Dear Parents/Carers,

A warm welcome back to you all after what we hope was a wonderful summer break! It has been an absolute joy to see our corridors and classrooms bustling with energy and enthusiasm once again. The children have returned with bright smiles and a readiness to learn and we have already had a very busy and productive start to the new academic year.

We would like to extend a special welcome to our new Reception children. They have all been incredibly brave and have settled into school life wonderfully. It’s been lovely to see them making new friends and exploring their new environment with such confidence. Thank you to all the parents who were able to join us for lunch with your children this week – it was a truly special experience for everyone involved.

Our Year 1 children worked incredibly hard in their phonics lessons, diligently recapping all the phonemes they learned in Year R. Their dedication is truly commendable. In RE, they engaged in thoughtful discussions about their similarities and differences, using key vocabulary to describe themselves before creating some fantastic self-portraits.

Year 2 enjoyed their PE lessons, exploring different shapes they can make with their bodies and using key descriptive words. In English, Year 3 embarked on an exciting learning journey, discovering mysterious placards with messages asking for help and about saving someone's home. They were busy generating questions about these intriguing clues and predicting what their new core text will be about – how exciting!

Year 4 diligently worked on their times tables, focusing on their 7s, in preparation for their Multiplication Times Table Check at the end of the year. Their dedication will certainly pay off. Meanwhile, Year 5 enjoyed a fascinating start to their geography curriculum, making hurricanes in a jar as part of their learning about natural disasters.

Finally, our Year 6 children have dived into English by creatively designing their own homes to help miniature people survive, inspired by their core text, Max and the Millions.

It's been a truly wonderful start to the academic year across all year groups, and we are incredibly proud of all the children. We look forward to another term filled with engaging learning and memorable experiences.

A reminder to send your child to school in the correct and full uniform each day. Thank you for your continued support with this.

Wishing you all a lovely weekend!

Miss Capes, Mrs Jackson and the Maundene Team  

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.