Welcome back to everyone after the Easter break. We have a busy term ahead and will be sharing many of the children's wonderful learning experiences as they happen. This week, an invited group of Year 4 & 5 pupils participated in an art and sustainability workshop at the University of Plymouth. Well done to Joey, Harriet, Anoud, Elodie and Thomas, who worked brilliantly alongside children from two other Bridge schools. The headteacher from Brunel was in attendance and emailed me with the following message: 

We know how brilliant our children are but it is always nice to hear it from someone else.

Art
This week, I had the pleasure of working with Class 4 at the start of their summer art unit. This unit explores the work of designers and craftspeople. The point of our lesson was to make something from a fairly abstract prompt card. For example, they could make something that looked introverted, something that was shy, something that balanced etc. This allowed the children to design as they worked, so they didn't become fixated on trying to make something recognisable. This freedom, led to some very creative outcomes:



Reading
As we progress towards the annual summer reading challenge within our local libraries, there is an opportunity for children to meet local author Tom Palmer:


Sun Safety
In our assembly today, I reminded children of the need to keep themselves sun safe. I am sure we have all enjoyed the sun this week but we need to make sure we protect ourselves in the correct way. Please send your child to school wearing sun screen, with a sun hat and a bottle of water to ensure they are sun safe. Thank you in anticipation of your support.

I look forward to sharing more as we progress through the term.

TALLAND'S BLOG 24.4.26 

Welcome to Summer 1 everybody and the sun has shown its face - YAY! It's great seeing all of the children and hearing about some of their fun-filled adventures over the Easter Holiday.

Here's a snapshot of what we've been learning:

Maths:
Year 5 have begun their second unit on FRACTIONS where we have been multiplying fractions.
Year 4 have begun their unit on DECIMALS and PERCENTAGES where they have been solving problems with tenths and hundredths.


English:
We're going to write a persuasive text this term to the local council about beach and ocean pollution. This week, we have been looking at different persuasive texts and exploring which features make an effective one. 

Geography:
In Geography, we are investigating the ocean. This week, we explored the different oceans of the planet, why the ocean is so important and took a trip to Australia to look at the Great Barrier Reef.

Science:
Talland investigated the water cycle this week and all of the magnificent things it does. 

PE:
In PE, with Mrs. Hillman, Talland were finding clues to help them solve problems during orienteering and with me (Mr. Langley), we practiced badminton serves outside in the wind - it was a little challenging - based on the weather - but lots of fun at the same time. Lots of giggles were had!

Celebrations:
Congratulations to Rory for progressing to the next round of the 99 Club - well done! A big well done as well to Amelia for demonstrating our school values. She showed kindness towards her peers and fantastic determination towards her handwriting - it is looking fantastic now! Also, great work from Isabelle in our HANG TOUGH CHALLENGE! She lasted a whopping 2 minutes and 28 seconds - WOW!

That's all from Talland Class this week. We hope you have a wonderful weekend and look forward to seeing everyone next week.

Signing off, Mr. Langley and Mr. Bishop.

It's been wonderful to see all the children this week and my how they have all grown over the 2 weeks! 

Class 2 have had a brilliant week back after the Easter break. As usual, we dove right into learning beginning with a new unit in Maths (one that we have all been eagerly waiting to learn) - Fractions. This week, we explored equal parts and learned how to find halves of shapes and numbers. In Literacy, we continued the unit on setting description. This week, we planned our piece and have begun writing our setting descriptions using our plans. We will continue writing our original pieces next week and learn how writers improve their writing by editing their original piece.

In Science, we have started a brand new unit this term - Living things and their habitats. This week, we learned the key features that defines a living thing, and learned how to use these key features to differentiate between things that are living, dead and things that have never been alive. In PSHE, we reminded ourselves about the Green Cross Code and used the dry weather outside to practice it on our school grounds. 

We have also started a new unit in RE with Miss Walker. This week, we listened to the story of Matthew from the Bible and looked at how Jesus was a friend to the friendless. In History, we learned about King Charles III and explored what kind of role he plays in our country and in the world.

We ended our week with an exciting Art session. This term, we are all becoming architects. We begun our unit by looking at what architects really do and the kind of amazing buildings that we have around the word because of the ingenuity and creativity of architects. Then, we took a walk around the school to identify some features and had an interesting discussion around why some of these features have been designed in our building. One of the key theme that came out of our discussion was around accessibility and why ramps are needed in a building like ours but not so much in our houses. Finally, we ended our lesson with a calm sketchbook session where we responded to visual architectural prompts.

Please note that this term, our KIRF focus is the 5-times table and related division. Children should have come home with the KIRF document. However, if you have misplaced it, you can download the PDF document from the link above (Year 2 Sum 1. pdf).

