: Blog items
Date: 21st Oct 2025 @ 5:41pm
We can hardly believe that our first eight weeks of Reception have flown by already! What a fun-filled and exciting start to the school year it has been. The children have settled in beautifully, and we’ve loved watching them grow in confidence, curiosity, and independence.
Following our recent phonics assessments, this week we’ve been revisiting the sounds we’ve already learned. The children have done a fantastic job remembering and using these sounds in their reading and writing. Over the half term break, you’ll receive a Tapestry Memo of Sounds and Blending to practise with your child. We encourage you to continue using Fred Fingers and practising segmenting and blending—your support at home makes a huge difference and is truly appreciated.
In Maths, we’ve been diving into the world of numbers! This week, we focused on recognising and representing the numbers one, two, and three. Through hands-on activities, the children were encouraged to explain how they knew they had found a certain number—developing their reasoning and communication skills along the way. It’s been wonderful to see their confidence grow as they explore numbers in meaningful ways.
Our theme this half term has been Owl Babies, and the children have absolutely loved it. They’ve learned fascinating facts about owls, including that they are nocturnal and sleep during the day. We’ve had thoughtful discussions about the importance of sleep and what makes a good bedtime routine. To bring our learning to life, the children created their own owls using pine cones and cotton wool—such creative little artists!
On Friday, we celebrated Alder Hey Pyjama Day, a special event that gave us the opportunity to talk about hospitals and the important work they do. The children shared their own experiences of visiting hospitals and showed great empathy and understanding. It was a lovely way to end the half term, all cosy in our pyjamas and full of kindness.
Thank you for a truly wonderful start to the year. Your continued support, enthusiasm, and involvement mean the world to us and have helped make this half term so special. We hope you have a restful and joyful break with your children—and we can’t wait to see what the next half term brings!
Please see our updated virtual classroom attached to this blog if you would like to explore any of the themes we will be exploring after the half term.
Enjoy the holidays!
Mrs Molloy, Mrs Bevin and the Reception team
Reminders for next half term:
· Monday 3rd November return to school
· Wed 5th November Team TSP Firework display
· Wed 12th November WOW service 2pm at St Peter’s Church
· Friday 14th November Children in Need
Date: 20th Oct 2025 @ 6:36pm
We’ve had a fantastic first term in Year 4!
This week, Collective Worship focused on generosity, inspired by the story of The Rainbow Fish. We discussed how sharing and kindness can make a difference and reflected on how we can be generous in our own lives.
In RE, we explored the values that help us follow in Jesus’ footsteps. We identified qualities such as kindness, honesty, and compassion—not only those that shine outwardly, but also those we carry quietly within ourselves. The children reflected thoughtfully on how these values guide their actions and relationships.
Maths lessons continued with column addition, focusing on place value and carrying digits correctly. We’ve also started tackling a times table each week through games and songs, helping to build fluency and confidence. The children also took part in the Sumdog competition, showing great enthusiasm and teamwork.
In English, we completed our Author Books, using a tent canopy to illustrate diary entries. We also reviewed grammar skills, including capital letters for proper nouns and coordinating conjunctions.
Friday was full of fun! We celebrated Alder Hey Pyjama Day wearing our pyjamas to school and enjoyed a performance of Sleeping Beauty to get us into the pantomime spirit. We also completed our Computing Day, learning important lessons about online safety and how to stay safe online.
Wishing you all a safe and restful October holiday!
Reminders:
- Team TSP Firework Event – Wednesday 5th November
- Year 4 PE Days – Wednesday (Swimming) and Friday (PE)
- Second Laurel’s Wood Visit – Friday 7th November
- Barnardo’s Donations – Please bring in unwanted toys, books, or cuddly toys by Wednesday 12th November
Date: 16th Oct 2025 @ 11:10pm
What a lovely week we have had in year 2!
In Maths, we have continued with our addition and subtraction topic. The children have practised adding and subtracting numbers by bridging over the next or previous 10. The children have worked hard to partition numbers and used resources to help. Next week we will be working on adding and subtracting 2 digit numbers using the methods that we have practised so far.
In English, we have continued to work on the book Look Up, some of our writing tasks have included writing a set of instructions to create our own rocket, creating a fact file about Mae Jemison and designing a delicious menu for an astronaut returning home from space with a focus on using expanded noun phrases to make it sound delicious. Next week we will be writing a recount about Rocket's (the main character) day and writing a diary based on the story so far.
In RE, we welcomed Reverend Lilly into our class to talk about the Bible. Reverend Lilly brought in different types of Bibles for the children to look at and they were able to ask questions about the Bible. The miniature Bible was very popular and the children were fascinated to see how small the words were on the page. We all found it very interesting and it helped us to link our learning together from our previous lessons.
In Science, we looked at eating a balanced diet and focussed on the different food groups. The children then designed a meal that included the food groups to create a healthy and balanced meal. In the outdoor classroom this week the children created dens for themselves. They were shown how to tie a reef knot and create a tripod shape with sticks to support with their den building. The children enjoyed working together and testing out their dens at the end!
Reminders
- Parent–Teacher Meetings will take place in the hall next week.
Date: 16th Oct 2025 @ 5:31pm
This week in English, our focus has been letter writing. We’ve learned how to structure our letters using paragraphs and have been using prepositions, expanded noun phrases, and descriptive language to make our writing really come alive
Our RE lesson gave us a chance to reflect. We thought about what our message to the world would be if we were called upon by God. The ideas shared were thoughtful, kind, and full of hope..
