Growing and Changing - Puberty - Menstruation
In Year 5 in our Growing and Changing unit, this week we looked at puberty but in particular menstruation. The children discussed key changes in our bodies with increased maturity and confidence. We also went through plenty of questions from our ‘Ask it’ baskets which enabled our less confident children to have usefulness discussed and answered. The children have really got involved in this particular unit and have tackled sensitive subject matter in a really sensible manner which shows how much they have really grown over the course of the year.
Reception: Butterfly Release Day
Today was a very special day for our Reception children as they released their butterflies. The children have been so engaged throughout the entire process of watching the butterfly life cycle, observing firsthand how they change and grow from caterpillars. It was truly wonderful to see their excitement as they finally released the butterflies. This experience has been a fantastic way for them to learn about nature and the amazing transformations that occur in the natural world.
Reception: Muddy Monday
Our Reception class thoroughly enjoyed their Muddy Monday session! They had a fantastic time finding various bugs and enthusiastically creating homes for them. It was truly wonderful to observe their engagement and curiosity during these activities. It was also wonderful to see the children becoming braver, climbing higher up trees, and collaborating to create a camp fire. They also loved foraging for different natural materials to continue their imaginative role-playing games. Additionally, the children enjoyed closely observing the wildflowers and using them to create lovely summer scents, showcasing their creativity and sensory exploration.
Transition day- Year 2- 3- Getting Ready for Year 3:
Today was an exciting day for the children in Year 2 as they got to experience Year 3. The children created their "bucket of kindness." Everyone wrote little messages, showing off their great handwriting, all about how they're going to spread kindness in Year 3 and to the whole school. It was lovely to see how much they care about making a positive difference. They also shared what they're looking forward to most in Year 3. We heard about their excitement for new clubs, amazing science lessons, learning new things, and the excitement of challenging themselves. It gave us a peek into their unique hopes and dreams. They also made bookmarks, for September and coloured in a pencil crayon for our display to show that even though we're all unique, when we work together, we make one amazing "box". It was an absolute joy to hear their stories and see all their wonderful, unique personalities shine through!
Online Safety: Apple iPads
iPads: more than just fun and games! This #WakeUpWednesday guide explores screen time habits, spending traps, and safety tips for parents and educators. Your quick guide to smarter iPad use. Download your FREE copy here >> https://ow.ly/bGZG50Wj5VJ #iPadGuide #TechForKids #iPadSafety
Year 3- PSHE- Personal Space
This afternoon in our PSHE lesson, the children participated in a discussion and activities focused on personal space, physical contact, and body autonomy. The session began by exploring different types of physical contact, such as hugs, kisses, and holding hands, and the feelings associated with them. The concept of personal space was introduced, with children physically demonstrating what that area around their bodies felt like. A key part of the discussion revolved around the importance of respecting other people's personal space and understanding when it's appropriate to invite others into it (like during a game) or when it might be unintentionally invaded (like on a crowded bus). Arabelle and Lyla took an active role in demonstrating key concepts.They showed what personal space looks like, helping the other children understand the invisible bubble we all have around us. They discussed what to do if they feel uncomfortable about a touch, practicing phrases like Stop! or 'That makes me feel uncomfortable.'
PSHE - Growing and Changing in Year 4
As part of our PSHE session we have been looking at how our body changes during puberty, what parts of the body are the same for girls and boys and what parts are different. We also read Hair in funny places by Babette Cole and Where Willy Went. The children have really matured over the course of the last few sessions and it’s great to see them ask such fantastic questions surrounding this sensitive topic area.
Online Safety: Nintendo Switch 2
Switching things up. The Nintendo Switch 2 adds new features like voice chat and a plug-in camera – but also new #OnlineSafety concerns. Our #WakeUpWednesday guide has the full overview for parents and educators. Download your FREE copy here >> https://ow.ly/beVv50WfwKT #NintendoSwitch2 #VideoGameSafety #TechForKids
Year 1 Science- Environmental Workshop
Yesterday, Year 1 had a fantastic time at an environmental workshop led by Georgina. She made learning about waste and recycling interactive and engaging, teaching them how to sort materials into the different coloured bins. The children left with some great new facts and shared these at the end of the workshop. Joey and Percy discovered that batteries should be placed in a carrier bag outside the bin to prevent fires. Callie learned that hard and soft plastics need to be separated, with hard plastics for recycling and soft plastics as waste. Olivia noted that hard plastics and metals go in the grey bin, Vienna shared that paper and cardboard belongs in the blue bin, and Haydn added that food waste should be put in the burgundy bin. All of our children received a recycling pack to take home which included a variety of follow-up activities, information for those at home, a certificate and a sticker.
Cre8ability- Session 3
Our Cre8ability group met again yesterday. The session focused on managing strong emotions and returning to a calm "Green Zone" for effective communication. The session explored how different brain parts control emotions and trigger fight/flight/freeze responses. Key to the learning was the "3 Ts" strategy: time (for a 90-second cool-down), talk (to discuss what happened), and think (about solutions). Practical activities included making calming glitter bottles to aid regulation, and crafting dream catchers and "Worry Warrior" dolls to help express worries. The workshop provided valuable tools for families to navigate emotional challenges more effectively. It was a wonderful session and they made some beautiful crafts to take home with them too, thank you Carol and Maria.
Year 3-The Great Big Live Assembly: A Journey Into Refugee Lives
Today, Year 3 joined hundreds of schools for The Great Big Live Assembly to mark World Refugee Week. Led by Krish Kandiah, the worship helped us learn about the lives of millions of children who have been forced to leave their homes because of war, violence, or danger. We discovered that over 43 million children and young people worldwide are refugees or displaced. Through stories and real examples, including a live connection with children living in refugee camps, we got a better understanding of the challenges these children face every day. Krish encouraged us to think about what “home” means and how important it is to show kindness, support, and hope to those who have lost so much. The worship helped us reflect on the courage and strength of refugees and inspired us to be more compassionate and aware of global issues.
Reception: Prayer in RE
For this week's outdoor learning session, Reception class focused on their RE prayer unit. We discussed how we can pray through song, words and actions too. This week we focused on the concept of prayer not just through words, but through an appreciation of the beautiful world around us – a world we believe is God's wonderful creation. It was a fantastic opportunity to foster a sense of awe and wonder in even our youngest learners. During our outdoor walk, we encouraged the children to stop, look closely, and truly see what was around them. We talked about how everything we observed, from the tiniest ant to the tallest tree, was something God made. We paused frequently, and at each stop, we invited the children to say "Thank you, God," and then to share something specific they loved about what they were seeing. It was wonderful to hear their unique observations –Eleanor thanked God for the grass; Annie thanked God for the animals; Minnie thanked God for India Mill; Thea thanked God for Darwen tower; Reggie thanked God for the flowers and Minnie thanked God for the water.. These simple acts of gratitude helped them connect their feelings of wonder directly to prayer. What was particularly heartwarming was how this experience naturally led us to talk about how we can look after God's world. The children, in their own words, came up with some fantastic ideas about being good "caretakers" of nature. We discussed how important it is not to throw litter and how we can help by picking up any rubbish we see. Their enthusiasm really shone through when we brainstormed even more creative ways to care for animals, such as making bird feeders for our feathered friends and even building "bug hotels" to provide cozy homes for insects! This outdoor RE lesson was a fantastic way to introduce concepts of spirituality, gratitude, and responsibility in a way that was accessible and engaging for our Reception children. They learned that prayer can be about thanking God for all the amazing things He has created, and that looking after our world is also a way of showing our appreciation.