Finally, a very well done to:
> Theo for getting the Ready Award for his awesome writing during Literacy lesson.
> Isla for getting the Safe Award for being a kind and patient learning partner.
> Ivy for Respectful Award for being always kind and helpful around the school.
 

  Storytellers Nursery has had a wonderful start to the half-term with our exciting new topic, The Zoo. The children have shown great enthusiasm as they begin to explore the world of animals and where they live.

This week, we have been learning about different animals and their habitats. The children have enjoyed discovering how animals live in a variety of environments, such as jungles, oceans, farms, and deserts. Through stories, discussions, and play, they have started to understand what animals need to survive and why their habitats are so important.

 A highlight of the week has been the children creating their own habitats for a chosen animal. Using a range of materials, they have built imaginative homes, thinking carefully about what their animal would need, such as water, shelter, and food. It has been lovely to see their creativity and growing understanding come to life.

We have also been looking at animals within our own environment, encouraging the children to notice and talk about creatures they may see every day. This has helped them make connections between their learning and the world around them.

It's been a fantastic start, and we're looking forward to continuing our zoo adventures over the coming weeks!

The sun has finally arrived and it is beginning to look like summer! Thank-you to everyone who is sending children into school with sun hats and sun cream. We are always trying to make the most of the weather and need children to be as safe as possible in the sun. It has been another busy week with lots going on. On Thursday the school council visited St Luke's Hospice in Plymouth to see how the money that we have raised is spent. The children met with nurses, occupational therapists and physiotherapists about their important work and how they make people in their care as happy and comfortable as possible. It was really important to see the good the school is able to do through fundraising. The school is apparently famous at the hospice from our videos! Next week sees the Speak Out! Stay Safe! Sessions for Year 1/2 and 5/6. Monday is also the meeting for Year 6 parents about SAT that are coming up. These are a few of the many event coming up this half term, please make sure that you check the calendar for the latest news.

Friday 24th April

What an amazing first week back at school, for summer term!

The children seemed to have grown so much over the two weeks break!

They have come back raring to explore and learn and boy , have we explored this week!

Our new big question is: Are minibeast like me?

 

In English this week we have started our new text: The Very Hungry Caterpillar.

The children have used role play, and a story map to learn the story. We came into class on Tuesday and The Very Hungry Caterpillar was clearly still hungry as he had eaten our raisins and bread sticks!! The children have loved reading this story and recalling all the yummy foods the caterpillar are. Today we had a story table and then children tried the first three foods of the story, an apple, a pear and an orange!

In maths we have been exploring teen numbers 11-19, we have explored how teen numbers have one ten and some more! We have used base ten, blocks, counting teddies and lots of manipulatives to learn our teen numbers!

We have also this week used so much of our outside area, the children have been so happy to get back outside. Brain and AJ our trust caretakers, worked so hard in the holidays to make our new sandpit! The children can now utilise all the new things that the fund-raising money brought us, including a new writing/colouring table, a mud kitchen, new water tray resources, a dumper truck area, garden decorations, new sand play toys, binoculars and water fountain and so much more. The Foundation team cannot thank you enough for the fundraising; listening to the vocabulary, conversations, excitement and role play that has been taken place this week has been nothing short of wonderful!

The children have explored so much this first week back and the sun has helped with an exciting engaging week!

Have a lovely weekend

The Foundation Team 

Welcome back to the summer term, we hope you had an enjoyable Easter.

Term has started well with the children enjoying lunchtime play on the field today and PE lessons outside.

Swimming Pool We are busy preparing the pool which should be up and running very soon and when the weather is warm enough, we will start lessons for all year groups. In the meantime, you may wish to organize your child's swimming kit which should comprise a swimming costume/trunks, towel, waterproof bag, swimming hat. Please ensure everything is named. We have swimming hats for sale at £3.00 each. Please email the office if you would like one. These can be paid for on Parent Pay.

What are the children learning about this half term? The children have settled into their learning quickly this week and have started their class enquiries as follows:
Penhallow: Who are Explorers and What do they do?
Landaviddy: Why do Explorers Explore?
Talland: Can 'Change' Change?
Chaipel: What do all Living Things have in Common?

You can keep uptodate with your child's learning by accessing the class blogs on this website.

MHST and Papaya, focusing on Parenting in the Digital Age With increasing concerns around screen time, social media, gaming, and their potential impact on children and young people's mental health, many parents and carers are seeking practical, balanced guidance. MHST and Papaya are holding an interactive talk on MONDAY 8TH JUNE 2026 - 9:30 AM to 11:00 AM. The talk aims to help find solutions that work for families. Please find attached the poster and further information. The link to access the talk is included in the poster.

