Summer 2026

a term of farewells and the promise of exciting new beginnings

From headteacher, Lisa Rutter-Brown

This term, our focus has been on caring for our world, but we have explored this through the lens of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Our five weekly routines have encouraged children to think deeply about how they can contribute to a more sustainable future.

The Sustainable Development Goals have provided a valuable framework for exploring important global issues such as climate action, responsible consumption, reducing inequalities, protecting life on land and below water, and building healthy, sustainable communities. The children have shown great enthusiasm and maturity when discussing these topics, demonstrating an impressive understanding of both local and global challenges.

By considering how our actions impact the wider world, the children have developed a greater sense of responsibility and an appreciation of the positive changes that can be achieved through collective effort. We hope these experiences will inspire them to continue making informed choices that support a fairer, healthier, and more sustainable future for all.

As we reach the end of another successful school year, I would like to extend my heartfelt thanks to all of our parents and carers for your continued support. Your partnership has been invaluable in helping us provide the very best opportunities for your children, both academically and personally. Together, we have continued to embrace our school values of being useful and kind, creating a nurturing environment where every child can flourish.

Finally, as we prepare to say goodbye to our wonderful Year 6 children, we wish them every success as they move on to the next stage of their education. They leave us with many happy memories and a great deal of pride. We are confident they will continue to grow, achieve, and carry the values they have developed here with them wherever their journeys take them.

We wish all of our families a safe, restful, and enjoyable summer break and look forward to welcoming everyone back in the new academic year.

School Site Security

Following a review of our site security, our Governing Body has agreed that, from September 2026, the gate leading from the pedestrian path directly onto the school playground will be permanently closed.

This change has been made to further enhance the safety and security of our children by ensuring there is one controlled entrance and exit to the school playground during the school day. Having a single access point will enable staff to monitor who is entering and leaving the school site more effectively, helping us to provide the safest possible environment for all of our pupils.

We appreciate that this will mean more families entering and leaving through the front gate and, at busy times, there may be a short queue while everyone passes through. We hope you will understand that this decision has been made with the children's safety as our priority.

As part of our ongoing commitment to improving site security, we have also successfully secured funding to replace and enhance the fencing around the front of the school. In addition, we are planning to install an automatic access gate for both vehicles and pedestrians. Once this project is completed, access to the school grounds during the school day will only be possible with permission, providing an additional layer of security for everyone on site. We will share further information about this work once the remaining funding has been secured and installation dates have been confirmed.

We would like to thank you in advance for your understanding and support as we introduce these important improvements. Working together, we can continue to ensure Kingsmead Primary School remains a safe and secure place for all of our children to learn and thrive.

Autumn Term Dates

Autumn 1

1st September - INSET Day

2nd September - School Open

7th September - Meet the Teacher 3:30pm and 4:00pm

23rd September - KFA Coffee Morning 8:45 am

30th September - EYFS 2027 Open Day @ 9:30am, 1:30pm, 5:00pm

8th October - Supporting Your Child's Early Reading 5:00pm

10th October - EYFS 2027 Stay and Play 9:00 - 11:00am

15th October - Individual and sibling photographs

20th October - LKS2 Harvest Show 2:15pm

21st October - Proud Work Open Afternoon, from 2:30 pm

23rd October - Last day before half term

Autumn 2

2nd November - School Open

12th November - EYFS 2027 Open Day @ 9:30am, 1:30pm, 5:00pm

19th November - Parent's Evening

9th December - UKS2 Nativity @ St Wilfrid's - 1:30pm

11th December - Beautiful Work Celebration Assembly - 2:30pm

15th December - KS1 Christmas Show - 2:15pm

17th December - KS1 Christmas Show - 9:15am

17th December - LKS2 Christmas Carols - 2:15pm

18th December - Last day before Christmas Break

Curriculum @ Kingsmead

Early Years Foundation Stage

by Ladybirds Teacher Deb Fielden

Our EYFS children have enjoyed a truly memorable term filled with exciting learning opportunities and enriching experiences. They thoroughly enjoyed educational visits to Imagine That! and Northwich Fire Station, where they explored, discovered and learned through hands-on experiences. We have also welcomed many special visitors into school, including PCSO Lee and his police van, an amazing plumbing workshop ran by Mr Hebblewhite, a Forest School session, and Mrs Burrows, who delivered a fun and energetic Pop Cats session outdoors. In addition, we were incredibly fortunate to benefit from the talents of Mrs Leah Stait, who worked with the children throughout the term to create the words and music for our wonderful end-of-year Ladybirds song, alongside Mr Stait. The children performed their special song beautifully at the end-of-year show, and we are immensely proud of their enthusiasm, creativity and confidence. It has been a fantastic term, full of memorable experiences that have supported and celebrated the children's learning and development.

Alongside these exciting experiences, the children have enjoyed a wealth of learning opportunities both indoors and outdoors. As part of our Healthy Me topic, they made healthy wraps and explored the importance of healthy lifestyles. Through their play and learning, the children have continued to develop their knowledge, independence and problem-solving skills, and it has been wonderful to see how much they have grown throughout the year.

Summer Show

The Ladybirds delighted families with their wonderful Summer Show, performing an alternative version of The Very Hungry Caterpillar entitled The Very Healthy Caterpillar. The performance brought together so much of their learning from this term, as the children confidently shared important messages about staying healthy through eating nutritious food, drinking plenty of water, brushing their teeth and keeping active. They were absolutely fantastic, remembering exactly when to come onto the stage, singing beautifully and accompanying the songs with percussion instruments. To end the performance, the children treated everyone to a very special surprise – their very own pop song, written and composed with the help of one of our incredibly talented parents. The song reflected on their journey through their very first year at Kingsmead, celebrating all they have learned and experienced together. It was a truly heartwarming finale, and judging by the number of tissues being reached for around the hall, there were more than a few proud and emotional parents by the end!

Please listen to the song below.

Ladybird's Song

KS1

by Phase Leader Julia Watkins

What a term it has been!

I really can't tell you how proud we all are of the children after our Learning Without Limits event. The feedback from so many of you has been incredibly positive and kind—thank you so much for taking the time to share it with us.

Watching the children confidently share their learning and talk about our school was such a special moment. Their enthusiasm, knowledge and growing confidence were wonderful to see. Even our quieter children found their own way to shine, and every single child played an important part. We couldn't be prouder!

