Our Curriculum in Action in 2025/26!

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  This week in nursery, we have been enjoying  reading Pirates Love Underpants and the children were very engaged with the story.

Inspired by the book, the children designed their own colourful underpants, using their creativity and imagination to create unique patterns and designs.

In our water area, we also explored floating and sinking through hands-on experiments. The children investigated which objects floated and which sank, making predictions and discovering new ideas through play.

It has been a wonderful week full of learning, creativity, and fun!

 Our new topic in Reception has this big question  to be curious about - Who lives in a rock pool? As part of our Expressive arts and Design curriculum we love to give the children opportunities to play imaginatively with small world toys alongside real artefacts and have created two different areas to explore. As the children have been playing in these imaginative areas we are also hearing rich vocabulary as they name and describe the different creatures as well as seeing mathematical skills of sorting and classifying. Who would you find in a rock pool?  

This week, Conker class have been reading Handa's Surprise. They have really enjoyed exploring the story, learning about the different animals and talking about the variety of fruits in Handa’s basket. The children enjoyed naming and describing the different fruits, discussing their favourites and noticing which fruits were familiar or new to them. They also had the opportunity to taste some new fruits and talk about the different flavours and textures. The children had great fun making animal masks and using them to recreate scenes from the story through role play and storytelling activities. 

   In Reception, the children have been using clay to create a 3D minibeasts  of their choice. The clay was a different malleable texture to explore. This week they have painted them, selecting the most appropriate colours. 

  Conker Class have really enjoyed checking on their growing area this week. The sunshine has helped our plants to grow, and the children have been excited to see lots of changes happening in the garden!

The children have been comparing the different sizes of the plants, and we are beginning to see fruits and vegetables appearing. They have also been using cubes and string to measure the plants and find out which ones are the tallest.

It has been a very exciting week in the garden, and the children are looking forward to seeing what happens next!

 As part of Art week, Reception learned about fractals and how they are repeating patterns that get smaller and smaller. We then gathered our own natural materials and created some fractal art works on the ground in our playground. The children worked together to create patterns in different ways and were really creative in their designs! 

This half term in Nursery, our topic has been “What helps me grow?” We have been learning about the importance of sleep, exercise and healthy eating.

As part of our discussions, we talked about different types of food, including treats such as chocolate and cake. The children shared their ideas and we agreed that while these foods are enjoyable, we should have them occasionally as part of a balanced diet, alongside plenty of fruit and vegetables.

To support this learning, we took part in some cooking activities. The children made carrot muffins and banana bread, carefully weighing and measuring the ingredients. They showed great enthusiasm and teamwork throughout the process.

It was wonderful to see how this experience encouraged children to try new foods. Some children who usually refuse carrots really enjoyed the carrot muffins and even chose to try raw carrot afterwards. A number of them discovered that they liked it!

These activities have supported the children’s learning in many areas, including communication and language, personal, social and emotional development, and early maths skills.

 In Reception we have a new big question - Where do Minibeasts like to hide? The children have been exploring malleable materials such as playdough to design and make their own minibeasts which links to our Art curriculum where the skill is using 3D materials. We are so impressed with the detail in these models! Which minibeast would you make? 

  In English this week we have read Rosie Revere Engineer written by Andrea Beaty and illustrated by David Roberts. The story is about a girl called Rosie, who likes to invent new things from recycled materials. The story follows Rosie through her creativity, imagination, and resilience when things don't always go to plan. The children have enjoyed writing a poem about Rosie and designing their own invention in preperation to plan and write their own stories next week.

In Science we have been learning all about the 3 R's of recycling (Reduce, Reuse and Recycle) and what materials are suitable and unsuitable to recycle and reuse.

In Maths we have been learning to gather data to create tally charts, block diagrams and pictograms.

In Computing we have been learning how computers help to send and keep astronauts alive in space. The children enjoyed deciding and drawing what they would need to take with them if they were travelling to space for a holiday.

 The children have returned to school raring to go and have been working incredibly hard.

In English, we have started exploring our new book, The Last Wolf. The children enjoyed writing list poems to describe the deep, dark wood using adventurous vocabulary and imaginative ideas.

In Maths, we have been revisiting measurement, focusing on capacity, length and time. The children have been practising using different units of measurement and applying their understanding to practical activities.

