Dear Parents/Carers,
As we reach the end of the first half of the autumn term, we want to take a moment to celebrate everything the children have achieved over the past few weeks. It’s been a busy and productive start to the school year, filled with learning and creativity.
This half term we have seen our new Ash and Willow children settle well into Oaklands school life. We have been busy with parents’ tours – over 50 families have been shown around, another 20 booked for after half term. Over the last week we have celebrated with Elm in their class assembly to their parents and carers, showcasing their learning of their topic ‘Panic in Pudding Lane’. We look forward to Beech class assembly after half term.
The children have also had their individual and sibling photos taking by Cardwell & Simons. The last chance to order these is by midnight on Wednesday 4th November.
Thank you to all of those who have so far brought their Late Night Christmas Shopping poster designs into the school office. Don’t worry you still have time, please make sure they get to the school office by Friday 6th November so that the Crowthorne Council can collect them to be displayed in the high street. Lets see if we can get a record number to win a prize. If you need the poster again, please click on the link below.
It’s been wonderful seeing many parents/carers at our parents evening. If you forgot or were unable to attend parents evening, please speak to the class teacher to arrange an alternative meeting after half term.
One of our neighbours has asked if the children can please stop playing in the bushes to the side of the Ellis road pedestrian gate, as they are slowly killing them by trampling in them. Please remind your children that this is private property and they are not to go in them.
On a more positive note, we would like to extend a huge thank you to all the wonderful parents and carers who have generously donated items from our Giving Tree. We have been overwhelmed by the incredible response since its launch earlier this half term. We have already started ordering the resources and items that have been donated and can’t wait to see them being used in classes. Every donation, no matter how big or small, will make a real difference to the children’s learning experiences, and we are truly grateful for your support.
As we move into the half-term break, we hope everyone enjoys a well-deserved rest. Autumn is a beautiful time to slow down, reflect, and recharge before the busy weeks leading up to winter. We look forward to welcoming everyone back refreshed and ready for another exciting half term ahead on Monday 3rd December.
Wishing you all a safe and restful break,
Best wishes
Miss Davies and Mrs Shrieve
Character Leaf Award
This term our character focus is: Goldie
Children will receive a leaf for using their Marvellous Manners.
At Oaklands Infant School, Oak Tree is the most important tree, so Goldie knows he is the most important leaf. He is really proud that he is given to the children when they show respect for someone or something in our school.
Children who have received a Goldie leaf
(Now on display on the Oak Tree in the hall)
- Ash: Isabella M. Henry, Bray, Isaac, Remi, Ezra
- Willow: Arlo, Maeve, Rhiannon, Leo, Maddie, George L
- Chestnut: Aria, Jesse, Gracie, Max, Arthur, Daisy, India, Rivaan, Michael, Hallie
- Silver Birch: Freddie, Alice, Indy, Alex, Laila, Jessica, Asher, River, Carter, Savanna, Harry
- Beech: Ford, Evie Hills, Hattie D, Jack, William, Annie, Shayden, Louella, Esme, Alfie, Persie
- Elm: Heidi, Aryash, Robyn, George, Rosie, Ellerie, Domantas, Ada, Arthur, Julian, Sofia, Arti
- Kenver in Silver Birch has also received a Goldie from Miss Davies for his Marvellous Manners, holding open the door when she was laden down with folders.
- Savanna in Silver Birch has received a Goldie from the kitchen staff for having the best manners, always saying please and thank you with a smile.
Reading News
Summer Reading Challenge – Read to the Beat
We were delighted to welcome Rebecca from Bracknell Forest Libraries to our assembly on Friday 9th October. Rebecca presented certificates to all the children who successfully completed The Reading Agency’s Summer Reading Challenge 2026.
A huge congratulations to everyone who took part. It was wonderful to celebrate the children’s enthusiasm for reading and their commitment to enjoying books throughout the summer holidays. We are incredibly proud of their achievement and hope they discovered lots of new authors and stories along the way.
Phonic Workshop
This term we held our Year 1 reading and phonic workshop. Thank you to those who came, we hope you found it useful. The presentation is available on our school website.
See the link: https://oaklandsinfants.org/workshops/
Autumn Reading Bingo
Autumn is well and truly here!
To keep reading fun during the half term you may wish to play our Autumn Reading Bingo. Create a den in the living room, wrap up warm and read a book in the autumn leaves, visit your local library and borrow some autumnal books…have fun reading this half term!
Foundation
The new Ash and Willow children have settled into their new classes beautifully and they are showing great enthusiasm in their learning. We have had a busy term learning ‘All About Me’ and more recently, Autumn.
They have been working hard to learn their first phonics sounds and are becoming increasingly confident at blending sounds together to read words and segmenting them. We have explored how numbers are represented, learning to recognise numerals and developing a deeper understanding of numbers to 5. We have enjoyed a rich diet of stories, songs and rhymes, helping to build language, communication and a love of learning across the curriculum.
We have also really enjoyed learning about Picasso and painting and drawing our Picasso portraits.
Year 1
What a wonderful return to school after the summer holidays, we have all settled in well to Year 1. We have learnt lots in our topic ‘All About Me’, including how we have grown and changed, where we live and the things we can do. We enjoyed our walk around the local area and used our senses to appreciate the world around us. It was especially fun tasting different foods. In Art, we enjoyed drawing spirals and shells inspired by the artist Molly Haslund.
