Dear Parents and Carers,

On Wednesday, we held the school's first class photos in many years! It was a wonderful opportunity to capture our cohorts together and continue building a strong sense of community belonging across the school. We know how much these mementos mean to families, and you will receive information very soon on how you can purchase these prints.

Following on from this, we have noticed a large number of families have not yet updated their personal details or consents on Arbor. It is crucial that we have this information fully up to date ahead of the new academic year, so please log into your account as soon as possible to ensure all details are correct ready for September.

Today, we had the privilege of hosting a peer review with senior leaders visiting us from schools in Wembley, Leicester, and Coventry. The focus of the visit was on our SEND provision, and it was a highly successful day. We received wonderful, positive feedback about the inclusive culture we are creating at Woodside and the strength of our adaptive teaching practices. We are now using their valuable developmental feedback to help us refine our approaches and support our pupils even further.

As a final reminder, school is closed tomorrow, Friday 19th June, for a staff INSET day.

We hope you all enjoy the long weekend and look forward to welcoming the children back on Monday.

Iman Atwal

Headteacher

This week, we recognised and celebrated National Disability Week. Miss Hopeton led a session where children explored that sometimes, some people may need something different in order to be the best we can. We explained that everyone is different and sometimes these differences are visible and sometimes invisible. Knowing this, we can ask each other questions, recognising that everyone is different and we can help each other reach our ability. Linking to our value of Aspiration, we then concluded that no matter who we are, we can achieve whatever we like by celebrating each others’ differences.

Ask your child:

• What makes you unique?

• What can you do to support others?

• What can you do to reach your aspiration?

Every child/family in receipt of benefits-related Free School Meals will have the chance to book onto programmes running during the upcoming Summer holidays. You will have received an email or text message from HolidayActivities (hello@holidayactivities.com) stating ‘You have been issued a voucher’. The email will contain details of how to register/sign-in to the booking platform and claim your child(ren)’s voucher. Once you have claimed your voucher you will be able to link your HolidayActivities Voucher to your Holiday Activities Account, which will show the available credits you have to use. If you are unable to locate this email please do look in your junk mail.

If you have more than one child, you will have received multiple vouchers via email/text. Please ensure you access the individual link for each of your children for their credits to show in your Holiday Activities Account.

When you first log in, HolidayActivities will ask for you to share your location. By doing so, clubs will be displayed based on those closest to you. If you have any trouble with accessing the platform, please email support@holidayactivities.com.

Spaces on the HAF programme are limited and pre-booking is essential. All bookings must be confirmed using the HolidayActivities online platform. Please look out for your email or text message from HolidayActivities.com (hello@holidayactivities.com) which contains your voucher code, and book now to ensure that your child does not miss out!

All holiday clubs cater for children with low-medium levels of SEN and/or disability and children will be considered by each club

on a case-by-case basis.

Nest

Our little learners have been incredibly busy this week! We have had a wonderful time exploring stories, getting creative, and diving into outdoor play.

Here is a look at what your children have been learning:The children have absolutely loved listening to the classic story 'The Very Hungry Caterpillar'. To bring the book to life, we rolled up our sleeves for a fun crafting activity.The children made their very own caterpillars using cardboard cutouts. They carefully glued green tissue paper for the body, used vibrant red paint for the face, and added paper cutouts for the features. While crafting, the children naturally practiced naming the features and eagerly talked about what the caterpillar ate. This hands-on activity was fantastic for strengthening their fine motor skills and boosting their communication and language. To extend our learning, we set up an interactive insect sensory tray. The children were so keen to explore the different mini-beasts! We saw some wonderful imaginative play—some children pretended to fly the butterfly through the air, while others playfully pretended to be scared of the spider.

Outdoor Adventures in the EYFS Garden:🌳🖍️We have been making the most of our large EYFS garden! The children were particularly eager to use our large chalkboard tables. We saw lots of enthusiastic mark-making, and the children loved talking about their drawings, proudly pointing out circles, "the beach," and drawings of "Mummy and Daddy."

Saplings

What a busy and exciting week we have had in Saplings!

