The View The Acre View Primary School Newsletter Autumn 2025 Inside: Harvest Festival • Outdoor Classroom Meet The Team • Class Trips Cookery Lessons • School Visits Friday Wellbeing • Class Pages... FIRE ASSEMBLY POINT ROBIN CLASS FIRE ASSEMBLY KINGFISHER C
As we reach the end of a vibrant autumn term, I’d like to reflect on the many wonderful experiences our pupils have enjoyed and to thank you all for your continued support. This term has been full of joy and growth. Our children have flourished through a wide range of activities designed to spark curiosity, build confidence, and support development both in and out of the classroom. Educational visits, from the Western Approaches Museum to Viking-themed adventures, have enriched learning and created lasting memories. Creativity remains at the heart of our school. From Billy and Andy’s Music Day to our Robot Experiences, pupils have explored music, art, drama, and design in hands-on, imaginative ways. These experiences support emotional wellbeing, communication, and problemsolving, helping children express themselves and celebrate their individuality. We were thrilled to open our newWoodpecker outdoor classroom this term, which has been a calm, supportive space tailored to meet individual needs. It’s already proving to be a cherished part of our school, helping pupils grow socially, emotionally, and academically. As the festive season approaches, the excitement has been building. Classrooms were glittering, and rehearsals were well underway for our much-loved Nativity performance. These celebrations bring joy and togetherness, reminding us of the warmth of our school community. We recognise that winter can bring challenges for some. If your child needs support with essentials like coats or shoes, please contact the school office, who will act confidentially and with care. Supporting families is central to our ethos. Just a reminder that good attendance is vital to every child’s progress. Each day in school offers valuable opportunities for learning, social interaction, and personal development. When children attend regularly, they build routines, strengthen relationships, and gain confidence in their abilities. We’re here to support families in ensuring children can make the most of their time in school. Welcome message from our Headteacher On behalf of all staff, I wish you a peaceful, joyful Christmas. Thank you for being part of our school community. We look forward to welcoming you back in the New Year for another term of learning, laughter, and progress. Mrs E Wynne Woodpecker class 2
Summer recap The end of our last school year saw the children taking plenty of day trips to the parks and beaches that we are so lucky to have local to us. There was litter picking in FormbyWoods, picnics in the sun and trips to neolithic sites. We packed a lot into those last sunny days! We also had a special delivery over the summer, our new sensory cube. Located in the hall, this cube provides sensory stimulation to the children with interactive lights, bubbles tubes and relaxing music, providing a calming sanctuary for all the children to access. This new addition is already a firm favourite with everyone in Acre View! 3 Whole School Updates... Welcome to Woodpecker Class Whilst we all had a wonderful rest over the summer, Acre Viewwas still a hive of activity, with the building of Mrs Clarke’s new outdoor classroom. We’re excited to introduce Woodpecker class, a space designed to support our children’s emotional wellbeing and personal growth. This inclusive and supportive environment offers a calm, structured setting where pupils can build confidence, develop social skills, and engage in learning at their own pace. With a focus on relationships, resilience, and readiness to learn, the space provides tailored support to help children thrive both academically and emotionally.
