Leigh Academy Tree Tops Newsletter

Easter 2026

Message from Miss White

End of term message to parents from the principal

Dear Parents and Guardians,

What an absolutely fantastic term we’ve had at Tree Tops! We kicked off the term with our amazing choir performing at Young Voices at the O2; a long day, but full of fun, music, and incredible energy. The children represented Tree Tops so brilliantly, and we couldn’t be prouder! Thanks to all of the staff and parents who attended and supported this wonderful event.

World Book Day was another highlight! The children’s creative and colourful costumes brought our school to life, and we were thrilled to launch DEAR (Drop Everything And Read). Each class enjoyed a 10-minute ‘cosy slot’ to pause, relax, and dive into a wonderful book together, making reading a special moment.

Our trips this term were full of excitement and discovery:

Year 6 had a thrilling time at Cineworld, watching How to Train Your Dragon.
Year 1 explored the wonders of Port Lympne and had a day packed with fun.
Year 3 was inspired by the incredible art at the Tate Museum in London.

We feel so proud of all the children for their enthusiasm, creativity, and positive spirit this term. We wish you a joyful and relaxing Easter break and can’t wait to welcome everyone back for Term 5 on Monday 20th April 2026 for more adventures and learning!

Miss White | Principal

Fledglings

This term in the nursery, the children are learning about growing and changing as part of understanding themselves and the world around them. Through activities such as planting seeds, observing plants grow, and discussing how babies grow into children and adults, pupils begin to recognise that all living things change over time. These experiences help children develop curiosity, ask questions, and notice differences and similarities in growth. By exploring life cycles, caring for plants or animals, and reflecting on their own development, children build early scientific understanding while also developing language, observation skills, and a sense of responsibility.

Robins and Sparrows - year r

This Term, Robins and Sparrows have been learning about patterns, and how these connect to our environment and life on Earth. We read the Very Hungry Caterpillar and learnt about the life cycle of the caterpillar. The children have enjoyed creating art and writing linked to the story. We continued our thinking about life cycles through the story Tadpole’s Promise and the changes that happen during a tadpole’s life. The children have been looking at seasonal changes in our environment and what happens to the plants around us. We are starting to use the garden more to explore planting flowers and vegetables. We can’t wait to taste what we’ve grown! In maths we have been deepening our understanding of numbers up to 10. In particular the children have been working on number bonds to 10, doubling, one more and one less.

Year 1 - Chaffinch

This term, our learning has been inspired by the beautiful text The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse, where we explored themes of kindness, friendship and caring for others. We linked this closely to our topic Sharing the Planet, thinking about how we look after animals and the world around us.

In English, we focused on building simple sentences, using capital letters and full stops, and beginning to expand our ideas with describing words (adjectives). The children enjoyed describing animals from the story, such as the fox and the horse, using words like kind, gentle and brave, and combining ideas using and to make their writing more detailed.

In Geography and Science, we explored animal habitats, learning about environments such as oceans, jungles and polar regions, and discussing why animals live where they do. We also thought about how we can help protect animals and their habitats.

In Science, we have also been learning about seasonal changes, with a focus on spring. The children enjoyed a spring walk, where they observed signs of the season and talked about how the environment is changing, linking this to how animals and plants grow and adapt, which we will further develop next term.

A highlight of the term was our visit to Port Lympne Safari Park, where the children were able to see a range of animals up close. This experience brought our learning to life and inspired lots of discussion, writing and artwork back in the classroom.

It has been a lovely term of thoughtful learning, with children developing their confidence in speaking, writing and understanding the importance of caring for each other and the world we share.

Year 1 - Goldfinch

This term, the children in Goldfinch class have been learning about different animals and their habitats and where they can be found. In English we have been describing animals using a range of adjectives to further develop our sentences. Children used this knowledge to write descriptive pieces and riddles about their favourite animals. We then explored animals from different continents at Port Lympne Safari park, further enhancing our understanding and knowledge of different animals through real life experiences. During Geography this term we explored the world, identifying continents, climates and wildlife and locating where wildlife can be found around the world. Through science we further extended our geography knowledge by looking at man-made and natural features of the world, as well as seasonal changes. Children have expressed their knowledge and understanding of wildlife and the world this term through Art, DT and Computing, creating habitats suitable for their chosen animal, making large scaled continents and digital images using their developing knowledge of digital tools. During maths this term we have been developing our knowledge of numbers to 50, using number tracks and number lines to count on and back. We have also been counting in 2’s and 10’s and have explored measuring using non standard units of measure such as cubes.

