A lot has gone on at Meadow this week.  On Monday, we held our Peer Review where we invited colleagues from other schools to review aspects of our practice and share feedback with us.  This year, to support our move to two sites in school, we ensured that the review team all had expertise in SEND and Special School Education.  They focussed on the quality of teaching, the quality of the curriculum, the use of therapy techniques in our practice and also provided us some insight into how we might wish to plan for September next year.  I am grateful to the input of these colleagues.  We are currently waiting for the final report and I will then share the main findings with you all via the bulletin.

On Tuesday, we held our two-minute silence for Remembrance Day.  All the students engaged with this at 11am on Tuesday 11th November to recognise all those men and women who have sacrificed their lives for our country and all around the world.  Our Scouts and Explorer Scouts also used it as an opportunity to reflect on their own Scout Promise and commitment to the wider scouting movement.

Also, this week, we had the external verifier visit the students taking the Hair and Nail course to assess the work they have completed so far.  All students performed well and are in a good position moving forward in their course.  Well done to all involved.

As we are near the start of a new half term, I would like to remind all parents about the importance of excellent attendance and why all students need to aspire to have attendance of 95%.

Educational research shows that attendance of 95% makes you three times more likely to achieve your educational targets, whatever these might be.  For us at Meadow, this will relate to achieving your PLIMS and for older students, achieving good passes in your certificates and entry awards.  

Students often think that attendance over 90% is good enough, but this is not the case.  Attendance of 90% amounts to one day off of school per fortnight or half a day per week.  This would mean approximately 19 days off from school per year and will have a detrimental impact on a student’s education.  

We will always work hard with you to promote and ensure good attendance and I would ask you to support this by ensuring your child is in school on time every day and to book appointments for your child outside of school hours wherever possible.

Have a great week ahead.