This week we have started our independent write about an endangered animal searching for food. We have loved inventing a new story… here we are using our plans and resources to help us produce beautiful stories.











This week we have started our independent write about an endangered animal searching for food. We have loved inventing a new story… here we are using our plans and resources to help us produce beautiful stories.











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!










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!













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!























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.
Uncovering a big problem @ Norton Infants
Something Better Change @ XP Doncaster
The band is just fantastic that is really what I think @ Norton Juniors
Write to us at [email protected] – we want to hear about it, write about it and celebrate it!
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.





Dallas has been building up her resilience to work independently on the challenge table. She has been answering abstract questions independently in maths, with concrete support if needed. You are a superstar!! ✨
Crew Farrow have been using number lines to solve subtraction questions. Well done for recording your equations on the squared side of your whiteboards!
Pink group have been working hard in phonics to get speedy with the story green words this week. Well done for helping your partners spot special friends and Fred talk the word if they have struggled.
It was lovely to see the children get out in out forest area. We got a little bit wet but we had fun



