Head Teacher's Welcome
Welcome back! After a fabulous first half term and start to the new calendar year (despite the weather), we look forward to a busy and fun half term with lots of activities planned.
We are always on the look out for external visitors to come into school to enhance learning, so if you know of anyone, please do let us know.
Visits and Visitors
We were delighted to welcome Claudia Kirk into school on Wednesday 4th February. It was a truly insightful and engaging visit for all involved. Claudia, a highly experienced Psychotherapist, visited to discuss mental health with the children across several year groups. Her presentation covered several key areas designed to equip the children with essential emotional literacy skills, including identifying and naming different feelings; understanding the connection between thoughts, feelings, and actions; simple, practical coping mechanisms for managing stress and worry; and the importance of open communication with trusted adults. We extend our sincere thanks to Claudia for coming in, as her session will be a valuable addition to the children’s PSHCE studies throughout the remainder of the term.
We are now looking forward to welcoming some exciting visitors and taking part in several activities to tie in with our topic week on America (see ‘America Week’ below for more details).
Parent Appointments
We will be continuing to hold parent appointments this half term. A letter was sent out before we broke up with appointment requests – if you have not already had a meeting and would like one, please return this slip to the school office. We will confirm your appointment via email.
World Book Day
Just a reminder that we will be celebrating World Book Day on Thursday 5th March 2026. This will be a Non-Uniform Day and we would like to invite the children to come to school dressed up as any character from a book. It would be good to discuss with your child different characters from their favourite books, as the dressing-up possibilities are endless – Oliver Twist, Fantastic Mr Fox, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, James and the Giant Peach, Danny the Champion of the World, Matilda, Goldilocks, Jack and the Beanstalk, The Twits, Cinderella, Gruffalo, Harry Potter etc. Reading different books every evening in preparation would be great, so get thinking and reading! The children can also bring in a favourite book from home to share with their class.
World Book Day celebrates the joy and value of books and reading, especially for children. To help get them started on their reading journey, every child will receive a £1.00 World Book Day Book token that can be exchanged for any of the special £1.00 World Book Day books on offer in good booksellers (see the poster in the entrance hall for the titles of these – there is something for everyone). The token can also be used to get £1.00 off any book costing £2.99 or more and can be redeemed at most UK bookshops. Please help your child to use it on or around World Book Day by visiting your local bookshop.
America Week
Following up on our previous newsletter, we are delighted to share further details regarding our annual Topic Week, which this year will focus on America. Please note that the week has been rescheduled and will now take place the week commencing Monday 16th March 2026, rather than the originally stated date of 9th March.
We have lots of exciting activities planned for the children:
• McDonald’s Lunch – As a special treat on Tuesday 17th March, we thought it would be fun to offer the children a well-known American meal – a McDonald’s lunch! We will collect Happy Meals for each child from the McDonald’s on Trent Bridge and bring them back to school to have in place of their normal school lunch. For any children with dietary requirements, we will speak to the parents concerned beforehand about what to order.
• Line Dancing/Cheerleading – The children will be learning basic line-dancing and cheerleading on Tuesday 17th March, as part of their Sports Leaders session. This ties in nicely with popular American country and sporting traditions.
• Wild West Day – On Thursday 19th March, we will be having a day focusing on the Wild West. This will be a dressing-up day where the children and staff must come to school dressed as either cowboys/cowgirls or Native Americans. There will be many Wild West activities throughout the day, including line dancing, lassoing, a themed lunch cooked by Mrs Miller, and Alanna Lymn Rose is kindly bringing in one of her horses to show the children. An email reminder about this day will be sent out nearer the time.
• Brazilian Carnival Day – We have arranged for ‘BeatFeet’ (www.beatfeetdrumming.co.uk) to come into school on Friday 20th March to run a Brazilian Samba Dance Workshop. Not only will the children learn authentic dance moves, but they will also be taught about the diverse cultural heritage of Brazil. They will explore how African, European and indigenous influences come together to create the rich, exotic mix of music and dance which is the heartbeat of the world-famous Rio Carnival. The dance is accompanied by fast-paced music, provided by drums and a mixture of other percussion instruments. The energetic nature of samba dance makes this workshop both great fun and an excellent form of exercise. A letter with further details about this workshop will be sent out shortly.
• American Football – Our PE teacher, Kat Plimmer, will lead introductory American football activities with all children during their PE lessons on Friday 20th March. This will focus on teamwork, basic throwing and catching skills.
The main staff are also planning lots of other American activities in school throughout the rest of the week. We hope the children will benefit from all these experiences and find this an exciting and educational week.
