Dear Parents/Carers,

This week, our youngest children in Reception have been developing their early mathematical skills by sorting Numicon. Using manipulatives, they practised colour recognition and matching the correct Numicon shape. Crucially, they focussed on comparing the shapes, using important mathematical language like big, small, bigger, smaller, taller, and shorter to describe and differentiate between them.

Year 1 historians have been learning about the lasting legacy of Florence Nightingale and why she is remembered today. They discovered that she was instrumental in changing the way injured and sick people were treated, founded the world's first nursing training school in London and was the first woman to receive the prestigious Order of Merit award, all of which they documented in a detailed double-page spread.

Our Year 2 children have been exploring the world in Geography, focussing on the similarities and differences between the UK and Australia. They learned that the UK is primarily located on two large islands, Great Britain and Ireland, in the Atlantic Ocean and that its capital city is London. They are doing a fantastic job compiling their findings into engaging double-page spreads.

In their English lessons, Year 3 have been preparing for writing their final outcome —a diary entry. The children recalled and sequenced the events, discussed the character Greta's changing feelings at each stage and thoroughly recapped the essential features of a diary entry to ensure their writing is structured correctly.

Year 4 has tackled a significant historical topic, investigating how WW2 continues to impact society today. Key areas of study included the Nazi regime's violation of the human rights of the Jewish people, recognising the vital contribution of African and Asian soldiers to the Allied victory and identifying the main Allied powers (Britain, France, The Soviet Union, and the USA) who worked together to defeat the Axis.

It's been a very active week for Year 5 in PE. They focussed on developing their netball skills, showing great progress in their court play. The children were communicating effectively and demonstrating strong teamwork skills, proving that collaborative effort is key to sporting success.

Our Year 6 children were undertaking a major historical study about the Civil Rights Movement. This week, the children answered a challenging assessment question: "What leadership lessons can be learnt from the Civil Rights Movement in the United Kingdom?" This encouraged deep reflection on history and its relevance to modern society. 

It has been an extremely busy half term and the children have worked hard, producing beautiful published outcomes, glorious artwork and detailed double-page spreads. 

We hope you have a lovely half term and we will see you back on Monday 3rd November 2025.

Miss Capes, Mrs Jackson and the Maundene Team

Well done to the following children - 

The Reading Ambassadors have been working hard this week and have written their own book reviews. This week, Riley in Year 6 has written one focusing on the book Amulet: The Stone Keeper by Kazu Kibuishi. He is highly recommending this book as he has scored it 10/10! Thank you Riley!

Developing strong oracy skills is crucial for children's success in school and beyond. It empowers them to express themselves confidently, think critically, and engage effectively with others. To support this vital skill, our weekly newsletter will feature fun and engaging oracy activities that families can enjoy together at home, fostering communication and building confidence in your children.