Dear Parents and Carers,

As we reach the end of the autumn term, we would like to thank you for your continued support of Willow Primary School. This has been a busy final few weeks, with many opportunities for our children to work together, contribute to the wider community and enjoy the lead-up to Christmas.

The Winter Fair was a well-attended event and a real success. Thank you to everyone who helped to organise, especially the Friends of EWillow and Mrs Paterson, and everyone who joined us for the even,  it was a positive community occasion and raised valuable funds for the school. Our Year 6 pupils showed excellent teamwork as the Elves in the their workshop, taking responsibility and leadership in planning and running the activities for younger children. Their commitment and collaboration were impressive and reflected the strong values we promote at Willow.

All pupils also visited St Francis Church, and it was lovely to see so many parents able to join us. This visit provided a valuable opportunity for reflection and strengthened our links with the local community.

The Christmas Movie Nights were very enjoyed by the children and provided a relaxed way to end the term together. We were also proud of our Reception and Key Stage 1 children during their Nativity performances, which showcased their confidence, effort and progress.

We hope the children have enjoyed our annual Elf on the Shelf/ Party Day, complete with real North Pole Snow and festive tunes to start the day, we always end the term with a whole school sing-a-long in the hall. 

Thank you, as always, to our staff for their hard work and to our families for their ongoing support. I wish you and your family a restful and enjoyable Christmas break and we look forward to welcoming the children back in the New Year on Tuesday 6th January. 

Mrs Sumner Mr Martin

Executive Principal Head of School

Attendance & Punctuality

Attendance Excellence

We are delighted to share our latest attendance figures, which highlight the incredible commitment of our pupils and families. Our school is currently performing significantly above national averages, ensuring our pupils have the best possible start to their education. We appreciate that at this time of year lots of children get ill, however we are so proud of their resilience and determination to get back to school as soon as they start to feel better. 

Headline Achievements:

Our Year-to-Date figures show that we are leading the way:

• Overall Attendance: 96.1% (Exceeding the National Average of 94.6%)

• Persistent Absence: 8.3% (Remarkably low—half the National Average of 16.6%)

🦉 Spotlight on The Owls

A massive "Well Done" to The Owls class! They currently hold the record for the most pupils with perfect attendance. An incredible 25 pupils in The Owls achieved 100% attendance this term!

💯 The 100% Club

We are incredibly proud to announce that 262 children across the school achieved 100% attendance this term. This is a phenomenal achievement and shows the dedication of our pupils to their learning and their friends.

Christmas at Willow

Seeing the children stand on stage and perform in the Nativity Performance was a joy.  From singing together to remembering their cues, their ability to work as a team made all the "grown-ups" incredibly proud. It was the perfect way to wrap up a brilliant half-term.

Reception

Our term began with exploring our woodland area. After collecting and sorting leaves and natural materials we studied the Artist Andy Goldsworthy for inspiration. The children created patterns and swirls and captured their art with photography.

Using the beautiful story "Little Glow" by Katie Sahota, we explored the theme of light. We discussed how light connects different celebrations, from the crackle of fireworks and the glow of Diva lamps to the twinkle of fairy lights and birthday candles. A huge thank you for sending in baby and birthday photos! The children were so excited to share them and describe how they have changed.

The classroom took a magical turn with the story "Room on the Broom." We imagined we travelled with the witch to explore geographical features. The children worked hard on their drawing and early writing, describing the kind witch and her animal friends.

Year 1

In Design & Technology  Year 1, the children loved creating their own colourful vegetable rainbow wraps! They learned where our food comes from and explored how chefs like Jamie Oliver inspire us to make healthy choices. Using the Eatwell Plate, the children discussed what makes a balanced diet and carefully selected healthy ingredients for their wraps. They also learned the importance of food safety, including good hygiene and how to use utensils safely. Finally, the children followed a set of step-by-step instructions to prepare their wraps, developing both their independence and confidence in the kitchen.

In Computing, Year 1 has been learning all about computers and how we use them. The children explored different types of technology and discussed how it helps us in our daily lives. They learned to identify a computer, name its main parts and talk about important rules to help keep us safe when using technology. The children have also been practising logging on and logging off safely, using their mouse skills to click, drag and control the cursor.  The class showed great enthusiasm and are becoming more confident with their digital skills!

In Writing, Year 1 used the text Julian Is a Mermaid as inspiration to create their own set of instructions on how to make a mermaid’s tail. The children practised using verbs to give step-by-step instructions, while also focusing on using capital letters, finger spaces and full stops accurately. They showed wonderful creativity and care in their writing, producing fantastic instructional pieces linked to the story. 

This half term, we have also been practising and proudly performed the class nativity to parents, which the children thoroughly enjoyed.

