We had lots of celebrations this week, including red, white and blue activities in Nursery  to help us remember those who have helped to keep us safe during the World wars.

We talked about what colour our British flag is and had a go at making our own; there were lots of Union flags around school and Nursery so we had lots of clues to help us.

Our snack was even made up of red, white and blue fruits; it looked very colourful and was very tasty.

Reflection and Celebration

What a fantastic week it has been for Tregantle Class! We’ve seen amazing progress in phonics—our pupils have been working incredibly hard, showing growing confidence in segmenting, blending, and recognising tricky words. It's been wonderful to see their enthusiasm during our phonics sessions, and the children are clearly proud of how far they’ve come. In maths, we’ve been confidently counting and deepening our understanding of numbers up to 20. Whether it’s recognising number patterns, solving simple problems, or using number lines, the class has shown brilliant thinking and teamwork throughout. Friday brought an exciting visit to Saltash Library, where the children had the opportunity to explore a wide range of books and even change their book to take home. It was a lovely trip that encouraged a real love of reading—plus, it’s always great to see the children’s excitement when discovering new stories. We had a wonderful VE Day celebration on Thursday. The children took part in a thoughtful assembly where we reflected on the importance of peace and remembrance. Everyone observed a respectful 2-minute silence, showing real maturity and understanding. Afterwards, the whole school gathered on the field for a joyful picnic, filled with laughter, music, and sunshine—such a special way to come together as a community. Well done, Tregantle Class, for a week full of hard work, reflection, and fun!

A Busy and Brilliant Week!

What a packed week we've had in Talland Class! From editing written work and spiritual thinking to maths mastery and making memories on the school field, we’ve truly shown what amazing learners we are.

Using Inverted Commas in Speech

We had great fun correcting written speech and have developed a sound grasp of using inverted commas for direct speech correctly. Well done, Talland authors!

Area and Perimeter of Compound Shapes

In Maths, we’ve become shape-solving experts! We tackled compound shapes by breaking them down into simpler rectangles. We used rulers, formulas and our sharp minds to find both the area and perimeter. It was a challenge at first, but now we’re pros at it!

VE Day Picnic - Red, White and Blue

Thursday was especially exciting as we celebrated VE Day with a picnic on the school field. Everyone looked fantastic in red, white and blue, and the sunshine made it even better. We ate our lunch and juice while remembering the bravery and joy of the end of WWII.

Hinduism, Karma and Life After Death

In RE, we’ve been learning about Hindu beliefs, especially karma, reincarnation, and life after death. We talked about how actions have consequences, and that Hindus believe in doing good deeds to have a better next life. We discussed how this helps guide people to make kind, thoughtful choices.

Deserts and their Features

Geography took us to some of the hottest places on Earth — the deserts! We looked at physical features like sand dunes, rocky plateaus, and mushroom rocks. We learned how these features form and how animals and people adapt to survive in extreme heat with little water. “Deserts are dry because they get very little rain!” explained one child during our class discussion.

best wishes, Mrs Swabey, Mr Parry and Mrs Walters.

It's been a lovely week in the May sunshine this week. Our children have been so busy enjoying all of the wonderful learning opportunities this week. We also celebrated the 80th anniversary of VE Day. Take a look in this week's Bulletin to find out more about this week's events. 

What a fantastic week we’ve had in Marazion Class! The highlight was undoubtedly our celebration of VE Day. The children took part in a meaningful and insightful assembly, reflecting on the importance of peace and remembrance. This was followed by a joyful picnic lunch on the school field, where everyone enjoyed time together in the sunshine, marking the day in a special and memorable way.

In English, our focus has been on enhancing descriptive writing. The children have been exploring the use of figurative language and expanded noun phrases to bring imaginary settings to life. It’s been wonderful to see their creativity flourish as they crafted vivid and imaginative descriptions, using language to transport their readers to far-off, magical places.

Our Maths learning has taken different directions for each year group. Year 3 have successfully wrapped up their work on length and perimeter and are now diving into fractions with great enthusiasm. Year 4, meanwhile, have started an exciting new topic on angles and triangles.

In History, we’ve been exploring the fascinating period of change and continuity between the Iron Age and the Anglo-Saxons. The children have been comparing aspects of daily life, culture, and settlement, developing a deeper understanding of how societies evolve over time.

