Newsletters

This term has been a term filled with enrichment and collaboration, and I am delighted to share some of the highlights with you.

We have welcomed many visitors into school, all working with the children to provide exciting and inspiring learning experiences. Neil Carr, from Northants Police, visited Year 6 to deliver an important session on County Lines, raising awareness about the risks and dangers associated with criminal exploitation. This was an eye-opening and informative session that empowered our pupils with knowledge and strategies to stay safe. We welcomed the return of Pamela and Harold (the giraffe) from the Coram Life Education team to school. Pam worked with each class on key PSHE topics, provided valuable discussions about well-being, relationships, and making positive choices, reinforcing the importance of personal development. We look forward to working with Pamela again later in the year. The police came into school at the end of the term and delivered an exciting morning full of activities. Key Stage 2 pupils learnt how to lead an investigation as detectives and explored the use of drones in policing. Meanwhile, reception and Key Stage 1 children had a thrilling experience visiting a police car, sounding the siren, and learning about the role of officers in our community. To conclude the morning, the whole school gathered in the hall to watch footage of the drone tracking down the ‘chocolate cake thief’ who was lurking behind the shed.

As part of our staff development, teachers had the opportunity to visit Standens Barn Primary School, where they collaborated with the teachers to moderate our children’s writing. This valuable professional discussion helped ensure consistency and high expectations across both schools.

Our School Improvement Advisor, the CEO of InMAT (Helen Williams) and our School Improvement Lead (Simon Blight) have spent time in our school this term. They have been into lessons and have provided valuable feedback to staff. Our visitors have engaged with pupils, who confidently shared their learning experiences with them.

Year 4 had an exciting day trip to Cambridge Science Centre, where they explored a range of interactive exhibits and hands-on activities that sparked their curiosity about science. Along the way, they also spotted some statues —some of which, to their amusement, were not wearing any clothes! It was a fun and educational experience that left everyone with plenty to talk about.

During Children’s Mental Health Week, we took the time to remind ourselves of the importance of mental health by coming to school dressed in bright colours, expressing our feelings. As a school, we raised approximately £150 for the mental health charity MIND—an incredible effort for such a worthy cause. Thank you to all who donated.

It was fantastic to see so many parents attend our Parent Advice Fayre, expertly run by Mrs. Ricotta and Mrs. Jeffs, alongside various external agencies. The event provided valuable advice and resources to support families in numerous aspects of school and home life. We also held a spelling workshop for parents, introducing our new spelling scheme and sharing practical strategies to support spelling at home. Thank you to all parents who attended these events.

I would like to thank our dedicated staff, supportive parents and most importantly, our wonderful pupils for making this term a success. We look forward to another exciting term ahead and hope you all have a wonderful break!

Best wishes, Miss Kate Letts, Deputy Headteacher

Our school community was delighted to welcome local author Garry Dix as he officially opened our brand-new library with a special ribbon-cutting ceremony. The event, held on 28th January, marked an exciting milestone in promoting literacy and a love for reading amongst our students.

Following the ribbon-cutting, Mr. Dix hosted a book signing session, where students and parents had the opportunity to meet him, ask questions, and have their books personally signed. His inspiring words about the power of storytelling and imagination left a lasting impression on all who attended.

Parents were also invited to join their children on this day for a "Read with Children session" and they were able to come in after school and explore the new library space and discover the wide range of books now available. It was heart-warming to see families engaging with literature and sharing the joy of reading together.

Mr. Dix also visited our Year 6 class where he engaged in a question and answer session, which has helped inspire and encourage Year 6 in their own independent writing.

We are grateful to Mr. Dix for being part of this special occasion and to everyone who contributed to making the library a welcoming and inspiring place for our students. We look forward to seeing our young readers dive into new adventures within the pages of their favourite books!

We began the term with our New Year’s celebrations, where the children explored different traditions from around the world. They created colourful crafts, danced to festive music, and learnt about the significance of New Year’s in various cultures. It was a wonderful opportunity to develop an appreciation for diversity and celebration in different forms.

