Welcome from Mr McKelvey our headteacher

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Hello, and welcome to Anstey First School. We are proud to welcome you to our site, and we know you will see why we love our school! 

Our aim here is to ensure our children are respectful, responsible and resilient members of our community, prepared well for their next stage of education. Our whole team strives to do this every day, whether in the classroom, in the playground or in the wider community. 

The school site is beautifully nestled within the Hertfordshire countryside, and we take full advantage of our surroundings! The mature grounds give us access to nature to explore and observe through the seasons, sketch and paint. We enjoy story times and play times in the shade of the trees when weather permits. Our outdoor facilities are excellent: an outside classroom (“The Cabin”), a dedicated area for outdoor exploration with a mud kitchen and potion station, impressive wooden trim trail equipment, two climbing challenges and raised gardening beds. 

On Friday mornings all children will pull on their wellies and go further afield for Outdoor Adventures! This might be in our magical Anstey Hollow, with reading circle and wildlife to explore, or to some of the neighbouring fields and woods to observe seasonal changes and habitats. We learn about trees and animals that live in them, maps and wayfinding, and look forward to bushcraft and survival skills in the summer term! 

We teach children of all abilities between 2 and 9 years of age from Anstey, Buntingford and the neighbouring Hertfordshire villages. We are proud to be part of the Buntingford and Rib Valley 3-tier group of schools. We work closely with all levels of this special partnership, which supports children to find the school with the right fit for them as they transition from first school to the middle schools and Freman college in our local 3-tier education system. Good pastoral and SEND support across the schools ensures that the children in our Buntingford and Rib Valley 3-tier system are cared for as they transition - all the way from pre-school to prom! 

We are a true village school, and our children enjoy small class sizes, where they will be nurtured and known well by all adults in the school. Our enquiry-based curriculum has been thoughtfully designed and prepared to encourage children’s natural curiosity. Enviable pupil ratios mean that children receive 1:1 feedback and tuition from teachers to make sure that they are making the progress they need. We are proud that children leave Anstey as thoughtful and inquisitive citizens, always ready and eager to tackle their next challenge.  

We organise trips, visits and themed days to give pupils access to learning opportunities and cultural experiences beyond the national curriculum. Some highlights from last year include trips to the Fitzwilliam Museum in Cambridge, the Beam Theatre in Hertford, Mountfitchet Castle, a Viking Day of historical role play and learning, and our hugely successful Art Exhibition in Anstey Village Hall! 

 

I hope that our website gives you a flavour of what our wonderful school has to offer and the many events that run during the year, but it is no substitute for a visit where you can see the school in action. Visitors are always very welcome by making an appointment with the school office.

We hope to see you soon!

 

Mr McKelvey

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