Why choose Thistle Hill Academy?
At Thistle Hill Academy, we are always ready to learn. Our vision is to make stars out of every child and help them to shine in their own unique way. We will achieve this by adopting the following values – Supportive, Togetherness, Ambition, Respect and Success – in collaboration with our community.
At Thistle Hill we are all STARS!
- We support our friends
- We show each other we care
- We help others when they need it
- We strive to be complimentary
- We show empathy and put ourselves in the shoes of others
- Working as a team
- Listening to others
- Showing the best of ourselves in our Community
- Building a strong school community with our parents and neighbours
- Doing what you think you can’t
- Encouraging other to achieve
- Believing in ourselves
- Wanting the best for ourselves, families and our community
- Reaching for the stars!
R- ready
E- empathy
S- support
P- patience
E- equal
C- caring
T- together!
If we support each other in a way that brings us together and allows us to have ambition. while showing respect to those around us!
This is SUCCESS!
An engaging Curriculum that prepares children for the future
Our thematic creative curriculum challenges our children to be well informed, critical and creative. Enriched through powerful experiences, children are inspired to produce their own personal and meaningful responses so their learning stays with them for the rest of their lives.
Our thematic creative curriculum prepares our children for the future by providing them with a well-rounded education that incorporates a variety of teaching methods and learning experiences that are engaging and meaningful to children.
These experiences can take many forms, including hands-on activities, school trips, learning projects, and visitors to the school, all of which can provide children with the insights, knowledge, and hands-on experiences that are related to the subject matter they are studying.
Learning through themed topics and experiences helps to make learning more interesting and relevant to our children, and can foster their curiosity and enthusiasm for learning, which ultimately can deepen their understanding and help them to retain information over the long term.
A modern approach to teaching and learning
Most other schools teach children by direct instruction – where the teacher stands in front of a classroom, presents information and then gives the children a task to complete.
We believe that in order to provide our children with an education fit for the 21st century, teaching by direct instruction should only form a part of our children’s learning experience.
Instead, our teachers focus on teaching using more flexible, interactive and personalised methods that allow children to become more involved in the learning process and develop the collaboration, communication and creativity skills that our children will require to thrive in our modern society.
It’s important to understand the difference between passive and interactive teaching methods.
Passive teaching is a way of teaching where the teacher presents information to children that requires little to no active participation from the class. This method is good for teaching basic skills and knowledge, but it’s not always the best way to teach, because it doesn’t always help students think for themselves or solve problems.
In contrast, interactive teaching is designed to engage children and encourage them to participate in their own learning. These methods often involve hands-on activities, group work, and problem-solving tasks that require children to think critically and independently.
To prepare our children for the challenges of the 21st century, we promote the use of interactive teaching to help our children develop the skills they need to succeed in a rapidly changing world.
Purposeful integration of technology
Our children have access to a variety of technology to use in their learning such as green screen recording, QR codes, video recording, 3D world builders, audio recording and much, much more!
This technology is readily accessible in the classroom to allow children to produce highly personal and powerful responses to tasks through joyful and memorable experiences.
For example, children may take advantage of a green screen to produce a video response to a topic or even use Minecraft to demonstrate their learning in an interactive, online world!
Many schools today have access to technology in their learning environments. While technology can be a valuable tool for education, it is important that it is used in the right way. If a teacher simply uses technology for the sake of using it, without considering how it can support learning, it can be a distraction for children and be less effective at achieving the desired learning objective.
At our school, we use technology in our classrooms with purpose. We view technology as a tool that we can use to enhance and support the learning process in a way that is intentional, relevant, and designed to achieve specific goals. We carefully plan and implement the use of technology to engage and motivate our children, facilitate collaboration and communication, provide them access to a wealth of information and resources, and support a variety of learning styles and needs.
We believe that using technology in this way can greatly benefit our children’s learning experiences, and we are committed to using it in a responsible and effective way.
A child-centred, collaborative environment
In traditional classrooms, children are sat at front-facing desks and for the most part, do not move from that space all day.
In our child-centred classrooms, children are able to take advantage of our flexible classroom furniture to move around the class to suit the current learning activity. This gives children more opportunities to work with others, be social or work independently.
In our child-centred classrooms, the emphasis is on child-led learning and the development of critical thinking skills rather than learning through direct instruction and memorisation. Our teachers facilitate and support learning instead of transmitting information directly to the children and expecting them to learn from it.
In addition to traditional desks and chairs, in our child-centred classrooms, we use flexible seating to enhance the learning experience by allowing children to choose the seating arrangement that works best for them. This means the classroom environment can support different learning styles and needs.
For example, some children may prefer to sit on a comfortable beanbag chair, while others may prefer to stand at a standing desk. By providing a range of seating options, our teachers can accommodate the individual preferences and needs of their children, which can help them to be more engaged and focused in the classroom.
A caring, supportive and responsive EYFS
Our Early Years environment is caring, supportive and responsive to children’s individual needs. We allow our children to play and explore with a particular focus on the outdoor environment.