One of the highlights of the term was our Chinese New Year celebrations. The children took part in exciting activities, including making dragon masks, learning about the zodiac animals, and trying their hand at traditional Chinese calligraphy. They also enjoyed a fun, interactive dragon dance, which brought a burst of energy and enthusiasm to the classroom.

Our maths and literacy lessons have focused on building strong foundations in early reading and number recognition. The children have been learning new sounds and blending them to read simple words, while also developing their understanding of numbers through hands-on activities such as counting, sorting, and measuring. We have been enjoying learning about the stories ‘Goldilocks and the Three Bear’, ‘We’re Going on a Bear Hunt’ and ‘The Gingerbread Man’. We even decorated our very own Gingerbread Men. They were delicious!

In Design Technology, the children had a hands-on experience making delicious vegetable soup. After learning about different ingredients and how to follow simple recipes, they got to chop, stir, and mix their own creations. It was a fantastic opportunity for them to practice their fine motor skills, work together as a team, and take pride in their cooking. The best part? Tasting the soup, they made – a real treat after all their hard work! We either really liked it or really did not like it!

The highlight of the term has been the beginning of our Forest School adventures, where children have spent time outdoors, connecting with nature and discovering the beauty of the natural world. These sessions have encouraged teamwork, problem-solving, and imaginative play, allowing children to build confidence and independence in an exciting and supportive environment.

This term, Iris class has been embracing the great outdoors with our ‘Welly Wednesday’ sessions! Every week, the children venture into the school’s woodland area, where they engage in hands-on learning experiences that encourage exploration, creativity, and teamwork.

From building dens and creating nature art to learning how to identify trees and observe wildlife, the children have been developing important skills such as problem-solving, communication, and resilience. Forest School allows the children to connect with nature, fostering a sense of independence and self-confidence in a safe, supportive environment.

The sessions have been filled with excitement and curiosity, as the children discover the wonders of the natural world. It’s been amazing to see their faces light up as they climb trees, jump in puddles, and uncover the many secrets of the forest. We look forward to many more adventures in the coming weeks!

Forest School is not only about learning in nature but about helping the children to thrive through play.

What a wonderful first term together we have had! The children have been enthusiastic learners, exploring the fascinating world of weather through engaging activities and discussions. From sunshine to storms, they have deepened their understanding of the world around them.

In addition to our weather exploration, we have made fantastic progress in reading, writing, and maths. The children have worked hard to develop their literacy skills, grow in confidence as writers, and tackle exciting mathematical challenges. Their enthusiasm and dedication have been truly inspiring!

We are so proud of their achievements this term and look forward to another exciting term ahead. Thank you for your continued support.

Apollo class have been working hard in all the lessons this term and have been introduced to lots of new learning too.

Our focus in maths this term has been money and multiplication. As a class, we enjoyed looking at different coins and adding them together to make new amounts. We have spent the past couple of weeks looking at multiplication and division, which has been difficult to get our heads around. We have all shown great resilience and independence to use maths resources to help us with making groups and sharing amounts. We are excited to continue with this after half-term.

We have had a very exciting few weeks in science looking at habitats. The whole class have become scientists and took learning outside to look at microhabitats. We loved learning about where animals live and explaining why they need to live there.

Music has been a huge favourite of everyone’s this term. We have got stuck into our new music scheme and learnt Grandma Rap! We have been able to follow along with beats and learn all about crotchets and quavers.

Monsters have also made a visit to Apollo class this half-term with our DT topic focusing on mechanisms. Everyone was successful in making and designing a moving monster. We learnt about pivots and linkages and have been able to use this knowledge to create moving monsters.

This term in Poseidon class, we’ve had an exciting and productive time learning across a range of subjects. From understanding forces in Science to constructing castles in DT, we’ve gained valuable knowledge and skills.

