This week, our Year 5 children watched a video from the One Goal website all about what it means to be a Well-being Champion. The video helped them understand the important role these champions play in supporting others and promoting positive mental health across the school. The children really enjoyed learning about how they can help make our school a happier, kinder place, and they’re now getting ready to apply for the role themselves. We can’t wait to see who steps up to take on this exciting responsibility!
: Blog items
Reception- Sensory Experience: Making Bread like Little Red Hen
Date: 10th Oct 2025 @ 6:18pm
This week some of the children in Reception have been exploring making bread.
They used all their senses to explore the ingredients and had fun feeling the flour, mixing in the water and mark making - we got very messy!
We were also learning to work alongside each other and focus our attention and concentrate during an activity.
Date: 10th Oct 2025 @ 6:00pm
This week Reception have been learning about Harvest.
They donated food to Vincent House and then attended a whole school assembly led by Year 6.
We talked about being thankful for the food we eat, our good health and the life we live.
Thank you to everyone for their support.
School Council- Symposium Meeting
Date: 10th Oct 2025 @ 3:49pm
Year 5 and 6 School Councilors met with other School Council representatives at Boundary Primary School. They had an interactive look at the evolution of democracy and how we came to have the voting system we have today. Then, they went on to identify the issues that matter to their peers and plan what we’re going to do about them.
A very successful afternoon.
Date: 10th Oct 2025 @ 2:17pm
As part of Black History Month, Year 2 have been learning about Rosa Parks and why she is such an important figure in history. We’ve read about her famous bus journey in guided reading and discussed her courage in standing up for equality.
The children are now writing diary entries from Rosa’s point of view, showing great empathy and understanding. We’re so proud of their thoughtful work and how inspired they’ve been by Rosa’s story!
Year 2- Learning to Listen and Appraise!
Date: 10th Oct 2025 @ 2:11pm
Year Two had a fantastic time listening to “Eye of the Tiger”! The song made us feel strong, brave, and ready for anything. We clapped, danced, and talked about never giving up. We thought about what instruments we could hear, what type of music it was and what the tempo was.
Date: 9th Oct 2025 @ 8:44pm
This week, Year 3 had an exciting time in their Computing lesson as they explored programming using Scratch. The children learned how to change the costumes of a sprite, making their characters move and transform in fun ways. They also experimented with switching backgrounds to create different scenes for their animations. Everyone especially enjoyed painting their own sprites and designing colourful backdrops. It was wonderful to see their creativity shine as they brought their ideas to life. A fantastic addition to what we've already learnt in coding—well done, Year 3! We can’t wait to see what they create next.
Year 3 - When Year 3 met Jen Carney an author and illustrator
Date: 9th Oct 2025 @ 9:17am
Year 3 had an exciting and inspiring visit from author and illustrator Jen Carney, thanks to the National Literacy Trust. Jen is the brilliant mind behind The Day My School Got Famous and The Accidental Diary of B.U.G., and we were lucky enough to hear her read extracts from both books. Her stories were full of humour, creativity, and relatable characters — we were hooked!
As part of her visit, Jen also led us in a fun and imaginative drawing activity. We each chose a letter of the alphabet and had to think of the most obscure thing that began with it. Then we got creative and drew our own unique pictures based on that word. It was amazing to see how original and quirky our drawings turned out — just like Jen’s own illustrations!
We’re also very grateful to the National Literacy Trust, who gifted our year group 40 copies of Jen’s books! We’ve been enjoying them during our daily ‘Buzzing about Books’ time and can’t wait to read more.
A huge thank you to Jen Carney for inspiring us with her words, her artwork, and her enthusiasm for books!
Date: 8th Oct 2025 @ 10:02pm
Nursery were very excited when they got to meet some real life owls! The chldren found out how owls move their heads all the way to the back because they can't move their eyes and that there is an owl who likes to burrow underground instead of living in trees! All the children remembred the owl we met with bright orange eyes and how owls like to eat bugs and mice!
Date: 8th Oct 2025 @ 1:13pm
This week, our genre focus has been a poem about Autumn. We used our oracy skills to perform the poem at the beginning of the week and then using Widgits and our inference skills we discussed and found out the meaning of difficuly vocabulary.
Date: 7th Oct 2025 @ 6:34pm
Over this half term, we have been completing lots of tasks in our provision to practise our reading, writing, maths and oracy skills. We have retold stories, represented numbers, ordered numbers, practised number and letter formation and worked on fine motor skills, We have been working on completing these short tasks with increasing independence, to consolidate prior learning.
