porters grange weekly newsletter week ending 28th march 2025

Portico Photography Competition

Nursery

This week we have been very busy. We have enjoyed using the prams/babies in the garden, making up lots of imaginative role play games with our friends. We have also been very interested in our pea seeds which we are growing, looking closely at their growth and change. We also enjoyed making special cards for our wonderful Mummies.

REMINDER: Please continue to make sure your child brings a coat/jacket to nursery every day, as the weather is still very changeable.

Reception

The children have enjoyed learning about Spring this week and learning about changes and what we might see.

In Maths we have been learning to name 3D shapes, to talk about their properties and printing with them to find out their faces.

We have been busy making Mother's Day cards if we chose to do so in continuous provision.

REMINDER: Please ensure you read at home at least three times a week and sign the reading record book.

Please ensure you name all items of clothing including coats as the weather is improving children are taking their coats and jumpers off.

Year 1

The children have been working hard in English this week. We have been practising suffixes in words, such as ‘ing’ and ‘ed’ and we have introduced prefixes including ‘un’ such as unhealthy or unkind.

In maths, the children have continued developing their understanding of length and height and how the language is used correctly.

In PSHE, the children have had several conversations about internet safety and why that is important.

REMINDER: Ensure you have paid for your child to attend the Sea Life Centre on Tuesday 22nd April. Today (28th) was the deadline to pay.

Reading books must be in school every day. Your child reads with many adults, and we need their books to keep a thorough record of what they have done.

We have noticed many items of clothing are not named. We cannot return your child’s coat, jumper or other items if they are not named. Reception and Year 1 totals 120 children. Please help us to help you.

Year 2

The children have been working hard and enjoying looking at various types of fact files. They are going to make their own fact file about dinosaurs or themselves. In maths, the children have started a new topic on mass and capacity. The children have been measuring and comparing mass. In history, the children are learning about what a palaeontologist does and exploring primary sources in prehistory.

REMINDER: When you hear your child read please encourage your child to listen to the words they are reading. This will help them recognise any errors and whether the sentence makes sense.

Year 3

This week we have begun to look at infographics in English. These are information posters, and we have been focussing on climate change. In maths we have continued to identify fractions and have begun to order fractions with different denominators. This week in science we looked at soil and how it is created and in geography we have created a leaflet describing the River Thames from the source to the mouth.

REMINDER: Please remember to bring suitable PE kit for our lessons on Tuesday and Friday. Don’t forget to read and practise your times tables.

Year 4

This week Year 4 have been using their historic knowledge to write a report all about The Mayans. They have used historic language and key facts to give great detail. In maths we have started to learn more about fractions and will continue this next week too.

REMINDER: Remember to bring in suitable footwear for PE, trainers or plimsols are essential, especially as the weather is nicer and we are going outside more.

Year 5

This week, year 5 have been writing a recount in English. Looking at Howard Carter’s incredible discovery of Tutankhamun’s tomb! We also looked into Carter’s discovery in layered reading; it’s been a very fact filled few days! In maths, we are continuing our unit looking at shape and measure – looking at identifying perimeter and area of polygons and compound shapes. In history, we again looked at Ancient Egypt, this time looking at their hierarchy of their social pyramid (literally) as we looked at how the Pharaoh was viewed as a deity and worshipped.

REMINDER: Please remember to bring in a suitable PE kit for Monday and Thursday’s PE lessons please.

Please also remember to bring in your reading records for us to check them each Thursday.

Year 6

This week, year 6 have been completing a mock Sats week. They have worked very hard showing all their learning and practising the skills needed for the Sats tests in May. In PSHE, they have continued to learn about financial risks and how to avoid them. In our history lessons they have been learning about the legacy of the Ancient Greeks and have explored the different styles of Greek architecture – which still exist today.

REMINDER: Please remember to have a PE kit in school on Wednesday and Friday.

All year 6 children receive weekly homework. It is their responsibility to complete it by Thursday of the next week.

Music

Future Events

• Cliffs Pavilion Music festival – 13th June

Music Clubs

• Band – Tuesday 12.00-12.30
• Music Making – Tuesday 3.30-4.15
• Choir – Thursday 3.30-4.15

Instrumental Tuition

• Tuesday am Guitar – Mr Brown
• Wednesday am Guitar – Mr Elliot
• Wednesday am Keyboard – Mr Hockey
• Wednesday am Drums – Mr Peters

French

This week in French, year one have learned about fruits, and the language and practice of still-life drawing; year six have been learning French through a story about an argument at school; year three have been role playing the ordering of cakes in a cafe.

Healthy Schools

Community

Cost of Living Advice

Click here to access cost of living advice from Southend City Council. It contains information on housing support, energy cost advice and benefits and support for those with children.