Wynndale Primary School

Learning in Year 1

This half term in Art, we have been creating our own “Hungry Caterpillars” inspired by Eric Carle. The children painted and added patterns to plain tissue paper, just like Eric Carle does in his art studio. We then carefully cut out our designs to create our own collages, applying his techniques to produce some fantastic insect-themed final pieces. In Geography, we have been exploring Robin Hood’s Bay and comparing it to Mansfield and Nottinghamshire. We have been learning about the similarities and differences between villages, towns and cities, and thinking about what makes each place unique. In Writing, we have been studying How to Catch a Star by Oliver Jeffers. The children have really enjoyed this story and have come up with some wonderfully creative ideas for catching their own star! In Maths, we have been partitioning the numbers 6, 7, 8 and 9. We have been using part-whole models to find missing parts and deepen our understanding of number. We have also been practising our number bonds to 10 using Hit the Button on the iPads, and have been learning the 5 times table through songs and repetition. In Computing, we have been using iPads to group data and create pictograms. We collected information on our class’s favourite seasons and types of weather, and presented this data clearly using Purple Mash. We are really proud of the children’s independence, resilience and creativity this half term - well done, Year 1!

Learning in Year 2

Year 2 have been super stars this half term, making great progress across all aspects of the curriculum. In English, we looked at what a leaflet is and the key features it includes. Before beginning our own writing, we carefully learned how to build clear sentences that make sense. We focused on using capital letters and full stops correctly, and making sure our ideas were easy to understand. We thought carefully about what information is important to include in a leaflet, such as what you might need, the weather, and what you would see. We really enjoyed planning and designing our own African leaflets, using exciting language and sharing our creative ideas. In Maths we have had a fantastic time learning about shapes. We explored polygons, recognising and sorting shapes such as triangles, quadrilaterals, pentagons, hexagons and octagons. We also enjoyed learning about symmetry, finding lines of symmetry in different shapes and patterns. We compared shapes by looking at their sides and corners (vertices) and investigated how shapes can be joined and folded to make 3D shapes. We also learned to recognise and name 3D shapes including cubes, cuboids, cones, cylinders and spheres. It was a fun, hands-on topic and we loved spotting shapes in the world around us! In DT, we became architects! We learned about Lesley Lokko and discussed what an architect does, before creating our own fact files about her. We were then given an exciting design brief to investigate and create strong, stable structures. We designed our own African huts, carefully drawing and labelling our ideas. In Geography, we continued our exciting learning about Africa. We explored where Africa is located, learned about its climate and weather, and discovered the different jobs and ways of life across the continent. We also looked at how life in Africa compares to life in the UK. We enjoyed discussing similarities and differences, such as weather, homes, schools and daily life. This helped us to develop a better understanding of the wider world and appreciate how people live in different places. We showed great interest in this topic and asked lots of thoughtful questions, which helped to deepen our understanding even further. We also had a fantastic time during our African drumming workshop! We were introduced to a range of rhythms and beats and learned how to play together as a group. We explored how different sounds can be made using the drums and how rhythm can be built up in layers. The session ended with a brilliant mini performance, where we proudly showed everything, we had learned. It was super exciting! As a class during Science Week, we explored how animals adapt to their habitats. We learned about camouflage and how it helps animals survive by blending into their surroundings to stay safe from predators or to catch their prey. We took part in fun, hands-on investigations where we explored how difficult it can be to spot camouflaged objects. This helped us understand how effective camouflage can be in the natural world. We also discussed different habitats and how animals are specially adapted to live there. Earlier in the half term, everyone looked absolutely amazing in their World Book Day costumes! It was fantastic to see so many creative and imaginative ideas. We focused on the book Red: A Crayon’s Story, where we explored its important message about being true to yourself and celebrating individuality. We had some thoughtful discussions about how it feels to be different and why it is important to be proud of who we are. We also explored different colours and talked about how they make us feel, linking this to emotions and self-expression. It was a lovely day full of reading, discussion and creativity, and a great opportunity to celebrate our love of books.

Learning in Year 3

It has been a fun and busy half term in Year 3. The children have continued to work hard in all areas of their learning and completed their assessment week, showing tremendous determination and resilience. In English, the children have been focusing on writing a non-chronological report. They have been using precise and technical language, exploring different sentence types and applying a range of conjunctions to make their writing clear and informative. In our novel studies, we have continued to develop our comprehension skills through the text The Dancing Bear by Michael Morpurgo. The children have been making predictions, discussing characters and events, and explaining their ideas using evidence from the story. We also had lots of fun exploring the joy of reading on World Book Day. As mathematicians, we have been learning about addition and subtraction, practising different strategies to solve problems and explain our reasoning. In Science, we have been learning about humans and animals, exploring how living things grow, survive and stay healthy. During our PE sessions, the children have been developing their tactical awareness as well as their sending and receiving skills through a variety of activities and games. We have also enjoyed some fantastic music lessons, where the children have been developing their skills on a range of instruments and exploring rhythm and sound. Thank you for continued support.​

