Issue 3 

November 2025

Early Years Foundation Stage Update

This month, Duckling class had an exciting visit to the Life Space tent. The children learnt all about how to take care of their bodies with help from Harold the Giraffe. The children were so excited to join in and they really enjoyed it! We were so proud of how well-behaved and how well the children sat whilst in the Life Space tent!

Duckling class also enjoyed listening to ‘Spot Loves Bedtime’ and ‘Spot Says Goodnight’. They enjoyed learning about the difference between daytime and night-time, and what we would do during the day and night!

The children also enjoyed listening to ‘Spot Goes to the Farm’ and ‘Noisy Farm’. They enjoyed learning about the different animals that live on the farm, and had fun taking part in the farm-themed enhanced provision!

Little Street

It has been a very busy month for Rabbit Class.  The children have been lucky to go on their first school trip, to Little Street.

The children had lots of fun at Little Street.  They got to dress up and pretend to be lots of different people from our community.  The children were so well-behaved, and we were so very proud of them all.  The staff at Little Street also commented on how well-behaved our children were.  They were great ambassadors for our school.

Remembrance Day

The children in Rabbit Class remembered the brave soldiers that fought and died in the war.  We talked about the poppies that people wear to remember the brave soldiers.  The children decided to make their own poppies to help them remember and say thank you.  We also observed 2 minutes silence to remember them.

Autumn Walk

Rabbit Class went on a walk looking for signs of autumn.  We have learnt that in the autumn the weather gets cooler, and we start to need to wear a coat.  It can be quite a windy time of year too.  The leaves on the trees change colour and then fall to the ground.  

We learnt a poem about the leaves falling in autumn.

Leaves are falling, leaves are falling.

One fell on my nose.

Leaves are falling, leaves are falling.

One fell on my toes.

Leaves are falling, leaves are falling.

One fell on my head

Leaves are falling, leaves are falling.

Yellow, orange, red.

We read the story of Leaf Man and used the autumn leaves to make our own leaf people.

Stages of Life

Rabbit Class have been learning about the different stages of a human life and have ordered the human timeline from baby to elderly.  They have been exploring what they can do now they are a child compared to what they could do as a baby.

Key Stage 1 Update

Squirrels have been busy learning about Space in our history lessons. They loved learning about all the planets in our solar system and the history of space travel.

In our Science lessons we are learning about the different seasons and what the weather is like in the Autumn and Winter. The children collected signs of Autumn and made up their own Autumn weather forecast in pairs.

This week we have been looking at shapes in our Maths lessons. We have been sorting shapes by their properties and learning to name both 2D and 3D shapes. We have also been making models and finding out which 3D shapes stack and which ones don't!

This half term in Design Technology we are going to be making a moving picture with mechanisms. The children like looking at pop up books and seeing how they work. They have already explored how to make different mechanisms and have completed their designs ready to start making in the next couple of weeks.

This month, we have been learning a new topic in PE – hockey! It has been very fun using our hockey sticks to control the hockey ball. We have also been practising dribbling and passing to our partners.

In Computing, we have been making music. We have been using Chrome Music Lab to create patterns, play with tempo and experiment with pitch.

Our DT topic is also going really well. We have been exploring different vehicles, specifically looking at the wheels, axles and chassis. We then explored how different wheels and axles combinations would work and used this to help us design our own vehicles.

In Literacy, we have been writing stories based on ‘Giraffes can’t dance’. We planned stories using different African animals and different reasons why they could not dance. We also consolidated our learning on adjectives by planning to use these as well.

Key Stage 2 Update

It's been a busy month in Year 3!  In Science, we are learning about Forces and Magnets.  We have carried out several different investigations, including finding out if friction affects the distance a toy car will travel down a ramp.  The children made their predictions and then tested different surfaces to explore their ideas and come to a conclusion.  We have been exploring magnetic and non-magnetic materials and how not all metals are magnetic and also learnt about different types of magnets and carried out an investigation to see which magnets are the strongest and can pick up the most paper clips.  The results were very different for each group!

In DT, we are working towards making our own pneumatic monsters using syringes and plastic tubing.  The children enjoyed exploring a range of pneumatic toys and looked at how they work.  It was great fun launching rockets, releasing cars and racing horses!   The children are now busy planning and designing their own monsters, incorporating a pneumatic system and are really excited to make them in a couple of weeks.

In Literacy, we have been looking at the story ‘Dolphin Boy’.  It is a lovely story about a boy who finds a dolphin stranded on a beach and how they become friends.  The children have been using ideas from the story to plan and write their own story with their own choice of setting, animal and main character.  We have been focusing on using fronted adverbials and adjectives to add detail and excitement to our story writing, and the children have written some wonderful stories!

