Al Sedra Juniors - Week 28

Dear Parents,

It has been a positive and purposeful week across the Junior School, with students settling well into their learning and showing great focus and resilience following recent disruptions.

In Year 3, pupils have been developing their understanding of money through a range of practical and engaging activities. From recognising coins and notes to adding, subtracting, and solving real-life problems, the children have shown great enthusiasm. A particular highlight has been the classroom “shop” activities, where pupils took on the roles of customers and shopkeepers.

In Year 4, it has been wonderful to see children return to school full of energy, settling quickly into a safe, happy, and engaging environment. Pupils have been busy with a range of exciting, hands-on learning experiences across the curriculum.

Year 5 have made a fantastic return to school life, immersing themselves in a variety of exciting topics. In Writing, they are exploring recounts using the Talk for Writing approach, while in Maths they are developing their understanding of decimals. Their IPC topic, Bold and the Brave, has sparked great interest as they learn about Ancient Rome and Greece, alongside their Science work on materials and their properties.

In Year 6, we would like to recognise the outstanding resilience and commitment shown by our students during the recent period of remote learning. Since returning to school, they have settled back into routines well and are working hard to continue their progress. With their final term approaching, there is a strong focus on maintaining effort and preparing confidently for the transition to secondary school.

Thank you, as always, for your continued support.

Warm regards,

Mr. Gary

Head of Juniors

Money Matters in Year 3!

We came back to school and dived into pounds, pence and problem solving! 

This week, our Year 3 students have been busy developing their understanding of money through a range of practical and engaging activities. This important unit helps children build real-life skills that they can use every day.

The children have explored how to recognise different coins and notes and understand their values. They have practised converting between pounds and pence, helping them to see how money can be represented in different ways. Using these skills, pupils have learned how to add and subtract amounts of money, applying their knowledge to solve a variety of problems.

One of the highlights of this unit has been our exciting “shop games” in the classroom. The children have loved taking on roles as shopkeepers and customers, using real-life scenarios to practise paying for items and giving change. These activities have helped to build confidence, encourage teamwork, and make learning both fun and meaningful.

We are very proud of the progress the children have made and encourage you to continue practising these skills at home—perhaps by involving your child in small shopping tasks or handling money during everyday routines.

Well done, Year 3!

Year 5 have made a fantastic start to their first few weeks back after online learning, diving straight into exciting new learning! In Writing, they are studying Recounts through the Talk for Writing approach, using story maps to explore structure and spotting key golden threads like past tense, adverbials of time, and sensory language. In Maths, they have been sharpening their place value skills through Decimals, tackling increasingly challenging problems. In IPC, the children are exploring Bold and the Brave, learning about Ancient Rome and Greece, discussing history, culture, and leadership. In Science, they have begun studying Materials and their properties, investigating how different materials behave and are used in everyday life. It’s been a purposeful and engaging few weeks, with Year 5 settling back into routines brilliantly and showing real enthusiasm for their new topics.

Dear Parents,

I hope this message finds you and your families safe and well.

I would like to take a moment to acknowledge the recent period of remote learning due to the ongoing conflict in the region. During this time, many of our Year 6 students demonstrated outstanding courage, resilience, and commitment to their education. It was truly impressive to see so many children continuing to engage positively with their learning despite the challenges they were facing, and I am extremely proud of their efforts.

Since returning to school, the children have settled back into routines well and have been working hard in lessons. However, it is important to recognise that there may be some gaps in learning due to the time spent away from the classroom. As a result, we are encouraging all pupils to maintain a strong work ethic, stay focused, and continue to apply themselves fully so that they can bridge these gaps effectively.

With just one term remaining, it is crucial that Year 6 finishes the academic year strongly. This final term will play an important role in preparing the children for their transition to secondary school, both academically and personally. We will continue to support them every step of the way, ensuring they feel confident, capable, and ready for the next stage of their education.

Thank you, as always, for your continued support. If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to get in touch.

Kind regards,
Year 6 Team