School Trips... 4 Wheels on the bus, minds on the move… The children at Acre View have been on some amazing school trips this term, from the weekly visit to The Sensory Hive and swimming, to wellbeing experiences of pumpkin picking and graffiti art, the children have packed a lot in! At Zap Graffiti, the children learnt all about the art of graffiti and how to use a spray can to create beautiful art. The children were taught the basic skills and techniques needed to create their artwork. They were then allowed to have a go themselves, making amazing masterpieces for them to take back to class. Eagle class visited our local library, where they enjoyed the story time and picked their own books. This is a much loved trip for the children and staff alike, who come back full of creative ideas for stories and fully relaxed from the joy of story telling. Building on pupils’ experiences outside the classroom, Eagle class also took a trip to Area 51 Cafe, where they enjoyed hot chocolates and cakes, surrounded by out of this world props. Owl class had a trip to the Catalyst Museum, where they learned about how light refracts, played with laser beams, and had lots of fun interacting with all the exhibits. They even had time to play in the adventure park afterwards, ending the day with a ride on a zip wire! Trips like these help to develop the children’s abilities to cope with unfamiliar situations and life beyond school and are much loved by both the children and staff. “Pupils benefit from an extraordinary range of experiences outside the classroom. They enjoy the vast range of trips and visitors that expand their horizons. All of this develops their abilities to cope with unfamiliar situations and life beyond school.” Ofsted, 2025
At Acre View Primary School, we believe in nurturing the holistic development of our pupils. Every Friday afternoon, we dedicate time to wellbeing activities that allow children to unwind, socialise, and explore new interests. This term as part of our Friday Wellbeing, children went on a very exciting trip to the local pumpkin patch, to pick pumpkins that Cinderellawould be jealous of! Even the rain and mud didn’t put our pickers off, as they embraced the autumnal weather to bring back the biggest pumpkins. We used the winter squash in our Harvest festival display and then the children were able to take them home to enjoy. Some children also chose to go to the local supermarket, to get donations for the Harvest Festival. These trips encourage independence, responsibility and also make shopping fun! Everyone has thoroughly enjoyed the shopping trips, checking off their items and packing their own bags. These trips celebrate the children’s maturity, as well as their selflessness, in choosing to help others during their wellbeing time. The donations were taken to the South Sefton Foodbank and we hope that they are well received by the local community and those in need. Other wellbeing activities this term included Lego club, RC car racing, Chromebook club, gardening, cosy film afternoon and parachute play in the hall. These activities are open to all children, making Friday afternoon an exciting time, filled with so much creativity! 5 Friday Wellbeing... Got that Friday feeling…
Harvest hooray! Our annual Harvest Festival was an amazing success, as this year parents and carers were invited to join in the fun. It was lovely to see so many new faces in the hall, and for the children to have an audience while they sang. Both the children and staff had worked so hard on their songs, it was wonderful to hear them fill the hall with joyful voices and some funky dance moves (and that was just fromMr Forbes!) Rector Susan, from St Cuthberts Church, once again came to lead our service, telling us inspirational stories and helping us to count our blessings in the upcoming months. We are grateful to Susan for taking the time out of her busy schedule to come into school and spend time with us all. The children also spent the weeks before the festival creating wonderful autumnal art, which was displayed throughout the hall. Our Eagle class collected what seemed like hundreds of horse chestnuts from our tree, and made beautiful conker wreaths, which they displayed in a local church. Harvest Festival... 6
Cooking up confidence… Since the beginning of the year, we have introduced cookery lessons into each class’s curriculum, with them making fruit salads, sandwiches, pizzas and cupcakes. Teaching children to cook is one of the best ways to develop a positive relationship with food, and to help them to develop skills that will benefit them in the future. It also gives the children the opportunity to help with preparing the ingredients without having any pressure to eat it afterwards, although, once they see their yummy creations, they can’t help but take a bite! Our hope is that with increased exposure to different flavours and textures, the children will expand their taste buds, and in turn, their eating options. Cookery Lessons... 7