In PE, we are doing handball and hockey.  The children are developing lots of great skills that they can use in both sports and show great teamwork and energy

In History, we are continuing to learn about the Ancient Egyptians.  We have been learning about why the Egyptians mummified bodies and the mummification process, and the children have used a similar process to mummify some tomatoes!  We are hoping they will be preserved well and not rot!  We also had a fantastic interactive performance from Mr Dilly, who took us back in time to the Ancient Egyptian times.  The children LOVED it and came out saying "that was excellent!" and "that was so gross when he removed the organs!" (fake ones of course!)  It was so lovely to see the children dressed up in their Egyptian costumes, not once but twice!

It has been another busy month for the Badger class. This month in Literacy, the children enjoyed an Autumn sensory walk, where they gathered lots of lovely ideas from nature. They turned these inspirations into beautiful poems, which they neatly wrote up for our class book. To add a bit of fun, we even filmed them performing their poems—it was a delight to see their creativity shine!

In Maths, we’ve been getting to grips with times tables, which are super important in Year 4 as we prepare for the multiplication check in June. It would be really helpful if you could practice these at home with your child; finding ways to make it fun, like games or challenges, works wonders!

For Science, we’ve had a great time learning about states of matter. The highlight was an experiment to find out which fizzy drink packs the most carbon dioxide! The children really enjoyed getting hands-on with this and discussing what they observed.

Earlier this half-term, we had a wonderful session with Mark from the LifeSpace. We talked about how everyone is unique and celebrated the theme 'Great to be Me.' The children shared their thoughts on different ways we can take care of our bodies, which led to some insightful conversations.

Lastly, our Computing lessons have been a huge hit! We’ve been using LEGO WeDo to build models, which we then connected to Chromebooks via Bluetooth. The children had lots of fun coding their LEGO creations to move, make sounds, or even change colours. It’s been amazing to see their excitement and problem-solving skills in action!

This month has been a whirlwind of activity and learning across the curriculum, and we are excited to share some highlights with you. 

In History, we had a fantastic time with the Mr Dilly Viking workshop, where the students were fully immersed in the fascinating Viking period. They engaged in various activities that brought the Viking era to life, sparking their curiosity about historical events and cultures. Currently, we are delving into Islamic Civilisations, exploring their rich history and contributions to our world. 

The children have enjoyed P.E. this month. They have been honing their skills in hockey and handball. We’ve been fortunate to have a specialist coach for the handball sessions, which has greatly enhanced their understanding of the game and improved their teamwork skills. 

In Design and Technology, the children have been busy preparing to cook their very own soup using seasonal vegetables. This hands-on experience not only teaches them vital cooking skills but also encourages them to appreciate healthy eating and the benefits of seasonal produce. 

In science, we have been conducting an enquiry experiment to test solubility in materials. The children have had a wonderful time investing.

We had an 'Internet Legends' assembly about online safety. The children enjoyed the staying safe online reminders.

Our English lessons have been truly exciting! We’ve read and explored the epic tale of Beowulf, and the children have even written their own legends inspired by this classic story. It has been wonderful to see their creativity flourish! 

In Maths, we have been working hard on adding and subtracting fractions. To reinforce their understanding, I encourage you to practice fractions at home as well. It would be beneficial for the children to have a little extra support. I know that all children want to become members of the Maybury 144 Times Table Club. Regular practice at home will certainly give them a head start, so please encourage them to get familiar with their times tables.

This has been another very busy month for the Owl class. We finished our first class text and now have our new one, ‘Street Child’ by Berlie Doherty.  It is based on a young boy Jim Jarvis and his life in the Victorian times. We have been focusing our Literacy learning around this text and producing different pieces of writing about Jim and his life.

In science, we have started a new topic ‘Evolution and Inheritance’ and we have been looking at maternal and paternal inherited characteristics. The children produced some great homework for this and it was lovely to see the family photos so thank you for helping!

The children have been learning about evolution and adaption which has included looking at how animals have adapted to their habitats.

In DT, we have started a new project about making a healthy packed lunch for a friend in the class. The children have set questionnaires to find out what their friend wants in their lunch. They will also be writing a shopping list for items they will need to bring in for our making sessions in a couple of weeks. We make the lunches using items we bring in and share with the whole class so you help with that is greatly appreciated!

Once they have been completed, the children will be getting feedback to see if they fulfilled their brief and whether the packed lunch was a success. We will include some pictures in our next newsletter article.

In PE, the children have been learning skills in a new sport, handball and an old favourite hockey. We have been focusing on the skills and making sure they are embedded we will move onto using and applying those skills to mini games. The children are very competitive so really enjoy showing off the skills they have learnt. Handball uses a lot of the skills we learnt in netball so it has been great to watch the children transfer these skills to the new sport!

