🌟 Welcome to Class Five! 🌟

24th August 2026Laura Parsons

What a first day! We have had such a busy, exciting and joyful start to our new school year, and it has been wonderful to see the children settling into Class Five, getting to know one another and beginning to discover what kind of crew we are going to be.

🔐 Our Class Five Time Capsule

We began our day in our Crews, before starting something very special — our Class Five Time Capsule!

We wanted to capture a little snapshot of who we are right now, on the very first day of our new school year.

Each child created their own information sheet, telling us about some of their favourite things, what they enjoy, what they are good at and what they would like to get better at this year. We also took a handprint and measured each child’s height using a piece of wool.

All of these precious pieces are now going into our time capsule, ready to be sealed away until the last day of school.

We wonder…

How much will we have changed by the time we open it? ❤️

Will our favourite things still be our favourites? Will we have grown taller? Will we still enjoy the same things? What will we have learned? And, perhaps most importantly, who will we have become?

We can’t wait to find out!

🧚 Does Crew stop at the school gates?

We have also started thinking about our first week back question:

“Does Crew stop at the school gates?”

This is a question that we will keep coming back to throughout the week as we explore what it really means to be part of a crew and how we can look after and support one another both in school and beyond.

Today, we began designing our very own Book Fairies to help us explore this question. Our Book Fairies are going to have an important job to do, and we can’t wait to see where this learning takes us!

🧚📚 Keep checking our blog throughout the week to find out more…

👀 Our Classroom: Look, Sound & Feel

We then spent some time thinking about something really important:

What do we want our classroom to LOOK like?
What do we want our classroom to SOUND like?
What do we want our classroom to FEEL like?

We talked about what would help everyone to feel happy, safe, included and ready to learn. We thought carefully about how the choices we make and the way we treat one another can help us create the kind of classroom we all want to be part of.

There were some fantastic ideas, and we are going to keep building on these throughout our first week together.

🔎 The Mysterious Envelope…

And then, after our afternoon break, something very mysterious happened…

We discovered a mysterious envelope waiting for us!

Inside was a message telling us that something special had been hidden in our classroom — but there was a problem…

It could only be found if we worked together as a CREW!

And so began our very first Class Five Treasure Hunt!

We had five challenges to complete: building the tallest tower we could, taking part in some very silly charades, keeping a balloon off the floor, spotting what had changed in our classroom and completing a very special kindness challenge.

There was lots of laughter, lots of teamwork and lots of excitement as we worked our way through the challenges.

Most importantly, the children were already showing us what we had been talking about all day:

Listen carefully.
Help each other.
Have fun!

After completing all of the challenges, we discovered our final clue…

WE ARE CREW! ❤️

What a perfect way to finish our first day together.

We ended the day knowing a little more about each other, having shared lots of smiles and laughter, and already beginning to build the classroom community we hope Class Five will become.

Day One was pretty special.

And this is only the beginning… ✨

📚✨ Final Word Preparation ✨📚

15th June 2026Laura Parsons

Today, we spent time preparing for our upcoming Final Word, focusing on one of our most important learning habits: reflection.

We journeyed back through all of the expeditions we have completed this year, revisiting beautiful pieces of work and remembering the learning experiences that helped us grow. The children were amazed to see the progress they have made, spotting improvements in their writing, artwork, presentation and overall craftsmanship.

As part of our preparation, the children worked together to support one another in selecting pieces of work to share with their families. Some chose work they are especially proud of, while others selected pieces that they found challenging and had to really grapple with before achieving success.

It was wonderful to hear the children talking so thoughtfully about their learning journey and celebrating how far they have come. We can’t wait for them to share these special pieces and reflections with you at Final Word! 🌟

World Cup Fever in Class 5!

12th June 2026Laura Parsons

Class 5 has been well and truly bitten by the World Cup bug!

As part of our Class 5 sweepstake, each child was allocated two countries to support throughout the tournament. We have spent time developing our research skills by finding out more about our countries, including where they are in the world, interesting facts about them and their football traditions.

Using our research, we then created our very own World Cup bunting display. We carefully studied each country’s flag, paying close attention to colours, shapes and patterns to ensure our designs were as accurate as possible. This challenged us to be precise and pay close attention to detail.

