Whole School Pedestrian Training - 8th November 2024

Stop, look, listen, think! Our whole school took part in pedestrian training with the Leeds Transport Team, focusing on the vital importance of road safety. The sessions taught children how to navigate roads safely, including recognising crossings, understanding traffic signals, and practicing safe walking habits.

The children thoroughly enjoyed the interactive and hands-on approach, which made learning about road safety both fun and memorable. These sessions are an invaluable part of helping our pupils stay safe as they travel in their community, and we are so proud of how engaged and enthusiastic they were throughout the training.

Bonfire Safety Talk - 24th October 2024

Years 5 and 6 had an exciting and educational visit from Leeds Fire and Rescue Service, who came to talk about fire safety, with a special focus on staying safe around bonfires and fireworks. The team shared invaluable tips on how to prevent fires, stay safe during Bonfire Night, and the importance of calling 999 in an emergency. Key lessons included maintaining a safe distance from fireworks, keeping bonfires small and supervised, and always having water nearby to extinguish flames.

The Fire Team were incredibly impressed with the children's fire safety awareness, especially when they confidently answered questions with in-depth knowledge gained from their fire safety learning at Forest School.

The visit wasn’t just about learning, though – the children had a fantastic time exploring the fire truck! They were fascinated to see how it operates, from the powerful hoses to the life-saving equipment stored on board. This hands-on experience brought the lessons to life and left a lasting impression.

We’re grateful to Leeds Fire and Rescue Service for helping our children understand the importance of fire safety in a fun, engaging, and memorable way!

World Mental Health Day - 10th October 2024

Today, our school came together to celebrate World Mental Health Day with a focus on kindness, empathy, and understanding. Through engaging discussions and activities, the children learned about the importance of listening to one another and offering support when someone needs it. We reflected on the wonderful diversity of our school community and how, by being there for each other, we can build an even stronger, more compassionate environment.

Mental health matters to us all because it affects how we think, feel, and connect with the world around us. By raising awareness and promoting open conversations, we empower our children to understand their own emotions and support the well-being of others. It was a powerful reminder that looking after our mental health is just as important as taking care of our physical health.

Sikh Temple Visit - 3rd October 2024

Our students had a wonderful visit from members of the Sikh Temple! They learned all about Sikhism, asked thoughtful questions, and even got hands-on experience learning how to wear a patka. It was a fantastic opportunity to explore a different culture and faith, and the children thoroughly enjoyed the experience!

Practical Scooter Training - 1st October 2024

This academic year, we were delighted to once again secure practical scooter training for our Year 3 and Year 5 children, delivered in partnership with the Leeds Transport team. The children learned essential scooter safety skills, including how to check their scooter is safe to use, navigating safely around obstacles, stopping in a controlled way, and understanding the importance of road awareness.

As their confidence grew, the children had the opportunity to take their new skills out onto the road under the guidance of the Leeds team and our school staff. It was a fantastic experience, and the children absolutely loved improving their scooting abilities while learning how to stay safe. This training not only builds practical skills but also promotes safe, active travel for our children.

Samba Drumming and Carnival Dance Day - 26th June 2024

Last week, our school was filled with the vibrant sounds and colours of Brazil as our students participated in a Samba Drumming and Carnival Dance Day. The event was an incredible success, with every child enthusiastically joining in to learn and experience the rich cultural traditions of Samba music and dance.

Throughout the day, our students were guided by professional instructors who introduced them to the rhythmic beats of Samba drums and the lively, energetic movements of Carnival dance. The atmosphere was electric as the children immersed themselves in the activities, showcasing their creativity and enthusiasm.

This event was not only a celebration of music and dance but also a valuable learning experience. By exploring the traditions of another culture, our students took an important step towards becoming informed and empathetic global citizens. Understanding and appreciating the diversity of cultures around the world is a key part of their education, helping them to grow into responsible and open-minded individuals.