Our topic for the next half term is ‘Walk on the Wild Side!’ We would like each child to bring in picture of their favourite animal to show the class. It can be a photograph, a picture in a book or a picture your child has created themselves.
As part of the speaking and listening curriculum, we would like them to be able talk about the animal they have chosen – what do they know about their chosen animal? A timetable for show and tell will be issued in the first week of next half term.
Thank you for your continued support.
Year 2
Year 2 have had a full and fun packed start to the year. We have loved our Clever Writer texts this half term, learning the key skills of capital letters for proper nouns and using different time openers to start our sentences. In Maths, we have consolidated our knowledge of place value, recognising how many tens and ones are in a number. We have also looked at partitioning two-digit numbers in different ways and compared them using greater than, less than and equal to.
In Geography, we have been on tour of each of the four countries of the United Kingdom, finding out about their capital cities, location and key landmarks.
Our History lessons have transported us back in time to 1666 where we have been Historians, looking at different pieces of evidence to find out where, when, how and why the Great Fire of London occurred. We debated whether the Great Fire was actually a good thing as it brought about changes that improved people’s lives. Our Science learning has focussed on the properties and uses of everyday materials. We have done lots of investigating in the classroom and tested different materials to find the one most suitable to make a coat to keep Teddy dry with the rainy winter weather approaching. In Art we have looked at the work of the artist Stephen Wiltshire and the architect Zaha Hadid—drawing city landscapes and creating futuristic structures. Please see our History, Geography and Science Knowledge Organisers on the Year 2 learning page of the website for all the key knowledge covered this half term.
Harvest Festival
As our first whole-school community event of the year, it was lovely to see so many parents join us for our Harvest Assembly. The children did a fantastic job sharing their poems, songs and prayers, helping us reflect on the importance of gratitude, kindness and supporting others.
We are delighted to share that all donations have now been collected by Crowthorne Foodbank, where they will help support local individuals and families who are facing difficult times.
We are incredibly grateful for your kindness and generosity. Your support truly reflects our school values and the strong sense of community that makes our school such a special place. Thank you for helping us make a difference to those in need.
PTA
🎃 A HUGE thank you to everyone who supported our first ever Halloween Disco! We loved seeing all the spooky costumes and hope the children had the best time! 🧡
👻 What a spook-tacular success! We’re delighted to have raised an amazing **£1,316.74!**
🎉 Thank you to everyone who made it possible! 🕷️🦇
Great Fire of London Workshop – Stepping Back to 1666!
Our Year 2 children recently enjoyed an exciting Great Fire of London immersive learning day, bringing history to life through drama, role-play and hands-on activities. Pupils stepped into the shoes of London workers from 1666, exploring a range of trades including bakers, apothecaries, chandlers and seamstresses.
Throughout the day, children worked in role to experience what life was like in the bustling city before disaster struck. The workshop culminated in a dramatic recreation of the Great Fire, with children attempting to save the city as smoke signalled the spread of the flames through London’s narrow streets.
In the afternoon, pupils became archaeologists, investigating artefacts and evidence from the aftermath of the fire. The experience deepened their understanding of this significant historical event while developing their enquiry, teamwork and communication skills.
The day was a fantastic example of active, cross-curricular learning, and the children thoroughly enjoyed bringing one of Britain’s most famous historical events to life. Thank you once again to the PTA for helping to fund this workshop.
Notices
Remembrance Poppies
We will be selling the following items in the class throughout the week from 2nd November till 11th
November. Please bring cash only and the right money as no change will be given, suggested donations
below.
Slap bands: £1.50
Wrist Bands: £1
Poppy Reflectors:50p
Pencils: 50p
Poppies: 20p
Caseys Crew
We are proud to introduce this year’s Casey’s Crew. After completing an application for the job stating their qualities and why they think they would be suitable, undertaking a mini-interview and training, this fantastic group of Year 2 children have been helping on the playground during break and lunchtimes to encourage safe and co-operative play.
Some of their duties include:
- leading games
- chatting with children on the friendship bench and checking they’re ok
- helping children to play co-operatively with each other
- helping to tidy up the playground equipment
The children are in teams of six and on a fortnightly rota. Each member of Casey’s Crew can be spotted by their bright green bib, which have been kindly donated by I-Prints at Holme Grange Business Park. These have been printed with our Casey character on and the children are very proudly wearing them.
Knowledge Organisers
What are knowledge organisers?
Knowledge organisers are a summary of the key facts and essential knowledge that pupils need about a
unit of work or a curriculum subject.
Each year group has developed knowledge organisers containing key vocabulary and knowledge along
with visual prompts.
The Autumn 1 knowledge organisers are available on the learning pages of the website. This is so you
can clearly understand what your child has learnt this half term and a good way for you to review and
revise their learning. Regular retrieval of knowledge helps us remember more effectively and helps the
children have a deeper understanding over time.
Click here:
Adverts
Oaklands Infant School Office
01344 774644
admin@oaklands-inf.wokingham.sch.uk
Facebook Page
https://www.facebook.com/OaklandsInfantsCrowthorne
Family Support Advisor
Nikki Lenon
nlenon@oaklands-inf.wokingham.sch.uk
Chair of Governors
Kathryn Pierce
chair@oaklandsgov.co.uk
