This week, our Reception children had an exciting week learning about how to make a fruit a salad which was linked to their core text, 'Lunch at 10 Pomegranate Street'. The children focused on which actions they had to do when making their fruit salad (peel, chop, mix) and identified these actions as 'verbs'. Additionally, the children discussed the importance of hand hygiene and how to safely use equipment.

As part of their DT learning journey, Year 1 were discussing and ordering step by step instructions that they would follow to help them build a model aeroplane. This learning links with their core text, Izzy Gizmo, which is about a girl inventor who makes her own bird wings!

In their English lessons this week, Year 2 collaborated with their partners when reading through their writing about the Rainbow Fish. The children supported one another with their sentence structure, editing and improving vocabulary and spelling within their narrative. Year 2 then used checklists to ensure they had included all key features within their writing and also used spelling mats to support them with using the correct year 1 and 2 spellings.

As part of their RE learning this week, Year 3 had a special visitor from the local church, Maureen. She spoke to the children about the significance of the Church and the Bible to Christians. The children were taught about the Old Testament and the New Testament and they finished their session off by playing Bible Bingo.

In their computing lessons, Year 4 were learning about the importance of being safe online. They focused on the strategies they should use if someone talks to them online and how they can keep themselves safe. The children identified that they must talk to an adult if they have any concerns when online or playing games on their devices.

Year 5 have focused on their grammar this week within their English lessons! The children supported one another to use a range of conjunctions, modal verbs and passive sentences throughout their writing. Their publishing this term will focus on writing an explanation text about the Water Cycle and the children will be expected to use a range of grammar within this.

As part of their English learning journey, Year 6 were writing directed and reported speech that they will be using within their newspaper report next week that is linked to the core text, Stella by Starlight. The children supported one another with their learning, including giving reminders about the correct use of inverted commas and punctuation.

We hope you have a lovely weekend,

Miss Capes, Mrs Jackson and the Maundene Team

Key Messages

Reading at Home

A reminder that consistent, daily reading at home is a critical part of your child's academic development. Please utilise the Digital Reading Log to add your comments about your child's reading. This platform is monitored weekly by teachers and leaders so that we can follow up with individuals to ensure they are accessing the platform consistently. If you are having trouble accessing this, please speak to your child's class teacher.

Musical Instrument Lessons

Would your child like to learn a musical instrument? There are so many benefits for children, some being:

Increases memory skills
Builds creativity
Boosts confidence
Promotes physical co-ordination
Improves social skills
Drums especially can be a powerful therapeutic tool for children with ADHD, helping to improve focus, reduce hyperactivity and enhance overall wellbeing.

Limited spaces available for individual Drum, Singing or Guitar lessons for next year, terms 3 & 4.

These are £12 per 20 minute lesson or £18 per 30 minute lesson, payable upfront in 10 or 11 week blocks.

Limited spaces available for group Guitar lessons and group drama lessons.

These are £10 per 30 minute lesson, payable upfront in 10 week blocks.

(There is also a one off cost for teaching materials for each of these, of either £10 or £15).

For more information and sign up please click on the following link as soon as possible to secure your place:

https://forms.gle/HFLvtRVa7B8iTVW57

Nb. If you are in receipt of Pupil Premium then Kent music school offer a limited number of 75% subsidies for children learning with Andy Davis Music. They are currently full but you can put your child's name on the waiting list by clicking on this link and scrolling down to APPLY NOW.

www.kent-music.com/financial-assistance/

Maundene Long Term Plan

In order to find out more information about what your children are learning about, please look at our Maundene Long Term Plan which is located on our Global Curriculum page on our website.

Lunch

Dear parents,

As we are a healthy school and also have children with severe allergies, we would like to remind all parents of the expectations for packed lunches. Please can you refrain from giving your child the following:

Nuts or products that contain nuts e.g. Nutella.
Chocolate bars - Biscuits or wafers are acceptable (penguins etc.)
Sweets
Fizzy drinks

If children are bringing in their own snacks for snack time in the classroom, this must be fruit or vegetable only.

Due to the risk of choking, we recommend you cutting grapes for children, particularly those under the age of 5.

Thank you for your support with this.

The Maundene Team

Primary School Admissions 2026

9am Monday 1 September 2025 - Primary school applications open

5pm on Thursday 15 January 2026 - Primary school applications close (national closing date)

Thursday 16 April 2026 - Offers sent to parents and carers (national offer date)

Thursday 14 May 2026 - Places must be accepted/refused, waiting list requests and appeal requests must be submitted.

Monday 8 June 2026 - Re-allocation of available places begins

Monday 31 August 2026 - Re-allocation of available places ends

Children in Need

Following on from our dress down day on Friday 14th November, we raised an incredible £271.15 for Children in Need. Thank you very much to everyone who donated!