Show and Tell
Just a reminder about the dates for Show and Tell assemblies for the remainder of this term:
| Tuesday 24th February |
Year 4/5/6 |
| Tuesday 3rd March |
Reception/Year 1 |
| Tuesday 10th March |
Year 2 |
| Tuesday 17th March |
Year 3 |
| Tuesday 24th March |
Year 4/5/6 |
| Tuesday 31st March |
Reception/Year 1 |
Collection for the Homeless
Mrs Crooks would like to express her sincere gratitude for everyone's most generous donations for the homeless over the past few months. These contributions have made a significant difference and have helped so many people.
Given the significant impact these collections have had, Mrs Crooks has decided to continue collecting indefinitely as this is such a worthy cause. Please feel free to bring in anything else you may have to the school. Thank you once again for your continued support.
School Council
Just to provide you with an update regarding the School Council. Following our recent considerations, we have decided to retain the current School Council for the remainder of this academic year, rather than conducting new elections this half term. The current Council members are Bilbo, Loveday, Josh, Asa, Bonnie and Luna. We believe that since the Council meets only once per half term, maintaining the same members for the entire academic year will offer them more substantial opportunities to contribute to and improve our school community.
Funds raised by the Council are dedicated to enhancing children's education through improvements to equipment and resources, as well as upgrading school facilities. Parents who wish to contribute to our Council fund may do so at any time using the spare change tin located in the school office.
Thank you very much for your continued support. If parents have any suggestions they wish to put forward to the Council, please contact Mr Miller or Mrs Beck.
Polite Reminders
Just a reminder regarding several important health and safety and safeguarding guidelines that must be adhered to within the school environment. For the safety and wellbeing of all the children, please note the following:
Dangerous items: Children must not bring any items into school that may potentially harm themselves or others. This includes, but is not limited to, lighters, matches, sharp objects, aerosol sprays, or any items deemed inappropriate or weapon-like by school staff.
Labelling clothes: Please can you ensure that all items of children’s clothing and equipment are clearly marked with your child’s name, particularly garments that are taken off regularly such as coats, jumpers, cardigans etc. We endeavour to ensure children change for PE in their own place and put their things into their own bags, however we often end up with several unnamed garments that are the same, making identifying the rightful owner a little difficult. Any items of lost property are placed in the utility storeroom, however these can only be returned if named.
Personal property: All personal property brought to school should be clearly marked with your child's full name. The school strongly discourages children from bringing valuables to school and bears no responsibility for any loss or damage. Any monies brought to school, for example, school fees or specific school events, must be handed directly to the school office in an envelope immediately upon arrival for safekeeping. Mobile phones and any other electronic devices, including tablets, iPads and Kindles, are strictly not permitted in school – if a device is found, it will be confiscated and returned only to a parent/guardian at the end of the day, as per school policy. Please click on this link to view the latest guidance from the Department of Education: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/mobile-phones-in-schools/mobile-phones-in-schools.
Punctuality: We would like to remind everyone about the importance of timely school pick-up and drop-off for our children, as it significantly impacts their daily routines and overall academic experience. It is essential that all children arrive at school by 8:45am when the morning bell rings. Punctuality at the start of the day sets a positive tone for learning – late arrivals not only disrupt the beginning of lessons for others but also cause those late to miss crucial parts of their education. Continual lateness also negatively affects both your child’s and the school’s overall attendance record – this is an important aspect that Ofsted takes into consideration. Additionally, we have observed a rise in late pick-ups, particularly at the end of the day for our after-school clubs. We completely understand that life can be unpredictable, and unforeseen circumstances such as traffic delays and work commitments can arise. However, we kindly ask for your co-operation in ensuring that you contact school to allow staff to reassure your child, as they often find unexpected delays distressing. If you are experiencing unavoidable difficulties with pick-up and drop-off times, please do not hesitate to get in touch.
Thank you for your co-operation in ensuring a safe environment for all the children.
Easter Bonnet Parade / Easter Service
Just a reminder about the events scheduled for Thursday 2nd April 2026, which marks the final day of the Spring Term before the Easter holidays commence.
In the morning, we will be holding our annual Easter Bonnet Parade. The parade will commence promptly at 8:45am at school, immediately following morning drop-off. We strongly encourage all children to use their creativity and design their own unique Easter bonnets at home over the coming weeks – the more imaginative, the better! A special prize will be awarded for the entry judged to be the most creative and festive. We will then be holding an Easter egg hunt for the children around the school grounds.
