Religious Education
Come and See
Yearly Overview
| Autumn Term | Spring Term | Summer Term |
| Nursery/ Reception | Nursery/ Reception | Nursery/ Reception |
| Myself Welcome Birthday | Celebrating Gathering Growing | Good News Friends Our World |
| Year 1 | Year 1 | Year 1 |
| Year 1 Families Belonging Waiting | Special People Meals Change | Holidays and Holy Days Being Sorry Neighbours |
| Year 2 | Year 2 | Year 2 |
| Beginnings Signs and Symbols Preparing | Books Thanksgiving Opportunities | Spread the word Rules Treasures |
Missio World- Reducing, Reusing, Recycling
Year 2 Pupils living out our Mission Statement to ‘Make Christ and his values known to all and be of service to society’. Children we have reflected on Pope Francis’ call in Laudato Si to look after our God given world walking in the footsteps of Jesus to help others.
Year 2 Missio World
Date: 12th Jan 2023
Present: 22 year 2 pupils
Agenda:
- Reusing and Recycling
- Reducing
We talked about how we have been reflecting on the Catholic Virtues of attentive and Discerning, through our actions in school and in our deeds through encouraging others to reflect on how we can live out, put into action being attentive to Jesus’ word and to be discerning, to make right choices.
Starting with us, children discussed how we can make a difference in school.
Action:
Monitors were selected to switch of light and switch off light switches.
| Ethically informed- Looking after our world Pope Francis’ message- Laudato Si | ||
| Reducing waste- water | Switching off lights | Recycling- Coats Uniform shoes |
| Action Monitors until Feb 23 | Action Monitors until Feb 23 | Action: Ms B to write to parents to ask for good quality, clean coats, uniform and shoes. |
We also thought about how this fits in with our right to say what we think should happen (Article 12) and with recycling coats, uniform and shoes, we would be able to grow up to be healthy (Article 6).
School Council: Rights of the Child
| Autumn: | Spring | Summer |
| Article 29: Your right to become the best that you can be. | Article 12: Your right to say what you think should happen and be listened to. | Article 15: Your right to meet with friends and join groups and clubs. |
| Article 6: You have the right to life and to grow up to be healthy. | Article 28: Your right to learn and to go to school. | Article 19: You should not be harmed and should be looked after and kept safe. |
Fresh eyes – looking again at our Mission Statement
Missio Prayer Meeting
Date: 9.1.2023
Present: Joseph, Ophelia, Sophia, Tommy, Nori, Skyler, Ms Beaumont
Agenda: Year 2 Missio Prayer Ambassadors met with Ms Beaumont to think about our mission statement.
We discussed how we could show these in action. Pupils thought about the first 2 child friendly aims:
- To love God and be the very best that we can be.
- Celebrate through prayer and worship our love of God.
Missio prayer pupils decided to take photographs in school to drop into Pic-collage and share with all classes. These can shared and be discussed and displayed in all classes.
Next step:
Take photos
Drop into app
Discuss next 3 Mission Statement aims:
Love another
Walk in the footsteps of Jesus to help others
Work together to make our school the best school it can be.
Date of Next Meeting:
12.01.2023
St Joseph’s Infants Collective Worship- Ten Ten
January 2023
With the arrival of the new year, we start to put away signs of our Christmas celebrations: we finish off festive food, box up decorations, maybe recycling Christmas cards (and Christmas trees!) and perhaps generally breathe a sigh of relief about the return to normality. As we busy ourselves discarding all things of the festive season and look ahead to what 2023 might have in store, it’s good to pause and remember that we are still in the season of Christmastide, which officially ends at Candlemas on 2nd February. We can leave many things behind, but hopefully the image of Jesus, God’s gift of joy, hope and peace for the world remains.
This newsletter shares some of the content children will experience in school throughout January and suggests ways for you to engage with them about it. We hope and pray that the new year brings peace and blessings for you and your family.