Playing outside gives children first-hand contact with weather, seasons, and the natural world, and outdoor environments offer children freedom to explore, use their senses, and be physically active and curious.
Playing outside is important for children’s overall development, as it provides a wide range of physical, social, emotional, and cognitive benefits. Here are four reasons why using the outdoor environment is important in the early years:
Physical development: Playing outside helps children to develop their gross motor skills, such as running, jumping, and climbing, as well as their fine motor skills, such as grasping and manipulating small objects.
Social development: Exploring the outdoor environment gives children the opportunity to interact with their peers and develop social skills, such as cooperation, communication, and conflict resolution.
Emotional development: Being outside can help children to feel calm, happy, and connected to nature, which can improve their emotional well-being.
Cognitive development: Outdoor play can also support children’s cognitive development, as it provides opportunities for exploration, discovery, and problem-solving.
A smooth transition from EYFS to KS1
We believe that expecting our 5-year-old children to settle down to formal lessons as soon as they move into Year 1 is wrong.
We passionately believe that young children learn best through play and exploration and therefore follow a ‘Continuous Provision’ method to ensure that children experience a smooth transition into more formal teaching.
This results in happier, more engaged children, who are able to develop a lifelong love of learning.
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Modern facilities
Our school grounds and buildings are large, modern and clean – fit for a 21st century education!
Wrap-around care
We recognise the importance of providing childcare options to assist working parents.
Thistle Hill Academy is open from 7:30am – 6:00pm Monday to Friday.
As well as our Breakfast Club and After School Club, we offer a range of free Extra-Curricular Clubs every term that children can take part in after school.
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A fully inclusive environment
We are committed to provide equal educational opportunities to all children, regardless of their abilities, backgrounds, or experiences.
Our classrooms are inclusive and recognise and value the diversity of children and create a learning environment where all pupils feel supported, valued, and challenged.
We use a variety of teaching methods and materials that cater to the diverse learning needs of children. This can include using visual aids, hands-on activities, and technology to help students understand and engage with the material.
By fostering a positive, supportive, and inclusive learning environment, inclusive classrooms help children develop the skills and knowledge they need to succeed in school and beyond.
We are committed to delivering a fully inclusive environment by providing equitable opportunities for all. Our approach is underpinned by our core values of collaboration, inclusion, ambition, innovation and nurture.
We believe that all children have the right to succeed and we aim to meet the individual needs of our pupils at all times. There will be no barriers to achievement within our learning community and our teachers will build strong relationships to facilitate the learning of all. We hold the same expectations for pupils with special educational needs and/ or disabilities (SEND) as for those without but remain fully aware that some children require a different approach in order to achieve success.
- Adaptations are made to teaching to enable us to deliver personalised learning that is tailored to meet academic, social and wellbeing needs
- Through the innovative use of digital technology, we will create a level playing field for all children, irrespective of their language skills, reading ability or any other factors that may present learning challenges
- Our schools are flexible learning environments that are tailored to equip all children with the skills needed for the 21st century
- We are able to provide a wide range of interventions and strategies which will minimise barriers to learning in an engaging way that is fun and simulating
- Child voice is an integral part of decision making
- We have a joined-up approach to supporting the success of every child which is built on working collaboratively with families, with expertise within The Stour Academy Trust and with outside agencies
For full, detailed information about our support for children with SEND please view our SEN Policy and SEN Information Report on our policies page.
We follow the Mainstream Core Standards. This Kent guidance outlines support for children with SEND.
Mainstream Core Standards Guide For Parents
Further information about services and opportunities for children with SEND is outlined in the Kent Local Offer.
www.kent.gov.uk/education-and-children/special-educational-needs
Click here for the latest Kent SEND newsletter for families:-
Support and advice is also available from IASK.
View our SEN Policy and SEN Information Report on our policies page.
Thistle Hill Academy has a Specialist Resource Provision (SRP).
The SRP, known in school as Bear Class, is a small class of 14 children (at maximum capacity) and is dedicated to providing support for children with Education and Health Care Plans, with a primary need type of Autism. The aim of the SRP is to support successful reintegration back into the mainstream classroom.
A commitment to well-being
We prepare children to succeed in their personal and professional lives by nurturing both their thinking and social-emotional skills.
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A smooth transition to Reception
Do you want to help your child’s transition into their first year at school?
We run sessions every week to help familiarise children of pre-school age with our school.
- Have the chance to meet the Headteacher and EYFS team
- Become familiar with the school setting
- Increase your confidence and understanding of school life
- Enjoy a story or fun activity with your children
- Younger siblings welcome
Memorable residential trips
All children are given the opportunity to attend memorable residential trips in Year 4 and Year 6.
Part of a transformative Multi Academy Trust
Thistle Hill Academy is a school in The Stour Academy Trust, a Multi Academy Trust of 8 Primary Schools across Kent.
The Stour Academy Trust has set out to transform schools to better prepare our young people for the 21st century.
