Compliments & Feedback
2020-2021
- I just wanted to thank you both along with other members of staff and all the lovely year 4 children for welcoming X into Downsway school. X is very settled, he has made lots of friends and is finally enjoying going to school. He talks about school a lot and he is very proud of the progress he is making with his writing skills. (Thank you for the help you have given him with his writing). This is a very different X from the one I have been used to. Miss King the children in your class are kind, friendly and sound like a lot of fun! Thankyou Downsway – email send to Mrs Ayres and Miss King from a parent with a child which start in Year 4 in September 2020.
- Thank you for the updates. Great job. – email sent to the school office from a parent regarding information communicated with parents/carers about delayed start to school due to no water.
- Thank you so much for all of this, I feel overwhelmed at how supportive Downsway is, I really do appreciate all of this, I’m so lucky that my children go to a school that I can come a discuss anything! Thank you! – email sent to the school office from a parent following a meeting regarding their child.
- I just wanted to send a quick email to say thank you very much for taking the time to give me the lovely feedback about X today. It was so nice to hear about how he has been getting on with you and that you have seen him grow and develop since Foundation. Anyway, I just wanted to pass on my gratitude to you for taking the time - email sent to the school office from a parent to Miss Gale.
- With 2 full weeks back at school under their belts, I just felt the need to contact you and say how brilliant the school have been since X and X have returned. I know and appreciate how difficult it must be for you all in these unprecedented times and I'm so thankful to you all and the hardwork you're putting in to ensure Downsway manages to keep things as close to "normal " for the children as possible. With so much time away I didn't know how they would settle back in. But I needn't have worried because X is back in her favourite place loving learning new things. X has had a seamless transition into Foundation, although a couple of wobbles which I fully expected, but I have no doubt he has the best foundation team to guide him through. So big thankyou from the X family. I have 2 very happy children here. Keep up the great work - email sent to the school office from a parent regarding feedback about how their children have settled into school in Foundation Stage and Year 2.
- I just wanted to say “thank you”. The new approach to Times Tables Rock Stars has worked fab so far. X has asked to do it and being limited to just a few to learn has seen her confidence grow. It’s much less daunting that trying to practise them all. X is also looking forward to spelling shed. X has already been raving about getting house points and is always positive about Year 3. Recognition of effort works well for X. So thank you both for helping settle X in - email sent to the Year 3 team from a parent.
- Thank you for making X so welcome in Year 4. He has had a super 2 days so far and is enjoying making new friends. The children have been so kind to him. – Facebook comment from a parent on Downsway’s ‘welcome back’ Facebook post.
- Thank you to everyone for making the first day back for my two great – they loved being back! I appreciate just how hard it must be for you to keep things as normal as possible for the kids whilst figuring out the new ways of doing things, so well done – Facebook comment from a parent on Downsway’s ‘welcome back’ Facebook post.
- Thank you so much to you and your team for welcoming X today, he had such a lovely day. He has a great day. He told me he played Lego, there were dinosaurs, he drew a picture of X, saw X and X sang me your tidy up song! I was impressed that he told me anything at all, normally it’s just ‘nothing, I didn’t do anything!’ I’ve just looked at the photos on the website, it’s so nice to see what they were up to, thank you for sharing these. Thanks again. - email sent to the school office from a parent to Miss Rackley.
- Thank you so much, I can’t praise Downsway enough with how you’re helping X – email sent to Mr Edwards from a parent in regards to their child.
- I just wanted to say thank you for all your hard work this term. X, X and X have all settled back into school so well and seem so engaged in their learning. They are enjoying going to school and even though things aren’t ‘normal’ they don’t seem to have noticed! So, once again, thank you and enjoy the half term break – email sent to the Year 3, 4 and 6 teams from a parent.
