Forest school club
We a nice shaded forest school session today with lots different activity stations set out in our shaded areas. The children enjoyed making natural bubble wands using either pipe cleaners and sticks or giant bubbles using large sticks and string. We had the mud kitchen and water set out where children used their imagination to create different dishes. Some children chose to build dens and some chose to make friendship bracelets and some children had a go at all the activities. What a fun packed session we had!
Keep Fit Club
Our Key Stage 2 Keep Fit Club had a fantastic, active session today making the most of the gorgeous sunshine! We started our afternoon with a gentle stroll up to Jack Keys and we headed down toward the bicycle path. To cool off after our walk, we headed into the lovely shaded woodland area to do some exploring. It was wonderful to see the children encouraging each other, exploring nature, and getting plenty of fresh air and exercise.
Whole School- Be the Change: Our Kindness Workshop
This morning, Years 1-6 took part in an inspiring 'Kindness Workshop' delivered by Krish, centred on Mahatma Gandhi’s famous quote: "Be the change you want to see in the world." The children explored the three pillars of kindness, being friendly, generous, and considerate, and brainstormed simple everyday actions like smiling, sharing, hugging, complimenting, etc. We looked at powerful, real-life examples from 52 Lives, a charity founded by Jamie in 2013, including Clare from Australia and Andrea from Romania, whose £5,000 operation goal was doubled to £10,000 by kind strangers. This sparked a wonderful discussion about how fortunate we are to have the NHS in our country compared to places where healthcare is very expensive. After watching a video of a young boy comforting an upset football fan after Portugal beat France, the children learned that kindness is actually scientifically proven to make us happier, give us healthier hearts, slow down ageing, and help us live longer. Best of all, kindness is contagious; a single act can spread to 125 people! During the workshop, the children had the opportunity to share kind words with their peers in pairs. They mentioned that giving and receiving compliments felt anywhere from a bit "weird" to really "joyful". At the end of the workshop, the children had a quiz with a series of questions. Arlo, Jack, Molly, Beau, Sophia, Phoebe, Elijah, Eden, Isaac, James, Desmond, Chay, Declan, and Archie did a brilliant job answering the questions, showing great listening skills, and everyone demonstrated our 4 school rules exceptionally well. Afterwards, the children went back into their classrooms to complete their kindness activities. They had a fantastic time making chatterboxes, bracelets, letters, poems, and posters. Lots of kindness has been shared today, and we will definitely continue to share it. We must remember that kindness doesn't cost anything, so we should all use it more.
Year 3- PSHE- Spreading Kindness
After our 'Kindness Workshop', we put our values into practice by creating personal postcards for each other. Every child took the time to write down kind words, compliments and encouraging messages for a student. It was wonderful to see everyone's faces as they handed out the cards and read the thoughtful messages from their peers. This workshop was a fantastic reminder of how a few small, kind words can make a big difference and help us look after one another in our school community.
Reception: Muddy Monday
What a difference a rainy morning makes! The Reception class children were bracing themselves for a very soggy afternoon, but right on cue, the clouds parted, the rain stopped, and the sunshine burst through just in time for our Muddy Monday session at Whitehall Park. The children had an absolute blast making the most of the fresh air and the damp ground (which made for some top-tier mud squelching!).
Online Safety: Minecraft
Minecraft continues to be a highly popular platform for children, combining creativity, problem-solving and social interaction. While the game can offer positive opportunities for learning and play, features such as public servers, multiplayer modes and in-game communication can create safeguarding challenges. Our latest guide supports educators and parents in understanding these risks and helping children play more safely. The guide explores: • Public server communication and contact with unknown players • Griefing, disruptive behaviour and online conflict • In-game spending and subscription costs • Addictive gameplay loops and balanced screen time • Safer settings, private servers and suitable game modes With clear, practical advice, the guide helps adults set boundaries, encourage safer choices and support responsible Minecraft use. Access the guide: https://vist.ly/54tfx #Safeguarding #OnlineSafety #Minecraft
Whole School Assembly - Joe Wicks Mental Health Awareness Week
What a great time we have had this afternoon taking part in the Joe Wicks World Mental Health Awareness Week Assembly. The whole school took part in the worship from the warm up to 40 second on and 20 second off exercise routine. A brilliant time was had by all. What a brilliant way to support our mental and physical health!
Reception: Class Worship
Our Reception class shared a heart-warming Songs of Praise worship today to celebrate Mental Health Awareness Week. It was a beautiful start to the morning spent exploring our emotions and supporting one another through the power of music and reflection. The children sang their hearts out to some of our favourite songs, including "I Can Make a Difference," "My Lighthouse," and "Build Up." These songs helped us think about how we can shine and use our words to encourage our friends. We finished our worship with moving Thank You Prayers, where the children shared their gratitude for family, friends, and the things that make them feel happy.
Reception: Class Worship for Mental Health Week
Today in Reception, Mrs Wilkinson led a special Class Worship to launch Mental Health Awareness Week. We began by exploring the concept of mental health together, which led to a heartwarming discussion with our talk partners about the people who fill our hearts with love. The room was buzzing with affection as Poppy shared her love for Mummy and Daddy, Mason spoke about his Grandad, Bowen mentioned his brother, and Eva told us all about her Nanny. Moving from love to laughter, we explored the things that bring us pure joy. It was wonderful to hear such a variety of answers: Luna finds happiness in spending time with her family, Jackson loves a good tickle, and Eryna’s face lit up talking about trips to the play centre. We also took a moment to reflect on our "cheer-up" strategies—those special activities we turn to when we need a little boost. For Coban, that meant getting creative with writing; for Phoebe, it was all about the rhythm of dance; and Erin shared her passion for gymnastics. To wrap up our session, we put our words into action! We finished our worship by dancing together, filling the room with energy and big smiles. It was a truly joyful and uplifting way to start the week, reminding us all of the simple things that keep our minds and hearts healthy.
Year 5 - Online Safety
Year 5 discussed the ways in which it’s possible to feel lonely while online and how they can overcome these feelings. Loneliness can occur when people are unkind to you, don’t reply to messages or leave group chats. We talked about how going offline to talk to friends and family can be helpful as well as entertaining yourself by watching funny videos or listening to happy music.
Help Neurodivergent Children Tackle the Online World
Neurodivergent children are often early adopters of technology, making supported online experiences especially important. Our latest #WakeUpWednesday guide helps parents and educators understand how to create safe, positive digital environments. It explores key considerations, including: • Modelling responsible online behaviour • Setting age-appropriate boundaries • Encouraging open and supportive conversations • Understanding emerging risks such as AI-generated content The guide also highlights the importance of balancing screen time with offline activities to support wellbeing and development. Download the guide here: https://vist.ly/536kq #Education #Safeguarding #OnlineSafety #Neurodiversity
Year 3- Rock and River- Low Ropes Course
The low ropes course was all about focus and steady feet today. Year 3 had to navigate a series of tricky obstacles and wobbly cables, which required a great deal of bravery to master. Great teamwork from everyone, as the children stood by the ropes to guide their friends and shout out tips for the best footing. By encouraging each other through the wobbles, every child managed to tackle the course with confidence and a great sense of achievement.