Newsletters

As we come to the end of a busy and exciting term, we wanted to take a moment to share some highlights and updates with you.

Our students took part in activities to celebrate World Neurodiversity Week, learning about the strengths and challenges that come with different ways of thinking and learning. It was wonderful to see such engagement and understanding from our young learners.

We had a truly lovely Mother’s Day event, organised by our wonderful PTA with fantastic support from our Year Six students. Thank you to everyone who helped make this a memorable occasion for all the special mother figures in our children's lives.

Sadly, we are saying goodbye to two valued members of our school team this term. We wish Miss Smith and Mrs Church all the best in their future endeavours, and thank them for their hard work and dedication. At the same time, we are excited to welcome Miss Hussain - our new Year 4 teacher, and Mrs Reed - our new administration assistant, who will be joining us next term!

Looking ahead to the summer term - it promises to be an exciting one, with plenty of sporting events to look forward to. We can't wait to see our students get involved and showcase their talents!

Thank you for your continued support. Wishing you all a restful break, and we look forward to seeing everyone in the new term.

Mrs. Farmer

Red Nose Day Success! We are delighted to share that our Red Nose Day fundraising event was a huge success! Thanks to the generosity and enthusiasm of our school community, we raised an incredible amount for Comic Relief. A big thank you to everyone who participated and contributed.

Spring has sprung, and Iris class has been buzzing with excitement as we’ve celebrated the new season with lots of fun activities!

We started our spring journey by celebrating Pancake Day with a delicious twist! The children had a blast reading ‘Mr Wolf loves pancakes’, making pancakes and learning about the tradition. We enjoyed some tasty pancakes!

 

This term we’ve been learning all about minibeasts! From tiny ants to wiggly worms, the children have had a fantastic time exploring the wonderful world of these small creatures.

We started by going on a minibeast hunt around the school grounds, looking for insects and creatures in all sorts of places. The children were amazed to find ladybirds, spiders, and even a few caterpillars! We carefully observed their movements, sizes, and colours, and talked about where they live and what they eat.

In the classroom, we’ve been busy with creative activities, making minibeast models out of clay, with the help of some rolling pins and tools, the children shaped their clay into snail bodies and spiralled their shells. Some even added eyes and antennae to give their snails a personal touch!

To round off our spring adventures, we visited West Lodge Farm where the children had the chance to meet some new animal friends! We saw sheep, goats, cows, chickens, turkeys and even got to feed some baby lambs! The children loved feeding the animals and learning about life on the farm. The experience was both fun and educational, helping the children connect with nature and understand where some of our food comes from.

It’s been a fantastic start to the season, filled with laughter, learning, and plenty of springtime fun!

This term has been a very busy one in Apollo class. We have continued to work our socks off and have learnt lots.

We have loved Art this term in particular. We have been focusing on clay and design. We learnt how to stick pieces of clay together and the technical name for this; score and slip. We have created animals, pinch pots and our own tiles based on the design of a house. When designing our tiles we had to think carefully about the tools we needed to create different effects. We have loved getting a little messy and being creative.

In English, we have had a busy time writing stories, non-chronological reports and persuasive letters. Our story writing has really developed, and we are improving our vocabulary choices in every lesson!

We have combined our geography lessons with our science knowledge this term to look at ‘why can’t penguins fly?’. We have studied lots of maps looking at some of the coldest places in the world and the adaptations animals make in order to live there. We also looked at the Sahara desert and how camels adapt to the hot climate and sandy desert. We are really looking forward to our trip to Woburn to learn even more about animals and their habitats.

British Science Week was also an opportunity to use our knowledge for a science activity. We loved matching up the animals with their adaptations and turned it into a quiz game with our partners!

We are all excited to continue our learning after the Easter holidays, where we will be learning fractions, The Great Fire of London and how to create art maps!

