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
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!
Year 2- How much weight will it hold?
Date: 1st Oct 2025 @ 7:18pm
In this lesson, Year Two were answering the question ‘Which ship can carry the most weight?’. For this we had to make predictions on which size boat would hold the most coins. After this, we then conducted an experiment to test how much it could hold. We then recorded our data and drew conclusions from our findings.
Date: 1st Oct 2025 @ 7:51am
In this lesson the children were learning about changes in state. We started by flshing-back to prior learning about the states of matter and the children knew that all matter can exist as a solid, liquid or gas. We then conducted some simple experiments to show the processes of melting, freezing, evaporating and condensing. We linked these processes to things we see in everyday life, such as mirrors 'steaming up' in a warm bathroom.
Date: 30th Sep 2025 @ 7:29pm
This week we have been reading the traditional tale 'Little Red Hen'. Our classrooms have been flooded with a range of different activities themed around the story. We have enjoyed using the props at the storytellying table to retell the story in our own words, making bread at the playdough area, labelling the characters and completing a range of maths activiies themed around the story. We have also been learning lots of new vocabularly and sequencing the story using widgets. Have a look at all our hard work.
Date: 30th Sep 2025 @ 7:26pm
This week the children have been reading the traditional tale 'Little Red Hen' As part of our learning the children enjoyed going to the school kitchen Redcliffes to make their own loafs of bread, just like the Little Red Hen. Before we started we talk about the iportance of hygiene and made sure we had all washed our hands properly. We also used our widget vocabularly sheets to idntify any new words and talked about what they meant. We checked we had the correct ingredients including; flour, water, salt, oil and yeast. We followed the recipe to make make our dough making sure we kneading it well. We then put it in the oven for it to cook. When it was ready we enjoyed tasting the bread.
Date: 30th Sep 2025 @ 6:56pm
As part of our preparation for starting school next September, our pre school children have attended our first 'Ready, Steady, School' session. The children session was hosted by the North Hub and supported by Better Start. The children invited their parents and carers in to take part in a range of different activities similiar to those they will experience when they start school next year. The children enjoyed using the visual timetable to see what activities where coming next and engaged in a range of play baed activities including small world play, fine motor activities, maths and water play. The children enjoyed participating in short maths and phonics activities based on listening and attention. It was lovely to see so many parents and carers supporting their children in this important transition. Keep your eyes peeled for more 'Ready, Steady School' activities.
Year 4 Multiplication Check - Information for parents (gov.uk)
Date: 30th Sep 2025 @ 6:11pm
Please find attached the gov.uk information about the Year 4 Multiplication Tables Check in June.
Year 4 - Days of the week and colours
Date: 30th Sep 2025 @ 6:07pm
Over the last couple of weeks in French we have been recapping and learning the days of the week and colours in French. We even learned how to count to 20! You can find some videos of us speaking French using the QR code on this post.
