Headteacher’s Blog

Elmsleigh Infant and Nursery School Newsletter

Summer Term

What a fantastic and memorable half term it has been here at Elmsleigh Infant & Nursery School! Our children, staff and wider community have embraced every opportunity with enthusiasm, curiosity and kindness, making this a truly special few weeks.

We ended the term in style with a vibrant Enrichment Day, where pupils explored new experiences, celebrated their learning and, most importantly, had lots of fun together.

Throughout the half term, we promoted healthy, active lifestyles during Travel Smart Week, encouraging sustainable ways to travel to school. It was also incredible to see so many families join us as we became a parkrun Primary – what a brilliant turnout and community spirit!

We are very proud of our wider achievements too. We celebrated success at the ETSEEM MAT Awards, achieved our Modeshift STARS Good Award, and are thrilled to now be part of the Attachment Research Community, further strengthening our commitment to supporting every child’s wellbeing.

Our curriculum has been brought to life in so many exciting ways. From the unforgettable moment when a dinosaur “pooped” an egg on our playground, to the opening of both the Art Gallery by Tigers Class and the Dinosaur Museum by Giraffes Class, our children have been immersed in creativity and imagination.

We welcomed visitors who enriched our learning, including PCSO Hodgkinson and PC Henderson, who spoke to the children about keeping safe, and coaches from Derby County Community Trust, who led engaging PE sessions.

We have also been busy championing important values. Our School Council, Kindness Captains, and Eco Committee have met regularly, helping to lead positive change within our school. Their work supported us in achieving our Eco Schools Green Flag Award, as well as initiatives like No Mow May and celebrating World Bee Day.

Outdoor learning has flourished through Sunshine Forest School and Bush Kiddz, while our adventurous Polar Bears swimming group have shown resilience and determination.

We have also enjoyed marking special occasions together, such as wearing red and white for St George’s Day, taking part in class photos, and hosting a parent coffee morning with Compass Changing Lives, strengthening our partnership with families.

We are delighted to have successfully secured a grant for our Nature Park development, which will further enhance our outdoor provision for all children.

As always, I am incredibly proud of what our school community achieves together. Thank you to everyone who has contributed to such a rich and joyful half term. We look forward to building on this success in the weeks ahead!