been a complete pleasure and honour to be involved with the Friends.  Being able to walk around the school and see the impact first hand knowing how much it benefits the children.  Thank you so much to all the volunteers, you know who you are!! Without you the big events are not possible.  And a final huge thank you to everyone who supports the Friends events and ensures the charity is able to make such a difference.  See you all at the next one! 

James.

 

Note from Rob Elvin the 25/26 FOHS Chair.

My heartfelt thanks to James for his outstanding leadership over the past three years who alongside the Hillside Friends team, worked so hard in making the charity into the thriving community it is today. I’m committed to following his example and, with the continued support of parents, teachers and the children themselves, carry on the excellent work that makes Hillside so special.

 

 

Could your business sponsor our football kit?

We’re looking to refresh the football kit for our Year 5 & 6 teams, and we’d love to hear from any parents who own, run, or work at a business that might be interested in sponsoring the kit. It’s a great opportunity to support school sports and promote your business within our community. If you’d like to find out more, please contact the school office 01603 433453 or Hillside Friends chair@hillsidefriends.com

 

 

November

Monday 3rd - back to school 

Monday 10th - Yr3 stone age experience

Tuesday 11th - Individual & sibling photos

                         Parents’ evening 3:30-5pm

Thursday 13th -Parents’ evening 3:30-7pm

Friday 14th - Children in Need 

Wednesday 19th - Flu immunisations

 

 

 

Advertisements 

 

East Anglian skating teams Halloween Family Fun Skate!

Where : Framingham Earl sports centre

When :25th October 

Time : 5-6pm

Costume Contest

Spooky Tunes

Tricks & Treats for All

(Own skates required)

All ages welcome!

 

 

 

TOTS 2 TEENS -  click here for their October half term brochure 

 

Norwich Making Space -  click here to see flyer for details of activities in half term

 

15th Norwich Air Scouts - are on the look out for new volunteers.  click here for further details.

                                           -  Firework Night on 8th November.  click here for further details

 

Hillside Avenue Highlights

Dear Parents and Carers,

Autumn is definitely here! As I write this, the rain is pouring down my office window and the trees are blowing in the wind. At this time of year, we are definitely into normal routines in school and are settling in for the long term up until Christmas. I know, I have just said it, but time waits for no one and preparations are already under way for the Y4-6 big show and dates are being put in the diary for all of our other seasonal performances. Confirmation of these will come out soon!

As the days get colder and wetter, all children should be appropriately dressed for the season. School adults will always encourage children to wear coats when it is cold and wet, so having a named coat (and hat etc when it’s much colder) in school is really important. The staff will take the children outside onto the playground in most weathers, so being properly dressed is essential to prevent your child from getting too cold or too wet.  

Next on the school calendar is the disco (next Friday) and then it will be a couple of weeks to half-term. 

Mr Hutchinson

 

From the school log:

October 3rd 2002: Mr Potts (School Improvement Officer) introduced himself with visit. 

Whilst this may not have happened recently, it does remind us that we are striving to continually improve at Hillside Avenue. Our improvement priorities for this year include KS2 SATs outcomes and building stronger relationships with children, families and staff. Hillside is on the up, thank you for being on the journey with us. #itshappeningathillside 

 

General News:

 

NCC Parent workshops - You can still sign up via Arbor Parent Portal/APP to attend the free parent workshops throughout September and October.

 

Woodwind lessons - is your child interested in learning to play either the saxophone, flute or clarinet?  We have space available on a Friday morning with our woodwind teacher.  She can teach saxophone to years 5 and 6 and clarinet or flute to years 3 and above.  If your child is interested and would like to have a taster session, with the hope of then having lessons please email the office. 

 

Thank you to all the 160 parents/carers who attended our MacMillan coffee afternoon last week.  There is still time to donate if you haven’t already.  Please go to their website - www.macmillan.org.uk/coffee-morning

 

FRIENDS of Hillside - D I S C O !!

The Friends of Hillside Autumn school disco taking place on Friday 10th October! 

 

Tickets are still available to purchase on the Classlist app until Tuesday 7th October at 8pm. Please ensure you buy your ticket before this date as they will not be available to purchase on the day. 