The children were especially excited when Mrs Rutter Brown popped into our classroom this week to ask them what type of wood our school was built from—because she didn't know the answer herself! They loved being the experts and were so keen to share everything they had learnt.

As well as our Learning Without Limits school tour, we have also:

In Science we have planted and grown our own bean plants. It has been exciting to watch them grow, and some children have even enjoyed using beans in cooking at home!

In PE we practised hard for Sports Day and had a fantastic time taking part. We were so proud of the children's determination, teamwork and resilience throughout the event.

In PSHE, we learnt about keeping our bodies healthy by making healthy food choices. The children loved preparing—and, of course, tasting—their delicious fruit kebabs. Perhaps they'll enjoy making them again at home over the summer!

In Computing we learnt that computers (and Bee-Bots!) need clear and precise instructions. We enjoyed programming and debugging our Bee-Bots to help them reach their destination.

In Geography and Science

We have continued becoming expert tree and plant spotters! Using identification sheets, we learnt to recognise trees such as oak, horse chestnut, rowan and silver birch, as well as common plants including thistles, cow parsley, knapweed, brambles, dog roses and dandelions. We'd love the children to continue their nature spotting over the summer while they're out and about—we wonder how many they can identify!

It has been another wonderful term of learning, and we are so proud of everything the children continue to achieve.

The children have loved identifying different trees and plants around our school grounds. We would love them to keep exploring over the summer—see what trees, flowers and plants you can spot when you're out and about on walks, at the park or on holiday. We wonder how many different ones they will recognise!

LKS2

by Phase Leader Emma Miller

As always, we have had another busy and exciting term in LKS2,

Year 3 & 4 River Exhibition

On Wednesday 8th July, our Year 3 and 4 children proudly showcased their learning in a fantastic River Exhibition.

The exhibition was inspired by the children's learning in Geography and English. In our English lessons we’ve enjoyed reading and being inspired by a beautiful book called ‘Amazing Rivers’ which taught the children about many rivers around the world. The children have done some fantastic writing inspired by this book, including describing a journey along a subterranean river and writing leaflets advertising leisure activities on rivers.

In our Geography lessons, we started with a visit from Helen from the Canal & River Trust. She was impressed by the children’s knowledge of the features of a river. She taught us more information about The River Weaver. This was followed by a walk along the River Weaver where we were able to see our theoretical learning from our Geography lessons in real life.

On our return to the classroom, each child worked further on the field sketches they’d made during their River Weaver visit.

From there, each child researched an aspect of rivers that particularly interested them, becoming experts in topics ranging from the water cycle and water filtration to the creatures of the Amazon River, gold panning, subterranean rivers, and the Colorado River.

Visitors enjoyed exploring an impressive range of interactive models and displays, taking part in quizzes, reading informative leaflets, watching engaging demonstrations, and listening to confident, knowledgeable presentations from the children.

A special thank you goes to Liz from STEM Skills Club, who joined us to share the exciting work that Skills Club members have been doing on water-powered boats, adding another inspiring dimension to the exhibition.

The Year 3 and 4 team were incredibly proud of the children's enthusiasm, creativity, confidence, and depth of knowledge. They demonstrated outstanding communication and teamwork throughout the event, making the exhibition a wonderful celebration of curiosity and achievement. It truly was an example of Learning Without Limits.

Science

In our science this term, we’ve been finding out about flowering plants. The children have named the parts of the plants and found out about the jobs each part does. We’ve investigated the conditions needed for green plants to grow and investigated how the stem of the plant transports water around the parts of the plant.

Y3 Recorder Concert

Our Year 3 children put on a fabulous performance of singing and recorder playing, showcasing everything they have learned this year under the guidance of Mrs Harper in the autumn and spring terms and Mr Curtin in the summer term. Their final song ’Don’t Look Down’ was a very powerful finale to what was a wonderful celebration of music. They sang beautifully, played their recorders brilliantly and performed with confidence, enthusiasm and huge smiles. Learning to play an instrument as part of a group is such a valuable experience. Not only are the children developing their musical skills and learning to read music, but they are also learning to listen, work together, persevere and bring joy to others through their performances. A huge well done to all of our Year 3 musicians – you should be incredibly proud of yourselves. Thank you to our families for your wonderful support and to our music team for inspiring the next generation of musicians.

UKS2

by Phase Leader Debbie McHugh

What a busy and exciting term it has been in Year 5 & 6!

This term, our UKS2 theme has been Exploration, with the children embarking on an exciting journey to discover more about our solar system and the wonders of space. Throughout the term, they have demonstrated incredible curiosity, creativity and enthusiasm as they deepened their understanding of this fascinating topic.

As part of the theme, the children enjoyed an educational visit to Jodrell Bank, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. They explored a variety of interactive pavilions, discovering new scientific concepts and taking part in a range of hands-on activities. One of the highlights of the day was a visit to the planetarium, where they learned more about our solar system and the constellations visible in the night sky. They were also amazed by the iconic Lovell Telescope, whose sheer size left a lasting impression on everyone.

To further enrich their learning, we were delighted to welcome the Stardome from Keele University to school. Set up in the school hall, the immersive planetarium gave our classes the opportunity to experience the wonders of space in a truly unique and engaging way, bringing many of the concepts they had been studying to life.

As a fitting finale to the term, the children invited their parents to a special exhibition, where they proudly showcased everything they had learned through a range of interactive displays, models and presentations. It was wonderful to see them speaking so confidently and enthusiastically about their learning, answering questions and sharing their expertise with visitors. The exhibition was a fantastic celebration of all they had achieved and demonstrated what can happen when children are given the opportunity to become experts in their learning. Not only did they display an impressive depth of knowledge, but they also developed the confidence to communicate their ideas clearly and effectively to a real audience.

We are incredibly proud of all the children for their enthusiasm, curiosity and commitment throughout the term, and we hope their passion for exploration will continue to inspire their future learning.

In English, we have covered two very different but equally interesting books. One was Sky Chasers in the first half of the term which tells the story of the invention of the hot air balloon. The unit finished with the children writing some fabulous versions of the next chapter of the story. In the second half of this term, the children have focussed on Manfish, which tells the story of Jacques Cousteau. The children have been engaged in finding out more about his life as an oceanographer and inventor. The children have written some fabulous biographies all about his life.

