Welcome
Letter from the Headteacher of Frome Valley First School, Ms Julie Thorp:
Dear Parents/Carers,
I would like to extend a warm welcome to you and your family on behalf of the staff and Governors of Frome Valley CE First School. I feel very privileged to be the Headteacher of such a lovely school within the community of Crossways.
Everyone involved in the life of the school work together as a team to provide a happy, safe and stimulating environment in which your child can learn, grow and flourish. We aim to nurture all children as individuals, enabling them to achieve their full potential and prepare them for the years that lie ahead as they grow into young adults. At the heart of our school is the belief that we all share a vision and values that help us to be responsible, respectful and caring members of society. We are very proud of the Christian ethos of our school and our belief that citizenship and a sense of community are as important as academic achievements. We particularly focus on mental wellbeing within our school and, as a school with three Trauma Informed Schools Practitioners, we support individual children that require extra support. Our school values relationships and pupils knowing that there is an emotionally available adult to help them when they are upset or unhappy.
We encourage parents to join in the vital partnership with the school that enables us to provide the best possible start to your child’s education.
Our latest Ofsted inspection graded our school as “good” (January 2018). Our SIAMS inspection (Statutory Inspection of Anglican Schools) graded us as an “outstanding” Church of England school. (November 2017)
“You know every pupil well and check their progress meticulously. Your rigorous monitoring enables you to intervene and provide focused provision and teaching when needed.”
“You ensure that the quality of education is good through maintaining high expectations of the pupils. You are keen to find ways to motivate pupils and include them in their learning..”
“Parents are overwhelmingly positive in their support of the school. A typical view expressed through the online survey included, ‘We’ve been delighted with the school since our daughter started... she has made fantastic progress and loves going to school. She is nurtured and challenged.’.”
"You and other leaders inspire pupils to delight in reading. Pupils spontaneously told me, ‘I love reading!’ Staff lead phonics sessions and talk about reading with great enthusiasm and passion. You promote reading as the cornerstone of learning and communicate this to pupils across the school day and in a variety of ways."
"Partnership with the local church is outstanding and is central to the distinctively Christian ethos which brings purpose and meaning to the lives of children and adults within the school community."
"Frome Valley First School is a caring Christian community where everyone is valued and welcomed."
We look forward to welcoming your child to our school.
Yours sincerely,
Julie Thorp
(Headteacher)