 

The run times for each of the year groups are as follows:

 

Rec, Y1 and Y2 - 15:15 to 16:15 (bring a change of clothes to school on the day)

Y3 and Y4 - 16:45 to 17:45

Y5 and Y6 - 18:00 to 19:00

 

Please fill out the questions after purchasing your ticket. Children must be collected by an adult at the end of the disco. This is a phone free event, mobile phones are not permitted. 

Thank you 

Friends of Hillside 

 

Dates for the Diary

 

October

Monday 6th - Yr6 & Rec NCMP health checks 

Thursday 9th - Olly Day road safety show

Friday 10th - Friends’ Autumn disco 

Tuesday 14th - Open Day 2026  9:30-10:30

Wednesday 15th - Yr 5 Hautbois trip

Thursday 23rd - Open Day 2026 1:30-2:30 & 5-6pm

Friday 24th - finish for half term

 

 

 

 

Please follow us on Facebook and on Instagram too

                                                       #itshappeningathillside 

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

 

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Young Carers Event 

From the Benjamin Foundation: We are very excited to announce details of our free young carers trip for October half term.

 

click here to see the poster with details on how to book. Young carers do not need to be referred into the service to access this event. 

 

Family Voice Norfolk - click here to see September 2025 Newsletter

 

Free Dental Screening - available for Broadland families with children aged 0-11 in october half term.  Please click here  to see flyer with details 

 

British Sign Language Classes - Tuesday term time 4:30-5:30pm Roxley Hall.  Please click here for further details.

 

TOTS 2 TEENS -  click here for their October half term brochure 

 

Thorpe St Andrew FC Wild Cats Girls’ Football -  click here for further details.

 

Kids Parent Carers Norwich Coffee & Connects Autumn Term - please click here   for further information

 

Norwich Wildcats Girls Rugby Activity Day - Please   Activity Day    for further details. 

Recruiting for year 6 girls -please  click here  for further details 

 

Norfolk & Waveney Mind - festive family fundraiser – the Mental Elf Fun Run, taking place on Sunday 14th December 2025 at Whitlingham Country Park, Norwich.

 

Hillside Avenue Highlights

Dear Parents and Carers,

In this newsletter, I would like to mention the power of the Hillside Avenue school community and I will try to link together some events and achievements on this topic.

The Friends of Hillside Avenue donated an incredible amount of money to the school last year which paid for lots of the little extra things that make Hillside Avenue special, as well as some rather nice big things too, like the library refurb and the sensory room which will be finished this half term. Thank you to everyone who organised or attended an event or donated some money.

Last week I appealed for consideration when parking on the roads around the school. My observations at the beginning and end of the day suggest that things have improved, so thank you to everyone who has parked a little further away and walked the last few minutes to school.

Our Harvest Festival is coming up. On Wednesday 1st October, Fr. James Stewart (our Chair of Governors and local vicar) will join us for a special assembly where we will remember the importance of the harvest and celebrate donations of dried and tinned food donations for a local foodbank. Thank you in advance for any donations on the day. If your child brings the donation to the classroom, it will and its way to the hall in time for assembly.

And finally, we are at the time of the year when parents of pre-school children are starting to think about which primary school is right for them. We are holding open days in October, so if you know anyone in this position, please tell them about the wonders of the Hillside Avenue school community and encourage them to book a visit. All are welcome!

Mr Hutchinson

 

Watch out for Magnets!!

It has been noticed that some children have started bringing small ball-shaped magnets into school. I believe that they might be marketed as fidget toys. Please do not allow these magnets to be brought into school,they would be incredibly harmful for any child if they accidentally swallowed one and would probably involve a trip to hospital. If you feel that your child would benefit from using a fidget toy in school, please discuss this with their class teacher.

 

From the school log:

17th September 1982 - A junior pupil returned to school after one day’s absence. A note from his father read as follows :- “D____ was absent yesterday, as he had a stomach upset.”

