Outdoor Learning in Year 3/4!

This afternoon in Mrs Yates class year 3/4, we took our science learning outdoors and explored The Hazels to investigate soil and discover what it is made of.

The children carefully observed different samples of soil, looking closely at the materials they could find and discussed how soil is formed over time. They were excited to uncover a variety of natural materials, including small stones, plant matter, roots and other organic materials hidden beneath the surface.

Back in the classroom, we continued our investigation by examining our soil samples in greater detail. This hands-on experience helped develop their scientific enquiry skills as they asked questions, made observations and drew conclusions based on the evidence they found.

It was wonderful to see such enthusiasm and curiosity throughout the afternoon, with the children demonstrating excellent teamwork and a real passion for learning about the natural world around them. We look forward to continuing our investigations and discovering even more about the fascinating world around us! πŸŒ±πŸ”πŸͺ±

🏁 ATTENDANCE GRAND PRIX – WEEKLY RACE REPORT! 🏁

🏁 ATTENDANCE GRAND PRIX – WEEKLY RACE REPORT!Β 25.9.26🏁
The chequered flag has fallen on another week at SAF and the attendance racers have crossed the line! πŸŽοΈπŸ’¨
πŸ“Š Whole-school attendance this week: 96.9%
⚠️ Persistent Absence: 8.6%
And now to the podium…
πŸ₯‡ JOINT 1ST – Mrs Yates Y3/4 & Nursery PM – 100%
A PERFECT LAP! Not a single missed turn all week. ⭐
πŸ₯ˆ Mr Broderick Y3 – 99%
So close to perfection! Flying around the final corner and only narrowly missing the top spot.
πŸ₯‰ Mr Andrew Y4 – 98.9%
Just 0.1 behind! That really was a photo finish.
πŸ”₯ Miss R Jones Y2 – 98.8%
Right on the podium’s bumper and keeping the leaders firmly in sight!
Also putting in some serious pace this week:
🏎️ Miss Capps YR – 98.1%
🏎️ Mrs Robson Y5 – 97.9%
🏎️ Nursery Flexi – 97.7%
🏎️ Miss Thomas Y1 – 96.9% – bang on our whole-school figure!
Elsewhere on the circuit…
🍌 Miss Brown Y6 and Mrs Vickers YR – 96.3%
A small banana skin on the track, but still very much in the race.
πŸ¦‘ Miss Jones Y5 – 95.8%
Hit by the ink just as the finish line came into view!
🍌 Miss Adams Y6 – 94.6% and Mrs Dornan-Steer Y2 – 94.4%
A couple of tricky corners this week, but plenty of opportunity to make up places next time.
πŸ¦‘ Mrs Casswell YR – 91.8%
The ink cloud caused some visibility problems this week. Time for a clean windscreen and another charge next week!
And Nursery AM – 80% had what can only be described as a race full of bananas, ink, red shells and probably a rogue Blue Shell too! πŸ˜¬πŸŒπŸ¦‘
πŸ† Race result: 96.9% overall
A strong whole-school result, but Persistent Absence at 8.6% remains the figure we need to keep working on.
Congratulations to Mrs Yates Y3/4 and Nursery PM on this week’s flawless 100% performance! πŸ‘
Next week: new race, clean track, everything to play for… 🏁

Census Day – Thursday 1st October

Census Day – Thursday 1st October
On Thursday 1st October, we will be taking part in Census Day at school.
On this day, our school kitchen will be serving a special menu of hot dogs and burgers, and we would love as many children as possible to enjoy a school dinner.
Why is this important?
The number of children who have a school meal on Census Day helps determine some of the funding the school receives. This additional funding can then be used to support resources and opportunities for our children.
So, if your child would usually bring a packed lunch, we would really appreciate your support in encouraging them to have a school dinner on this day instead.
Thank you for your continued support.
Shine, Achieve, Flourish – The SAF Way!

Macmillan Cake Sale – Monday 28th September

πŸ“’ Macmillan Cake Sale – Monday 28th September πŸ°πŸ’š

We will be holding a Macmillan Cake Sale on Monday 28th September at 3:10pm on the school playground.
​All money raised will go directly to Macmillan Cancer Support, helping them continue their fantastic work supporting people affected by cancer and their families.
​In addition, Mrs Tomlinson and Mrs Dickenson are taking on an amazing challenge and will each be running 31 miles during October to raise even more money for this wonderful charity.
​We would greatly appreciate any support you can give. Please come along to the cake sale and consider making a donation to help us raise as much money as possible for this very worthy cause.
​Thank you for your support. We look forward to seeing you there! πŸ’šπŸ°πŸƒβ€β™€οΈπŸƒβ€β™€οΈ

Welcome to a new academic year in our school!

