Autumn 1 Personal Development 2024

​This term, students have been diving deep into their personal development sessions, each group exploring a different activity aimed at building courage, confidence and independence. These experiences have helped them to look at the Light Years code of 'Courage' - discovering that bravery often comes from within and is nurtured through shared experiences.
 
Lucy's Group - Lucy's group focused on building independence through hands-on culinary skills. Students took on the task of preparing delicious smoothies, learning how to safely chop fruits using the 'claw cut' technique. This not only taught them a valuable kitchen skill but also gave them the confidence to try new foods and handle tasks independently. 
 
Taylor's Group - Tayor's group took in emotional challenges reading 'Avocado Feels Worried', a book that encourages students to identify their own worries. After some thoughtful reflection, each student shared a worry and worked with their peers to think of strategies to overcome it. This collaborative approach helped students realise that they are not alone in their anxieties and that with support they can face their fears head-on.
 
Vicky's Group - Vicky's group had an imaginative approach to courage-building. Students were asked to create their own character, complete with a unique superpower that made them brave. They then had to embody a character/role to act out in front of their peers and other adults in the school wearing tie-die t shirts they made in their session. Whether they chose flight, super strength, or even invisibility, the true superpower they all discovered was confidence.
 
Take Flight
As part of our Personal Development curriculum, with our Year 5/6 students exploring 'Take Flight' and our Year 3/4 students exploring 'Transport' learning drivers, we were thrilled to welcome a real-life pilot, George, to our school on a Friday afternoon.
The students were captivated by George's stories of soaring through the skies, which brought learning to life in a whole new way. The special visit added an extra layer to their learning journey, which has included writing diary entries as Amelia Earhart and designing flying machines in DT lessons. They ended the session by asking George questions about being a real-life pilot - everything from the challenges of flying to what it’s like to see the world from above. The hands-on experiences were the highlight of the visit, with students trying on pilot headsets, wearing high-vis jackets and exploring real flight maps
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Courage at Light Years School - 3rd October

​This half-term, the Light Years School value we are celebrating is 'courage'. We recognise that our children have transitioned to a new school, classroom or year group and how important it is for us to remind them just how courageous they are.  

On Thursday 3rd October, we had 'Courage at Light Years' Day, where all activities focused this key value. The children made courage cartoons, showcased their courageous acts and thought about their own superpowers. 

At Light Years School, we always encourage our children to celebrate their own individuality and throughout this half-term, we will be continuing to celebrate all of our Light Years values, with a key focus on opportunities to be courageous. We are doing this by creating a 'we are courageous' celebration display, handing out courage certificates and stickers and by all children, staff, parents and visitors being encouraged to notice courageous moments.
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Euro's Day - 14th June

​To celebrate the start of the Euro's football competition, children participated in a special football themed afternoon event. The event featured a variety of fun and engaging activities designed to immerse the children in to the excitement of the tournament. 

Children had the opportunity to:

Work out like a footballer: engaging in physical exercise and drills to experience a child friendly version of how an athlete may engage with exercise.
Mindful Footballer Colouring: relaxing and unleashing their creativity by colouring in well done footballers.
Biscuit Decorating: Crafting and decorating biscuits to look like footballs, combining creativity with a delicious treat.
Designing Kits & Trophies: Using their imagination to design their own football kits and trophies, encouraging artistic expression and personal connection to the sport.

The afternoon was a fun-filled way to kick off the football competition, promoting physical activity, creativity and excitement amongst the children.
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Police Visit - 7th June

​At the beginning of June, the students enjoyed an informative visit from our local Policeman and Police Community Support Officer (PCSO). During the visit, the officers discussed important topics such as community safety, identifying safe strangers, and how to contact the Police and other emergency services.

The students engaged actively, asking the officers well thought-out questions. In return for being quizzed by the students, the Policeman showcased some of their equipment and explained how it is used, providing the students with a hands-on learning experience about Police work and community safety.
 

School Nurse - 5th June​

​The students recently welcomed the nursing team in to school, who spoke to the students about maintaining good health and dental hygiene. The covered topics such as how to look after our teeth, the correct way to brush, and which foods are beneficial or harmful to dental health. The session included a fun demonstration and practice using a large set of teeth, making the learning experience both educational and enjoyable for the students.
 

MFL Day - 15th May

The children recently participated in an exciting European Languages Day. Each class focused on a different country: Spain, France, or Germany. Students learned numbers and colours in their chosen languages, explored the culture of their assigned country, and discovered traditional games played by children there. They also enjoyed tasting popular foods from these countries and rated them out of 10. At the end of the day, students presented what they had learned to their peers, making it a fun and engaging educational experience for everyone.