Meet the Team.. 8 Meet our School Boardmembers... Say hello to Katie Marl! Dear all, We are delighted to introduce you to two of the Governors of Acre View Primary School. They are warmly welcomed by the Trustees of our Charity, West Kirby Educational Trust and come with plenty of knowledge and experience to help us develop and improve. Our School Board is made up of Governors and Trustees, with specialist strengths in leadership, Health and Safety, Safeguarding and the wide range of school aspects. The role of these amazing volunteers is to support the Charity in helping the school to provide transformational opportunities for our pupils. In previous newsletters, you met the Chair and the new Parent Governor. Please meet Mrs Elaine Riley and Ms Katie Marl, who are both teachers who are here to support us in different ways… Miss Sian Thomas, CEO, West Kirby Educational Trust Ms Marl helps us to develop SEND and Inclusion, this includes looking at how pastoral staff support us. She works with Miss Thompson and Mr Storey, by focusing on what we do to support pupils’ needs and howwe promote anti-bullying. “As Community Governor, I am especially interested in all the exciting things that happen beyond the classroom - from school trips and special celebration days to the fascinating visitors who come to share their stories! When I’m not working at an online school, I love to read in my sunny garden, surrounded by all the plants I’ve been growing. I’ve always got a good book on the go - when I was at primary school, my favourite stories were from The Secret Seven. I enjoy going to the theatre, listening to classical music, and singing in a choir. My favourite musical is Six, which tells the story of Henry VIII’s wives. Last year, I visited Norway and loved exploring the mountains and hearing local myths (especially the ones about trolls!).” Likes: Reading in the garden, theatre trips, singing in a choir Dislikes: Sprouts! Place: Norway Food: Ice cream Colour: Purple Ms Katie Marl
Mrs Riley helps us to develop Pupil Achievement, Careers, Curriculum and Teaching. She works with Ms Mullin, making sure that we are adapting the curriculum so that your learning is exemplary. “Hi, my name is Elaine. I am a retired headteacher of a school similar to yours and I am the governor for Quality of Education at Acre View. This means I work with Mrs Wynne and Ms Mullin to make sure you have the best education. I spend a lot of time having fun with my five-year-old granddaughter, Grace, who also goes to school in Lydiate. I look after our family’s puppy Cavapoo, Jimmy, and you can see us passing Acre View on our daily walks.” Miss Jones, Emotional Literacy Support “I’m Miss Jones, our school’s ELSA (Emotional Literacy Support Assistant). I work with children to support their emotional and social development. As an ELSA, I’ve received specialist training from Educational Psychologists and take part in regular supervision sessions to keep my skills up to date. My role is to help children understand and manage their emotions, build confidence, and develop positive ways to cope with life’s challenges. During our sessions, children have a safe, caring space to talk and express their feelings. We use fun and creative activities such as role play, puppets, arts and crafts, and stories - each tailored to the child’s individual needs. Every session begins with an emotions check-in (using the Zones of Regulation), followed by a personalised activity and some calming relaxation time to end the session on a positive note.” ...and to Elaine Riley! Meet our staff team.. 9 The Acre View Primary School Newsletter Holiday I did an amazing tour of India a few years ago Food Anything with cheese Food hates Prawns Football team Everton TV show The Traitors Elaine Riley Holiday Australia Food A roast dinner Food hates Anything with peanuts in! Film The Holiday TV show Gogglebox Miss Jones
Wren... This term our children explored the magical world of traditional tales in our ‘Tell Us a Story’ topic. We read The Three Little Pigs, Three Billy Goats Gruff and Goldilocks and the Three Bears, before moving on to our ‘Spirit of Christmas’ theme. There we looked at celebrations, crafts and Christmas around the world. We’ve also continued our regular visits to the Sensory Hive, which have supported the children’s sensory development, engagement and confidence beautifully. We have worked hard this term on establishing our routines, we love our wake up shake up each morning, where we get our bodies moving, we then move on to singing our days of the week songs before checking in with our emotions on our Zones of Regulation. Wren have been engaging in lots of learning through sensory exploration, with sensory circuits throughout the day to keep our bodies regulated and calm. Our Core Word Programme has been wonderful in developing our children’s speech and language skills. Each afternoon, we end our learning with a Storytime session, a perfect end to the day! Miss Goodwin, Miss Gellett and Miss Uller It has been a busy autumn term at Acre View. Our classes shared their news, activities and highlights for you to find out what they’ve been up to… Robin... We’ve had some wonderful experiences at the Sensory Hive recently, where children have enjoyed multi-sensory activities designed just for them. These sessions help with exploring new things, feeling calm and regulated, and staying engaged. Our storytelling theme, ‘Tell Me a Story,’ has sparked imagination and helped children develop listening and language skills. Each week, we’ve introduced a new ‘core word’ to build vocabulary from our Core Word Programme, using play, pictures, and communication tools. Makaton signing has made communication more inclusive and accessible for all our learners. A big highlight has been our musical sessions with Billy and Andy, and Mrs Pritchard, where children create their own sounds, bringing lots of smiles and self-expression. In class, we teach using visuals and short, engaging inputs, also allowing the children to get messy. We also use colourful semantics to help children build sentences with fun and colourcoded visuals. Of course, messy play in our tuff and water trays is always a big hit, encouraging creativity, sensory exploration, and social interaction. It’s been a joy to see the children grow and thrive through these playful and purposeful experiences. Miss Gaskell, Miss Higgs and Mrs Killingbeck 14 FIRE ASSEMBLY POINT ROBIN CLASS FIRE ASSEMBLY POINT KINGFISHER CLASS Class Updates... Welcome to our Class Updates… FIRE ASSEMBLY POINT WREN CLASS