Learning in Year 4

In Year 4 this half term we have continued focussing on the Rainforest. We have used our Geography skills to find out about the physical features of South America, during our research we soon realised that it is an incredibly diverse, record-breaking continent! We have had to think deeply in order to answer some challenging geographical debates looking at the chocolate industry, deforestation and then our final big question; 'Do we really need Rainforests?'    In Art, we have studied the painting 'Surprise' by Henri Rousseau; Rousseau was famous for painting Rainforests even though we discovered he'd never been to one! We have used our drawing skills from earlier on in the year to draw leaves and have focussed on the perspective of foregrounds and backgrounds to create a painting in the style of Henri Rousseau.    In Novel Study, Michael Morpurgo is really pulling on our heart strings in 'Running Wild'. We have followed Will on his adventure through the Rainforest and empathised with all the trials and tribulations he has faced! We can't wait to see what happens at the end and whether or not he will be reunited with his beloved elephant.    In Writing lessons, we have focussed on the book 'The Explorer' by Katherine Rundell. We have analysed the devices she used to be a very successful storyteller and have been inspired to write our own adventure stories about being stranded in the Amazon Jungle!    Our visit from Jungle Jo was a highlight of the term. We learnt from a professional ranger all sorts of facts about the animals living in a rainforest. We were perhaps a little scared to handle some of the animals to start with but by the end even Tillie the Tarantula was a welcome member of the class.    Year 4 completed their block of swimming lessons this term. Each member of the class was awarded a Learning Journey Award and successfully completed the water safety course. Swimming medals were presented of each individual’s progress in our Exhibition of Learning.  

Learning in Year 5

Year 5 have had a busy and stimulating half term! We have now finished our Geography enquiry, answering the question ‘How have humans used and adapted the Earth’s natural resources to impact life on Earth?’ The class have really deepened their knowledge of global issues and I’m confident they will make positive choices to help our planet throughout their lives. They have turned out some absolutely stunning suspense writing in English, adopting techniques such as short sentences and rhetorical questions to really build up the tension. We have some budding authors in our class! Our Science learning has focused on forces, including air resistance, water resistance, gravity and friction. Children have enjoyed some hands on experiments and have really shown a curiosity of, and knowledge about, the wonderful world of Science. A terrific half term in Maths! The class have been introduced to the concept of volume and have been calculating the volume of various cuboids and compound shapes. They have also been developing their knowledge of calculating with decimal fractions. Year 5 love Computing, no doubt about that! This half term the focus has been on vector graphics, using the free Google Drawings app to create, duplicate, rotate, fill and resize a wide variety of polygons and combining them to make some really impressive drawings. I can well imagine we have some future graphic designers in our midst! I have thoroughly enjoyed the first two terms of the year, and I look forward with great eagerness to what lies ahead in that final summer term - well done Y5!

Learning in Year 6

The Year 6 team are incredibly proud of our fantastic Year 6 class. The children continue to show great determination, enthusiasm and maturity in all areas of their learning, and it has been wonderful to see their confidence grow as they prepare for their final term at Wynndale. We are also delighted to share that Year 6 have already won an attendance award this year for their attendance in Spring 1 term —an amazing achievement! Let’s keep this fantastic attendance going. In Maths, the children have been focusing on area, perimeter and angles. They have built securely on their Year 5 knowledge and are now applying their skills to more complex reasoning and problem-solving questions. We have been particularly impressed with their ability to explain their thinking clearly and to challenge themselves when faced with tricky problems. In English, we have been reading Holes and The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, which have captured the children’s imagination. These texts have inspired a range of high-quality writing, including thoughtful diary entries, detailed non-chronological reports and rich narrative descriptions. The children are also continuing to develop their reading skills by exploring characters’ motives and thoughts, as well as making predictions and justifying their ideas with evidence from the text. Our Geography topic on North America has taken us on an exciting journey across the continent. The children have explored the Rocky Mountains, the Grand Canyon and New York, learning about both physical and human features. They have also investigated fascinating natural phenomena such as geysers, hot springs and mud pools, while developing their understanding of erosion and weathering. In Science, we have been learning about evolution and inheritance. The children have shown great curiosity and enthusiasm, particularly during our investigations into camouflage and how different beak shapes are suited to different environments. They have been developing their ability to think scientifically, ask questions and explain their ideas clearly. In Computing, the children have continued to build their ICT skills by designing and creating their own websites based on North America. They have also taken part in important discussions about online safety, learning how to protect themselves and make sensible choices when using technology. We are all very much looking forward to our final term at Wynndale. This will include SATs, where the children will have the opportunity to show just how hard they have worked, as well as our exciting summer production. We are also excited to begin our new History and Geography topic on Eyam, including an upcoming trip where the children will study the history and geographical features of the village first-hand—an experience we are sure they will thoroughly enjoy.

