Who's Who
Meet the St Dennis Team and read about our favourite children's books!
Senior Leadership Team | |||
Mrs Cathy Brokenshire
|
Headteacher Designated Safeguarding Lead Designated Teacher for Children in Care Online Safety Lead Curriculum and Assessment Lead Trust Wider Curriculum Lead
| ||
| |||
Mrs Rachael Nash
| Deputy Headteacher Year 6 Class Teacher Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead Teaching and Learning Lead English Lead | ||
| |||
Mrs Jo Waters
| SENDCo Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead TIS Lead Practitioner Phonics Lead Trust Lead Practitioner (SEND - Communication and Interaction) | ||
I love this book because it is so much fun to read aloud: there are lots of great sound effects, you can use different voices for all the animals, it has a rhyming pattern and repetition for the children to join in with! My son loves foxes and other wild animals, so he loved this story. There is also a really funny part, that makes us giggle every time we read it, but you'll have to read it yourself to find out!
| |||
Miss Lizzie Stokes
| Reception Class Teacher EYFS Lead PSHE and RHSE Subject Lead Mental Health Lead Trust Lead Practitioner (EYFS)
| ||
One Snowy Night by Nick Butterworth is my favourite story. Reading this story makes me feel happy and safe. Percy is a kind character, who cares for all of the creatures in the park no matter what mischief they are making! I can't believe this story always makes me laugh, even though I've read it hundreds of times!
| |||
Teachers | |||
Mrs Jessica Rogers
| Reception and Year 4 Class Teacher | ||
| |||
Mrs Michelle Lawford
| Year 1 Class Teacher | ||
| |||
Miss Kim Csehi
| Year 2 Class Teacher PE Lead PE and Sports Premium Lead Educational Visits Co-ordinator
| ||
| |||
Mrs Rebecca Bateson
| Year 2 Class Teacher Maths Lead Geography Lead Eco Council | ||
| |||
Mr Lee Vincent
| Year 3 Class Teacher Staff Wellbeing Champion Computing Lead School Council Staff Governor | ||
| |||
Mr David Bradbeer
| Year 4 Class Teacher
| ||
I remember reading Tom's Midnight Garden by Philippa Pearce and feeling that I had been transported into the book, wherever I might have been in real life. It is the first book that I could not wait to pick up again, to read the next part and find out what was about to happen.
| |||
Mrs Jackie Warren
| Year 5 Class Teacher Science Lead Music Lead | ||
| |||
Mrs Hannah Pickford
| Year 6 Class Teacher Religious Education Lead | ||
 My favourite book is The Detective Dog by Julia Donaldson. It is about a dog called Nell who accompanies her owner Peter to school to hear the children read. One Monday, school smells wrong. The books have vanished! A thief's been at work. I began reading this story to my little girls at the beginning of the lockdown. It soon became a family favourite and we all know it off by heart. Besides the brilliant story and wonderful illustrations, I love the way Julia Donaldson's stories are written like a rhythmic poem and sound even better read and shared aloud. | |||
One of my favourite books, EVER, is Holes by Louis Sachar. I simply love the plot and the way that it is three stories all told at the same time, with years separating them. When all the connections are made at the end and the writer reveals how the stories and characters overlap, it still amazes me every time! I love the main character, Stanley. I feel like he is an unlikely hero, but never the less he triumphs in the end. It is a story of hope, friendship and pig stealing descendants. It will make you laugh and cry in equal measures.
My favourite children's book, at the moment, is The Fox in the Dark by Alison Green. 
Every time I read Journey by Aaron Becker, I discover something new! The spectacular illustrations take the reader - spellbound - on a magical journey through a fantasy world. I absolutely love the sense of adventure, bravery and determination detailed throughout the story as a lonely young girl uses her red crayon to help make her way around her own made up world - escaping tricky situations and making new friends along the way. The fact that it's a wordless picture book means that every time you revisit it you can tell a new story. Journey is part of a trilogy so there are another two stories - just as epic - to follow! 
My favourite book is The Snail and the Whale by Julia Donaldson. It’s about a tiny snail who wants to go on great adventures, so he rides on a whale’s tale and sees magnificent places around the world! I love how the snail is so adventurous and that he gets to travel and explore different places. He even ends up saving the whale! It truly is a magical book filled with exciting adventures, and it even makes you think about how humans affect sea life and how to help them. It truly is an awesome book and makes you want to explore faraway places, although perhaps not on a whale’s tale! 
My favourite book is Mrs Armitage on Wheels by Quentin Blake who is the author and illustrator. I used to read this book to my daughter when she was little. We loved laughing at the different ways Mrs Armitage would try to modify her bike! She was never content with how it looked and was always adding more and more until finally… CRASH BANG WALLOP! It falls to pieces! Mrs Armitage was clever and curious. We think she may have been a scientist or a designer! I have kept this story safe, as we have happy memories from reading it together. 
Growing up I always found reading hard. I was very picky, but I knew if I could find something funny, I would enjoy it. My favourite book now is Gangsta Granny by David Walliams as it has everything I enjoy in a book. It is a story that I share with my son and we read a chapter every night before he goes to bed. We both find ourselves laughing throughout the book and it has never failed to put a smile on our faces!