 

This draws me to consider the absences that children have had in the first few weeks of the year and to remind everyone that children are often able to come to school even if they are slightly under the weather. There are a few ailments which automatically equal at least a day off school: vomiting, diarrhea, high temperature (38+), signicant injury or something from the list if infectious conditions list. Most other times, children are more than able to come to school with light cold-like symptoms. This poster is a helpful guide. https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/626669cb8fa8f523b7221b98/UKHSA-should-I -keep-my_child_off_school_guidance-A3-poster.pdf And so is this NHS webpage: https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/is-my-child-too-ill-for-school/

 

General News:

We have made some changes to our lunchtime routines this year and the new system seems to be working well for everyone. The youngest children (Reception, year 1 and year2) are now eating first and all sitting down in the dinner hall together. We are hoping this will encourage more children to eat more of their lunch as there is no pressure to finish and rush out to play! It is also offering more time for chatting and interacting with peers and staff. The older children are eating after this and this seems to be working well for them also. We have received some positive feedback from some parents about this change. Any more feedback would also be welcome.

 

FRIENDS of Hillside- this Friday 19th September there will be a preloved uniform sale on the KS1 playground by the shed from 3 til 3.30pm. Cash and card payment taken. Please contact preloveduniform@hillsidefriends.com prior to the sale for orders if you are not at pick up on that day. Price list is as follows:

● Polo shirts, P.E t shirts, shorts, tracksuit bottoms, trousers, dresses and skirts 50p each.

● Jumpers, cardigans and fleeces £2 each.

● P.E hoodies and reversible fleeces £2.50 each.

● PLEASE NOTE, Sizes of Hillside school branded items are as follows: 3-4, 5-6, 7-8, 9-10, 11-12, 13, S, M, L.

 

 

Macmillan fundraising event - Thursday 25th September

We are supporting Macmillan Cancer Support again this year by holding a 'Cookie & Cake’' afternoon on Thursday 25th September, please can we kindly ask for any (shop bought) cakes to be donated on the day, or the same week to your child's classroom.

Parents are welcome to come along to their child’s classroom from 2:30pm to join us for cookies,cakes, squash/juice.

As we are a cashless school, we are asking for any donations to be made directly via the Macmillan website (link below) https://donation.macmillan.org.uk/wbcm/one-off Thank you for your continued support

 

NCC Parent workshops on ‘Protecting Kids Online’ - You can still sign up via Arbor Parent Portal/APP to attend the free parent workshops throughout September and October.

 

Thorpe St Andrew School Open Evening - for Yr6 children moving to high school next year you can attend Thorpe St Andrew School Open Evening on Thursday 25th September. Please click here for further details.

 

Dates for the Diary

September

Thursday 25th - Macmillan ‘Cookies & Cake’ fundraising event from 2:30pm in classrooms

 

October

Monday 6th - Yr6 & Rec NCMP health checks (more details to follow)

Thursday 9th - Olly Day road safety show

Friday 10th - Friends’ Autumn disco

Tuesday 14th - Open Day 2026 9:30-10:30

Wednesday 15th - Yr 5 Hautbois trip

Thursday 23rd - Open Day 2026 1:30-2:30 & 5-6pm

Friday 24th - finish for half term

 

 

 

Please follow us on Facebook and on Instagram too. #itshappeningathillside Link for facebook page Facebook page Link for Instagram page Instagram page

 

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Thorpe St Andrew FC Wild Cats Girls’ Football - click here for further details.

 

Kids Parent Carers Norwich Coffee & Connects Autumn Term - please click here for further information

 

Norwich Wildcats Girls Rugby Activity Day - Please Activity Day for further details. Recruiting for year 6 girls -please click here for further details

 

Hilldale Breakfast and Afterschool Club offer childcare in the mornings before school starts and after school. For further information please take a look at their website Hilldale or contact Mrs Linda Hubbard on hilldale15@yahoo.com or 07724680087

 

Norfolk & Waveney Mind - festive family fundraiser – the Mental Elf Fun Run, taking place on Sunday 14th December 2025 at Whitlingham Country Park, Norwich.

Hillside Avenue Highlights

 

Dear Parents and Carers,

 

At the start of a new year, anything is possible. A perfect example of this can be found in the faces of wonder and excitement of the new children in Reception. As they walk through the gate holding their parent’s hand, with their hair brushed, shiny school shoes and minds open and ready for learning. It really is a wonderful thing to behold. The rst few days of the year have gone smoothly with old relationships being rekindled and new ones being made. Thank you to all of the parents who have passed on their best wishes to me and the staff for the year ahead. It has been lovely to hear about your holidays and your summertime adventures.

