Newsletters

Little Harrowden Primary School Newsletter - Term 2 - 2025/2026

This term has been filled with wonderful hard work, determination, and impressive progress from all our children. It has been a joy to see their achievements grow week by week and our recent PLC evenings were a fantastic opportunity to celebrate everything they have accomplished. Thank you to all the parents and carers who attended. Your support makes such a difference and the children were rightly proud to share their learning with you.

As we move into the festive season, the magic of Christmas has certainly been alive across the school. Our nativity performances were truly heart-warming, showcasing the confidence, creativity, and enthusiasm of our pupils. We were also delighted by the success of our Christmas Fair, which was a wonderful celebration of community spirit. A huge thank you to Mrs Roe and all our volunteers for their incredible hard work, generosity, and organisation, and to our parents and carers for your continued support. Every class made their own items to sell, and these were absolutely brilliant.

We now look forward to our final week of term, with many special traditions still to come. We are thrilled to be taking the whole school to the pantomime (oh yes we are!), which will be a fantastic opportunity for the children. Another huge thank you to Mrs Roe for organising this wonderful experience. Our annual Carol Concerts promise to be a beautiful way to share the joy of Christmas together, and our final festive day is set to be a highlight, with Christmas outfits, a Christmas disco (thank you to the PTA for organising this!), and a delicious Christmas dinner for all.

As we reach the end of a busy and very enjoyable term, I would like to wish every member of our school community a wonderful Christmas break. Please take this time to rest, stay safe and well, and enjoy the holiday season with your loved ones. We look forward to welcoming you back in the New Year.

Festive Regards

Miss Beth Renshaw, Headteacher

Buttercup Class

We are so proud of the fantastic start the children have made to the academic year. They have settled beautifully into Buttercup Class, learning our rules and routines with enthusiasm and building wonderful new friendships along the way. 

The children have explored a range of creative activities this term. They have developed their drawing skills, experimented with different types of lines, created brilliant self-portraits, and enjoyed mixing colours to produce impressive pieces of artwork. 

Each week, Muddy Mondays has been a real highlight! The children have enjoyed exploring the signs of autumn, making thoughtful observations about the changing colours and falling leaves. One of our standout moments this term was creating our tree clay faces, which the children approached with so much creativity and excitement – they have definitely become a firm favourite.  

We have also been thrilled by the children’s curiosity as we learned about Antarctica. They showed great interest in its extreme conditions, the animals that live there, and the incredible journeys of explorers who travelled across the icy landscape.  

A magical moment this term was our Nativity performance, Stable by Starlight. The children shone on stage, proudly sharing their beautiful stars and kings. Their confident singing and dancing brought such joy and made a wonderful start to December. 

In literacy, the children have learnt a range of poems and continue to impress us with their reciting skills. Their love of stories is growing every day; we have been delighted by the vocabulary they are using in their play and discussions. Lost and Found has been a particular favourite, inspiring rich conversations and imaginative ideas. 

Thank you for your continued support. The children’s hard work and enthusiasm have made this term a joy. I look forward to an exciting and successful Spring term together. 

Miss Forestiero

Daisy Class

What a wonderful term we have had in Daisy Class. The children have shown great enthusiasm in their learning and have taken real pride in everything they have achieved.

The standout moment of the term has certainly been our Nativity. The children worked incredibly hard to learn their lines, actions and songs, and their confidence and teamwork shone throughout every rehearsal and performance. We were so proud of how beautifully they brought the story to life, and we hope you enjoyed watching them as much as they enjoyed taking part.  

In History, the children learnt all about Florence Nightingale. They explored what hospitals were like before she arrived and compared the dirty, unsafe conditions with the cleaner and more organised hospitals she helped create. They were fascinated by the changes she introduced and how her work continues to influence hospitals today.

In Computing, the children developed their photography skills by experimenting with taking clear, well-framed photos. They considered focus, lighting and angles and enjoyed reviewing and improving their images like real photographers. 

In English, the children worked very hard on writing instructions. After making their own bird feeders, they used this hands-on experience to write clear and detailed steps explaining how to make them. They focused on using imperative verbs and time connectives to guide the reader, and their finished pieces showed fantastic progress. 

As we come to the end of a busy and hardworking term, we want to thank you for your continued support. The children have achieved so much and we are incredibly proud of every one of them. We hope you all enjoy a restful break and a wonderful Christmas, and we look forward to welcoming the children back in the New Year, ready for more exciting learning ahead. 