Polperro Family History Society The Polperro Family History Society is holding its annual gathering this weekend in the village hall. Anyone connected with Polperro school would be very welcome to join the Society for any or all of the events shown on the attached programme. There will also be an opportunity to look at a range of historical records relating to the village.

Have a wonderful weekend.

Anthea Hillman

Head of School

What a wonderful start to the Summer Term it has been. Thank you for your continued support. Please enjoy catching up with all of the latest events at Brunel in our Brunel Bulletin. Have a lovely weekend. 

Welcome back!
A very warm welcome back to our final term of the school year. A special welcome to any new children and families who have recently joined us - we hope you are settling in well. There's much to look forward to this term; please keep a regular check on the dates coming up.

Year 2 Trip to Wheal Martyn
On Tuesday, Year 2 went to Wheal Martyn to learn about what working life was like in Cornwall many years ago. We were given a very informative guided tour by volunteers who used to work in the China Clay industry and even at Wheal Martyn itself. It was fascinating to watch the waterwheel power the slurry pump using metal rods - no electricity or fuel needed! We saw photographs and models of what workers wore and the tools they would have used. Some of the workers in the pit were children not much older than us. We also took part in a workshop to find out more about what China Clay is and how important it was for Cornwall. We got to use some of the tools and even dressed up as some of the workers. You can see from the photographs what a great time we had. A special thank you to our parent helpers (without which the trip could not have happened), the staff and volunteers at Wheal Martyn for making our day so special and to Cornwall Heritage Trust who donated £100 to help with transport costs.
From the Year 2 team

Songfest Showcase
Well done to our WPA choir who sang beautifully yesterday for their family members at a special showcase of some of the songs they performed recently at The Hall for Cornwall.

Term 3 ECAs start next week
A reminder that after school ECAs start next week and finish on Friday 3rd July. 

Residential Meetings for Parents/Carers and Children in Years 4, 5 and 6
If your child is attending one of the residentials coming up this term, we would like to invite you and your child to attend a meeting to find out further information in preparation for the trip. If you're unable to make the meeting, we will be emailing out the presentations as well.

Monday 18th May 15:30 (Hall) - Year 6 London
Tuesday 9th June 15:30 (Hall) - Year 5 Footsteps of Discovery
Monday 22nd June 15:30 (Hall) - Year 4 Porthpean

PE Days Reminder
Please note your child's PE day:

Nursery: Monday, Tuesday & Thursday (short sessions)
Reception: Friday
Year 1: Monday
Year 2: Thursday
Year 3: Wednesday
Year 4: Friday
Year 5: Tuesday
Year 6: Thursday

House Points
Congratulations to this week's winners, Choughs. Overall, Choughs maintain the lead going into this final term:
Choughs - 9882
Puffins - 9239
Swans - 8840
Cormorants - 7948

Ben Maguire MP Newsletter for Schools in North Cornwall
Please find attached in the email home today, a newsletter from our local MP.

Wishing you a very relaxing weekend.
Best wishes,
Chris Wathern

Year 2 & 3 Weekly Learning Update

Welcome back! We hope you all had a lovely Easter break. It has been wonderful to see the children return to school so positively-they have settled back into routines brilliantly and have been eager to get started with their new learning.

Topic - "Why is our world wonderful?"

We launched our new topic with a fun and engaging "wow starter". The children worked together to create a gallery showcasing both physical and human features of the Earth. They also wrote interesting facts about the different oceans, demonstrating great curiosity and teamwork.

English

In English, we have begun our new genre: descriptive settings. The children explored what they already know and identified key features of this type of writing. We also started to look at adverbials of time and subordination, helping us to build more detailed and interesting sentences.

Maths

In maths, both year groups have been busy developing new skills:

• Year 3 have started learning about length and perimeter, measuring and comparing different objects.
• Year 2 have been working on multiplying and dividing by 2, as well as practising doubling and halving.

PSHE

We began our new PSHE topic, Relationships, by discussing roles and responsibilities both at home and in different jobs. The children shared some thoughtful ideas and made great links to their own experiences.

RE

In RE, we started our new unit: "What do Christians learn from the creation story?" The children worked collaboratively to explore and represent different parts of the Genesis creation narrative, thinking about what Christians believe about how the world was made.

Art

In art, the children revisited and showcased the skills they developed last term in observational drawing. They practised sketching shape, adding tone through shading, experimenting with cross-hatching, and using mark making to create patterns. It was fantastic to see their growing confidence and attention to detail.

PE

In PE, we started our athletics unit, focusing on how to sprint effectively. The children showed great energy and determination as they practised their running technique.