In Maths, we’ve started exploring the column method for addition and subtraction. It’s been exciting to see how this method helps us solve problems more clearly and confidently. We’ve been practising lining up our digits and carrying over numbers like true mathematicians!
In science, we’ve been learning about nutrition and the importance of all the different food groups. We discussed how each one helps our bodies stay strong and healthy.
We’ve also been learning how to use a compass in geography. It was fun discovering how the compass points help us find direction and how explorers use them to navigate the world.
In PE, we’ve been developing our netball skills, focusing on passing and defending. Everyone has shown great teamwork and determination on the court. It’s been wonderful to see how much progress we’ve made already!
Our art lesson took us outdoors this week, where we practised observational drawings in nature. Using our outdoor learning environment as inspiration, we focused on looking closely at details and capturing what we saw with care and creativity.
We’re so proud of all the effort and enthusiasm Year 3 has shown this week. Keep up the amazing work, everyone!
Reminders:
- Parent–Teacher Meetings will take place in the hall next week.
- Friday 24th October is Alder Hey Pyjama Day
Date: 16th Oct 2025 @ 4:19pm
What a fabulous week! Each day this week has brought something special – whether through play, reflection, or family!
This week our learning has been rich with stories of inspiration, invention, and imagination as we joined in with Black History Month.
We began learning about Garrett Morgan, an incredible inventor whose ideas helped make the world a safer place. We read the book, ‘Saving the Day’, that told the story of how Garrett created one of the first traffic lights. The children were fascinated to discover how he gained this inspiration and how his invention helped keep people safe on the roads.
This sparked some wonderful play and creative thinking. The children used traffic lights in their small world play, practising road safety. Outside we took a step further by making a large-scale traffic light, which became a key feature in our outdoor space. It was fantastic to see the children using it to ensure our traffic (ride-on vehicles) moved around safely and followed the coloured signals – just like real traffic lights!
We even brought our traffic light learning into PE, where the children played the Traffic Light Game – listening and looking for red, yellow, or green commands and moving accordingly. This was not only great fun but also supported their co-ordination, reaction time and listening skills.
We have also learned about Baroness Floella Benjamin, and read her powerful story ‘Coming to England’. This thoughtful book opened up conversations about kindness, fairness, family, and the experience of moving to a new place; together with how we can help others feel welcome, included, and loved.
In Maths, we continued to explore grouping objects to match a set ‘rule’ – developing our thinking further by creating our own rules! This encourages the children to notice patterns, apply logical thinking, and deepen early understanding of sorting and classifying.
In our Early Listening work, we identified sounds and paused to ponder what they might mean – a lovely way to develop both listening and thinking skills in a playful and reflective way.
As Autumn continues to unfold, we have added many of our treasures from home into our classroom learning, from using them in Maths, to completing observational drawings. This week, we also used apples to make apple crumble balls – a delicious hands-on experience where the children showed great focus and care as they peeled and cut. These types of activities not only build fine motor skills but also promote independence, confidence and responsibility.
Thursday, we welcomed Caroline from St Peter's Church for this year’s first Godly Play where the children enjoyed an enlivened story of ‘The Creation’.
We’ve continued to celebrate the growing friendships and independence developing across the class. It’s been such a joy to see the children supporting each other, trying new things, and growing in confidence.
Our ‘Stay and Play’ sessions have also been a highlight – and we hope you’ve enjoyed them just as much as we’ve loved welcoming you! It’s always a pleasure to share our space and learning with you and we look forward to welcoming more families next week!
Thank you, as always, for your support and for sharing in these special moments. Wishing you all a restful and happy weekend – maybe with a little apple crumble on the side!
Warm wishes,
Mrs Grayson and the Nursery Team.
Dates for the diary: -
Monday 20th and Tuesday 21st October – Nursery Stay and Play Sessions
Friday 24th October – Alder Hey PJ Day
Friday 24th October – Finish for Half-Term
Wednesday 5th November – Team TSP Community Firework Display
Date: 16th Oct 2025 @ 4:11pm
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Welcome back to our weekly Year 6 blog! Here’s what we’ve been up to this week…
This week in Maths, Year 6 have been mastering the tricky topic of multiplying and dividing fractions and they’ve done brilliantly! We used our KFC method (Keep, Flip, Change) to help remember the steps for dividing fractions, and the class loved applying it through lots of fun, hands-on practice. From simplifying to problem solving, pupils showed great confidence using both multiplication and division with fractions. It’s been fantastic to see their understanding grow and of course, our KFC theme helped everyone remember the golden rule for success!
This week, we’ve really broadened our reading horizons by exploring a range of different texts and genres. From discovering a range of facts about blue whales to learning how artists use patterns and colours found in nature, the children have shown great curiosity and enthusiasm. We also looked at persuasive leaflets advertising visits to beautiful country manors, identifying how language and layout are used to capture the reader’s attention. Through these varied texts, pupils have strengthened their comprehension skills, expanded their vocabulary and learned how different forms of writing can inform, inspire and persuade.
In History, we continued to explore World War 1. We got creative by designing our own WW1-style propaganda posters, learning how powerful images and slogans were used to inspire people. We also researched the incredible roles animals played during the war, from horses carrying supplies to dogs delivering messages, and created informative sheets to share these amazing facts. It was great to see history come alive through art and research!
