EYFS & Lower School – Christmas Newsletter 2025

Pre-School

The first term in Pre-School has been wonderful—full of learning, fun, and excitement.

We began the term with a Mini First Aid session and learnt about cutting food safely and staying safe by sitting down while we eat. In our

Maths lessons, we explored patterns, numbers, and colours. The children enjoyed number and colour hunts and loved creating their own patterns. Pre-School children have also been working hard in Phonics. We have learnt the sounds from /a/ to /h/ and used simple actions to help remember each one. The children have taken part in a range of fun Phonics activities and are growing in confidence.

Throughout the half term, the children celebrated Diwali and Bonfire Night and took part in our very first Nativity, “Is There a Baby in There?” They performed with such confidence—it was a joy to watch.

The last few weeks have been filled with festive fun, including the Elf Run, an Elf Hunt, Christmas Character Dress-Up Day, and a class party.

It has been lovely getting to know all the children in Pre-School, and I am excited to see what 2026 brings for everyone.

I hope you all have a lovely Christmas break!

Reception

The first term in Reception has been exciting—full of learning and fun. We began with a Mini First Aid session, where the children learned how careful cutting and chewing can help prevent choking.

Across the term we celebrated Diwali and Bonfire Night, and the children delighted us with their Nativity performance, “Is There a Baby in There?” We could not be prouder of how much they have grown and achieved.

Our topics were All About Me and Terrific Tales. Children loved sharing their own stories and taking part in role-play based on traditional tales such as The Gingerbread Man.

The class also enjoyed their more formal Phonics and Literacy lessons, proudly sharing their work each week. Teachers from across the school have noticed the remarkable progress Reception has made in both reading and writing.

In Maths, the children worked hard to build their understanding. They practised recognising numbers to 5, identifying and comparing shapes, and exploring the ideas of one more and one less, along with many other key skills.

Outdoor learning was another highlight. The children were fascinated by Venus flytrap plants and carefully used paintbrushes to see how the plants “catch” their food.

To round off a fantastic term, everyone took part in festive activities such as Christmas Character Dress-Up Day, making crafts, and enjoying a pantomime—all thoroughly enjoyed.

We hope the Reception children have a lovely festive break and come back ready for a brilliant 2026!

Year 1

The first term in Year 1 has been full of learning, fun, and hard work.

In our topic lessons, we learnt about Antarctica and Sir Ernest Shackleton. We discovered how he set off with a full crew, many dogs, and their cat, Mrs Chippy—and even a few pigs! We dressed up as Shackleton, used maps to plot his route, and watched footage of the Endurance on the seabed.

In Maths, we enjoyed lots of practical learning. We used Dienes equipment to understand place value and loved drawing to solve word problems.

In English, we explored a range of stories. The class favourite was definitely “Not a Stick.” We focused on our handwriting and learnt about capital letters, full stops, question marks, and adjectives.

We have been full of festive spirit thanks to our Nativity, the Elf Hunt, and Christmas fancy dress. I was so proud to watch every child perform in our Nativity.

I hope you have a lovely Christmas holiday, and I look forward to welcoming you back in the new year.

Year 2

Our first term in Year 2 has been filled with exciting learning and memorable experiences.

In Maths, children explored number and place value, then developed their skills using a range of addition and subtraction strategies.

Creative writing grew from engaging texts such as “The Colour Monster,” “The Dot,” “Don’t Trust Fish,” and a range of traditional tales, inspiring imaginative storytelling.

In Science, pupils investigated animals, including humans. We focused on the life cycles of mammals, amphibians, and insects. In Art, children used items found in nature to create beautiful, unique pieces.

Our History and Geography topic centred on the history of Tower College. The children were fascinated to explore the building and learn about the school’s previous life as the home of Henry Baxter and as a war hospital for soldiers returning from World War I.

Beyond the classroom, the children have excelled as Reading Buddies for our Tower Tots, and we all look forward to our library visits each week. They also enjoyed a number of enriching events, including a Mini First Aid workshop, the vibrant Colour Run, and a host of festive activities during our “12 Days of Christmas.” We are especially proud of their outstanding performances in both the Carol Concert and the Nativity play.

Well done to all the children for a fantastic start to the year!

Year 3

It’s been a very exciting first term of the school year.

In Maths, the children explored place value using hundreds, tens, and ones charts. They also learnt methods for addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division. In English, we read a variety of engaging books to spark interest in our lessons.