Year 2

This half term, Year 2 has been busy exploring the exciting topic of flight! We began by learning about the history of how humans first took to the skies, discovering how early inventors experimented with different ideas before achieving success. The children were particularly fascinated by the achievements of the Wright brothers, who made the first successful powered flight, and Amelia Earhart, a pioneering aviator who inspired many with her bravery and determination.

As part of our learning, we discussed how these significant individuals showed resilience and curiosity, linking their experiences to our own learning attitudes in the classroom. The children enjoyed sharing their thoughts about what it might have been like to fly for the very first time and why these achievements were so important.

In Design and Technology, we applied our understanding by exploring how wheels and axles work. We investigated the difference between fixed and non-fixed axles and discussed how they affect movement. Using this knowledge, the children designed and built their own simple wheeled vehicles, carefully constructing chassis and testing how well their models moved.

It has been wonderful to see the creativity and problem-solving skills demonstrated throughout this inquiry. We are very proud of the enthusiasm and teamwork shown by all the children, and we look forward to continuing our learning journey in the next module!

Year 3 - Magpie

This term, Magpie class have been busy exploring a range of exciting learning opportunities across the curriculum. In English, they have been studying the books Cloth Lullaby: The Woven Life of Louise Bourgeois and Camille and the Sunflowers, using these stories to learn about the artists Louise Bourgeois and Vincent van Gogh. These texts introduced the children to how artists find inspiration from their lives and surroundings, which the class used as a starting point for creating their own artwork using paint and mixed media. In Maths, the focus has been on developing an understanding of fractions, while in PE the children have been improving their teamwork and ball skills through football and in RE they have been exploring different religious festivals and their meanings.

Year 3 - Blackbird

This term Blackbirds have been exploring how the arts can provide us with the opportunity to appreciate differences. We have learnt about a variety of different artists from different time periods, cultures and backgrounds. One of our main focuses was on the Mexican artist, Frida Kahlo. We learnt about the hardships she endured, using her experiences as a prompt for our own writing. We wrote diary entries and postcards as if we were Frida and created newspaper articles reporting about her exhibition. We also looked at the sculptural work of Anthony Gormley, recreating his style using clay in our art lessons exploring shape and form.

Year 4 - Swift Class

Science
This term in Science, our learning has focused on electricity and its role in our daily lives. Pupils have explored how to create simple electrical circuits and how circuits can be adapted by adding different components. They also investigated conductors and insulators, discovering which materials allow electricity to pass through them and which do not. As part of our learning about energy and innovation, we explored renewable energy sources such as solar panels and wind turbines and discussed how these technologies can help create more sustainable ways of generating electricity and positively impact the world around us.

Design and Technology (DT)
In Design and Technology, pupils applied their scientific understanding of electricity to a practical project. They planned, designed and evaluated their own electrical structures, which were made from cardboard and included a complete working electrical circuit. Throughout the process, pupils carefully considered their designs, tested their circuits and reflected on what worked well, as well as how their structures could be improved.

Art
In Art, pupils explored 3D wire sculpture, taking inspiration from the artist Ruth Asawa, who was well known for creating intricate sculptures using wire to form three-dimensional shapes. Pupils had the opportunity to plan and design their own 3D sculpture based on one of the renewable energy sources we studied. They then created their sculptures using wire, thinking carefully about shape, structure and form to bring their ideas to life.

English (Reading)

Our class text this term has been The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind. The story follows William Kamkwamba, a young boy from Malawi who builds a wind turbine to bring electricity to his village. This inspiring story links closely to our learning about electricity, renewable energy and innovation, showing pupils how scientific ideas can be used to solve real-world problems. For their extended writing this term, pupils will plan and write an explanation text about an invention they would like to create in the future. They will think carefully about how their invention works, the problem it would solve and how it could help improve the world around them, linking back to our central theme of innovation and its impact.

Year 5

Nightingale Class

Woodpecker Class

Nightingale Class: A Term of Tremendous Learning!