PSHE this week focused on resolving conflicts and how to act respectfully during disagreements with friends. These sessions provided valuable strategies for handling arguments and promoting positive relationships.

In RE, we continued our learning about the Muslim faith, with a particular focus on Ramadan. The children have been thoughtful and inquisitive, asking meaningful questions and developing respect for different beliefs and practices.

Science lessons carried on with our topic of magnetism. The children have enjoyed investigating how magnets work and conducting hands-on experiments to explore magnetic forces. In Computing, we continued learning about emails—how they work, how to use them safely, and their importance in modern communication.

Our PE sessions with the Argyle Community Trust coach have been filled with energy and laughter. The focus has been on athletics, with children developing key skills through fun and engaging games. It’s been great to see their confidence and teamwork grow.

Finally, in Design and Technology, we’ve been using 3D nets to support our ongoing castle design project. The children have been applying their mathematical understanding in a practical way, using their nets to create models and develop their ideas.

It’s been a rich and rewarding week of learning across the curriculum. Thank you for your continued support—have a lovely weekend!

VE Day

Another busy week in year 6!

We have been revising for our SATs tests next week - everything from nouns in English to algebra in Maths. We are now ready to try our best and conquer the tests as a team. 

In RE, we have been looking at karma and reincarnation in Hinduism. We played a special game of snakes and ladders which depended on good and bad karma. If you ended up going down the snake, you could be reincarnated as a fly! We also looked into how these beliefs impacts on a Hindu person's daily life and choices. 

On Thursday, we celebrated 80 years since VE day. We started the day with an assembly, then had a lovely picnic at lunchtime in the sunshine. We all enjoyed dressing in red, white and blue for the day.

w/e 2/5/25

We’ve had another exciting and enriching week in Year 3 and 4! Here's a round-up of what your children have been exploring and learning across the curriculum:

English – Exploring Imaginary Worlds and Figurative Language.

This week, we’ve delved into texts set in imaginative and fantastical worlds. The children have enjoyed describing settings and characters using powerful figurative language, including similes and personification. Their creativity has truly shone as they painted vivid pictures with their words!

Maths – Perimeter and Fractions.

In Maths, our Year 3s have begun learning about perimeter—they’ve measured the edges of shapes and are starting to calculate total lengths confidently. Meanwhile, Year 4 pupils have continued their work on fractions, deepening their understanding of equivalent fractions and learning how to place them on number lines.

Science – Marvellous Magnets.

The children have been investigating magnets, discovering which materials are magnetic and learning about poles and magnetic forces. They were fascinated to find out how magnets can attract or repel without touching!

History – The Anglo-Saxon Invasion

In History, we’ve been asking: Why did the Anglo-Saxons invade Britain? The class explored reasons such as land, resources, and settlement opportunities. We’ve looked at maps and artefacts to understand how they travelled and where they settled. #

PSHE – Setting Boundaries in Relationships

Our PSHE focus this week was on setting boundaries and understanding respectful relationships. The children discussed different types of relationships and practised how to express their feelings and needs in a healthy, confident way.

Computing – Sending Emails 

A big moment this week in Computing, as the children learned how to compose and send their own emails! They were introduced to email safety and etiquette and practised sending polite, purposeful messages.

PE – Agility, Balance and Coordination with Argyle Trust

We were thrilled to welcome a coach from the Argyle Trust for our first PE session together. The children played fast-paced games focused on improving agility, balance, and coordination—and they absolutely loved it!

RE – The Second Pillar of Islam

In RE, we explored the second pillar of Islam – Salah, the practice of prayer. Children discussed the importance of prayer in Muslim life and how it shows discipline, focus, and connection to faith.

Design & Technology – Designing Strong and Sturdy Castles

This week in DT, we looked at the key features of castles—moats, towers, battlements—and discussed what makes a castle strong and secure. The children then used this knowledge to begin designing their own impressive fortresses!

Reading Assembly – A Cat Called Waverly

In our KS2 reading assembly, we enjoyed the story of A Cat Called Waverly, which beautifully echoed our projected characteristics such as resilience, curiosity, and compassion. It sparked some wonderful discussions afterwards.

Thank you for your continued support. We’re so proud of the enthusiasm and effort the children bring to their learning each day.