Starling... This term, we enjoyed a brilliant trip to the Zap Graffiti workshop, where the children explored their creativity and learned about street art in a fun and inspiring way. Back in the classroom, we’ve been diving into the world of past and present in History lessons, comparing toys, vehicles, and houses through time. The children have shown great curiosity and produced some thoughtful work. Our budding artists have been busy too. We’ve created lots of lovely artwork, showcasing imagination and skill. It’s been wonderful to see everyone expressing themselves through different mediums like collage and printing techniques. In Science with Mrs Jones, we’ve been learning about different animals, their habitats, and characteristics. The children have loved discovering fascinating facts and asking brilliant questions. We’ve also taken part in Music, PE, and Dance lessons, building confidence, coordination, and rhythm. It’s been great to see everyone getting stuck in and having fun. Most importantly, we’ve made new friends and settled beautifully into our routines. The classroom is full of smiles, kindness, and teamwork. We’re so proud of everything Starling class has achieved this term, well done everyone! Miss Imrie, Mrs Catterall and Miss Smith 11 Kingfisher... Since September, our new Kingfisher class has been busy learning about different topics and making new friends. Our first topic of the year was ‘Time Travel Treasures’ where we looked at lots of aspects from the past such as toys, vehicles, schools and houses. We were all very shocked at what schools used to look like! We have also enjoyed sharing lots of new stories in Literacy. We have read The Adventures of Egg Box Dragon, Whirly Twirly Me, and Old Bear. Making our own egg box dragons was a real highlight for the children. My favourite part of this half term has been the visitors that we have had in school. We had a visit from Historic Workshops who put on an amazing puppet show and brought lots of old toys for us to play with. We have also had a Design Technology workshop where we made our own moving pictures.The children continue to enjoy music and dance sessions which are always a lovely part of our week. Miss Bennet, Miss Bryant and Miss Taylor-Hayhurst FIRE ASSEMBLY POINT KINGFISHER CLASS FIRE ASSEMBLY POINT STARLING CLASS FIRE ASSEMBLY POINT EAGLE CLASS
Owl... Owl class have started the new school year brilliantly, settling in with their new classmates and diving straight into learning. In English, we’ve been busy writing our own imaginative stories inspired by The River, while in Maths, we’ve tackled lots of exciting challenges. Our Computing lessons have helped us understand how to be kind online and introduced us to the world of coding. We’ve had some amazing trips to the Sensory Hive and the Catalyst Museum, so much fun and full of discovery. In Geography, we’ve explored habitats around the world… Can you name all seven continents? To kick off our upcoming Vikings topic, we had a real-life Viking visit us. We’ve also welcomed some fantastic visitors to school, like dancing with Mr Glenn, musical fun with Andy and Billy, and even meeting some incredible robots from High Impact. A special shout-out to our budding musicians, several Owl children have shown a real passion for playing instruments, especially the ukulele and guitar. What a brilliant start to the year! Mr Zaim, Mrs Long and Miss Costello 12 Class Updates... FIRE ASSEMBLY POINT OWL CLASS FIRE ASSEMBLY POINT WREN CLASS Eagle... Eagle class had a fun and learning-packed half term. We enjoyed a local visit to the Area 51 cafe to sample their treats, picked pumpkins in the local farm, and spent every Friday morning swimming at Bootle Leisure Centre, we even were able to go on the slides after our swimming lessons! In school, we learned about the Titanic and ended the half termwith a fascinating and informative visit from the Liverpool Maritime Museum who brought a range of props and artifacts from the doomed ship. We also spent a morning meeting the staff in our local library and spreading our Acre View vibe across the local community. We’re raring to go for our next half term. Mr Forbes, Mrs Silvanus and Miss Cheetham FIRE ASSEMBLY POINT EAGLE CLASS
