It’s been another really busy and fun month in Year 3!  We started off the last half term of the year with Science Week, with a science show called ‘Explosive Food’ and a magnets workshop with Genie Lab. 

This week has been a hugely exciting week at Maybury, as we celebrated our 150th anniversary!  We learnt about the years 1945-1964 and significant events that happened during this time around Woking and in the World.  We found out that McLaren racing team, Barbie dolls and Mini cars were all created during this time!  On Thursday we came to school dressed as Victorian children, and had a wonderful workshop with Mr Dilly, before enjoying a whole school shared picnic outside.

In our class Science lessons, we learnt about plant hunters who brought seeds and plants to the UK long ago.  We went on our own plant hunting exhibition around school to locate plants on our checklist!

In Maths we have been focusing on Time.  We have looked at Roman numerals, and learnt to tell the time to the nearest 5 minutes.  We have looked at both analogue and digital clocks and what A.M and P.M mean.

In Literacy we have continued looking at ‘Stone Age Boy’ by making a change to the original story and writing our own amazing Stone Age adventure stories.

In DT the children have been tasting and designing their own bread.  They have learnt how to knead the dough and have chosen their own shape, type of bread and additional ingredients to make their own later this half term.

We have had a busy month in Angelfish class with lots of fun engaging learning. In Maths, our focus has been on telling the time to the nearest minute, which can indeed be a bit tricky for some. We have been learning to differentiate between a.m. and p.m., and have also started exploring how to read a 24-hour clock. We’ve made use of various practical exercises and games in class, and I encourage you to engage your child in discussions about time at home—such as asking them what time different activities occur—and perhaps even using clocks to help reinforce this essential skill.

In Literacy, the students have been developing their writing skills through the creation of newspaper reports. They have enjoyed, formulating headlines, and writing engaging stories. It has been delightful to see their creativity flourish as they communicate their ideas through this unique format, and they have been particularly excited about presenting their reports to the class.

At the start of the month, we embarked on an engaging journey into the world of circuits, where the children had the opportunity to create their very own circuits using potatoes as batteries. It was a delightful experience watching their faces light up—quite literally! They also got creative by making their own torches, which they proudly took home.

In Science, we commenced an exciting topic on electricity. The children have had hands-on learning experiences where they identified electrical versus non-electrical appliances within their homes and schools. We discussed the key differences between battery-operated and mains-powered devices with interactive demonstrations, enabling them to grasp the concept of where and how electricity is utilised. Following this, we built simple circuits using bulbs, buzzers, and motors, which captivated their interest and allowed them to apply theoretical knowledge practically.

The skills acquired in Science will be carried over into our Design Technology lessons this half term, where we will embark on an exciting project to create our very own electrical buzzer maze games! We kicked off the unit by exploring existing buzzer maze games available on the market, analysing their design and function, which serves to inspire our own creations. The students are looking forward to planning and designing their mazes, ensuring that they incorporate their newfound knowledge of circuits.

In our PE sessions, we have ventured into the world of orienteering. The children have been developing simple map-reading skills that are vital for navigation. We incorporated a fun element by creating funny faces with PE equipment, followed by a coned-out course where they navigated the route to accumulate points. It has been a fantastic way for them to work collaboratively while honing their skills in teamwork.

It’s hard to believe we’re now entering the final half term of Year 5! The children are settling back into their routines splendidly and are demonstrating both enthusiasm and readiness for the upcoming Year 6.

In Maths, we are currently diving into the concept of negative numbers, which is opening new avenues for our budding mathematicians. It’s fantastic to see them tackling these challenges with such determination! They are counting forwards and backwards and using negative numbers in context.

In Literacy, we are exploring how to create suspense through punctuation. The students are enjoying developing their creative writing skills and are learning to keep their readers on the edge of their seats. We have been using the visual literacy story of The Lighthouse to inspire our writing.

Geography has seen us successfully conclude our topic on France, and we are now transitioning to an exciting exploration of rivers. We look forward to discovering their significance and the vital role they play in our ecosystems. We will be going on a trip to the River Wey in the coming weeks.

We had an amazing time on our class trip to Tuesley Farm, where the children explored the concept of seasonality in fruit. This hands-on experience certainly enriched their understanding of where our food comes from!

In P.E, we are honing our orienteering skills using cones and face maps, emphasising teamwork and collaboration. The children are learning not only how to navigate but also the importance of working together.

In Computing, the excitement is building as we start our LEGO WeDo programme! This is an excellent way for students to develop their problem-solving and programming skills while having a lot of fun.

In Design Technology, students are learning the intricate process of building a bridge using various structures. This project encourages creativity and practical application of engineering concepts.

We also had a fascinating science workshop, where the children learned how fire can be created and gained a deeper understanding of the digestive system.

Finally, we had a memorable day to celebrate the 150th anniversary of Maybury Primary School. As part of this special occasion, we dressed up as Victorians! This was a fantastic opportunity for the children to immerse themselves in history.

What a fantastic month we’ve had! This is our final half term at Maybury before the children part ways and set off for Secondary school. Some children have been at Maybury for their whole school lives, so this move is daunting and the children have many questions. To help with this we took part in an Engage transition workshop was a roaring success, rolling in like a fresh wave of excitement for our Year 6 students as they prepare for secondary school. There was laughter and chatter as everyone took part in fun activities designed to ease those transition jitters.

Most children have met with their new head of years and will soon be enjoying transition days at their new schools.

In PE, we have been swimming on Wednesdays. The children have been working on their front and back strokes and trying to use the correct breathing technique during these sessions. The children have been using aids to build their confidence and some have even moved to unaided swimming. The progress some children have made from last year is phenomenal! We have also been learning water safety to make sure we are all staying safe and enjoying our lessons.

