CURRICULUM NEWS
Welcome from our Head
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EYFS
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Year 1
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Year 2
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Year 3
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Year 4
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Year 5
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Year 6
Computing Update PAGE 9
We are thrilled to announce the launch of our new Curriculum Newsletter at Willow Brook, which will be sent out every half term. This newsletter will offer a closer look at the engaging and varied learning taking place across the school, while also celebrating how our core values come to life in the classroom.
At Willow Brook, our curriculum is shaped by four key values: Creativity, Collaboration, Care, and Critical Thinking. These values underpin all that we do, ensuring that every child is encouraged to think critically, work together, care for others, and use their creativity to tackle challenges. By embedding these principles into everyday learning, we aim to nurture pupils who are not only academically successful but also confident and compassionate members of society
Our approach to learning is designed to develop the whole child, providing each pupil with the skills, knowledge, and experiences they need to thrive. We embrace challenge, spark curiosity, and create an environment where children can grow, take responsibility for their learning, and explore their potential. With a strong focus on fostering a sense of belonging and community, we ensure that our pupils leave Willow Brook as independent, resilient learners, fully prepared for the future.
Each edition of the Curriculum Newsletter will feature highlights from across the school, including exciting projects, special events, and pupil achievements. It is a fantastic way for families to stay informed about what we are teaching and how we are preparing our children to succeed.
We look forward to sharing these updates with you and continuing to deliver a rich, dynamic curriculum that equips our children for success in all areas of life.
Lucie Dawn, Head of School
Nursery
This half term our wonderful Nursery children have been engaging in joyful and enriching learning experiences as they immerse themselves in play and exploration within their enabling environments inside and outside
The children have now settled into their Nursery routines, they are making friends and are nurtured by our caring educators to make wonderful progress whilst growing in confidence and developing new skills.
Our Learning Theme for the term 'All About Me' and a selection of Core Reading Books has inspired the children's imaginations and sparked their curiosity.
The children also enjoy regular Nature Walks, exploring a nature trail in Jubilee Park, climbing trees and playing a variety of games
Reception
Reception have had a fantastic start to their first term, settling into their classes beautifully and building strong relationships with their peers and teachers The focus this term has been All About Me, and the children have really enjoyed getting to know each other while exploring their own identities through creative and collaborative activities.
The children have shown wonderful creativity by making selfportraits and family pictures, while circle games have encouraged everyone to share and learn about each other We’ve also had great discussions about our families, highlighting the similarities and differences between us, fostering care and understanding for one another
In maths, the children have been learning about matching and sorting. They enjoyed exploring the classroom to find matching objects, describing how and why they match an excellent way to practise their early maths skills These activities have encouraged critical thinking as they learn to categorise and compare
As part of our science learning, we ’ ve been looking at seasonal changes. The highlight was a mini trip to Jubilee Park, where the children explored nature firsthand, collecting leaves, listening to the sounds around them, and observing the changing environment This outdoor learning was a great opportunity for them to engage with the world around them and think creatively about the seasons
It’s been an exciting and enriching start to the school year, and we ’ re so proud of how well the children have embraced their new learning journey!
Year 1
As the first half-term comes to a close, we ’ re excited to share what year 1 have been learning. Through the school values, our pupils have enjoyed a diverse curriculum designed to nurture both their personal and academic growth.
In English, the children explored The Little Red Hen and The Queen's Hat They created story maps to retell the tales and used role play and freeze frames to act out key moments, deepening their understanding of character and plot They also practised using adjectives to describe characters and settings, while focusing on correct use of capital letters and full stops.
In Maths, they developed their understanding of place value within 10, using concrete resources to count, sort, and compare objects. They practised counting forwards and backwards, finding one more or less, and worked together to solve problems, building both their maths and teamwork skills. Science lessons were filled with hands-on investigations as the children learned about the human body and senses. From guessing milk flavours in a taste experiment to making Newton Wheels to observe colour blending, they were fully engaged in exploring the world around them. They even made telephones from string, experimenting with sound waves
In Spanish, the children learned about different modes of transport, using songs and movement to help remember key phrases In Design and Technology, they focused on identifying fruits and vegetables, practising cutting skills, and designing their own smoothies, reflecting on and improving their creations with critical thinking
In RE, the theme of caring for others was central. The children learned about different religious teachings on kindness, exploring the Hindu festival of Raksha Bandhan and acting out the story of the Good Samaritan. These lessons encouraged empathy and reflection, helping children understand the importance of looking after one another. Throughout all these subjects, our school values have been at the heart of every lesson, fostering a learning environment where creativity, collaboration, care, and critical thinking can thrive We are proud of the progress they’ve made and look forward to the exciting opportunities the next half-term will bring!