In assembly on Wednesday we talked about how we want 2025/26 to be a ‘Golden’ year at Hillside Avenue. With the help of I spoke to the children about not hiding their talents and abilities, the importance of dreaming, working hard and believing that every child can be ‘What they were born to be!’ Whilst K-Pop might not be everyone’s cup-of-tea, I hope that the core message still got through. Coming to school is about being ready to learn, having your mind open to new ideas and working hard to make sure that you understand them and can use them in the future to achieve your dreams. The rst day of the school year is an opportunity for every child to take another step in that journey.

Thank you to every parent and family member for the way that you have and will engage with us at Hillside Avenue to help your and every child to flourish in their primary school years.

Mr Hutchinson

 

From the school log: 9th September 1964: J4B with Mrs Brown (Deputy Head) went to St Andrews’ Secondary Modern School for swimming. (It then describes all of the arrangements for swimming through the year.) Swimming lessons for Years 3 and 6 start at Thorpe St Andrew School next week. As usual, the staff will walk the children across the footbridge to the school and back again and the lessons are led by the Secondary School PE staff. In 1964 they used a coach to get there! Year group teams will be in touch this week to concern which children need to bring their swimming costumes and towels and on which days.

 

A few reminders…

● School starts @ 8:45am and the doors close @ 8:55am after which please bring your child to the office to sign in.

● Back gate - reminder this is closed throughout the school day so access only via the main entrance ● School meals to be ordered via Arbor Parent Portal/APP and the cut off time daily is 8:45am

● Attendance - any absences; illness,medical appointments etc must be reported to the office via phone 01603 433453 or office@hap-edu.uk Please see a separate email about school attendance and legal interventions.

 

Dates for the Diary

September

Wednesday 3rd - Start of Autumn term 3:15

Yr5 parent meeting Thursday 4th - 3:15

Yr3/4 parent meeting Friday 5th - 3:15 Yr6 parent Meeting

Monday 8th - 3:15 Yr2 parent Meeting

Thursday 11th - Yr4 visit Thorpe Marshes (details to follow)

October

Monday 6th - Yr6 & Rec NCMP health checks (more details to follow)

Thursday 9th - Olly Day road safety show

Friday 10th - Friends’ Autumn disco

Tuesday 14th - Open Day 2026 9:30-10:30

Wednesday 15th - Yr 5 Hautbois trip

Thursday 23rd - Open Day 2026 1:30-2:30 & 5-6pm

Friday 24th - finish for half term

 

Childcare before and after school Provision

Hilldale Breakfast and Afterschool Club offer childcare in the mornings before school starts and after school. For further information please take a look at their website Hilldale or contact Mrs Linda Hubbard on hilldale15@yahoo.com or 07724680087

 

Clubs available this half term

Monday:

KS2 Hillside Litter Picking Club 3:15-3:40 Starts 8th September (10 spaces)

 

Tuesday:

KS1 Singers (lunchtime) Starts 9th September

Art Club Yr1-3 only (cost) Starts 9th September

Minimoons Drama Club (cost) Starts 9th September 

 

Wednesday:

Hillside Basketball Club (Yrs 4,5,6) 3:15-4:30 Starts 10th September (only 12 spaces)

KS2 Hillside Band 3:30-4:30 Starts 17th September

 

Thursday:

PAV Yr5/6 Football 3:15-4:15 Starts 11th September

 

Friday:

KS2 Cross Country Club (lunchtime) Starts 12th September

Minimoons Fitness Stars (cost) Starts 12th September

 

** Please note litter picking, basketball, football and cross country have limited spaces and are on a first come first serve basis.

