12Th September 2025
save the date
Every Thursday in term time – Tiny Tiddlers - 8.50am – 10.30am
Friday 26th September – Shaping the Future
Tuesday 30th September – Principal Tour – 9am
Wednesday 1st October – Tea & Talk: Introduction to Year 3 – 8.50am
Wednesday 8th October – Tea & Talk: Introduction to Year 4 – 8.50am
Tuesday 14th October – Tea & Talk: Welcome to EYFS – Nursery parents – 8.50am
Wednesday 15th October – Individual and sibling photographs
Thursday 16th October – Open Evening 4.30pm – 6.30pm
Friday 17th October – Academy closes for half term – 3.10pm pickup
Monday 3rd November – Academy re-opens
Message
Dear parents and carers,
What an amazing start to the new academic year. The first few days, everyone quickly settled and enjoyed being back together. This week, we saw more of our new reception children start and held our first Tiny Tiddler session of the year. New starters have joined Nursery with more to come.
Everyone has been immersed in learning and play. The new play leaders have been outside, and staff have been spending time with the children. Mrs Hahn has even been playing football! Mr Jobey has been out to play a game of basketball too. Children in the Marina have enjoyed catching up with me and each other. They have eaten their lunch, played and chatted happily.
Children in year one have been enjoying their new history unit of learning about toys and enjoyed bringing in their favourite toys today to share with others. They have also made their own toys using construction materials. They will be learning about toys past and present. What was your favourite toy? I had a little shopping trolley that I loved and still remember the day I was given electronic battleships!
PE has been full of fun, friendship and teamwork. Children played the game – Scarecrow. They had to balance PE objects on their scarecrow (friend) to see how many items they could add, just like the game, Buckeroo!
In upper key stage 2 children have been exploring practical science. Year five have enjoyed learning science, outside the classroom, experiment and testing mysterious materials. They used Cornflour Goo, known by some as ‘Obleck’. They found out about the non-Newtonian fluid and the science behind it building on their prior knowledge of states of matter.
Unusual fluid
Oobleck is a non-Newtonian fluid, a term for fluids that change viscosity (how easily they flow) under stress. When you run your fingers slowly through cornstarch and water, it acts like a liquid, but apply rapid force, and it solidifies, bends and even tears.
"It really is like a liquid if you move it slowly, but it does everything you expect of a solid if you play with it quickly," Year 5
Why not try and make some at home?
This afternoon, Year six engaged in a space workshop as an exciting hook to their new science unit of learning. They engaged in practical workshops to discover facts.
As always, enjoy your family time together.
Mrs Nicholls
in the spotlight
Open Evening
At this time of year, parents and carers are already thinking ahead for next steps for their children joining nursery, Reception or moving to secondary schools. We have a series of prospective tours ahead for those choosing Reception for 2026-27 and our open evening event on Thursday 16thth October.
Year 6
A reminder that secondary school applications for 2026-2027 are now open and you have until the 31st October to submit your preferences.
https://one.southend.gov.uk/CitizenPortal_LIVE/en
Good luck to all those year 6 children taking the Eastwood Academy aptitude tests and the 11+ over the next few weeks! You are all stars.
Shaping the Future
Tea & Talk
We will be starting our Tea & Talks for this academic year on Wednesday 1st October with an Introduction to Year 3. Please wait at the brook gate after morning drop off and you will be met by Mrs Richards.
This will be followed on Wednesday 8th October with an Introduction to Year 4. Both talks will be around how you can help your child at home with TTRS and Accelerated Reader, with a focus on preparing
On Tuesday 14th October, nursery and reception parents are invited to join Miss Wise for an introduction to the Early Years.
For all Tea & Talks, please email mrsalexander@darlinghurstacademy.org.uk to confirm your attendance.
School Photographs
School photographs will be taken during the school day on Wednesday 15th October. Please ensure that your child comes to school on this day in their full school uniform.
Sibling photographs, of school age children, will be taken after school. Please collect your child at normal pick-up time and queue by the side gate along the front of the academy. Please do not block the side gate entrance.
PTA
darlinghurst academy
Pavilion Drive
Leigh on Sea
Essex
SS9 3JS
contact us
T. 01702 478379