- I wanted to thank you very much indeed for hosting both Jules and Stevie this term at Downsway. Both trainees have had such a positive experience and this has been reflected in a recent Term 5 progress report written by Mentors. Kyle, Jaime and Becky have been excellent Mentors over the course of the last 6 weeks. Weekly observations, mentor meetings and ongoing discussion and support have been rigorous. This culminated in a Term 5 report which has reached me in good time, with well-considered trainee strengths and areas for development highlighted. Thank you for facilitating both placements. We are delighted to have worked with Downsway again this term. – email sent to Mrs Ayres from Berkshire Teaching Alliance (BTA)
- I am too very proud of X’s reading. She amazes me at how well she progresses in this area. X loves school and really vocals about the praise she receives – email sent to Miss Rackley via the school office, from a parent.
- I am so grateful to Miss King, she is an amazing teacher and has helped X in so many ways, I feel she has not only supported X but myself with helping me aid X in the best way possible at home by giving us the tools to encourage him and this is the biggest change I have seen in him this year, she has made learning more fun and interesting to X and this is what has pushed him to get to where he is now. Downsway is such a great school and would recommend it to anyone, you care about each pupil and that is the best thing a parent could ask for. Thank you – email sent to Miss King via the school office, from a parent.
- Thank you so much for keeping us updated. Great comms – email sent via the school office from a parent regarding Year 1 bubble closure communication.
- Thank you for keeping our children safe at school and all your hard work to date of being Covid free. Amazing. I’m so incredibly proud of Downsway and think what an amazing school it is and feel so lucky to have my children both go here soon – email sent to the school office via a parent.
- The children have thoroughly enjoyed their time at Downsway and we have been delighted to see them develop, learn, make new friends and love every single day. Our family will miss a very special school which we're leaving with incredibly fond memories. We have taken the decision to relocate to our home country, Libya, where the kids will have an opportunity to experience life in a new environment, connect with family and become fluent in their mother tongue. Downsway has given our children a strong foundation. We would like to thank you Mrs Ayres and all the teachers and staff at Downsway for everything you've done for our family. We will miss you but will never forget you – email to the school office from a Downsway family leaving at the end of the academic year.
- The tour videos on your website are fantastic, they give a superb overview and it's wonderful to hear from your team members. My mother recently taught at Downsway covering PPA in Y3 and said what a vibrant and enriching small community feel the school has. It would be great to come and get a feel for the school in person if at all possible – email sent to school office from a prospective parent.
2019-2020
- Congratulations to both yourself and your staff on what we can only describe as an exemplary response to everything you and the entire school community have had thrown at us this last six months. Your regular communication, care for the community and the children’s overall wellbeing has been outstanding and we feel very lucky to have our family included in the Downsway community. – email sent to Mrs Ayres from a parent following school closure since March 2020.
- Thank you very much for your quick and very detailed response. This has certainly put a lot of our concerns at ease knowing your stance on the issues raised – email sent to Mrs Ayres from a parent who had questions regarding September 2020
- I just wanted to say thank you to each and every one of you for the help and support you have provided during the school year. Both my boys have had a wonderful time at school this year and even though it was cut short they have made some lovely memories. We are very lucky to have such a wonderful school community and your hard work is very much appreciated. – email sent to the school office from a parent at the end of the academic year.
- To Mrs Ayres and all the staff at Downsway. You’ve been amazing! Thank you so much for everything. Stay safe and have a lovely summer everyone – email to Mrs Ayres from a parent at the end of the academic year.
- A huge thank you from us for being with us all the way. You have gone above and beyond and especially with nobody knowing how things would be. Just know that all the work behind the scenes doesn’t go unnoticed. – email to Mrs Ayres from a parent at the end of the academic year.
- We would like to thank you and all the staff for guiding and supporting X through primary school. The team you have there is amazing and I know that X was sad to leave you all today. He’s faced some real challenges both in and out of school during his time with you and I will always remember the support that both X and X received from staff when they needed it. I knew that they were well looked after and always had someone to talk to if they needed to – email to Mrs Ayres from a parent with a Year 6 child, at the end of the academic year.
- X has really enjoyed her time within the bubble and being taught by you. Each time she’s come in to school, she has come home with lots of positive news and stories about her day! – email to Mr Edwards from a parent in his Foundation Stage bubble.