Year 2

Year 2 had an amazing term learning about the Great Fire of London. To complement this topic, they visited the National Emergency Services Museum in Sheffield, where they explored a range of items used in the 16th century. The children also met Jade from the 16th century, who brought the story of the Great Fire to life by sharing fascinating facts and stories. It was a fun-filled and memorable day that really enriched their learning. To say thank you for this amazing trip, the children are writing a letter to show their appreciation.

In writing, as well as a thank-you letter, the children also learned how to write a senses poem about Bonfire Night. They talked about what they could see and hear and collected ideas together. The children learned how to use nouns and adjectives to describe sounds and sights and practised writing clear sentences using capital letters and full stops. They planned, wrote, edited and published their own poems. 

This half term in Computing, Year 2 learned how to give clear instructions to program floor robots. The children practised putting instructions in the right order, predicting what the robot would do, and fixing mistakes when things did not work. They worked together to create and test simple programs and discovered how changing the order of instructions changed what the robot did.

Of course, our nativity play was a great success. All of the children worked very hard to make it memorable, overcoming stage fright and nerves to deliver a beautiful performance for parents. 

Year 3

Year 3 have had a fantastic and busy Autumn term filled with memorable achievements and exciting learning. The children absolutely loved their time at Forest School with Miss Ackroyd, where they have enjoyed exploring our forest area, developing teamwork through engaging games and songs, and enjoying the fun of the new hammocks. 

In history, they finished their topic about Prehistory where they had learned all about the different stages, from the earliest Stone Age right up to the Iron Age. They became great historians, concluding the topic by giving their own opinions on which period of prehistory they would have liked to live in, based on the knowledge they had gained.

To wrap up the science topic on Rocks and Soils, the children have enjoyed lots of interesting investigations. They finished the topic learning all about Mary Anning and her fossil discoveries which changed the way scientists and geologists understood the natural world and they had a brilliant hands-on experience by creating their own realistic fossil casts. This was a wonderful, practical way to understand how rocks form. 

It was a term of great effort and success for all our Year 3 children and we are looking forward to a Spring term filled with lots more learning and fun.

Year 4

As we reach the end of this incredibly busy and productive half term, we wanted to share a snapshot of the engaging and exciting activities the children have been enjoying in Year 4. It has been wonderful to see their enthusiasm, curiosity, and learning flourish in so many different areas.

Computing: Data Collection and Analysis

In our computing lessons this half term, the children have become excellent data analysts! We focused on the entire process of collecting, representing, and analysing data. The children gathered their own information and then spent time reflecting on the most effective ways to present it. They learned how to construct and interpret various graphical representations, including bar charts, pictograms, and line graphs . This practical work helped them understand how data can tell a story and reinforced key mathematical concepts.

History: Our Viking Adventure

History came vividly to life this term as the children immersed themselves in the world of the Vikings. The highlight was our interactive Viking Day, where the children explored the daily lives, crafts, and culture of the Norse people through hands-on activities. In class, the children researched significant events, including the famous raid on Lindisfarne , and created timelines to sequence key moments of the Viking Age. They also delved into the complex ways Vikings traded, learning about their routes and the goods they exchanged.

Year 5

Year 5 have had an incredibly busy and productive half term, developing in lots of different areas of the curriculum. We would like to take this opportunity to showcase the brilliant learning that has taken place over the last 7 weeks. 

History: Egyptian Day

Year 5 enjoyed a fabulous day set in Ancient Egypt. We were fully immersed into the life of all Egyptians, from the most noble pharaohs, to the poorest servants. We enjoyed carving our own hieroglyphics to make our own cartouche, grinding charcoal and salt to make our own ink, and creating our own Egyptian flatbread! We would like to take this opportunity to thank our brilliant parent volunteers, who offered their time to support with the delivery of the day.

Physical Education: Swimming

Year 5 have thoroughly enjoyed attending weekly swimming lessons for the whole of Autumn Term at our local Swimstars Swimming Baths. The children have grown in such confidence and shown exceptional resilient qualities. It has been lovely to see all children enjoying the sessions and growing in confidence week on week. 

Science: Forces

The children have engaged in some brilliant scientific enquires linked to forces this half term. They have collaborated brilliantly, working together to set up lots of different experiments and have shown brilliant questioning in understanding what their experiments have shown. As a year group, we have decided that our favourite experiment so far is a draw between investigating air resistance with parachutes and investigating water resistance with playdough. 

Year 6

It has been a hive of activity in the Year 6 classrooms lately as our designers-in-the-making have been busy bringing their very own teddy bears to life! This project challenged the students to move beyond basic crafting and master the technical art of hand-sewing. Throughout the process, the children demonstrated impressive focus while learning a variety of essential techniques: they used the running stitch to outline their patterns, the backstitch to ensure their bears had strong, durable seams, and the whip stitch to neatly join the fabric edges and seal in the stuffing.

