Welcome to our TILT news page. Here you will find out what has been happening within our TILT family of schools - don't forget to take a look at our Trust Newsletters page for further information. We are incredibly proud of The Island Learning Trust community and are committed to sharing with you our exciting news and events as they happen.

• Ahoy there! Minster create and record their very own sea shanty...

  Wed 30 Jun 2021

  Minster-in-Sheppey Primary school have continued to celebrate their commitment to the arts following their recent Artsmark award by undertaking an exciting project with their Year 6 pupils.

   

  The project was devised by Theatre 31 and Paper Balloon Theatre and their professional artists, to write and perform an original sea shanty highlighting Sheppey's long established maritime heritage.

   

  Over the course of 4 weeks, the pupils brainstormed and shared ideas for their shanty working with award-winning composer Darren Clark who took their ideas, helped them produce their song and make a music video.

   

  Our pupils had an amazing time and thoroughly enjoyed the experience! Here are some of their comments:

   

  Polly Mills, Year 6 pupil commented, "I loved writing and making my own song by brainstorming ideas and Darren turning them into verses on his guitar."

   

  Rhianna Roynolds, Year 6 shared, "I loved the freestyle dancing and seeing everyone's flips and tricks!"

   

  Charlie Page in Year 6 added, "I liked the dancing with a group and learning the dance."

   

  Mr Jeffery, Year 6 teacher who participated in the project said, "The artists had a very clear vision and made each session enjoyable and exciting for their pupils."

   

   

  

• And the Sunny Bank 4.4 million pound building project is underway!

  Thu 24 Jun 2021

  The Island Learning Trust are pleased to announce building has started at Sunny Bank - just what our children, families and community need and deserve! A school for the future: a beautiful building, exciting, engaging curriculum, the highest standards of teaching and learning. The future is bright at Sunny Bank and the sky is the limit! Here are some of the pictures so far...we will keep you updated of the exciting progress as it happens.

  

• Halfway Houses achieves the Primary Science Quality Mark...

  Thu 24 Jun 2021

  Halfway Houses are pleased to announce that they have recently been awarded the Primary Science Quality Mark, celebrating their commitment to excellence in science teaching and learning. The Primary School Quality Mark programme ensures effective leadership of science and enables schools to work together to share good practice. It is supported by professional development, led by local experts. It encourages teacher autonomy and innovation while at the same time, offering a clear framework for development in science leadership, teaching and learning. The Primary Science Quality Mark is led by the University of Hertfordshire, School of Education in collaboration with the Primary Science Teaching Trust.

  

• TILT purchases Clicker 8 software to support pupil's learning...

  Wed 02 Jun 2021

  The Island Learning Trust have recently purchased Clicker 8 software (a child friendly word processor) for all of its schools: Minster in Sheppey, Sunny Bank and Halfway Houses. Clicker 8 can also be used free at home for particular chilldren, agreed in conjunction with the school's SENDCo. Progress is already evident following its implementation and one Halfway Houses parent has kindly made a video to explain to others how to download it, which is shown on their website. Mum, Danielle Breaker explains:

   

  "Jesse absolutely loves clicker 8 and we have found learning a lot easier. Jesse struggles with paper based learning, has always found learning on computers easier and has a better understanding of it. 

   

  It also helps that computer based learning is more interactive than paper based learning. Not only has it helped him understand the work more, he is also enjoying learning a lot more. 

   

  There are a huge variety of learning resources, over 2500 including English, Maths and Science. It allows you to filter by subject and age range so Jesse can learn at a comfortable level for him for the subjects he enjoys most, or even take extra time on the ones he is struggling with."

  

• National Numeracy Day at Sunny Bank...

  Wed 26 May 2021

  On the 19th May, Sunny Bank celebrated National Numeracy Day with a fun-packed day of maths activities - they had codes to break, maths trails to follow around school and even wrote about maths in their English lessons! Pupils enjoyed a non-uniform day and came to school wearing numbers on their clothes.

   

  Pupils also entered a competition about how maths is used in jobs and the teachers were given the challenge to go without using any numbers the whole day, which was tricky, but they did exceptionally well! Well done to Miss Turner, who was the best at this, so she won a prize and her class won maths prizes too!

   

  Overall, a great day was had by all.

   

  Numbers, numbers everywhere!

  

• Mental Health Awareness Week at Minster...