Miss Harries

Primrose Class

Primrose class have settled brilliantly into their new classes and have enjoyed getting to know their new peers. It has been lovely to see new friendships forming and confidence growing as the term has progressed. 

In English, we began the term by exploring The Happy Prince by Oscar Wilde. The children were fascinated by the story’s themes. They engaged in lots of drama throughout this unit and wrote their own alternative endings, showing great imagination and empathy. We then moved on to writing twisted tales. The children loved telling the story of the Big Bad Wolf from his point of view and produced some fantastic pieces where Goldilocks was reimagined as a misunderstood character. Their creativity truly shone! 

Our reading sessions have focused on developing confidence and expression. A highlight has been learning and performing the poem “Duel of the Scrapbots”, where the children practised reading aloud with fluency, pace, and personality. Their performances and actions were brilliant! 

In Geography, the children explored the continents of the world and learned about different natural disasters. They have become more confident using maps, atlases, and key geographical terminology. Their curiosity and enthusiasm have been wonderful to see. 

Science has been full of hands-on exploration this term. The children investigated light and discovered how different materials create different types of shadows. They also carried out experiments involving friction, testing how surfaces affect movement and making thoughtful predictions. 

A huge well done to all the children for their amazing efforts in this year’s Nativity. Those with lines performed them confidently, and everyone sang and danced beautifully. It was a joy to watch their hard work come together in such a fantastic performance. 

We really appreciate your continued support. We can’t wait to start the Spring term with the children. 

Mrs Pond and Miss Gorton       

Bluebell Class

The first two terms of Year 4 have been an exciting and activity-packed one for our class, filled with hands-on learning, new discoveries and plenty of personal achievements. In History, we began exploring the fascinating world of the Mayans. The children were captivated by their incredible glyphs writing system, their impressive temples and the important role chocolate played in their civilisation. This tied in brilliantly with our class trip to Cadbury World, where pupils learnt all about the history of chocolate and its link to the Mayans, how it is made and, of course, enjoyed a few tasty samples along the way! 

Design and Technology brought another hands-on project as we explored pneumatics. After learning how air pressure can create movement, the class designed and made characters whose mouths opened and closed using simple pneumatic systems. The children challenged themselves to think like engineers, testing their ideas and improving their designs as they went. 

In Science, our focus has been on sound. The children investigated how vibrations travel and experimented with different materials to see how they affect what we hear. One of the highlights was creating our very own “jelly baby sound machines.” These fun and colourful models helped pupils understand how sound waves move and allowed them to demonstrate their learning in a creative, memorable way. 

Alongside all this classroom learning, pupils have also been working hard in the pool during swimming lessons. We are incredibly proud of the progress they’ve made—many children can now swim confidently without goggles and have developed stronger front crawl and backstroke techniques. Their determination and enthusiasm have been wonderful to see. 

It has been a term full of curiosity, creativity and confidence, and we are looking forward to even more exciting learning ahead! 

Mrs Presland

Orchid Class

Orchid Class have had a wonderfully busy and exciting Autumn term, filled with creativity, curiosity and plenty of hard work. In English, we’ve been channelling our inner campaigners by writing persuasive letters inspired by Kick—with children confidently addressing footballers, parents, teachers and even companies to argue for changes they’d like to see introduced (or stopped!) in their world. We also stepped into the magical world of The Snowman, crafting our own narratives. As Eva proudly shared, “I like expressing my imagination in my writing,” while Zack celebrated that he has “improved my handwriting.” In Maths, things certainly got trickier as we tackled adding and subtracting fractions and learnt the skill of exchanging a whole—something the class approached with brilliant determination. 

Our learning in Science has been wonderfully hands-on. Orchid Class investigated which materials make the best thermal insulators and investigated pH levels of a range of substances using litmus paper. In Geography, we’ve travelled (virtually!) to Italy—using atlases, maps and even drawing some of our own. Hugh especially enjoyed this unit, sharing, “I’m part Italian so I like learning about Italy.” In PE and Dance, the children have thrown themselves into handball matches, practised different types of throws, created their own dances and even learnt the Haka with great enthusiasm. 