The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett was my favourite book as a child. I must have read it over and over again. The book is about Mary who is orphaned and goes to live with her uncle Archibald Craven at Misselthwaite Manor. With nothing else to do, Mary wanders about the manor's gardens and learns that there is a garden that is kept locked behind a door. Mary becomes determined to find the garden and open it. I always wanted to have my own secret garden and I am sure that it was this book that has inspired my love of gardening today. 
Administration, Pastoral and Site Staff
| |
Mrs Julie Crawford
| School Secretary |
| |
Mrs Wendy Calvesbert
| Parent Support Advisor Deputy Designated Safeguarding Lead TIS Practitioner
|
| |
Mrs Shirley Truscott
| School Librarian |
Animalcolm is the first book I have read by David Baddiel and it will not be the last! The story revolves around a boy called Malcolm and he just does not like animals! Imagine his horror when his school trip is a visit to a farm! No more spoilers, but if you want to laugh aloud (which I did), this book is just for you!
| |
Enid Blyton was my absolute favourite author as a child and I think I had every book she had ever written. 
War Horse by Michael Morpurgo is one of the best books I have read. It is about a horse, Joey, who is bought by the Army from a farm in the First World War. The writing of this story is superb and I was with Joey in his thoughts and feelings, especially when he was witnessing the devastation on the Western Front. War Horse shows the strength of character of the horse and highlights the important role that horses played in the First World War.
Learning Support Assistants | |||
Mrs Tanya Edmunds
|
Nursery Manager Staff Governor | ||
I would love to be like the little caterpillar as I love food and I would get to eat lots of different foods, especially chocolate cake! It would be great to turn into a beautiful butterfly and be able to fly wherever I wanted!
| |||
Mrs Dana Tippett
| Nursery Teaching Assistant
| ||
The Wonky Donkey by Craig Smith is a new favourite book of mine. One of my children got it for Christmas and we have read it many times. It has brought lots of laughter at bedtimes and I enjoy the way it rhymes. It is a bit of a tongue twister and it makes me giggle when I read it.
| |||
Mrs Leah Holland
| Nursery Teaching Assistant | ||
It teaches us that people come in many shapes, sizes and colours and although we look different, act different and sound different, we are all people.
| |||
Mrs Kimberley Casper
| Reception Teaching Assistant | ||
My favourite book is Tiddler by Julia Donaldson and illustrated by Axel Scheffler. This is my favourite children's book as I love how Tiddler uses his imagination to create wonderful stories for his friends. This book shows children that no matter how young and small they are, they are able to create big magical adventures of their own!
| |||
Miss Tash Caust
| Reception Teaching Assistant and HLTA EYFS RWI Intervention Lead
| ||
| |||
Mrs Karen Hancock
| Year 1 Teaching Assistant and HLTA KS1 RWI Intervention Lead
| ||
My favourite book is The Gruffalo by Julia Donaldson. I really enjoy the storyline with the mouse and how he outwits the Gruffalo! I love all the characters in it, but the mouse is definitely my favourite! It was also both of my sons' favourite book to have read to them at bedtime.
| |||
Mrs Tally Bird
| Year 2 Teaching Assistant | ||
| |||
Mrs Becky Hawken
| Year 2 Teaching Assistant KS1 RWI Intervention Lead | ||
| |||
Mrs Amanda Rickard
| Year 3 Teaching Assistant and HLTA Lower Key Stage 2 Intervention Lead Breakfast Club
| ||
| |||
Mrs Helen Belcher
| Year 4 Teaching Assistant Lower Key Stage 2 Intervention Lead | ||
| |||
Ms Donna Fisher
| Year 5 and Year 2 Teaching Assistant |
| |
 The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe by CS Lewis, is one of my favourite books because it is about a magical land called Narnia, where there are talking animals, a witch and lots of adventures. Four children: Peter, Susan, Edmund and Lucy stumble upon Narnia at the back of a wardrobe, whilst playing 'hide and seek'. One of the lessons I learned from this book is to forgive easily and fight for what you believe in. | |||
Mrs Tracey Julian
| Year 5 Teaching Assistant and HLTA Upper Key Stage 2 Intervention Lead
| ||
| |||
Mrs Sharon Davey
| Year 6 and Year 2 Teaching Assistant TIS Practitioner Autism Champion | ||
| |||
Mrs Theresa Dick
| Year 6 Teaching Assistant and HLTA Art and Design Lead Design and Technology Lead Dazzle Day Lead
| ||
| |||
Mr Dan Roach
| Year 6 Teaching Assistant Upper Key Stage 2 Intervention Lead Sports and PE HLTA
| ||
| |||
Mrs Debbie Rowe
| Reading Champion | ||
| |||
Mrs Emma Squire
| Breakfast Club | ||
| One of my favourite children's books is The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe by CS Lewis. I love the idea of finding a whole new world in the back of a wardrobe! In Narnia, they meet talking animals, a witch, a lion, lots of snow, there’s magic and so much more. The children learn lots about themselves and each other, including being brave and making the right choices, about loyalty and gain friendship with all the different animals they meet. If I were one of the characters, I would probably be Lucy, who is sweet and kind but also very brave and adventurous. | |||
My favourite book is The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle.
