Spiritual, Moral, Social and Cultural Development (SMSC): Blog items
Date: 30th Mar 2026 @ 2:57pm
Today, the children took part in a series of relay races and rounders-style activities designed to develop their throwing and catching, team communication, and accurate passing skills. Pupils worked in small groups to complete relay challenges, focusing on passing the ball safely and quickly while maintaining good teamwork.
They then applied these skills in adapted rounders games, where they practised underarm and overarm throws, catching with control, and communicating effectively with teammates. Throughout the lesson, pupils demonstrated growing confidence, improved coordination, and positive collaboration.
Date: 27th Mar 2026 @ 10:50am
We are delighted to share that 15 saplings donated by the Woodland Trust have arrived at school. Over the next few weeks, these young trees will be planted around the school grounds to help create a greener, healthier environment for everyone.
Planting trees brings so many benefits. As the saplings grow, they will help reduce our carbon footprint, providing cool, clean air for pupils, staff, and wildlife. Trees also play an important role in helping to reduce flooding, as their roots absorb water and strengthen the soil.
Beyond the environmental impact, spending time around trees and nature can boost physical and mental well-being, helping children feel calmer, happier, and more connected to the world around them.
We’re excited to watch our new saplings grow and to involve the children in helping look after them—planting small trees today for a brighter, greener future tomorrow.
Date: 27th Mar 2026 @ 10:11am
Reception enjoyed a lovely Spring walk around school today. The children were excited to spot lots of signs that Spring has arrived. They noticed bright yellow daffodils, new buds growing on the trees, and tiny green shoots beginning to appear in the ground. The trees around school were filled with pink and white blossom, which the children were fascinated by.
At the pond, the class discovered frogspawn, and they talked about how it will grow and change over time. The children also explored under rocks, stones, and pieces of wood, where they found spiders, ants, and other small creatures hiding in the damp, dark spaces.
One of the most exciting discoveries was a bird’s nest tucked up in the roof near the door in the Key Stage 1 playground.
Each child carried a clipboard and pencil, carefully ticking off the signs of Spring they spotted during the walk. They were introduced to new vocabulary, including blossom, spring, daffodils, bird’s nest, and frogspawn.
All the children really enjoyed the activity and worked beautifully together, helping one another with their observations.
"I saw pink blossom on the tree" Max
"There was lots of frogspawn in the pond...it looked like jelly" Rubie- Louise
"I saw yellow daffodils" Cherry
"The trees had buds growing on them" Faith B
Date: 26th Mar 2026 @ 10:57am
Today, Year 3 had a special visit from a volunteer from the NSPCC, who delivered an important Speaking Out, Staying Safe assembly. We began by learning all about Buddy, the NSPCC’s friendly mascot, and how Buddy helps children understand their right to feel safe.
The children discussed the different types of abuse in an age‑appropriate way, focusing on the key message that nothing is too small or too big to talk about. Together, we identified our trusted adults—both in school and at home—who children can speak to if they ever feel worried.
Everyone learned the Childline phone number, 0800 1111, and practised the actions to help them remember it. The session reinforced that every child has the right to speak out, be heard, and stay safe.
Year 3 showed fantastic listening, thoughtful questions, and a strong understanding of how to keep themselves safe.
Year 5 - NSPCC Workshop: Speak Out, Stay Safe
Date: 26th Mar 2026 @ 8:29am
Today, Year 5 took part in an engaging and informative session delivered by the NSPCC as part of their Speak Out Stay Safe programme. The visit aimed to help children understand their rights, recognise when something doesn’t feel safe, and learn how to speak out if they ever feel worried or unsure.
During the session, pupils explored what safety means—both online and offline—and discussed the importance of trusted adults who can help when something is wrong. The NSPCC team used age‑appropriate videos, scenarios, and discussions to explain different types of harm and emphasised that every child has the right to feel safe, valued, and listened to.
A key message throughout was that children should never feel alone with their worries. The presenters highlighted practical ways to seek help, including talking to a trusted adult at home or school, and introduced Childline as a confidential resource available whenever children need support.
