On behalf of the staff and governors

'Welcome to Alton Infant School'

As a Rights Respecting School we believe that:

           A message from our Headteacher.

                                                                                                                                                                              

It is a great privilege to welcome you to the new school year at Alton Infant School.  

As I begin my journey as Headteacher, I feel incredibly fortunate to be joining such a special school and such a wonderful community. I am excited to get to know our children, families and our staff and to work together to ensure that Alton Infant School continues to be a place where children are happy, safe, successful and proud to belong.

At the heart of everything we do is a simple belief: every child matters, every child can learn and every child deserves the opportunity to be the very best they can be.

As a Rights Respecting School, we are guided by the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child. Article 28 reminds us that every child has the right to an education and that primary education must be free. It also reminds us that discipline in schools must respect children's dignity. Article 29 tells us that education should develop every child's personality, talents and abilities to the full.

These rights beautifully reflect what we want for every child at Alton Infant School.

We want our children to develop academically, but we also want them to grow as kind, confident, resilient, curious and compassionate young people. We want them to discover what they are good at, develop their talents, find things they love and have the confidence to try things that might feel difficult.

We know that children do not all learn or grow in exactly the same way. Every child is unique, with their own personalities, interests, strengths and talents. Our role is to know each child well, recognise their potential and provide the encouragement, challenge and support they need to flourish.

We want children to love coming to school. We want them to feel known, valued and listened to. We want them to feel safe enough to make mistakes, brave enough to take risks and confident enough to say 'I can have a go'.

Our expectations will be high because we believe that children deserve adults who believe in them. We will provide excellent teaching and learning alongside a broad, exciting and memorable curriculum. We will nuture independence, curiosity and a love of learning, while helping children develop the skills they need to succeed both in school and beyond.

But education is about much more than what happens in the classroom.

We want our children to understand the importance of kindness, respect and responsibility. We want them to listen to others, celebrate difference, care for their community and understand that their actions can make a difference to the people around them. As a Rights Respecting School, we will continue to help children understand not only their own rights, but also their responsibility to respect the rights of others.

I also believe strongly in the importance of partnership. The very best education happens when school and home work together. We want our families to feel welcomed, listened to and valued. Your knowledge of your child is incredibly important to us, and we look forward to building strong relationships with you and working together to support your child to thrive.

As we begin this new school year, I would like us to remember that children are constantly growing and developing. Some days will bring wonderful successes; other days will bring challenges. That is all part of learning.

Our job is to provide the encouragement, care and opportunities that allow every child to grow in confidence, knowledge, independence and character.

Every child has the right to an education. Every child has the right to develop their talents and abilities to the full. And every child deserves to feel that they belong.

That is the school I am proud to lead, and I am looking forward to working with our wonderful staff, children and families to continue making Alton Infant School a place where children feel happy, feel safe, love learning and believe in what they can achieve.

I am very much looking forward to getting to meet you, getting to know you and your children and to sharing the many exciting moments that the year ahead will bring.

Here's to a wonderful year of learning, growing and belonging together.

Warmest wishes,

Stacey Serdet, Headteacher