- I would also like to say a massive thank you to you, and Mrs Saunders for making his 2 days a week so much fun and keeping him safe. He comes home exhausted but full of stories of the day. It was a really hard decision to send him in, but I know now it was the right one, so thank you both very much. You two have been amazing with him! – email to Mr Edwards from a parent in his Foundation Stage bubble.
- Thank you Miss Rackley for the transitional material you sent through, it's such a difficult time for transition so we really appreciate all your efforts. X really enjoyed looking through the pictures and watching the videos. In fact he watched both videos about 4 times! He is very excited to start school and asked "why can't I start school already mummy because I am 4!" – email to Miss Rackley from a parent with a child starting Downsway in September 2020.
- I just want to thank you all for the amazing communication we have had. With everything that is going on, we have still felt so welcomed. X loves watching the videos and looking at the pictures that been sent. – email to Miss Rackley from a parent with a child starting Downsway in September 2020.
- Your communication has been incredible throughout this time. – email to Mrs Ayres from a parent towards the end of school closure.
- A big thank you from us for all the hard work and constant communication you have provided since lock down in March. You have worked so hard and it couldn’t have been easy for you. - email to Mrs Ayres from a parent towards the end of the academic year.
- I really hope you will get a chance to take a breath soon. You have been amazing through all of this and you have been massively appreciated by all. - email to Mrs Ayres from a parent towards the end of the academic year.
- Thank you so much for this. X was sooooo excited watching the videos and hearing about some of the things she will be doing – email sent to Miss Rackley from a parent regarding the Foundation Stage 2020 transition booklet and videos of Foundation Stage/staff.
- Thank you for sending these videos. X’s eyes lit up - email sent to Miss Rackley from a parent regarding the Foundation Stage 2020 videos of Foundation Stage/staff.
- I think Downsway is such an amazing school! It’s like a family and the staff are so friendly. I felt anxious to send him with the current situation but seeing how at ease he was and his smile from ear to ear and waving away through the class window I just knew I made the right choice.
You have kept in contact throughout with parents and always make us feel like we’re not alone.
I just want to say thank you – email sent to Mrs Ayres from a parent following their child returning to school during partial reopening of schools. - It has been a very difficult decision to make but thank you so much for all your support. You and all the staff at Downsway have been absolutely amazing which is why it was an even harder decision to make! I know X will be sad to go. Thank you for being the amazing teacher you are because you have played a huge part in ensuring X continues to have a great and supported journey for his future – email sent to Mr Edwards from a parent moving their child to special school.
- I just wanted to say a big thankyou to you and the teachers at Downsway for making X first week back to school such a good one. Mr Bolton and Mrs Holder were fab and after her first day back she couldn't stop smiling and talking about how fun her day was. X loves school anyway but coming back after 3 months away I was worried about how things would be for her. However, she breezed in without a care and came home wanting to go back ' for 100 days in a row'!! Thank you again! – email sent to Mrs Ayres from a parent following their child returning to school during partial reopening.
- Thank you so so much- that is amazing! I am extremely grateful that you and Mr Grover have put so much effort to support us. Very much appreciated! I’m super happy and can’t wait to receive the letters- he will definitely enjoy reading them! – email sent to Mrs Ayres from a parent following their child being reluctant to return to school during partial reopening.
- Thanks for a great couple of days, X has really enjoyed being back and has been so positive about his experience. Thanks so much! – email sent to Mr Grover from a parent regarding their child returning to school
- Thank you again for all your help in this matter. You all have been fabulous. – Email sent to Mrs Ayres and Mr Grover from a parent regarding an child anxious about returning.
- I just wanted to say a big thank you for the way you have supported us during lockdown although we’ve not had much contact It’s because you have kept us posted about each and every change straight away after each government announcement. I’ve spoken to numerous friends with children at other local primary schools and they haven’t had hardly any communication with there schools. You have been in contact every step of the way. I totally respected your decision not to open earlier and we are proud to be part of Downsway. I’ve always felt that the support has been there if we had have needed it, so thank you. Keep up the good work. – email sent to Mrs Ayres from a parent during lockdown.