Year 2
This term, Year 2 have been exploring the amazing world of animals and their habitats! They learned how different creatures adapt to survive in their environments, like how polar bears have thick fur to stay warm in snowy climates. The children even created their own microhabitats to attract minibeasts for example, they found that worms love damp soil and dead leaves, while ants prefer dry environments. Over time, they observed which minibeasts moved in, watching nature in action.
They’ve also dived into the fascinating topic of food chains, discovering which animals are carnivores, herbivores, or omnivores. Each child created their own food chain, starting with a plant (producer), followed by prey and predators, and even included apex predators like lions and sharks at the top. It’s been an exciting term of learning how animals, plants, and habitats all connect in the circle of life.
In writing, Year 2 have been exploring the classic tale of Little Red Riding Hood! Using Talk for Writing, the children created symbols to help them retell the story by heart. They’ve been working on using exciting adjectives and conjunctions to make their sentences more engaging All this built up to a final piece: a character description of the Big Bad Wolf, where they applied their new writing skills. After editing and improving their work, they proudly published their finished pieces. It’s been wonderful watching their writing grow.
In Geography, the children have explored maps of the UK and identified which areas are urban and rural. They even created pros and cons lists about living in urban or rural areas, so be sure to ask them about places you might visit during the half term
We are looking forward to the first week back, where we will be creating poetry and art pieces linked to our learning for Black History Month.
In maths, Year 2 have been focusing on place value, learning how numbers are made up of tens and ones. They’ve been practising counting in 2s, 5s, 10s, and even 3s! Now, they’ve moved on to the addition and subtraction unit, working on number bonds to 10 and 20, as well as fact families for numbers within 100
To support their understanding, the children ha ractice with counting It’s been a great term of hands-on
Year 3
This half term, Year 3 have been fully engaged in a range of exciting learning activities, demonstrating our school values of creativity, collaboration, care, and critical thinking across all subjects.
In English, the children have been exploring similes, metaphors, and alliteration to enhance their diary entries based on Stone Age Boy By tapping into their creativity, they’ve brought their writing to life and gained a stronger grasp of figurative language. In Maths, they’ve been developing their understanding of place value up to 1000, as well as honing their addition and subtraction skills.
Our Science lessons have focused on rocks, where the children showed critical thinking by investigating the different types, their properties, and how they’re formed. Hands-on experiments helped them explore the differences between igneous, sedimentary, and metamorphic rocks. During Reading, we used the VIPERS framework (Vocabulary, Infer, Predict, Explain, Retrieve, and Summarise) to strengthen their comprehension skills and deepen their understanding of texts.
In Geography, the children worked collaboratively to study maps, learning how to interpret symbols and compass directions, while in DT, they applied their creativity and problem-solving skills to design castles, considering both structure and purpose It’s been a fantastic half term of learning, and we are proud of how the children have embraced our school values in all they’ve achieved!
Year 4
Year 4 have had a fantastic half term, full of creativity, exploration, and hands-on learning! Here’s a glimpse of what they’ve been up to across all subjects, while embodying our school values.
In English, the children delved into The Wolves in the Walls, which sparked their imagination as they crafted their own spooky stories They focused on creating atmospheric settings and using rich, descriptive vocabulary, including similes, metaphors, and dialogue to bring their characters to life. The children practised writing engaging conversations and developed vivid settings to enhance the eerie atmosphere in their writing. Their creativity and careful attention to detail shone through in their work, demonstrating great care in planning and editing their stories
In reading, the class explored both fiction, like Tilly Mint and the Leaf Lords, and non-fiction texts such as Predators vs Prey They strengthened their comprehension skills using the VIPERS framework and enjoyed a book-hunting challenge during their visit to Lea Bridge Library, demonstrating great collaboration..
In maths, the focus has been on place value, with the children learning to represent, partition, and order numbers up to 10,000. They also explored Roman numerals and practised rounding numbers to the nearest 10, 100, and 1,000. Daily times tables practice has sharpened their multiplication skills, with many children proudly earning the title of "Maths Wizard." Through perseverance and critical thinking, the class demonstrated resilience in tackling challenging mathematical concepts
In science, the class investigated the important question, "Are living things in danger?" They explored human impacts on wildlife, including deforestation, pollution, and climate change, and learned to classify animals into groups such as mammals, reptiles, and amphibians. A highlight of the term was the hands-on experiment where the children explored the layers of the Earth, creating models to represent the crust, mantle, and core. This linked perfectly to their geography topic on volcanoes, as they learned how the Earth's layers interact during volcanic eruptions Through these lessons, the children showcased their natural curiosity and critical thinking about the environment.