In RE, we have moved onto our thematic unit all about how to live a good life. The children have been researching different religious views on this topic and are creating a mini-presentation for their chosen religion. They have enjoyed comparing the religions they chose to their own views and beliefs. It has been interesting to look at similarities and differences and think about why these differences might exist. 

In computing, our new unit is video editing. So far, we have been learning about different recording and photography techniques. We experimented using them with our partners and then labelled what type of technique they had used. 

We would like to take this opportunity to remind you that lunches are currently free for Reception, Year 1, and Year 2 students under the government's Universal Infant Free School Meals scheme. For children in Years 3 to 6, the cost of a school lunch is £2.95 per day / £14.75 per week. We would appreciate it if you could ensure that your child has sufficient funds in their lunch account. Please can we remind parents that school dinners should be paid for in advance. Please ensure that payment for the week ahead is made by the Monday morning.

Please click here to view the menus via our school website - School Meals

If your child would like to change from a packed lunch to a school dinner or vice versa, please contact the school office to advise of the change.  Please note changes can only be made at the beginning of a term.

Please be reminded that we are a nut free school.  Please do not send your child to school with any food containing nuts, for example Nutella / nut chocolate spread, Peanut butter, Peanut chocolate bars (Snickers) or nut cereal bars etc.  If you are unsure please visit the school office to pick up a healthy lunch leaflet.

If your child has recently borrowed spare clothing from school, in particular children in Reception class, year 1 and year 2 please can we ask that these are returned.  We have a washing machine onsite so you can be assured that any items returned are washed as needed.  

We are also looking for donations of spare clothing such as underwear, leggings, jogging bottoms in small sizes such as ages 4 - 8.  Please either hand into the office or to the class teacher.  Thank you for your support. 

Please see below for PE days for the Spring Term

The children will need to wear their correct PE kit on their PE day. Correct PE kit consists of:

·        Sky blue Maybury t-shirt

·        Navy blue or black hooded jacket

·        Navy blue or black jogging bottoms

Trainers (only lace up if your child can tie their own laces please) 

If you consider that there are exceptional circumstances relating to your request, please let the school have full details. Each application for a leave of absence will be considered on a case by case basis.

Penalty Notices to Address Poor Attendance at School

A Penalty Notice may be issued as an alternative to the prosecution of a parent/carer for their child’s unauthorised absence from school (absence without the agreement of the school or not covered by a medical note) and willbe used by Surrey County Council in the following circumstances :-

1. Pupils identified by police and Attendance Advice Officers (formerly Education Welfare Officers) engaged on Truancy Patrols and who have incurred unauthorised absences.

2. Leave of absence in term time (5 days or 10 sessions or more).

• Please be aware that The Education (Pupil Registration)(England)(Amendment)  Regulations 2013, which became law on 01 September 2013 state that Headteachers may  not grant any leave of absence during term time unless there are exceptional circumstances.

• The Headteacher is also required to determine the number of school days a child can be away from school if leave is granted.

• In such cases the Headteacher/Governing Body must decide whether there are exceptional circumstances.  They may request that Surrey County Council issue Penalty Notices when the absence is not authorised.

Warnings will not be given where it can be shown that parents have been notified that such absences will not be authorised.

3. Finally, the issuing of a Penalty Notice will also be considered where it is judged that a parent is failing to ensure their child's regular school attendance.

This will be considered when a pupil has incurred 10 or more unauthorised sessions in the previous 10 school weeks, which may include a pupil arriving late after close of registration.

If you believe at any stage that your child’s absence from school may leave you liable to receive a Penalty Notice, it is extremely important that you act without delay to secure their regular attendance. 

If you have any questions or require further support to achieve an improvement in your child’s attendance, please contact your child’s school or the Attendance Advice Officer.

Penalty Notice relating to Exclusions

If a child is excluded from school, Section 103 of the Education and Inspections Act 2006 places a duty on parents/carers to ensure that their child is not in a public place without justifiable cause during school hours. 

This duty applies to the first five days of each exclusion.  Failure to do so will render the parent/carer liable to a Penalty Notice. (Alternative education provision will be made available from the sixth day of any exclusion.)

Amount Payable for a Penalty Notice and Consequences for repeat uauthorised absences

1. If you have not incurred a penalty notice relating to this child/children in a rolling 3 year period since 19 August 2024, then the penalty notice will be charged at the rate of £160.00, per parent/carer per child, if paid within 28 days. This will be reduced to £80.00 if paid within 21 days of receipt of the notice. Failure to pay the Penalty Notice will result in Surrey County Council considering legal proceedings against you in the Magistrates Court.

2. If you have incurred a penalty notice relating to this child/children since 19 August 2024, the rolling 3 year period will be activated from the date of the first penalty notice and the second penalty notice will be charged at the flat rate of £160.00, per parent/carer per child, if paid within 28 days. There will be no reduction for payment within 21 days. Failure to pay the Penalty Notice will result in Surrey County Council considering legal proceedings against you in the Magistrates Court.

3. If you have incurred 2 penalty notices relating to this child/children in the rolling 3 year period since the first penalty notice was issued, then you will NOT receive a third penalty notice – Surrey County Council will have no option but to consider a prosecution, per parent/carer per child, in the Magistrates Court under s 444 Education Act 1996.

Surrey County Council is not responsible for authorising pupil absence and therefore cannot withdraw any Penalty Notice requests without the written permission of the Headteacher.

Advice and support is available from an Attendance Advice Officer by contacting Surrey Attendance Service as follows:-

North West - Tel: 01483 518130 South West   - Tel: 01483 517179

North East - Tel: 01372 833588 South East   -       Tel: 01737 737777

Please bear in mind that all of these dates are subject to change