Looking back over the last seven weeks, it is incredible to reflect on how much has been achieved despite the challenging times in which we continue to live.

The children have made the most of being back in the classroom and the teachers have delivered inspiring lessons that have ensured some excellent progress throughout the School. Building on the progress we all made with our digital skills during the Summer Term, our new Surface Go devices have been in constant use with children and adults alike continuing to take their digital learning to the next level. Our Games department has provided a stimulating programme of sport that has ensured the children continue to develop their skills in readiness for fixtures that we hope will return in the Lent Term. Our oldest children have been working hard for last week’s Kent Test and Scholarship assessments, and for the Senior School Entrance tests that take place later this term. We are so proud of them for applying themselves with such commitment and dedication to their studies.

Throughout the School, pupils and teachers have embraced our new subject, P4L (Preparation for Learning, Leadership and Life). For the last half term, the whole School have thrown themselves in the Thinking Skills strand of P4L and it has been exciting to hear the children using the language of metacognition when talking about their learning. This week, every class experienced a Philosophy session, which enabled the children to develop their ability to think more deeply. Children from Reception to Year 6 had the opportunity to consider some of life’s big questions and they rose to the challenge with great interest and enthusiasm. A number of children have told me they have shared, at home, one of the thunks (a question that makes your brain go ‘ouch!’) discussed in assembly and so I thought I would aim to have thunk of the week in the newsletter that can be discussed both at home and at School! I am also very interested to hear of any thunks the children come up with themselves!

This term has also seen our new cohort of two-year-olds throwing themselves whole-heartedly into life in the Little Lambs Nursery and it has been brilliant to see all our new pupils adapting to life at SVPS. Not being able to have our usual ‘open door’ policy has been a great shame but it has been great to keep the communication going whether at drop off or pick up or via the School Cloud for recent parents’ consultations. 

Unfortunately, the national situation means we are not able to relax our Covid Risk Assessment for the second half of this term. However, staff are already working hard to come up with ways to ensure the children still enjoy the run-up to Christmas and we have started planning our virtual Christmas events so it is still a magical and special time for the whole family.

As we end this half term, the longest in the academic year, I could not be more proud of our entire community for the way in which everyone has embraced the challenges and adapted to the new ways of doing things. Our pupils, staff and community have continued to approach each day with positivity, creativity and enthusiasm and it has been wonderful to witness the way in which everyone has pulled together to ensure we continue to have a School full of happy children who are loving their learning and enjoying being back with their friends and teachers. The next two weeks provide an opportunity for some well-deserved rest and recuperation and I wish you all a relaxing Half Term break.

Miss Corkran