Kingsmead Primary Termly News

Autumn/Winter 2025

Our focus this term has been on caring for ourselves. Across lessons, assemblies, and activities we have found out about the Five Ways to Wellbeing – Connect, Be Active, Take Notice, Keep Learning, and Give. The children and staff have explored how small, mindful actions can make a big difference to our wellbeing. From sharing moments of gratitude and trying new challenges, to enjoying outdoor learning and acts of kindness, it has been wonderful to see everyone embracing these principles and supporting one another to feel their best.

Curriculum @ Kingsmead

The curriculum is quite simply everything we learn. Learning can take place in lessons, extra curricular and optional learning, assemblies and special events. We hope you enjoy a sample of the Autumn term where the focus has been caring for ourselves.

EARLY YEARS FOUNDATION STAGE: Learning in Ladybirds

What a wonderful first term it has been in Reception! The children have settled beautifully into school life and are already becoming confident, independent learners. Each morning they arrive with big smiles and move around the school with growing assurance. It has been especially lovely to see new friendships forming, with children building bonds with classmates they had never met before starting school.

Our learning this term has been full and varied. The children have engaged enthusiastically with all our topics and can now talk confidently about the Zones of Regulation, using the language to describe their feelings and understand how to manage them.

We have also spent lots of time exploring the seasons. Using our outdoor wild classroom, Badger Hill, we went on adventures to search for signs of autumn. The children love learning in this completely wild space, and we’ve enjoyed memorable science sessions—and even art lessons—surrounded by nature.

A particular highlight this term was taking part in Bikeability with the Bike Right charity. All of the children worked closely with the trainers to learn how to control a bike safely. They practised riding around different routes, developed balance and coordination, and proudly learnt new cycling skills. It was wonderful to see their confidence grow with each session.

Our recent Light and Dark topic also captured everyone’s curiosity. We investigated different light sources and explored how reflection works. One of the highlights was becoming detectives and searching for hidden reflective patches on our coats, book bags, and even shoes!

We were delighted to welcome grown-ups into our classroom for our Readalong session. It was such a special opportunity to share stories together and enjoy having families learning alongside us.

As we head towards the end of term, the children are very excited to welcome their families once again—this time to watch our festive end-of-term performance. They can’t wait to share the songs they’ve been practising!

We are so proud of everything the children have achieved so far and look forward to even more adventures ahead.

KS1

Ms Watkins [phase leader KS1]

This term, KS1 have been exploring the theme of shelter through lots of exciting learning. The children investigated different everyday materials, talked about their properties and explored which ones are best for making strong, safe shelters.

They also spent time finding out more about their local area, looking at different types of homes, important buildings and the features that make our community special. The story of The Great Fire of London helped them understand how the fire started, why it spread so quickly, and how people rebuilt their shelters and homes afterwards. This showed them how materials and building designs have changed over time.

In art, the children studied the work of L. S. Lowry, exploring his famous cityscapes and creating their own artwork inspired by his style, thinking about how buildings and shelters are shown in pictures.

The children have worked brilliantly this term and have enjoyed exploring shelters in so many different ways!

The children in KS1 had a brilliant time taking part in a special Lego Building Day this term. During the workshop, they learned how to design and construct their very own houses, applying creativity, problem-solving, and fine motor skills. They then worked together to combine their creations into a fantastic Lego town, showcasing wonderful teamwork and imagination. It was a fun, hands-on day that the children thoroughly enjoyed!

Our KS1 children had a fantastic day at Weaver Hall Museum, stepping back in time to experience what life was like during the Great Fire of London. They enjoyed a range of hands-on activities, including making tussy mussys (lavender bags) and fire shields, dressing up in clothing from the 1600s, and even trying out different jobs from the period. It was a brilliant opportunity to bring their history learning to life—filled with laughter, curiosity, and some impressively authentic 17th-century looks!