Welcome Back! 4.9.26

Welcome to a new academic year in our school!

Dear Parents, Carers and Members of our SAF Family,

A very warm welcome back to a new academic year at Sir Alexander Fleming Primary School and Nursery.

I hope that you and your families have enjoyed a wonderful summer filled with rest, laughter, special moments and perhaps a few exciting adventures along the way. We have loved listening to the children sharing their experiences and the memories they have made. We are incredibly proud of how well they have settled into their new classes and routines The children have returned with enthusiasm, positivity and an eagerness to learn.

We are delighted to welcome all of our new starters to school, including our Reception children who are beginning their exciting learning journey and the pupils joining us in other year groups. Starting a new school can bring a mixture of excitement and nerves, and we are committed to ensuring that every child feels safe, valued, and part of our school family from day one. Our staff will work closely with children and families to help everyone settle in, make new friendships, and quickly become familiar with our routines and expectations. We look forward to seeing each child shine, achieve, and flourish as they become part of our school community.

At Sir Alexander Fleming, we are committed to ensuring that every child feels safe, valued, supported and inspired to be the very best version of themselves. The strong relationships we share with our children, families, staff and wider community are at the heart of our success, and together we create an environment where everyone can flourish.

This year, we are proud to embrace our new motto: “Shine, Achieve, Flourish – The SAF Way!” These three simple but powerful words capture our vision for every member of our school community. We want our children to shine with confidence, achieve their full potential and flourish academically, socially and emotionally. By working together and supporting one another, we can ensure that every child has the opportunity to thrive.

Thank you for your continued support and partnership. It is a privilege to lead such a wonderful school community, and I am excited to see our corridors and classrooms filled once again with smiling faces, enthusiasm and a love of learning.

Here’s to a fantastic year ahead as we all continue to Shine, Achieve, Flourish – The SAF Way!

Very best wishes,

Mrs Tomlinson
Headteacher

Year 4’s fieldwork in the local area.

Year 4 Geographical Enquiry

Year 4 recently carried out a geographical enquiry as part of their learning about the four main land uses: commercial, agricultural, industrial and residential. For our fieldwork, we walked to a busy location in the local area where we could observe a large volume of traffic. The children carefully recorded different vehicle types, including cars, motorbikes, buses, vans and lorries, using tally charts to collect accurate data.

Back in class, we analysed our findings and presented the results on a line graph, making excellent links with our Maths learning. The children demonstrated fantastic geographical thinking skills as they interpreted the data and discussed the patterns they had observed.

Year 4’s behaviour throughout the fieldwork and data collection was truly outstanding. Their sensible conduct and enthusiasm meant that we even had time to enjoy a visit to the park afterwards! Well done, Year 4, for your excellent geographical enquiry skills and positive attitude to learning. 🌟

Careers Week in Year 4

Year 4 had a fantastic time taking part in our whole-school Careers Week. Throughout the week, we welcomed visitors from a variety of professions who spoke to the children about their jobs, the skills they use every day and the different pathways that led them to their careers.

We were fortunate to hear from a local surveyor, a police officer, an engineer and an events coordinator, who shared exciting stories about organising events and meeting a range of celebrities. The children were fascinated by the wide variety of careers available and many commented that they were now considering jobs they had never thought about before.

The week also gave the children the opportunity to reflect on their own strengths and talents. They began to understand how skills such as teamwork, communication, creativity and problem-solving can be valuable in many different careers.

In the afternoons, the children took part in activities linked to the visitors’ professions. Inspired by the local surveyor, they used LEGO to design and build structures, carefully considering stability and design. Following the visit from the events coordinator, the children created their own football commentary voice-overs, developing their communication and presentation skills. To link with the police officer’s visit, the children connected their learning in art and created a Lowry-inspired scene entitled ‘The Arrest’, using the style of Lowry who they are currently studying.

It was wonderful to see the enthusiasm and engagement shown by all the children throughout the week. Careers Week encouraged them to think about their futures, discover new possibilities and recognise the many skills they already possess that could help them succeed in a wide range of careers.

Year 4’s Sports Day

Year 4 had a fantastic time at Sports Day this year, taking part in a variety of exciting events including sprint races, hurdles and even challenges that involved crawling under nets. The children showed great determination, teamwork and enthusiasm throughout the day, cheering one another on and giving their best in every event. We were delighted to see so many parents there supporting the children, creating a wonderful atmosphere. A particular highlight of the afternoon was the parent race, which brought lots of laughter and excitement for everyone involved!