The classroom is now looking fantastic, with flags from around the world proudly displayed and lots of excitement as we follow the progress of our teams. We are looking forward to seeing how our countries perform and finding out who will be crowned World Cup champions!

Good luck to all of our Class 5 teams!

Crew Parkinson: Building Resilience Through Tangrams!

10th June 2026Laura Parsons

Resilience was out in full force this morning in Crew Parkinson!

Our children were challenged to create different animals using tangram puzzles. It wasn’t always easy, and there were plenty of moments where we had to persevere, rethink our ideas and try a different approach. The children showed fantastic determination as they grappled with the challenge and refused to give up when the pieces didn’t quite fit the first time.

Once everyone had chosen their favourite animal design, we set about transforming it into our own tangram puzzle. The children carefully added colour and features to bring their creations to life, thinking about how they could make them both attractive and challenging for others to solve.

Next week, we’ll be sharing our puzzles with our crew mates and putting each other’s problem-solving skills to the test. We can’t wait to see who can crack the challenges that have been created!

A wonderful morning of creativity, perseverance and teamwork—well done, Crew Parkinson! 🧩✨

Can You Help George Escape?

9th June 2026Laura Parsons

This week, Year 2 became mathematicians and detectives as we took part in a Maths Escape Room challenge!

Poor George the baker was working late one night in the cake shop when his mischievous colleague, Keirra, decided he needed a bit more fun in his life. She locked him inside the bakery and left a series of clues for him to solve. To help George escape, we had to work through five different mathematical challenges, collecting a number code from each one. At the end, we used all of the codes to unlock the final puzzle and set George free!

Along the way, we used lots of the maths skills we have been learning this year, including addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, telling the time and finding fractions. The challenges really made us think carefully and apply our knowledge in different ways.

What impressed me most, however, was not just the maths. I saw fantastic examples of compassion, respect and resilience as children worked alongside their partners. They listened to each other’s ideas, encouraged one another when challenges became tricky and persevered until they found the solutions.

It was wonderful to see so many children confidently using their mathematical knowledge while also demonstrating our character traits. Well done, mathematicians – George escaped thanks to your hard work and teamwork!

Fieldwork to The Deep

18th May 2026Laura Parsons

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!

Staying Clean & Safe – Looking After Ourselves and Others

13th May 2026Laura Parsons

This week in our Key Stage 1 community meeting, we explored another important part of our guiding question: How can I be the healthiest version of me? Our focus was on hygiene and how simple daily actions—like washing our hands—can help keep us healthy and protect the people around us.

Understanding Germs

We began by thinking about why we wash our hands. The children shared great ideas, which led us to talk about something we can’t see but that is all around us—germs!

We explained that:

  • Germs are tiny and invisible
  • They can make us poorly
  • They spread very easily from person to person

To help bring this idea to life, we described germs as being like invisible glitter—they can quickly travel from our hands onto surfaces and other people without us even noticing.


Stopping the Spread

Through a short role-play, the children explored how germs spread and how we can stop them.

We acted out what happens when someone sneezes into their hands and then touches objects or other people—and quickly realised how easily germs can travel. We then practised a better way: sneezing into our elbow, helping to keep those around us safe.

We also compared handwashing habits, thinking about who is making safe choices and why.

When Should We Wash Our Hands?

The children shared lots of important times when handwashing matters, including:

  • After using the toilet 
  • Before eating 
  • After coughing or sneezing 
  • After playing outside 

It was fantastic to see how much the children already know about keeping themselves clean and safe.

Why Hygiene Matters

We talked about why these small actions are so important:

  • They help keep us healthy
  • They protect others around us
  • They stop germs from spreading

We linked this to our wider school community, reminding the children:

When we look after ourselves, we are also looking after everyone else.

Making Safe Choices

To finish, we played a quick game of “Safe or Not?”, where the children used thumbs up or down to show whether actions were helping to stop germs spreading. This was a fun and effective way to reinforce our learning.

Our Key Message

We reminded the children that small actions can make a big difference. Simple habits like washing our hands properly and sneezing into our elbow help to keep everyone safe, healthy, and ready to learn.

We were so impressed with the children’s understanding and engagement during this session. Ask your child what they remember about stopping germs—you might hear about “invisible glitter”!

Thank you for your continued support.