Our learning took a green-fingered turn as we dived into the wonderful story 'Oliver’s Vegetables'. Inspired by Oliver's journey through his grandad's garden, the children have been exploring how things grow and have taken our time to learn, care for and water our class tomato plant.

In Literacy, our phonics focus has been all about the letter sound ‘Z’, and the children have done a fantastic job spotting it in words and practicing its shape. The children have also got creative and have been preparing some lovely gifts for Fathers Day!

In Numeracy, we have been sharpening our math skills by learning how to group numbers together. The children are becoming real detectives at recognizing and matching numbers to their written symbols through fun, hands-on games. Alongside our academic adventures, we also took some quiet time during circle time to talk about our feelings. It was wonderful to hear the children share so thoughtfully, helping us strengthen our kind and supportive classroom community.

Thank you for your continued support at home. As we look forward to next week, you can help your child by hunting for the ‘Z’ sound in bedtime stories or counting out groups of items together during snack time!

Year 1

It has been another busy and enjoyable week in Year 1, with the children engaging enthusiastically in a range of exciting learning opportunities across the curriculum.

In English, the children have begun learning about fact files and exploring the importance of our oceans. They investigated why oceans are important, the impact of pollution on marine life, and ways that we can help protect our environment. The children have been developing their understanding of non-fiction texts and have started planning and writing introductions for their own fact files. They have shown great curiosity as they explored how pollution affects ocean habitats and the animals that live within them.

In Maths, the children have been learning about the value of coins and practising counting different amounts of money. Through practical activities, they explored how different combinations of coins can be used to make the same value. One of the highlights of the week was a fun shopping activity, where the children worked collaboratively to purchase classroom items using the correct coins. They enjoyed solving problems, comparing values, and thinking carefully about the most efficient ways to pay for different items.

In Geography, the children have been learning about rural areas. They explored the features of rural environments and compared them with places they already know. The children enjoyed discussing what life might be like in a rural area and identifying the human and physical features that make these places unique.

In Art, the children have been investigating different materials and their properties. They sorted and compared materials by looking closely at their texture, shape, and appearance, helping them to develop their observational skills and prepare for future creative projects.

We have been delighted to see the children demonstrating such enthusiasm, curiosity, and determination in their learning this week. They should be very proud of all they have achieved.

Year 2

We have had another busy and exciting week of learning in Year 2!

In Maths, we learned how to draw and read pictograms. The children explored why the key is so important and how it helps us understand the value of each symbol. They enjoyed creating their own pictograms and continued to improve their ruler skills by drawing carefully and accurately.

In English, we learned about the power of three through the story of Paddington. We imagined meeting Paddington at the train station and thought carefully about exciting adjectives to describe Paddington, marmalade and the noisy train station. The children practised making their writing more interesting and learned how to avoid sounding boring by using richer vocabulary and description.

In Science, we talked about different habitats and the animals that live there. We explored why animals are suited to particular environments and discussed questions such as why a shark cannot live in the desert or in a habitat different from the ocean. The children enjoyed thinking like scientists and explaining their ideas.

In Art, we continued exploring the work of Eric Carle. The children experimented with different types of collage techniques, using colour, texture and layering to create interesting effects. They looked carefully at how Eric Carle uses painted paper and bold shapes in his illustrations, and they began applying these ideas to their own creative work.

Year 3

We have had an incredibly busy, thoughtful and creative week in the classroom!

In our writing sessions, the children have been stepping into the shoes of characters to master the art of diary entry writing. They focused heavily on using first-person pronouns like I, me and my to make their narratives feel personal, authentic and deeply expressive.

In Mathematics, we turned our focus to geometry and spatial awareness. The children worked hard to identify and understand the differences between horizontal and vertical lines, while also mastering parallel lines, learning to spot lines that run perfectly side-by-side and never meet. We topped this off by exploring angles, discovering how they form boundaries and shapes all around us.

Our art sessions were particularly inspiring this week as we researched the famous artist Jean-Michel Basquiat. The children explored his unique journey from street graffiti art to the global stage, using his work as a gateway to discuss social justice. It was wonderful to see them think so deeply about how art can be used as a powerful voice to challenge unfairness and express identity.

