Gazette 24/04/2026

Year to date 94.5%

We expect pupils to be in school everyday.

We will not authorise term time absence except in exceptional circumstances and where appropriate, Essex County Council will issue fines.

Classes:

This week, the class with the highest attendance was 6CH with 97.9%.  Well done!  The attendance reward will be coming your way.

News from EYFS

This week, we have continued exploring our exciting “Under the Sea” topic.  The children have thoroughly enjoyed the story The Snail and the Whale and have impressed us with their expanding vocabulary.  They have been using rich and imaginative phrases such as “colossal waves,” “starlit shimmering sky,” and “the volcano is erupting!”  It has been wonderful to see their enthusiasm for language, and they have successfully used some of  this vocabulary to write sentences including conjunctions.

In phonics, we have begun Level 4.  This includes a focus on adjacent consonants and vowels, alongside learning new tricky words.

The children have been very busy in our creative areas, making their own octopus and crab models.  They have also enjoyed learning key facts about these fascinating sea creatures.

In Maths, the children have been practising counting to 20 and beyond.  We have also been exploring patterns when building numbers to 20, helping the children to develop a deeper understanding of number patterns.

News from the Resource Base

RBH: We started the week with some Mental Maths, looking at subtraction.  The children had to consider (depending on the calculation) if it’s better to find the difference or count back.  We continued the week, in Maths, looking at mass.  The children compared objects using the language of ‘heavier than’, ‘lighter than’ and equal to.  We have also experienced holding and comparing one gram and one kilogram.

In English, the children have been planning and writing their own set of instructions on how to play a playground game, of their choice.  As part of this learning, we have recapped the use of time adverbs (e.g. first, next, after that, finally), general adverbs (e.g. carefully, politely, kindly) and conjunctions (e.g. and, so, but, or, when, because).

The children have been creative and reflective in their learning!

RBR: We have been focusing on dividing fractions and finding fractions of an amount.  The children have applied their understanding to a range of word problems, testing their reasoning and deepening their confidence with this skill.

In English, we have been exploring how to build curiosity and atmosphere in an opening scene.  Instead of beginning with time adverbials or conjunctions, the children have experimented with starting sentences using a single word or a powerful adjective to immediately engage the reader.

In guided reading, we are nearing the end of Wonder.  The children have thoroughly enjoyed this book, which has led to thoughtful reflections and meaningful discussions around themes such as empathy, kindness, and understanding others.

It has been a fantastic week of learning, with the children showing great maturity, creativity, and determination across all areas.

RBN: We have been exploring scaling and length in Maths.  The children have been developing their understanding of measurement, comparing lengths and applying their knowledge to solve a range of practical problems.

In English, we have been focusing on building atmosphere and generating ideas for character and setting descriptions.  To spark their imagination, the children stepped into the role of tightrope walkers, responding to the prompt: “You have been chosen.  Only the brave can walk above the city…” This exciting scenario encouraged them to think creatively, using descriptive language to bring their ideas to life.

It has been a fantastic week of imaginative thinking and growing confidence across the curriculum.

Influential Figure – Lionel Messi

Lionel Messi is an inspiring footballer who is known around the world for his incredible skill, dedication, and teamwork.  Born in Argentina, he worked very hard from a young age to develop his talent, overcoming challenges to become one of the greatest players in the sport.  Messi’s story shows children the importance of perseverance, practice, and believing in yourself.  He also demonstrates how sharing your skills and working together as part of a team can lead to success and bring people together through sport.

Music Moment

Our music moment this week was Shakira – Waka Waka (This Time for Africa).

Fortnightly Focus – Ambition

Over the next fortnight, we are focusing on ambition across the school.  This means making sure all children are working towards high goals, whatever their starting point.  In class, we will be building learning step by step, so pupils develop deep understanding, while encouraging them to think hard and challenge themselves rather than just complete tasks.  We will also be supporting children to reach these high expectations without lowering the level of challenge and using assessment carefully to spot any gaps and help them improve further.  You can support this at home by encouraging your child to aim high, talk about their learning in detail, and keep going when they find things challenging.