Westmeads Community Infant School

Year 2 have been learning about the impact of the Dakota Access Pipeline alongside their English core text, The Water Protectors.

The children used maps and atlases to locate the states that the oil pipeline runs through and developed their geographical skills by identifying and naming the continents and oceans of the world.

As part of their learning, they discussed the effects of pollution on our environment and considered how human actions can impact communities, wildlife and natural resources. The children showed great curiosity and thoughtfulness as they explored these important global issues.

Our Year 1 computing wizards have been exploring the world of digital art this term!
As part of their learning, pupils compared the skills and tools used in traditional painting with those used in digital painting, discussing the similarities, differences, and the outcomes each method can create.
Using the Paint app, the children learned to make careful choices when creating their own digital artwork. They developed their skills using line and shape tools, while also practising their fine motor skills through careful mouse control. This helped them create precise designs as they produced their own versions of famous Mondrian-inspired paintings.
We were so impressed by their creativity, concentration, and growing confidence with both digital technology and artistic expression!

🌈✨ What an exciting first week back! ✨🌈

This week, we have been introducing our new topic, Carnival. The children have been learning about our school's Explosion of Colour Carnival, which will take place at school on Saturday 6th June at 10:00 am. Together, we discussed how we will celebrate and what we need to create for our procession.

The children enjoyed making their own ribbon sticks, using non-standard units of measure to compare and cut different lengths of ribbon before carefully attaching them together.

As part of our carnival preparations, the children also began creating their headdresses. They used the chomp saw, following safety instructions carefully and confidently to cut fabric before decorating their headbands. Opportunities to use real tools help children develop fine motor control, hand-eye coordination and risk assessment skills. Research suggests that when children are trusted with real tools and supported to use them safely, they develop confidence, resilience and independence.

During our together times, we have been learning about the Holi Festival, exploring how people celebrate through colour, dancing and community. The children were fascinated watching videos of the colourful celebrations and discussing what they noticed.

As part of our front-loading activities, we decorated our carnival T-shirts with an "Explosion of Colour" theme. The children explored colour mixing, experimented with different tools and created a range of exciting patterns and effects. Open-ended creative experiences such as these support divergent thinking, allowing children to explore their own ideas, make choices and express themselves in unique ways.

A huge thank you to all the parents and carers who were able to join us for this special (and very messy!) activity.

We can't wait to continue our Carnival learning over the coming weeks! 🎭🎨🌟

We are so proud of how Reception has embraced our carnival workshop preparations, showing fantastic teamwork, creativity, and independence throughout the week.

During transitions around the school, the children consistently demonstrated all of our school values—especially listening carefully, following instructions, and supporting one another. Teachers across the school commented on how innovative, imaginative, and engaged they were in every activity.

These experiences strongly reflect the Characteristics of Effective Learning from the Early Years Foundation Stage, including:
✨ Playing and exploring – confidently trying new activities
✨ Active learning – staying focused and motivated throughout the workshops
✨ Creating and thinking critically – developing their own creative ideas

Our carnival preparation has also supported key areas of learning:
🎭 Communication and Language through discussions and shared ideas
🎨 Expressive Arts and Design through creative carnival activities
🤝 Personal, Social and Emotional Development through teamwork and cooperation

Well done Orange and Yellow Class—you have both been AMAZING! 🧡💛🥰
We can’t wait for the carnival! 🎪✨

This week Year 2 began their coastal school. We used our visit to the beach to support us with our poetry writing. The visit enabled the pupils to draw on a real life experience and inspired them to write vivid, descriptive poems about water using a range of adjectives and onomatopoeias.

Year 1 were delighted to welcome Emma Slade, a Buddhist nun, to school this week as part of their RE learning. The children came prepared with thoughtful questions and enjoyed learning about Buddhist beliefs, values and practices.
They took part in a hands-on experience, exploring prayer and meditation and discovering how musical instruments can be used to support mindfulness and reflection. It was a fantastic opportunity to bring the RE curriculum to life, deepen understanding of different faiths, and inspire curiosity through first-hand learning experiences.

Today Year 2 were able to share their art projects and English writing with their families in their showcase. Sharing and celebrating their work builds the children's confidence, strengthens communications and helps build partnerships between home and school. We are incredibly proud of what the children have achieved this term and it was lovely to be able to share that with their families.

Year 1 Canopy enjoyed an exciting outdoor learning adventure exploring wildlife around the pond!
The children took part in pond dipping, carefully observing the fascinating creatures living in their natural habitats. They also created observational drawings of the animals they discovered, developing their scientific enquiry skills and creativity along the way.
This hands-on experience linked wonderfully with the Science curriculum, helping pupils learn about habitats, living things, and the importance of caring for our environment through real-life outdoor learning experiences.