In modern foreign languages, we took a trip through the elements by learning how to describe the weather in French. The children practiced asking “Quel temps fait-il?” and can now tell you if it is sunny, raining or windy. Please do ask them to tell you the weather at home this weekend!

Finally, our PSHE sessions covered some incredibly vital life skills. We spent time discussing online safety and relationships, teaching the children how to maintain healthy boundaries and stay secure in digital spaces. 

Thank you for your continued support with your child's learning journey. Have a wonderful weekend!

Year 4

Children have been working incredibly hard this week and have shown great enthusiasm and determination across all areas of the curriculum.

In Maths, children have been identifying and comparing angles. Through practical activities and investigations, they explored how angles can be greater or smaller and used mathematical vocabulary to describe and compare them accurately. The children demonstrated excellent reasoning skills and enjoyed applying their knowledge to real-life examples.

In English, children began planning and writing narratives with the purpose of entertaining the reader. They participated in a range of engaging activities, including hot seating, which allowed them to delve deeper into characters’ thoughts, feelings and motivations. This helped them to generate imaginative ideas and enhance their writing with ambitious vocabulary, descriptive language and varied sentence structures. We have been particularly impressed with the creativity and enthusiasm shown by the children during the writing process.

In Art, children have been exploring the surreal collage work of Valentina Brostean. They studied her unique style and discussed how surrealism combines unexpected elements to create imaginative pieces of art. Using their observational drawings as a starting point, the children brought their ideas to life by creating their own surreal artwork. They experimented with different compositions, colours and textures, producing some truly creative and eye-catching pieces that they were proud to share.

Year 5

In Maths, we started the week by mastering translation, learning how to slide shapes to new positions on a grid without twisting or resizing them. The children then leveled up their skills by combining translation with coordinates, tracking these movements exactly along the X and Y axes. Finally, we explored symmetry, where everyone did a brilliant job spotting and drawing reflection lines across various shapes.

In English, Year 5 has started writing exciting prequels about Zoe’s life in Norwich before the floods. We are exploring the close bond between Zoe and her dad, focusing on how his survival lessons set up her future adventures. The children are also tackling some big themes, looking at how the local community initially supported one another before the pressure of the floods caused society to break down.

In History, the children have continued their Anglo-Saxon learning journey. Before researching different elements of Anglo-Saxon life, they discussed the difference between primary and secondary sources. The children also explored the importance of using reliable evidence, looking at how historical information can be skewed when a source is not as it seems.

Summer Term Clubs

Bookings will be open from Friday 20th March at 6pm and will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis.

The dates exclude the half term week, 25th May 2026 - 29th May 2026 and Bank holiday, Monday 4th May 2026. Also, Inset day, Friday 19th June 2026.

Please book directly using the links provided or via Arbor where it is indicated to do so.

Kindly ensure your child commits to the duration of the club, as we cannot guarantee refunds.

Sign-up starts at the beginning of the club, not once the club has started.

Please follow this link for futher information and booking links: Summer Term Clubs 

We are using in-app messages to communicate with parents through the app - please could parents ensure they are able to log-in and Arbor is set up to accept these messages - they should be visible in the Communications section of the portal.

Parents who have the app should enable Push Notifications - this will alert you through the app that a message has arrived.

Over 90% of our parents have logged into Arbor - if you are having difficulty, please talk to the office who can help.

Check your Child's Data

Please log in to Arbor and check your child's/children's details are correct - and let us know if not. You can also request changes directly through the app which will take place once we have seen them - if we have questions, we will get in touch. Or you can let the office know directly.

It is important we have the correct data for all our families.

Please remember to check Arbor - either the Parent Portal (at https://login.arbor.sc/) or the parent app (available from the App Store or Google Play).

Parents who log in can:

* see their child's attendance

* log consent for local trips and those further afield

* pay for trips and book and pay for clubs

* receive In-App messages - and message the school

* book parent consultations

* see their child's details and request changes to ensure they are completely up to date

If you have more than one child at the school, they should be visible via a drop-down so you only need to login once.

To set up your account, you need the email you use for school communications and the date of birth of one of your children. Follow the Forgotten Password link on either the app or the website.

If you need support with logging in, please talk to the office team who will be glad to help.