LKS2

Mrs Miller [phase leader LKS2]

This term, LKS2 have been busy exploring our fascinating topic of salt and subsidence. As part of our local study, the children have been learning all about Northwich and its rich history of salt production. They discovered how salt has shaped our town over many years and why Northwich is such an important place for this industry. This learning was undertaken through our Geography and History lessons, but was also linked in some of our other subjects, such as DT where we made a moving poster that represented the working parts at The Lion Salt Works. We had two visits during the term, completing a Town Trail through Northwich looking at the history of some of the buildings and how the unique style of buildings in Northwich was inspired by the problem of subsidence in the area. We also enjoyed visiting The Lion Salt Works and finding out what it would have been like to work there.

The children also took a closer look at the buildings and architecture in the town centre. They learned how subsidence has affected Northwich and why many of the buildings are specially designed to move with the ground. This helped them understand how history, geography and engineering all link together in our local area.

The children have shown great enthusiasm throughout the topic and have produced some fantastic work. It has been wonderful to see them develop a deeper understanding of the place they live in and the stories behind it.

Hundertwasser

LKS2 have produced some truly stunning artwork this term while exploring the imaginative world of artist and architect Friedensreich Hundertwasser, known for his vibrant colours, organic shapes, and celebration of nature. Inspired by his unique style, the children set about reimagining what Northwich might look like if its buildings were designed by Hundertwasser himself. The results are absolutely fantastic—full of creativity, bold patterns, and wonderful artistic flair. Their work has brightened our corridors and showcased just how imaginative and expressive our young artists can be!

In art we did about Hundertwasser. Firstly, we found out about him and what he liked to do. He was born in Austria. He liked to use pinks and purples on buildings and include nature in buildings. At the end of half term we did a big piece of work. He liked to use hidden faces and onion rings. He would go for nature on the top of the building.

On the picture below, he does not like straight lines. I enjoyed the work.

By Louis, Sparrows

Lion Salt Works

The children in LKS2 enjoyed a fascinating visit to the Lion Salt Works in Northwich as part of their theme on Salt and Subsidence. The children had a brilliant time exploring the museum and discovering how salt has shaped the history, landscape, and community of our local area. They learned about traditional methods of salt production, saw real salt pans in action, and even found out how mining and evaporation have contributed to Northwich’s unique subsidence features. It was a thoroughly engaging and memorable day that brought their learning to life!

The Lion Salt Works in Marston, near Northwich, Cheshire, is the UK's last remaining historic open-pan salt works, preserved as an award-winning museum that vividly tells the story of Cheshire's vital salt industry. Restored and reopened in 2015, it showcases traditional brine-boiling methods, the impact of salt on the region's economy, landscape, and transport, and features interactive displays

I think the class liked it a lot and enjoyed the tilted house and activities.

Lottie, Sparrows

D+T Lion Salt Works

In D+T we have been creating posters with salt workers and we are including levers and linkages.

So what we have to do is we make different types of levers and linkages with like a shovel or rake or a salt barrow and at the other end you could put a person to show that he is moving the tool.

Blake, Sparrows

Here is an example of a linkage

Walk into Northwich Town Centre

When we went to Northwich town Centre we saw buildings that were lifted up because of the salt works.

We went to Northwich town centre because we explored around the town. We had a great time and we wish we would do that again.

Charlie, Sparrows

UKS2

UKS2 phase leader Mrs Debbie McHugh:

It has been a busy but brilliant first term of the academic year. Looking back, it’s amazing to see just how much we have managed to fit in.

Our theme for the term has been Conflict, with a particular focus on World War II. The children have thoroughly enjoyed learning about this period, and it has been wonderful to see the knowledge and insights they have brought to lessons. It has been especially lovely to hear about family histories and stories of people who have served in different wars.

The children’s engagement throughout the term has been fantastic, and we have been truly impressed by both the quality of their homework and the work produced in class.

English

This term, our English work has centred around two powerful units. The first was Star of Hope, Star of Fear, a story that explores what life was like for families during the war. From this text, the children created a range of thoughtful writing, including diary entries and retellings of the story from new perspectives.