Excitement is running high in Year 6 as our Sumdog Maths Contest is officially underway! Each pupil has been challenged to answer 1,000 questions to test their speed, accuracy, and determination — and they’re already showing fantastic effort. The contest closes next Thursday, so every question counts as we race to climb the leaderboard! It’s been brilliant to see such enthusiasm, teamwork, and perseverance as everyone works hard to improve their scores and show off their maths skills.
Have a great weekend!
Reminders:
-Spellings have been shared on Google Classroom and the children will be tested next Friday (24th).
-Maths and English homework has been set via the SATs Companion platform and is due to be completed on or before next Wednesday (22nd).
Date: 15th Oct 2025 @ 10:07pm
What a fantastic and busy week it’s been in Year 5!
In English, our young authors have been hard at work completing their diary entries. After pouring their creativity onto the page, they’ve been busy editing and redrafting their work, getting it ready for publishing in their very own Author Books next week. We can’t wait to see the final results and celebrate their achievements!
In Maths, we’ve been sharpening our mental maths skills by practising strategies for adding and subtracting large numbers. The children explored techniques such as partitioning and working with numbers close to 100s and 1000s. Alongside these mental strategies, we also introduced formal written methods for both addition and subtraction, helping to build accuracy and confidence. A range of fluency and reasoning activities kept everyone engaged—some even took place outside the classroom, bringing maths to life in fun and practical ways!
In RE, we’ve taken time to reflect on the importance of the Bible. The children thought deeply about how its teachings can guide us in today’s world, especially in situations where kindness, forgiveness, and courage are needed.
In Science we explored the fascinating relationship between the Sun, Earth, and Moon. Using different sized balls, the children modelled how they orbit and interact. It was a hands-on and engaging way to bring space science to life!
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In PE, we’ve continued to focus on fitness, with a special emphasis on improving coordination. Through a variety of fun and energetic activities, the children have been developing their agility and teamwork skills.
Team work really did make the dream work in our outdoor learning this week. Year 5 worked well together to build a base for our new shed and reading hut.
Finally, we’re thrilled to welcome Mr McPhee to our Year 5 team! He’s joining us from Edge Hill University as a student teacher for the next six weeks. It’s wonderful to have him on board, and the children are already enjoying working with him.
Well done to all our Year 5s for another week of fantastic learning and teamwork. We’re so proud of everything you’re achieving!
Have a lovely weekend!
— The Year 5 Team
Reminders:
- Parents evening is on Wednesday and Thursday in the school hall. Appointments can be booked up until 6pm on Friday 17th.
- Bikeability is rescheduled for after Christmas. Reminders will be sent nearer the time.
- Friday 24th October is Alder Hey pyjama day.
Date: 15th Oct 2025 @ 4:57pm
Well done on another wonderful week Year 1.
We kicked off our week in Maths by exploring number bonds to 10. The children used songs, ten frames, counters, and part-whole models to help visualise all the different ways to make 10. It was wonderful to see everyone so focused and enthusiastic! We’d love it if you could continue this learning at home - singing number bond songs or chanting them together is a great way to reinforce understanding. Later in the week, we challenged ourselves by creating number sentences using the plus and equals symbols. These were a little tricky at first, but by Friday, we were confidently writing lots of different number sentences to show our number bonds - brilliant work, everyone!
In English, we began planning and writing our very own stories! The children were bursting with imaginative ideas and couldn’t wait to put their skills into action. We started by thinking carefully about the beginning, middle and end of our stories and used our plans to help us write full sentences. It’s been so exciting to see these stories come to life, we’re incredibly proud of what’s been written so far and can’t wait to continue next week.
In Geography, we continued our exciting trip around the world - this week’s stop: South America! We were fascinated by the vibrant colours and energy of the Rio Carnival and had so much fun designing and creating our own carnival face masks.
RE was extra special this week as we built our very own class Sukkah to celebrate the Jewish festival of Sukkot. We recapped how Jewish people build these huts to mark the harvest and sometimes even sleep in them! It was a wonderful way to immerse ourselves in the traditions and reflect on the importance of gratitude and community.
We were lucky enough to have a martial arts workshop on Friday! Practicing kicks and refining our form brought out everyone's focus and energy, and I was genuinely amazed by the confidence and skill on display. It was inspiring to see everyone push themselves.
What a fantastic week of learning, creativity, and celebration. Well done, Year 1!
Date: 15th Oct 2025 @ 4:44pm
We’ve had a wonderfully busy and exciting week in Reception!
The children have now completed learning all their single letter sounds—what an achievement! Next week, we will now be assessing how many sounds they’ve retained, and after half term, they’ll be grouped to best support their learning journey. Please continue to practise at home and encourage your child to show you how they use their Fred Fingers to help with blending—it’s a brilliant strategy that really boosts confidence!
This week in maths, we’ve been exploring repeating patterns. The children loved spotting patterns in the environment and creating their own using cubes. We even challenged them to find and fix mistakes in patterns—such clever thinking! To finish the week, we used our bodies to make patterns like clap, stamp, clap, stamp—the children came up with some fantastic ideas and had so much fun!
Our theme this week was all about owls! We began by reading the beautiful story Owl Babies and used our story sack to create our very own owl-themed small world. The children explored what it means to be nocturnal, made owl pictures, and even painted their own owls. Ask your child what owl facts they can share with you—we’re sure you’ll be impressed!
We’ve also been busy cooking this week—peeling, chopping, and stewing apples to make a delicious apple crumble. The children loved getting involved in the process and are excited to try their homemade treat during snack time. It’s a wonderful way to explore seasonal produce and build life skills through hands-on learning!
Thank you for your continued support. Have a fabulous weekend, and we look forward to seeing you all on Monday!