Bikeability

Throughout the term, groups of our Year 5 & 6 children have successfully completed their Bikeability training. The course taught them a range of essential cycling skills, including carrying out safety checks on their bikes, setting off and stopping safely, signalling clearly, understanding road positioning and making safe decisions at junctions. They also had the opportunity to put these skills into practice by riding on local roads under the guidance of qualified instructors. The children demonstrated excellent listening skills, confidence and responsibility throughout the course, and we are incredibly proud of their achievements.

First Aid

Our pupils took part in a Basic First Aid training session delivered by Daisy First Aid. Throughout the session, they learned valuable life-saving skills and developed the confidence to respond appropriately in emergency situations. The children explored how to treat minor injuries, recognise when help is needed, and understand the important role they can play while waiting for professional assistance to arrive. A huge thank you to the KFA for generously funding this fantastic opportunity. Their support is helping our pupils develop essential skills that could one day make a real difference.

Year 6 head off in style

It has been a memorable end to the year for our Year 6 children, with a range of special events marking the end of their Kingsmead journey.

One of the highlights was their wonderful Leavers' Party at Marbury. The children enjoyed an evening playing games, relaxing in the park and sharing a delicious BBQ together. The celebrations were rounded off perfectly with a refreshing dip in the Marbury pool, which was especially welcome on such a warm day! It was a fantastic opportunity for everyone to come together, celebrate their achievements and reflect on the many happy memories they have made throughout their time at Kingsmead.

Kitty Whittington

Another fitting celebration was their end-of-year production of Kitty Whittington. Supported by a wonderful Year 5 choir, our Year 6 pupils delighted families with two outstanding performances. Over the past few months, the children have shown tremendous dedication, learning their lines, developing their stage presence, preparing the scenery and rehearsing every aspect of the production. Their hard work and enthusiasm shone through in two confident, entertaining performances that were thoroughly enjoyed by everyone in the audience. We are incredibly proud of all the children for the teamwork, resilience and talent they demonstrated throughout the process, making the show such a memorable success.

As their time at Kingsmead drew to a close, the children also enjoyed a special leavers' lunch, with a menu chosen by the pupils themselves. On the final day, they came together with staff and families for a moving Leavers' Assembly, which celebrated their time at Kingsmead through a photo montage, poems, special memories and songs. It was a wonderful opportunity to reflect on their journey, celebrate all they have achieved and wish them well for the future.

As our Year 6 pupils prepare to begin the next chapter of their education, we wish them every happiness and success in their new schools. They leave Kingsmead with wonderful memories, lasting friendships and many achievements to be proud of, and we know they have bright futures ahead of them.Good luck Class of 2026!

As a phase, we would like to take this opportunity to thank all of our parents and families for your continued support throughout the term. By working together, we can provide the very best experiences and opportunities for our children, and your encouragement and involvement are greatly appreciated.

We wish you all a happy, restful and enjoyable summer break. To those returning, we look forward to welcoming you back in September, and to those moving on to new adventures, we wish you every success and happiness for the future.

Year 6 Leaver's Assembly

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Summer Reading Challenge

As we head into the summer holidays, we would love to encourage all of our children to take part in this year's Summer Reading Challenge: Read to the Beat at their local library. This fun, free challenge celebrates the joy of reading, with a music-inspired theme that encourages children to discover new books, collect rewards and keep reading throughout the holidays.

Reading regularly over the summer is one of the best ways to keep young minds active. Research shows that children who continue to read during the holidays are more likely to maintain their reading skills and return to school feeling confident and ready to learn. Reading for just 20 minutes a day exposes children to around 1.8 million words each year, helping to build vocabulary, improve comprehension and develop imagination, creativity and empathy.

Whether your child enjoys adventure stories, funny books, graphic novels, information books or audiobooks, every page they read counts. Visiting the library is a fantastic way to discover new authors, take part in free activities and enjoy reading together as a family.

We hope as many of our pupils as possible will sign up for the Read to the Beat Summer Reading Challenge and keep their love of reading alive throughout the holidays. We look forward to hearing all about the wonderful books they have enjoyed when they return in September. Happy reading!

sporting news

It has been another incredibly busy and successful term for sport at Kingsmead, with pupils taking part in a wide range of competitions, festivals and events. As always, our children have represented the school with enthusiasm, determination and excellent sportsmanship, making us all extremely proud.

Smile for a Mile

The term began with the annual Smile for a Mile event at Leftwich High School, where 63 of our pupils competed against children from schools across the area in age-group races. Every child showed fantastic determination, pacing themselves well and giving their very best effort. Special congratulations go to Ralph W (Year 2), Thomas S (Year 4) and Jack F (Year 6), who were the first Kingsmead pupils to finish in their respective phases.

Following our outstanding participation in last year's Smile for a Mile campaign, the Vale Royal School Sports Partnership (VRSSP) invited us to feature in a promotional video showcasing our own version of the initiative, the 'Lap and Back'. This daily activity provides children with a valuable break from classroom learning while helping them to re-energise and refocus. We welcomed a media team from Cheshire West and Chester Council into school for an afternoon of filming, with our Pine Martens class playing a starring role. We are incredibly proud of the finished video, which is available to watch on our school Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1Ric1Diuv1/ . Well done to all of the Pine Martens for doing such a fantastic job!

Leadership

During the Easter holidays, ten of our Year 5 and 6 pupils attended the Leadership and Performance Sport Academies, organised by the VRSSP. These sessions provide children with opportunities to develop both their leadership skills and sporting abilities. The pupils thoroughly enjoyed the experience and received excellent feedback from programme leader Chris Story, with several children receiving special awards for their enthusiasm and skill. They represented the school brilliantly throughout.

Sports Day

Sports Day was, as always, a highlight of the Summer Term. In the morning, our Key Stage 2 pupils competed in a range of track and field events, earning valuable points for their teams through determination, teamwork and perseverance. During the afternoon, it was the turn of our EYFS and Key Stage 1 children, who embraced every activity with enthusiasm and smiles. Across the whole day, the children demonstrated the sporting values we are so proud of, showing respect, encouragement and resilience throughout. After a closely contested competition, Egypt were crowned this year's Sports Day champions.

