Dear Families,

Determination has been our focus this week across the school. One of our key curriculum areas for development this year is handwriting. As a school we follow the scheme kinetic letters and classes have been focusing on learning letter formations, pencil grips or joining their letters accurately. It has been a pleasure to see the determination displayed by pupils to improve their handwriting. We are very proud of the rapid progress we have seen on children’s writing and presentation in their books already.

It has been another busy week in school with a visit from the Happy Smiles dentist team for our EYFS and KS1 pupils. Early years classes have also had an enrichment session focusing on friendship builders. This week, myself and Miss Coley met with some of the FOLPA team to plan some exciting events for the year.

We look forward to next week and welcoming any new prospective families to our Reception 2027 intake open morning session at 9:30am, please spread the word to any new prospective families. We are also offering an accelerated reader parent session to our KS2 parents on Tuesday at 3pm.

Have a lovely weekend
Miss Laycock

Headteacher

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Dates for the diary

• Monday 20th September – NHS Screening for Reception and Year 6 Pupils
• Tuesday 22nd September -KS2 Accelerated Reader Parent Information Session (3pm)
• Wednesday 23rd September – EYFS Open Morning Event (9.30am -10.30am)
• Friday 25th September – Y6 Acle Transition Day
• Thursday 1st October – KS1 Soundswrite Parent Information Session (2.45pm)
• Monday 5th October – Bikability for Year 3 and 4 Pupils
• Wednesday 7th October – EYFS Phonics Information Session (2.45pm)
• Wednesday 7th October – Final day for tin collection for Harvest Festival
• Parent’s Evenings – W/C 12th October – information to follow

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Year group news

Nursery

This week in Nursery we have been reading ‘The Same but Different Too’. We have talked about the different animals in the story and which is our favourite, as well all the different things they can do. Our foundational knowledge has been to look at our families and how they might be the same or different to others. We have really enjoyed looking at the lovely photos of the children with their families and the children have also been drawing their own pictures of their family.  

Reception Rabbits 

This week our focus linked to the story ‘What Makes Me a Me’. We have been thinking about the ways we are the same and how we are different, and thinking hard about what makes us special by talking about the different skills and interests we have. We had a special workshop on Wednesday about how to be a good friend, and on Thursday the dentist visited and talked to us about how to look after our teeth. 

Hares

This week Hares have been enjoying our new story ‘On Sudden Hill’.  This has helped us to think about being courageous when meeting new people and being independent as we make our transition into our new class.  We really enjoyed our visit from the dentist and particularly the cheeky dragon who squirted us with water!  Have a lovely weekend and enjoy some quality time together. 

Fawns

This week in Fawns class we have enjoyed thinking about climate change and have been inspired by Greta Thunberg to make our own pledges to look after planet Earth. In maths we have been using number lines in Year 2 to explore 2-digit numbers and have been partitioning numbers to 1000 in Year 3.  

Otters

This week in Otters we have enjoyed exploring our new unit of non-chronological reports. The children have been looking at pronouns to avoid repetition by writing a small paragraph all about their school. The class have extremely focused on their science topic of animals including humans as we have been investigating all about how the muscles work. In maths we have been ordering numbers using the key words ascending and descending.  

Badgers

This week in Badgers, we finished reading One Plastic Bag and have begun The Emerald Forest. Both books have a common theme of environmental factors. In English, they have been continuing their unit on persuasive writing, focusing on support for stranger danger. In Science this week the children learnt how our teeth and mouth help with digestion. Last week, we were proud to be the first class to win the Golden Broom award in celebration assembly.

Foxes

Foxes have had a great week and are finishing off their autobiography. In maths, they have been calculating negative numbers and in science creating electrical circuits. The class have really focused on improving their handwriting and presentation so far this year.  

Owls

Owls have had another fantastic week.  We have been writing about mythical creatures linked to our class book ‘The Wildsmith’ and in science, we made animal shelters thinking about what animals need to survive.   

Achievement Awards

Rabbit Class  – Rowan for showing ambition in trying to complete as many of the week’s classroom challenges as possible. 

Hares Class  – Chester for stepping up to the challenge of Year 2 learning with such determination and positivity. 

Fawns Class  –  Grace for her excellent work in PE this week.  

Otter Class –   Benjamin for showing determination during ordering numbers in maths.

Badger Class –  Sienna for great participation and ideas in class this week.

Fox Class – Givenchy for huge improvements to his handwriting. 

Owls Class – Harriet for her excellent knowledge about animals and what they need to survive. 

Star of the Week Awards

Rabbit Class  – Alex for his continuing determination to work hard in all our lessons. 

Hares Class  – Luca for becoming an independent learner who tries their best. 

Fawns Class  –  Otis for showing real determination this week and improving his focus in class.  

Otter Class – Freddie for being consistently brilliant in following the Lingwood Way. You always show kindness too to your peers.  

Badger Class – Florence for always being ready and respectful.

Fox Class – Evelyn for working incredibly hard and showing the Lingwood value of determination. 

Owls Class – Zane for trying very hard to join in with his learning and for being a kind friend to others. 

Congratulations to you all

Attendance Update

This week’s whole school attendance is 97.3%.

• In first place is Otters with 99.6%
• In second place is Rabbits with 98.4%
• In third place is Fawns with 97.5%

Please note, class teachers will be communicating with any parents of children whose attendance drops below 95% to offer additional support.

Well done to all the children arriving at school on time, ready to learn lets see if we can again increase our attendance next week!  A reminder that the school gates will continue to be open from 8.30 am and closed at 8.40am. Registration is at 8.40 am and school finishes at 3.25 pm.

Fines for parents for taking children out of school: What you need to know.

Remember that every day counts and we are in every day next week!

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Enrichment Opportunities

Last week, we wrote to you to express interest in our before school tennis club. We are delighted to announce that we have had a keen uptake and hopefully another session will be added soon. If your child is interested in joining this club please see the attached form and make direct contact with Warren Sawyer.

This week, Mrs Sellen started her lunchtime sign-language club. Again, a great turn-out of children practising their signing alongside some singing this week.

Don’t forget we also offer private music lessons and we have our Rocksteady groups on a Wednesday. If your child is interested in starting any of these please speak to the school office.