The session was highly interactive, empowering pupils with the knowledge and confidence to recognise unsafe situations and speak out. Year 5 responded thoughtfully throughout, demonstrating strong awareness and empathy. The visit reinforced our school’s ongoing commitment to safeguarding and helped ensure that every child knows how to stay safe and where to turn for help.
Date: 26th Mar 2026 @ 8:28am
In today’s lesson, In today’s R.E lesson, we explored the importance of Holy Week and why it is such a significant time for Christians. We learned that Holy Week remembers the final days of Jesus’ life, beginning with Palm Sunday and ending with Easter Sunday, when Christians believe Jesus rose from the dead.
The children looked closely at two important symbols connected to Holy Week and Easter:
The Cross – We discussed how the cross reminds Christians of Jesus’ sacrifice and his love for others.
Easter Eggs – We explored how eggs symbolise new life and hope, linking to Jesus’ resurrection on Easter Sunday.
The children then worked in groups to sequence the Easter story using picture cards, putting the key events—such as the Last Supper, the Crucifixion, and the Resurrection—into the correct order. They showed great teamwork and understanding in explaining what each picture represented.
By the end of the lesson, the children had a deeper understanding of why Holy Week is meaningful to Christians and how its symbols help tell the story of hope, sacrifice, and new beginnings.
Date: 20th Mar 2026 @ 11:31am
This week in PE, the children explored a range of climbing and balancing activities using the indoor apparatus. They practised balancing carefully along benches, climbing up and down the ladders, and swinging safely on the monkey bars. The children also enjoyed jumping off the apparatus, focusing on landing with bent knees to keep themselves safe.
Throughout the session, the children worked on:
Taking turns and waiting patiently for space on the equipment.
Being safe by listening to instructions and using the apparatus correctly .
Helping each other, offering encouragement and support.
Developing gross motor skills, core strength, coordination and confidence
The children showed growing independence and resilience as they challenged themselves, tried new movements, and practised essential physical skills in a fun and engaging way.
Reception- Holly Class Zoo Trip
Date: 20th Mar 2026 @ 10:51am
Holly Class had a fantastic day out at Blackpool Zoo on a warm, sunny spring day. The children were excited to explore the zoo and learn all about the animals and their habitats.
One of the highlights was seeing several adorable babies at the zoo — including a baby elephant, two baby orangutans, and a baby anteater riding on its mummy’s back. The class also enjoyed spotting the lions, tigers, elephants, and giraffes as they walked around the zoo.
Everyone gathered to watch penguin feeding time, which was a big hit! Afterwards, the class headed over to enjoy the fun and impressive sea lion show.
At lunchtime, the children sat together for a picnic at the zoo, chatting about their favourite animals. With lovely warm sunshine and so many exciting things to see, the whole day was great fun for everyone.
"The baby elephant was walking with its' mummy" Tilly- Mae
"The giraffe is very tall" Zara
"The penguins were catching the fish" Olly
"The sea lions were very noisy!" Bonnie
Date: 20th Mar 2026 @ 10:34am
The children have been exploring our Veterinary Surgery role‑play area, where they have been busy tending to poorly and injured animals. They have enjoyed dressing up as vets, nurses and receptionists, using real‑life objects such as bandages, stethoscopes, clipboards and appointment cards to bring their play to life.
As part of the experience, the children have been using new vocabulary linked to the topic such as appointment, patient, injury, treatment, stethoscope. They have been taking turns speaking and listening, especially when deciding what is wrong with an animal and what treatment is needed and have also been answering the phone in role—using set phrases like “How can I help?” or “Would you like to book an appointment?” They worked together taking turns and sharing resources at the same time as learning about a possible future career and how vets help care for animals.