In the second half of the term, the children learned about the Windrush Generation, discovering what life was like for those who travelled from the Caribbean to the UK after the war. They especially enjoyed finding out about Floella Benjamin and her experiences. To conclude the unit, the children produced their own informative leaflets all about the Windrush Generation. We have been incredibly impressed with the high standard of writing across both units.

Art

In Art this term, the children completed a drawing unit that strengthened their skills using a variety of materials. They explored artwork from different countries, with a particular focus on Pablo Picasso and his painting Guernica. The children studied the symbolism and unique style of the piece. As you can see from their finished work, they really embraced the unit and produced some excellent outcomes.

Design Technology

In DT this term, the children have been exploring Make Do and Mend through a teddy bear project. They spent time designing and planning their bears, practising a variety of stitching techniques to add embellishments and assemble their creations.

We had a wonderful end-of-term morning welcoming many family helpers, who joined us to help complete the finished bears. The children are incredibly proud of their efforts—and so are we!

Conway

Our Year 5 and 6 pupils had an unforgettable experience on their three-day residential visit to the Menai Centre in Conwy. During their stay, the children embraced every opportunity to step out of their comfort zones, taking part in a wide range of exciting and challenging activities. These included group challenges, raft building, kayaking, zip lines, crabbing, low ropes, and team-building tasks that tested their resilience, cooperation, and confidence. The trip was filled with adventure, laughter, and proud moments, and the children returned home with new skills, wonderful memories, stronger friendships and plenty of dirty washing!

Music Matters

Musical Showcase

To finish off this term we were delighted to hold our Musical Showcase, a wonderful celebration of the children’s growing musical talents, providing our children who are learning instruments the opportunity to perform pieces as solos or in small groups, sharing their hard work and enthusiasm with the school community.

The dedication the children have shown in learning their instruments has been truly impressive. Their commitment to regular practice, resilience in developing new skills, and confidence in performing in front of an audience were clear to see and made the event a real highlight of the term.

We would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to Mrs Harper and all of our peripatetic music teachers for their ongoing support, encouragement, and expertise. Their hard work behind the scenes plays a vital role in nurturing our young musicians.

Well done to all of our performers – we are incredibly proud of you!

Copy of 9. Frosty the Snowman - Trombone.mp4

Copy of 10. Feliz Navidad - Guitars.mp4

Copy of 11. We Three Kings - Flute.mp4

Copy of 13. Jingle Bell Rock - Trombone.mp4

Copy of 12. Silent Night - Violins.mp4

Copy of 14. We Wish You a Merry Christmas - Clarinets.mp4

Copy of 15. Jingle Bells - Violin.mp4

Copy of 16. The Entertainer - Trombone.mp4

Copy of 1. Jingle Bells - Strings.mp4

Copy of 2. We Wish You a Merry Christmas - Strings.mp4

Copy of 3. Jingle Bells - Violins.mp4

Copy of 4. Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer - Trumpets.mp4

Copy of 6. Winter Wonderland - Cellos.mp4

Copy of 8. Silent Night - Clarinets.mp4

Remembrance

This year we created a Wall of Remembrance as a fitting trbute to those who have served, suffered and sacrificied during times of conflict. Our Wall of Remembrance is a beautiful and thoughtful tribute created by our children to honour their relatives. Each child was invited to produce a piece of work at home about a relative or family member who played a part in war or in supporting their country during times of conflict. The resulting display was both moving and meaningful, filled with photographs, drawings, letters, and stories that captured personal connections to history. It stood as a poignant reminder of the courage, sacrifice, and resilience shown by so many — and of the importance of remembering them together as a school community.

Eco Committee

Mrs Newbury

Our Eco Council has had a busy and inspiring start to the year! Following elections, new members from Year 2 through to Year 6 have joined the team, bringing fresh ideas and enthusiasm. Together, they’ve explored what it means to be part of an eco council and how their role can make a real difference in our school and wider community.

