Year 5 have enjoyed their Bikeability training this week. They have worked in small groups with a Hampshire Outdoor Service Trainer who has taught them how to safely use the roads as a cyclist. This training started with checking bike roadworthiness before progressing to making a safe start. They have talked about the importance of looking; how to negotiate parked cars and how to position on the road. Over the last few days, they have progressed to practising turning left and right, using the junction with Popes Lane (picture above). These really important life lessons will hopefully set them up for the future and stay with them. The trainer praised how delightful the children have been to work with; listening, polite and hard working.

Class 1 had an exciting trip last Friday where they visited Longdown Activity Farm. They all enjoyed meeting the different animals and feeding them too. The farmer showed them around and talked to them about how they care for the animals and look after them. This is always a lovely trip, I’m sure older children have fond memories of this when they were in Class 1, but is also part of our Upham curriculum which is over and above that required by the National Curriculum, as we think it is important for children to learn about farming, given our rural setting.

I hope everyone enjoyed a good break over Easter! It has been lovely to start the summer term with some much needed sun and warmth. We managed a couple of days on the field in March but the dryer conditions have now allowed the field to properly dry out, ready for use and the children were excited to use it on Tuesday. Having had such an unusual winter of relentless rain, the children are not used to playing on the field so this week, we have just allowed them to use the space to run, next week we will reintroduce football and discuss how small games can be played.  

What a lovely Easter Service we had this morning. It was great to have so many of you join us. Whilst our services are opportunities to see your children performing they are also acts of collective worship where everyone participates together. That was really evident this morning when everyone joined in our simple communion – the taking of bread and wine (or ½ a grape in our case) as part of us marking the fact that today is Maundy Thursday; the day of the last supper.
I hope everyone has a lovely Easter and enjoys a good break, hopefully with some nice weather. I look forward to seeing everyone back on Monday 15 April.

The warmer days this week seem to have really started Spring. The trees and shrubs are suddenly showing signs of buds and on Tuesday ladybirds seemed to have appeared from nowhere, having emerged from hibernation. Children spotted these and were fascinated by their sudden arrival which was lovely to see. The photo above shows children counting them! Other children were studying lines of ants which were also active.