Mrs Molloy, Mrs Bevin and the Reception team
Reminders for this half term:
· 21st, 22nd and 23rd October – Parent Teacher Meetings
· 24th October – Alder Hey Pyjama Day
· 24th October – Finish for Half Term
Date: 13th Oct 2025 @ 3:27pm
It’s been another exciting week in Year 4, filled with creativity!
Our week began with RE, where we explored the Christian values found in Psalms. We looked closely at verses such as “The Lord is our shepherd”, thinking deeply about the underlying meanings and how these words offer comfort, guidance, and strength in our lives.
English took us on a magical journey as we wrote diary entries from the perspective of Leon, who visited a circus with his brothers and sisters. Each child added their own twist to the story, imagining Leon stepping into a magical place in between. The writing was full of emotion, creativity, and vivid description.
To support our understanding of place value, we practised rounding numbers to the nearest 10, 100, and 1,000 during our Maths lessons.
During Science, we discussed the environmental impact on living things, thinking about how changes in habitats and climate can affect animals and plants. The children shared thoughtful ideas about how we can help protect the natural world.
Using a Double Bubble map in Geography, we compared the capital of the UK with the capital of America. It was fascinating to explore the similarities and differences between London and Washington, D.C., and to see how geography helps us understand different cultures and places.
Our Art lessons were full of pattern and precision as we created tessellation designs. The children enjoyed experimenting with shapes and colours to produce beautiful, repeating patterns.
To mark Hate Crime Awareness Week, we created a powerful handprint art piece inspired by the words of Martin Luther King Jr. – “Love is the only force capable of transforming an enemy into a friend.” Each handprint represented the idea that love comes in different colours, and together they formed a beautiful message of unity and kindness.
Reminders:
- Parent - Teacher Meetings will take place in the hall next week.
- Friday 24th October is Alder Hey Pyjama Day
Date: 9th Oct 2025 @ 11:16pm
In Maths, we have continued with our addition and subtraction topic. The children started off using number bonds to work out related number bonds. We then answered number bond questions that were around the room and worked together to answer them correctly. It has been lovely to see that the children have continued working on their number bonds independently both in the classroom and outside at play time. Next week we will be working on adding and subtracting across the next 10.
In English, we have made predictions about the story 'Look Up' based on the blurb and front cover. The children enjoyed designing their own rockets based on the story and using technical and adventurous vocabulary to describe their rockets. Next week we will continue working on the story with a focus on using expanded noun phrases and conjunctions correctly.
In RE, we looked at the story of Mary Jones and how she saved money to buy her own Bible. We talked about our own treasured possessions and discussed why they were treasured. Next week we will be welcoming a special visitor into our class to talk about their Bible and why it is their most treasured possession.
In Science, we discussed how exercise keeps us healthy. The children enjoyed checking their heart rate before activities then checking it after different activities. In our outdoor classroom, the children used natural resources to create their own small dens.
Reminders:
-
Parent–Teacher Meetings go live on Monday 13th October at 6pm and will close on Friday 17th October.
Date: 9th Oct 2025 @ 6:45pm
What a fun week we have had in Year 3!
In Maths, we’ve been getting stuck into addition and subtraction. We’ve been learning how to add and subtract ones and tens from three-digit numbers and we’re becoming really confident with it! We’ve used number lines, base ten blocks and even challenged ourselves with word problems.
In English, we have been planning and writing recounts in the first person. We’ve been learning how to structure our writing into paragraphs and make sure our events are in the right order. The children have written some fantastic pieces, full of great detail.
In Science, we carried out a fun investigation to find out if there’s a relationship between leg length and how far you can jump. There were lots of predictions and careful measuring, we felt just like real scientists!
In Geography, we’ve been using our research skills to learn about the human features of different European countries. The children loved discovering how places can be so different from each other, and we had some great discussions about what makes a place unique.
We also had a visit from Mr Mannings in Music, where we’ve been learning new musical vocabulary like crescendo and staccato. We’ve had lots of fun putting these into practice through singing.
A big celebration this week...Year 3 won the church scarecrow competition! We are all incredibly proud of our creation and how well we worked together to make it happen. Well done, Year 3!
In RE, we were lucky enough to have a visit from Reverend Lily from St Peter’s Church. She spoke to us about what it means to be called by God today, and the children asked some thoughtful questions.
In Art, we’ve been inspired by the amazing artist Dale Chihuly. The children used coloured clay to replicate his famous Sun Sculpture, the results were fantastic.
Finally, we ended the week by celebrating Hello Yellow Day to support children’s mental health. The classroom was a sea of yellow, and we spent time thinking about how we can look after our minds and support our friends.
Reminders:
-
Parent–Teacher Meetings go live on Monday 13th October at 6pm and will close on Friday 17th October.
- PE days will continue to be Monday and Tuesday with the addition of dance on a Wednesday.
Date: 9th Oct 2025 @ 3:59pm
A Week of Autumn Adventures, Active Learning and Happy Hearts!
We’ve had another rich and joyful week, filled with seasonal exploration, creative learning, and moments of reflection.
We began with a lively PE session, where the children played an autumn-themed movement game. They needed to navigate their vehicles whilst practising safe movement and controlled stopping as they encountered seasonal obstacles such as conkers and hedgehogs. These playful challenges support the development of co-ordination, spatial awareness, control and listening skills while embracing the spirit of the season.