Sleep & Feeling Ready – Supporting Healthy Routines in KS1

6th May 2026Laura Parsons

This week in our Key Stage 1 community meeting, we explored another important part of our guiding question: How can I be the healthiest version of me?

Our focus was on something simple but powerful—sleep—and how it helps our brains and bodies feel ready for the day ahead.

Why Sleep Matters

We began by thinking about how it feels when we are really tired. The children shared lots of honest and relatable ideas—feeling grumpy, slow, a little bit silly, and sometimes finding it hard to concentrate.

This helped us understand an important message:

Sleep helps our brains and bodies get ready for a new day.

Tired vs Well-Rested

To bring this to life, we acted out two different learners:

  • One who was tired—yawning, not listening, struggling to focus
  • One who was well-rested—standing tall, smiling, ready to learn

The children quickly noticed the difference and were able to explain why sleep helps us to be focused, kind, and ready for school.

What Happens When We Sleep?

We talked about what sleep does for our bodies in a simple, child-friendly way:

  • Helps our brain grow and learn
  • Supports our mood (less grumpy!)
  • Gives us energy
  • Keeps our bodies healthy

We described sleep as a way of recharging our brains—just like an iPad charging overnight!

Building Healthy Bedtime Habits

We then discussed what helps us get a good night’s sleep. The children shared some fantastic ideas, including:

  • Having a calm bedtime routine (such as a bath or story) 
  • Turning off screens before bed 
  • Going to bed at a similar time each night 
  • Creating a calm, quiet space 

It was lovely to hear how many children already have positive routines in place.

A Moment of Calm

We finished by practising a simple breathing technique to help our bodies feel calm and ready:

  • Breathe in slowly
  • Hold
  • Breathe out gently

This is something the children can use at home as part of their bedtime routine or whenever they need a moment to reset.

Our Key Message

We reminded the children that sleep is one of the best ways to help us feel ready for school. When we are well-rested, we can learn better, feel happier, and be the best version of ourselves.

We were so impressed with how thoughtfully the children engaged in this conversation. Why not ask your child what helps them feel ready for school—you might discover some great ideas to try at home together!

Thank you for your continued support.

Being the Healthiest Version of Me – Healthy Eating Community Meeting

29th April 2026Laura Parsons

This week, we came together for a Key Stage 1 community meeting as part of our guiding question: How can I be the healthiest version of me?

During our time together, we focused on how the food we eat helps to keep our bodies strong, healthy and full of energy. To get us thinking, we began with a simple question—holding up an apple and a piece of chocolate:
“Which one helps our body grow strong?”
The children quickly recognised that while some foods are better for our bodies, we can still enjoy a balance. This helped us introduce an important message: healthy eating is about balance, not restriction.

Learning About Healthy Foods

We explored the different types of food our bodies need:

  •  Fruits and vegetables help keep us healthy
  •  Carbohydrates (like bread and pasta) give us energy
  •  Dairy helps build strong bones
  •  Protein supports growth and repair

The children enjoyed sharing their own ideas, talking about the healthy foods they already love and eat at home.

Healthy or Not?

We then played a quick game of “Healthy or Not?” where children responded to different foods using actions:

  • 👍 Hands on head = healthy most of the time
  • 👎 Hands on knees = sometimes foods

This was a great way to reinforce that some foods are everyday foods and some are sometimes foods—and that both have a place in a balanced diet.

Reflecting Together

We spent some time thinking about how healthy foods help our bodies. The children shared brilliant ideas about how food gives us energy, helps us grow, and keeps us feeling good.

We also linked this back to our wider learning:

If we want to be superheroes in our community, we need strong, healthy bodies!

 Making a Healthy Pledge

To finish our community meeting, each child made a simple, personal pledge about how they can make a healthy choice:

  •  Eat more fruit and vegetables
  •  Drink more water
  •  Try a new healthy food

This moment encouraged the children to take ownership of their choices and recognise that even small changes can make a big difference.

 Our Key Message

We reminded the children that being healthy doesn’t mean being perfect. Instead, it’s about making small, positive choices each day that help our bodies grow, stay strong, and feel their best.

We are so proud of how engaged and thoughtful the children were during this session. Ask your child about their healthy pledge—you might even be inspired to make one of your own!

Thank you for your continued support.