Town Sports

Some of our Year 5 and 6 pupils also proudly represented Kingsmead at the annual Town Sports competition, taking part in track events including sprints, hurdles and relays, alongside field events such as javelin (howler), shot put and long jump. Every pupil demonstrated outstanding determination, resilience and sportsmanship throughout the afternoon. We would like to give special congratulations to our event winners:

Year 5 Girls' Hurdles – Darcey
Year 5 Boys' Relay – Jaxon, Jackson, Ben and Will
Year 6 Girls' Long Jump – Grace
Year 6 Boys' Hurdles – Oli

Dodgeball

Congratulations also go to our two Dodgeball teams, who competed at Leftwich High School against Comberbach. The teams achieved an outstanding result, finishing as champions and runners-up. More importantly, they displayed exceptional teamwork, respect and encouragement throughout the competition, making us incredibly proud.

Girls Football

This term also saw our Year 5 and 6 boys' and girls' football teams compete in the Northwich Mini League against strong opposition from Hartford Primary School. Although the results did not go our way, the children showed resilience, determination and excellent sportsmanship throughout every match.

Our girls from Years 2 to 4 enjoyed a fantastic friendly football match against Comberbach, which perfectly reflected the true spirit of school sport. Both teams played with enthusiasm, teamwork and respect, encouraging one another throughout. Kingsmead won the match 6–3, with goals scored by Charlotte K (1), Isla G (2), Maya M (2) and Gracie F (1). Most importantly, the girls had great fun while developing their confidence and football skills.

Orienteering

A group of Year 5 and 6 pupils also took part in an exciting orienteering event at Hartford High School. Working together in teams, they successfully navigated the course, locating a series of controls around the site. The children embraced the challenge with enthusiasm and represented the school exceptionally well.

Health and Wellbeing

The children celebrated Health & Wellbeing week this term,, taking part in a variety of activities designed to help them think about the importance of keeping both their minds and bodies healthy. Throughout the week, they explored different ways to support their physical and mental wellbeing and showed great enthusiasm in all of the activities. As part of the week, every child had the opportunity to take part in a dance workshop led by Chloe Jones. The workshops were fantastic and thoroughly enjoyed by all. The children demonstrated great energy, creativity and confidence, and it was amazing to see what they were able to achieve in such a short space of time. They worked incredibly hard and produced some impressive performances, showcasing a range of dance skills and plenty of enthusiasm.A special thanks to Chloe for giving up her time to run these workshops.

Vale Royal School Sports Partnership

One of the most memorable events of the term was taking part in the VRSSP Cake Relay, celebrating the partnership's 20th anniversary. We welcomed the celebration cake into school from Davenham with music and cheers before taking part in a special exchange of pledges celebrating the values of Respect, Inclusion, Determination, Teamwork and Friendship. Our relay team, made up of pupils from Years 1 to 6, then proudly completed our leg of the relay to Leftwich High School, where they handed the cake on to continue its journey. The children showed incredible determination and were wonderful ambassadors for our school.

Finally, a huge well done to every child who has represented Kingsmead in sporting events this term. Whether competing, supporting teammates or simply giving their very best effort, they have demonstrated the sporting values that make us so proud. We would also like to extend our sincere thanks to all of our families for their continued support with transport and encouragement. Without your help, many of these opportunities would not be possible.

Music

Despite missing our Music Lead, Mrs Harper, while she is on maternity leave, we have been delighted by the continued enthusiasm, engagement and musical excellence shown by the children throughout the summer term. We have been pleased to welcome our new recorder teacher, Mr Curtin, whose lessons have been thoroughly enjoyed by our Year 3 pupils. Mr Harper and Mrs Singleton have successfully combined the wind band and string group to create a fantastic orchestra, which impressed audiences with a wonderful performance at the Cheshire Show. Meanwhile, Mrs Redmond has led Big Sing sessions for all Key Stage 2 children, giving pupils a fantastic opportunity to develop their confidence, teamwork and love of singing. We are incredibly proud of all our young musicians and the commitment they have shown this term.

Cheshire Show.mp4

The Cheshire Show

A particular highlight of the term was our school orchestra's performance at the Cheshire Show, where they had the honour of opening the day's programme in the Music Bowl. Performing to a large audience, the children showcased their talent, dedication and confidence, delivering a fantastic selection of pieces that set the tone for a wonderful day of music and entertainment. Their professionalism and enthusiasm were a credit to the school, and we were incredibly proud of the way they represented us. The performance was a memorable experience for all involved and a fitting celebration of the hard work the orchestra has put in throughout the year.

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Recorder Concert

Our Year 3 Recorder Concert was a wonderful celebration of the children's musical learning this year. They performed with confidence, singing beautifully and playing their recorders brilliantly, demonstrating the fantastic progress they have made.

Learning to play an instrument as part of a group gives children so much more than musical skills. They are learning to read music, perform together, listen carefully to one another and experience the joy that music can bring to both performers and audiences.

A special thank you goes to Mr Curtin for his enthusiasm and dedication throughout the year. He brings so much fun and energy to every lesson, engaging the children and inspiring a real love of music. His encouragement has helped our Year 3 pupils grow in confidence and develop the skills needed to perform so successfully. We are incredibly grateful for everything he does to support music at Kingsmead.

We would also like to say a huge well done to our fantastic Recorder Ensemble. These are children who have continued playing the recorder beyond Year 3, and they are now accomplished musicians who perform regularly at school events. Their commitment and enthusiasm are a wonderful example of where learning an instrument can lead.

To our current Year 3 children – we hope this is just the beginning of your musical journey! If you have enjoyed learning the recorder this year, we would love to see you continue your lessons and become part of our Recorder Ensemble. It is a brilliant opportunity to develop your skills, make music with friends and be part of a group that brings so much enjoyment to our school community.