Our Autumn learning continued with a special focus on conkers! The children were fascinated to discover that conkers can be used to make soap. Using a pestle and mortar, they pounded the conkers and helped create our very own conker soap. It was wonderfully tactile and exciting experience that sparked lots of curiosity.
In Forest School, we played “1, 2, 3, Where Are You?” — a forest-style twist on hide and seek that brought laughter and excitement. The children loved exploring the outdoor space, calling out to their friends, and practicing their listening and teamwork skills in nature.
In Maths, we’ve been exploring the concept of groups. The children have been sorting objects and looked closely to spot ‘the rule’, as well as recognising when something does not belong. These early sorting activities build the foundation for logical thinking, problem solving and developing their early reasoning and classification skills in a fun and interactive way.
In our Early Listening and Sound Work, the children have been showing great awareness of sound. They’ve enjoyed games such as 'Mrs Grayson Has a Box', 'Describe It and Find It', and a seasonal twist on I Spy, where they used descriptive clues to identify objects. These activities have helped tune their ears to the world around them and build important listening and language skills.
Our focus book this week was ‘Farmer Duck’ by Martin Waddell. Through this story, we explored the actions and feelings of both the duck and the farmer, and the importance of kindness and caring for others. Just like Jesus helped those who were tired or treated unfairly, the animals in the story came together to support the hardworking duck. We can follow Jesus’s example by being thoughtful and helping those in need – just like our SHINE friend, Cuddles.
We also had a delicious treat — we made our very own apple juice using apples from my garden! The children noticed the red skins and described it as “Autumn juice” — and it certainly was very tasty!
We continue to take part in our weekly classroom chores, and this week during playdough making, the children chose yellow as our colour — inspired by the Yellow Colour Monster, which represents happiness.
To end our week, we celebrated 'Hello Yellow Day'. As a whole school we created cheerful bunting filled with pictures and patterns that make us feel happy, with the hope of brightening someone else’s day. In class, we made a large-scale smiley face using items from our outdoor environment and shared things that make us feel happy — a beautiful way to celebrate positivity and emotional wellbeing.
Thank you for your continued support and for sharing in these special moments with us. Wishing you a bright and happy weekend — and maybe a glass of “Autumn juice” to go with it!
Warm wishes,
Mrs Grayson and the Nursery team
Dates for the diary: -
Monday 13th – Tuesday 21st October – Nursery Stay and Play Sessions
Friday 24th October – Alder Hey PJ Day
Friday 24th October – Finish for Half-Term
Reminders for this half term: -
Please could you support your child at home in being independent when putting on their coat, shoes and wellies.
Date: 8th Oct 2025 @ 1:49pm
We kicked off our week in Maths by diving into addition and subtraction. The children explored the concept of part-part-whole using practical resources and even took their learning outdoors for some exciting activities! It was brilliant to see everyone so engaged and enthusiastic. Later in the week, we moved on to pictorial representations in our books, helping us visualise number stories and strengthen our understanding.
In English, we focused on sequencing events using the words first, now, then, and next. We applied this to the story Lost and Found, thinking carefully about the order of key moments. One of our favourite activities was hot seating: everyone had a turn stepping into the role of the penguin and answering questions about how he felt during different parts of the story. The children showed such empathy and imagination!
Music was all about pulse and rhythm this week. We practised keeping a steady beat together as a class, concentrating on staying in time with one another. Then we got creative and used the names of our favourite drinks to invent our own rhythms.
PE was extra special this week, as we had a dance workshop with Mrs Whitehead from Formby High! We were filled with excitement as we transformed into basketball players and cheerleaders, dancing to a High School Musical song. Everyone listened so well and gave it their all, we can’t wait to show you our moves at home!
In RE, we learned about the Jewish festival of Sukkot and how Jewish people celebrate the harvest. We were fascinated by the traditions, especially the sukkah huts and the idea of celebrating outdoors. It was a wonderful opportunity to learn about different cultures and ways of life.
What a brilliant week of learning, creativity, and fun. Well done, Year 1!
Date: 8th Oct 2025 @ 12:47pm
This week, our Reception children have been exploring the wonders of Autumn! We joined Nursery for a visit to Forest School, where we revisited our forest rules and practiced our special calling sound. The children loved playing our favourite game, “1, 2, 3, where are you?” – why not ask them to teach you how it works at home?
In Phonics, we continued learning new sounds – these have been sent home for you to practice together. The children are really enjoying using Fred Talk and Fred Fingers to help with their spelling.
In Maths, we’ve been busy comparing items by height, using cubes to build towers and then comparing them with friends. We talked about the importance of measuring on the same surface and even introduced rulers! We also explored comparing sets of objects by more or fewer, and looked at length too.
As part of our Autumn theme, we read the story “Leaf Thief” and discussed seasonal changes like leaves changing colour and cooler temperatures. In our creative area, the children had fun making leaf pictures and paintings.
Friday was Hello Yellow Day, where we celebrated happiness and wellbeing. The children took part in lots of yellow-themed activities and we talked about how yellow is often seen as a happy colour. We also linked this to the ‘Colour Monster’, and a story called ‘In My Heart’ helping the children express their feelings in a fun and creative way.
Mrs Molloy, Mrs Bevin and the Reception team
Reminders for this half term:
· 21st, 22nd and 23rd October – Parent Teacher Meetings
· 24th October – Alder Hey Pyjama Day
· 24th October – Finish for Half Term
Date: 8th Oct 2025 @ 12:03pm
Another excellent, busy and fun week in Year 6!