- Thank you all for your hard work during this strange time and the updates and pictures are a lovely way to stay connected to the school. X and X love looking at them.Hope you are all safe and well and soon we can all return to normality – email sent to Mrs Ayres from a parent following the staff photo challenges sent to parents/carers.
- Please pass our our sincere thanks to Mrs Ayres and all the team at Downsway for the fantastic job that you've all been doing. Keeping in touch, keeping us informed and just making sure that we're all ok – email sent to the school office from a parent.
- X had a lovely 1st week, so thank you to you all! I just wanted to confirm his regular attendance going forward – email to Mrs Ayres from a parent following their child with an EHCP attending ‘keyworker’ bubble.
- Thank you so much for your lovely messages for X. She has been touched from it all. Me and her father are very pleased she is in such a good school with a great head teacher and staff members – email sent to Mrs Ayres from a parent following messages sent by Mrs Ayres and Miss Rackley prior to their child having an operation.
- Thank you for all the support over recent weeks and with the transition for my youngest in September – email sent to the school office from a parent following transition information for September 2020 Foundation Stage.
- We really appreciate everything that you and Miss King are doing to keep us going through this time. Please pass on our best wishes to all of the staff – email sent to Mrs Ayres from a parent.
- I wanted to say a massive thank you to you all for your continued support that has got us to this stage. I could not wish for a better school for James, you have all been amazing. – email from to the school office, Mr Edwards and Mrs Lloyd from a parent following a submission of an EHCP application.
- Hard decision, I totally salute your choice in these unprecedented times. Well done. – email to Mrs Ayres from a parent following the delayed reopening letter.
- The team are doing such a wonderful job with the children and we really appreciate it – email to the school office from a parent with children attending key worker provision.
- Thank you ever so much for your very helpful advice. It is greatly appreciated and has reassured and guided us. X has missed you very much. When her enthusiasm was low I asked her what was the matter and she said, "It's just not fun like Miss. Rackley". A great testament to your teaching skills! – email sent to Miss Rackley from a parent following some support she received during school closure.
- Thank you for your letter today. School has done so much for children. We greatly appreciate every Facebook post and email you send daily. Still laugh at every baby photo! Thank you for keeping us updated daily. And, thank you for what you have done for all of us from very early morning to late night every day – email sent to Mrs Ayres from a parent during school closure.
- Just want to say how much we appreciate your timely and helpful emails, you have been great at staying in touch and keeping us informed and we really value it – email sent to Mrs Ayres from a parent during school closure.
- We would like to thank you for being so supporting during the school closure. We have been so impressed with the suggestions being sent but with no pressure, it has certainly made the lockdown experience for the children, and us, so much more enjoyable. Thank you so much! - email sent to Mrs Ayres from a parent during school closure.
- I would just like to say a huge thankyou for all the emails that you have sent out with work ideas and the story time sessions with the teachers and most of all the brilliant videos. X has really enjoyed listening and watching them – email sent to Mrs Ayres from a parent following work ideas and videos which had been generated by staff.
- I would like to thank you for your response to this crisis; you have communicated openly and positively throughout, and your pragmatic approach to the reopening of the school. It has been greatly appreciated. Again, thank you for how you have handled this situation, and we look forward to X coming back to school and enjoying this new normal – email sent to Mrs Ayres from a parent following information about reopening.
- I would like to thank you and all the other teachers for the support which you have been giving in this awful pandemic – email sent to Mrs Ayres from a parent during school closure.
- Thank you for all the information you have sent to us. I have no concept of how difficult your job must be at the moment but you are doing a remarkable job of keeping all of us informed and reassured – email sent to Mrs Ayres from a parent during school closure.
- Thank you all for the support and hard work over this time, all the information you’ve been sending over has been a great help – email sent to Mrs Ayres from a parent during school closure.