Date: 7th Oct 2025 @ 2:09pm
Acorns have loved having the owls visit us. We saw four different types of owls and looked at their sharp talons, feathery wings and large eyes.
Abrianna "Owls".
Date: 6th Oct 2025 @ 12:46pm
Today we held our first Spelling Bee of the year. Each house was represented by the best spellers from Year 2 - Year 6 and the children were tested on spellings they have been learning in Autumn 1. We are very proud of all the children for being their house representative and spelling some very tricky words in front of the whole school. The overall winners were Chepstow, who managed to spell 12/15 spellings across all 5 years groups.
Year 4 - BHM Non-Chronological Reports
Date: 6th Oct 2025 @ 10:25am
Pupils in year 4 have been learning how to write a non-chronological report. As this journey nears its conclusion, pupils have spent time editing and improving the draft of their final piece of writing. As October is Black History Month, we decided to write our reports about Viv Anderson, who was the first black person to represent England in a senior international football match.
Date: 3rd Oct 2025 @ 1:59pm
Meeting Date: Thursday 2nd October, 2025
Attendees: HM (Head of School), JR (School Operations Manager), SB (Engagement Officer) Parent Representatives, PTFA Members
Agenda Items
- Ofsted Pilot Inspection
- The School's Values
- The School's Current Priorities
- Christmas Disco
- Christmas Fair
- Welcome
HM welcomed everyone to the meeting and thanked parents for their attendance.
- School Priorities and Values Development
Background
HM explained that this year's key priorities focus on developing the school's Values, Mission and Aims. The school is working to embed core values including:
- Empathy
- Kindness
- Respect
- Resilience
- Positivity
- Integrity
- Confidence
- Creativity and Innovation
Parent Consultation
HM distributed a list of child-friendly value examples to parents and asked them to:
- Identify which values they believe the school should prioritise
- Note any values that are similar (e.g., co-operation and collaboration)
HM collected the feedback forms for review. This consultation forms part of a wider engagement process:
- Staff have already provided their feedback
- Pupils will have an opportunity to contribute their views
- Ofsted Pilot Inspection Feedback
Overview
HM explained that the school volunteered to participate in an Ofsted pilot inspection to trial the new inspection framework, which comes into force on 10 November 2025.
- Any Other Business: Attendance Fines
Parents raised concerns about fines for pupil absence, specifically:
- Holiday absences
- Sickness absences
Discussion Points:
- Some parents suggested that unauthorised absences should receive the same fines as holiday absences
- There can be exceptions for genuine circumstances
SEND:
Year 1 Intervention:
- Some Year 1 children attend split classes in the morning to work at foundation level
- These pupils return to their own classroom in the afternoon
SEND Provision:
- Key Stage 1 (Acorn): Supports non-verbal children and those with autism
- Key Stage 2: Smaller provision groups for Maths, English and Science in the morning, with pupils rejoining their main class in the afternoon
- Wednesday Afternoons: Nurture group runs baking sessions, covering multiple learning objectives
- Flexibility: SEND pupils are encouraged to join their main class for subjects they particularly enjoy (e.g., PE and Art)
Transition Support: Additional support has been provided for transitions:
- Nursery to Reception
- Reception to Year 1
- Christmas Disco
Date: 10th December 2025
Organiser: JR
Proposed Schedule
Parents suggested running the disco over two days, similar to previous years:
Day 1 – 3rd December 2025:
- 3:45pm – 4:45pm: Reception, Year 1 and Year 2
- 5:00pm – 6:00pm: Year 3 and Year 4
Day 2 – 4th December 2025:
- 3:45pm – 4:45pm: Year 5 and Year 6
Refreshments
- Younger children (Reception – Year 2): Drink and biscuit
- Older children (Years 3-6): Hot dogs
Hot Dog Donations
- Parents suggested asking for donations of tinned hot dogs
- JR expressed concern about receiving different sizes
- Decision pending – to be discussed at next meeting
Activities
- Pass the parcel for each class (as per previous discos)
- PTFA offered to help wrap the parcels
Next Steps
- JR to create promotional poster
- Further details to be confirmed at the next meeting
- Christmas Fair
Date: 3rd December 2025
Time: To be confirmed
Actions
- JR to create promotional poster
- JR to contact local businesses for donations
- PTFA have offered to help with the fair
- Gifts from Santa to be organised
- Date of Next Meeting
After half term TBC
Action Summary
|
Action |
Responsible |
Deadline |
|---|---|---|
|
Review parent feedback on school values |
HM |
Before next meeting |
|
Consult pupils on school values |
HM |
This term |
|
Create Christmas Disco poster |
JR |
ASAP |
|
Finalise hot dog donation arrangements |
JR |
Next meeting |
|
Arrange pass the parcel prizes |
JR |
By 1st December |
|
Create Christmas Fair poster |
JR |
ASAP |
|
Contact businesses for fair donations |
JR |
By 1st November |
|
Organise Santa gifts |
TBC |
By 15th November |
|
Confirm Christmas Fair times |
HM/JR |
Next meeting |
Year 5 - Why is it sometimes difficult to do the right thing?