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These are just some of the highlights from a busy and productive first week back. It's been lovely to see such enthusiasm for learning across the class-we're excited for the term ahead!

Summer Term

I hope everyone had a lovely Easter Holiday and enjoyed some of the lovely sunshine. 

We have had a busy first week back with many learning opportunties.

In English, we have continued with our unit on persuasive writing. We are creating a leaflet for a space hotel. This week has mostly been focusing on different sentence types and a varied use of vocabulary to include. 

In Maths, we have been focusing on time. We have reminded ourselves about the different measurements and converting between seconds, minutes and hours. Then we looked at timetables, converting between analogue and digital and solving word problems. Please practise telling the time at home as it is an important life skill. 

In science, we continued our learning on properties of materials. We conducted an investigation to see which substances dissolved in water. We discussed the difference between dissolving an suspension by looking at what happens to the particles in the solutions. The children were amazed by adding oil to the water and watching it separate on the top. They learned a new word - hydrophobic. 

I have attached the new learning journey below.

Enjoy the weekend.

Miss Burton

Well done to the group of children who visited the University of Plymouth today to take part in a fantastic art workshop. During the session, the children learned about early photography methods and explored how images were created before modern cameras. Using photo-sensitive paper, they produced their own beautiful pieces of artwork inspired by leaves and flowers. The work created was thoughtful and creative, and we are very proud of the care and focus shown by everyone involved. These artworks will be used alongside poems as part of an exhibition in October, which is very exciting. Above is an example of the work that was produced.

Back in school, learning has continued across all subjects. In Maths, Year 6 have been developing their understanding of graphs and charts, while Year 5 have been finishing their unit on fractions, focusing on finding fractions of amounts using clear and accurate methods.

In English, we have been studying a text inspired by Oliver Twist. The children have been exploring how authors bring characters to life through speech, thinking carefully about how dialogue can reveal personality, mood and relationships between characters.

In History, we have been looking closely at the design of the £5 and £10 notes, discussing why certain historical figures have been chosen. This led to some excellent discussions as the children considered who they think should appear on the £50 note from history, giving thoughtful reasons for their choices. It has been another busy and productive week, with lots of creativity, curiosity and excellent thinking on show. Well done to everyone for their hard work!

Summer Term! 

It has been wonderful to welcome everyone back after the Easter holidays. The children have returned full of energy and enthusiasm, ready for a busy and exciting term ahead.

This week, we have begun our fantastic new topic on Transport and Vehicles. The children are already showing great curiosity, and we are looking forward to exploring this theme in lots of creative and engaging ways including a trip to Saltash Fire Station! Please see the attached information for more details about what we will be learning.

We have also been delighted to welcome our early transition children from Nursery-hello to the Dolphins! They have settled into their new classroom beautifully and are already becoming part of our Tregantle family. On Monday, we enjoyed a truly special visit to St Anne's Residential Home. The children brought so much joy to the residents with their singing, poems, and storytelling. It was a lovely experience for everyone involved and a great opportunity for the children to connect with the wider community.

Thursday afternoon was equally special as we welcomed parents into the classroom for our Books and Pastries event. It was wonderful to see everyone sharing stories together, both indoors and outside, and enjoying such a relaxed and happy end to the day.

We are so pleased to be back and are looking forward to a fantastic summer term filled with learning, fun, and new experiences.

This month in Year 2, we have been very busy with lots of exciting learning across our subjects!

In RE, we explored the question: Why does Easter matter to Christians?
We learnt the Easter story and spent time thinking about the different emotions people might have felt at each part.
We also discussed what the word saviour means and why it is important to Christians. To finish our topic, we looked at different ways Christians celebrate Easter around the world.

In Geography, we investigated - Why is our world wonderful?
We examined maps and aerial photographs of our local area and compared what we could see.
We learnt the countries and capitals of the United Kingdom and identified key landmarks. We also sorted physical and human features.
As part of our learning, we went on a local walk where we carried out traffic surveys and enjoyed some time at the park.

In Art, we focused on developing our sketching skills. We practised drawing different types of lines and patterns, and explored techniques such as hatching, cross-hatching and stippling. We added detail to our line drawings and learnt how to shade effectively.
At the end of the unit, we created a final piece showing the view from our school using all the skills we had learnt.

In PSHE, our topic was Healthy Me.
We learnt about healthy and unhealthy foods, how medicines can help us, and what makes us feel stressed or relaxed.
We especially enjoyed making our own fruit kebabs!

In Music, we have been learning to play the glockenspiel. We practised playing the tune Hot Cross Buns and worked hard to keep in time with the music.

Well done Year 2 for your fantastic effort this month!