Mary, Mother of God
At the start of the new year, our focus is on Mary, the Mother of God. During the assembly of the first week of term, children were reminded of the events of Christmas and invited to reflect on Mary’s ‘yes’ to God at the Annunciation; the response which made the whole Christmas story possible.
Through a connecting game, children saw that Mary is the special connector who leads us to Jesus and brings us closer to God through her prayers and intercession.
Looking back at the amazing events of the Christmas story gave an opportunity for older children to reflect on the meaning of the ‘Incarnation’. This revelation led into the assembly for the week beginning 9th January, where Jesus is revealed at His baptism as God incarnate!
Why not…
- Take time to say a Hail Mary with your child/ren this week, or show them how you like to pray the Rosary.
- In talking about the Incarnation, you might want to talk to your older child/ren about these important articles of faith:
- God became man in Jesus.
- Jesus is both fully human and fully divine.
- ‘Emmanuel’ means ‘God is with us’.
- Read the Gospel of the Annunciation (Luke 1:26-38) with your child/ren, and discuss ways in which you can say ‘yes’ to God this month.
A Riverside Revelation
In the assembly for the week commencing 9th January, children explored the meaning of the word ‘revelation’ through examples of dramatic reveals in fairytales, history and everyday life, before hearing the most important revelation of all: at Jesus’ baptism, God revealed Jesus as His Beloved Son. Pupils experienced this life-changing revelation in the form of a news report drama.
Perhaps you’d like to read the full Gospel text of this amazing event with your child/ren:
| Matthew 3: 13 – 17 Full Text (from the Jerusalem Bible) Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptised by John. John tried to dissuade Him. “It is I who need baptism from you,” he said, “and yet you come to me!” But Jesus replied, “Leave it like this for the time being; it is fitting that we should, in this way, do all that righteousness demands.” At this, John gave in to Him. As soon as Jesus was baptised He came up from the water, and suddenly the heavens opened and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming down on Him. And a voice spoke from heaven, “This is my Son, the Beloved; my favour rests on Him.” |
In this Gospel, the Holy Trinity – God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit – is clearly revealed. God the Father’s voice is heard from heaven, God the Son is Jesus, and God the Holy Spirit came down like a dove.
God calls Jesus His beloved child, and He welcomes each of us to be part of His family and be called His beloved child too – we just need to say ‘yes’, like Mary said ‘yes’ to God!
Children were challenged to repeat the revelation “I am God’s beloved child!” to themselves throughout the week, e.g. when they wake up, go to bed, and at times when they might feel angry/sad/alone and need a reminder of how loved they are.
You might like to do this as a family and invite your child/ren to notice how it makes them feel to be reminded of this truth, and how it changes their interactions with others, for example, do they find that they have more patience, are kinder, more generous or loving?
Why not…
- Challenge your child/ren to write/draw their own news report about this incredible Gospel story.
- Write “I am God’s beloved child!” on a sticky note and place them on each mirror in your house, so that the whole family are reminded of this truth whenever they catch a glimpse of themselves!
Children’s Missio Group have created their own prayer
Our St Joes Missio Prayer
Give us the strength to carry out your work, helping and praying for children.
Help us to be brave, forgiving and loving.
To be the best that we can be.
Help us to look after our world, the seas, the rivers and animals.
We ask this through Jesus Christ our Lord,
Amen
Created on Tuesday 22th October by Year 2 Missio Prayer
December Newsletter 2022
Advent- A time of getting ready!
Dear Parents/Carers,
As we move through the season of Advent, we remember the four candles on the Advent wreath. Please take a moment to talk about the first candle, when we focus on our Catholic Virtues of hope and faith. Sunday’s Gospel reminds us, ‘Be like Noah and his family, who were ready.’ As a whole school community we want our children to be faith-filled and hopeful at this time of waiting and preparation.