What a fantastic term it has been in Poseidon Class! We’ve worked hard, learned a lot, and had fun along the way. Here’s a glimpse of everything we’ve been up to:

Science: This term in Science, we’ve been busy learning about the importance of nutrition for animals, including humans. We now understand that animals need the right types and amounts of food to stay healthy, and that they cannot make their own food. We also explored the amazing way humans and some animals have skeletons and muscles that support us, protect us, and help us move. We’ve been learning lots about how our bodies work and how to keep them strong!

Religious Education (RE): In RE, we’ve deepened our understanding of Christianity. Our key enquiry question this term has been: What is good about Good Friday? Through this, we’ve explored the significance of Good Friday in the Christian faith and discussed its meaning. It’s been great to think about the themes of sacrifice, hope, and new beginnings.

English: In English, we’ve continued to develop our writing skills. This term, we’ve been studying the book Flood and using it to inspire our own narratives. We’ve focused on planning, structuring, and improving our writing, and we’ve worked hard to create our own stories.

Mathematics: In Maths, we’ve been exploring fractions and measurement. We’ve learned how to divide objects and quantities into equal parts, and we’ve also focused on measuring mass and capacity. Understanding how to measure different things accurately has been very important, and we’ve worked hard to grasp these new concepts.

PSHE: This term, Harold the Giraffe has helped us with our PSHE lessons. We’ve explored the important topics of Rights and Respect and thought about how we can help each other stay safe. We’ve also had discussions about money and the environment, and how we can look after our world and use resources wisely.

History: The Stone Age This term, in History, we took an exciting journey back in time to the Stone Age. We explored how early humans lived, focusing on their survival techniques and the tools they used to shape the world around them. The Stone Age is divided into three main periods: the Palaeolithic, Mesolithic, and Neolithic. Each of these periods marked significant advancements in human development, from early stone tools to the discovery of farming.

We delved into how early humans depended on nature for food and shelter, using what was available in the environment to survive. The shift from hunting and gathering to farming was a major turning point, and we had engaging discussions about how this change shaped society.

One of the highlights of the term was our class trip to Irchester Country Park. We got to experience the natural surroundings that early humans would have relied on for survival. The trip really brought our lessons to life, and the students had an amazing time connecting what we learned in the classroom to the landscape.

This term, Athena’s class has embarked on an incredible journey of learning, creativity, and adventure! In English, they explored the inspiring poetry of activist Maya Angelou and raced through Ancient Egypt, writing thrilling diary entries about Tutankhamun’s chariot competition against his best friend, Maya. Maths was all about fractions—adding, subtracting, and mastering mixed and improper numbers. Science brought the fascinating world of sound to life, discovering how vibrations travel and shape our world. In History, they uncovered the legendary gods and myths of Ancient Greece, while in RE, they tackled deep discussions about Christianity and the power of forgiveness. Art lessons pushed creativity further, experimenting with tones and shades to manipulate perspective. Reading took them on a whirlwind tour of biographies, scientific discoveries, historical diaries, and even miraculous giraffes! 

But the biggest highlight? Their unforgettable residential at Duke’s Barn—abseiling off Miller’s Dale Viaduct, rock scrambling up the Peaks, canoeing through locks, and conquering fears. Not to mention getting to have a massive sleepover with our friends! With delicious homemade meals, film nights, and toasting marshmallows over the campfire, it was truly a term to remember!

As we come to the end of another exciting half term, we wanted to take a moment to celebrate all the amazing learning and achievements in our class. It’s been a busy few weeks filled with curiosity, creativity, and collaboration!

In English, we delved into the world of gothic horror, exploring eerie settings, suspenseful storytelling, and mysterious characters. The class embraced the challenge of crafting their own slightly creepy tales, using vivid descriptions and powerful language to captivate their readers.

In maths, we tackled fractions, decimals, and percentages, sharpening our problem-solving skills and developing a deeper understanding of number relationships. We also explored area and perimeter, applying our knowledge to real-life scenarios and challenging puzzles. It has been fantastic to see the pupils' confidence and mathematical fluency grow.

Science lessons have been an exciting journey into the world of forces. We investigated air resistance, gravity, friction, and water resistance through hands-on experiments, testing Newton’s laws and making real-world connections. The class also explored the mechanics of levers, pulleys, and gears, discovering how these simple machines make everyday tasks easier.