One of their first big achievements was organising the Cut Your Carbon campaign, which encouraged families to make small changes at home and at school. Amazingly, this led to a combined saving of 600.08 kg of carbon across our community! The council also welcomed the eco group from Sir John Deane’s College, who delivered an engaging assembly on endangered animals and the importance of healthy soils as part of World Soil Day. To round off the term, the council hosted a festive Christmas clothing stall, helping families reuse and recycle seasonal outfits while reducing waste. It’s been a fantastic start, and we’re excited to see what they’ll achieve next term.

Beautiful Work and Proud Work Open Afternoons

This term, we have been so impressed by the beautiful work our children have produced across the school. Our Beautiful Work Assembly was a wonderful opportunity to celebrate those pupils who have gone above and beyond — taking real pride in their learning and consistently striving for excellence. We were also delighted to welcome so many families to our Proud Work Open Afternoon, where children shared their learning with an authentic audience. The afternoon created a real sense of purpose and excitement, allowing pupils to showcase their achievements and reflect on just how much they have learned and grown this term.

Useful and Kind Awards

We were delighted to congratulate the children who received a Bronze Useful and Kind Award this term. These children have consistently upheld our school ethos of being useful, kind, and ready to learn every day. Their positive attitudes, thoughtful actions, and willingness to help others make a real difference to our school community, and we are incredibly proud of them.

We were also thrilled to present our very first Useful and Kind Silver Award. This special achievement was awarded to a child who has been nominated by their teachers for a second time—an impressive recognition of their continued commitment to living out our values in all they do.

A huge well done to all our award recipients. Thank you for being such wonderful role models to the rest of the school!

Forest Schools

Forest School Leader Robyn Moseley

Every Thursday morning this term, each class has taken part in an Outdoor Learning session in our Forest School area and around the school grounds. These sessions have been a wonderful opportunity for children to explore, learn, and grow outside the classroom.

We are extremely grateful to the KFA for funding this provision and enabling our Forest School leader to deliver high-quality sessions each week.

Throughout the term, the children have developed a wide range of skills, including cooperation, teamwork, resilience, and problem-solving. They have enjoyed building dens, climbing trees, taking part in nature hunts, and discovering more about the natural world around them.

The enthusiasm, confidence, and curiosity the children bring to each session have been a joy to see. We look forward to continuing these rich outdoor learning experiences next term!

Sports reports

Mrs McHugh and Mr Pritchard lead Physical Education and Sport in school.

The Autumn term is always a particularly busy one for sporting fixtures, and this year was no exception. It has been wonderful to see so many children representing our school at a range of events and demonstrating excellent sports values, including determination, passion, teamwork, respect, honesty and self-belief. This term, almost 70 children have represented us in various sporting activities, all wearing the school kit with pride.

Our first event back in September was a football tournament, where we took 20 of our Year 5 and 6 children to compete at Leftwich High School as part of the Leftwich cluster. It was fantastic to see such enthusiasm and impressive sportsmanship from the team. The children represented Kingsmead superbly.

Basketball Events

Year 5 and 6 representatives have taken part in two exciting basketball events this term. The first was a Mega Fest, where the children completed a range of basketball activities before applying their skills in matches. They represented us brilliantly and were awarded a special prize for exemplifying the values of the sport, including respect, determination, honesty, passion, self-belief, and teamwork.

In another event, we took two teams to a tournament against other schools from our cluster at Leftwich High School. This lively and exciting event saw the children perform wonderfully, showing great determination and improving their skills with each match. It was fantastic to witness such strong teamwork throughout the evening.

Year 5/6 Girls Football Tournament

A group of Year 5/6 girls took part in a football tournament at Leftwich High School as part of the cluster events. The girls played two matches against teams from another school and performed exceptionally well, demonstrating strong teamwork and noticeable improvement throughout the tournament.

Yr 3/4 Football Tournament

Thirteen boys and girls from LKS2 took part in a friendly 5-a-side football tournament at Leftwich High School. Competing against teams from Davenham, Moulton, and Antrobus, they all displayed fantastic team spirit and excellent sportsmanship. While they won some matches, lost others, and drew a few, their smiles never faded despite the freezing temperatures and chilly fingers and toes. All the children represented the school brilliantly.