The Birth of Jesus– Please take some time to read the Nativity story with your child. Start with Mary’s good news and read the journey and the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem.
Also, please find time to pray. For traditional prayers, maybe focus on one prayer at a time. Start with the sign of the cross, then the Hail Mary, Our Father and Glory Be.
Prayers from the heart. At bedtime and first thing in the morning try to find some space to talk to Jesus with your child. In Advent, maybe think about a prayer of thanks, of love, of joy of peace.
Missio Group – Year 2 pupils.
Most pupils have chosen to be part of 2 groups: Missio Prayer and Missio World. Missio Prayer are helping to lead different types of prayer within the school. Missio World are working at supporting our Catholic Life and Mission in the wider world. This term Missio World Update: Our charities for this term are Shelter Cymru, CAFOD and Mission in Peru. Please sign up to our Strava Challenge to walk 5929 miles to Peru.
Collective Worship Community Celebrations
It was fantastic to be able to return to celebrating Collective Worship in the Autumn Term with our community. All parents and friends were invited to share these acts of worship in which children joyfully led the Gathering, the Listening, the Reflecting and the Going Forth. Well done each and every pupil. Please see our school TWITTER account for photo feed.
Prayers and Hymns with Bampis and Grandmas
Well done to Year 2 who led a very informal Collective Worship celebration with invited Grandparents and Friends of St Joseph’s. This was the first of a new venture for our school and it was uplifting to have Grandparents and great grandparent join us on the day. Please look out for the invitation for our next gathering. Mrs Turner’s children will lead this celebration.
Christmas Nativity (Main School Reception to Year 2)
- Thanks to the support of Monsignor Joseph our whole school, Nativity will once again return to the St Joseph’s Church. To avoid clashes with St Joseph’s Juniors there will be TWO performances.
- Dress rehearsal will be on 12th December in the morning followed by the first performance in the afternoon at 1:30pm.
Christmas Nativity (Main School Reception to Year 2)
- The second performance will on Tuesday 13th at 1:30 pm.
Nursery Nativity
- Thursday 15th at 9:30 in School Dining Hall
Christmas Raffle We are holding a big Christmas raffle this year in the hope of raising money for school funds. Please send in RED, GREEN, GOLD and SILVER prizes, which will be made-up into hampers. If you know of a local business who could donate a prize, then please let us know. We need volunteers to help with sale of tickets in the yard at end of day please let school know. Tickets are £2.00 per strip. The Christmas raffle will take place on Friday 16th December.
Christmas Meal and Jumper Day on Thursday 8th December Children are invited to wear Christmas Jumpers and hats and bring £1. Missio World Group have decided money raised will go to our local charity Shelter Cymru.
Father Christmas and Christmas Film
Father Christmas will be visiting school on Monday 19th December andon Wednesday 21st December; children are invited to wear warm pyjamas for our film day with treats.
Heart shaped Christmas Greeting Message from School Council
Living out our Catholic Mission –School Council have asked could we help save our planet by sending in one Christmas heart wish, which Missio will hang on our Christmas tree for the whole school to see. Celebrating diversity, you are welcome to write wishes in your home language, Welsh or English. The more languages our pupil see, the richer the experience.
Working with our community- Pre School sessions Come along and bring your friend- all welcome.
| Activity | Time | |
| Monday | Baby Sensory Music | 1:15 – 2:30 |
| Friday | Pre School Language and Play | 1:15 – 2:30 |
It is looking like a very exciting end of term! Ms Beaumont
St. Joseph’s Infant School
Pupil Development Grant (PDG) Strategy Statement
This statement details our school’s use of the PDG for the 2022 to 2023 academic year.
It outlines our strategy, how we intend to spend the funding in this academic year and the effect that last year’s spending had within our school.
