Whole School Forum A Challenge from our School Governors Assembly today is going to give you some information about our first Whole School Forum for this year. Who remembers what a forum is? (For new staff – we had a few of these last year). Next slide… December 2015

What is a Forum? Definition: A meeting or medium where ideas and views on a particular issue can be exchanged. Read through slide

The views of children are very important! Why have a Forum? “ Every voice is heard.” The views of children are very important! Why we have a forum at Ripple – it links to our mission statement about every voice being heard. We think that children have lots of really good ideas to help us to move our school forward. The focus for our forum comes from some feedback we got from our school governors who visited school in June and spoke to some children.

Governors thought… Behaviour of children was excellent, and engagement in the discussion at all age groups was positive and strong. Children spoke very clearly and confidently. Across all year groups children understood the importance of including and respecting everyone, the school 5 Star Behaviour System and how to deal with bullying. In the summer term 2014 governors came in to school and spoke to some children about their views about Ripple Primary School. Governors were impressed by…. Read through each point

Governors thought… Children try really hard to help to make sure that new joiners feel welcome, and support children where English is not their first language, but would like to know: Is there anything else we can do to help new children to feel welcome? This is a really important point as we get many new children who join Ripple every week.

Did you know? There are 1178 children at Ripple Primary School. 971 of the children at Ripple Primary School speak another language at home. All of the children who speak a different language learn English quickly.

Did you also know? Lots of new children start at Ripple Primary School every week. Since September 79 children have started at Ripple. Year Group Number of new children Nursery 8 Reception 10 Year 1 13 Year 2 6 Year 3 14 Year 4 20 Year 5 18 Year 6 7 So, we can see why it is really important that we think about ways we can help support new children to feel welcome at Ripple. Your class task, is…. Next slide…

Class Task Think about how you might feel if you were going to start at a new school tomorrow. Share those feelings with your class and make a list. What would help you to feel confident: Before you start at your new school? On your first day at your new school? During your first few days/weeks at the school? What great things about Ripple Primary School would you want to share with new children to our school to help them to feel welcome? What is the best way to share that information?

Mrs Ziane, Graham and Mr Kinder (Chair of Governors) Good Luck! We can’t wait to hear all of your great ideas. Thank you! Mrs Ziane, Graham and Mr Kinder (Chair of Governors)