Spring Term Exhibitions of Learning

In the last few weeks of the half term, all classes welcomed family and friends into school for their termly Exhibitions of Learning. Our Wynndale Learners had the chance to showcase learning from across the curriculum, and impressed their audiences with how articulately they were able to speak about the knowledge and skills they had developed in the Spring term. Thank you to everyone that was able to support us at these events and make them such a success once again.

Science Week at Wynndale

Wynndale Learners celebrated British Science Week earlier this half term, undertaking a range of investigations and activities across the week linked to the theme of 'Curiosity: What's Your Question?' Every class across school chose a question to explore and undertook investigations linked to this question throughout the week. At the end of the week, all classes came together to share their learning with one another in a whole school Science assembly. It was a wonderful celebration of curiosity in Science and a great way for children to be able to talk as Scientists!

Our Mother's Day Tea Parties......

On Thursday 12th March, we hosted our Mother’s Day tea parties. These were attended by over 120 of our Wynndale families and it was so lovely to see so many Mums, Grandmas and Aunties on the day. A huge thank you to our parent group for funding this event so we can show our gratitude to all the lovely ladies in our Wynndale family. Please look out for future PTA events and support where you can as the funds make such a difference to school.

World Book Day at Wynndale.....

World Book Day was an absolute joy this year – the corridors were buzzing with excitement, brilliant book chat, and so much creativity! The children (with the help of some wonderfully imaginative parents) did an amazing job dressing up as a word, and it was fantastic to see how confidently they explained their choices. From powerful adjectives to quirky nouns, we had a whole walking dictionary in school… and the best part was that everyone had a laugh while learning. So here’s the challenge: Can you guess what we were dressed as?

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 Spring 2 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!

School Council organise Red Nose Day 2025

As part of our Red Nose Day 2026 celebrations, children were invited to dress in non-uniform and design and make their own red noses at home - we were delighted by the creativity and imagination shown in all of the entries. It was clear that a lot of thought and effort had gone into each design, and the competition brought lots of fun across the school. Congratulations  to our winners: FS1 - Henry, FS2 - Harper, Year 1 - Mabel, Year 2 - Zachary, Year 3 - Robyn, Year 4 - Olivia, Year 5 - Dylan and Year 6 - Rudi. Thank you also for your kind monetary contributions, which we will be forwarding to Red Nose Day to support their charities. This year we raised over £325 for the charity, which is brilliant. Thank you so much for all your support!

Red Phoenix Celebrate their win with a 'Red Rave'!

Congratulations to our Red Phoenix House team who were the half termly house team winners in Spring 1. They celebrated with a non uniform day and a Red Rave Party last week.

Our Choir continues to hit the high notes

This half term the choir were invited to sing at the Nottinghamshire Annual Governors conference at Eastwood Hall. We were very surprised and honoured to be invited to such a big event and the children showcased themselves brilliantly! We shared two of our Young Voices songs as well as one of our favourite hymns and I couldn't have been prouder of how the children delivered their work. They sang proudly, with real enthusiasm and conviction; and the members of the conference loved every second!   Afterwards we received an email of thanks from Nottinghamshire Governor Services, which included this quote:    "Your choir brought such warmth, energy and joy into the room. It was a real highlight of the whole day and created a lovely sense of togetherness and celebration. Our governors were genuinely delighted, not only by your beautiful singing, but by the confidence, enthusiasm and sheer happiness you all shared with us. The passion and leadership behind the choir shone through in every moment".   We are now looking forward to getting ready for our annual collaboration concert at the end of June - more details to follow next half term!

Our Termly Rock Steady Celebration

On the last Monday of the half term, all children who have music tuition through our Rock Steady partners, came together to perform in a special assembly for their families and the Wynndale school community. It was a wonderful culmination and celebration of their hard work and effort throughout the Spring term, and everyone involved had a blast! It is so lovely to see how far the children have come this academic year, both in terms of their musical ability and in terms of their confidence to perform to an audience. Congratulations to everyone involved - we are already looking forward to seeing the next concert at the end of Summer term!

The children asked, we listened.....