In Geography, we have started a new unit learning about physical and human features. The children have enjoyed identifying features in different environments and discussing the differences between them.

Well done to Year 2! They have been working so hard this half term that they earned themselves a marble party! The children wore their own clothes to school and were able to bring a toy to school. In the afternoon, they played outside and had fun blowing bubbles!

Year 1 have had a fantastic week this week! In English, we have been looking at diaries and writing our own diary entries as Erin, trying to save Black Rock. The children showed great imagination and enthusiasm in their writing.

In Maths, we have been building our skills in counting in 2s, 5s and 10s. The children have worked really hard and are becoming much more confident with their counting patterns.

In History, we have continued our research into famous explorers and have all been impressed by the amazing Matthew Henson and his incredible achievements

This week in Year 2 we have written letters to Sir David Attenborough in English to celebrate his 100th Birthday. The children chose 2- 3 questions to ask him about what he has achieved in his life. Some of the questions were: What inspired you to dedicate your life to learning about animals?, What is your favourite animal and why?, What is the most beautiful place you have visited? and How does it feel to be 100 years old?

In Maths we have been learning how to find a half, a third, a quarter and three quarters of shapes and numbers. The children used bar models to show fractions of numbers and shaded shapes to show fractions.

In Art the children painted their clay pinch pots, which they made last week, through shaping and moulding using their hands. They learnt how to make slip (clay glue) and the  scoring technique (crossing) to stick two pieces of clay together.

Two weeks ago in Science we planted some broad bean seeds to investigate what seeds need to germinate. Seed A was given no water, seed B was given no light, seed C was given no warmth and seed D received light, water and warmth. The results were surprising and interesting!

Year 1 have been working incredibly hard this week!

In English, the children have been rewriting parts of The Story of Black Rock, showcasing their fantastic creativity and developing writing skills. It has been wonderful to see their confidence grow as they bring their ideas to life.

In Maths, we have been revisiting counting in 2s, 5s, and 10s. The class has been practising with enthusiasm and is becoming more fluent with these important number patterns.

In Art, we created 3D paper structures that truly amazed the teachers. The children demonstrated great imagination and careful construction skills, and the results were impressive. 

 This week has been a fun week in Year 2! 

In English we started to read The King Who Banned The Dark written by Emily Haworth-Booth and the children have been writing persuasive sentences to the King for and against banning the dark.

In Maths we have been learning how to find a half and a quarter of shapes and numbers through colouring, cutting and sharing.

In History our topic is What is a Monarch? We have learnt about the family tree of the Monarch, who the current Monarch is and what happens during the coronation of a new Monarch.

In Science we have been learning what conditions a seed needs to grow. We have started an experiment by growing seeds and changing only one variable. Seed A is not being given any water, seed B is not being given any light, seed C is not being given any warmth and seed D is receiving warmth, water and light. We will be looking at our seeds next week to see if they have germinated.

We started Art week by going on a walk around the school grounds looking for fractals in nature. The children collected flowers, sticks and leaves and created their own fractal piece of Art in the playground..

 Year 1 has had a great first week back. We have started a new story in English called The Secret of the Black Rock, and the children have really enjoyed meeting the new characters.

In maths, we have started learning about time. We have been looking at the days of the week and the months of the year, and we have even made our own clocks.

In history, we have begun exploring the topic of explorers. This week, we learned all about Dame Ellen MacArthur and her amazing accomplishments.

This week, Year 5 have had a very interesting and exciting week of learning. In English, the children took part in a survival boot camp in preparation for writing their own survival narratives. Throughout the week, they explored a range of survival skills, including identifying safe foods to eat in the wild, filtering dirty water, building shelters and learning how to make a fire. The children thoroughly enjoyed the practical activities and they will use these experiences to inspire their creative writing. 

During PSHE, we focused on online safety and discussed the differences between friends and acquaintances. The children explored the importance of making safe and sensible choices online and learned ways to stay smart and safe when communicating digitally. In Geography, we have been learning about the characteristics of desert biomes. The children focused on the Mojave desert. 

Well done to Year 5 for another fantastic week of learning!

This week, half of Year 6 have been on school journey and the other half have been making the most of what London has to offer with some great trips! 