In the afternoon, we will be holding our inaugural Easter Service. This service is scheduled to begin at 2:30pm and will take place at St John the Divine Church in the village. We are planning this observance to be a more intimate and low-key performance, focusing on the spiritual significance and meaning of the Easter message for our community. Parents are most welcome to attend this service if you wish to join us in reflection and celebration. Please be aware that attendance at the afternoon service is entirely optional and not compulsory for any families.
We look forward to these wonderful end-of-term activities bringing the term to a joyful close.
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Open Morning
We are pleased to announce that we will be holding our annual Open Morning after Easter on Wednesday 6th May 2026. This event presents a wonderful opportunity for you to visit the school, spend time looking at your child’s work, and see what they have been achieving. The children genuinely enjoy the chance to showcase their accomplishments to you. Tea, coffee and refreshments will be provided during the morning. Further details regarding the schedule and timings will follow closer to the date. We look forward to welcoming you.
Curriculum
| Class 1 |
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Animals (Science)
This half term Class 1 will complete their topic on Animals. The children will explore different carnivores and their key characteristics, look at similarities and differences between different herbivores, and learn that an omnivore is an animal that eats both animals and plants.
America (Geography)
This half term Class 1 will be learning all about America to tie in with our Topic Week. The children will be introduced to the USA as a large North American country with 50 states, iconic landmarks like the Statue of Liberty and Grand Canyon, and diverse culture. Key themes will include geography (mountains, cities), symbols (flag, bald eagle), and fun facts about food, cowboys and NASA.
Belonging (RE)
This half term Class 1 will explore the idea of belonging and why it is important to people. The children will learn about how people feel a sense of belonging in their families, friendships, communities and different worldviews.
Safety First (PSHCE)
This half term Class 1 will learn about everyday dangers, in the home and outside, and how they can keep themselves safe. The children will also learn rules to keep themselves safe around strangers, both in real life and online. They will also learn about people who help them and how to get help when needed, as well as their growing responsibility for their own safety.
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| Class 2 |
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Plants (Science)
This half term Class 2 will be focusing on Plants. The children will observe the life cycle from seed/bulb to maturity and understand the vital conditions for healthy growth (water, light, temperature). They will also conduct hands-on, comparative tests (e.g. light vs. dark) to measure growth, sort plants, and identify basic parts of plants.
Rainforests (Geography)
This half term Class 2 will take a closer look at the mysteries of tropical rainforests – from the layers of the forest and its animal inhabitants, to the unique climate found in the tropics. The children will compare a British forest with the Amazon rainforest, and begin to explore some of the conservation issues surrounding the destruction of rainforest habitats.
Islam (RE)
This half term Class 2 will learn about key aspects of the Muslim faith. The children will find out where Islam originated, about special places linked to Islam and about key festivals in Muslim life. They will also learn about symbols in Islam, the Muslim holy book and the main beliefs held by Muslims.
Diverse Britain (PSHCE)
This half term Class 2 will identify that they should be respectful of difference. The children will learn about British people, rules, the law, liberty and what living in a democracy means. They will also learn about the importance of being tolerant of differences within their society.
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| Class 3 |
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Evolution and Inheritance (Science)
This half term Class 3 will cover adaptations in detail. The children will explore how animals and plants are suited to their environments, the impact of Charles Darwin’s work, and how adaptation leads to evolution.
The Amazing Americas (Geography)
This half term Class 3 will first find out about the continents of North and South America, and the countries that form them. They will also look in more detail at some of the contrasting regions of the Americas, finding out about the landscape, climate and locations of each area. The children will also develop their map and atlas skills and practise reading and writing coordinates. They will learn about the ancient and new wonders of the world, specifically those of the Americas.
Forgiveness (RE)
This half term Class 3 will explore what is meant by forgiveness and the role forgiveness plays in world religions. The children will learn about Jewish beliefs about forgiveness, finding out more about Yom Kippur. They will also develop an understanding of Buddhist beliefs about forgiveness, reflecting on how the Eightfold Path influences Buddhists in their approach to forgiveness. They will use their knowledge of the beliefs held by Jewish people and Buddhists to help them draw comparisons regarding views on forgiveness.
Think Positive (PSHCE)
This half term Class 3 will further develop their understanding about thoughts and emotions, both positive and negative. The lessons centre around themes such as the links between our thoughts, feelings and emotions, making good choices and mindfulness and applying a growth mindset approach to life.
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Dates for your Diary
Please refer to the ‘Calendar’ on the school website:
www.colstonbassettschool.com/parent.php#parent_calendar
