We have recently held a ‘Science Elevation Group’. This meeting looked at what the children thought of their learning in Science. 

 At Deanshanger Primary School, the children have access to a wide and broad science curriculum through their year group IPC (International Primary Curriculum) units, various whole school learning events (assemblies and celebration events) and displays. Throughout the school, we have science displays in each classroom, a brand new outdoor area ‘The Science Lab’ and a plethora of resources specifically for scientific investigations housed in this area's storage unit. 

 During the Science Elevation Group, we looked at each year group one at a time, starting with Year One (an EYFS observation was undertaken separately to gain information from those children). Initially, the children shared what they thought science learning was. The children then shared 'science' work in their books, identifying pieces of work that demonstrated their learning in science lessons. It was a rich and valuable experience to see all the wonderful learning that takes place throughout the school through IPC units, such as, Flowers and Insects, Chocolate, How Humans Work and Space Explorers. 

For the next part of the meeting, we asked the children some knowledge-based questions from National Curriculum statements to ensure the children had secure knowledge of each aspect of science for their year group. The children were asked questions relating to animals including humans, plants, materials, seasonal changes, living things and their habitats, rocks, light, forces, states of matter, sound, electricity and evolution and inheritance. We were all so impressed by the knowledge of the children who were all able to share their learning with the rest of the group. This demonstrated that the children had very good understanding of scientific concepts and were able to recall the learning that had taken place during their IPC units.  

For the final part of the meeting, we had the children look at some objects which could be used during scientific investigations. This helped us to ascertain what skills the children had gained through working scientifically, which is the second main strand of the science national curriculum. The children were asked to identify; a magnifying glass, a thermometer, a stethoscope, a mirror, a beaker of water, a pipette, a table, a graph, a bug pot and a wire as well as explain what they may be used for. As we moved through the year groups we could see a clear progression in the types of enquiry the children were undertaking as each year group identified more objects, and their uses, than the last. There were many strengths such as understanding and working scientifically. As always, there are things that we need to work on a little more. In this instance, ensuring that children are aware of the correct terminology and increased awareness of how to record their findings when working scientifically. 

As always, please support your child/children with their science learning at home. This could be through reading magazines, TV programmes, visiting local or national places of interest/museums such as The National Space Centre or The Natural History Museum as well as discussing IPC work that the children are learning at school. 

 Please see below for the science section of the primary National Curriculum: 

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/national-curriculum-in-england-science-programmes-of-study/national-curriculum-in-england-science-programmes-of-study 

We are absolutely delighted that Mrs Emilie Stevenson is teaching French across the school from Year 1 to Year 6. As a native French speaker, Emilie is really taking the language forward and supporting the staff's confidence and French knowledge at the same time! 

C'est une merveilleuse nouvelle ! 

Geography Elevation Group

As Mrs Rice mentioned in the last newsletter, we have had a ‘History Elevation Group' meeting. Our second meeting was a ‘Geography Elevation Group’. This meeting looked at what the children thought of their learning in Geography.

At Deanshanger Primary School, the children have access to a wide and broad geography curriculum through their year group IPC (International Primary Curriculum) units, various whole school learning events (assemblies and celebration events) and displays. Throughout the school, we have maps of the world, maps of the United Kingdom and Globes which are all accessible to the children to support their learning. We are also fortunate to be members of the Geographical Association.

During the Geography Elevation Group, we looked at each year group one at a time, starting with Year One. Initially, the children shared what they thought geography learning was. The children then shared 'Geography' work in their books, identifying pieces of work that demonstrated their learning in geography lessons. It was a rich and valuable experience to see all the wonderful learning that takes place throughout the school through IPC units, such as, what a wonderful world, from A to B, Active planet and save the world.

For the second part of the meeting, we looked at the world map, the globe and a map of the United Kingdom. We then gave the children the opportunity to share their geographical knowledge of the world or the United Kingdom. The children were asked questions relating to countries, capital cities, continents, seasons, climates, oceans and topographical features such as mountains, rivers, sandbanks and coasts. We were all so impressed by the knowledge of the children who were all able to share their learning with the rest of the group. This demonstrated that the children had very good understanding of physical geography and human geography and were able to recall the learning that had taken place during their IPC units. There were many strengths such as vocabulary and language. As always, there are things that we need to work on a little bit more. In this instance, encouraging the children to know the difference between villages, towns, cities, counties, countries and continents and to discuss these when visiting places for a day or going on holiday.

As always, please support your child/children with their geography learning at home. This could be through reading magazines, TV programmes, visiting local or national places of interest or discussing IPC work that the children are learning at school.

Please see below for the Geography section of the primary National Curriculum:

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/239044/PRIMARY_national_curriculum_-_Geography.pdf

Miss Peers, Geography Champion

As you will be fully aware, we ask quite a lot of you as parents and carers and often ask for your help! 

Miss Whitaker has helped us develop a very special outside science lab and a sound wall is part of this. If you have old pots and pans that you no longer need that have come to the end of their life for cooking, we would like to take these off your hands and put them to very good use. 

Thank you

It is really important that we all drink plenty of water each day to keep hydrated and healthy. Ensuring access to water at all times and promoting a regular water intake is a vital role for schools in promoting health and providing a healthy learning environment. 

With this in mind, please ensure that your child brings in either their school or own water bottle each day. We will encourage them to drink it and refill it as much as possible.

Please be reminded that water is definitely our preferred drink in school for health reasons, to ensure it is the same for all children and to reduce stains if it is accidentally spilled. Fizzy drinks are not permitted in school and we would really prefer that squash/cordial wasn't brought in either.

Thank you

We at Deanshanger Primary School would like to say a massive well done to Holly in Y6. She baked cakes at the weekend and held a sale which raised £47.60!