Date: 3rd Oct 2025 @ 7:54am
Today we discussed the Lord’s prayer and what each line might mean to Christians. Some groups re-wrote their verse to fit in with modern-day vocabulary and some groups changed or defined specific words to make it easier to understand.
As a class, we then looked through each line and thought about how the prayer acts as a reminder to Christians about how great their God is and is evidence of their hope in that he will one day return to Earth and rule it as He does in heaven.
Date: 2nd Oct 2025 @ 7:12pm
Acorns loved dressing up as people who help us. We loved exploring the different job roles using puppets and props.
Our shared play helps developed our communication and social interaction. We developed our play alongside each other and interacting with our peers. We also had lots of opportunities to make choices between the different hats, props and puppets.
Coby "let me listen to your heartbeat"
Abrianna "police"
Omer "fire nee nah"
Year 1 Visit from Reverend Thompson
Date: 2nd Oct 2025 @ 4:00pm
Today we had a visit from Reverend Thompson. He came into our classroom to tell us about his job and talk to us about baptism. Reverend Thompson shared information with us about his daily practice and how it is his job to be a teacher, to lead services and to share Gods message. He also visits those who are ill and are not able to physically visit the church. We revisited our previous learning about baptism with Reverend Thompson and the important artifacts, such as the font, candle and water. He also told us the important part the Godparents and vicar play in a baptism ceremony. Reverend Thompson showed us how he conducts a baptism and explained to us that new members of the congregation are also given a candle as a symbol of light.
Date: 2nd Oct 2025 @ 2:24pm
Nursery had a wonderful learning experience with some shaving foam, paint and a couple of paint brushes! They explored the shaving foam and discussed its smell and texture. We then added some paint and talked about what happens to the colours as they mixed them all together. The chidlren then decided to mix the shaving foam with water and leaves to make a witches potion!
Nursery get Funky with their Fingers
Date: 2nd Oct 2025 @ 12:24pm
Nursery have been busy developing their fine motor skills with lots of fun funky fingers activiites. It's really important that they build up the strength in their fingers so they can develop a strong pencil grip.
Date: 2nd Oct 2025 @ 9:20am
In this week's Science lesson we learned all about refraction. The children were amazed by the illusions created by refraction. We learned that refraction distorts images and can even reverse them!
Date: 2nd Oct 2025 @ 9:15am
Year 2 have been learning some key skills to help them with sewing. The children have been practising how to thread a needle, tie knots securely, and use needles safely. They have also been developing their stitching technique by learning and applying the running stitch. These skills will support them as they continue to build confidence and independence in their sewing projects.
Date: 2nd Oct 2025 @ 9:14am
This week we have begun our new writing journey of news articles. We have looked at a WAGOLL (what a good one looks like) and pulled out the features of the genre. We then looked at a range of articles and text marked them with the features we discussed the day before. By the end of the unit we will have written an artcle about the excape of Harriet Tubman, which will link with our work on Black History Month.
Year 3 are Buzzing About Books
Date: 2nd Oct 2025 @ 9:13am
This week, Year 3 have been Buzzing About Books! We were excited to explore a fantastic selection of new books, taking time to look closely at the covers, blurbs, authors and illustrators. The children made thoughtful predictions about the stories and discussed what caught their interest. It was lovely to hear their enthusiasm as they shared which books they’d love to read and why. From funny titles to eye-catching illustrations, there was something for everyone! We can’t wait to dive into these stories over the coming weeks. Year 3 are definitely becoming book lovers!
Year 3 - PE - We're going on a trip to...
Date: 2nd Oct 2025 @ 9:09am
This week, Year 3 travelled the world—and beyond—through dance in PE! Each group imagined an exciting trip to a different destination: the desert, outer space, the beach, the mountains, and under the sea. Using balances, jumps, extensions and expressive movements, they brought these places to life. From floating like astronauts to crashing like waves, every performance was packed with creativity and energy. The children worked brilliantly in teams, using their bodies to tell stories and show us where they were. What a fantastic way to explore the world without leaving the hall! Well done, Year 3!