Geography lessons were full of excitement as the children explored natural disasters such as earthquakes, tsunamis, hurricanes, and volcanic eruptions. They studied the causes and effects of these events and used maps and globes to locate disaster-prone areas. A particular highlight was creating their own erupting volcano models, which brought the topic of tectonic plates and geological activity to life. The children's creativity and collaborative efforts were truly impressive
It has been a wonderfully busy and productiv d our school values in all aspects of their learni
Year 5
Year 5 has had an exciting half term, bursting with creativity, collaboration, and critical thinking, and care!
In Reading, pupils dived into The Rights of the Reader, exploring the importance of questioning and connecting their reading to their own experiences. Our main focus was a thrilling non-fiction text about Mercury, where students demonstrated their critical thinking skills by analysing the information presented.
In Spanish, the children took their language skills to the next level, using conjunctions like ‘ y ’ (and) and ‘ pero ’ (but) to create longer, more complex sentences. They also expanded their vocabulary to include a variety of pets, enhancing their conversational abilities through collaborative practice.
The creativity in Design & Technology was truly impressive! The pupils applied their understanding of mechanical systems to create innovative and functional pop-up books inspired by their learning about the Solar System Their exceptional work demonstrated not just technical skill, but also a flair for imaginative design
In English, we focused on the evocative picture book The Arrival by Shaun Tan, which captivated the children with its bold and detailed illustrations. They engaged deeply with the text, analysing the images for meaning and symbolism. This led to powerful diary entries from the perspective of the main character as he navigates an alien city in search of a place to call home, highlighting their creative writing skills.
In Geography, Year 5 explored the wonders of biomes and climate, embarking on an enquiry to answer the question, "Are biomes and climate the same thing?" Their curiosity drove them to create zines that beautifully captured their research and learning over the past seven weeks, demonstrating their collaboration and critical thinking
In Science, our exploration of Earth and Space began with a hands-on demonstration in the playground, where we observed how the Earth, sun, and moon move, and how planets orbit the sun Pupils engaged in research to identify key features of the planets, distinguishing between rocky and gas giants, showing great enthusiasm for their scientific discoveries.
It has been a fantastic half term filled with exploration, creativity, and teamwork, and we couldn't be prouder of Year 5's achievements as they embody our school values in every aspect of their learning!
Year 6
This term, Year 6 has been fully immersed in a dynamic learning experience that embodies our school values
In English, we ’ ve been diving into Roald Dahl’s classic novel The Witches. The students have thoroughly enjoyed the thrilling narrative and engaged in lively discussions about its themes and characters. As part of our focus on persuasive writing, they are crafting compelling speeches designed to effectively persuade their audience, showcasing their creativity and critical thinking skills.
In Maths, we ’ ve been honing our skills in the four operations: addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division Through a variety of engaging activities, the students have been practicing these foundational skills. We’ve also begun exploring fractions, which will provide essential support for their future learning as they gain confidence in manipulating numbers in different contexts
Our reading sessions have encouraged students to think critically about various texts. We’ve also started introducing reading SATs papers to familiarize them with the format and question types they may encounter This practice aims to build their confidence as we approach assessment periods.
In Science, we ’ ve been exploring the fascinating topic of evolution and inheritance. The students are learning about how species adapt over time and the principles of natural selection Engaging activities have inspired them to reflect on the world around them and understand the impact of evolution on living organisms.
Our Geography lessons have revolved around the topic of immigration The children are investigating the reasons why people migrate and the effects this has on cultures and communities. This important topic has sparked meaningful discussions about diversity and the significance of understanding different perspectives, reinforcing our value of care for one another
In Design Technology, we ’ ve kicked off a textiles unit where students are designing and creating their own waistcoats. They are learning essential sewing techniques and how to thoughtfully plan their designs. This hands-on project not only allows them to express their creativity but also helps them develop practical skills through collaboration with their peers.
Thank you for your continued support! If you have any questions or would like to discuss your child’s progress, please feel free to reach out to the year 6 team.
Computing Update
#SafeonlineSeptember enabled everybody from Reception to Year 6 to be reminded to be ever vigilant and regularly use our school’s shared value of critical thinking because anybody can share any content with everyone who have access to the Internet. Our school were proud to be invited to support the launch of Digital Matters. Search for “Internet Matters” on YouTube to watch the video of how a lesson looks in a Tesco Mobile phone shop!
For the second half of the Autumn Term 2024, everybody will be learning about technology around us. Children across Years 3 to 6 will become computer engineers, learning about the architecture of computer systems and the World Wide Web as well as becoming content creators to write and publish web pages to showcase their learning. Reception to Year 2 will be making connections with the Internet of Things to understand how technology works from the moment we wake, to the time we go to bed as well as continually working as we sleep.
Code Club meeting: Fridays after school from 3 30pm until heir Scratch program thematica s to create a new Autu