To ensure their creations were truly "un-bear-ably" cute, the students also explored the world of textile design. They carefully selected various embellishments to make their bears aesthetically pleasing, ranging from colorful button eyes and felt noses to intricate embroidery and ribbon accessories. Each bear now boasts its own unique personality, reflecting the hard work, patience, and creative flair of our talented Year 6 students.

Social Justice

Year 6 gave a fantastic performance at the Trust Social Justice Performance, delivering a thoughtful and engaging piece that explored how the role of women changed during World War II. Through their performance, they told the story of how women answered the call to serve by working in factories, on the land, in hospitals, as firewatchers and even as spies.

The children performed with confidence and maturity, clearly demonstrating their understanding of this important period in history. They should all be extremely proud of the effort they put in and the high standard of their performance.

Sports Competitions

Our sports stars have had an incredibly busy and successful term, showcasing their talent, teamwork, and determination across a variety of competitions. A massive congratulations goes to our swimming team, who made a huge splash by winning the Exceed Swimming Gala! Their hard work in the pool truly paid off as they clinched the top spot against some very tough competition.

Beyond the pool, our students have been equally impressive on the mats and the court:

• Gymnastics: Our gymnasts displayed incredible poise and flexibility during their recent tournament, performing complex routines with confidence.

• Boccia: Our Boccia team demonstrated fantastic strategic thinking and precision, competing with great spirit in a closely-fought tournament.

Whether they were finishing first on the podium or mastering a new skill, all the children involved represented the school with pride and excellent sportsmanship. Well done to all our competitors!

Online Safety & Wellbeing

Technology and Wellbeing During the Winter Break

As we enjoy the winter break, it is a wonderful opportunity to switch off and spend quality time together as a family. However, with many children receiving new devices or spending more time online during the holidays, it is also an important time to reflect on our digital habits.

Developing a healthy relationship with technology is a key life skill. We encourage parents and carers to take a moment to consider how devices are being used at home and how to foster a balanced approach to screen time.

We have selected two guides that we believe offer thought-provoking insights into managing technology in the modern home. We hope you find them useful:

1. A Guide to Digital Balance: This resource explores how to manage screen time effectively while maintaining a positive family atmosphere.

2. Staying Safe and Smart Online: A guide focused on helping children navigate the internet safely while developing critical thinking skills.

Setting small, manageable boundaries now can help children return to school feeling refreshed, focused, and ready to learn.

Personal Development

We kicked off the half term with Anti-Bullying Week, engaging pupils in activities centered around the theme "Power for Good". Pupils wore odd socks, celebrating their individuality and expressing their uniqueness through various creative classroom projects.

On Remembrance Day, we paused to honor those who have sadly passed. Our pupils demonstrated incredible thoughtfulness during a special assembly, showing profound respect as they learned about the significance of Remembrance Day and listened to Year 6 students recite poems. A central part of our reflection was a collaborative art project where every pupil created a poppy. Our exceptional Student Council Leaders then united these creations to form a striking Remembrance Dress, symbolising unity and honouring those who sacrificed for our peace. This dress is proudly displayed at our main entrance for all visitors to admire.

This half term, we also participated in fundraising for Children in Need. Our pupils took part in an assembly to learn about making a positive impact on those in need, and we extend our gratitude for all the generous donations!

During Pupil Parliament Week, pupils throughout school delivered impressive speeches and presentations, sharing why they should be selected as Ambassadors. They truly amazed us all! For the Ambassador elections, pupils visited our polling station to cast their votes, exemplifying one of our Fundamental British Values: Democracy.

Our wonderful Year 6 pupils supported the younger pupils throughout the voting process, guiding them through each step. They also learned about the vital role of scrutineers in ensuring elections are fair and accurate. We have proudly announced our Ambassador teams, along with our Senior and Junior Pupil Leadership Teams, and eagerly anticipate the exciting projects in the new year!

Safeguarding

Emotional Wellbeing: With Me in Mind

We are delighted to announce that during the Spring term, we will be partnering with With Me in Mind—a specialist service dedicated to supporting the emotional wellbeing of children and young people. You may have met their team recently at our Winter Fair!

To launch this partnership, the team will lead a key stage 2 assembly, introducing all our pupils to the importance of looking after their mental health.

Following the assembly, we have a limited number of places available for pupils in Years 3, 4, 5, and 6 to participate in focused workshops on Identifying and Managing Worries. These sessions offer a safe, supportive space for children to explore their feelings and develop practical, lifelong coping strategies.

How to express interest: If you feel your child would benefit from the small-group workshops, please speak directly to your child’s class teacher in the first instance to discuss a potential place when we return in January.