Weekly Blog Friday 7th November 2025
Date: 6th Nov 2025 @ 11:01am
Attendance
Every week in our Celebration Assembly, we celebrate the class who has achieved the highest attendance for that week. This week Mrs Ward and Mrs Walker's class had the highest attendance with 97.10%. Well done Year 2!
Please see below for the attendance figures for this week. The target attendance for all children is currently set at 97%.
Nursery - 91.43%
Reception - 96.77%
Year 1 Mrs Davies - 95.93%
Year 2 Mrs Ward & Mrs Walker - 97.10%
Year 3 Mrs Ronan & Mrs Wood - 95.24%
Year 4 Mrs Parkes - 96.53%
Year 5 Mrs Pickersgill - 94.89%
Year 6 Miss Dunn - 93.72%
Celebrating fantastic attendance!
Each week, each class with 100% attendance on a particular day will receive one letter from the word MAYFLOWER to put on their classroom door. Once a class has spelt out the word MAYFLOWER, a member of the class will bring all their letters down to the office to claim their prize from our box of Awesome Attendance Activities!
Please see below where each class stands at the end of today:
Nursery - M A Y F L O W E R M A Y F L O W E R
Reception - M A Y F L O W E R M A Y F
Year 1 - M A Y F L O W E R M
Year 2 - M A Y F L O W E R M A Y F L O W E R M A
Year 3 - M A Y F L O W E R M A Y F L O W E R
Year 4 - M A Y F L O W E R M A Y F
Year 5 - M A Y F L O W E R M
Year 6 - M A Y F L O W E R M A Y F L O W E R M A
This week, Year 6 completed MAYFLOWER for the second time and will be choosing their reward to enjoy next week. Well done Year 6!
Stars of the week
Each week in our Friday Celebration Assembly, we celebrate our stars of the week. Each class teacher chooses 2 children from their class each week who have really impressed them. Here are the children who have been chosen this week.
Nursery & Reception
Dominic has settled back into our routines at school after half term. He has been showing some independence in these routines, like putting his own name card away without being prompted and sitting on the carpet with his friends. With some encouragement he has been joining in with our parachute games when we do our ‘wake up, shake up’ time in a morning. He has also shown improved communication between himself and others. The adults are all really proud of him!
Isabelle has had a great week back after half term. She has come back full of enthusiasm, is really excited to come to school and is ready to learn. She is trying really hard to be much more independent and do things for herself before she asks an adult for help. She is always really proud of herself when she has accomplished something that she couldn’t do before.
Our first star of the week this week in Reception has done some fantastic problem solving in maths. He has used different shapes to explore properties and work out which shapes can and can't roll. He challenged himself to solve the problem when a triangular shaped object wouldn't roll down the pipe; he looked at the objects that had rolled and worked out they all had curved sides and that the triangle had straight sides. Super problem solving Harvey, well done 🙂
Our second star of the week for Reception has brilliant problem solving skills! He loves to find a way to fix something that’s gone wrong or that has broken, coming up with some imaginative ideas like using the Sellotape and string to fix a broken small world toy. He thinks carefully, tries different ideas, and always shows such determination and enthusiasm. Well done Ralphy 🙂
Year 1
This week, our Stars of the Week are two children who are fabulous problem solvers.
Being a problem solver is such an important life skill. These people don't just accept what they are presented with; they want to find out the whys and wherefores, making the rest of us stop and think too.
Noah and Jessica are amazing problem solvers. Both have such inquisitive minds. They love learning and ask so many questions. They are eager to share their ideas, explore and try things out.
Keep being amazing problem solvers!
Year 2
Elijah for being an amazing problem solver this week! He has been so determined with all his learning, especially in Maths, where he has taken on challenges, completed them independently and revisited his work when it's been tricky. This week, he has also joined a new RWI group and shown great perseverance, successfully participating in every session and achieving his best. Well done, Elijah, Keep up the amazing work!
