Gross Motor Skills

13th January 2021Mr Barnes

What are Gross Motor Skills?

  • Gross motor skills involve movements of the large muscles of the arms, legs, and torso.
  • Children need to use their gross motor skills for everyday activities at school, at home and in the community.
  • Children who struggle with gross motor skills have trouble doing whole-body movements like climbing and star jumps.

Why is it important?

Gross motor skills are linked to many other key aspects of development:

  • Balance
  • Coordination
  • Body awareness
  • Physical strength
  • Reaction time

All of these abilities help children participate successfully in activities at school, at home, and in the community. Linked gross motor skill development can have an additional impact on self-esteem and self-worth.

What is The Beacon Centre doing to help?

Both Beacon Primary and Beacon Secondary have put in place resources and activities to aid in the development of Gross Motor Skills in children and young people in our care. For instance at Beacon Secondary, weekly activities which involve balance, strength building and physical exercise are all designed to include elements are gross motor skill development.

At Beacon Primary, daily gross motor skill activities are set up to help the younger children to continue with the early stages of gross motor skill development. This includes obstacle courses, activities which focus on balance, dancing and co-ordinated playground play.

New Staff – Lyla

11th January 2021Mr Barnes

For those of you who don’t know. Beacon Primary has a new member of staff! Lyla!

Lyla is a 5 month old Cockapoo.

Lyla is here to help calm the children when they are upset and for them to read too. Children and staff love to take Lyla out for walks and to have her in class to see what the children are doing throughout the day.

  • Lyla is very excited to start work!
  • She even has her own One Page Profile
  • Lyla loves to listen to children read
  • but it has always made her sleepy.
  • Sometimes Lyla likes to dress up,
  • she hopes that you will enjoy reading about her adventures.

Primary Class 1 (and Lyla) – Lockdown

11th January 2021Mr Barnes

Class 1 has a new theme for this half term, Space!

The class will be looking at all manner of things to do with Space, from the planets and solar system to both fiction and non-fictions books all about the great beyond.

In todays reading time, the class were very lucky to have Beacon Primary’s very own Lyla join them for their story. The story in question was How to Catch a Star by Oliver Jeffers.

Over the next few weeks the children will once again produce a huge amount of fantastic work for their classroom display, which I can’t wait to see and to be able to update you all with.

Well done Class 1! (and Lyla!)

Until next time…. It’s one small step for man….. One, giant leap for doggy kind!

Primary Class 2 – Lockdown

11th January 2021Mr Barnes

The children who are attending The Beacon Centre and are in Mr Popple’s class have begun their work on their new class topic.

This topic is Ancient Egypt! The children will be looking at all aspects of life in Ancient Egypt including its culture, geography and key events. They will be examining a range of non-fiction texts and producing some fabulous display work as always.

In this lesson the boys were looking at the key features of non-fiction texts, they were then able to list the features and talk about which ones they felt were the most important.

As always Mr Popple was on hand to help the boys with any issues they might have had.

Well done Class 2!

Thank you

5th January 2021Mr Barnes
Dear Parents / Carers,
We just wanted to send a message of thanks for all the support and patience you have shown over the last few months and especially in the last few days.
We are sure that the message from the Prime Minister has caused some concern amongst you. We would like to assure you that everyone at The Beacon Centre is working tirelessly to ensure a smooth transition to remote / online learning. We have learned a lot over the past few months and are ready to hit the ground running with our new curriculum offer for the next few weeks.
The lines of communication are always open with staff ready to answer any questions you may have.
Please do not hesitate to get in touch if you need any help or support.
Remember to regularly check Facebook, GoogleClassroom, Class Dojo and Youtube along with the school website for updates and work for your child.
Stay safe.
The Beacon Centre Staff.

Travel Guidance Reminder

5th January 2021Mr Barnes

Dear Parents / Carers,

Please review the guidance from Gov.uk – Coronavirus (COVID-19): safer travel guidance for passengers.

This guidance covers the rules of what can and cant be done in each tier of lockdown, whilst we are in a national lockdown, the rules from tier 4 apply to transport.

Thank you

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus-covid-19-safer-travel-guidance-for-passengers

Return to School Information

4th January 2021Neaera Warren

Monday 4th January 2020

Dear Parent / Carer

*Return to School *

Government set out its plans for children and young people to return to school after the Christmas break.

We have had to make a decision that for the remainder of this week, we are only open for pupils who have Education Health Care Plan, open to Social Care and Health services, parents who are Key Workers and those who are vulnerable.

Staff will be making phone calls to all pupils today.

At secondary we will be starting the testing of pupils and consent forms will be issued to parents/ carers

If you have any questions or worries please get in touch with us.

School Return – 5th January

31st December 2020Neaera Warren

Thursday 31st December 2020

Dear Parents / Carers,
I hope you have had a safe and enjoyable Christmas.
Since term ended for the Christmas break, there has been much activity from the Government and the Department for Education regarding issues such as a staggered return of students in January. After recent updated guidance I wanted to clarify what the arrangements were for your child at the Beacon Centre.
Monday 4th January has always been planned as an INSET day for staff, therefore school will be closed for ALL students, both at Primary and Secondary.
Our main intentions are to ensure your child’s education, health and wellbeing is protected whilst supporting you as much as possible. Therefore, both sites will be open as normal on Tuesday 5th January and you are encouraged to send your child as normal.
You will be contacted by your child’s tutor / class teacher on Monday 4th January to discuss the planned testing system in school.
Given the developing situation, we will communicate any changes to parents / carers as quickly as possible. Please contact school if you have any concerns or questions from Monday 4th January.
Again, many thanks for your support in 2020 and we all wish you a safe, happy and peaceful 2021.
Take care and best wishes,
Dominick Gray
Deputy Head Teacher

Awards and Prizes

18th December 2020Neaera Warren

Friday 18th December 2020

We are so proud of the students. Awards and prizes were given to the best pupils in each tutor group and for producing videos for our Primary pupils.
Well done to you all.