- Thank you so much for your email. I really do appreciate it. I’m really hopeful with what you have suggested will help her. We will try some of things suggested this week. Again, thank you so much for your email and I will be in touch if we need anymore assistance – email sent to Mr Edwards from a parent, following some support/advice she received for her child.
- Just wanted to say that you are doing an absolutely amazing job, holding the fort together at school, lifting our spirits and keeping in touch with us all – email sent to Mrs Ayres from a parent during school closure.
- Thank you for the update. It is appreciated and an example of why we feel we made a great decision to select Downsway – email sent to Mrs Ayres from a parent following an update to parents regarding partial reopening.
- We are all so grateful for the time and care you are taking to send us all reassuring messages, resources and lots of fun things too. Downsway staff have been amazing and we feel so lucky to be part of the school. You have made us feel safe and calm which is all we need to feel right now – email sent to Mrs Ayres from a parent following information sent home to all parents/carers during school closure.
- We really appreciate all the schools that are helping look after the children so staff and ourselves can still go to work to help beat this awful virus and try and keep people safe – email sent to the school office from a parent with a child attending the keyworker provision.
- Thank you so much for all your updates on Facebook and emails...they are so supportive, helpful and brighten up our days. Once again thank you all for all your help and support! – email sent to Mrs Ayres from a parent during school closure.
- Unfortunately due to issues that came up I was unable to accept the offer. It was nothing thay Downsway couldn't offer, your school is marvellous from when I visited and all the emails I have received since. I hope to send a future child of mine to Downsway – email sent to Mrs Ayres from a parent which had a space allocated to their children in Foundation Stage for September 2020.
- We’ve just watched the video you all made, it brought a tear to my eye. It must have taken a lot of work to put it together and the result was brilliant! Thanks for the emails and other bits of communication it really helps – email sent to school office from a parent following the staff message video.
- Thank you all for that beautiful video! Rory and I watched it together. It made me cry and I know a few other mums did too – email sent to school office from a parent following the staff message video.
- The floodgates have been opened! You are all doing such an amazing job of keeping in touch with us – email sent to school office from a parent following the staff message video.
- Oh my goodness the video is beautiful and made me cry so much. This is why I’m so proud that my son gets to come your school. Everyone of the staff are just amazing and so kind and always thinking of the children – email sent to school office from a parent following the staff message video.
- I thought I would drop you both a quick email to say thank you for my time at Downsway. I was a TA at a mainstream school for a year and a half (a few years ago) and after that, I decided not to work in a mainstream school again, however after my experience at Downsway I have decided I could certainly teach in a mainstream school in the future. I found all staff within the school to be very supportive and there is a great community feel within the staff room. Mark, you have been great at pushing me towards my goals and you have spent hours of your time after school and have also, read into my Dyspraxia which people so rarely take the time to do. Katie, It has been great to be trusted to take over the class in Mark's absence and I am really happy you were able to trust me to do this so early in the placement – email sent to Mrs Ayres and Mr Bolton from a BTA student placement at Downsway in Year 2.
- Thank you for the tips and ideas on the Facebook page and your emails. It's nice to be able to keep a connection with school. We did the Spring Scavenger Hunt from the Facebook page on a walk today to get some exercise, so that was really helpful to make it more fun for X and his brother – email sent to Mrs Ayres from a parent during school closure.
- I would just like to say thank you for all the effort the school is putting in to make this difficult time easier for not only the children, but also the parents! It's been really reassuring to see the school posting on the facebook page and updating us through emails – email sent to the school office from a parent during school closure.
- I just to let you know you’re doing an amazing job at keeping us all informed and up to date. The letter you sent out was brilliant. We appreciate all your hard work during this awful time – email sent to Mrs Ayres from a parent during school closure.
- I wanted to say a personal thanks for the letter Mrs. Ayres released. This really meant a lot as covered the daily stresses we are seeing. It was brilliant to have the school confirming that what we are all trying to do is supported. - So just simply thank you – email sent to the school office from a parent during school closure.