 

Please follow us on Facebook and on Instagram too. #itshappeningathillside Link for facebook page Facebook page Link for Instagram page Instagram page

 

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Minimoons after school club - are now offering week by week booking service- perfect for flexibility as well as a single session booking option All booking links are available here: https://minimoonsco.com/collections/after-school-clubs

 

Dynamos for Girls –Indoor Cricket -Norwich Bystanders Cricket Club are calling all 8–11 year old girls! We’re offering 6 FREE indoor cricket sessions – the perfect chance to have fun, make friends, and give cricket a go. Venue: Sprowston High School – Indoor 10.30am - 11.30am No experience needed – just come along and join the fun! Parents – this is the perfect Saturday morning activity for your daughters to stay active, build confidence, and try something new! contact: norwich.bystanders.cc@outlook.com Steve Andrews – 07388 875563

 

Dear Parents and Carers,

Well… we’ve almost made it. We are fast approaching the end of the school year, the first one with me as the Headteacher and one that has seen a significant amount of change. Although the journey to making Hillside Avenue one of the best schools in Norfolk will not be smooth, I feel like we have achieved a great deal together and am excited about where we are heading next. Our priorities for next year will certainly include a continuation of our commitment to building positive relationships with all stakeholders as well as ongoing development of our inclusive teaching practices too. Thank you for your feedback so far and I can’t wait to continue the journey in September. We have one week to go. During this time we will be saying goodbye to our wonderful Year 6s as well as starting to welcome the new children who will be starting in Nursery and Reception (and a couple of other year groups) after the holidays too. It certainly is an exciting time with Y6 performances and special assemblies planned, as well as transition events too. The ‘meet the teacher’ events are planned for the first week back so that all parents can feel fully informed at the start of the school year. Thank you all for your support this year. I feel incredibly lucky to be the Headteacher of such a wonderful school and I hope that you all have a relaxing Summer holiday. See you on Wednesday 3rd September.

Mr Hutchinson 

 

Time to move on.

At this time of year, it is common for school staff to move on to pastures new. At the end of this term we will be saying goodbye to some much loved members of staff.

 

Mrs Furbur has been a much-loved teacher at Hillside Avenue for 5 years. During this time she has skillfully guided many children to achieve their best in the lessons that she taught whilst nurturing them through their formative years too. I know that many parents will want to extend their heart-felt thanks to Mrs Furbur for her dedication to their children’s learning and to wish her well for the future.

 

Mrs Pittaccio Has worked in the Nursery since 2022 . As we all know, a child’s time Nursery is fundamental in their development and is indicative of their success in later life too. Mrs Pittaccio has been instrumental in the learning and development of hundreds of children in the Hillside Avenue Nursery over the last 3 years and will be sorely missed. We all wish her the best for the adventures that she has planned for the future.

 

Mrs Thompson has decided that it is time to pass on the baton in the office to someone else. Over the years, Mrs Thompson has helped parents and children alike with everything from ordering school dinners to arranging music lessons and ice packs for head bumps too. We all wish her well for her next adventure.

 

Mrs Custance has been an MSA on the playground at lunchtimes and in the canteen for 3 years. Over this time she has helped hundreds of children to cut up their fish fingers on Fishy Friday and plastered many an injured knee on the playground too. We will miss her greatly and wish her well for the future. I know that she will be on the touchline during girl’s football matches for another year, so we’ll still see her around.

 

News from Friends - Preloved Uniform Sale On Wednesday 16th July , there will be a preloved uniform sale on the KS1 playground by the shed from 3 till 3.30pm, weather permitting. Cash and card payment taken. You contact Alex on preloveduniform@hillsidefriends.com prior to the sale for orders if you are not at pick up on that day. Price list is as follows: Polo shirts, P.E t shirts, shorts, tracksuit bottoms, trousers, dresses and skirts 50p each.

● Jumpers, cardigans and fleeces £2 each.

● P.E hoodies and reversible fleeces £2.50 each.

Sizes of Hillside school branded items are as follows: 3-4, 5-6, 7-8, 9-10, 11-12, 13, S, M, L.

In the meantime you can donate your unwanted uniforms.

Please note that we do not take socks, tights, shoes or non Hillside branded cardigans or sweaters. Please ensure your donated items are clean, with no holes and with plenty of life left in them. And if you ever can help for an hour here and there with the sales then please contact me.