At Wynndale, we have an active School Council, made up of children from all classes across school from Year 1 to Year 6. Our school council have had a busy year so far, attending a session with our Local MP, running stalls at our Christmas Fair, organising awareness days and fundraising events, such as Children's Mental Health Week, Children in Need and Comic Relief, and judging the recent Red Nose design and Easter Bake Off Competitions! As a collective group, our School Council also actively promote the British Value of democracy, being the 'voice' for their peers, putting forward ideas and suggestions for how we can improve our school so that it is the best it can be for everyone. In recent meetings, the children have asked for a 'book exchange' which is now in place, and also asked that we extend our daily tuck shop to sell different types of fruits each day - this is now is operation too! One of our classes also requested that we consider having an Engineering after school club, which was a request we hadn't had before! Given we have no Engineering specialists on our staff team, we reached out to West Notts College to see if they would be able to help us, and we were delighted when they said they could! During this half term, we have had a number of different engineering sessions led by staff and students from the college, which were attended by some of our Key Stage 2 children. During these sessions, our children had the opportunity to use a range of engineering equipment, including Robotics, and loved immersing themselves in the world of technology. I think we may have a few budding Engineers in the making! We were thrilled to be able to make the link with West Notts College, and are now looking at other ways we can work together to support us in our vision of raising aspirations and showing our children the possibilities beyond primary education. Another way we try to give our children a 'voice' is through our weekly class briefing sessions. Recently, we have been discussing the topic of lunchtimes, looking at what is going well and where we can improve. As a result of these discussions, we will be increasing our resourcing and our staffing outside during free time from after half term too. We will be talking to children about this in our first assembly back after Easter.

Forest School Fun at the Garden Centre

Mrs. Swanwick, our Forest School lead, runs a group every Thursday of the year with some of our children from across school. We recently tasked this group with firstly developing the front area of school to make it look more inviting for people visiting Wynndale, and then maintaining it moving forward as their space in school. Armed with a design and some cash, Mrs. Swanwick, Mrs. Kitts and Mrs. Nicholson took our children to Glapwell Garden Centre last week, to choose their flowers and plants for school. The children had a great time exploring the garden centre, learning about different types of flowers and plants, and finding out which would be the most suitable to plant in our own school grounds. The children came back armed with lots of brightly coloured flowers and planted them just before we broke up for Easter. Hopefully, they will still be blooming when we return after the two week holiday! We would like to say a thank you to our Forest School Learners for representing Wynndale so brilliantly when they visited the garden centre - the staff commented on how well behaved and polite our children were - and they acknowledged this by giving the children a free plate of 'Rocky Roads' and some trays of bedding plants! We are hoping to make this a regular visit each year, to ensure we keep our school environment looking friendly and welcoming, and we are looking forward to seeing how their garden grows as we enter the summer months!

Sporting events this half term.....

Year 1 and 2 Multi-Skills Festival

Some of our youngest pupils truly showed what Wynndale is all about at the Year 1 and 2 Multi Skills Festival. Some incredible effort, kindness to one another, and so much emerging talent on display. From teamwork to determination, it’s clear the future of Wynndale is in very safe hands!

Year 5 and 6 Dance Festival

What an unforgettable experience at our Year 5 & 6 Dance Festival!   Our pupils did us incredibly proud, showing amazing dedication in learning and remembering their Lion King themed routine. A huge 'shoutout' to Mrs Fletcher for her time, commitment, and passion, not only for the festival but for all the after-school clubs leading up to it. Your hard work truly made a difference!   The group performed so beautifully to 'Circle of Life' that one of the organisers said they were almost moved to tears, a real testament to how special the performance was.   We couldn’t be prouder, what an amazing experience for everyone involved!

Our MBLL Basketball Competition

Our lunch time teams have been competing every Monday and Wednesday this half term, and it’s been packed with some amazingly close and competitive games. The hard work is paying off as the development from all players has been truly outstanding!   This week we held the finals…   Year 3 & 4: Basketball Court Bulls vs Playground Pelicans   Year 5 & 6: Trim-Trail Timberwolves vs Wynndale-Way Warriors Huge CONGRATULATIONS to the Playground Pelicans, our Y3 and 4 winners and the Trim-Trail Timberwolves, our Y5 and Y6 winning team!

Our Intra House Competition for Spring 2

This week has been Schools Football Week.   To celebrate Schools Football Week, we’ve had an action-packed intra-house competition, with pupils representing their houses and competing not just for victory but for T-Shirts as well!   Alongside the competition, we were able to give away some Pokémon-themed Schools Football Week T-shirts! These were awarded to pupils who truly embodied the two most important parts of our PE ethos, fantastic effort and a positive attitude every step of the way.   A huge well done to all of our houses for their participation, energy, and sportsmanship, and congratulations to our T-shirt winners!

Our PTA

We have finished Spring term off with our annual Easter Bake Off and Easter disco.    Thank you for all your hard work towards creating such beautiful and delicious cakes! The children loved their Easter disco and much fun was had by all! We managed to raise £550 from this event alone, with all proceeds going towards developing our outdoor spaces. We are currently in the process of starting to get building quotes for our playground, with the hope that we can undertake the work during the Summer holidays. Thank you to our Wynndale families for your continued support.