"My dog has hurt his leg- will you fix it for me, please?" Theo
"I am checking the dogs heart- it is beating" Rubie- Louise
"This budgie hurt its' wing...I'm giving it medicine...it needs a bandage" Faith A
Date: 20th Mar 2026 @ 10:28am
Reception enjoyed an exciting and inspiring Science Day, filled with hands‑on exploration and lots of curiosity. The children took part in a special workshop led by our visiting scientist, Rebecca. During the workshop the children took part in a series of fun and engaging experiments designed to help them explore the world around them.
🔌 Exploring Circuits Reception had the chance to investigate simple electrical circuits. Using lights and buzzers, they discovered that electricity only works when everything is connected. There were plenty of smiles as bulbs lit up and buzzers sounded.
🫧 Giant Bubble Making A highlight of the morning was creating giant bubbles—some big enough for the children to stand inside! Reception worked together to make the biggest and strongest bubbles.
Reception had a fantastic Science Day and left eager to keep exploring, asking questions and discovering new things about the world.
Date: 19th Mar 2026 @ 9:23am
Comic Relief in Year 3!
Today, Year 3 had a fantastic time celebrating Comic Relief! The classroom was brighter than ever, with children proudly wearing their favourite red items of clothing—from cosy jumpers and bright T‑shirts to fun accessories. It was wonderful to see everyone joining in and showing their support.
We started the morning with a special Comic Relief assembly, where we learned all about the important work Comic Relief does. The children listened beautifully as we talked about how this special day helps raise money for people who need it most—both here in the UK and around the world.
Why do we have Comic Relief?
Comic Relief was created to use the power of kindness, community, and laughter to help others. The money raised goes towards charities that:
- Support families facing poverty
- Provide safe places for children
- Help improve mental health and wellbeing
- Offer vital support during emergencies
It’s all about making a difference and helping everyone have the opportunity to live a safe, healthy, and happy life.
Year 3 really embraced the spirit of the day. We talked about how even small acts—like wearing something red or making someone smile—can help create big change.
Well done, Year 3, for showing such kindness, enthusiasm, and empathy. You helped make Comic Relief a meaningful and memorable day!
Date: 18th Mar 2026 @ 2:14pm
Acorns have had their own science investigations this afternoon.
We have taken part in our biscuit dunking experiment and counted the number of times we dunked the biscuit, in warm water, cold water and icy water, until they broke.
We explored an exploding volcano. What happens when we add bicarbonate of soda to vinegar? We loved how it became fizzy and bubbled over.
Finally, we explored floating and sinking. We saw that heavy items sank to the bottom of the water and light items floated.
All these fun experiments helped us develop our curiosity, engagement and learning experiences alongside others in an adult led activity.
Date: 18th Mar 2026 @ 12:08pm
Date: 12th Mar 2026 @ 12:15pm
This morning, Year 3 enjoyed an energetic and engaging musical assembly from the Travelling by Tuba duo. Designed to inspire pupils across the primary range, the session delivered exactly that. The performers introduced a fascinating collection of unusual wind and brass instruments—many completely new to the children—and filled the hall with humour and captivating storytelling.
Pupils were taken on a musical journey around the world, encountering remarkable instruments such as the Chinese dragon‑headed trumpet, the Swiss alpine horn and giant Tibetan dungs. The children were amazed by their size and unique sounds, and the duo’s lively delivery kept everyone thoroughly entertained.
Year 3 especially enjoyed joining in with rhythms, actions and musical challenges. The performance also reinforced learning across music, history, geography and science, creating a rich cross‑curricular experience. The children left the hall buzzing with excitement and eager to share their favourite moments from this memorable musical adventure.
Date: 11th Mar 2026 @ 4:55pm
In our third Royal Ballet lesson, Year 3 dancers began by focusing on posture, ensuring long spines and lifted chests before moving into first position and finishing our warm-up with a graceful révérence. We then recapped last week’s creative work, exploring our spiralling galaxies and collecting stars. The children practised making expansive movements, using sweeping port de bras, gentle turns while spotting a fixed point, and experimenting with balances at different levels—remembering to engage their abdominal muscles for control.
Next, we returned to first position to work on pliés, concentrating on alignment and smooth, controlled bending of the knees. We followed this by developing arm movements to coordinate with the lower body.
