Wynndale Primary School

Learning in Year 1

This term, our learning is based around an exciting new topic- Kings and Queens from the past and the present. We are exploring what their jobs are, where they live and how Royal life has changed over time. In DT, children will be designing and making a pop-up book for babies, using mechanisms such as levers and sliders. In science, we have been learning all about plants by naming different plants and trees, labelling the different parts of a plant and exploring what plants need to grow. In maths, we have continued to develop our understanding of addition and subtraction, as well as beginning to learn and practise the 5 times table. In writing, our work has been based on the book, Dragon Post, and we are building towards writing a letter to the fire station to tell them about a dragon in our school. In PSHE, we are learning all about how to stay safe at home and in school. In RE, we have been exploring signs and symbols in Christianity and Judaism and thinking about why they are important to different people.

Learning in Year 2

This half term, our topic has been The Arctic. Our classroom has been updated to reflect our new area of learning, and the children have really enjoyed exploring and discussing what life might be like in such a cold environment. In English, we have been focusing on the story Lost and Found by Oliver Jeffers. The children have explored the characters, setting, and key events in the story. They have looked closely at the language used by the author and discussed how it helps to create meaning and emotion. We have also examined the illustrations in detail and talked about how they support the story. The children have been working hard on their writing skills, including using capital letters, full stops, and clear sentence structure. At the end of the unit, they retold the story from the perspective of the boy, imagining a journey across the Arctic and applying the skills they have developed throughout the writing sequence. In Maths, we have continued to build the children’s knowledge and confidence across a range of areas. We completed our work on shape, where the children discussed and compared a variety of 2D and 3D shapes, using the correct mathematical vocabulary to describe their properties. We then moved on to addition and subtraction, focusing on calculations involving two-digit numbers. The children practised different methods and developed their understanding of place value to help them solve problems more confidently. In Art, the children have been inspired by the work of Anne Wertheim. They have designed and created their own Arctic animal sculptures using clay, developing their creativity and experimenting with different techniques. In Science, we have been learning all about plants. The children have explored the conditions that plants need to grow and have looked closely at the life cycle of a plant. Year 2 have also had the opportunity to grow their own cress. Each week, the children observed their cress carefully, recording what it looked like, how much it had grown, and what it might need to help it grow even more successfully. This helped them to think like scientists by making observations and noticing changes over time. As part of our learning, we investigated whether plants need the same conditions to grow well. We carried out an experiment using cress grown in soil and cotton wool. It was very interesting to compare the results and see which one grew more successfully. We also have a class plant, which the children have enjoyed observing closely and discussing as it grows.

Learning in Year 3

This half term, Year 3 have continued to impress us with their enthusiasm, resilience and positive attitude towards learning. The children have worked incredibly hard across the curriculum, producing some fantastic non-fiction writing, developing their confidence in maths and showing great curiosity in subjects such as Science, History and Art. We have particularly enjoyed exploring new areas of learning such as the Shang Dynasty, developing our reading skills and taking part in practical, hands-on learning experiences in Art and D.T. The children should be very proud of the progress they have made and the way they continue to demonstrate the Wynndale Way each day. Thank you for your continued support throughout the year so far — it is greatly appreciated. We are looking forward to an exciting and successful final half term together!

Learning in Year 4

Year 4 have stepped back in time to the Victorian era this half term, complete with a William Morris parlour now in the classroom!   In History, we have explored what life was like for different people in Victorian society. We compared the lives of rich and poor Victorians and discovered that childhood looked very different depending on the family you were born into. The children were particularly shocked to learn how tough life could be, especially for those who had to work instead of going to school – we decided school was a far better option!   In English, we have been completely gripped by Evie’s Ghost by Helen Peters. We have travelled back in time alongside Evie as she desperately tries to save Sophia from a fate worse than death! Will Sophia escape the clutches of the dastardly Charles Ellerdale, or will she be forced into a terrible marriage? We can’t wait to find out!   In Science, our topic on the human body has been wonderfully disgusting — just what we love! We have learnt all about the digestive system, exploring how food travels through our body, how nutrients are absorbed, and how waste eventually exits the body. There have been plenty of “eww!” moments, but also lots of brilliant scientific discussion.   In Art, we have been studying the work of William Morris. We explored the natural patterns and floral designs used in his prints before designing our own Victorian-inspired tiles. We are now preparing our tiles ready to print from them — watch this space for some future wallpaper designers!   In Maths, we have worked incredibly hard on fractions. We can now add and subtract fractions and convert between mixed numbers and improper fractions. We have also been putting in our final efforts to recall our times tables facts ready for the National Multiplication Test in the first week of June. Well done, Year 4!

