Consultation on the proposal that Solebay Primary Academy should continue to operate a nursery class
Consultation opens: Friday 11 January 2019, 9am.
Solebay Primary Academy (11 Solebay Street, London, E1 4PW) transferred to Paradigm Trust in September 2014. The predecessor school did not offer nursery places. Paradigm places great value on the importance of early years education and, given this, indicated to the Department for Education (DfE), prior to transfer, that it intended to open a nursery class at Solebay, as soon as the school had stabilised. DfE was supportive of this approach. Paradigm also corresponded with, and provided a business case to, the London Borough of Tower Hamlets, which also supported the provision of nursery places at Solebay. However, due to an administrative oversight prior to September 2014, the funding agreement between the DfE and Paradigm Trust specified an inaccurate age range (4 to 11 years, rather than 3 to 11 years).
In order to regularise the existing position, Paradigm intends, subject to this consultation process, to make an application to the DfE for its funding agreement to be retrospectively modified to state an operating age range of 3 to 11 years, rather than 4 to 11 years.
The proposal is that Solebay will continue to offer nursery places, as it currently does, beyond September 2019. It is envisaged that the number of places will be capped at 26 part-time places in the morning, and 26 part-time places in the afternoon, although the school is committed to working closely with parents/carers to offer high quality full time places and/or extended day provision, if there is demand from parents/carers for this.
The nursery class was mentioned very positively in Ofsted’s (March 2016) inspection report (which graded early years provision as ‘outstanding’): In the Nursery and Reception classes, children make excellent progress from their starting points. Ofsted also visited Solebay as part of research for an early years survey report. Solebay performs strongly as a school – it was graded ‘good’ overall by Ofsted and Y6 pupils in summer 2018 made progress in line with the top 20% of pupils nationally. In addition, the school was singled out by DfE for its excellent performance in the Y1 phonics check last summer.
No changes to admissions criteria are proposed.
The Trust has planning consent to operate provision for up to 350 pupils on the Solebay site. If demand for places in reception through to year 6 were to increase, we would reduce the number of nursery places offered to ensure that the planning conditions were respected.
If you wish to respond to this consultation, please email: consultation@paradigmtrust.org
Consultation closes: 9am, Friday 8 February 2019.
Solebay wows the O2!
More than 45 Solebay pupils participated in the Young Voices event at the O2 on Friday. An amazing time was had by all – and the photo below give a sense of the occasion and the atmosphere. Solebay pupils are developing into outstanding musicians!
Young Voices combines the power of singing together as one, with accompaniment from a wide range of musicians and artists, to create an amazing performance. With a full live band, backing singers and the internationally acclaimed conductor David Lawrence, the concert was an extremely exciting and memorable musical experience for all.
Micah, a Solebay pupil, commented that, “The concert was definitely one of the most amazing things I’ve ever done in my whole, whole life and history! I wish I could sing at the O2 every year!” Micah’s mother added, “I thought the concert was stunning! I found the occasion very emotional listening to the 7548 children’s voices singing all together and having so much fun. I am sure that it would have made a very deep and lasting impression on all the children. It was definitely a very proud and precious moment to see my child involved. A treasured memory that will never be forgotten.”
Notification of Ofsted inspection
We have been notified that Ofsted will inspect the school, starting tomorrow, 12 January 2016. Ofsted information documents are provided below:
Train to Teach Roadshow – Tuesday 10 November 2015 at Trinity Park, Ipswich
Paradigm Trust is pleased to announce that we will be exhibiting at the Train to Teach Roadshow event on Tuesday 10 November 2015 at Trinity Park, Ipswich. The event will be open to the public between 5 and 8pm. Information will be available as to the primary and secondary opportunities available within Paradigm Trust, both in Ipswich and in London. Information concerning our subject knowledge enhancement (SKE) offer will also be available.
Further information, including booking, is available here.
Diary date – Paradigm Trust will also be exhibiting at the Chelmsford event (24 November) and the Norwich event (11 February 2016).
Train to teach with Paradigm – applications open on 27 October
We offer initial teacher education (primary and secondary, all subject areas) through our salaried School Direct programme. As a trainee teacher you will have access to invaluable school and classroom experience that will equip you with the knowledge, skills and experience you will need to become an excellent class teacher.
This programme is for graduates and career changer graduates wishing to train to become teachers. We are also able to offer parallel, salaried training opportunities for strong candidates (secondary only) who do not have a degree but who can demonstrate clear aptitude and desire to develop a teaching career. We would consider applications for salaried training places from school leavers who have, or are predicted to achieve, strong A levels (or equivalent) and can demonstrate an interest in, and experience of, working with children and young people.
More information is available here.
Advice on keeping children and young people safe against radicalisation and extremism
The local authority has produced the following leaflet to provide advice to parents, carers and families:
Trumpets and trombones!
With thanks to the Worshipful Company of Musicians, pupils at Solebay will enjoy a trumpet and trombone workshop on Wednesday 18 March!
Important information concerning child protection procedures
We have a responsibility to take immediate action when we find out or a child tells us they have been harmed or neglected in any way. The attachment (below) provides more information.
Solebay child protection procedure
Letter from Amanda – 28th January 2015
Lots of information including:
- booster sessions for pupils over half term
- ICT and PE updates
- progress with the playdeck
- punctuality reminder
- return to school date for September
- and lots more…
Important information about free school meals
From September 2014, the Government offers state funded free School meals to all pupils in Reception, Years 1 and Year 2. Tower Hamlets Council is providing further funding so that every Primary School pupil in the Borough from Reception to Year 6 can receive a free School meal.
However, it is very important that families register for free School meals if you think you are entitled to them. Registering for free School meals could raise an extra £1,300 per pupil for the School, to fund valuable support like extra tuition, additional teaching staff or after School activities.