Kesteven & Sleaford High School Parent Portal

In our recent wellbeing survey, we explored with Years 7-10 their attitudes towards sleep and breakfast. The research tells us so much about the importance of sleep and to also having a good quality breakfast to start our day. We asked a number of questions and the answers revealed a lot about our young people.

We asked:- Research tells us that quality sleep is vital for learning. How many hours of sleep do you get on average each night?

Our students told us this:-

Another question we asked was the use of mobile phones later in the evening and we explained that the research tells us that using your mobile phone late in the evening or overnight can impact on the quality of sleep you receive.

We asked:- Do you use / have your mobile phone in the room where you sleep overnight?

Our students told us this:-

Did you know that sleep is interrupted by the use of mobile phones? The following links outline the importance of not using mobile phones / electronic devices and how they can disrupt sleep patterns. Also included in this newsletter is a link that outlines the importance of a well-balanced nutritious breakfast.

Sleep / mobile phones

Sleep is important for cognitive development and this article from the Sleep foundation explores the relationship between mobile phone use and sleep. The key takeaways are:-

Blue light from screens disrupts children’s sleep by disrupting their sleep-wake cycle.
Light sensitivity during adolescence greatly affects the production of sleep-inducing melatonin.
Sleep is crucial for children in school and excessive screen time can lead to symptoms of insomnia, difficulty staying asleep, and a lack of focus the next day.
Parents should set limits on screen time, lead by example, and communicate with their children about the importance of sleep.

How Does Blue Light Affect Children's Sleep? | Sleep Foundation

Breakfast / cognition

We were also interested in how well students look after themselves and wanted to know about how many of them ate a healthy breakfast before coming to school. Interestingly, over 50% of students said they didn’t eat a healthy breakfast before coming to school.

The study below reaches the conclusion that “The positive effects of breakfast consumption on cognitive function also tended to be stronger in children who were undernourished.” The findings demonstrated that habitual breakfast consumption frequency is positively related to academic performance. You can read more here:-

The impact of breakfast on learning in children - Family Action (family-action.org.uk)

Please do help support your child in making some small changes to their habits that will ultimately have positive impacts on their health, wellbeing and cognition and help them thrive in school.

Mrs D Collett

Assistant Headteacher – Pastoral and Wellbeing

A new year often brings with it lots of new books to be read, and with the dark days of January and February still ahead, curling up with a book is an especially worthwhile activity to help pass the time. Setting new intentions for the new year can include restarting a reading habit; dedicating time each day to reading with intention and without interruption. Reading is fantastic for our wellbeing, and curling up with a good book will lower heart rates and focus the mind, as well as nurture greater empathy and understanding and increase vocabulary and long-term learning outcomes.

Top tips for encouraging and establishing better reading

Create the right environment.

Creating a reading space in which to curl up and be comfortable in and by dedicating at least thirty focussed minutes a day to reading will soon help to establish a good reading habit. Consider cosy quiet corners at home or in the school library, ensure the lighting is adequate and the space is conducive to reading - cushions, blankets and beverages can all help create the perfect reading atmosphere.

Unless students are reading a book directly from a mobile device, then phones should be switched off. Social media can be a great place to share reading experiences with others, but can also be a huge distraction when the simple act of reading is the aim.

Accessing and formats

Access to books is vital. Either in physical or electronic format, there are so many ways to get hold of books; Personal collections, the school or public library, borrowing from friends, family, buying brand new or second hand or visiting a school bookfair. By using more than one source, readers will enhance their reading outcomes by exposure to a wider range of books and genres.

Consider audiobooks too - listening to an audiobook on a journey can be a fantastic alternative way to share and experience stories. Local libraries provide free access to a large collection of audiobooks.

Encourage by example

By fostering an environment where reading is the norm, young people will follow that good example. Parents and teachers who share their personal regard for reading can greatly influence younger people to value reading and appreciate and recognise the lifelong benefits of reading for pleasure as well as reading for knowledge. Nurturing individual curiosities should be encouraged by reading around a favourite subject, recommending books, and discussing them together and even reading out loud - story time doesn't just have to be for preschool age.

Individualise the experience

For some, reading can be a challenge. Electronic books will have lots of customised features that will be useful for those who have a vision impairment or are on the dyslexic spectrum. Talking to teaching and library staff and asking for recommendations will also be helpful if students aren't sure what to read. There are so many different options for a reader, and just as we are happy to spend time choosing what to watch on visual media outlets such as Netflix, readers should also take the time to make informed choices about books. Library catalogues contain lots of information and suggestions and social media can also be useful.

Useful links to help with reading

Readingcloud KSHS School Library catalogue Access to the school library catalogue, with lots of books and author information to help guide students with their reading choices.

KSHS Ebook library Free access to the dedicated online library of eBooks. (provided by Wheelers) Students requiring a reminder of their log in details can ask in the school library.

Lincolnshire libraries home page

Nottinghamshire library service home page

Joining your local library is free and provides countrywide access to a range of free services, including audiobooks and online magazines.

The following Apps include social sharing options that parents/carers should be aware of:

Goodreads | Meet your next favourite book The global online book community - great for reading book reviews from fellow readers.

Storygraph helps you to track your reading and choose your next book based on your mood and your favourite topics and themes.

Tiktok BookTok is a community within TikTok where users can follow creators and hashtags that follow your own book interests. Hashtags such as #bookreviews or #bookrecommendations can be useful.

Please have a look at a new policy in school: our Learning Resource Centre (Library) Stock Collection and Circulation Policy. It details how we choose resources for our school library and how they are made available to students. If you have any comments that you would like the local governors to consider, please contact our Governance Professional Debbie.Scott@robertcarretrust.uk

Mrs C Gibson

Learning Resource Centre Manager