This week in Maths, Year 6 have been mastering long division. We’ve been learning how to break calculations down step by step, using clear methods to make tricky problems easier to solve. The children have shown great perseverance and growing confidence as they worked through increasingly challenging questions. It’s been brilliant to see them supporting one another, checking their answers carefully, and celebrating those “lightbulb moments” when everything clicks into place!
In English this week, Year 6 have been working hard on their reading skills. We’ve practised finding and copying information from the text carefully and answering questions about closest meaning to key words and phrases. The children have shown great focus when looking for clues in the text and justifying their answers too. We’ve also talked about the importance of reading stamina - remaining focused and persevering even when a text feels long or challenging. The children continue to build their confidence as readers, taking their time to look carefully for clues and think about the best answers. These skills will help them become even stronger, independent readers that are ready for anything!
Our Year 6 pupils also enjoyed a very special Afternoon Tea alongside their Reception buddies. Reception parents were invited to join us as the oldest and youngest children in the school came together to share a heartwarming song as well as a chance to meet their buddy’s family. It was a lovely opportunity for Year 6 to show their kindness and responsibility as role models, while Reception children loved spending time with their “big friends.” The atmosphere was full of smiles, chatter and plenty of biscuits - a wonderful celebration of our school community.
Reminders:
-Spellings have been shared on Google Classroom and the children will be tested next Friday (17th).
-Maths and English homework has been set via the SATs Companion platform and is due to be completed on or before next Wednesday (15th).
Date: 7th Oct 2025 @ 9:35pm
This week in Maths, we took our learning outdoors for a number hunt, where we practised rounding numbers to the nearest 10, 100, 1,000, and 10,000. We began by using number lines to visualise the rounding process, which helped build a strong foundation. From there, we progressed to solving a variety of real-world problems that challenged our understanding and encouraged deeper thinking.
In English, we explored a diary entry written in 1914. We analysed its key features, including contractions, omission of pronouns, informal fronted adverbials, onomatopoeia, and rhetorical questions. Using this analysis, we planned and began writing our own diary entries inspired by the story Queen of the Falls. The children showed great creativity in capturing the emotions and experiences of the main character.
In RE, we compared the Christian Holy Bible with the Sikh sacred text, the Guru Granth Sahib. The children were fascinated to learn about the traditions surrounding the Guru Granth Sahib, such as how it is respectfully ‘put to bed’ each night and how its verses are sung in the Gurdwara. As part of our outdoor learning, we explored the Jewish festival of Sukkot and used den-building resources to construct our own Sukkahs, reflecting on their symbolic meaning.
In Spanish, the children have been learning how to express their feelings using full sentences. This week, they impressed us by writing their own extended sentences with increasing confidence and accuracy, showing great progress in both vocabulary and grammar.
On Friday, we celebrated Hello Yellow Day, focusing on the importance of looking after our mental health. We shared strategies that help us feel calm and happy, and decorated yellow bunting with messages of positivity and kindness. It was a joyful and reflective experience that highlighted the value of emotional wellbeing.
Reminders for next week
- Bikeabilty starts on Monday. You should have had a message, via School Spider, to tell you which day to bring in your bike. Please remember a helmet and waterproof coat.
- Parents Evening appointments go live on Monday 13th October and close on Friday 19th.
- Parents Evening will take place on Wednesday 22nd and Thursday 23rd October.
Date: 7th Oct 2025 @ 6:06pm
We’ve had another wonderful week of learning and fun in Year 4!
This week, we recognised Sukkot by decorating our very own sukkah. We enjoyed learning about the traditions of this special festival and reflected on the importance of thankfulness and togetherness.
For our RE lesson, we listened to the story of David and Goliath, thinking about the challenges we face in our own lives. We discussed the values David showed – courage, faith, and perseverance – and then outlined the qualities we would need to overcome our own “Goliaths.”
In English, we put our persuasive skills to the test by writing exciting advertisements for a magic show at the circus. We used persuasive language to convince others to try this new and wonderful experience. We also explored fronted adverbials, learning how to use them accurately to make our sentences more engaging.
Maths was full of rhythm and fun as we reinforced our understanding of Roman numerals through marching to the Roman song. We then moved on to learning how to round numbers to the nearest 10, 100, and 1,000, developing our confidence with place value.
In Science, we built on our knowledge of classification charts by creating our own to group living things as vertebrates and invertebrates. It was fascinating to see how animals can be sorted in so many different ways.
Friday was extra special as we celebrated Hello Yellow Day in support of mental health awareness. We created beautiful positivity flags, each with messages of kindness and encouragement. When we connected them all together, we saw how our positivity united us as a class. We proudly hung them in the playground for the whole school to admire and be inspired by.
Reminders:
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Parent–Teacher Meetings go live on Monday 13th October at 6pm and will close on Friday 17th October.
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Swimming lessons continue every Wednesday.
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Outdoor learning sessions continue every Friday morning – please bring a change of clothes, trainers, or wellies.
Date: 3rd Oct 2025 @ 12:10pm
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Well done on another brillIant week, Year 1!
We started the week by wrapping up our Maths topic on place value. We revisited the concepts of more, less, fewer, and greater, and used lots of practical activities to consolidate our learning. We also explored ordering numbers and developed a strong understanding of what greatest and smallest really mean. It was lovely to see everyone confidently comparing and sorting numbers!
In English, we continued reading our story and imagined what it would be like to travel all the way to the South Pole! We thought carefully about what important items we’d need to take with us and packed our very own suitcases full of necessities. From warm coats to tasty snacks, everyone had brilliant ideas and showed great imagination.