 

 

Hillfest update

We’d like to extend a huge thank you to everyone involved with Hillfest 2025. The committee this year despite some headwinds (literally), pulled out a super event. We were supported by many fantastic volunteers, who played a pivotal part in Hillfest’s overall success. We are also so thankful to the staff from the school giving up their weekend time to help supervise the chaos.

 

Thanks to all your support, together we have managed to raise just over £6,500 which has resulted in a record profit contribution from Hillfest of just over £4,300.

 

This event completes the year for the Friends which by close of term will result in almost £30,000 of funds donated to the school. One specific item from this year we were proud to support is the library refresh. The new library is now up and running and provides a new positive space for all pupils of the school. We’ve heard some fantastic feedback already, with particular excitement around new book stocks and the introduction of audiobook technology.

 

How splendid we hear the cry, how can I help…. :)

 

We are currently seeking additional committee members to join our dedicated charity committee, an essential part of our fundraising efforts in support of the school. The level of involvement is entirely flexible, and all contributions—whether occasional or regular—are greatly valued. We are anticipating a few long serving committee members stepping down at the next AGM and would love for some new volunteers to join.

 

The committee organizes a variety of events beyond Hillfest including: quiz nights; bingo evenings; and the festive Holly Jolly Hillfest. We always welcome fresh ideas and suggestions for new fundraising opportunities.

 

If you are interested, and want to know more about what being on the Committee might involve - please contact us to have a chat.

 

Your involvement will help build a stronger, more connected school community—one where every child feels supported and inspired. By joining us, you’ll directly contribute to creating a vibrant, nurturing environment where young minds can thrive and reach their full potential.

 

Uniform Orders

We have received a large number of uniform orders which will take a little bit of time to process. If you have made an order you will receive an email when it is ready to be collected from the school office. Some items have sold out and we anticipate more stock arriving in the first week of September. The last uniform orders will be accepted on the 18th July and orders will reopen on 1st September.

 

Dates for the diary

September

• Wednesday 3rd - start of autumn term

                               3:00 Yr1 parent meeting

                               3:15 Yr5 parent meeting

• Thursday 4th - 3:15 Yr3/4 parent meeting
• Friday 5th - 3:15 Yr6 parent meeting

 

 

Dear Parents and Carers,

 

In this newsletter I would like to reflect on some recent highlights in the life of the school as well as the natural bumps in the road that we will experience on this journey together. This week we have enjoyed watching the children in Key Stage 1 and 2 competing in their respective sports days with lots of successes and achievements being experienced by many children. Parental feedback shows me that these events were incredibly successful and enjoyed by children and parents alike. Well done to the winning teams and to every child who followed my advice in assembly to try their best, aim to beat their previous achievements and to contribute to the performance of the team. They should all be very proud of themselves. This week the Year 3 children enjoyed a trip to the Royal Norfolk Show and the cricket team played against St. William’s Way Primary too. Both successful events. Throughout this first year together - as a new Headteacher, an evolving school community, a re-structured sta team - we have experienced many wins and should feel very proud of the positive changes that we have made to the way that the school is run each day. This process of change is leading to improved outcomes for children and we will see the KS2 SATs results soon too. Our focus on meeting individual needs is leading to a more bespoke approach to the provision that the children experience each day, which in turn is leading to improved behaviours and outcomes too. As we move through this period of change, mistakes will happen. This won’t be deliberate, it will be because we are trying very hard to meet everyone’s needs, improve outcomes and do new things that the school hasn’t done before. In this space, we are stretching ourselves to reach new heights and occasionally someone will drop a ball. I believe that it is good to aim high and to act with positive intent and to understand that everyone is trying their best with the outcomes of the children in mind. If you feel that we have missed something, please let us know and understand that we will do our best to get it right next time. Thank you for being on the journey with us, your contributions are always welcome.

Mr Hutchinson

 

General News

We have quite a build up of Lost Property. Please encourage your child to have a look in the Lost Property if they are missing an item. If there are unclaimed items by the end of the school year, these will be donated to the school's pre-loved stock. Thank you to everyone who donated to the recent food bank collection. Our total weight in food donation came to 83kg, this was enough to provide at least 9 food parcels. 