Learning in Year 5

Year 5 have had a fantastic half term – it has flown by! We are halfway through our new Theme enquiry question, which is ‘How did coal mining shape the lives of people in the East Midlands and South Yorkshire, and what were its positive and negative impacts on people and the landscape?’ If you have any ex-miners in your family, it would be great if they could talk about their experiences! We have chatted to Mr. Purchase, our site manager, who spent ten years as a miner. He was the inspiration for some excellent biographies that we have created of fictional miners, which contain lots of authentic details. My socks were knocked off!   Our Science learning has focused on Human Development, as we have learned all about the different changes that take place as humans progress through their lives. A productive half term in Maths! The class have been introduced to the concept of common factors and common multiples, before beginning our long unit about fractions, which will take them through most of the rest of the year. So far we have learned about multiplying improper fractions and mixed numbers by whole numbers.   Computing has focused on Coding. The class have learned to debug and simplify their algorithms as they create code to fulfill a variety of purposes. We have even delved into the world of AI and the role it can play in music production. Perhaps we have some future music producers in our midst! The children have also really enjoyed using graphite pencils to create Norman Cornish-style drawings of coal miners – they really managed to grasp his distinctive style. It’s so hard to believe that just one more half term remains in Year 5. A truly wonderful year, and I am confident the class will finish the year in style.

Bikeability in Year 5

A number of our Y5 children recently took part in an exciting 'Bikeability' programme, where they developed essential cycling skills and gained confidence riding on the road. Throughout the sessions, children learned how to carry out safety checks, signal clearly, and navigate different road situations responsibly. They demonstrated fantastic enthusiasm and maturity, supporting one another while building independence and awareness as road users. It was wonderful to see their progress over the two day programme, and we are proud of how all children embraced the challenge, helping them to stay safe while enjoying cycling both now and in the future

Learning in Year 6

This term has been another fast-paced and exciting period of learning for Year 6. We have worked incredibly hard in preparation for our SATs assessments, and the children showed fantastic determination, resilience and positivity throughout the process. SATs only measure one small part of our wonderful Year 6 class. They are an exceptionally kind and supportive group of children who have built great friendships and continue to work hard across every subject area.    Music has been a real highlight this term as the children worked together to create a class band. Their musical understanding and confidence have developed enormously over the past year, and they proudly showcased their passion and talent during our school performance. It was wonderful to see their hard work come together so successfully.    In ICT, we have been refining our coding skills by exploring variables and learning how changing different elements can help create more detailed and interactive games. The children have shown great creativity and problem-solving skills during these lessons.    In English, we combined our ICT learning with our writing skills to design our own imaginative creatures and produce non-chronological reports. We have also explored narrative poetry linked to The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, focusing on descriptive language, imagery and performance.    In PSHE and RSHE, we have begun learning about relationships and the children approached these topics with maturity, respect and curiosity, asking thoughtful questions and contributing sensibly to discussions. We will continue with this after half term focusing on puberty and reproduction.     In the week after SATs, we enjoyed a lovely celebration day at the park where the children played games, strengthened friendships, and created special memories together.    In PE, we have been developing our teamwork and strategic thinking through a range of striking and fielding games. The children have improved their skills in batting, catching, fielding, and communication while working collaboratively and supporting one another during games activities.    As we head into our final half term at Wynndale, we have lots of exciting opportunities ahead, including trips, our end-of-year production, leavers assembly, Oscars and preparations for the transition to secondary school. We are looking forward to making the most of every moment together in the final weeks of Year 6. 

Y6 Post SATs celebration at the park....

Following a week of hard work and determination during SATs, our Year 6 children enjoyed a well-deserved celebration trip to the park. Throughout SATs week, the children showed incredible focus, resilience and a positive attitude, making us all extremely proud. The visit gave everyone the chance to relax and spend time together after their efforts. We enjoyed a lovely picnic in the sunshine, played games and had lots of opportunities to laugh, chat and simply enjoy being together as a year group. It was wonderful to see the children celebrating not only completing their SATs, but also recognising the hard work, perseverance and teamwork they have shown throughout the year. They should all feel incredibly proud of themselves – we certainly are!

