During the Spring Term, 2024, Carcroft Change Makers worked collaboratively to develop the ‘Carcroft Pledge’. We can’t wait to share this with whole school during our Summer Term!
Category : Curriculum
Online Safety
Our pupils are growing up in a world of ever-changing technology. While we feel that the use of technology is a largely positive aspect of modern life, we cannot ignore the risks that can be associated.
Throughout school we aim to teach children:
- about the impact of cyber-bullying and what to do if they have been affected.
- to be vigilant when communicating online recognising that people may not always be who they say they are and to be sensible about what they share.
- to tell an adult they trust if something is upsetting them.
- to question the reliability of information given through a web based source.
- to search responsibly for information while using internet browsers.
We understand that much of our pupil’s use of the internet will occur at home, away from the school filters.
Below are a list of useful websites, advice and resources that you may find helpful when navigating the issue of online safety with your child. At the bottom of this page are resources that your child can directly access as well to help them learn about online safety.
Useful resources and links
Thinkuknow http://www.thinkuknow.co.uk
Thinkuknow is an education programme from the National Crime Agency’s CEOP Command. Since 2006, it aims to ensure that everyone has access to this practical information – children, young people, their parents and carers and the professionals who work with them.
Internet Matters https://www.internetmatters.org/advice/esafety-leaflets-resources/
A comprehensive web resource with a wide array of tips and advice on how to navigate the online world with your child. Some of their guidance we attach below but you can find even more by visiting the link.
National Online Safety https://nationalonlinesafety.com/resources/platform-guides/
National Online Safety’s mission is to make the internet a safer place for children. They aim to do this by equipping school staff, parents and children with the knowledge they need to understand online dangers and how best to react should an incident arise. The link above provides up to date information about a wide variety of social media apps and platforms your child might be using.
NSPCC http://www.nspcc.org.uk/preventing-abuse/keeping-children-safe/share-aware/
The NSPCC are the first to admit that the internet is amazing. Children can play, learn, create and connect – opening up a whole world of exciting possibilities. But with the digital world changing all the time, how can you make sure your child’s staying safe? That’s where the NSPCC come in. Whether you’re an online expert or you’re not sure where to start, their tools and advice will help you keep your child safe.
Childnet http://www.childnet.com/parents-and-carers
Childnet International is a registered UK charity that aims to make the internet a safe place for children and young people. Packed with resources it is a great resource for parents.
CEOP http://ceop.police.uk/safety-centre/
Child Exploitation and Online Protection (CEOP) is part of the National Crime Agency and their website can be used to report if you are worried about online abuse or the way someone is communicating online.
BBC https://www.bbc.com/ownit
The BBC have a website and app called Own It. The website has a lot of content for children to help them navigate their online lives, and the free smartphone app comes with a special keyboard which can intervene with help and support in the moments that children need it the most.
SafetoNet https://safetonet.com/
SafeToNet is technology that educates children “in-the-moment” as they use their device. It is a safeguarding assistant that helps them become responsible and safe digital citizens. Its power lies in a smart keyboard that detects risks in real-time. It steers children away from trouble by filtering harmful outgoing messages before they can be sent and any damage can be done.
A guide to Apps & Social Media
The number of apps and social media channels your child could be exposed to grow all the time, as does an app’s functionality. We recommend you visit Net Aware to read the latest and most current advice on over 70 apps to ensure you know what they do, how you can limit their features as well as recommended age restrictions.
The apps included are:
- Fortnite
- Snapchat
- YouTube
- Minecraft
- Clash of Clans & Clash Royale
- Kik
- Friv
- Dubsmash
- Wink
- YOLO
- TikTok
- And many, many more
Resources for children to use
Below are some links that children themselves can access for help when navigating the tricky subject of online safety,
Reception – Year 2
Below are a number of links that are tailored for children in the younger year groups.
https://www.thinkuknow.co.uk/5_7/
https://www.netsmartzkids.org/
https://www.childnet.com/resources/smartie-the-penguin
Year 3 – Year 6
Below are links more suitable for older children.
https://www.thinkuknow.co.uk/8_10/
https://www.nsteens.org/
How is the volume of sound made affected by the distance a rubber band is pulled back?
In expedition, we conducted an experiment to investigate how the volume of sound made is affected by the distance a rubber band is pulled back. We placed a rubber band around the carboard box and pulled it back different distances. We measured the sound it made using a sound meter. We then recorded these results in a table. We concluded that when the rubber band was pulled back further, it was louder. This was because the vibrations were larger. When the distance was shorter, it made a quieter sound. This was because the vibrations were smaller. We then used the results to draw a line graph. We used our recent maths knowledge (statistics) to help us figure out the scales for the axis. We were really resilient doing this and had some great line graphs!