 

 

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

Teaching & Curriculum

• How will both year groups follow the right curriculum?
  • Each class will have a carefully planned curriculum that ensures Reception and Year 1 pupils work towards their respective learning goals. Teachers will use a wide range of approaches to meet the developmental needs of every child, ensuring the right balance of whole-class, small group, and individual learning. Some learning will be done together as a class and some will be done in year groups. 
• How will the curriculum be differentiated for Reception and Year 1 children in the same class?
  • Our approach to timetabling will allow us to target appropriate teaching styles and supportive approaches to each group of children. Some lessons lend themselves to differentiation and adaptation whilst others will require separate teaching opportunities. Some curriculum areas (such as geography) will require Year 1 to be taught separately, others (such as science) can be taught and experienced through continuous provision with elements of discrete teaching as required. During independent learning time Year 1 children will have additional challenges to complete based on Year 1 learning objectives. 
• How will you ensure that high-achieving Year 1 pupils are appropriately challenged and reception children fully supported given their age difference?
  • The learning environment will be designed to meet both needs. Many educationalists highlight the positive effect of an Early Years approach to teaching and learning in KS1 (and beyond) so this will enable teachers to spread this approach into Year 1. At Hillside Avenue we always aim to meet individual needs, our mixed year group classes will be no different; all children will be taught, challenged and supported where they are. For some children that will mean additional support for learning through continuous provision whilst others will benefit from individual challenges from the staff.
• How will play-based learning for Reception be balanced with the more structured Year 1 approach?
  • Play-based learning (continuous provision or independent learning to the children!) will be available to all children in the class. Staff will use some of this time to deliver more structured teaching and learning sessions to the year 1 children. This might be an additional maths session, additional writing sessions or another part of the curriculum.  
• Who will be teaching the classes?
  • The mixed-age classes will be led by Miss Ireland, Ms Richards, and Mrs Williams - three experienced and dedicated teachers. They will each be supported by a full-time teaching assistant. This means every class will benefit from strong adult support throughout the day, something we’re really pleased to be able to offer.

Classroom Management & Grouping

• Will class sizes be larger?
  • No. All Reception and Key Stage 1 classes remain within the standard maximum of 30 pupils. With three classes and six adults across the year group, we’re well placed to provide a nurturing and engaging environment where children can flourish.
• How will children be grouped during lessons—by age, ability, or task?
  • This will vary depending on what is being taught. There will be times when the class is taught together, this is really important to ensure they feel like a class group! They will access continuous provision/ independent learning activities together and engage in lots of the foundation subjects curriculum together. There will also be times when the children are grouped by year group so that they can be taught year group specific content appropriately. Phonics will be taught in ability groups as it is now in both Reception and Year 1. 
• Will parents have an opportunity to express a preference for which teacher our child has?
  • The starting principle for class organisation will be that current Reception children will be allocated to a class by discussion between the current Reception teachers and Miss Pendleton.
  • Ability, gender, social interactions and age will all be taken into consideration
  • If parents have requests for promoting positive combinations of children or avoiding difficult combinations they can let the current teacher know and it will be taken into consideration. 
• How will you ensure that Reception children aren’t left behind or overwhelmed, and Year 1s aren’t held back?
  • The three class teachers are incredibly skilled at adapting their teaching and lesson planning to meet the individual needs of the children in their class. The Early Years approach means that Reception children will be able to access play-based learning and will have time and space to learn at the appropriate pace. The Year 1 children will be taught and assessed against the Year 1 curriculum. They will continue to access play based learning that we know is so important for young children, while also receiving teaching input each day at a Year 1 level. 
• How many reception children will there be and how many will be in each mixed class?
  • Current numbers are showing that there will be 41 children in the Reception year in 2025/26. These children will be allocated evenly to the three classes, so there will be 13 or 14 Reception children per class.
• Will summer born children who have been deferred to start reception age 5 still be grouped with reception children and under the eyfs curriculum and not the key stage 1 curriculum? 
  • Yes. All children will be registered in the appropriate year group. So a 5-year-old child who has a deferred entry to school will be registered in the Reception cohort of children.
• Will reception children still have continuous access to an outdoor space? 
  • Yes. Both year groups will have access to the amazing outdoor space. In practice, the Reception children will access it more often as they will have more continuous provision in their weekly timetable. The Year 1 children will access it too though.

