Developing the Whole Child

Dear Parents and Carers,

The purpose of the school’s mission / vision is to create confident young children who have been nurtured and inspired towards a bright future because of the commitment we make to them every day through high quality teaching.

Our focus this year will concentrate on developing the children’s ‘softer skills’ –  how to use a knife and fork properly, how to sit at table and the importance of good table manners, learning to manage and regulate behaviour, the importance of oral hygiene, the rules of etiquette, personal hygiene and organisation, self- discipline and respect, talking to adults correctly and knowing how to respond to situations appropriately.

Many of these skills are incredibly important and will help the children to take their place in the wider world once they leave Parkside. I will be leading a number of assemblies to introduce the skills to the children to help them understand why they are essential life skills. Teachers and support staff will continue to work with the children in class to help them embed their learning through structured activities.

The first essential skill that will introduced is – The Importance of Oral Hygiene. Often when I speak to children they tell me that they can’t remember the last time when they cleaned their teeth! Good oral hygiene is a key life skill and keeps bacteria under control. Children need to brush their teeth at least twice a day to prevent decay and the onset of further complications. Oral care is important for children’s health and well-being for a variety of reasons. Not only is the mouth vital for eating, drinking, taste, breathing, verbal and non-verbal communication, saliva also has antibacterial properties and is part of the body’s defence against infection. Please click on the link to read an important document about good oral hygiene.

I will write to you all again next week to share the next life skill we will be introducing to the children Until then please encourage your child to brush their teeth and to share with them the key features and information in the leaflet.

Top tips for teeth for Oral Health Aliance_ 01062021

Yours sincerely

Charles Soyka
Headteacher