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Learning Without Limits

This year, our staff team has been undertaking professional development focused on Learning Without Limits, exploring how we can further develop a culture where all children are encouraged to embrace challenge, persevere and reach their full potential. Central to this work is the Head, Hand, Heart model, which encourages children to develop not only their knowledge and understanding (Head), but also their skills and application of learning (Hand), alongside the personal qualities, attitudes and values that help them flourish (Heart). Alongside this work, we have continued to place a strong emphasis on producing beautiful work, celebrating pupils' achievements through our Proud Work Afternoons and Beautiful Work Celebration Assemblies. A particularly exciting development has been the introduction of termly final projects, which provide children with the opportunity to bring together and showcase their learning from across the term. These projects enable pupils to demonstrate what they know, what they can do and the qualities they have developed, while giving them a real sense of pride in their achievements.

Beautiful Work

We would like to congratulate all of the children who have received a Beautiful Work Certificate this term. These awards recognise pupils who consistently demonstrate pride, care and dedication in the presentation and quality of their work, and we are incredibly proud of their achievements. It has been wonderful to see the high standards being achieved across the school and the commitment children have shown to producing work of which they can be truly proud. We would also like to extend our sincere thanks to all the parents and families who attended our Proud Work Open Afternoon. Your support helped make the event a special celebration of the children's efforts and achievements, and the pupils thoroughly enjoyed sharing their learning and hard work with you. Together, these events help us to recognise and celebrate the value of effort, perseverance and excellence in all that our children do.

Project Showcases

EYFS People Who Help us

Our Ladybirds class proudly showcased their Learning Without Limits project this term, exploring the exciting topic of People Who Help Us. Throughout the project, the children developed their understanding of the important roles people play in helping others within our community. They were delighted to welcome a range of special visitors into school, including a yoga teacher, a plumber and a pilot, who shared their experiences and inspired the children through hands-on activities and real-life learning experiences.

As part of our Learning Without Limits approach, we are creating meaningful opportunities for children to present their learning to authentic audiences. To celebrate the end of their project, Ladybirds hosted a special film premiere, sharing a film they had created about everything they had discovered with the rest of the school. Their audience was incredibly impressed by the children's confidence, enthusiasm and knowledge of the different professions they had explored. The project helped the children develop their communication skills, curiosity and understanding of the world around them, while demonstrating just how much they had learned. We are incredibly proud of all of our Ladybirds—well done!

KS1 Expert Tour Guides

Our KS1 children became expert tour guides as they welcomed parents and family members to their Learning Without Limits Showcase. Visitors were taken on a fascinating tour of the school, stopping at a range of stations where the children confidently shared everything they had discovered throughout their project.

Families learned about the history of our school building, explored the many environmentally friendly features that make Kingsmead such a sustainable school—including our solar panels, rainwater harvesting system, south-facing design and automated window ventilation system—and discovered how these features help to reduce our impact on the environment.

The tour also showcased the children's scientific learning. Visitors found out about the different plants growing around our school grounds, the parts of a plant and what plants need to survive, as well as how we observe and measure the weather.

Alongside their presentations, the children proudly displayed the beautiful press prints they had created in Art. Inspired by the work of William Morris, they carefully studied his intricate botanical designs before producing their own striking prints using natural patterns and repeated motifs. The artwork was a wonderful example of how learning across different subjects can come together through our Learning Without Limits curriculum.

The children spoke with confidence, enthusiasm and pride, answering questions and explaining their learning like true experts. It was wonderful to hear so many parents commenting that they had discovered things about our school that they had never known before. We are incredibly proud of how brilliantly the children shared their knowledge and demonstrated that learning really does have no limits.

1 - Welcome

2 - History of Kingsmead

3 - Rainwater Harvesting

4 - Solar Panels

5 - Insulation

6 - Windows

7 - Silver Birch and Horse Chesnut Trees

8 - Plant Identification

9 - What plants need

10 - How the school was built

11 - Parts of a Plant

12 - Oak and Rowan Trees

13 - Parts of a Plant

14 - William Morris Art

15 - The Extension

16 - Weather

LKS2 River Experts

Our LKS2 children became River Experts as part of their Learning Without Limits project. To celebrate their learning, they hosted a fantastic exhibition where they shared their knowledge with parents, carers and visitors.

The children were absolute stars, confidently explaining their learning and impressing everyone with their excellent presentation skills and subject knowledge. Visitors enjoyed exploring interactive models and displays, taking part in quizzes, reading informative leaflets, watching demonstrations, and admiring the beautifully presented work that the children had created.

Throughout this physical geography unit, the children developed their understanding of The Water Cycle and Rivers. They explored the different stages of the water cycle, identified and explained the key features of rivers, and collected, recorded and interpreted rainfall data. They also studied the Amazon River, comparing it with our local River Weaver to identify similarities and differences in their physical features, surrounding environments and the ways in which people use them. This learning enabled the children to develop a deeper understanding of how rivers shape both landscapes and communities.

The exhibition provided an authentic opportunity for pupils to communicate their learning, answer questions and demonstrate the confidence, curiosity and enthusiasm that are at the heart of our Learning Without Limits approach. We are incredibly proud of how they embraced the role of River Experts and shared their expertise so confidently with others.

UKS2 Space Experts

Our Upper Key Stage 2 pupils proudly welcomed their families to their Learning Without Limits Space Exhibition, celebrating a term of exciting learning and discovery.

Throughout the project, the children explored the wonders of our solar system and beyond, developing their scientific knowledge of the Earth, Moon and Sun, understanding how day and night occur, investigating the movement of the planets and learning about significant figures in the history of space exploration. They combined this knowledge with their English, art and design skills to create an engaging exhibition for visitors.

The children had worked incredibly hard to prepare their displays and presentations and spoke with confidence and enthusiasm as they shared their learning with families. They answered questions thoughtfully, explained complex ideas clearly and demonstrated just how much they had retained from the project.

The exhibition was a wonderful example of our Learning Without Limits approach, giving children the opportunity to become experts in their learning and communicate their knowledge to a real audience. We are incredibly proud of the confidence, curiosity and pride in their work that our Year 5 and 6 pupils demonstrated throughout the event.

Online Safety

This term, our pupils took part in a series of engaging and informative online safety workshops led by Detective Constable Andrew Kevan. The sessions helped children develop their understanding of how to stay safe, responsible and respectful in an increasingly digital world, exploring topics such as online communication, gaming, social media and recognising potential risks.

The workshops gave pupils practical advice and the confidence to make safe choices online, reinforcing the importance of speaking to a trusted adult if something doesn't feel right. We are incredibly grateful to DC Kevan for sharing his expertise and delivering such valuable sessions for our children.