The term has also been bursting with creativity across the wider curriculum. We were incredibly proud to begin the term by performing our Class Assembly, sharing our learning and talents with families and the school community. In DT, pupils explored frame structures and experimented with building models using straws. Music lessons introduced the children to Jazz, learning new songs and rhythms, while in French they stretched their language skills by creating metaphors and writing about planets. Computing has been a real highlight too—filming and editing their own videos, learning about different shots and how to cut their clips just like real filmmakers.  

Mrs Hindwood

Lavender Class

This half-term took us straight into the world of the Vikings! Lavender class explored where Vikings came from, why they raided and traded, how they lived and what they believed. We also discussed how laws were shared orally and how Britain began to change over time. 

In Science, we focused on genes and inheritance. The children learnt that they inherit 50% of their DNA from each parent. We explored how genes influence features like eye colour, hair colour and height. We also discussed why siblings can look so different despite sharing the same parents. 

In DT (Textiles), the children designed and created beautiful penguin Christmas decorations. They practised running stitch and overstitch as well as researching existing decorations and creating their own design specifications so they could evaluate their finished products carefully. 

In Computing, children used Tinkercad to create 3D designs, combining and manipulating digital shapes, rotating models to view them from different angles, and refining the details of their own 3D creations. 

We also spent time in Music learning and rehearsing songs for the carol concert- keeping pulse, singing in unison, and practising confident, expressive performance. 

In PE, we performed choreographed routines in unison and used counts to improve timing, flow, and performance quality. 

In PSHE, we celebrated our differences. We explored fairness, inclusion, empathy, and strategies for dealing with peer pressure and bullying, always supported by thoughtful, mature class discussions. 

It’s been a busy, creative, and reflective half-term. Thank you for sharing in the learning with us. Lavender Class, you’ve been brilliant! 💜✨

Miss York

🎄 Looking After Wellbeing Over Christmas 

The festive season can be joyful, but it can also feel overwhelming for parents. Between school plays, family gatherings, and endless to do lists, it’s easy to forget your own needs. Remember: 

• Keep it simple – not every tradition has to be perfect. 

• Pause for yourself – even 10 minutes of quiet can recharge your energy. 

• Ask for help – sharing tasks with family or friends lightens the load. 

🤝 Inclusivity Matters 

Christmas looks different for every family. Some celebrate with big meals, others with quiet reflection, and some may not celebrate at all. Encourage children to share their traditions and listen to others. This helps them learn that: 

• Every family’s way of celebrating (or not celebrating) is valid. 

• Respecting differences builds kindness and empathy. 

• Inclusivity starts at home, with open conversations. 

💤 The Gift of Rest 

Parents often put themselves last, but rest is not a luxury—it’s essential. Try: 

• Family downtime – schedule a “pyjama morning” where everyone stays cosy. 

• Digital breaks – put phones aside for an hour and enjoy board games or stories. 

• Early nights – even one extra hour of sleep can make a big difference. 

✨ This season, let’s remind ourselves and our children that wellbeing is about balance: celebrating together, respecting differences, and making space for rest. 

Useful support services  

• foodbank — Daylight Centre, 01933 446490, (Option 1) 

           Unit 3, Bradfield Road, Finedon Industrial Estate, Wellingborough, NN8 4HB 

• The freephone, 24-hour National Domestic Abuse Helpline 

            Tel: 0808 2000 247 

• Children and Young People Mental Health Services Crisis Team

            Tel: 0800 170 7055 

Inclusion

As we come to the end of a term full of change, we want to take a moment to celebrate the strength and unity of our school community. It’s been inspiring to see how everyone—students, parents, and staff—has pulled together to support one another through these transitions. Your kindness and resilience truly make a difference. 

With the festive season approaching, we’d like to wish all our families a very happy Christmas and a peaceful holiday. This is a time to rest, recharge, and enjoy moments with loved ones. 

If you or someone you know needs extra support, please remember that help is available. Enfold offers guidance and resources for families—visit their website here: 
Enfold Support 

Thank you for being such an important part of our inclusive school community. We look forward to continuing this journey together in the new year. 

Mrs Carley - SENDCo 

School News

We are thrilled to announce that Little Harrowden will be included in the Tesco Stronger Starts (blue token) campaign in January!  This will continue until the end of March 2026.  You will be able to vote at the following stores:

2767 Kettering Extra NN15 6XB 
3109 Rothwell Express Express NN14 6EP 
5605 Kettering Windmill Avenue Esso Express Express NN16 0RD 
6127 Kettering Lond Road Express Express NN15 7QD 

The money raised will go towards science resources to enhance the children's learning.