Reception PSHE - Why sleep is important for our bodies.
This week we talked about why we need sleep and how important it is for our bodies. The children talked about how it helps us grow and get stronger, it repairs our bodies and stops us being grumpy. We then read 3,2,1 Bedtime and shared our own bedtime routines and favourite bedtime stories. We role played getting washed, cleaning our teeth and going to sleep.
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
Year 5 - Money Matters
Debt Aware: Money Matters visited Year 5 today to talk about banking, including the names of high street banks and building societies as well as their role in providing loans and deposit accounts. The children learned about the growth of online banking and the decline of cash as a payment method. Different types of saving accounts were discussed as well as the role of interest.
Year 1: Fire Lighting
The children also took part in a bushcraft activity where they learnt how to make sparks for lighting fires safely. They explored how friction is created by rubbing things together and noticed that when they rub their hands together, they become warm. The children were shown how to safely use the fire striker by holding the metal pieces correctly and scraping them together to create sparks. They learnt that fires need oxygen, heat and sticks to burn. The children carefully pulled the cotton wool apart to make it look like a cloud before placing it onto the block and using the sparks to light it. They were fascinated by the process and learnt how to safely put the fire out using the special fire glove.
Year 2 - Brockholes Trip - Firelighting
Year 2 learned how to make fire in a safe and controlled environment.
Year 1 PSHE: Taking Care Of Something
Today we thought about the word “need” and what this means. A need is a requirement or necessity for something to function. In our class, we have a giant sunflower plant and one of it’s needs is to be watered daily so it can grow. We talked about the purpose of our classroom which is to be safe and to learn inside. Our classroom also has needs so that it can function properly. We have different classroom jobs that we take turns to do such as bin monitor, lights monitor and book monitor to ensure that our classroom is able to be used appropriately.
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!
Year 4 - Linking Schools: Zoom Meeting
We had the great pleasure of working with our link class at St Matthew’s again this week, on a Zoom call. During this session, we played Rock, Paper, Scissors and Acts of Kindness Charades. Both classes were very good at guessing the acts of kindness. We also listened to a retelling of the Starfish Story and joined in with the actions. The children thoroughly enjoyed the session and they are looking forward to our final preparations before visiting St Matthew’s in June.
Year 6 - What does community mean to us?
This week in PSHE, Year 6 explored the meaning of “community” and reflected on the important role communities play in our lives. The children had mature and thoughtful discussions, sharing that communities help us to feel a sense of belonging, purpose, love, friendship and support. The children recognised that we are all part of many different communities, including our families, school, friendship groups, sports teams, clubs, faith groups and local neighbourhoods. Each child designed and decorated their own jigsaw piece to represent the different communities they belong to and the people who are important to them. The pieces were then joined together as a whole class puzzle, creating a wonderful visual reminder that although we are all unique, we each play an important part in the Year 6 community. The activity encouraged the children to celebrate both individuality and togetherness, reinforcing the importance of inclusion and connection within our school community.
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.
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