The Tale of Peter Rabbit written and illustrated by Beatrix Potter follows mischievous and disobedient young Peter Rabbit as he gets into sticky situations, and is chased around the garden by Mr. McGregor. The moral of the story is that you should always listen to your parents. This book is a true childhood favourite of mine as it brings back so many wonderful memories of me receiving the book on my 6th birthday from my nan and grandad, to then sharing and reading it at bedtimes with my three younger brothers and for many bedtimes after.
One of my favourite books of all time that I still read now is Harry Potter by JK Rowling. It’s about an 11 year old boy, who lives in a cupboard under his aunt and uncle’s stairs. He receives a letter informing him that he is actually a wizard and he is invited to attend a wizarding school called Hogwarts! This school teaches potions, astronomy, dark arts and all about magical creatures! I couldn’t wait to read the next chapter and would get carried away reading all night! I used to love pretending that one day I’d receive my letter to Hogwarts and get to learn all these exciting subjects and step into a world of magic and mystery. 
My favourite children's book is Giraffes Can't Dance by Giles Andrea. I have always loved this book, because not only Giraffes are my favourite animal, but also this book just embraces our differences. Growing up I was always the tallest in my class. Like Gerald, I sometimes felt awkward when doing certain activities. This book teaches children that everyone is different, but we must embrace that and help each other build confidence and self-esteem. No matter how difficult situations get, never give up on your dreams. 
My favourite book is the series of Secret Seven by Enid Blyton. The Secret Seven are a group of children who hold regular meetings and organize things to do, whether it's helping the community in some way, solving mysteries that turn up, or just having fun playing in the woods. They have a secret password, a badge, and a secret headquarters in a garden shed! I enjoyed reading how they solved all the mysteries that they went on. It takes our value of great ‘teamwork’ to solve the clues!
George’s Marvellous Medicine by Roald Dahl was the very first book I bought myself. I remember going into the local book shop with my pocket money and spending ages choosing which story to take home. I was fascinated by the idea of a small boy going up against his mean-spirited Grandma and trying to get his own back on her. I loved George deciding he has finally had enough of his 'grizzly old grunion of a grandma', to the hilarious consequences of not only her having the medicine, but the farm animals too. Who would have thought that leaving the flea powder and anti-freeze out of the recipe would have had such disastrous results?
My favourite book of all time is The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle. I have loved it since I was a small child, when it was read to me in school. I have read it to my children when they were small and now also my grandchildren who are both starting to love it too!
One of my all-time favourite books is Skellig by British author David Almond. It is about a young boy, called Michael, who becomes lonely and uncertain about his world when his family move to a new house and his little sister becomes very ill. Whilst he is rummaging in an old shed at the bottom of the garden, he finds a strange magical creature named Skellig, who needs his help. Although I love the fantasy and magic of Skellig, most of all I love the hope and ultimate joy that shines through the author's words throughout the story. I hope you read it and step into the world of Skellig and enjoy it as much as I do!
Bear Snores On by Karma Wilson was one of my favourite ‘go to’ bedtime stories when my grandchildren were little and guaranteed to settle them for sleep! As well as a captivating storyline, the illustrations by Jane Chapman are amazing. The book is about a whole host of different animals and birds who find their way out of the cold and into Bear's cave to warm up whilst he is asleep. Even after the tea has been brewed and the corn has been popped, Bear just snores on!
As a child, I loved, 'getting lost' in a Roald Dahl book. My all-time favourite was The Twits. I loved the humour within the story and thought that Roald Dahl's inventive vocabulary was superb. The Twits played some funny, but often malicious, pranks on each other and being a young, mischievous lad myself once, I must admit I liked to play a joke or two on my friends. Similarly to Mr. Twit, I have a beard but I hope that the children here would quickly inform me if I had a cornflake, spaghetti sauce or a mouldy piece of cheese embedded within it!
My favourite books are The Faraway Tree Stories by Enid Blyton. I loved reading these stories when I was younger and then read them to my daughters. I love the characters and the adventures they get up to in each of the lands they visit. After each chapter, I couldn't wait to read the next chapter to see what antics the characters got up to next! My favourite character was Saucepan Man when he muddled up his words! I have enjoyed sharing the book with Year 2 children over the last few years.
Lunchtime Team | ||
| Mrs Amanda Rickard - Lead | Mrs Debbie Rowe | Mrs Tracey Julian |
| Mrs Sharon Davey | Mrs Becky Hawken | Mrs Helen Belcher |
| Mr Dan Roach | Ms Donna Fisher | Mrs Wendy Calvesbert |
| Breakfast Club Team | ||
| Mrs Amanda Rickard | Mrs Emma Squire | |
| ||
| After School Club Team | ||
| Miss Tash Caust - Lead | Mrs Tracey Julian | Mrs Tanya Edmunds |
External Providers | |
Mrs T Triggs Forest School |
|
Mr B Hawken Music Teacher |
|
Mr L Oxenham Guitar Teacher |
|