We were also delighted to welcome parents to an accompanying online safety session, which was very well received. Thank you to everyone who attended and continues to work in partnership with us to help keep our children safe both in school and online. Please see our school website for further information about staying safe online.

Useful and Kind Awards

As we come to the end of term, it’s been wonderful to recognise our latest group of children who consistently demonstrate what it means to be useful, kind, and ready to learn without limits. In a special celebration assembly, these pupils were presented with the Bronze Useful and Kind award in recognition of their outstanding efforts and one child had moved onto the Silver award. They truly embody our school ethos in their daily actions—helping others, showing kindness in every interaction, and approaching learning with enthusiasm and determination. We are so proud of them and look forward to seeing even more children strive for this meaningful achievement next term.

Silver Award Winner

Red Admiral Awards

As we come to the end of another successful school year, we are delighted to celebrate the children who have been awarded our prestigious Red Admiral Award. This special honour is presented to one boy and one girl from each year group who have demonstrated exceptional achievement, growth and contribution throughout the year. Whether through outstanding academic progress, remarkable perseverance, positive attitudes, acts of kindness, leadership, or being an excellent role model for others, each recipient has made a unique and valued contribution to our school community. We are incredibly proud of all they have accomplished and the way they embody our school values.

We are also pleased to present the Monarch Butterfly Award to one Year 6 pupil who joined our school after the start of their primary journey and has made a significant and positive contribution during their time with us. This award recognises the impact they have had on our school community and celebrates the way they have embraced school life, formed strong relationships and left a lasting impression on both staff and pupils alike.

Red Admiral Winners

Monarch Butterfly Winner

Community @ Kingsmead

Crafts for a Cause

As part of this term's learning about Caring for Our World, the children explored how they can make a positive difference in their local community through social enterprise. They planned and created a wonderful range of handmade crafts before organising and running our Crafts for a Cause sale.

The project gave the children the opportunity to develop their creativity, teamwork and enterprise skills while raising money for a cause close to our hearts. We are delighted that all profits from the sale have been donated to Thriving Families, a local charity that provides invaluable support to families in our community.

We are incredibly proud of the enthusiasm, kindness and commitment shown by everyone involved. The children demonstrated that even small actions can have a big impact, and through working together they have helped make a real difference to others. A huge thank you to everyone who supported the sale and helped make it such a success.

Making a Difference Beyond School

We are incredibly proud of the many children who have chosen to support charitable causes in their own time this year. Their kindness, generosity and determination demonstrate our school values in action and show that even small acts can make a big difference to others.

A huge congratulations to Lydia in Dragonflies, who recently took part in the Manchester Pretty Muddy Kids event to raise money for charity. Lydia had wanted to complete a muddy run this year, but the event became even more meaningful as her wonderful Granny is currently receiving chemotherapy for breast cancer.

Wanting to give something back and show her gratitude for the care and support her Granny has received, Lydia took on the challenge and has raised an incredible £345 for charity.

We are so proud of Lydia for showing such kindness, compassion and determination. She has truly demonstrated our school values by making a positive difference to others in our community.

A special well done to Katya in Year 4, who decided to mark the tenth anniversary of her older sister Eva's remission from a Wilms tumour by having her hair cut and donated to the Little Princess Trust. As part of this incredible act of kindness, Katya has also raised over £500 for Milly's Smiles, a charity that is very close to her family's heart. We are immensely proud of Katya for turning such a personal milestone into an opportunity to help others.

Congratulations also to Nurvi, who has raised an incredible £550 for the Little Princess Trust. Despite never enjoying having her hair cut, she bravely donated 12 inches of her hair to help provide wigs for children and young people experiencing hair loss. Her generosity, courage and compassion are truly inspiring.

A huge well done to Finley in Bees, who completed a Duathlon and raised an amazing £374.38 for Mid Cheshire Hospitals Charity. During the school holidays, Finley visited the hospital, where staff thanked him personally for his outstanding fundraising efforts and presented him with a certificate and a Young Fundraiser Trophy. What a fantastic achievement!

Finally, congratulations to Emily and Mason from Pine Martens, who recently took part in the Cancer Research Race for Life alongside their rugby team. Together, the team raised an incredible £1,300 to support life-changing cancer research.

These pupils have shown outstanding compassion, resilience and community spirit. They are wonderful ambassadors for our school, and we are incredibly proud of the positive difference they are making to the lives of others. Well done to each and every one of them!

Our membership of NEP continues to provide valuable opportunities for school leaders, teachers and children to work and learn together. This year, the partnership's theme has been empowerment, encouraging everyone within the NEP community to develop confidence, embrace opportunities and recognise the positive impact they can have on others. Through a wide range of collaborative events and professional learning opportunities, this theme has been brought to life across our schools. We would like to thank the partnership for organising and delivering so many enriching experiences for both children and staff throughout the year.

Northwich Sings

We are incredibly proud of our Year 5 children for their wonderful performance at Northwich Sings, where they joined pupils from schools across the town to take part in this fantastic musical celebration. After weeks of dedicated rehearsals, the children performed songs from Kitty Whittington with enthusiasm, confidence and great energy. Their singing was a credit to the school, and they represented us brilliantly throughout the event. Taking part in such a large-scale performance was a memorable experience, helping to develop their musical skills while building confidence and a sense of community. Well done to all of our Year 5 singers for their hard work and outstanding effort.

Summer Art Show

This year, our Year 2 and Year 4 children were delighted to take part in the NEP Art Project, which focused on the theme of Empowerment. Pupils explored what empowerment means to them and expressed their ideas through creative and imaginative artwork. We are incredibly proud of the pieces produced, which showcase not only the children's artistic talents but also their thoughtful reflections on confidence, resilience and believing in themselves. It has been a privilege to have our artwork selected for display at the Lion Salt Works alongside work from other schools across the partnership. The exhibition is a wonderful celebration of creativity and collaboration, and we are sure that all who visit will be impressed by the quality and originality of the children's work.

Year 2

Year 2 have created a vibrant collaborative mural inspired by the Mexican artist Frida Kahlo, celebrating individuality and self-expression. As part of the project, the children carefully designed self-portraits and selected symbols that represent their interests, personalities and identities. These individual pieces were then brought together to form a striking mural, set against a backdrop of lush green leaves and powerful words of empowerment. The finished artwork reflects both the uniqueness of each child and the strength of belonging to a supportive community, perfectly capturing the spirit of Frida Kahlo's work.