Celebrating David Attenborough's 100th Birthday

On Friday 8th May, we were delighted to celebrate Sir David Attenborough’s 100th birthday! The children enjoyed learning about his incredible work as a naturalist and broadcaster, exploring the wonders of our planet and the importance of protecting it for future generations. Across the school, pupils took part in activities inspired by his documentaries, including art activities, fact-finding, and discussions about how we can all help care for our environment. It was a wonderful opportunity to be inspired by his passion and to remind ourselves that even small actions can make a big difference to our world.

A Wonderful Musical Showcase

Last week we hosted a Musical Showcase with Mr. Stanton, celebrating the fantastic progress our pupils have made in their music lessons over the past year. Each class has been learning to play a range of instruments and working collaboratively to form their own bands. The showcase featured a wonderful variety of musical genres, with children confidently performing on recorders, keyboards, ukuleles, trumpets and vocals. It was a truly enjoyable morning, and we were so proud to see how much the children’s musical skills have developed over the last twelve months. We certainly have some very talented young musicians in our school!

Our Remarkable Readers and Wonderful Writers......

This half term we have continued to use our vending machine to promote our 'Remarkable Readers' initiative. Children have continued to have their name put in their class jar for a range of reading behaviours, including showing a love of reading in school, reading regularly at home, engaging in our phonics, Novel Study and STAR Reading sessions or for making good progress in reading. This week our Summer 1 Remarkable Readers have been chosen.....look at how proud they look with their book choices.

Each class teacher has also chosen one writer from their class to be recognised for their amazing writing, as each class has come to the end of their half termly writing sequence. Once again, we have been blown away with the standards of writing across school - we really do have some 'wonderful writers' at Wynndale!

We Love Reading!

In school, we are proud to promote a love of reading through our ‘Star Reading’ time. As part of this, we pair classes together so that children have the opportunity to read with one another, building both confidence and enjoyment. It is wonderful to see our younger pupils sharing books with older children, listening to stories, asking questions, and talking enthusiastically about what they have read. These special moments not only develop reading skills but also help to foster strong relationships across our school community.

National Numeracy Day

For National Numeracy Day, the whole school took part in activities linked to the theme ‘Count on Your Community’. Each year group explored a different job or role and investigated how maths is used in real life. EYFS became chefs, Year 1 became party planners, Year 2 became shopkeepers, Year 3 became builders, Year 4 became sports coaches, Year 5 became game designers and Year 6 became business owners. The children used their maths skills in practical and creative ways, including counting, measuring, handling money, reading prices, planning, designing, scoring, budgeting, and problem-solving. We also looked at photographs sent in by parents and carers showing how they use maths in their own workplaces. A huge thank you to everyone who sent in such brilliant pictures - the children found them really engaging and exciting, and it helped them to see the real-life application of maths in different jobs across our community.

Sporting events this half term.....

KS2 Boccia

What a fantastic day at the KS2 Boccia event, which was held at Abbey primary School! Our Wynndale team represented the school brilliantly, showing amazing rolling skills, teamwork, and sportsmanship throughout. To top it all off, we won every single game! I am so proud of everyone involved! 

Year 3/4 Football Tournament

Congratulations to the Year 3/ 4 Football team for finishing Runners Up in The Mansfield Town Community Trust Tournament. Some superb individual and team performances throughout the 12 Games played. Thank you for all the support that the team received. A brilliant experience!

The Summer MBLL has begun.....

The MBLL has kicked off in style this term with football taking centre stage! With creative team names featuring countries, football puns, and alliteration, the competition is already bringing the energy across all 3 divisions:  🏆 Mixed Year 5/6 🏆 Girls Only 🏆 Mixed Year 3/4 Amazing teamwork, brilliant goals, and plenty of drama already… but the big question is: who will be crowned the best football team in their division? You will find out next half term!

Our Intra House Competition for Summer 1: Potted Sports

What an incredible morning at our whole school intra-house sports event! Our brilliant Year 6 children did an amazing job running each event, while the awesome Year 5 leaders guided their mixed teams from F1 all the way up to Year 5 with fantastic teamwork and encouragement throughout. The children truly are the reason this event was as good as it was! From running, jumping and throwing to balancing and sports skill challenges, the morning was packed with energy, teamwork, determination and lots of laughter. A brilliant example of our school community coming together through sport!