At Acre View Primary School, we believe happy, healthy minds help children thrive. We’re committed to creating an environment where every child and every member of staff feels supported and valued. Here’s an overview of our new mental health and wellbeing plan. What’s Changing? We’re introducing a whole-school approach to mental health that focuses on leadership, environment, curriculum, staff development, and family partnerships. Strong Leadership - We have appointed a Mental Health Lead, trained governors and key staff, and set a clear vision with updated policies. A Positive School Environment - Safe spaces are available for pupils. We promote an inclusive culture and positive relationships across the school. Identifying Needs Early - We use surveys and observations to spot concerns quickly. Staff are trained to recognize early signs, and we listen to feedback from pupils and families. Mental Health in the Curriculum - Lessons include resilience and coping strategies. Mindfulness and creative activities are part of learning, and assemblies focus on wellbeing. We are proud to be a My Happy Mind School. Listening to Pupils - Pupils help shape our plans. Peer support programs and forums give them a voice and space to share ideas. Supporting Our Staff - Staff receive training and mentoring. We encourage wellbeing initiatives and teamwork to strengthen support. Working with Families - We offer parent workshops and guides. Communication is open, and partnerships ensure consistency. Targeted Support - Personalised plans and specialist interventions are available for pupils with significant needs. A Message to Our Families - Mental health is a journey we take together. Your support and feedback are vital. If you have ideas or need guidance, please reach out - Together, We Thrive! Creating happy & healthy Minds! Mental Health Update... 13
Inspiring visitors! This term we have seen lots of inspiring visitors to our school, each bringing something new and exciting for the children to broaden their learning and experiences. In Eagle class, a representative from the Museum of Liverpool came in with a trunk full of Titanic memorabilia, to support their learning. This included outfits from the time that the children were able to try on, replica plates from the ship and lots of photos and documents about the liner, its owners and the people who embarked on the fated cruise. In Owl class, Historic History’s came in to create a Mayan experience in the class, complete with warrior helmets and shields to dress up in and authentic Mayan games to play. The children were able to make their own pottery, just as the Mayans would have and then used their archaeological skills while searching for Mayan artifacts in sand. These engaging learning opportunities are transformational for the children, as they watch history come to life and are able to step into the world they are learning about. School Visits... 14
15 “Pupils enjoy the vast range of trips and visitors that expand their horizons.” Ofsted 2025 We also welcomed back Billy and Andy, who brought their fun musical instruments with them, such as musical lego and being able to use our face to create sounds! Their visits are always such a success with the children, who enjoy making music in unconventional ways. As part of our Design Technology curriculum, Steph O’Donnel came into school, helping Starling and Kingfisher classes bring stories to life. Together, they made moving pictures which the children used to help tell the story of Room on the Broom. The children loved making their own characters and acting out the book afterwards. Hi-impact were also back in school, bringing their bee bots and ipads for IT lessons that engaged and excited the children. The remote controlled balls were a huge hit! Bringing the world to our classrooms…
Diary dates... Winter wordsearch... School Council and Eco Council update Bauble Elf Lights Nativity Present Santa Snow Sparkle Star Tree Turkey Wrapping Autumn term ends. .................. Friday 19th December 2025, 12pm Spring term starts. ................... Monday 5th January 2026 School photographs................. Monday 26th January 2026 February half-term................... Monday 16th February to Friday 20th February Founded by: www.acre-view.co.uk Can you find these words? The Acre View Primary School Newsletter Our School Council and Eco Council projects offer personal development opportunities for our pupils; developing confidence, communication, leadership and teamwork. It also validates our children’s ideas and opinions through listening to their voices. Here’s what they’ve been up to… Our School Council is back, with some new faces and this termwe have introduced the new role of Eco Council. This council is an essential part of our commitment to promoting pupil voice and active participation in school life. Our young Eco Councillors will be helping to implement recycling throughout Acre View as well as completing the Eco-School’s seven steps towards a Green Flag accreditation. The Eco-Schools programme provides a simple, seven-step framework that answers this question whilst empowering young people to make a difference in their school, local community and beyond. The Eco-Schools programme ‘empowers young people to create a positive change by taking a lead on environmental actions and projects in their school and local community’. Mrs Prince, Eco-Council, had this to say... “We are so excited to start working towards our Green Flag accreditation, it's lovely to see the enthusiasm from the children, who already have plans in place to make our school greener” We look forward to seeing all the amazing changes they bring to our school.
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