Aliza-Mae for always shows what a fantastic problem solver she is! No matter how tricky something might be, she never gives up. This week she has worked so hard in maths, solving problems and showing great determination. She gives her best effort in every lesson and always keeps trying to succeed. Well done, Aliza-Mae, keep up the great work!
Year 3
Thomas - Thomas has worked incredibly hard this week. His work in maths has shown what an excellent problem solver he is! Not only did he find the (deliberate) mistakes in the questions he was given, he also was able to explain how the mistakes were made and what should have been done instead! Thomas is very determined to improve his learning and for his work to be the best it can be, no matter what the subject is! Well done, Thomas!
Rares - Rares has worked incredibly hard this week. His work in maths has shown what an excellent problem solver he is! Not only did he find the (deliberate) mistakes in the questions he was given, he also was able to explain how the mistakes were made and what should have been done instead! Rares is very inquisitive and he uses hie curiosity to solve problems, thinking of a variety of solutions! Well done, Rares!
Year 4
Oscar S - I have been really impressed with Oscar this week. He has grown as a learner, showing high levels of independence and resilience when challenging himself. Oscar has pushed himself to be the best version of himself this week and I really hope he continues to shine. Oscar has shown that he can solve problems and support peers with this.
Olive - Olive is a fantastic problem solver, setting a positive example to others at all times. She seeks out resources that she knows will support her with her learning, without relying on adults to do this for her. Olive is extremely supportive and will offer guidance to others in order to help them to achieve.
Year 5
“There are no problems, only solutions.” — John Lennon
Elliot is an excellent problem solver. He is able to break down complex problems, think logically and creatively and work systematically to find solutions. Elliot relishes a challenge and is always eager to try alternative approaches when they are suggested, demonstrating a positive attitude towards problem-solving. Keep up the hard work Elliot!
Daniel is great at solving problems; he relishes a challenge and is not easily deterred by setbacks. When solving problems, he employs logical reasoning to arrive at solutions. His ability to make connections between different concepts enhances his problem-solving skills. Keep up the hard work Daniel!
Year 6
The focus this week across school has been on problem solving. We have been looking out for those children who show resilience and independence when solving problems - whether this be problems relating to their learning, problems encountered at break times or problems with friendships or their peers. This week's Stars of the Week in Year 6 have been chosen with this in mind:
Sophia A and Oliver S-C are both fantastic problem solvers in Year 6. They always notice when there is a problem - whether this be with resources, with something in the school environment or something related to their learning, and they come to me with suggestions as to how the problem could be solved, showing initiative and lots of independence. This is a fantastic quality to have in Year 6 and it shows me that you are more than ready for the challenges that lie ahead this year and as you continue your educational journey. Thank you for being so independent and for doing little things that make my job a little easier.
Headteacher Award & Shout Outs
Each week in our Celebration Assembly, Mrs Powell chooses someone who has really impressed her during the week and presents them with her Headteacher Award trophy.
This week’s Superstar Award goes to a pupil who is always striving for the Mayflower way, and she has grown in confidence in helping others to solve their problems too. Esme has shown herself to be an excellent peer partner in class and is always willing to be a valued support when her friends / class need it. Well done Esme, a well-deserved superstar award for you this week!
My ‘shout-outs’ for giving 100% to the MAYFLOWER WAY this week go to Oakley (Yr2), Aaron (Yr2), Georgia (Yr2), Teddy (Rec) and Charlie (Rec). Well done!
Makaton Sign Of The Week
The children are continuing to learn Makaton's 'Sign of the week' each week. Each Monday, the children learn the new sign for that week. We thought it would be useful to share the following week's sign with parents/carers on our Friday blog so you can get involved too if you wish. Please click on the link below to see the sign for the coming week.
https://makaton.org/TMC/News_Stories/SOTW/SOTW_Fire_Blaze.aspx
Harvest Donations
Thank you again for all the harvest donations. A member of the team from Bassetlaw Food Bank came earlier this week to collect the donated items. There were 15 bags of food in total and Bassetlaw Food Bank were extremely grateful for everyone's donations.