  Mon 17 May 2021

  Last week, to mark Mental Health Awareness Week, staff and pupils at Minster dedicated the week to exploring the importance of positive mental health and wellbeing.

   

  Developing and supporting mental health is already a key component of the school's ethos and values and this year's Mental Health Awareness Week theme of connecting with nature, was definitely one which the school wished to celebrate. The school already has an embedded culture of using local environments and include Forest and Beach Schools as part of their curriculum offer. Many classes are currently raising chicks, ducklings and guinea fowl which will join the school's other feathered and furry animals who live on the school grounds.

   

  Across the school, pupils took part in Walk and Talk Wednesday. Did you know research suggests that 45% of us use walking as a coping strategy? Pupils were able to enjoy the lovely sunshine and connect with their peers to discuss their own approaches to wellbeing.

   

  Co-Heads of School, Lynne Lewis and Michelle Jeffery, said "As a school, we recognise how important it is for our pupils to connect with nature as it develops a sense of wonder and supports creativity. However, connecting with nature also supports emotional wellbeing, self-regulation and physical development, all of which help our pupils to thrive."

   

  A range of activities were enjoyed across the week including:

   

  Year 1 pupils using the storybook 'The Colour Monster' to help them recognise and talk about feelings

   

  Year 2 pupils created hedgehogs using natural materials

   

  Year 3 undertook a range of activities exploring different feelings and emotions

   

  Years 4 and 5 enjoyed nature walks

   

  Year 6 pupils focused on strategies to support their mental health

   

   

  

• Minster takes part in the Captain Sir Tom Moore Challenge...

  Fri 07 May 2021

  On 30th April 2021, on what would have been Captain Sir Tom Moore's 101st birthday, the pupils and staff at Minster in Sheppey Primary School held a fundraising event in support of the Captain Tom 100 challenge.

   

  The late veteran's family set the nation a challenge of creating their own challenge themed around the number 100 to raise money for charity. This challenge was eagerly accepted by the school and the school community decided to collectively walk 100 laps of the school.

   

  Polly, Minster School's pupil Prime Minister said, "He was a good man who did many positive things for us. It is sad he's passed away and we should do good things for others and support the cause."

   

  The school as always is incredibly grateful for the support they receive from their families and are pleased to announce almost £500 was raised and will be donated to the Captain Tom Moore Foundation.

  

• Halfway Houses have some new additions...

  Fri 07 May 2021

  Halfway Houses are excited to be welcoming their newest members of the Halfway community - in the shape of 6 hens! They arrived happily and settled quickly into their new home. Halfway have worked hard to ensure the hens have a very comfortable environment with a safe place overnight and a pen to explore during the day. They have already produced plenty of eggs, which are being shared among the community!

   

  Some of the children have met the hens and they will become an integral part of school life, with the children helping to look after them and collect their eggs on a daily basis. 

   

  Halfway have future plans for more animals to enhance the education they already have to offer their pupils and to ensure the children receive as many different experiences as possible.

  

• Sunny Bank achieves a National Online Safety Accreditation...

  Wed 28 Apr 2021

  We are pleased to announce that Sunny Bank Primary School has recently received a National Online Safety Certified School Accreditation! National Online Safety, is a multi-award winning digital training provider with extensive resources in online safety, developed in line with the Department of Education's statutory requirements.

   

  In order to achieve this status, the school ensured that the lessons provided were taught to children in all their classes. Teachers, Teaching Assistants, the Well-being Team, Governors and parents also completed webinars and a range of courses.

   

  Sarah Riggs, Assistant Head at Sunny Bank said, "Although we have now received the accreditation, we will continue to ensure that these very important messages are reinforced each and every term."

   

  Well done Sunny Bank!

  

• Nominate a Neighbour Award for a Halfway teacher...

  Fri 26 Mar 2021

  Well thankfully schools are open again now and it's been really wonderful to welcome the children back into their classes once again! During lockdown, school staff continued to teach and interact with our pupils in some rather creative ways...

   

  Mrs Johnson, one of our Year 1 teachers, didn't want the pupils to miss out on the joy of reading so she very kindly held a Bedtime Story session every night via Zoom during lockdown where she read the children a different story at 7pm.

   

  This was well received by her pupils and their families, who decided to nominate her for a Nominate a Neighbour award. Nicola won and was kindly presented with a wonderful afternoon tea treat. Well done Nicola, enjoy!

   

  Nicola Johnson, Year 1 teacher at Halfway Houses Primary School receives her award