Year 4

Year 4's collaborative artwork was inspired by Faith Ringgold's famous story quilt Tar Beach. Linking to the theme of empowerment, the children reimagined themselves as superheroes, celebrating their own strengths, talents and aspirations. They adapted Ringgold's iconic New York skyline by creating a Northwich skyline instead, with each child drawing a local building or landmark that holds special meaning for them. To complete the piece, the children researched traditional quilt patterns and designed their own quilt squares, which were combined to create a colourful decorative border. The finished artwork beautifully combines personal identity, local pride and creativity while paying tribute to Faith Ringgold's inspiring work.

Northwich Pupil Parliament

As part of their role as this year's Pupil Parliament representatives, Mr D and Miss H were given the exciting opportunity to become our Headteachers for the Day and experience what it is like to lead a school.

They enjoyed a packed schedule, welcoming children to school in the morning, attending meetings to discuss important school matters, introducing assembly, completing playground duty, sending an email to staff outlining key decisions, meeting with a Governor to learn more about their role, and even taking part in a finance budget meeting.

Throughout the day, both pupils demonstrated outstanding confidence, responsibility and leadership, approaching every task with enthusiasm and maturity. They also shared their experiences with the Pupil Parliament, inspiring other pupils to become involved in leadership opportunities across the school.

A huge well done to both of our Headteachers for the Day – they did a fantastic job and were wonderful ambassadors for our school. I may have some competition in the future!

Bee and Butterfly Planting Project

We are incredibly proud of the children who recently represented our school as part of the Northwich Education Partnership's bee and butterfly-friendly planting project. The children enjoyed spending time planting beautiful pollinator-friendly flowers and plants in planters around the town centre, helping to create attractive displays while supporting local wildlife and pollinators. The finished planters look fantastic, and we encourage families to look out for them next time they are visiting Northwich. We would also like to thank Northwich Town Council for their support and for providing our pupils with such a valuable opportunity to contribute positively to the local community and environment.

Mini Police Officers

A huge thank you to our fantastic Mini Police Officers for their continued dedication and hard work in supporting safety in our local community.

Our Year 5 Mini Police have had a busy and rewarding term, taking part in a range of activities designed to help them become responsible citizens and positive role models within our school and local community. They completed Let's Walk training, developing their road safety knowledge and promoting safe travel, and enjoyed working alongside our local police team using a speed camera on the estate to learn more about road safety and community policing.

Throughout the term, the children have represented our school brilliantly, demonstrating enthusiasm, responsibility and excellent behaviour in every activity. PCSO Robertson has been incredibly impressed with their positive attitude, commitment and maturity. We are very proud of everything our Mini Police have achieved this term.

Over the past year we’ve enjoyed so many brilliant events, including:

● Guess the Name of the Bunny

● Wacky Hair Day

● Silent Disco

● School Disco

● Our very first KFA Colour Run and Laser Show

● Non-Uniform Day

KFA @ Kingsmead

by Lauren - Chair of KFA

As another fantastic school year comes to an end, we’d like to take a moment to thank everyone who has supported the Kingsmead Friends Association throughout 2025/26.

This year simply wouldn’t have been possible without the incredible support of our school community. Whether you attended an event, volunteered your time, donated prizes, sponsored your children, or simply shared our posts, every contribution has helped make a real difference.

Thanks to your generosity, we’ve been able to raise valuable funds that have gone straight back into enhancing school life for all of our children. This year, KFA has proudly funded a wide range of resources, experiences and improvements that will benefit pupils for years to come, including:

● OPAL play equipment

● Forest School sessions each term for every class

● First aid training for year 5 & 6

● Foldaway chairs for school performances

● Annual donation to the school

● School Christmas tree

A huge thank you also goes to our amazing KFA committee, our volunteers, the staff at Kingsmead, PCSO Lee and everyone behind the scenes who has given up their time to help make each event a success. We couldn’t do it without you.

First Aid Training

This term, our Year 5 and Year 6 pupils took part in basic first aid training delivered by Daisy First Aid. The children learned a range of valuable life-saving skills, helping them to understand how to respond confidently and safely in an emergency.

During the session, pupils explored how to treat minor injuries, recognise when emergency assistance may be needed and understand the steps they can take while waiting for professional help to arrive. They engaged enthusiastically throughout and gained practical knowledge that could prove invaluable in the future.

We would like to extend our sincere thanks to the KFA for generously funding this opportunity. Their support has enabled our pupils to develop important life skills and increase their confidence in helping others.

Colour Run

What a fantastic way to celebrate the end of the year! Our KFA Colour Run was an explosion of fun, laughter and colour as the children raced around the course, getting soaked with water before being showered from head to toe in brightly coloured powder paint. There were smiles everywhere, and it was wonderful to see everyone enjoying such a memorable event together.

A huge thank you to our incredible KFA volunteers, who gave up their time to organise and run the event. Many of them ended the afternoon just as colourful as the children, having been covered from head to toe in powder paint! We are so grateful for the enthusiasm, energy and hard work they put into creating such a special experience.

We would also like to thank everyone who sponsored the children. Thanks to your incredible generosity, an amazing £2,801 has been raised so far. These funds will make a real difference, helping the school continue to provide many of the exciting enrichment opportunities and 'added extras' that enhance our children's education—opportunities that are only possible because of the dedication and hard work of the Kingsmead Friends Association (KFA)

Forest Schools

This term, our Forest School sessions have provided every class with wonderful opportunities to explore, discover and learn in the great outdoors. From sunny mornings to rainy adventures, the children's enthusiasm and curiosity have shone through in every session.

Across the school, children enjoyed bug hunts, pond dipping and exploring the woodland environment, discovering an amazing variety of mini-beasts including insects, frogs, newts and even the shed skin of a dragonfly nymph in our pond – an exciting find that delighted everyone! They used natural materials to create insects, mini-beast artwork and pictures, built bug hotels and habitats, and even took part in a lively game of mini-beast charades.