Flu Vaccinations Tuesday 11th November
If you have completed the online form to consent to your child having their flu vaccination, these will take place during the school day next Tuesday, 11th November.
PTA Bingo Night Wednesday 12th November
If you would like to take part in our PTA's Bingo Night next Wednesday and haven't yet returned your reply slip and £5 payment, the deadline for these to be returned has been extended to this coming Monday. The entry fee includes refreshments and there will also be a tuck shop available.
Poppy Appeal 2025
We are hoping to raise some funds again this year for The Royal British Legion's Poppy Appeal. Poppies and other items (bracelets, stationery items etc) have been taken round to classes and will be on sale until next Tuesday, 11th November. The suggested donation for each item is £1; however, all donations will be most gratefully received.
Non-uniform day Friday 14th November
As it is Children In Need next Friday, we would like to have a non-uniform day. Children can come in something Pudsey-related, or just in non-uniform. This year, we would like to ask for a cash donation (suggested amount £1) which will go towards our own children in need within our school community.
There is no obligation to send in a donation should you not be able to; children can come in non-uniform next Friday whether they bring a cash donation or not.
Winter Warmer Project
To ensure children don’t go cold this winter, school will be organising a winter warmer project which will take place wk commencing 24th-28th November. We are looking for donations of out-grown coats, hats, gloves, scarves and Christmas jumpers/tshirts that families will be able to come in and choose the next sizes needed for their child/ren.
We will start taking donations of clean items which are in very good / excellent condition from Monday 10th November until Thursday 20th November. These will then be sorted and checked and you will receive an update on Friday 21st November listing the ages we have to offer. These will be available to collect before school each morning and after school each evening during the week commencing 24th November. You can offer a donation for the item on collection if you wish. Anything left after this time will be donated to the ‘Action For the Homeless and Needy in Doncaster’ group.
During the winter months, classes are planning on using our new outdoor classroom for learning opportunities such as orienteering and watching seasonal changes so this is an ideal opportunity to get something in preparation. Also, school will be having a Christmas jumper day on Christmas dinner day (16th December) and Party clothes day on the last day of term (18th December) which means you may already have had a chance to sort something new to wear.
Year 1 Poetry
This week, Year 1 have been thinking about bonfire night and have worked together to write this fabulous poem which we just had to share with everyone. Well done Year 1!
Community Activities
City of Doncaster Council's South Family Hub team has provided us with a timetable of upcoming activities to share with our families. Please click on the link at the bottom of this page to view the timetable.
Community Support
Sheffield Churches Council for Community Care (SCCCC) has asked us to publicise the support they can give to the older members within our community. They have a service called Home from Hospital that helps anyone aged 18 or over, in those first few weeks after being discharged to help possibly prevent readmission by helping with things like light cleaning, shopping and any other smaller duties around the house. This service can run for up to four weeks and anyone can refer to this service.
The second service they started earlier this year is their Good Neighbours Scheme, which is a befriending service in people's own homes. They provide and manage a group of volunteers who visit older people (65 and over) in their homes to be a listening ear and a friend. All of their volunteers have a full DBS check and introductory and ongoing training and supervision.
Both of these services are free and the only criteria is the age which differs as above on the two services.
Please click on the links at the bottom of this page for further details and contact information.
SCCCC are always looking for new volunteers for their service. If this is something that you would be interested in finding out more about, please click on the link below to visit their website.
Lunch Menu for week commencing 10th November 2025
Please see the menu below for next week. Mrs Stanfield, our School Cook, will continue to monitor the children's likes and dislikes and there may be changes to these menus in light of these.
There may also be last minute changes to the menus on occasion, to take into account availability of items or delivery issues.