Science – Forces: This term in Science, Poseidon class has been learning all about forces! We’ve explored the different types of forces, including contact forces like friction and non-contact forces like gravity. We have enjoyed practical experiments, testing how forces affect the movement of objects.

Geography – Earthquakes: In Geography, we studied earthquakes and their devastating impact on communities. We focused on real-life earthquake events in New Zealand, Chile, and Haiti, learning about the causes, effects, and recovery efforts of these disasters. This topic has helped the children understand both the science behind earthquakes and the human side of natural disasters.

Maths – Multiplication and Division: In Maths, we’ve been working hard on multiplication and division. focusing on both times tables and more complex word problems. We’ve used practical and mental methods, including resources, to reinforce their understanding. We also explored the relationship between multiplication and division, which has helped them gain a deeper understanding of these operations.

English – The Happy Prince: Our English lessons have been inspired by The Happy Prince by Oscar Wilde. After reading this beautiful story, which focuses on themes of kindness and sacrifice, the children wrote their own independent pieces. This allowed them to showcase their understanding of the story and develop their creative writing skills.

PSHE – Keeping Safe: In PSHE, we’ve been learning about keeping safe in various situations. The children have explored risky or dangerous situations, both in the real world and online, and discussed ways to stay safe. We discussed the difference between helpful and harmful medicines, emphasising the importance of using medicine safely and only when necessary. To further enhance their understanding, we had a visit from the Life Education Team, with Harrold helping us learn more about the body and brain.

Religious Education – Christianity and Miracles: In RE, our focus has been on Christianity and the miracles performed by Jesus. Through Bible stories, we explored themes of healing and compassion, reflecting on the question: “Could Jesus heal people?” The children enjoyed discussing the significance of these stories and their relevance in Christian teachings.

Design and Technology – Castle Construction: In DT, the children have had a fantastic time learning about the construction of 3D models of castles. By creating 3D nets, they have applied their understanding of materials and structures to design and build their models. This hands-on project has encouraged creativity, problem-solving, and teamwork.

Athena’s spring term has been filled with excitement and discovery! In English, students explored the human digestive and immune systems, crafting detailed explanation texts. They embarked on a magical adventure with Journey, where a simple crayon led to incredible storytelling. Reading lessons brought plenty of laughter as they followed Loki’s mischievous attempts to blend in as an 11-year-old boy. In History, they delved into Ancient Greek civilisation, enhanced by an inspiring trip to the Cambridge Faculty of Classics. Science lessons sparked curiosity as they explored electricity and even saved a plane from crashing during an electrical emergency workshop at the Cambridge Science Centre. While there, they engaged with gravity, coding robots, and microscopic organisms. DT saw them designing their own torches, and in computing, they used the FMS Logo to create exciting digital designs. Finally, they deepened their understanding of Buddhist beliefs in happiness. What an incredible term!

This half-term, Ares Class has been on an incredible journey through science, English, and art, all centred around the theme of Earth and beyond.

In science, we explored our solar system, studied the phases of the moon, and even built our own sundials. Our English lessons took us on a thrilling adventure to Mars, where we wrote transmission reports back to the control center. Things got so desperate on the Red Planet that we had to rely on our own… waste to grow potatoes—just like real astronauts might!

Meanwhile, in art, we took inspiration from retro-futuristic artwork, imagining how past generations envisioned the future. Now, we’re creating our own pieces to showcase our own vision of what’s to come!

In religious education, we continued our studies of Sikhism, reflecting on what we can learn from Sikh stories and teachings in 2025.

And finally, despite some rather fierce winds, we’ve been honing our skills in both gymnastics and hockey—demonstrating impressive determination and teamwork!

It’s been an exciting half-term, and we can’t wait for what’s next!