- Thank you very much for the voucher, I really appreciate it. It will help a lot with the food shopping – email sent to Mrs Ayres from a parent following the setting up of the FSM food vouchers.
- Please say thank you to Mrs Ayres for that reassuring letter. It was really what we needed to hear. Thank you for being so encouraging – email sent to school office from a parent during school closure.
- This really is a brilliant school and this a very reassuring and comforting letter. Thank you so much for trying to keep us all sane – email sent to Mrs Ayres from a parent during school closure after letter was sent to all parents/carers.
- Just a quick note to say thanks for all the links you send out and the fab attitude the school has with the current situation. It feels refreshing compared to people I know with kids at different schools – email sent to Mrs Ayres from a parent during school closure.
- Thank you so much for another lovely supportive letter. They really are appreciated by us parents – email sent to the school office from a parent following information about schools closing.
- We would like to say a huge thank you to all the staff at Downsway...you have done really well at keeping the children informed but calm and you have handled this difficult situation brilliantly. When faced with the reality of school not being a daily part of our lives for a while, it has been brought home to us just what an amazing job you all do and how much we are going to miss being a part of such a wonderful school – email sent to the school office from a parent following information about schools closing.
- I just wanted to say thank you for how you have handled this incredibly challenging situation. I have been incredibly impressed by the timeliness and clarity of your communications over recent days and just wanted to acknowledge this. I lead an office of around 100 people in the UK and manage teams of people across Europe. The last couple of weeks have been unprecedented and I didn’t realise the emotional toll it was taking until I stopped last night. I can only imagine the pressures you and your team are under as you plan for the ongoing well-being of our children. Thank you for all you are doing, it really is appreciated – email sent to Mrs Ayres from a parent following information about schools closing.
- I really appreciate the communication from Downsway during this time. Thankyou very much. The books, worksheets, web page links, etc have all been very useful. Please pass on my thanks to the teachers – email sent to the school office from a parent following information about schools closing.
- School has done a marvellous job. Please thank every member of staff for us – email sent to the school office from a parent following information about schools closing.
- What a wonderful email, brings a tear or two to my eye. Thanks so much to Downsway for being amazing as always – email sent to the school office from a parent following information about schools closing.
- Thank you for all your support and hard work that you do for our children. You are the best and I want to thank you all for what you have done for X. Please be safe and healthy because our children love you – email sent to the school office from a parent following information about schools closing.
- I cannot thank you and he teachers enough for everything you have been, and still doing, through this very uncertain time. You all must be totally emotionally and physically exhausted so I want to thank you and all the teachers for still smiling every day this week like ‘business as usual’– email sent to the school office from a parent following information about schools closing.
- The school have been absolutely amazing and we can’t thank you enough for all that you do, we appreciate it can’t be easy and you are all finding it just as difficult as we are – email sent to the school office from a parent following information about schools closing.
- Dear Mrs Ayres and the wonderful Downsway staff, Thanks for keeping us updated. I would just like to offer our sincere gratitude and appreciation for all the hard work that you have, and continue to, put in during these testing times – email sent to the school office from a parent following information about schools closing.
- To the Downsway Team, thank you so much for all the communication and feedback during this very unsettling time. My children seem prepared for their time at home and your support has given me confidence that we can do this! The work packs that X, X & X have bought home are fantastic and I’m sure will be very useful in keeping their brains active in the weeks ahead. Times will be hard but thank you so much for your amazing work in such a short time frame. – email sent to the school office from a parent at the start of school closure.
- Having to run the school based on information changing daily must be enormously challenging, so thank you for holding it all together and being such a brilliant leader for the whole school, pupils and teachers. You’re hugely appreciated! There will be calm after the storm. – email sent to Mrs Ayres from a parent during the start of school closure.
- Just wanted to say thank you and well done for all the brilliant communication, information and resources during this difficult time. You guys have helped keep our children safe and in normal routine as much as possible. You are all amazing and we appreciate it very much – email sent to the school office from a parent during the start of school closure.