Diary Dates
Please see below our current diary dates. It may be that there are dates on here that involve your child that you haven't had any information for yet. Please don't worry, information will come out in plenty of time prior to the date concerned. Dates that have been added since the last blog are shown in bold.
2025-2026 School Year
2025
Monday 10th November - Year 1 visit to Doncaster Museum & Art Gallery
Monday 10th November - donations for our 'Winter Warmer Project' can start coming in
Tuesday 11th November - Flu vaccinations for children from Reception to Year 6
Wednesday 12th November - PTA Bingo Night 3.10pm to 4.10pm - £5 per family ticket to include refreshments. Tuck shop also available
Thursday 13th November - Year 5 visit to Lincoln Castle
Thursday 13th November - Nursery and Reception phonics stay and play - straight after the morning register has been taken. Will last about 1 hour
Friday 14th November - non-uniform day - cash donations to go towards families in our community who need support
Tuesday 18th November - An introduction to Autism workshop 8.45 - places to be booked beforehand
Wednesday 19th November - open evening 4pm to 5.30pm for visits for Reception places for September 2026
Thursday 20th November - final day for items for our 'Winter Warmer Project' to come in
Monday 24th November to Friday 28th November - items from our 'Winter Warmer Project' can be viewed and collected in the lower hall before and after school every day this week
Tuesday 25th November - Challenging behaviour: strategies to support your Autistic child workshop 8.45 - places to be booked beforehand
Tuesday 25th November - Inclusion Open Morning - places to be pre-booked
Wednesday 26th November - Rocksteady concert 2pm - for those taking part in Rocksteady sessions. ***Change of date***
Friday 28th November - EFL Kids Cup at Eco-Power Stadium - further information to follow to parents of KS2 children involved
Monday 1st December - raffle tickets on sale for Christmas Chocolate Raffle. Raffle tickets will also be on sale at all our Christmas events including the nativities
Tuesday 2nd December - Flu vaccination session for any children absent on the original flu vaccination date
Tuesday 2nd December - Coping with anxiety: strategies to support your Autistic child workshop 8.45 - places to be booked beforehand
Wednesday 3rd December - choir singing at Bawtry Residents Christmas Lunch
Monday 8th December - Key Stage 1 nativity dress rehearsal 10.30am
Tuesday 9th December - Foundation Stage nativity dress rehearsal 10am
Tuesday 9th December - Key Stage 1 nativity performance 2pm
Wednesday 10th December - Foundation Stage nativity performance 10.30am
Wednesday 10th December - Key Stage 1 nativity performance 2pm
Thursday 11th December - Foundation Stage nativity performance 10.30am
Friday 12th December - PTA Christmas Shop during the school day
Monday 15th December - some KS2 children visiting the Nourish session at the church hall - further details to follow to parents of those children involved
Tuesday 16th December - Christmas church service St Nicholas' church for Year 2 to Year 6 - walking to church straight after morning registration. All welcome to walk to church and back with us.
