Crew White Science Investigation

Today, Crew White began an investigation into the affects of exercise on heart rate and the time it takes the heart to recover after exercise. We made predictions, wrote a method and then went outside to test our hearts. We completed moderately intense exercise followed by intense exercise and had recovery breaks in between and afterwards. We took our pulse rate at different times to check how our heart was coping with the increased workload.

Next week, we will present our findings and write up our conclusions.

Post-SATs celebrations

Yesterday afternoon, Year 6 enjoyed a well-deserved off-timetable afternoon enjoying Mrs Rhodes’ karaoke machine. There were highlights including duets and group songs and maybe some unexpected auditions for the end of year performance.

Exploring Nature Around Our School

Today we explored the school grounds to see what plants we could identify. We found Daisy, Bluebell, Dandelion and Buttercup.

We blew the dandelions and talked about how the tiny seeds we blow away will eventually settle into the soil and grow into new dandelions. It was fascinating to watch the seeds float through the air!

We also tried the old wives’ tale with the buttercup under our chins to see if we like butter… and guess what? We do! Everyone loved seeing the yellow reflection shine under their chin.

While exploring the forest school area, we spotted some new plants beginning to grow. We carefully observed their leaves and stems and wondered what they might become. We can’t wait to keep watching them grow and see if we can identify them over the next few weeks!

Fine motor building

One day each week in Crew Frost, we spend time focusing on developing our fine motor skills through activities such as using scissors to cut along lines and around shapes. Cutting is an excellent skill to master in the Early Years, as it supports so many of the important skills children need as they begin their writing journey.

The children are learning how to separate and strengthen the muscles in their fingers and hands whilst carefully controlling the scissors. They are also developing their hand-eye coordination and problem-solving skills as they work out how to move the paper and scissors together whilst trying to stay on the lines. This takes a huge amount of concentration, control, and perseverance.

Alongside this, we have been practising our “ready to write” positioning by sitting with our tummy to the table and all six chair legs on the floor. Developing core strength, balance, and posture is a very important part of early writing development, helping children to gain the stability needed for mark making and pencil control in the future.

Although cutting may look simple, it is actually a very tricky skill that requires children to coordinate many different movements at the same time. We are so proud of the resilience, determination, and focus Crew Frost have shown whilst practising these important skills. Well done, Crew Frost — it is much harder than it looks!

Interventions

During our choosing time, Crew Frost have been developing their early mathematical skills through a range of practical, hands-on interventions linked to the EYFS Development Matters guidance. This week, the children have focused on recognising, extending, and creating their own two-part patterns, as well as organising and comparing objects by size from biggest to smallest.

The children showed great curiosity and engagement as they explored pattern and shape through play. They were encouraged to use mathematical language to describe what they could see, including words such as pointy, corners, sides, stripy, and edges. This supported the children in talking about and exploring shapes and patterns around them.

These activities help to build strong foundations within the Mathematics area of learning, particularly in noticing patterns, comparing size, and developing spatial reasoning. Crew Frost have worked incredibly hard to explain their thinking, solve problems, and apply their learning independently during provision.

We are so proud of the progress Crew Frost are making as they continue to grow in confidence and prepare for their transition into Reception. Well done, Crew Frost!

Sharing our Stories: 15/05/2026

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

A wonderful day at Piglets Adventure Farm! @ Green Top

Year 5 hit the track @ Plover

Work to be proud of @ Carcroft School

Walk for Water @ XP Gateshead

Uncovering a big problem @ Norton Infants

Something Better Change @ XP Doncaster

The band is just fantastic that is really what I think @ Norton Juniors

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!

5 x Readers In KS1!

Here are our magazines all lined up ready to go for Friday’s assembly! If your child has read 5 times at home this week – and it is recorded in their reading record – they will get a raffle ticket for our VERY EXCITING raffle in Friday’s community meeting!

2 winners will be chosen each week at random and they will be invited to select a comic book from this gorgeous range!

This week there will be 4 winners due to last weeks assembly being cancelled.

We cannot wait to see who our first winners are!

You’ve got to be in it to win it: 5 reads, over 5 days, recorded in planners.