As we reach the end of a busy and successful first half of the autumn term, we want to take a moment to reflect on the many achievements across our school community. It has been a wonderful start to the year, full of learning, collaboration and pride in what we continue to build together.

We began the term by welcoming our new pupils in Reception and throughout the school as well as new colleagues, all of whom have settled brilliantly into school life. The sense of teamwork and belonging has been clear to see, and we're grateful to everyone who has supported a smooth and positive start to the academic year.

A particular highlight has been the completion of our new Reception Outdoor Learning Space  which is an inspiring environment that reflects our commitment to investing in the very best early education experiences for our youngest children.

We are also delighted to celebrate two significant achievements this term: our Careers Mark accreditation, recognising the high quality of our careers and aspirations work across the curriculum, and the RE Quality Mark – Gold Standard, a testament to the richness and depth of our Religious Education provision.

Our commitment to professional growth continues to shine through, with four members of staff embarking on Level 3, Level 5 and Level 6 apprenticeships in specialist teaching and leadership. Their dedication to developing expertise will have a lasting impact on the quality of teaching and support across the school.

As we look ahead, we congratulate Miss Walker-Ellis (Y1 Squirrels Teacher) as she prepares for maternity leave and for Miss Adams, (our current cover teacher in Reception and KS1) who will take over as class teacher for the remainder of the year.  We'd also like to thank Rebecca Southorn for her dedication as Inclusion Manager as she has relocated; we are currently recruiting for this key role and look forward to welcoming a new member of the team soon.

It was wonderful to see such a strong turnout at various parents events this term including Phonics, Early Maths, Year 4 Multiplication Check, KS2 SATs and the Parents’ Forum, where we shared open and constructive discussions around communication and feedback. Your partnership continues to make a real difference to our school’s success and we look forward to welcoming parents and families into the school next term too. If you are unsure about any events, please check the News and Events section of our website https://www.willowprimaryschool.co.uk/

Finally, a special mention to our Primary Enterprise Challenge winners, whose creativity is shaping the design of our new AmbiSpace Sensory Nook – an inclusive and calming space that will support the wellbeing of all pupils.

Thank you to all our children, staff and families for your energy, commitment and support throughout this first half-term. We wish everyone a restful and enjoyable break, ready to return for another exciting half-term on Monday 3rd November.

Mrs Sumner Mr Martin

Executive Principal Head of School

Reading at home

It has been lovely to see so many children excited about reading and discovering new books in their new classrooms and library areas this term and we have received a high level of engagement with Learning with Parents. This system is how parents can quickly and easily log their child reading at home. The expectations are that children read at home at least 3 times a week and in Key Stage 2, one of these sessions can be Reading Plus.

In assembly every Monday, we celebrate engagement and Year 1 Rabbits are proving hard to beat with almost every single child logging reading at home using Learning with Parents. Well done Rabbits! 

Reading Cafe

Thanks you so much for all of the families who visited our Reading Cafe this half term and they enjoyed reading a range of books with their children whilst enjoying a delicious breakfast served by Friends of Willow.  Please look  out for the next date in the Spring term as we would love you to join us.

Book Judging Panel

We are delighted to announce that we have been selected to be part of the Royal Society Young Children's Book Prize judging panel for the third year in a row. This prize focuses on the most recent book releases linked to Science and STEM and  children will be able to apply to be part of the judging panel where they have the opportunity to read these books and give their opinions before Willow sends in their vote for the best book.

Reading for Pleasure Whole School Award

We are absolutely thrilled that we have been awarded the Whole School Reading for Pleasure award at the OU/UKLA Harper Collins Reading for Pleasure awards this year.  This is awarded in recognition of a whole school approach to promote reading for pleasure and the judges were impressed by some our provision such as a wide range of books by different authors, a variety of reading materials, our social reading and book shopping an our reading cafes.

As part of the prize, we have also won £250 worth of books for Willow so all the pupils will benefit from this.

Reception

We're delighted to share that Reception children have settled beautifully into school and are making lots of new friends! They quickly embraced our school rules, learning the importance of collaboration and sharing. They have also been exploring our newly developed outdoor environment—building dens, boosting their core strength on the climbing frames, and investigating the mud kitchen.

