Words on Wednesday

Summer 2026

Caring for Our World

Good Health and Wellbeing

8th June 2026

This week's Words on Wednesday focuses on Sustainable Development Goal 3: Good Health and Wellbeing. Good health is about much more than physical fitness; it also includes our mental, emotional, and social wellbeing. One of the most powerful ways children develop all of these areas is through play.

This week we are recognising the International Day of Play, which celebrates every child's right to play and highlights the important role play has in helping children learn, grow, build friendships, develop resilience, and stay active.

As part of our commitment to providing high-quality play opportunities through our OPAL (Outdoor Play and Learning) programme, we have recently introduced a number of exciting developments to our school grounds, including our new sandpit, mud kitchen, and Forest Fun area. These spaces encourage creativity, exploration, physical activity, teamwork, and problem-solving, all of which contribute positively to children's wellbeing.

Words to Wonder About

Joy – a feeling of great happiness.
Wellbeing – feeling healthy, safe, happy, and able to thrive.
Resilience – the ability to keep going when something is difficult.
Adventure – trying new experiences and exploring the world around us.
Connection – spending time with and caring about other people.
Creativity – using your imagination to create, invent, and solve problems.

Play

Play is climbing, building high,
Watching clouds drift through the sky.
Play is digging, mixing mud,
Jumping, balancing, splashing puddles with a thud.

Play is laughter shared with friends,
A game that starts and never ends.
Play helps bodies, hearts and minds grow strong,
Teaching us where we belong.

So take some time to laugh and play,
Learn something new along the way.
For every child should have the chance to be
Healthy, happy, curious and free.

Reduced Inequalities

3rd June 2026

This week, as part of our focus on the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, we are learning about Goal 10: Reduced Inequalities. We are also marking the beginning of Gypsy, Roma and Traveller History Month, which celebrates the rich cultures, histories and contributions of Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities. At our school, we believe that everyone belongs and deserves to be treated with respect and fairness. This links closely to our ethos of being useful and kind, and to our No Outsiders message that we are all different and all welcome.

Here are some words connected to Traveller communities:

"Vardo" is the name for a traditional horse-drawn wagon used by some Traveller families.

"Romany" refers to one of the Gypsy communities with a rich cultural heritage and language.

"Community" means a group of people who share experiences, traditions or values.

"Heritage" means the traditions and history passed down through generations.

By learning new words, celebrating different cultures and challenging unfairness when we see it, we can help create a world where everyone feels valued, included and able to thrive.

Below is some examples of Angloromani, a language spoken by many Romany Gypsy people in the UK that combines English with words from the Romani language and reflects a rich cultural heritage passed down through generations.

Sustainable Cities and Communities

20th May 2026

This week we are focusing on Sustainable Development Goal 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities — thinking about how we can create places where people and nature can live well together, now and in the future.

In Music on Monday, we listened to Big Yellow Taxi by Joni Mitchell. The song reminds us that as towns and cities grow, it is important not to lose the green spaces, trees and natural environments that make our communities healthy and enjoyable places to live. The line, “They paved paradise and put up a parking lot,” encourages us to think carefully about the choices people make when building and developing communities.

A sustainable community is somewhere people feel safe, connected and cared for. It includes clean spaces, parks, homes, transport and places where people can spend time together and enjoy nature. Even small actions, such as reducing litter, planting flowers, recycling or walking when possible, can help make our communities stronger and healthier.

As you reflect this week, think about:

What makes a community a good place to live?
Why are parks and green spaces important in towns and cities?
What small actions can we take to care for our community and the world around us?

“Don’t it always seem to go, that you don’t know what you’ve got till it’s gone.”

How can we make sure we protect the special places in our communities for future generations?

Quality Education

13th May 2026

This week, many children across the country are completing their SATs. For some, the tests may feel exciting; for others, they may feel worrying or overwhelming. But today, we want every child to remember something important:

You are so much more than a score.

SATs only tell us how you answered questions on one particular day of the year. They do not measure kindness, creativity, determination, imagination, humour, courage, or the many talents that make you uniquely you.

What matters most is that you try your best, work hard towards your own goals, and keep believing in yourself.

Keep believing in your own journey, celebrate your progress, and remember that success looks different for everyone. We are proud of you all.

Here’s a little poem for all children in school this week:

One Day, One Test

A pencil held with hopeful care,
Big deep breaths and silent prayer.
Questions waiting, page by page,
Trying hard at every stage.

Some will smile and feel okay,
Some will find it tough today.
But numbers, scores, or lines in red
Don’t tell the dreams inside your head.

Because you’re more than tests at school,
More than data, grade, or rule.
You are kindness, spark, and heart,
A masterpiece, a work of art.

So whether SATs went wrong or right,
Be proud you showed up for the fight.
Keep working hard, keep aiming high,
Your worth is not a score — it’s you inside.

Quality Education

6th May 2026

A book, a pen, a chance to try,

A helping hand, a reason why,

A place to learn, a voice to share,

A better world when all can care.

This week, we are thinking about Education for Everyone

Did you know?
Not all children around the world get the chance to go to school. Some children don’t have books, classrooms, or even teachers.

Why is education important for every child?

Education helps us:
- Learn new things
- Follow our dreams
- Understand the world
- Help others

All children deserve the opportunity to have a quality education. An opportunity is a chance to do something. Every child deserves the opportunity to learn!
Learning is a right, not a privilege. Everyone matters, and everyone deserves a chance to shine

Think about what education means to you and maybe have a go at writing your own verse for this poem.

What is learning?

It’s books and questions,

Chalk and talk,

Dreams beginning…

No Poverty

28th April 2026

This week, our words are linked to our whole school theme: No Poverty, one of the United Nations’ Global Goals to help make the world a fairer place.

Our six focus words are poverty, sustainable, equality, community, generosity, and empathy.

Poverty is when people don’t have enough money for important things like food, a safe place to live, or warm clothes.
Sustainable means doing things in a way that can continue for a long time, so people now and in the future have what they need.
Equality means being fair and making sure everyone has the chance to live a good life, no matter where they come from.
Community is a group of people who live or work together and care for one another — like our school or neighbourhood.
Generosity means sharing what you have, such as your time, kindness, or belongings, to help others.
Empathy means understanding how someone else feels and imagining what it might be like to be in their situation.

Big question: What is one small thing you could do this week to help someone in your community?

Our Earth

22nd April 2026

Today is Earth Day, an annual event first held on April 22, 1970, to show support for environmental protection. It is a time to reflect on how amazing our planet is and to recognise the important role we all play in looking after it. This year’s theme, Our Power, Our Planet, reminds us that even small actions can make a big difference. Whether it’s reducing waste, saving energy, or caring for nature, we all have the power to help our planet thrive—both now and for future generations.