Our History topic was the Stone Age. The children compared life in the Stone Age with life today, and Year 3 explored how Stone Age homes were built and how they differ from our homes. In Geography, we learnt all about Liverpool—where it is, what life is like for the people who live there, and how food, music, and culture have shaped the city.

In Art and Design, we sketched Stone Age people and used a variety of materials to plan our Stone Age homes.

In Science, we studied balanced diets and explored light and dark. The children had a fantastic time investigating with mirrors and torches.

As part of our “12 Days of Christmas” activities, the children helped decorate the classroom and spread festive cheer with their Christmas crafts and singing. They also enjoyed a crafting session, the pantomime, and Christmas Character Dress-Up Day!

Year 4

It has been a real pleasure to observe the children’s enthusiasm for learning this term and watch their enjoyment and engagement, particularly in our Nativity which was wonderful!

Throughout this term, the children have made great strides in their learning. In English, they have enhanced their listening and creative writing skills and have crafted stories, poems and letters across a wide range of genres. In Maths, the children have been actively participating in Times Tables Rock Stars and engaging in friendly competition on Sumdog. In Science, they have been classifying plants and animals in our beautiful outdoor learning area and in R.E., they have composed heartfelt prayers for Peace Day, Harvest and Remembrance Day, demonstrating remarkable respect and acceptance towards diverse beliefs. Their keen interest in our Viking History topic has resulted in a wonderful classroom display of artwork and Viking Longboat Projects.

We have recently been joined by Gerald, our special ’67’ elf, who has been teaching the children about kindness and providing Christmas crafts each day. The children thoroughly enjoyed their Christmas Disco and the pantomime. They also showcased their competitive spirit in the Elf Hunt and raised funds for local hospitals with their charity Elf Run.

What a fabulous start to Year 4!

Year 5

It has been a fantastic first term in Year 5, with all the children working hard across the curriculum.

The children worked brilliantly in our First Aid course, showing great listening and getting involved in practical activities.

In Maths, the children used concrete resources to understand place value up to 1,000,000. We also learnt a new rounding rhyme and created class handshakes to help remember the 6 times table.

In English, the children became our “Star Writers,” producing lively character and setting descriptions about wizards. They even made their own magic wands during outdoor learning. The class also raced against our “Mission Impossible” timer to complete “Ninja SPaG” challenges!

In Science, the children planned, carried out, and reviewed a range of experiments to explore Forces and Space. They used playdough to make a model that shows the Sun in the centre (heliocentric) of the Solar System, and Oreo biscuits to show the phases of the Moon.

The children also deepened their knowledge of World War I and created some excellent trench projects.

In Geography, they became tourists in Scandinavia and explored the countries’ physical and human features. They even made their own mountain landscape drawings.

To end the term, the children performed beautifully at our Christmas Carol Concert and had fun raising money for Whiston Hospital during our Elf Run.

A fantastic start to Year 5!

Year 6

It has been wonderful to get to know the children and see their progress in their first term of Year 6. They have adapted well to the new expectations and responsibilities.

In Maths, we learnt about numbers up to 10,000,000; the difference between factors and multiples; multiplying 4-digit numbers by 2-digit numbers; and using short division to solve problems. We also began our Fractions topic, learning how to compare, order, add, and subtract fractions. The children have shown real resilience with these challenging ideas.

In English, we used a recount of “Goldilocks and the Three Bears” to learn about fronted adverbials and to agree our classroom expectations. We wrote a diary entry from the viewpoint of a child in an Anderson shelter, using onomatopoeia to bring the writing to life. We also created a poem about lions using metaphors and finished with a descriptive piece about the Amazon River and rainforest.

In Science, we investigated how animals, plants, and microorganisms can be identified and grouped. We learned what “classification” means and how to use it for living things, as well as how to tell the difference between living and non-living things. In Autumn 2, we explored electricity by asking: “How does the voltage in a circuit affect the loudness of a buzzer?” We built circuits with different components and drew them using the correct symbols.

In Geography, we studied the geographical features of North and South America. In History, we examined events in Nazi Germany leading up to the Second World War and discussed the question: “Was the Treaty of Versailles fair for all countries involved?” In R.E., the children learned about the Christmas story and reflected on what matters most to them and to people of different faiths.

The children worked very hard this term, with fantastic performances in the Carol Concert and lots of enjoyable Christmas activities. We hope you all have a wonderful Christmas and a well-earned rest before we return in January.