Year 5/6 Netball Tournament

Our Year 5/6 netballers represented us superbly at a tournament hosted at Leftwich High School. The children have been attending weekly training sessions with Mrs Ramsden for some time, and their hard work truly shone through. They performed brilliantly, consistently demonstrating excellent sporting values throughout the event.

The team played six matches, winning four and finishing as runners-up—an outstanding achievement against some very strong opposition. It was fantastic to see just how much the team improved with each game.

Panathlon

A group of 8 children from across the school attended a Panathlon event at Hartford High School. The children got to compete in a range of sporting activities including Boccia, Table cricket, skittles and messy football. They had an absolutely wonderful morning and came back wearing their medals with such pride.

We’d like to take this opportunity to congratulate all of the children who have represented our school so brilliantly at events this term—we are incredibly proud of each and every one of you. Thank you as well to the staff who attended and supported these events, and to our families for helping with transport and for being such an enthusiastic and supportive group of spectators.

As well as competitive events this term, we have also trained our Year 6 children up as Phys Kids leaders. Mrs Wood from Leftwich High School came into school to work with them. She spent time training them up and giving them time to plan sessions to run with our younger children. The children all had a trial run of their session with Year 2 children before a timetable was created with them running sessions during lunch times. This has been a brilliant learning experience for the children providing them opportunities to show their leadership skills. The younger children thoroughly enjoy these sessions.

And finally ...

Sporting Success

Well done to Grace in Year 5 who has recently competed at two swimming galas. She brought in her medals to share with us, which was wonderful to see. As you can see, she was super successful winning a huge range of medals. It looks like we have the next Rebecca Adlington on our hands!! Well done Grace.

Other News

Mini Police

This term we were delighted to welcome our new cohort of Year 5 Mini Police recruits. After submitting written applications and taking part in formal interviews, 24 pupils were successfully awarded their roles and celebrated at the Attestation Ceremony on 15th December. Alongside our existing Mini Police, they have already taken part in a number of valuable community activities. These included representing the Mini Police at the Remembrance service with Cheshire Police at the Davenham Royal British Legion, honouring those who gave their lives in the great wars. They also participated in a Mini Police court with a magistrate, questioning individuals who were caught speeding in our local area, and carried out a litter pick around the school grounds following a KFA event to help keep our environment clean and welcoming. We are incredibly proud of their dedication, maturity and commitment to serving our community.

LKS2 Harvest

The children in LKS2 led the harvest service this year, performing songs and poetry linked to the theme of Harvest. The children had been rehearsing it for several weeks and this hard work really paid off. They put on a wonderful performance, singing beautifully, reading clearly and communicating some important messages around caring for others at this time of the year.

A huge thank you to all of our families who also donated food to the Mid Cheshire Food Bank, who provide vital help to our local community.

Christmas

Thank you so much to the children first, but also the adults who made this Christmas so special. Concerts and nativities are priceless gifts; memories stay with us long after things we buy have faded.

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Kingsmead Light Switch On

The wind band played at the Kingsmead Light Switch on, starting off the festivities with a real treat, despite the weather. The children played brilliantly, conducted by Mrs Harper, who has taken the band from strength to strength.

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Anderton Place

The residents at Anderton Place were treated to a truly wonderful performance by our Year 6 Nativity cast. They enthusiastically joined in with the traditional carols and songs and were delighted by the confidence and talent shown by the children. The residents heaped praise on the performers, commenting on the beautiful group singing, whole-cast numbers and impressive solo performances. To make the visit even more special, the children shared handmade cards created by pupils across the school, and they were kindly rewarded with a selection box each from Anderton Place. It was a heart-warming experience for everyone involved and a lovely way to end the year.