For Science and PSHE we had our final life space lesson with Mark. We were learning all about choices, peer pressure and emotional well-being. This is very important as the children will be making many decisions as they grow older. The children had a great time and learnt a lot about how to deal with tricky situations and making good choices.

In Other News at Maybury.......................

Mufti Day - Friday 28th November

Reception School Admissions

Maybury Local Street Improvements Further Engagement

Have your say: Maybury Local Street Improvements Further Engagement, Monday 27 October to Sunday 7 December.

Help shape the future of Maybury by submitting your views on Surrey County Council’s updated proposals. Further engagement on the Maybury Local Street Improvements (LSI) scheme will run from Monday 27 October until Sunday 7 December.

Following engagement with the community over the past two years, Surrey County Council has developed updated proposals to make streets in Maybury safer, healthier, and more attractive with improved facilities for walking, wheeling, and riding.  

We want to hear from people who live, work, study, travel through and spend time in the Maybury area. With Maybury Primary School a key destination in the area, our proposals directly impact those travelling to and from the school. Your views will be used to inform detailed design, subject to funding. 

Find out more and have your say (from 27 October) at: https://mayburylsi.commonplace.is/  or scan the QR code. You can also get in touch via email: localstreetimprovements@surreycc.gov.uk

Playground Project:  Amazon Wishlist

Good as New Uniform Sale

Communicating with the school

The wellbeing of our teachers is a top priority, and we believe it is crucial to provide them with the opportunity to relax and recharge outside of their working hours. Therefore, we kindly request that you refrain from emailing the class email between 6:30pm and 6:30am or over the weekend .

We understand that communication between parents and teachers is essential, and we value your involvement and engagement in your child's education. However, by respecting these boundaries, we can collectively create a healthy work-life balance for our educators, enabling them to continue providing the high-quality education our school.

We encourage you to plan your communications accordingly, aiming to send any non-urgent emails during the school day, ideally between 8:30am and 6:30pm from Monday to Friday. By doing so, we can ensure that our teaching staff have the necessary time to respond to your queries and concerns effectively, while also striking a balance between their personal and professional lives.

We sincerely thank you for your understanding, cooperation, and ongoing support in implementing this policy. It is through our collaborative efforts that we can safeguard the wellbeing of our entire school community. If you have any urgent matters that require immediate attention outside the designated email hours, please do not hesitate to contact the school office directly.

Receiving emails from the school

As you may know, we have made a concerted effort to transition away from printed materials in order to save paper and help protect our environment. By receiving information electronically, you not only stay informed about vital school activities and communications, but you also contribute to a more sustainable future for our community.

If you have previously unsubscribed from our email list, we would be grateful if you could consider resubscribing. By doing so, you will ensure that you do not miss out on any important updates about your child's education, school events, and other relevant announcements.

To resubscribe, simply follow the instructions provided below:

How to Resubscribe to school emails:

• Go to https://www.scopay.com/resubscribe.html

• Enter the email address and select I'm not a robot

• A message will be displayed Successfully resubscribed

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Term Dates 2025/26

Autumn Term 2025

2nd September 2025 to 19th December 2025

Half  Term 27th October 2025—31st October 2025

Spring Term 2026

5th January 2026 to 27th March 2026

Half Term 16th - 20th February 2026

Summer Term 2026

13th April 2026 to 21st July 2026

Half Term 25th May 2026 to 5th June 2026

(Please note May half term will be for 2 weeks)

INSET Days (School closed for training)

• Tuesday 2nd September 2025

• Monday 5th January 2026

• Friday 27th March 2026

• Monday 20th July 2026

• Tuesday 21st July 2026

Our Values - Autumn Term

Equality

This half term’s value is Equality. Through this value children explore their own and others individual needs and identifies. Children will talk about how everyone should have an equal chance to reach their potential regardless of characteristics such as gender, race, religion or disability. At home you can: 

• Talk about your child's unique qualities and those that they share with other family members and friends.   

• Encourage an environment where they can celebrate their differences. 

• Research the lives of famous civil rights activities such as Harriet Tubman, Jesse Owens or Malala Yousafzai.  

Books you could share at home

Resilience 

This half term’s value is Resilience, the ability to bounce back after hard times or disappointment. Resilience develops when children experience challenges and learn to deal with them positively. You can support children to become resilient by: 

• Sharing stories of your own setbacks and how you overcame them. 

• Praising children’s efforts when they keep trying.  

• Encourage them to try new activities. 

• As a parent, it can be difficult to watch your child struggle, but it important that they solve problems themselves. You are their greatest cheerleader!  

Books you could share at home