Sharing our Stories: 01/05/2026

Beautiful work this week

Here’s a selection of beautiful work from across the XP Trust!

To read about other stories from across the XP Trust, visit xptrust.org.

Top of the Blogs

Class 8 Shared Reading @ Green Top

WOW Living Streets Active Travel @ Plover

Coral Reef @ Carcroft School

Practice what you preach Ms Tatters… @ XP Gateshead

Class Six are Artist Extraordinaires @ Norton Infants

Share your stories with us!

We now have a new dedicated news email so that you can send your stories, updates or ideas about potential news articles directly to us in Comms.

It might be something you or your students have achieved, a charity you’re supporting or anything at all that deserves a wider audience.

Write to us at [email protected] –  we want to hear about it, write about it and celebrate it!

P.E

In p.e they had did super crew building skills . They had to use hoops to get round the hall without anyone falling out . After that they had a hoop taken away from them which then made it harder. But they smashed it

Coral Reef

During our expedition “When the Sea Meets the Shore,” the children have been learning all about coral reefs and how this environment differs from their own. They explored the wide range of colours and textures found in coral reef habitats and then applied this knowledge in our playdough area, where they created their own reef-inspired models.

This activity provided a great opportunity to develop fine motor skills, while also supporting language development as the children described their creations and shared ideas. It also helped build their understanding of boundaries, particularly when using food-based resources for creative purposes rather than for eating.

Well done, Crew Frost!

Building our own pier

During our expedition “When the Sea Meets the Shore,” the children thoroughly enjoyed learning about lighthouses and understanding the important role they play in keeping boats safe.

Inspired by this, Crew Frost used their imagination during provision time to create their own seaside scene. They built a pier using wooden blocks, added large diamond bricks as rocks, and carefully chose the perfect spot for their lighthouse. Their creativity didn’t stop there—The Snail and the Whale even made an appearance, swimming alongside mermaids in their imaginative world!

This was a wonderful opportunity for the children to develop their communication and understanding, as well as build on their storytelling skills. They worked collaboratively, sharing ideas and bringing their stories to life, supporting their next steps in developing rich and meaningful language.

Well done, Crew Frost!

Outside Provision.

In our outdoor provision, we have been focusing on developing our gross motor skills alongside listening and attention. During this activity, Crew Frost took part in a series of actions designed to strengthen their arm muscles, helping to build the foundations needed for writing.

The children then followed simple instructions that gradually built into two-part directions, supporting their ability to listen carefully and process more than one step at a time. This helped them grow in confidence while developing both their physical skills and their understanding.

Well done, Crew Frost!

Crew in Action at Dodgeball Tournament

What an incredible afternoon of dodgeball at Armthorpe Academy! Our Carcroft Crew put in a brilliant performance, battling their way through tough competition to secure an impressive second-place finish.

Facing strong opposition from 10 schools, the team showed determination, teamwork, and resilience throughout the event. After a series of highly competitive matches, Carcroft reached the final, where they finished as proud runners-up to Kirk Smeaton C of E Primary School, who took home the gold medals.

Celebrating Our HoWL House Champions: Smithies Shine Bright!

What a fantastic moment for HoWL House as we celebrate our latest champions – Smithies! Their hard work, sense of camaraderie, and determination have truly paid off, and their victory is incredibly well deserved.

To mark the occasion, Smithies took part in an unforgettable glow-in-the-dark dodgeball session – and what a celebration it was! The lights went down, the neon came out, and the energy in the room lit up just as brightly as the players themselves. Laughter, friendly competition, and glowing dodgeballs flying across the court made for a celebration that perfectly matched their vibrant crew spirit.

A huge congratulations once again to Smithies, and of course, a big well done to all the other houses, with only three points this term between Smithies and Carrs!