Head’s Welcome – Mrs Owen, Head of Prep
I am writing this week’s newsletter from slightly further away than usual as I attend the Annual IAPS Heads’ Conference, this year in Brighton. It is always difficult to be out of school, especially near the beginning of the academic year, but the opportunity to meet with 350 other Prep School Heads is invaluable. Listening to keynote speakers, attending seminars and, in particular, the conversations with colleagues from across the country are all important elements of the experience.
Meanwhile, some of our pupils have been on trips of their own, with Year 5 spending a day at Chester House for their ‘Time Tunnel’ entry point and Year 6 travelling to Hockerton Housing Project to start their ‘Build a Village’ topic. I know the pupils will gain so much from these visits and I look forward to hearing all about them when I am back in school next week.
Hedgehogs, Year 1 – Louise Gillard, Year 1 Teacher
What an exciting start we have had in the Hedgehogs Class! The children have settled in beautifully, and we have already begun diving into our very first topic as part of the International Primary Curriculum (IPC) – an exciting unit called “Brainwaves – The Brain”, all about the amazing brain and how we learn.
To begin, we took some time to harvest the children’s ideas and prior knowledge about the brain. We asked: “What do you think your brain helps you do?” – and the answers were thoughtful, creative, and often very insightful!
Some of the fantastic responses included:
- “It helps us think.”
- “The brain helps us move.”
- “It helps us read.”
- “The brain helps us remember things.”
It was wonderful to see how many children already had a growing awareness of how important the brain is and how excited they were to find out more.
Becoming Scientists!
With our curiosity sparked, we transformed into junior scientists for a very special hands-on investigation. To truly explore how the brain works, we needed something a little unusual…
So, we introduced the children to their very own brain to investigate – a wobbly, jiggly bowl of strawberry jelly! Each group was given a jelly brain with a hidden surprise buried inside.
As they carefully explored their jelly brains (some with a little hesitation, others with great excitement!), the children uncovered hidden images representing the six key functions of the brain. These included:
- Thinking – how we process thoughts and make sense of the world
- Problem Solving – how we tackle challenges and come up with solutions
- Memory – storing and recalling information and experiences
- Movement – controlling our body and coordination
- Dreaming/Sleeping – the brain at rest and how sleep helps us learn
- Emotions – how we feel and express happiness, sadness, anger and more
The children worked brilliantly in their groups, showing excellent communication, turn-taking and curiosity as they explored what each picture meant. The activity sparked lots of conversations, questions, and even some theories of their own.
Reading – Isabelle Bowler, Teacher & Head of Drama and English
Reading is one of the most valuable skills your child will ever learn, and the journey begins in Reception and continues to grow right through to Year 6. Children who read regularly develop stronger vocabulary, better comprehension, and greater confidence across all subjects.
One of the biggest factors in a child’s reading success is the involvement of parents and carers. When you share a book together, you are not only helping your child practise their reading but also showing them that books are enjoyable and worth spending time with. Even 10 minutes a day can make a big difference.
Fun Ways to Read Together
- Take turns: Your child reads a page, then you read a page.
- Use voices: Bring characters to life with different voices and expressions.
- Family reading time: Everyone in the house enjoys a quiet few minutes with their own book.
- Spot words: Play games like “Can you find a tricky word on this page?” or “Can you think of another way to say…”
- Act it out: Pretend you’re on stage and perform the story together.
Questions to Build Understanding
- What do you think will happen next?
- How do you think this character is feeling? How do you know?
- Can you tell me the story in your own words so far?
- What was your favourite part of this chapter and why?
- Does this story remind you of anything in your own life or something you have learnt at school?
By reading with your child, you are giving them the gift of language, confidence, and imagination.
Our children are off to a great start on their reading journey this year and will be rewarded with weekly plusses and certificates when they reach their AR targets.
Safeguarding Update
As the new school year gets underway, many families find it helpful to re-establish routines around sleep, screen time, curfews and home life. While the summer holidays are a chance to relax, the return to structure can be a welcome reset – not just for learning, but for your child’s overall wellbeing and safety.
Why routines matter for well-being
Routines offer young people a sense of stability, predictability and control, all of which are important for good mental health, particularly during the teenage years. Adolescence is a time of rapid change, emotionally and physically. Having regular daily habits can help reduce anxiety, improve focus and create a stronger sense of security.
Read the full safeguarding newsletter for this month HERE.
Key Calendared Events for the next two weeks
Wednesday 24th September
Nursery-Year 6 Parents – Morning Coffee with SLT Team (08:30)
Thursday 25th September
New Year 4, 5 and 6 pupils meet the Head of Prep (10:35)
WPSA Committee Meeting Online (19:30)
Friday 26th September
Prep School Open Morning
Monday 29th September
Nursery-Year 6 Parents – Morning Coffee with SLT Team (08:30 09:00)
Tuesday 30th September
Year 3 Pupils’ Afternoon Tea with the Head of Prep
To view the most up-to-date calendar information, please log onto Firefly, click HERE.
Macmillan Coffee Morning – Carlie Woodard, Housemistress of Nevill
Key Calendared Events for the next two weeks
Monday 15th September
- Co-Curricular Activities & Prep Ensemble Rehearsals Commence
Tuesday 16th September
- Year 5 trip to Chester House – Entry Point
- Friday 19th September
- Year 6 trip to Hockerton Housing Project
Wednesday 24th September
- Nursery-Year 6 Parents – Morning Coffee with SLT Team (08:30)
Thursday 25th September
- New Year 4, 5 and 6 pupils meet the Head of Prep (10:35)
- WPSA Committee Meeting Online (19:30)
Friday 26th September
- Prep School Open Morning
To view the most up-to-date calendar information, please log onto Firefly – click HERE.
Please log onto the Sports Calendar for up-to-date timings, team sheets and all other weekday fixtures information – click HERE.
Sporty Scholars Camp at Wellingborough School – Book Now!
Sporty Scholars will be running a multi-activity and sport camp here at Wellingborough School from Monday 27th October until Friday 31st October. This camp is for children aged 4-14.
For more information, click HERE.
To book your place please visit: Sporty Scholars at Wellingborough School
October Tech Camps Are On – Join the Adventure – Book Now!
Next Thing Education’s Tech Camps are bursting with creativity, hands-on learning, and fun — plus children take home a STEM invention every day!
The October half term Tech & STEM Camp will run from Monday 27th to Friday 31st October at Wellingborough School and is open to children aged 5–11.
For more information, click HERE.
To book your place, please visit: Wellingborough School Tech & STEM Camp.
Stay Connected
To see more of what’s happening at Wellingborough School, follow us on social media HERE.
You can also explore upcoming events and activities on our Events Page HERE.
Wellingborough School Business Directory
Please find the Business Directory at the following link: https://wellingboroughschool.org/community/business-directory/