One of the highlights of this half term was our Geography topic on mountains. We examined how mountains are formed, their impact on climate and ecosystems, and the challenges faced by those who live in mountainous regions.

In PE, we have been honing our skills in badminton and basketball, focusing on teamwork, strategy, and technique. The students have shown great sportsmanship and determination in improving their game.

Our RE lessons sparked thoughtful discussions on the theme of free will versus destiny, linking this profound concept to the Christian Easter story. The class reflected on the significance of choices and their impact, engaging in meaningful conversations about different beliefs and perspectives.

As always, we are incredibly proud of the enthusiasm, effort, and progress shown by every student. We hope everyone has a restful and enjoyable break, and we look forward to another term filled with exciting learning adventures!

This term has been a term full of learning, growth, and memorable moments!

With only three weeks to go until SATs after the Easter break, Year 6 have been working incredibly hard to prepare. From practising key skills in reading, writing, and maths to tackling tricky questions with confidence, our pupils have shown fantastic dedication. I am proud of their efforts and know they will continue to do their best as we enter the final stretch.

One of the highlights of the term has been our class trip to the National Justice Museum in Nottingham, where the children took part in a mock court case in the courtroom. This hands-on experience helped them understand how the justice system works and what it’s like to be part of a real court case. They also explored Georgian and Tudor prisons, discovering the harsh conditions prisoners faced in the past. It was an eye-opening trip that brought history to life in an engaging and thought-provoking way.

We participated in a training session with the British Women’s Police Rugby Team; having the opportunity to learn teamwork, resilience, and new rugby skills from these inspiring athletes. The children showed great enthusiasm and sportsmanship, and it was wonderful to see them pushing themselves outside their comfort zones.

We welcomed the return of Pamela (from Coram Life Education) for an engaging and informative RSE (Relationships and Sex Education) session. The children approached the session with maturity and curiosity, gaining valuable knowledge that will help them as they continue to grow and navigate relationships in a responsible and thoughtful way. Another key event this term was our Parents’ Evening. It was a valuable opportunity to discuss progress, celebrate achievements, and set goals for the final term ahead. Thank you to all the parents who attended and for your continued support!

As we head into the Easter break, I would like to wish all our Year 6 pupils and their families a restful and enjoyable holiday. We look forward to another exciting and successful term ahead!

Demeter Class:

Mrs Haddon is recovering well from her operation. However, her recovery time is taking longer than expected, and she has been advised to have an additional six weeks off on medical leave. Mrs. Coe will continue to cover our Year 1 class for this further period of time.

 

Wrap Around Care:

Due to a new change in leadership within Hall Meadow Primary, it has been decided to delay our wrap-around care provision until September 2025. There will be further updates on this to come throughout next term.

 

School Rules

We have noticed a lack of following of school rules recently. These rules are in place for a reason - they incorporate our school values and are also there to help us with safeguarding and health and safety monitoring.

Please can we remind all parents / guardians of the following:

There are to be no bicycles or scooters ridden within the school grounds. Children must dismount and walk down with these.

Children remain your responsibility before they come into class and once they have been released to you in the afternoon. There have been instances of children breaking playground equipment after school and teachers having to step in to ask them to stop.

Parents/guardians should not use their mobile phones or have their mobile phones out within the school grounds - this includes texting and taking phone calls. This is to safeguard all of our children. Staff are within their rights to ask you to put your phone away.

Children who have been unwell at home and have been either vomiting or had diarrhoea must be off for 48 hours since the last episode.

Parents must ring into school by 9:30am at the latest to inform the school of their absence. An email to call the office will be made after this timeframe, but your child will still be marked as an unauthorised absence. If you are unable to ring school due to ill health, you may also email the school office to inform them of any absences.

Please ensure any medical or dental appointments are pre-arranged with the office and these should be kept to only emergency appointments within school termtime.

Please be aware, we will no longer give children medication if this can be accommodated outside of school hours. For example, any antibiotics which need to be administered three times a day or less will now be asked to be given at home.