Experience Day – Birdie and the Earthquake
In writing, we have started our new writing unit today and explored the story that we’ll be using as a stimulus. We watched the story and started to think about the action and feeling lenses which will feature in our writing. We then used the images to start chatting some ideas that link to images using our inference skills. We then spent some time together selecting some Yr 3/4 spellings that would have fit into the context of our writing.




One Last Adventure, a Lifetime of Memories
Our Year 6s had the best time ever at PGL! From high ropes and to zip lines, canoeing, and non-stop laughs, it was a week full of adventure, character growth and memories we’ll never forget. The video shows all the fun, team spirit and brave moments as everyone challenged themselves and had loads of fun with friends. A perfect way to round off our time in primary school – check it out!

Phonics in action.
This week in phonics we focused on letter formation and blending. The children were very engaged in our phonics learning while using cars and paint to form the letters. The children also used cars to consolidate their understanding around blending, whilst avoiding a parking ticket…





Guitar Showcase
Wow! Wow! Wow! What an AMAZING guitar showcase with Year 5 and 6 this morning. It was a privilege to be able to watch the children show off everything they have learned in their guitar sessions with Mr Smith this year. Thank you to all the parents that attended and joined in with some of the tricky moves!













Year 1s Human Clock
Today Crew Marsh have been learning how to tell the time, in particular o’clock and half past. They worked extremely hard using their own clocks to answer the questions in lesson and then we decided to challenge ourselves to create the time shown on a clock by using our bodies to represent the clock, the hour hand and the minute hand. Time really does fly when you’re having fun!





Life skills/hygiene.
This week we focused on hygiene and oral health. The children learnt about the importance of brushing our teeth and keeping healthy. The children also worked on cooking skills and learning to crack an egg. Alongside this, we kept our focus around understanding why we should clean our hands before and after handling food.





Can sounds travel through solids, liquids and gases?
Today, we carried out an experiment to see if sounds can travel through solids, liquids and gases. First we made a prediction as to whether we thought that sound would travel through the different mediums. Then we started by investigating if sound could travel through solids. Partner one rested their ear on the table while partner two tapped underneath. We recorded how clear the sound was. Next, we then used a bowl of water and a plastic bottle to investigate how sounds travel through liquids. We put the bottle into the water and gently rested our ear on the bottle. We then tapped the cubes in the water to see if we could hear the sound. The last experiment we conducted was to test to see if sound travels through gases. We used a balloon to test this. We placed the balloon next to our ear and our partners talked into the balloon from varying distances. We concluded that sounds can travel through solids, liquids and gases but from the results of our experiment, they travelled best in the gas and worst in the liquid.


















Demonstration Comprehension
Today, our crew worked hard in their demonstration comprehension lesson. We focused on the next chapter of our class text, Dark Flood, and tested our fluency by aiming to read 185 words in one minute, in line with the Year 6 expected standard. Following this, we worked with Miss as she modelled how to accurately answer a comprehension question, thinking about the best strategies that we could use. We focused on questions that had arisen as a problem for us based on our recent assessments. Once we’d done this, we then worked in pairs to attempt to answer some of our own questions, before coming back together as a crew to check if we all agreed on the answers.






Chapter One reading celebration




We are so grateful to the volunteers who have read with us over the past year. It was lovely to hear the amazing praises at our end of year celebration. Well done everyone!