Reception Willow Class visit the zoo
Date: 9th Mar 2026 @ 8:05pm
Today the children in Willow class had a fantastic time visiting Blackpool Zoo. We enjoyed visiting all the different animals including the lions, giraffes, oenguin and gorilla. We even got to see the new baby elephant. Whilst visiting the different animals we found out lots of information about where the animals live and what they eat. We also took part in a special workshop where we found our about the different animals habitats and got the opportunity to handle a range of different artefacts including a huge eleohant foot. We also enjoyed a lovely picnic aswell as watching the sealion show. A wonderful day enjoyed by everyone.
Reception celebrate World Book Day
Date: 3rd Mar 2026 @ 7:16pm
Today the children have thoroughly enjoyed celebrating Worl Book Day and having the opportunity to dress up as their favourite book character. We started the day with a special assembly- everyone's costumes were amazing. Throughout the day we had the opportunity to read lots of our favourite stories. make our own book marks and draw and paint our faviourite characters. What a fabulous days celebrating our love for books and reading.
Date: 3rd Mar 2026 @ 1:22pm
Reception- Chinese Ribbon Dancing
Date: 27th Feb 2026 @ 2:14pm
This week we have been celebrating Chinese New Year and learning how to do a Chinese ribbon dance.
Chinese ribbon dance is a captivating art form that combines grace, rhythm, and visual beauty, deeply rooted in Chinese culture and history.
We had our own ribbon and moved in different ways, waving our ribbon in different directions whilst listening to Chinese music.
"I can move my ribbon around my body" Ava
"I like to twirl around with my ribbon" Noah
"It is so much fun- dancing to the music with my ribbon!" Raya
Date: 27th Feb 2026 @ 1:32pm
As part of pur learning about Chinese New Year we talked about tje dragpn parade what many people attend. We watched some videos and explored the different ways the dragon moved. We practicsed these movements ensuring we carefully negioated the space in the dance studio. We then worked together as a team to make a huge chinese dragon. When we had finished we used the puppets we had made earlier in the week to move to the music.
Date: 24th Feb 2026 @ 6:19pm
Date: 24th Feb 2026 @ 6:15pm
Today in music, we revisited our listening skills using the Listening Mats. We recapped how toidentify musical elements and used them to appraise the song “Free.” The class focused ondescribing what they could hear, including instruments, dynamics, tempo, and mood.
We then continued learning to sing “All Over Again.” After practising the melody and developingconfidence in performance, we revisited the meanings of improvisation and composition. Thechildren discussed how improvisation involves creating music spontaneously, while composition isabout planning and writing musical ideas.
Finally, we performed the song 'All Over Again" - discussing its themes of the resilience anddetermination to overcome a bad day or feelings of frustrations, accepting that tomorrow is a newchance for a fresh start and to start... ALL OVER AGAIN!
Date: 24th Feb 2026 @ 10:44am
It's the start of a new half term, so we have got a new sensory circuit getting us ready for our day. We are doing a Danny Go wake up and shake up dance for our alerting stage, then we are ordering pictures in a sequence for the ordering stage, then for the calming stage we are stretching out.
Date: 23rd Feb 2026 @ 11:52am
As part of our learning about different cultures and communities this week we have been finding out about how Chinese New Year is celebrated across the world. At the creative area we have been making our own dragon puppets using a range of different meduims and materials. We have been practising lur cutting aswell as fixing and joining using both tape nd glue. We can't wait to use our puppets during our chenese new year parade later in the week.
Date: 13th Feb 2026 @ 10:45am
This week Reception have been learning about keeping safe online.
We listened to the story Buddy The Dog, learnt about identifying safe and unsafe scenarios online and who our trusted adults are.
"I would tell my mum if someone tried to speak to me online" Bonnie
"It is unsafe to watch Youtube videos if it shows the number 18" Noah
"Don't tell anyone where you live" Tilly- Mae
"My mum and my dad are my trusted adults" Zara
Take a look at what we have been doing.