- Thank you for your constant support and best interest for the children. I’m so thankful to all the teachers and the amazing jobs they do each and every day helping our little ones learn. – email sent to Mrs Ayres from a parent following letter to parents/carers about school closure in March 2020.
- Please pass on our appreciation to Mr Grover for running this and giving up his time, after all he deserves a break and some family time – email sent to the school office from a parent regarding Mr Grover’s email about arranging a Year 6 booster session.
- I’d like to also say a very big and heart felt thank you to you and all the staff at Downsway for all the support that has been given to X. But also all the hard work you have put in for X’s EHCP, for which I am very grateful. – email sent to Mr Edwards from a parent with a child with SEND.
- Thank you to Mr Edwards and Mr Grover on listening to our concerns for X and the Isle of Wight trip next year, especially when it is so far ahead and discussing some preparation that can be done nearer the time. Thanks again for your understanding, time and support. – email sent to the school office from a parent with SEND following a meeting with Mr Edwards and Mr Grover regarding the Year 6 residential trip.
- Thanks for calling last week when they walked to me, I was touched by the care and concern. – email sent to Mrs Fox following telephone communication regarding how two siblings were getting home after school.
- Thank you for having us. Your school is so lovely! – email sent to Mrs Ayres from another senior leader at a local primary school following our School Peer Review.
- Thank you for making us feel so welcome. It was a pleasure to work with your staff and children. – email sent to Mrs Ayres from another senior leader at a local primary school following our School Peer Review.
- The trainees have been so complimentary about your training sessions and have said they'd love to have more! Massive thanks for your commitment to the BTA programme and for leading a range of well resourced, interactive and engaging sessions which, without exception, have had superb feedback from both the BTA and Downland cohorts. – email sent to Mr Grover from Berkshire Teacher Alliance following the maths training Mr Grover has delivered for them.
- Thank you for all the changes you have made for X. We really appreciate it and we have noticed a positive improvement last few weeks. Thank you again. – email sent to Mr Bolton from a parent following changes made to support the child.
- I wanted to say a massive THANK YOU to Miss King, Mrs Preston and yourself for yesterday.
It was an amazing experience and I couldn’t have been prouder. I watched the children have so much fun, with Miss King and Mrs Preston leading the way. It was also an extremely long day and all staff must have been exhausted, (the effort and care to organise alone and then the day/evening to flow so smoothly) .....Mrs Preston was still helping children (with the toilet) at 11pm with a smile on her face even though parents were on the coach too. The staff really showed their dedication. Thank you again and I really appreciate the experience X had been given. – email sent to Mrs Ayres from a parent following the O2 performance. - It was lovely to see the children enjoying themselves at the O2 and we are all super proud of what they achieved. You must have worked very hard to help the children learn the songs and dance moves, they were a credit to you last night. To hear and see 8500 odd children sing and dance in unison was spectacular and really moving. Whoever came up with the concept was a genius! We are looking forward to next year’s concert already and will be getting X signed up to the Choir as soon as possible as well. Thank you again for organising a great day. – email sent to Miss King from a parent following the O2 performance.
- A big thankyou for organising this event. What an amazing night. Lifetime experience for them to preform in O2! Not only the show was brilliant and also heard from X that the rehearsal was fun too. Also, thankyou for looking after Daisy whilst we were shopping & having a nice meal. With entertainment from lovely & happy children on coach, it made the long & boring coach journey fun! They did make us laugh! Thank you once again! – email sent to Mrs Ayres, Miss King and Mrs Preston from a parent following the O2 performance.
- Well done for leading such a successful team! – email sent to Mrs Ayres and Mrs Rackley from a parent regarding information about the netball league finals.
2018-2019
- 'Such a lovely sports day! Left with a couple of tears as it was X’s last sports day :( The children did so well and just goes to show what a lovely school Downsway is! (the determination all the children have to succeed no matter what!) So happy to be part of today it was lovely. Thank you.' – email sent to the office from a parent regarding sports day.
- 'Amazing work and thank you to all involved for sports day last Friday' - email sent to the office from a parent regarding sports day.