Ladybirds Winter Show

A huge thank you to the children in Ladybirds for putting on a fantastic winter performance. They truly delighted everyone with their enthusiasm and confidence, engaging us with a wonderful selection of winter and Christmas songs. From reindeers prancing to bells ringing, their joyful actions and smiling faces brought the festive season to life and filled the room with cheer. Well done, Ladybirds – you made us all incredibly proud!

KS1 - The Very Wriggly Nativity

A huge thank you and congratulations to all of our KS1 children for their wonderful performance of The Very Wriggly Nativity.

The children did an amazing job learning their lines, songs, and actions, and they performed with such confidence, enthusiasm, and joy. From the wriggliest shepherds to the brightest stars, every child played their part beautifully and made us all incredibly proud.

Thank you also to our staff for their hard work in preparing the children, and to our families for your support, encouragement, and for joining us to celebrate this special performance.

Well done, KS1 – you truly brought the Christmas story to life!

LKS2 Christmas Carols

The LKS2 Carol Concert was a truly festive and memorable occasion, enjoyed by families and staff alike. The children sang a wonderful selection of Christmas songs, filling the hall with joy and seasonal cheer – they sang beautifully and with great confidence. We were especially proud of our new Year 3 recorder players and our new Year 4 instrumentalists, who performed brilliantly in their very first concert after only starting their instruments this term. Their hard work and enthusiasm were clear to see. The concert was further enhanced by a beautiful flute solo, which was performed with great poise and musicality. Well done to all the children for such a fantastic performance.

Copy of 5. Jingle Bells - Y4 Band.mp4

Copy of 3. Father Christmas - Recorders.mp4

Copy of 1. It Was on a Starry Night.mp4

Copy of 7. Away in a Manger - Flute.mp4

UKS2 - Traditional Nativity at St Wilfrid's Church

UKS2 delighted families and friends this term with a truly wonderful nativity performance at St Wilfrid’s Church. The children brought the Christmas story to life with confident narration, expressive acting and beautifully sung carols that filled the church with festive spirit. We extend our heartfelt thanks to the solo singers and small singing groups for their outstanding performances, to the readers and those who shared class poetry, and to the pupils who provided technical support behind the scenes. Thanks also to the children who created the artwork for the programme, whose drawings added a special personal touch. We are immensely grateful to the teachers for their guidance and organisation, and to parents for their support throughout. It was a memorable and heart-warming celebration, and we are so proud of every child involved.

Christmas Tree Festival

This December, our school was delighted to take part in the Third Christmas Tree Festival at St Wilfrid's Church, celebrating the theme “Love Came Down at Christmas.” As part of this special community event, we contributed a decorated tree adorned with handmade decorations inspired by the classic Love Heart sweets — each one crafted with care and creativity by our children. The festival supported The Joshua Tree, a wonderful charity that helps children and families affected by cancer. We were proud to be involved in such a meaningful celebration that not only spread festive cheer but also helped raise awareness and support for an important cause.

As we come to the end of another busy and exciting term, we would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to the KFA for their incredible fundraising efforts. This term alone, they have organised a school disco, a book fair, a film night, Christmas Artwork, and—on top of all that—an amazing Party in the Playground laser show, which raised an astonishing £3,000!

The KFA work tirelessly behind the scenes, giving up their time and energy to raise vital additional funds for our school. Their hard work makes a real difference to every child. Thanks to their support, we are able to provide wonderful opportunities such as Forest Schools sessions—experiences that simply wouldn’t be possible within the constraints of the school budget.

We are also thrilled to share that the KFA’s fundraising is helping to support the introduction of OPAL play after the Christmas break, another project that would not have been able to get off the ground without their commitment and generosity.

Thank you to every member of the KFA for everything you do for our school community. We are truly grateful.

As we come to the end of a busy and rewarding autumn term, we would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to all our families for their continued support and partnership. Your encouragement and involvement help our pupils to flourish and make our school community such a special place to learn and grow. We wish you all a joyful and restful festive break, and a very happy and healthy New Year. We look forward to welcoming everyone back in January, ready for another exciting term ahead!