Science was all about the human body this week. We played lots of lively games of Simon Says to help us learn the names and functions of different body parts, such as eyes, ears, nose, and mouth. It was a fun and active way to reinforce our learning—and we certainly got our bodies moving!
In Music this week we learned about singing as part of a group. We explored pitch and timing, and practised listening carefully to one another. Our favourite moment was singing all together as a class—our chosen song this term is “When I Grow Up” from Matilda, and we’re already sounding amazing!
Reminders:
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Please ensure all children bring a water bottle to school each day.
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Children must wear the correct school uniform. If wearing shirts, they must also wear a tie.
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Reading books should be brought in on Thursdays so they can be changed and sent home on Fridays.
Have a lovely weekend, everyone—you’ve earned it!
Date: 3rd Oct 2025 @ 11:00am
What a lovely week we have had!
In Maths, we have started our new topic of addition and subtraction. The children have worked very hard recapping their number bonds to 10 and using this knowledge to learn their number bonds to 20 and 100. Next week we will be working on different addition and subtraction skills, including making ten first to support adding larger numbers and adding 3 digit numbers using their knowledge of number bonds.
In English, the children have edited their stories based on the Troll Swap story. We have introduced a new book called The Troll with a focus on comprehension skills and making links to previous texts. Next week we will be introducing a new story for our next English unit called Look Up which will have a theme of space.
In RE this week we looked at different stories from the past when people were not allowed to read the Bible. We talked about how they would feel and how special it is to receive your own copy of the Bible. The children then designed their own front covers and blurbs for the Bible.
In Science we answered the question 'do our feet get bigger as we get older?' The children enjoyed measuring their feet and comparing it to other children in the room. They then measured the adult's feet to see if they could prove or disprove this statement. The children decided that people's feet do get bigger as they get older but they don't continue to grow after a certain age. It was lovely to see great teamwork and accurate measuring to see if their ideas were correct.
Reminders:
Please ensure all children bring a water bottle to school each day.
Children must wear the correct school uniform. If wearing shirts, they must also wear a tie.
Reading books should be brought in on Thursdays so they can be changed and sent home on Fridays.
Date: 2nd Oct 2025 @ 8:55pm
We returned to school on Monday fresh (or perhaps still a little tired) from our Robinwood residential the previous week, but certainly full of memories from an unforgettable few days away. It was an exciting, fun-filled experience and a wonderful chance to spend time together as a class. Despite the busy week back at school, Year 6 have continued to show the same resilience, determination and growth mindset that they demonstrated on the trip - an excellent start!
In English this week, Year 6 have been busy putting their persuasive writing skills to the test by creating colourful leaflets all about our Robinwood residential. The children worked hard to capture the excitement of each activity with powerful adjectives, rhetorical questions and persuasive phrases designed to hook the reader. From zooming down the zip wire to tackling the Dungeon of Doom, their writing brought the adventure to life and showed just how much they had taken from the experience.
In Maths, we have been exploring negative numbers and how they are used in real-life situations. We looked at temperatures below zero, goal difference in football and also a problem solving task involving bank balances. The children practised counting forwards and backwards through zero, comparing and ordering negative numbers and solving problems set in everyday contexts. It was fantastic to see them applying their understanding to practical examples and recognising where negative numbers appear beyond the classroom.
In RE, we continued our Life as a Journey unit by exploring a range of inspirational quotes that reflect the idea of life as a journey. The children reflected on what each quote meant, how it might guide someone through challenges or celebrations and which messages resonated most with their own experiences. It was wonderful to see such thoughtful discussions as Year 6 considered how words of wisdom can shape the way we think about the paths we take in life.
We’ve also been busy preparing for our upcoming Reception-Year 6 Buddy Assembly. The children are looking forward to performing 'You’ve Got a Friend in Me' and sharing the special friendships they’ve already begun to build with their buddies. Next week will be an exciting opportunity not only to celebrate these new partnerships but also to welcome and meet our buddies’ families.
A busy but brilliant week - well done Year 6 and enjoy the weekend!
Reminders:
-Spellings have been shared on Google Classroom and the children will be tested next Friday (10th).
-Maths and English homework has been set via the SATs Companion platform and is due to be completed on or before next Wednesday (8th).
Date: 2nd Oct 2025 @ 5:13pm
What a wonderful week we've had in Reception!
This week at Forest School, our Nursery children enjoyed a wonderful hands-on activity where they worked together to create their very own “leaf tree.” Using a small stick and a collection of colourful leaves, the children took turns helping one another carefully attach each leaf. It was a great to see teamwork, patience, and creativity as they supported each other and celebrated their shared creation.
The children continue to impress us with their phonics learning. We're seeing fantastic progress—well done everyone! Please keep supporting at home, especially using 'Fred Talk' and 'Fred Fingers' to help with sounding out and spelling.
This week in maths, we explored matching sets using our lovely autumn collections. The children enjoyed deciding whether different sets were the same and explaining their thinking, such as: “The sets are the same because they have the same items in.” Great reasoning skills!
We attended our first WOW service of the year at St Peter’s Church, which was all about Harvest. The children sang beautifully and joined in with prayers—we are incredibly proud of them.
In RE, we learned about Harvest celebrations around the world. The children looked at different fruits and used a world map to find out where they came from. They then had a chance to taste a variety of fruits and vegetables—a delicious and educational experience!
Thank you for your continued support. What a great week—have a fabulous weekend!