Tuesday 16th December - Christmas Dinner Day
Tuesday 16th December - Christmas Jumper Day
Wednesday 17th December - Inclusion Open Morning - places to be pre-booked
Wednesday 17th December - panto in school
Wednesday 17th December - Carols round the tree and Christmas Market
Thursday 18th December - Christmas Party clothes/non-uniform for our last day at school
Thursday 18th December - Christmas Party Day including party food for lunch
Thursday 18th December - last day at school before Christmas holidays
Thursday 18th December - Christmas Chocolate raffle being drawn during the school day
Friday 19th December - Training Day - school closed to pupils
Monday 22nd December to Friday 2nd January - Christmas holidays
2026
Monday 5th January - Training Day - school closed to pupils
Tuesday 6th January - first day back after Christmas holidays
Thursday 15th January - closing date for applications for Reception for September 2026
Tuesday 27th January - Inclusion Open Morning - places to be pre-booked
Tuesday 10th February - Choir perform at Young Voices concert at Sheffield Utilita Arena - further details to follow
Wednesday 11th February - non-uniform day - no donations requested
Wednesday 11th February - PTA discos - Nursery, Reception, Year 1 & Year 2 3.10pm to 3.50pm (Nursery & Reception parents to stay at the disco with their children). Years 3 to 6 4pm to 4.45pm
Friday 13th February - last day at school before half term
Monday 16th February to Friday 20th February - half term
Monday 23rd February - first day back after half term
Tuesday 24th February - Inclusion Open Morning - places to be pre-booked
Wednesday 11th March - Reception visit to Boston Park Farm - parents to drop off and collect from Boston Park Farm
Friday 13th March - PTA Gifts for a loved one shop during the school day
Wednesday 18th March - Rocksteady concert 2pm - for those taking part in Rocksteady sessions
Monday 23rd March - Year 6 visit to Crucial Crew
Tuesday 24th March - Inclusion Open Morning - places to be pre-booked
Wednesday 25th March - PTA Easter Egg Hunt during the school day
Friday 27th March - last day at school before Easter holidays
Monday 30th March to Friday 10th April - Easter holidays
Monday 13th April - first day back after Easter holidays
Wednesday 15th April to Friday 17th April - Year 5 residential to Dearne Valley PGL
Tuesday 28th April - Inclusion Open Morning - places to be pre-booked
Monday 4th May - bank holiday - school closed
Monday 11th May to Thursday 14th May - Year 6 SATs
Wednesday 13th May - non-uniform day - no donations requested
Wednesday 13th May - PTA discos - Nursery, Reception, Year 1 & Year 2 3.10pm to 3.50pm (Nursery & Reception parents to stay at the disco with their children). Years 3 to 6 4pm to 4.45pm
Monday 18th May - Year 1 visit to Austerfield Study Centre
Tuesday 19th May - Inclusion Open Morning - places to be pre-booked
Tuesday 19th May - Year 3 parents meeting for Austerfield residential
Wednesday 20th May to Friday 22nd May - Year 6 London residential
Friday 22nd May - last day at school before half term
Monday 25th May to Friday 29th May - half term
Monday 1st June - Training Day - school closed
Tuesday 2nd June - first day back after half term
Tuesday 2nd June to Friday 12th June - Year 4 multiplication checks
Wednesday 3rd June - class photos
Monday 8th June to Friday 12th June - Key Stage 1 Phonics screening week
Tuesday 9th June to Wednesday 10th June - Year 3 residential to Austerfield Study Centre
Friday 12th June - Reception visit to Boston Park Farm - parents to drop off and collect from Boston Park Farm
Monday 15th June to Sunday 26th June - Bawtry Festival
Wednesday 17th June - choir taking part in Sing Out concert
Thursday 18th June - Sports Day - times to be confirmed
Friday 19th June - PTA Gifts for a loved one shop during the school day
Wednesday 24th June - Rocksteady & Guitar/Woodwind/Brass concert 2pm - for those taking part in Rocksteady sessions and/or music lessons with Doncaster Music Service
Wednesday 24th June - PTA Summer Fair
Monday 29th June to Wednesday 1st July - Year 4 Hollowford residential
Tuesday 30th June - Inclusion Open Morning - places to be pre-booked
Monday 6th July - Year 6 transition evening at The Hayfield School for parents and children
Tuesday 7th July to Wednesday 8th July - The Hayfield School transition days
Tuesday 7th July to Wednesday 8th July - Queen Elizabeth's High School Gainsborough transition days
Tuesday 7th July to Thursday 9th July - XP Secondary School transition days
Wednesday 8th July - New Parents Evening at Queen Elizabeth's High School Gainsborough
Wednesday 15th July - PTA Colour Run
Friday 17th July - last day at school before Summer holidays
Monday 20th July - Training Day - school closed to pupils
2026-2027 School Year
2026
Wednesday 30th September - individual/sibling photos
