‘Anti Bullying Week’ continued to be the focus of our assemblies this morning. In the KS1 assembly Mr B discussed with the children the difference between children learning to meet the behaviour expectations of the school in their early years compared to negative behaviour choices of children when they are aware of the difference between right and wrong. With help from volunteers Mr B acted out a typical ‘one off’ incident, such a squabbling over a toy, compared to sustained negative choices which would be identified as bullying behaviour. The children then thought about how not all forms of bullying are immediately obvious. They discussed how it is important to not only look for bullying but also to listen as the things children say to each other, which could hurt feelings, are just as hurtful as a kick.

In the KS2 assembly Mrs Cockett asked the children for ideas for ways in which we can ensure Earls Hall is a bully free zone. The children discussed options and decided that identifying bullying should be everybodys responsibility and that by working together in agreement that bullying would not be tolerated in any form we could keep everyone safe. Mrs Cockett reminded the children that information could be shared with discretion and then shared a Year Six witness account of a child from another school about how bullying impacted every aspect of their life.

At the end of both assemblies the adults reminded the children about the anti bullying charter and suggested that as a reminder of the promise the children were making a visual reminder would be a good idea. It was decided that, once each child had signed the charter, they would each tie a blue ribbon to the central tree on the playground. The prominent trees blue colour would serve as a reminder of the agreement that bullying would not be tolerated and help prompt the children to look and listen for unacceptable behaviour. It was agreed that the tree would be covered in blue by the end of the week.

Later in the morning the upstairs hall was used by children as part of this years Maths Challenge run by the maths association. All the children who took part in the challenge will receive a certificate to say they completed the challenge and gain either a bronze, silver or gold level. If they score over 21 out of 25 they may get through to the next level.  Last week a group of children represented the school in another maths challenge organised by Nrich, pitting themselves against children from other Southend schools. The children were scored against their calculating skills as well as their ability to work as a team and were awarded first position in the contest! The fantastic result means that they will take part in the Essex finals.

In the afternoon there were lots of fun activities taking place across the Foundation Stage classes. The children all took part in their daily ‘Numbertime’ maths activities which involved number recognition, identification of shapes, number ordering and counting on and back in ones. Afterwards the children used the creative areas to make masks and models whilst others used the builders trays to create their own imaginary worlds where they used figures to act out stories and scenarios. There was large scale den building taking place both indoors using drapes, chairs and pegs and outdoors using blocks, crates and tyres.

Upstairs the children in Year Five continued to learn all about the Greeks. Some children designed their own Greek pots, which they will later create, whilst others used the internet to research Greece and Athens.

In Elms the children investigated the skulls of various animals and looked for clues to identify which animals they belonged to, matching them in their books.