These hands-on experiences have supported classroom learning, particularly in science, while encouraging teamwork, creativity, observation skills and a deeper appreciation of the natural world. It has been fantastic to see the children working collaboratively, asking thoughtful questions and showing such respect for the wildlife around them.

A huge thank you to our KFA for continuing to fund these invaluable Outdoor Learning sessions. Their generosity enables our children to enjoy memorable experiences that inspire curiosity, build confidence and foster a lifelong love of nature.

OPAL

We are delighted to share some exciting developments to our OPAL (Outdoor Play and Learning) provision this term. Thanks to a generous £4,000 grant from the Bailey Thomas Trust, we have been able to install a fantastic new sandpit, which has already become a hugely popular addition to our playground.

We have also been incredibly grateful for the support of Barclays, whose team spent a day volunteering at school and generously donated £500 towards further improvements to our outdoor play environment. Their contribution helped us to create a mud kitchen and install hammocks, a slackline and rope ladders, providing even more opportunities for imaginative, active and adventurous play.

This term, we also celebrated our very own OPAL Day, which coincided with the National Day of Play. The event highlighted the importance of play in supporting children's wellbeing, creativity and social development. One of the highlights of the day was seeing children work together in cross-phase groups to design and paint pebbles, which are now displayed around the school grounds. It was wonderful to see pupils of all ages collaborating, sharing ideas and taking pride in creating something lasting for our outdoor spaces.

We would like to thank the Bailey Thomas Trust and Barclays for their generosity and support in helping us continue to develop our exciting outdoor play opportunities for all children.

Thank you to the KFA for their incredible dedication, time, and effort in organising such wonderful events throughout the year. Your hard work not only brings our school community together but also plays a vital role in raising valuable funds that directly benefit our children, teachers, and school. From planning and setup to volunteering and fundraising, your support makes a lasting impact, and we are truly grateful for everything you do to enrich the school experience for everyone. Thank you for your continued commitment and generosity!

Eco Council by Mrs Newbury

This term, in Eco Council, we have been thinking carefully about all the eco work we’ve done this year. We looked back at our projects, checked how well our ideas worked, and talked about what we want to improve next. After that, we helped to put together our Green Flag application, which was a big job but also really exciting. We’re so proud to say that our school has been awarded Green Flag with Distinction.

The judges said they loved how committed we are to keeping our school grounds and local community clean and tidy through regular litter‑picking. They also said they were really impressed with how eco learning is part of our everyday lessons, not just something we do once in a while. It feels amazing to know our hard work has made a difference, and we can’t wait to keep making our school even greener next year.

Our Eco Code for 2026

Our school vision is that 'All children will become global citizens who make a positive contribution by caring for themselves, other people and the environment'. We built on this by creating an acrostic poem to expand on ENVIRONMENT.

Eco-friendly to everyone and everything

Never disturb wildlife

Vehicles pollute our air

Improve our local area

Reduce waste

Outdoor spaces are vital

Never litter

Minimise plastic use

Energy is not made to be wasted

Nature deserves the best home

Turn off taps and switches

Staffing News

Goodbyes

As we come to the end of another fantastic school year, we also take the opportunity to wish several valued members of our staff all the very best as they begin exciting new chapters.

Firstly, we wish Mrs Roberts every happiness as she begins her maternity leave. We send our warmest congratulations to Mrs and Mr Roberts and look forward to meeting their new arrival in the autumn term.

We are also saying a fond farewell to Ms Harrison, who is retiring after joining our school in 2009. During her time with us, she has taught across the school, from Year 6 through to EYFS, bringing creativity, enthusiasm and warmth to every classroom. She has built wonderful relationships with the children and inspired countless young learners throughout her career. We thank her for her dedication and wish her a long, happy and well-deserved retirement.

After joining our school in 2011, Mrs Ghader is also retiring. Throughout her time with us, she has made an enormous contribution to the life of the school. Her work supporting children in Upper Key Stage 2 has helped so many pupils grow in confidence and achieve their very best. She has formed exceptional relationships with our children, particularly those who have needed additional support, and has always gone above and beyond to help every child succeed. Alongside her classroom role, she has led Bikeability, Road Safety and Pupil Parliament initiatives, organised many memorable productions and provided invaluable support across the school whenever needed. Her kindness, professionalism and unwavering commitment will be greatly missed.

Finally, we say goodbye to Mrs Granville, who has been part of our school family since we first opened our doors in 2004. Over more than two decades, she has played a significant role in shaping our curriculum and supporting generations of children. Her handwriting scheme continues to have a lasting impact across Key Stage 1, while her work developing our phonics provision has benefited countless pupils. Always proactive, organised and dependable, Mrs Granville has been an invaluable member of our team, quietly ensuring that children and colleagues alike received the support they needed. Her dedication and expertise have left a lasting legacy that will continue to benefit our school for many years to come.

On behalf of the entire school community, we would like to thank each of these wonderful members of staff for their commitment, care and dedication. They have all made a lasting difference to the lives of our children and families, and they leave with our heartfelt thanks and very best wishes for the future.

Welcomes

While we say goodbye to valued colleagues, we are also delighted to welcome new members of our teaching team. Miss Chisholm will begin her teaching career in our Year 1 classroom—a particularly special moment as she was herself a pupil in that very classroom 20 years ago. After joining our school as a teaching assistant in 2021, she has successfully completed her teaching degree while continuing to work with us. We are incredibly proud of her achievement and look forward to seeing her flourish in her new role. We are also pleased to welcome Miss Curbishley, a recently qualified teacher, who will be joining us to cover Mrs Roberts' maternity leave. Miss Curbishley will be job-sharing with Mrs McHugh, and we know she will be a wonderful addition to our school community.

Home and School in partnership

Thank you to the overwhelming majority of families—children, parents, and extended relatives—who continue to be such valued partners in each child’s education. Your support, encouragement, and active involvement make a real difference, and we know that we simply couldn’t provide the education we aspire to without this vital home-school partnership. As the saying goes, teamwork makes the dream work, and working together is far more powerful than working in isolation or at odds. Ultimately, we all want the same outcome: for your children to thrive, flourish, and achieve their very best. As we look ahead to the next academic year, please take a moment to read and discuss our home-school agreement with your child—it’s an important foundation for the strong partnership we’re so proud to share and helps to set clear expectations and strengthen our shared commitment to their success.