Year 5 Geography: Writing About the Human Uses of the Desert
This week in Geography, Year 5 explored the diverse ways humans utilize desert environments, including mining, renewable energy, tourism, settlements, and farming. To deepen their understanding, they creatively wrote narratives from the perspective of a personified desert, sharing its experiences and observations of these human activities.
Year 5 World Book Day: Creating 'Lost Thing' Potatoes!
Year 5 engaged in a hands-on World Book Day activity, using potatoes as a medium to explore the themes and characters of Shaun Tan's 'The Lost Thing.' This project encouraged them to think critically about the book's imagery and symbolism, and allowed the children to demonstrate their understanding of the book's unique visual style
The Benefits of Reading Every Day!
Reading with your child every day has a huge impact on their learning and development. It helps to build their vocabulary, improve their imagination, and develop a lifelong love of books. Just 10-15 minutes of reading each day can strengthen their confidence, comprehension skills, and ability to express themselves. Encouraging daily reading—whether it’s a bedtime story, sharing a book together, or letting them read aloud—helps to support their progress in school and beyond. Thank you for making reading a special part of their day!
Nursery - Maths - Positional Language
During our Maths activity this week, Nursery class have been exploring positional language. The children built on their understanding of on top and under, repeating the position as they placed bear in different areas around the basket. Some children were also able to further their learning and introduced 'next to' and 'in front' to their vocabulary, representing these positions with bear. Well done everyone!
Phonics Screening Check
The Phonics Screening Check is a short assessment that takes place in Year 1 to check your child’s ability to read words using phonics. It helps teachers understand how well children are progressing with their early reading skills. During the check, your child will be asked to read 40 words—some real and some “nonsense” (pseudo words). These words are designed to test their ability to blend sounds together. The check is done one-on-one with a teacher in a relaxed and supportive environment. You can help your child at home by practicing phonics sounds, blending words together, and reading regularly. Encouraging them to spot sounds in books and playing simple word games can make a big difference! We will be hosting a parent session to provide more information about the Phonics Screening Check and how you can support your child at home. This will be a great opportunity to ask questions and see some of the strategies we use in school. If you have any questions, please speak to your child’s teacher—we’re here to support you and your child on their reading journey!
Online Safety - Streamers
Livestreaming is now a major part of children’s entertainment, evolving from gamers sharing screens into a booming industry with diverse personalities. While watching streamers can be entertaining, it comes with no small number of risks for children, such as misinformation, negative influences, and inappropriate content. With over 2.5 million viewers on Twitch – the current most popular streaming platform – at any one time, this guide highlights the potential dangers associated with watching livestreams and the importance of staying informed. We’ve created this free guide – also available in podcast format – to provide parents and educators everything they need to know about streamers and how to keep children protected.
Year 3 Computing - Micro:bit Animation
In Computing, Year 3 created a Micro:bit animation by sequencing images in a loop. They designed and coded a program to display a beating heart on the LED screen, demonstrating their understanding of sequencing and repetition in coding. The children explored how to create simple animations using block-based coding, developing their problem-solving skills and logical thinking. They showed enthusiasm in testing and debugging their code, refining their animations to ensure the heart appeared to “beat” effectively.
.jpg)
Year 4 Coding
Year 4 have been working hard in their computing lessons and have been creating pieces of codes to get their sprites and animations to move and complete simple tasks. Some interesting pieces of programming have been created and enjoyed by all.
Year 3 DT - Mechanical Systems
During DT, Year 3 has been exploring mechanical systems. They created a Reverse Motion Linkage using levers and linkages, ensuring that the pivot in the middle remained fixed.
Nursery - Fine Motor Skills - Buttons
This weeks fine motor activity has been using buttons! Buttons can be tricky for little fingers to try and navigate however this is a very important skill that the children have been learning. This prepares the children for dressing themselves, which builds independence. We have also been building on the children's hand eye coordination and problem-solving skills as they figure out how to manipulate the buttons. This activity has also been great for strengthening the small muscles in their hands and fingers, preparing for writing, drawing, and other everyday tasks.
Reception - Maths - Number bonds
To support their understanding of number bonds to 10, the children today participated in a Numicon-based activity in small groups. This session encouraged collaboration, with some children taking on the active role of "Numicon detectives" to physically explore and identify the number combinations that total ten. To consolidate their learning, one child from each group was responsible for writing down the different number bonds they found. This multi-faceted approach allowed for both hands-on exploration and the development of recording skills.
.jpg)
Pre-School- Pre Writing - Fine Motor Skills
In Preschool, the children have been developing their fine motor skills by creating their own versions of Jasper’s Beanstalk. They carefully selected cereal hoops and placed them over a wooden stick, stacking them to build taller beanstalks. This activity encouraged precision, concentration, and coordination. Fine motor skills involve the small muscles of the hands, fingers, and wrists, enabling movements such as grasping small objects, manipulating tools, writing, and buttoning clothes. Additionally, this activity supported hand-eye coordination, helping children refine their control and dexterity in a fun and engaging way.
.png)