Dental Care Day: Promoting Healthy Smiles! - 10th June 2024

Today, our school had the pleasure of hosting a Dental Care Day, featuring a special visit from a Dental Nurse from Finkle Hill Dental Practice. The children participated in an informative session that emphasised the importance of maintaining good oral hygiene habits.

During the session, the Dental Nurse shared several key messages that we encourage you to discuss with your children at home:

• Brush Twice a Day: Children should brush their teeth twice daily—once before bed and once more during the day. Each brushing session should last for 2 minutes, using an age-appropriate fluoride toothpaste.

• Supervision: It’s important for children to be supervised while brushing their teeth until they are at least 7 years old. This helps ensure they are brushing effectively and developing good habits.

• Spitting, Not Rinsing: As children grow, typically around the age of 3, they should be encouraged to spit out excess toothpaste after brushing. Rinsing with water should be avoided to ensure the fluoride continues to protect their teeth.

• Limit Sugary Foods and Drinks: Reducing sugary foods and drinks is essential for maintaining healthy teeth. When consumed, these should ideally be part of a meal to minimize their impact on oral health.

• Regular Dental Check-Ups: Regular visits to the dentist are crucial for keeping your child’s teeth and gums healthy.

We are grateful to Finkle Hill Dental Practice for helping our students understand the importance of dental care. By reinforcing these habits at home, we can work together to ensure our children have bright, healthy smiles that last a lifetime!

World Book Day - 7th March 2024

World Book Day is celebrated in over 100 countries with the inspiring mission of 'Changing lives through a love of books and reading.' This year, we embraced the magic with an Alice in Wonderland theme, transforming our school into a wonderland of imagination and creativity.

The whole school came together to make this event truly special. Instilling a love of reading is incredibly important for our children and our community, as books have the power to feed the soul and inspire young minds. The day was filled with excitement, as children enthusiastically embraced the spirit of the event, sharing their favourite characters and stories. It was a wonderful celebration of the joy and lifelong value of reading!

Safer Internet Day - 6th February 2024

The children celebrated Safer Internet day in school. This is an annual global event that promotes the safe and positive use of digital technology for children and young people, with the aim of inspiring conversations about using technology responsibly, respectfully, critically, and creatively. In the UK, Safer Internet Day is organised by the UK Safer Internet Centre (UKSIC), a partnership of three charities – Childnet International, the Internet Watch Foundation (IWF) and SWGfL.

Mr Butterwick and Miss Dunsmuir led assemblies introducing the day, with each class then partaking in their own events and activities.

Anti-Bullying Week 2023 - 13th to 19th November

During this week the children were immersed in texts which helped to illustrate, inclusion, acceptance, kindness and friendship. The children completed work around being up standers and every
class produced a class anti bullying book taking inspiration from the class book....

Reception – Elmer David McKee
Years 1 & 2 - The Peace Book Todd Parr
Chestnut – One by Kathryn Otoshi
Sycamore – It’s Ok to be Different Todd Parr
Oak – Troll Stinks! By Jeanne Willis

Practical Scooter Training - 13th October 2023

Over the autumn term the children in Years 3 & 5 really enjoyed the practical scooter training with Leeds City Council’s Influencing Travel Behaviour Team. This initiative is part of the Leeds 2040 Vision Zero strategy, which aims for no road death or serious injury in Leeds by 2040.

The training was delivered in three sessions to help support the children and build awareness and confidence:

Classroom session about active travel, road safety, air quality and the climate
Playground skills to learn or improve scooter skills such as balance, gliding, braking, steering and road safety awareness.
Off-site session: children put their skills into practice outside the school. This includes scooting on pavements and walking across roads safely.

British Science Week 2023 - 10th to 19th March.

British Science Week is a ten-day celebration of science, technology, engineering and maths. This year's theme was "Connections"! Children in all year groups took part in the celebration, with activities ranging from building bridges, to taste-testing foods, and trying to make a noise louder than a jumbo jet! We also took part in some 'live lessons' online, hosted by Science Live. 

Safer Internet Day - 8th February 2023

Children's Mental Health Week -6-12th February 2023