In Year 6, this term has been full of new learning experiences and fantastic achievements across all subjects. In maths, the children have been tackling some challenging algebra, pushing their problem-solving skills to new heights. Despite the difficulty, they have shown great resilience and determination in mastering complex equations and expressions. During reading lessons, we have been exploring Goodnight Mister Tom. The children have engaged deeply with the story, developing their comprehension and analytical skills. Our writing lessons have been just as inspiring, as we have been crafting adventure narratives based on Kensuke’s Kingdom. In history, we have been delving into the fascinating world of the Vikings, particularly their raids and the impact they had on Britain. Design and Technology lessons have been hands-on and practical, with pupils using wood and saws to create models of playground equipment. Our PE lessons have been packed with energy as we have focused on netball. The children have shown great enthusiasm and improvement in their passing, shooting, and teamwork skills.

Alongside our curriculum work, Zeus Class has worked incredibly hard in their assessments, with fantastic academic progress being made.

We have also been fortunate to welcome some special visitors to our class. Northants Police delivered an informative session on County Lines, helping to educate our students on such a topical issue. We were also thrilled to have author Garry Dix join us for a fascinating question-and-answer session about his books and the writing process.

Well done to all of Zeus Class for their hard work and enthusiasm this term – we look forward to seeing what next term brings!

"The Case of the Missing Cake" - A School-Wide Detective Mystery

An exciting Police Investigation has taken place at Hall Meadow Primary School! This week, the school was transformed into a real-life detective scene as students and staff took part in an exciting police-led investigation where students became detectives to solve the case of the missing cake. The special event aimed to educate students about law enforcement and investigative skills while making learning fun and interactive.

Local police officers have been introducing the world of crime-solving, the concept of investigation, forensic science and detective work. Students were thrilled to see a real police car, an unmarked vehicle, and even a police drone in action! Officers explained how they use different tools and techniques to investigate crimes and find clues.

The mystery unfolded when it was announced that a delicious cake had gone missing from the staff room. With the whole school involved, students took on the role of detectives, searching for evidence scattered across the school grounds. Clues included a footprint, an empty drink can, a cake box and a mobile phone which held even more evidence! Working in teams, students piece together the information, using their critical thinking and problem-solving skills.

As the investigation progressed, students from Year 4–6 had the opportunity to go through the evidence and put together a case. It then turned out that the culprit had gone on the run, but with the help of the police drone and the school hall projector, we were able to find the suspect thanks to thermal imaging and apprehend them - it was Miss Letts! With help from two of our pupils, she was arrested on camera and the case was officially closed, bringing cheers and laughter from students and staff alike.

The event was not only engaging but also educational, giving students a hands-on experience with investigative techniques while reinforcing the importance of teamwork and perseverance. The police officers praised the students for their enthusiasm and detective skills!

A huge thank you to the local police force for making this an unforgettable experience. We look forward to more exciting educational events in the future!

On Tuesday 11th February, we held a successful parent advice fair at school. This was attended by Northants Police, Kettering MIND, reducing parent conflict (family Hubs), school nursing team, SEND support services and SEND IASS service.

Parents from across the school year groups attended and were able to speak directly to these services about any worries they may have or any advice they needed.

There was also information about our school, no outsider scheme and our Safeguarding, wellbeing and SEND provision in school.

This was well received by all parents and the external professionals who attended.

We hope to be able to run this sort of event again and help our parents to access services and advice on a one-to-one basis. If you ever need any of the details for any of these services, please speak with the school office.

A big thank you to PACT for providing refreshments for all our parents and visitors.

Mrs Ricotta and Mrs Jeffs.

February

24th at 3.30pm - Dukes Barn Residential Parents Meeting 

25th at 9am - Read Write Inc Session Reception Class Only

26th at 9am - Read Write Inc Session Demeter Class Only

 

March

6th - World Book Day 

10th - 12th - Year 4 Residential

18th - Parents Evenings Year 2 - Year 6

19th - Parents Evenings Year 2 - Year 6

20th at 2:45pm - Read with Children Session

21st - Red Nose Day Wear Red Mufti

26th at 2:15pm - Rock Steady Concert

28th - Poseidon School Trip

31st - Reception School Trip

 

April

1st April - Zeus School Trip

2nd April - Apollo School Trip

3rd April - PACT Easter Disco