They participated in a fun experiment to understand the effect of soap on germs, practiced using a knife and fork independently at dinner and bravely tried new foods. Artistically, they were inspired by Mondrian to create shape patterns, and we’ve seen a huge leap in their drawing and writing confidence. Finally, the story 'Superhero Like You' introduced different careers, sparking lots of roleplay where they practiced new vocabulary and showed amazing care and kindness! 

Year 1

What a brilliant start to Year 1! Both Squirrels and Rabbits have shown fantastic enthusiasm and determination this half term. We have focused on understanding Willows’ rules and expectations, and everyone has worked hard to become resilient, independent learners who always try their best. We have also discovered how amazing we are at collaborating — sharing ideas and supporting each other so kindly.

In Writing, we’ve been improving our handwriting, learning how each letter starts and sits neatly on the line. We have also practised writing dictated sentences, remembering to use capital letters, finger spaces, full stops and to check our work carefully.

In Science, we explored materials and their properties through fun investigations, testing which material would make the best umbrella and building houses for the Three Little Pigs. In Music, we have enjoyed learning about percussion instruments — striking, shaking, and scraping them to create exciting sounds.

What an incredible half term!

Year 2

What an amazing start to Year 2 it has been! The children have settled back into school life brilliantly and have worked hard to show that they understand Willow’s routines and expectations. They have shown real maturity, kindness, and enthusiasm in their learning.

In English, we have been busy retelling The Friendship Bench after Miss Ellway accidentally misplaced her copy! The children rose to the challenge, using their memories and creativity to bring the story to life once again. They worked hard to include compound sentences and adjectives in their writing. This half term our additional text focus was "The Disgusting Sandwich." During the unit, the children composed imaginative instructions for intentionally unappetising sandwiches, applying their wonderful creative writing skills. They worked hard to include expanded noun phrases and to use imperative verbs so their instructions were clear, precise, and easy to follow. 

In Science, our young investigators have been exploring what our bodies need to stay healthy. Through hands-on experiments and discussions, they have discovered the importance of exercise, nutrition, keeping clean and rest.

One of the most exciting parts of the term was our trip to Conisborough Castle. The children loved exploring the Keep, learning about who lived there, and finding out how castles were designed for protection. Their curiosity and enthusiasm made it a truly memorable day.

It’s been a brilliant half term full of laughter, learning, and teamwork — a wonderful start to Year 2!

Year 3

Year 3 have made a fantastic start to Key Stage 2 and have created some impressive work so far this Autumn Term.

They started the year with their art project linked to the history topic of Prehistory and learned all about and then created their own cave paintings. They used a variety of techniques to try and create the shapes and textures of the animals in both paint and pastel work.

In English, they have been writing the ending to Stone Age Boy and have learned how to use 2A sentences to give lots of detailed description in their writing. In Guided Reading they have also loved reading Toby and the Ice Giants which gave them lots of information about prehistoric animals. They even impressed the staff on their trip with their knowledge of these animals.

A highlight of the half term so far has definitely been the trip to Creswell Crags to support Year 3 in their learning about Prehistory and the Stone Age. They had the opportunity to visit a cave that would have been used in the Stone Age for shelter and they leaned about clothing, tools and jewellery that people wore. During the survival skills sessions Year 3 used their Captain Collaboration skills to create a shelter from sticks, string (this would have been made from animal intestines during the Stone Age!) and animal skin and fur. They were all surprised with how cosy they were inside. After this, there was he chance to practise spear throwing to see if they could hit the heart of the bison before learning about how to light a fire using flint and using a bow saw.

An exciting part of the day was becoming paleontologists and handling real animal bones that had been found at Creswell Crags from the Stone Age. It was tricky to put the bones back together to make a complete skeleton, but Year 3 showed resilience and worked well to achieve it. They made complete skeletons of a cave lion, a hyena and a wolf.

Year 4

In Art, Year 4 have been learning about the artist Georgia O’Keeffe. The children have explored her distinctive style and used a range of techniques, including painting, colour mixing, and washes. They have produced some truly impressive pieces of artwork, showcasing creativity, attention to detail, and growing confidence in their artistic skills. 

In PSHE, the children have been learning all about friendships and the importance of respectful communication. They have also explored how to recognise and respond to bullying, teasing, and hurtful behaviour, as well as how to stay safe online and make positive choices when using the internet. 

Get Ready to Rock with Times Tables Rock Stars (TTRS)! 