- 'Just wanted to drop you a quick line to thank you for arranging the four days that I spent at Downsway. I found it very useful and I had quite a lengthy chat with Richard which was extremely helpful. Please pass on my thanks to him and also Miss Rackley and Mrs Huntington' – email sent to Berkshire Teaching Alliance from potential applicant for teacher training, which was then forwarded onto the Headteacher.
- 'Thank you for everything you have done for X. She has come up in leaps & bounds in her first year at school. She will miss Miss Rackley when she moves on to year one' – email sent to the office from a parent regarding end of year school report.
- 'Please can you tell Mr Edwards that he is doing a great job. It was in fact the first time I have sat with someone at Downsway who saw more positives than negatives concerning X. He is a great credit to Downsway and I wish him all the best in the future' – email sent to the office following a SEND meeting with external professionals and Mr Edwards.
- 'Big thank you to Downsway, for bringing that out of X and teaching him so well. Have a great summer break.' – email sent to the office from a parent regarding end of year school report.
- 'Thank you all so much for making X's first year at Downsway so special. I'm really not sure how he has learnt anything as he seems to have so much fun. Thank you also for all of your patience when he first started and had a few issues going into class. And thank you for putting up with me and all my worries. You all do a wonderful job but seem to care so much for all of the individual children. I honestly don't know how you do it. Enjoy your summer.' – email sent to the office from a parent regarding end of year school report.
- 'Thank you for arranging for our visit today. We were very impressed by the facilities, teachers and pupils of Downsway School. We would like to thank Mrs Ayres for kindly showing us around and talking with us today, explaining how the process works and the schools activities and curriculum' – email sent to the office from a prospective parent tour.
- 'Just to say what a lovely email to receive! Very heart-warming as a parent to get to hear that! Many thanks. And much appreciated not just for the email but for all your hard work and positivity with the class' – email sent to the office regarding an email Mr Bolton had sent to parents about Year 2 in relation to their work and positive attitudes to their learning.
- 'Just a little bit of feedback - the app is amazing!' – email sent to the office regarding the finance payment app.
- 'I can’t think of anything else. You have put it together well. Can’t thank you all enough!' – email sent to the office after an SEND application was completed by Mr Edwards and Mr Grover.
- 'Just a little message to say that I attended the Stay & Play sessions this morning and it was brilliant. I will definitely be using on a weekly basis and think it’s amazing to get siblings used to the surroundings and meeting friends that they will start school with. The hub would be an amazing Pre-school - just putting it out there!' – email sent to the school office after a parent had attended the ‘stay and play’ session in The Hub.
2017-2018
- ‘Many thanks for a great series of Bikeability courses, so nice to get such a warm welcome and great hospitality from all the staff and students, it has been a real pleasure’ - Bikeability Instructors.
- We knew that you would receive this, it's so well deserved, and the school is well on the way to being outstanding! What a wonderful report for a fantastic school. I’m so pleased they have also recognised the transition of head teacher and the great start she has had in the school too. Well done to all the lovely Teachers and staff at Downsway, we know you are all fab and now this just proves it!’ - Parent regarding the Ofsted report/outcome.
- ‘Well done guys! A lovely inspection report with a great result’ - Parent regarding the Ofsted report/outcome.
- ‘We would like to thank you for all your kind attention and support regarding our child. Many thanks for being so nice to my son. There are no words…’ – Parent of a child leaving, due to moving to a school closer to where they live.
- ‘Just wanted to say how great all of the extra sporting activities are. My child had an amazing time at tag rugby yesterday & kept the kit on all day/night and said she would love to do it again. My child loves netball and all the tournaments and they both can’t wait to take part in the different cross country activities. Also the extra activities in P.E are brilliant. Thanks so much for all you do. We all love Downsway’ - Parent.
- ‘Just a quick note of thanks to you and everyone at school – especially the kids and class teachers for allowing us to come in and deliver our sporting sessions. All the coaches have said how much they like visiting the school and how good the kids are, which is a big change to some schools I can assure you - Sports Coach.