Find out more here and apply to #JoinOurCrew – https://xptrust.org/xp-trust-cleaners/
We’re looking for Cleaners at XP Trust
Seaside Explorers.
Last week the children were hooked into our second case study about “Who would have adventures at sea?” Beginning with an immersive dress up day. Children came to school dressed in beautiful pirate, mermaid or other sea themed costumes. Teachers also dressed as a whole range of seaside explorers too, to broaden the ‘children’s understanding of who you may expect to see at the seaside having adventures. Don’t we all look brilliant!!
The children were engaged in story telling during Tranquil Tuesday crew, where they each acted out sea themed stories using props to use as problems and solutions, developing stories using our Tales Tool kit format. The children individually chose the props for the story they took part in making their story unique to them.
During our mindful Monday Crew the children made sea and sand sensory bottles to show them what happens where the sea meets the shore. This helped them to understand where people have adventures at sea and understand the concept of the stories being based either on or under the water.
Later in the week the children used a photo of them from our immersive dress up day, to help them write a sea themed adventure story using the tales tool kit format. The children chose whether they would be the character or the problem as some of our characters were goodies and some were more tricky! As the children told and drew their stories using a character, a setting, a problem and a solution, grown ups scribed for them.
Beautiful work
Class 4 have been working incredibly hard on their home learning projects this term. The children created some fantastic under the sea habitats and spent some time researching interesting facts about different sea creatures. They were super proud to present their work to the class. We have also been producing some excellent recount writing based on our fieldwork visit to The Deep.
We’re looking for a Teacher at Green Top!
XP Festival of Arts and Culture 2026
On Thursday 25th June, the XP Festival of Arts and Culture returns to XP Doncaster, bringing together students, families, staff and artists for a joyful celebration of creativity and community.
Get your tickets here: https://www.ticketsource.com/xptrust/t-oemmpmr
Sharing our Stories: 22/05/2026
Beautiful work this week
Here’s a selection of beautiful work from across the XP Trust!
To read about other stories from across the XP Trust, visit xptrust.org.
Top of the Blogs
Fieldwork to the Deep @ Norton Infants
Being Crew, Showing Courage and Confidence for Exams! @ XP Doncaster
Ancient Greek Pottery @ Norton Juniors
Share your stories with us!
Write to us at [email protected] – we want to hear about it, write about it and celebrate it!
We’re looking for a Teacher of Geography and Expeditions at XP Doncaster
Find out more and apply to #JoinOurCrew! https://xptrust.org/xp-doncaster-teacher-of-geography-expeditions/
Fieldwork to The Deep
Today, our Key Stage One children embarked on an exciting fieldwork visit to The Deep — and what an incredible day it was!
From the moment we arrived, the children were completely immersed in the wonders of the ocean. As they explored the aquarium, they encountered magnificent sharks, graceful stingrays, colourful tropical fish and fascinating creatures from oceans around the world. There were gasps of amazement, endless excitement and so many thoughtful conversations as the children connected their learning from school to the real world around them.
One of the highlights of the day was taking part in a fantastic workshop all about protecting our oceans from plastic pollution. The children learned about the devastating impact plastic can have on marine life and explored simple but powerful ways we can all help care for our planet. We were incredibly proud of the way the children engaged with the session — asking insightful questions, sharing their own knowledge and showing genuine compassion for the animals affected by pollution.
Perhaps the thing we were proudest of all was the children’s impeccable behaviour throughout the day. Their enthusiasm, curiosity and kindness shone from start to finish. In fact, several members of the public took the time to comment on how polite, respectful and engaged our children were — something that made all the adults very proud indeed!
The visit was a wonderful opportunity to bring our expedition learning to life and helped the children see that even small actions can make a big difference in protecting our oceans. We returned to school inspired, informed and even more determined to help care for the world around us.
Well done, Year 2 — you were a real credit to our school!
Sharing our Stories: 15/05/2026
Beautiful work this week
Here’s a selection of beautiful work from across the XP Trust!
To read about other stories from across the XP Trust, visit xptrust.org.
Top of the Blogs
Uncovering a big problem @ Norton Infants
Something Better Change @ XP Doncaster
The band is just fantastic that is really what I think @ Norton Juniors
Share your stories with us!
Write to us at [email protected] – we want to hear about it, write about it and celebrate it!
Diving into Case Study Two!
This week, we launched into Case Study Two by exploring the exciting question: Who would you see having adventures at sea?
The children arrived at school dressed as people they might spot in or around the sea, and what an exciting start to our new learning journey it was! We met pirates, sharks, sea explorers, turtles, mermaids and many more adventurous characters. The costumes and role play ideas really helped to immerse the children in our expedition learning.
Throughout the day, the children dived into imaginative storytelling and role play, creating exciting sea adventures together. They explored different characters, settings and problems their stories might include, using lots of wonderful language and creativity.
To finish our hook day, each child created their own story plan for an exciting sea adventure tale. Every story is completely different and full of imagination — from Sonic at sea to magical glitter and sharks that bite ! We cannot wait to begin writing and developing these stories over the next few weeks.