We are fully embedding Times Tables Rock Stars (TTRS) to help all pupils achieve fluency in their multiplication facts (up to 12 x 12). This daily practice is vital preparation for the National Multiplication Tables Check (MTC) in June.

Children use TTRS regularly in school, and we ask that they complete at least three 10-minute sessions per week as homework. Short, frequent practice is most effective for achieving the rapid recall required for the MTC. Please continue to support your child in becoming a Rock Star!

TTRS Game Modes Outline

TTRS offers a variety of engaging modes, each with a different purpose:

• Garage: The best mode for targeted learning. It features questions specifically set by the teacher or chosen by the program's algorithm based on the facts your child needs to practise most.

• Studio: This mode covers all tables up to 12 x 12. Playing here determines your child's Rock Status (e.g., Rock Legend) based on their average speed across the tables.

• Soundcheck: This is the essential MTC practice. It exactly mirrors the official test format: 25 multiplication-only questions, with a 6-second time limit per question.

• Arena: Multiplayer modes where children compete against classmates for a fun!

Year 5

What a fantastic start to the year both Otters and Badgers have had. The children have returned to school ready and eager to learn and have shown themselves to be brilliant members of our Willow family. 

In Science, we have been learning about the lifecycles of different plants and animals. The children have explored the different parts of a plant and have dissected their own lily and managed to label the different parts. They have also recently started their own investigation into the growth of a spring onion and have enjoyed watching its rapid changes over time!

In Maths, we have been learning about Place Value up to 1 million and deepening our understanding of addition and subtraction. The children have been incredibly resilient and have collaborated well together in lots of our maths lessons whilst answering some challenging problems! 

In Music, the children have become composers! We have been working with the English National Opera (ENO) to compose our very own piece of opera music that will be entered into a competition. The children have had great fun and shown amazing collaboration skills when coming up with their own graphic scores for their own musical piece!

Year 6

The children have made a fantastic start to year 6.  We are very proud of them!  The term got off to a galloping start, when the children visited Doncaster Racecourse to learn about the heritage of the St Leger.  They took part in a quiz, got to run along the actual track, visit the weighing and changing rooms and saw a real-life race horse.  The children represented the school extremely well and enjoyed the day.

As part of their World War Two (WW2) topic in History, the children have been learning about evacuation, the Sheffield Blitz, the role of women and black and Asian soldiers during the war. They visited Cannon Hall for their evacuee day, where they learnt about rationing, made carrot biscuits, learnt to sew (Make do and Mend) and learnt about code cracking and propaganda.  A great day was had by all!

Online Safety & Wellbeing

Safeguarding

Why Sleep Matters

A good night’s sleep helps pupils feel their best—inside and out. It keeps their bodies healthy, minds focused, and moods positive. During sleep, the brain organises what they’ve learned and helps them manage their emotions. It’s also when their bodies grow and recharge, ready for a new day of learning and fun! 

As the clocks go back, have you considered how you will ensure that your child develops healthy sleep habits? 

We have an opportunity for parents and carers to come and reflect with the Behaviour and Outreach Support Service on strategies which may be supportive. 

This will be on 20th November at 9 am in Forest Hall. Whether you are able to attend or not, you may find it useful to consider using the half term break to begin to establish routines for the darker nights.

Creating a Calm Bedtime Routine

A good bedtime routine can make a big difference to how well your child sleeps.

Start by planning your routine and writing it down. Try to begin the routine about an hour before your child’s bedtime. You could pop it on the fridge or your child’s bedroom door so everyone can follow it easily.

• Do the same things at the same time each evening, and aim for a regular wake-up time too—even at weekends if possible. This helps to keep your child’s body clock in a steady rhythm.

• Turn off all screens at the start of the routine. The light from screens can reduce melatonin (the sleep hormone), making it harder for children to fall asleep.

• You might like to include a small bedtime snack if that helps your child settle. Dimming the lights during the hour before bed also helps the body get ready for sleep.

• Younger pupils might enjoy a bedtime box with calming activities such as jigsaws, colouring or threading. Older children might prefer reading, playing a quiet board game or doing a simple craft.

• A warm bath about 30 minutes before bed can also help. As the body cools afterwards, it becomes easier to drift off to sleep.

• Once in bed, sharing a story is a lovely way to end the day, or older children might prefer to read independently.

And finally, remember—when your child says “everyone else stays up later”, it’s rarely true! Setting clear and consistent routines helps children feel happier, more rested, and ready to do their best at school.