What a fantastic first full week back at Bicton! It has been wonderful to see the school buzzing with enthusiasm, curiosity and excitement as our children settle into their new classes and begin exploring their learning for the year ahead.

Willow Class

Our youngest learners have had a brilliant start to school life. They have been getting to know their new classroom routines, making new friends and beginning their phonics journey. In maths, they have started learning about subitising, which is the ability to recognise how many objects there are in a small group without needing to count them one by one. For example, when you roll a dice and immediately know it shows four spots, you are subitising! This important skill helps children develop strong number sense and confidence with maths from an early age.

Birch Class

Birch Class have launched into their new English text, Toys in Space, which has already captured their imaginations. In Geography, they have been creating artwork inspired by the world’s man-made wonders and learning about some of the most impressive structures ever built.

Maple Class

Maple Class have been busy exploring numbers to 10,000 in maths and are already demonstrating excellent mathematical thinking. In science, they have started their new topic on Materials, investigating the properties of different substances, and in French they even enjoyed a virtual tour of the Louvre!

Oak Class

Oak Class have begun reading Queen of the Falls, and looking at other daredevils round the world. In maths, they have been tackling advanced addition problems and exploring different ways to represent and solve them. Their Science learning has focused on the components of blood and the important role each part plays within the body.

Across the school, all pupils have also been learning about Online Safety with Mr Andrews as we continue to emphasise the importance of staying safe and responsible when using technology. In addition, children have started learning their dances for our Dance Showcase on Thursday 22nd October, and we cannot wait to see their performances develop over the coming weeks.

It has been a busy and productive week filled with excellent learning and positive attitudes. Thank you for your continued support, and I hope you all have a wonderful weekend.

Mrs Eleanor Mavin
Head of School

The application process is quick and straightforward, and many families are eligible without realising it. If you think you may qualify, please take a few minutes to check your eligibility by following this link.

Thank you for helping us ensure that our school receives all the funding available to support our pupils.

To help ensure that school remains a positive and inclusive environment for everyone, we are asking children not to bring Pokémon cards into school. This will help us avoid misunderstandings around trading, lost or damaged cards, and concerns about fairness.

We appreciate your support with this and ask that all Pokémon cards remain at home. We know that pupils will be disappointed, but this decision has been made in the best interests of all children and will help us keep the focus on learning, friendships and enjoying playtime together.

Thank you, as always, for your continued support and partnership.

Research suggests that for primary-aged children, the impact of traditional homework on academic achievement is limited, particularly when compared to the benefits of high-quality teaching during the school day. Rather than sending home regular worksheets or tasks, we focus on making every moment of learning in school count.

That does not mean learning stops when children leave the classroom. Families play a vital role in supporting children’s development, and there are many simple and enjoyable ways to help at home:

• Read together regularly and talk about books, stories and characters.
• Listen to your child read and encourage a love of reading.
• Practise number facts and times tables through games and everyday activities.
• Talk together about the world around them, current events, nature and their interests.
• Encourage independence by involving children in cooking, shopping, organising belongings and solving problems.
• Enjoy educational visits to libraries, museums, parks and places of interest when possible.

We believe that children learn best when school and home work together. Thank you for all the ways you support your child’s learning, wellbeing and development.