Team building exercises and discussions on friendship are just some of the activities that pupils joining Team Upton have been enjoying in their first weeks at the school.
The exciting start for the new Year 3 group has seen the focus very much on supporting children forge positive relationships as they settle safely and securely into their new surroundings.
As part of personal development week the curriculum has been carefully designed to help pupils adjust to their learning and social environment by embracing Upton’s routines and its core values of respect, resilience, aspiration and friendship.
Other transition activities saw Year 3 pupils paired with a senior Year 6 ‘buddy’ to mentor them throughout the year. Experience shows that these pairings – which are first made when the young pupils visit Upton before leaving infant school in the summer – are successful in fostering friendships across year groups.
Team building activities and games when the infants visited Upton, meetings for parents to meet their child’s new teacher and see their classroom, and a close liaison between individual children and their families and the learning mentors and special needs co-ordinator all help ensure a smooth pathway into Upton life.
Head of Year 3 Becky Andrews said: “Through close collaboration with infant schools and families, we’ve been able to ensure a smooth and settled start for our Year 3s.
“Key to this transition has been ensuring the emotional well-being of every child – we understand that for children to thrive, they need to feel happy, safe, and successful. Through a carefully planned curriculum and thoughtful learning environments, we’ve been able to set the children up for success from the first day.”
Head of School Darci Arthur added: “Every effort is made to pave the way for an enjoyable and positive experience in the lead up to joining our school and during the first few weeks.
“Judging from the happy smiling faces, enthusiasm and excitement around the school I would say our new Year 3 have fully embraced the Upton experience.”
The Year 3 team for 2024-25 is Mrs Andrews (3B teacher and Head of Year 3); Mr Faulkner (3G teacher); Miss Chalmers (3R teacher); and Miss Bunce (3Y teacher)
With their first weeks now behind them, the Year 3 children are ready to dive into the exciting academic and personal development opportunities and challenges that await them at Upton Junior School.
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