Collaboration matters Excellence in everything Community first Equity for everyone Continuous growth
Collaboration matters Excellence in everything Community first Equity for everyone Continuous growth
And just like that, the Summer 1 term has come to a close! It feels like only yesterday we were
welcoming everyone back from Easter, yet we have packed so much learning, growth, and joy
into these past few weeks. What a truly wonderful term it has been.
It has been an incredibly literary week at school as not one, not two, not three, but four of our
classes; Nursery, Reception, Year 1 and Year 2 made the exciting journey to the Slade Library!
Every single class had a wonderful time exploring the shelves and we were immensely proud of
how beautifully the children demonstrated our school values, showing fantastic manners and
respect throughout their visits. Experiences like these are vital for nurturing a genuine, lifelong
love for reading, which does so much to spark imagination and unlock new worlds for young
minds. We hope the children came home buzzing with excitement about their literary
adventures, and we encourage you to keep that reading momentum going at home!
Also this week, Year 6 took part in an eye-opening Social Media and Mental Health workshop,
designed to help them navigate the digital world safely and confidently. Together, they explored
the bright sides of staying connected, alongside the very real impact social media can have on
our well-being and self-esteem. The children learned how to spot potential risks online and,
most importantly, what to do if things don’t feel right. They covered clear, actionable steps on
how to handle age-inappropriate content and what to do if they ever feel uncomfortable or
worried about communications online, whether from a stranger or someone they know. It was
an incredibly valuable session, empowering our children to log on with caution, kindness and
the knowledge of how to protect their own peace of mind.
A particular highlight this week was seeing the children on Wednesday for their class photos.
They all looked absolutely lovely and incredibly smart in their uniforms! Beyond just a beautiful
picture, it was a wonderful moment to capture them together as a cohesive group. Seeing them
lined up side-by-side truly highlighted their shared sense of belonging and the immense pride
they take in being part of their class community.
Speaking of community.., At Rockliffe Manor, we know that great schools are powered by strong
communities! Our Local Community Council (LCC) is the heartbeat of this connection, making
sure the voices of our children, families, and the local community are heard and turned into
action. We are still looking for a passionate Parent Member to join the council and help shape
the future of our school. What does it involve? This is a flexible, voluntary role requiring just
about six hours per term. You’ll attend one formal meeting a term, visit the school to chat with
families and staff and help us build links with local organisations. Who can apply? Anyone! You
don't need any specialist skills or prior experience. We just look for a commitment to improving
the lives of our children, enthusiasm for our community and a willingness to collaborate. Ready
to make a difference? If you are passionate about education and want to help keep Rockliffe
Manor at the heart of our community, we would love to hear from you! To find out more or
express your interest, please reach at ncook@inspirerockliffe.co.uk.
As the week draws to an end, what a fantastic Friday we had! In today’s Celebration Assembly,
we came together to recognise the incredible achievements of some of our children, from those
who poured their hearts into their final written outcomes, to those showing a brilliant growth
mindset when learning to tell the time. We were also deeply proud to celebrate the everyday
kindness our children continuously show to their friends. A special highlight was celebrating the
many children who received their hard-earned pen licences after putting immense effort into
developing their handwriting. As Mrs Aliaj beautifully shared with the school, for those who didn't
quite gain their licence this term, it certainly doesn't mean that progress hasn't been made;
every child is on their own unique learning journey and we are incredibly proud of all their hard
work!
Looking ahead to the final term, we are delighted to share that many of our favorite summer
traditions will be returning. Our calendar is already filling up with highly anticipated events,
including the high energy of Sports Day, the splashes and smiles of Water Fun Day and the
wonderful community spirit of our annual Summer Fair. These days are always a fantastic
highlight for the children and create memories that last a lifetime. We are currently putting the
final touches on our summer schedule to ensure everything runs smoothly, so please look out
for a full list of dates as soon as we return from the half term break
I hope you all have a wonderful half term and we look forward to seeing you back on Monday
1st June.
With very best wishes, Mrs Cook and the Rockliffe Manor team
Learning this week
Let’s look at the learning from this week …
In Nursery, the children have been exploring the world of 2D and 3D shapes this week, growing so confident that they are even spotting them outside of school. A special mention goes to Pippa, who impressed her nan during a trip to Eltham Palace by correctly identifying a pyramid. Alongside their geometric discoveries, the children thoroughly enjoyed their very first trip to the library.
In Reception, science took center stage as the children investigated the fascinating life cycle of a frog. The classroom was filled with curiosity thanks to a kind donation of real tadpoles from a parent; the children proved to be keen scientists, asking insightful questions about why the tadpoles hide in the algae and what purpose it serves. The class also ventured out into the local community with a visit to the library, followed by a delightful teddy bears picnic at Winns Common. During a lovely circle time, the children proudly introduced their bears, shared why they are so special, and enjoyed games and a story together.
