Embracing Kindness and Inclusion: The Exclusion Blanket

16th May 2025Miss K. Wilkinson

Today in assembly, we explored the powerful story The Exclusion Blanket by Sarah Martin-Denham.

We talked about what it means to feel excluded and why it’s so important to ask “What’s happened to you?” instead of “What’s wrong with you?”

Using the idea of an “exclusion blanket”, children reflected on how they can help unwrap feelings of sadness and instead wrap others in kindness, understanding and inclusion.

At West Boldon, we’re proud to be building a school where everyone feels seen, heard and supported.

VE Day 80: A Celebration to Remember

9th May 2025Miss K. Wilkinson

What an incredible day we’ve had at West Boldon Primary, coming together to celebrate the 80th anniversary of VE Day!

Our celebrations began with a special whole-school assembly where pupils learned all about Victory in Europe Day and its importance in marking the end of World War II in Europe. Together, we reflected on the sacrifices made, the resilience of those on the home front, and the joy and relief felt across the nation on that historic day in 1945.

Back in the classrooms, the learning continued in creative and meaningful ways. Children took part in a wide range of engaging activities – from designing their own commemorative bunting and making wartime-inspired crafts, to handling historical sources and writing thoughtful diary entries and reports as if they were children living through that momentous time in history. Their work was not only imaginative but showed a real depth of understanding.

The fun didn’t stop there! We had wartime music playing throughout the day, and the children enjoyed learning some traditional dances – bringing a little of the 1940s. Our school was filled with laughter and music as everyone joined in with the festivities.

Of course, no celebration would be complete without food, and we were treated to a fantastic VE Day-themed picnic lunch, full of delicious treats prepared by our amazing catering team. From traditional sandwiches to beautifully baked cakes, the lunch was a real highlight and a lovely way to bring everyone together.

It’s been a day filled with learning, joy, community spirit, and heartfelt remembrance. A huge thank you to all the staff, pupils, and families who helped make today so special.

Happy VE Day from all of us at West Boldon Primary!

ARC Easter Stay and Play

11th April 2025Miss K. Wilkinson

ARC1 and 2 had a cracking afternoon welcoming parents, carers, grandparents and siblings for some Easter fun!

There were plenty of egg-citing activities on offer – card making , painting egg decorations , and a school-wide Easter egg hunt ! We also shared some tasty hot cross buns and drinks together.

A huge thank you to everyone who joined us – it was a joy to have you in school and celebrate together!

RE Storyteller visit

11th April 2025Miss K. Wilkinson
We had a visit from an RE Storyteller who went through different workshops with Reception, Year 1/2, Year 3, Year 5 and Year 6 about components of the Easter story.
The children were really enjoyed the stories and asked lots of questions.

Ancient Greek Day in Year 3 & ARC 2

2nd April 2025Fiona Goodwin

On Wednesday, our Year 3 and ARC 2 pupils stepped back in time for an Ancient Greek adventure!

  • They practiced battle formations like real Greek warriors!
  • Listened to fascinating Greek myths and legends!
  • Tried our hand at writing our names in the Greek alphabet using ink and reed pens!

A fantastic day of history, storytelling, and hands-on learning!

ARC chefs in the making!

17th March 2025Fiona Goodwin
Last week, The Arc had an amazing time using our fantastic new cooking unit for the very first time! Equipped with everything we needed, we got stuck in and cooked up a storm.
We started simple with some delicious pitta bread pizzas, learning all about cooking hygiene, safety, and—most importantly—getting creative with our toppings! With a little adult help at the oven, we made sure our pizzas were just right (no burnt edges here!) before tucking in and enjoying every bite.
A huge well done to our budding chefs—we can’t wait for our next cooking adventure!

ARC Classrooms

5th February 2025Fiona Goodwin

We’re thrilled to share some fantastic news from West Boldon Primary! Our ARC classrooms have now been made permanent following a recent vote by the South Tyneside Cabinet. This vital resource will continue to support countless children in achieving a brilliant education for years to come.

A huge thank you to everyone who has supported us on this journey – this is a big step forward for our school community and, most importantly, for the children who will benefit from these incredible opportunities.

A busy and fun week in ARC 1!

5th February 2025Fiona Goodwin

Our outdoor classroom was a hit! For Active Maths, we played ‘Champion’ to practice 1 more and 1 less, built towers and wrote numbers to show our learning.

We also found capital letters in sentences, painted patterns, explored the Arctic, and enjoyed sensory play.

So much learning, laughter, and creativity this week – well done ARC 1!

Reception & KS1 Christmas Party

19th December 2024Fiona Goodwin

What a fantastic evening at West Boldon Primary! Tonight, we hosted our very first Christmas party for Reception and KS1, and it was a huge success!

The children had an amazing time dancing to festive tunes, enjoying delicious party food, and celebrating the season with their friends. The smiles and laughter were infectious!

A big thank you to everyone who helped make this event so special – it’s safe to say the Christmas spirit is well and truly alive at our school!

Busy week in Arc 2!

21st November 2024Fiona Goodwin

What a fantastic week in Arc 2!

We’ve been so busy with exciting activities and learning adventures.

Maths – We’re loving our maths lessons! This week, we’ve been comparing numbers, exploring number bonds and adding/subtracting 1, 10 and 100.

Literacy – We wrapped up our mini Bonfire Night unit by writing beautiful descriptions of fireworks displays. Plus, we’ve been working hard on phonics and spelling!

Forest School – Back to nature! We made clay people and animals and even had our first fire of the year – such a magical experience.

Provision – Creativity is everywhere in Arc 2! From block building to playdough creations and artistic masterpieces in the creative area, there’s been so much making and building happening.

Here’s not another brilliant week ahead!