School Overview
| Number of pupils in school | Full time 110, Part Time 20 Full time equivalent 120 |
| Proportion (%) of PDG eligible pupils | 38% as of January PLASC |
| Date this statement was published | October 2022 |
| Date on which it will be reviewed | October 2023 |
| Statement authorised by | Headteacher- Mrs Julie Beaumont Rees & Governing Body |
| PDG Lead | Deputy Headteacher – Mrs Sarah Turner |
| Governor Lead | Chair of Governors – Miss Teresa Welsh |
Funding Overview
| Detail | Amount |
| PDG funding allocation this academic year | £26,450 |
| Early Years PDG | £26,450 |
| Total budget for this academic year | £52,900 |
Part A: Strategy Plan
| As our children grow throughout their time at St Joseph’s Infant School, we aim to build independence, resilience and resourcefulness among learners to provide them with the skills required to solve problems and make decisions now and in the future. Through our concept/theme-based approach, we aim to foster a curiosity and love for learning in our children, ensuring that they are equipped with the knowledge, skills and dispositions for future challenges as lifelong learners in a rapidly changing world. All pupils to make progress in Literacy, Numeracy and thinking skills. Curriculum and provision is equitable and inclusive. Use of the Pupil Development Grant supports these aims to be inclusive for all children and increase opportunities for additional learning opportunities, increase their wellbeing and enable inclusion in experiences inside and outside of the classroom. |
This explains the outcomes we are aiming for by the end of our current strategy plan, and how we will measure whether they have been achieved.
| Target | Success criteria |
| To develop children’s understanding of the language of learning and higher order thinking skills | |
| To develop and successfully implement ALN reform within the school. | |
| To increase range and participation in Collective Worship. | |
| To improve the spelling, grammar and handwriting within children’s writing (Read Write Inc) |
Activity in this academic year
This details how we intend to spend our PDG this academic year to address the challenges listed above.
(1)Learning and Teaching
Budgeted cost:
Teaching Assistant- (L2) 27.5hrs per week £16,903.00
| (1)Activity | Evidence that supports this approach |
| To meet the language needs of e-f pupils as identified in assessment, through effective delivery and monitoring of specific literacy based interventions | Following Covid younger children have lower language skills than previously and need re-enforcement of speech, language, phonics and reading skills to have a positive impact on reading skills. |
(2)Wider strategies
Budgeted cost:
Teaching Assistant – (L2) 18.5 hrs per week £14,023.00
Teaching Assistant (HL) 37hrs per week £30,963.00
| (2)Activity – wider strategies | Evidence that supports this approach |
| Fund a team of highly qualified and well-motivated of 2 TA’s to provide bespoke or small group support to pupils who require health and wellbeing support through a range of approaches – Play therapy, Emotional Literacy Support Assistants, Smart Moves, Sensory Circuits. | The school has seen a significant increase in the overall Wellbeing of a number of pupils. Programmes which have been successful have been re-introduced and more staff have been trained to deliver and support more children. |
| (3)Budgeted Cost | £2,664.00 £2,664.00 |
| (3)Community Engagement for pre school: Half Day Language and Play 1 x TA L4 for 3hrs a week, 39 weeks Half Day Baby Sensory 1 x TA L4 for 3hrs a week, 39 weeks | School self-evaluation and listening to parental surveys highlights the importance of our school as a learning community and the potential importance of our impact on early childhood experiences. |
| (4)Budgeted Cost | £250.00 £1,700.00 |
| Community Engagement Extra Curricular After school ballet club Camera Club | In line with New Curriculum for Wales, we are Embedding 4 Core Purposes, setting aspirational goals, supporting pupil well- being through the provision of a range of After school activities |
Total budgeted cost: £69,167
Total Grant Allocation: £52,000
Externally provided programmes
Please include the names of any programmes that you purchased in the previous academic year. This will help us identify which ones are popular in Wales.
| Programme | Provider |
| Read, Write, inc. | In school |
| Inspirational Ballet for Under 7- | Madam Eleanor |
| Camera Club | Jack Moyse |