Geography sparked some wonderful discussions in Year 1 this week as the children used an 'issue tree' to explore the causes and effects of pollution. It was incredibly heartening to see the children reflect so deeply on how everyday choices impact the environment and discuss the positive changes they can make. Showing their characteristic kindness, the class also visited the library this week and thoughtfully selected books for classmates who were absent so that nobody felt left out.
Year 2 have reached the grand finale of their core text, Vlad and the Great Fire of London. The children channelled their inner authors to write fantastic diary entries from Vlad's perspective, brilliantly showcasing the conjunctions and exclamation sentences they have mastered this term. Meanwhile, in maths, the class has been working incredibly hard to grasp the tricky concept of telling the time. We are immensely proud of their determination and progress.
Our Year 3 pupils turned into editors this week, using success criteria to review and refine their written manifestos in English—we definitely have some future Prime Ministers in our midst! In maths, the focus turned to money as the children mastered adding, subtracting and calculating change through real-world problem-solving.
It has been a week of major achievements in Year 4 as the children completed their English projects: a detailed newspaper article on the sinking of the Mary Rose. They drew beautifully on their learning from across the half term, using past hot-seating exercises to craft realistic eyewitness quotes. In Design and Technology, the children put their scientific skills to the test by building working circuits to create fans designed to cool down an animal's habitat. Theyenjoyed the project so much they have already asked Miss Emslie if they can start an engineering club next half term!
Year 5 have been flexing their journalistic skills this week, crafting high-quality newspaper reports based on the fictional events in Boy in the Tower. They did a fantastic job incorporating complex techniques such as relative clauses, direct speech and formal language. Innovation continued in DT, where the children designed and built impressive mechanisms inspired by the solar system. To wrap up a busy week, they concluded their geography topic by exploring the deep impact of human activity on the water cycle.
Our Year 6 students have shown incredible dedication to their English learning this week. They have dedicated their mornings to carefully editing and redrafting their favorite pieces of writing from across the year, creating a final portfolio that highlights their immense creativity and commitment. It has been a wonderful opportunity for them to look back at their earlier work and realize just how far they have come since the beginning of the academic year.
Birthdays, Merits & Attendance
Reception - 96.4%
Year 1 - 93.0%
Year 2 - 97.0%
Year 3 - 99.1%
Year 4 - 89.5%
Year 5 - 94.6%
Year 6 - 98.6%
Total - 95.4%
Kamila - Year 4
Tabitha - Year 1
Darcy-May - Year 6
Talulah - Nursery
Eliana - Year 4
Reception - Raina
Year 1 - Sumaya
Year 2 - Cairo
Year 3 - Celine
Year 4 - David
Year 5 - Jacob
Year 6 - Kristina
Dates for your diary
Monday 25th - Friday 29th May 2026 - May Half term - School Closed to children
Monday 1st June 2026 - Children return to school
TWednesday 3rd June 2026 - Nursery Stay & Play - 08.50 - 09.50
Wednesday 10th June 2026 - New Reception Welcome Talk 2pm - 3pm
Monday 15th June 2026 - Platform Cricket Intercompetition
Tuesday 16th June 2026 - New Reception Stay and Play Group A 10.30 - 11.30
Wednesday 17th June 2026 - New Reception Stay and Play Group B 10.30 - 11.30
Friday 19th June 2026 - Inset Day - school closed to children
Messages from the office
No Nut Products
Beachwood
Lego/ Duplo
PE Kits
Scooters in Playground
Uniform reminder
PreLoved Uniform
School Policies
School Day End
Term Dates 2026/2027
Please be reminded that we are a No Nut School - We have children with severe allergies to Nut products.
If you would like to show your interest please contact the office where we can give you further information.
We would like to increase our resources and maybe have a Lego/Duplo station at playtime. If any of our parents have Lego or Duplo that your child no longer plays with we would appreciate any donations.
PE Kits - can we please remind you that all children should bring their PE Kits in to School. The children will need a pair of shorts, T-shirt and socks.
Due to incidents in playground with scooters, can parents please ensure that your child does not ride on the playground and other areas of the school. Children to not to be riding passed the school gates, Many thanks.
School Uniform - can we please remind you that all children are requested to wear school colours - Not Hoodies. Can you please ensure that your child's name is in the uniform so we can return all lost property. Also now that the colder weather has begun your child should come dressed accordingly - Coats,Jumpers or Cardigans and appropriate footwear.
We have a uniform rail outside the office, If you have any preloved uniform that could help fill our rail we would greatly appreciate this.
All of our school policies can be found on our school website School Policies
Child Protection & Safeguarding Policy
As of Monday 13th April 2026 the school day will finish at 15.20.
Community Information
Please take the time to complete this survey. https://eu.surveymars.com/q/dyGDIgk5Y
School Information
“If you have good thoughts they will shine out of your face like sunbeams and you will always look lovely.” Roald Dahl