 

Assessment & Progress

• Will Year 1 children fall behind by being in a class with Reception pupils?
  • Our teachers are highly skilled at tailoring learning so that each child is challenged at the right level. In fact, opportunities to revisit and explain concepts to others can strengthen children’s understanding, something many Year 1 pupils benefit from. Every child’s progress will continue to be closely monitored and supported.
• How will progress be monitored across two curriculums (EYFS and KS1) in one class?
  • The class teachers have a thorough knowledge of the Reception and Year 1 curricula. Every day, teachers make assessments of children’s attainment and progress - this is called Assessment for Learning (AfL). The teachers will know what each child is working towards in their learning and will be able make those assessments continuously each day.
• What steps will you take if a child appears bored, unchallenged, or frustrated?
  • Throughout the school, all children should be engaged in their learning and should feel that the learning activities are just hard enough to challenge them but not so hard they feel overwhelmed.  All school adults monitor their class continuously to identify where the challenge needs to be adapted to meet the child’s needs. This will also be true of the Reception and Year 1 class next year.
• What is the frequency of feedback that parents can expect on how their child is progressing in this mixed-age setup? i.e. more than two parents evenings in an academic year. 
  • Any parent who feels that they would like to have more feedback on their child’s attainment and progress at school should always talk to the class teacher in the first instance. If the class teacher feels that a higher level of communication between home and school is needed to support the child in school, then they will make contact with the parents too. 
  • The teachers are available before and after school and via Tapestry. Tapestry is a great form of communication and one with which all current Hillside parents are already familiar. Families new to Hillside will receive a log in as soon as possible. 

 

Transition & Long-Term Impact

• What are the benefits of this mixed-age approach for Year 1 children?
  • Year 1 children will enjoy the benefits of being in our well-equipped early years environment, including daily access to our outdoor learning space. They'll continue working with familiar staff and routines, supporting a smooth transition into more structured learning. They'll also receive targeted teaching in small groups for key areas like phonics and maths, ensuring they stay on track and thrive. We’ll continue using Tapestry to share and celebrate their progress with you.
• How will this model affect children’s transition into Year 2?
  • The three teachers are aware of the demands of Year 2 and are committed to smoothing the transition towards the Year 2 classroom. The Year 1 children will be provided with increasingly challenging opportunities to work independently, with an adult and by recording their learning with a paper and pencil. This will enable them to build their writing stamina and handwriting so that they will be ready for the Year 2 curriculum.
  • Like all transitions throughout school, teachers will be in contact with staff in the following year group so that they understand where the children are and what they have experienced. Transitions are carefully managed. 

 

Support & Communication

• What can parents do at home to support their child’s learning and wellbeing in a mixed-age class?
  • We will be encouraging parents to support their children in the same ways as we always do. No need to make any changes to this due to the mixed year group classes. Parents play a crucial role in supporting their children's learning and adjustment through transitions at school. They can encourage their child's independence, curiosity, and resilience, as well as actively participate in school events and communicate with teachers. Additionally, parents can support their child's learning at home by engaging in daily reading/phonics work and other home learning activities. We always encourage parents to talk to and engage with their child about their learning at school and read regularly together for pleasure. Current Reception children will already be in a great routine with reading their phonics reading books at home and parents will be used to writing in their reading record. This will continue. The families new to Reception in September will have all of the routines and expectations explained once their child is settled into phonics sessions and is ready to take home reading books. Teachers will continue to make home learning suggestions for all the children in their classes. If they feel particular children need specific support at home they will speak to families individually about this as they always would have done in a Reception or Year 1 class
• How will you involve parents in reviewing how well this new setup is working?
  • As a school, we are always looking for feedback from parents. It is feedback that helps us to improve our provision for the children of Hillside Avenue every day. This also applies to the organisation and execution of this mixed-age class model. This is obviously a big change for us all to manage and therefore constant communication with parents is going to be essential for the school to be able to know what parts of the plan need to be adjusted so that every child is able to flourish in their school journey. We will seek your input on regular occasions to make sure that we get this right for every child.