On Tuesday, they enjoyed a fantastic opportunity to visit the British Library in London and explore its enchanting Fairytale exhibition, which runs until 23 August 2026. This immersive, family-friendly showcase took us on a fascinating journey through the origins, evolution and global impact of traditional folklore. Pupils were captivated by the rare manuscripts, original illustrations and interactive displays, which brought beloved stories to life in exciting and unexpected ways. The exhibition certainly inspired curiosity and imagination in our children while giving us a deeper appreciation of the enduring power of fairy tales across cultures and generations.

  This week in English, Year 5 finished writing their exciting jungle narratives. The children worked incredibly hard to create descriptive settings, build suspense, and develop interesting characters in their stories. In Geography, Year 5 explored the ideas of philosophy and developed their understanding of Ancient Greece. The children enjoyed discussing different beliefs and ways of thinking from the ancient world. In Science, we investigated water resistance by exploring whether different shapes of playdough would sink at different rates. The children made predictions, carried out investigations, and discussed their results like real scientists. In Art, we have begun creating artwork inspired by Heritage by Cai Guo-Qiang. Our artwork focused has on spreading awareness about the importance of protecting our oceans and reducing plastic pollution. In PSHE, we continued learning about budgets and finances, as well as discussing safe and sensible spending online. In RE, we explored census data from Barnet to learn more about religion in our local area and understand how diverse the borough is. 

 What an amazing week for Year 6! The week started with breakfast from 8:15 with toast and cereal. There definitely seemed to be a competition amongst some of the children as to who could consume the most toast! Did anyone beat 6 slices?

After that we had some chill-out time and a pep talk from the teachers. It was test time!

This week the Year 6s sat 6 tests across four days and smashed every single one of them! Each child approached them calmly and with a positive "I can" attitude. Their test behaviour was excellent and we are proud of every single one of them.

Next we will be working hard on Enterprise week and the forthcoming production. Watch this space!

This week, Year 5 have been exploring the fascinating world of the Ancient Greek Empire and learning about Greek gods and goddesses. The children enjoyed discovering the beliefs, stories and culture of Ancient Greece and shared some fantastic discussions and ideas during lessons.

In Science, we have been investigating gravity and forces. As part of our learning, the children carried out a parachute experiment using balloons to explore air resistance. We discovered that the larger the balloon, the longer it took to fall because of the increased air resistance acting upon it. The children showed great curiosity and enthusiasm whilst conducting their investigations.

Meanwhile, in PSHE, we have been focusing on our environment. Following on from One Tree Day, the children planted a variety of herbs, which they have been carefully looking after in their classrooms. It has been wonderful to see the children taking responsibility and showing pride in caring for their plants.

Well done to Year 5 for another fantastic week of learning!

   Year 6 have been hard at work preparing for the end of key stage tests which begin on the 11th of May. The year 6s are absolutely ready for this and cannot wait to show how brilliant they are. We have been practising lots since September, which has really helped everyone shed their anxiety. We may not know which questions will come up, but we know we have the skills to tackle them! There will be lots more revision as we prepare and - of course- during test week there will be the special Year 6 breakfast which is always popular! We are so proud of our children and how far they have come on their learning journey, we cannot wait for them to show everyone just how impressive they are! Keep it up Year 6! 

  This week, Year 5 had a fantastic opportunity to take part in a field trip to our local brook. During the visit, we investigated pollution in the area and explored how we can help care for our local environment. We were pleased to find that the brook and surrounding area were very well looked after, with little to no pollution present. However, we did notice that there were no bins nearby, which led to some thoughtful discussions about how facilities can help keep public spaces clean. The children represented the school brilliantly and showed great enthusiasm throughout the trip. 

 Year 6 have had a fantastic start to the new term and their last term of primary school! With the end of key stage two tests now less than four weeks away everyone is focussed and determined. In English we have begun looking at the Endurance expedition to the South Pole where Ernest Shackleton and his men attempted to cross the continent of Antarctica but faced unimaginable hurdles and life-threatening problems. In a couple of weeks we will have finished an endurance narrative based on this expedition. In Maths we have been looking at angles and how to calculate missing angles with known facts. We have made sure to remember that a right angle adds to 90, a straight line 180 and points around a centre 360. We have also covered adjacent angles and vertically opposite angles which sounds really hard but is easy once you know the trick! Next week more angles but in the context of triangles. Do you already know what the interior angles of a triangle add up to?