We are delighted to let you know that we have launched a new website for Belswains this week. The domain name stays the same www.belswains.herts.sch.uk but the look is new. We have designed the home page to feature quick links for things we think parents need easy access to. This includes the newsletters, lunch menu, class pages and Arbor.  We hope you like the new look. We are still in the process of updating some areas of it; let us know if you have feedback on further additions. 

This week in EYFS, we have been learning about the celebration of Ramadan and Eid. The children have enjoyed sharing their own experiences and knowledge. We explored a range of resources, including photographs, fiction stories, and non-fiction books about Eid, helping to deepen our understanding of these special celebrations. 

This week in the provision, the children had lots of fun singing many of the nursery rhymes they know and exploring different instruments to create both loud and quiet music. Mark-making opportunities were available throughout all areas of the provision, allowing the children to practice writing independently and at their own pace. We have finished this week with a fantastic Science work shop!

Year 4 Owls Explore the Canal! 

On Thursday 19th March 2026, Year 4 Owls enjoyed a fantastic trip to the Rickmansworth Waterways Trust at Batchworth Lock Canal Centre. The children took part in three exciting activities, rotating in groups throughout the day.

They had a wonderful time learning how to operate a canal lock, discovering the history of canal life and even stepping back in time to experience Victorian washing all whilst dressed as Victorian children! A highlight of the day was a relaxing boat ride along the canal, where they spotted local wildlife and watched the lock in action from a boater’s perspective.

The children were absolutely brilliant and represented Belswains superbly and the sunshine made the day even more special!

We’re now looking forward to Nightingales’ turn on Thursday 26th March, as they prepare to take their own journey back in time. 

Practical Learning Across the Curriculum

With SATs fast approaching, we’ve been reminding the children that while working hard is important, learning can still be enjoyable, creative and full of variety. One of our key goals this term has been to show that preparing for tests doesn’t have to mean sitting still with a pencil; practical, hands‑on activities can be just as powerful for building skills and confidence.

Over the past two weeks, the children have taken part in a range of engaging tasks across the curriculum. In Science, they designed and created their own shadow puppets, using them to explore how light behaves and how shadows form. They also investigated the transparency of different coloured paper and card, comparing how much light each material allowed through and discussing the science behind their findings.

In Maths, we’ve been developing our understanding of statistics, working with pie charts and gathering our own data to interpret. A highlight of the week was heading outdoors to the MUGA in the sunshine, where we used PE equipment to help calculate the Mean in a fun, active way. These practical activities have helped the children see learning from a new perspective; one where curiosity, movement and enjoyment play just as important a role as knowledge.

This week the whole school took part in Science Workshops.  On Thursday, Nursery, Reception and Key Stage 1 took part in a Dinosaur and Fossil Dig. The children were palaeontologists, locating and identifying fossils from some of the most iconic dinosaurs of the past - T-Rex, Stegosaurus and Triceratops. The children learnt about where each dinosaur lived, where they came from and what they ate.  The children also had the opportunity to meet baby dinosaurs! 

On Friday, Key Stage 2 took part in an  amazing "Science Faction" workshop.  We discussed how scientists work  and carry out investigations.  The workshop was full of amazing experiments and lots of WOW moments! The experiments covered a full range of science topics, including forces, chemistry, materials and much more. The children were engaged in the all the fantasic activities and there were lots of surprised faces and "WOWs".  The children asked and answered lots of scientific questions and demonstrated a range of scientific knowledge. Reece, our visitor, was very knowledgeable and made science fun and exciting to all of our learners.   The experiments all used home equipment and ingredients (so be prepared for some budding scientists at home!)  

A great couple of days, learning all about the amazing world of Science.