We have had a busy and learning filled term in Nightingale Class this term. We have explored our central idea ‘Human activity can impact communities differently’ through a range of lenses, looking at how trade affects us and comparing it to trade historically. We have considered habitats and animals that live there and the impact humans have on their communities.Subject specific learning has leant into this also:

English: The children have been working incredibly hard on their grammar and composition skills. We focused on mastering parenthesis (using brackets, dashes, and commas to add extra, interesting information to our sentences). The class then applied these new skills, along with a variety of persuasive devices, to write some highly convincing and passionate persuasive letters in order to elicit a change which will have a positive impact on their school community.
Maths: In Maths, Nightingale Class have tackled fractions and decimals with fantastic resilience. We have been working hard to understand the relationship between the two, figuring out how to convert them, and applying them to problem-solving. The class did a brilliant job grasping these tricky concepts and pushing their mathematical thinking.
Science: We have had a very biological focus this term. We started by investigating the parts of a flowering plant, learning all about their different functions and how they grow as well as examining them under a microscope. We then shifted our focus to the animal kingdom, researching and comparing the fascinating lifecycles of mammals, birds, and reptiles.
Geography: In Geography this term, our exploration took us to the waterways of our own country. We have been learning all about the major rivers in and around the UK, tracking their journeys from source to mouth and understanding how they shape our landscape.

Woodpecker have had a busy and exciting term of learning. In Geography, we explored the UK’s trade links and researched the journeys that chocolate and bananas make before they arrive in the shops where we buy them. The children were fascinated to learn about how far these products travel and the different stages involved in getting them to us. In RE, we continued our learning about green religion and thinking about how faith can encourage people to care for the Earth. The children created their own campaigns to raise awareness about environmental issues they are concerned about and explained why it is important to look after our planet. We also had great fun celebrating World Book Day. The children came to school in some amazing costumes and took part in creative activities, including writing their own songs or acting out scenes from their favourite books. It was wonderful to see them working together and confidently sharing their performances with each other.

Year 6

Osprey

Welcome to the Arena!

We have had an incredible time watching our classrooms transform into a creative and immersive Hunger Games Museum! To kick off our journey into Panem, the children dived deep into the lives of the characters before writing their own gripping retellings of the Reaping. It was brilliant to see them take the lead, choosing which character's perspective to write from while learning the ‘tricks of the trade’ for building real suspense and making smooth shifts in their storytelling. The creativity didn't stop at the page, though! As part of our World Book Day celebrations, the children turned into designers, creating atmospheric mood boards and some truly wild, avant-garde costumes for the Capitol. We are so proud of the imagination and effort they’ve poured into this project.

Hawk

This term, Hawk Class has been diving into the thrilling world of The Hunger Games! We’ve explored everything from the struggles of District 12 to the glitz and glamour of the Capitol. To celebrate our love for literature, we got creative on World Book Day by making ‘mood board’ style art pieces that capture the essence of the story. It was a fantastic way to express our understanding of the themes and characters.

We also had a blast on Red Nose Day, taking part in fun activities to support Comic Relief. The laughter and teamwork made it a memorable day for everyone! As we head into the Easter break, we’re excited to continue our learning journey and can’t wait to share more adventures with you after the holidays. Happy Easter!

The Cricket Season is on its Way!

This year, some of our children have had the opportunity to enjoy fun-filled cricket sessions led by Adrian, a community coach from the Kent Cricket Foundation in Canterbury. There’s been laughter, excitement, and a flurry of new skills discovered out on the playground!

Cricket isn’t just about hitting boundaries - it’s a smashing way to boost confidence, keep active, and learn the importance of teamwork. The friendly atmosphere at cricket clubs offers the perfect chance for youngsters to forge new friendships and create memories that will last a lifetime.

We’re incredibly lucky to have fantastic local cricket clubs right on our doorstep, some with junior sections specially designed for primary school children. Many clubs offer unique, engaging programmes – check out their websites to see what adventures await!

For our youngest budding cricketers aged 5-8, the brilliant All Stars Cricket programme is running at several clubs nearby. It’s a wonderful introduction to the sport, filled with energy, fun, and plenty of smiles. All the details can be found at https://www.ecb.co.uk/play/all-stars

Local clubs will also be running Dynamos Cricket, which is aimed at 8-11 year olds. You can obtain details of this programme at https://www.ecb.co.uk/play/dynamos-cricket

Don’t miss out - let’s make this cricket season unforgettable! Why not have a look and see which local club is right for your child?

We Are A Nut Free School

We have a number of children who have a severe, potentially life threatening nut allergies. The school is therefore now with immediate effect a NUT FREE zone. Please ensure that your child does not bring any nuts or food items to school which have nuts as a listed ingredient, thank you.

Absences/late arrivals

It is really important that children are in school every day.

All absences are being marked as unauthorised and could result in a fine.

Cucina

School dinners cost £2.61 a day (£13.05 a week). Cucina have asked that this is paid on a Monday. Menus can be found on our website. Please pay in advance via the MCAS app.

Reminder:

Please only send in healthy lunches. No sweets and chocolate are allowed in school. Water only in bottles