Mrs Molloy, Mrs Bevin and the Reception team
Reminders for this half term:
- Wednesday 8th October Buddy Afternoon Tea @2;15pm in the school hall (Information to follow)
- 21st, 22nd and 23rd October – Parent Teacher Meetings
- 24th October – Alder Hey Pyjama Day
- 24th October – Finish for Half Term
Date: 2nd Oct 2025 @ 4:30pm
Another busy week in Year 5!
Children have been writing recounts in English, focusing on grouping texts into paragraphs and using a variety of fronted adverbials. We are at the point in the story where Annie is just about to go over the falls. Will she survive? We are desperate to find out next week!
In maths, we have continued our work on comparing numbers up to 1000,000 in different ways. This has involved using real life maths, including comparing football stadium capacities.
In Science, we took our learning outside to create a model of the solar system. We learnt how the planets orbit the sun and linked our maths work by ordering the number of Earth days they take to do a complete orbit. We also participated in a Live Lesson with British astronaut, Tim Peake, who descibed what life is really like in space: from eating, sleeping and exercising in microgravity to growing plants, conducting cutting-edge experiments, and even the thrill of a spacewalk.
In RE, we thought about how the Bible can guide us in our every day lives. We read some different passages and decided which Christian values they promoted.
Finally, we are incredibly proud of our Year 5 Harvest service. The children have worked very hard to learn lines, songs and dance routines and it all paid off! Congratulations to our superstars!
Date: 2nd Oct 2025 @ 11:14am
What a fantastic week we’ve had in Year 3!
This week, the children have been looking into descriptive writing, painting vivid pictures with words of a thundery coastal setting. They’ve also begun planning their own narratives, ready to take us on exciting adventures next week.
In Maths, we’ve been practicing our skills with adding and subtracting tens and ones. The children have been using number lines, base ten blocks, place value charts and mental strategies to solve problems.
Our Science lessons took a hands-on turn as we explored how muscles work, especially in our arms. The children loved investigating how muscles contract and relax when we move, and even tried out some fun arm movements to see it in action.
We’ve been reflecting on inspirational figures in RE, comparing two modern-day prophets: Mother Teresa and Eric Liddell. The children discussed how both showed courage, kindness, and faith in their lives, and shared thoughtful ideas about what it means to live with purpose.
Our school scarecrow is complete and Paddington is proudly standing in church! The children worked together to bring him to life, and he looks absolutely wonderful.
In Geography, we’ve been globe-trotting as we explored capital cities around the world. The children loved locating places on maps and learning fun facts about cities like London, Paris, and Madrid.
In PE, we’ve been practicing how to transition smoothly out of shapes and add those movements into our own sequences. The children showed great creativity, and their routines are really starting to come together.
We’re so proud of all the hard work and enthusiasm Year 3 have shown this week. Keep it up, you superstars!
Reminders:
- Spellings will be posted every Friday on the google classroom to be tested the following Friday.
- Dance sessions with Formby High will begin on Wednesday 8th October.
Date: 2nd Oct 2025 @ 7:59am
What a fantastic and fun-filled week we have had in Nursery!
We have continued to explore the classic tale of ‘The Little Red Hen’, which the children have absolutely adored. We revisited the importance of teamwork and how it’s okay to do things independently when help isn’t offered – just like the Little Red Hen from the story. To celebrate the tale, we had a very special moment during our first WOW service in Church with a focus on Harvest, where the children confidently acted out the story and we all sang songs linked to Harvest and Autumn – the children sang beautifully ad we are so proud of each and every one of them for their enthusiasm and confidence!
As Autumn really starts to show its colours, we’ve been embracing the season in every area of our learning. In our Creative area, the children have loved creating Autumn trees by ripping brown paper to make the trunk and branches, and then use paint and their fingers to add leaves in rich Autumn colours. The results were beautiful and full of texture.
We’ve also enjoyed sharing Autumn collections brought in from walks and adventures with family – conkers, acorns and more! These treasures have sparked so much excitement and curiosity, and the children have had lots to say about what they had found.
Using some of these special items, we created Autumn faces, arranging natural materials to form eyes, noses, mouths and even a few wild hairstyles and bushy beards – it was such a fun and imaginative activity!
Over in Forest School, we joined forces with our friends in Reception to create Autumn tress in pairs, which we then used to decorate one of the site dens. The children showed wonderful collaboration as they worked together to create their masterpieces. We also learned more about our fire circle and the rules that help keep us safe, and we’re getting good at recognising our special ‘Forest School’ call!
In Maths, we’ve been busy exploring Numicon and practising our matching skills, sorting items and finding which ones are then same or not. This hands-on approach has really helped the children develop their early number sense in a fun and engaging way.
Within our Early Listening and Sound Work, the children took part in outdoor drumming activities, learning to listen carefully to different beats and sounds and identify sounds in nature and around them. It was a great way to tune into the world using our ears!
It’s been such a rich week full of Autumn discoveries, creativity, music and learning. A big thank you for continuing to support your child’s learning at home, especially by collecting and sharing Autumn treasures – we’ve loved seeing them!
Wishing you all a lovely weekend, and don’t forget to look out for signs of Autumn all around you on your family walks and you may wish to do a little bit of ‘stick drumming’ of your own!
Warm wishes,
Mrs Grayson and the Nursery Team
Dates for the diary: -
Thursday 2nd – 7th October – Scholastic Book Fair
Monday 13th – Tuesday 21st October – Nursery Stay and Play Sessions
Friday 24th October – Alder Hey PJ Day
Friday 24th October – Finish for Half-Term