This week in reception we have been busy turning our innovated story into a 5 sentence story. The children have produced some fantastic writing of the story. In maths we have been looking at number bonds to 10 and doubles within 10. 

This week in RE, Year 1 learned about the Jewish festival of Purim and the tradition of Mishloach Manot giving gifts of food to friends and family. As part of their learning, the children had a fantastic time baking Hamantaschen, the traditional triangle-shaped cookies enjoyed during the festival. They explored the story of Queen Esther, discussed the importance of kindness and giving, and, of course, had lots of fun baking their delicious treats. What a wonderful way to bring learning to life!

This week in Year 2, we have been learning about measuring lengths and heights in maths. The children practiced using a ruler to measure in centimeters and a meter stick to measure in meters. They put their skills to the test by measuring the length and width of the classroom, as well as other objects around the room. Throughout the activity, they worked collaboratively, which was our focus value of the week.

In preparation for next week's 'Cook Well, Eat Well' lesson on making healthy tacos, Year 3 have designed their own taco packaging. They discussed the ingredients that they would like to put into their tacos next week and came up with their own taco brand names. They also found out that tacos originated from Mexico and is a well-known street food. 

This week, Year 4 went on an exciting trip to Cassiobury Park as part of their Geography topic! The children measured the depth of the riverbed using various tools, gaining hands-on experience with their studies. They also enjoyed a fun-filled scavenger hunt, discovering nature’s treasures along the way. It was a fantastic day of learning and adventure, bringing the classroom to life!

Year 5 have continued with their DT unit, 'Eat The Seasons.' Following  the tasting and evaluating of different soups, they have designed their own recipes to cook a healthy soup using seasonal vegetables. Today, they took part in their final swimming lesson - a fun session of relay races. We feel very proud of the progress they have made in their swimming; some children have gone from being non-swimmers to confident swimmers in the space of 10 weeks.

The Year 6 students brought their geography and DT learning full circle as they completed their recycled turtle projects - a powerful symbol of environmental awareness. The finished turtles serve as a creative reminder of our responsibility to protect marine life from pollution and climate change. The children showed great pride in their completed pieces, which combined their practical DT skills with their deepened understanding of environmental impact. A fantastic way to conclude our geography unit with these meaningful, hands-on creations.

Staff meeting was postponed this week while teachers met with parents, but the learning never stops at Lanchester. Mr Bristow has successfully completed a two-day course and is now a member of the safeguarding team. Mr Wanford (Director of Education) visited the phonics sessions yesterday and was impressed with the effective routines and engaging learning taking place. 

At this week's parent workshop, Mr. Bristow outlined our plans for SATS Week 2025, including our school's preparation strategy and practical revision tips for home learning. Missed the workshop? Access Mr. Bristow's presentation slides by clicking here.