May Day - Youth Parade

A huge thank you to our Team Brunel community who took part in the Youth Parade on Saturday morning to officially open Saltash May Fair.

Every day we have many heuristic play opportunities at Nursery.

Heuristic play is a type of open-ended play where children interact with everyday objects to explore and learn about their properties; it gives them a chance to explore and discover things for themselves without specific instructions or limitations.

Heuristic play encourages sensory exploration and discovery, allowing children to learn through trial and error as they manipulate and interact with objects in a safe and supported environment. 

Heuristic play uses everyday items like boxes, containers, utensils and other natural materials, promoting sensory development and building key motor skills. They learn how try other strategies if their idea didn't work, building learning links and problem solving skills.

Designing Playgrounds, Cracking Maths, and Moral Stories!

It’s been a fantastic week in Talland Class, full of creativity, problem-solving, and some exciting storytelling!


Designing Playgrounds with Strong Structures This week, our classroom turned into a hub of imaginative design as we took on the challenge of creating playgrounds based on exciting themes such as the circus and the zoo! As budding engineers and architects, we explored how to use strong structures to support our ideas—triangles, arches, and cross-bracing featured heavily in our designs. We thought carefully about materials, safety, and how to make the experience fun and interactive for children. The results were impressive, with teamwork and innovative thinking on full display!

Maths Magic – Decimals, Fractions and Percentages Talland Class also tackled their exit tests in decimals, fractions and percentages this week—and what a brilliant job they did! The children showed a strong understanding of place value, equivalence, and how to apply their knowledge in real-life contexts. Their hard work and perseverance paid off, and we’re very proud of their efforts. Great job, mathematicians!

Exploring Moral Stories – How the Camel Got Its Hump In English, we’ve started exploring stories that teach us a lesson, beginning with Rudyard Kipling’s classic tale “How the Camel Got Its Hump.” We looked at the structure and the features of a story with a moral, including repetition, alliteration, and expanded noun phrases. The children have begun experimenting with these techniques in their own writing, and we can’t wait to see the moral tales they come up with next!

Well Done, Talland Class! From structural engineering to storytelling with soul, it’s been a busy and rewarding week. We’re so proud of the enthusiasm and effort every pupil has shown. Keep it up—exciting learning adventures await!

best wishes, Mrs Swabey, Mr Parry and Mrs Walters.

As we come to the end of another fantastic week of learning at our school, we would very much like to thank our parent community for your continued support. We really hope you have a wonderful Bank Holiday weekend. We hope you will be able to join us tomorrow morning for the Youth Parade at Victoria Gardens. Please arrive at 9:40am with our children wearing their Brunel uniform. In the meantime, sit back, relax and enjoy this week's Brunel Bulletin. 

 What a fantastic week we've had in Tregantle Class! Our young learners have been showing off their brilliant writing skills, with a special focus on letter formation. It’s been wonderful to see the care and attention everyone is putting into their handwriting – those tall letters and neat flicks are really starting to shine! In maths, we’ve been exploring teen numbers – not just saying them, but learning how to represent them too. Using objects, drawings, and number lines, the children are getting really confident at understanding the value of these tricky numbers. Creativity has been in full swing with some amazing junk modelling! From rockets to robots, the children have used recycled materials to bring their imaginative ideas to life. It's been lovely to see so much teamwork and problem-solving as they build and create. We’ve also been making the most of the lovely weather by playing outside in the sunshine. Whether it's running, climbing, or imaginative role play, outdoor time has been full of joy, energy, and laughter. As part of our music and rhyme time, we’ve been learning the classic nursery rhyme “The Grand Old Duke of York”. Not only are we singing the rhyme with gusto, but we've also been drumming along to the beat, building rhythm and coordination in such a fun way. It’s been a joyful, creative, and busy week in Tregantle Class – well done to all our superstar learners! 

This week has been extremely busy and full of learning. 

In English, we have been focusing on our reading comprehension skills and how to use evidence from the text to justify our answers. We have also been learning about prepositions and irregular verbs when changing tenses. 

In maths, we have been looking at reasoning questions to apply our knowledge to solve more complex problems. We have been sharing strategies and showing resilience and determination. 

In PE, we continued with football by practicing our dribbling skills and working on passing and intercepting. We all thoroughly enjoyed some mini games in the sunshine on the field. We have been so lucky with the glorious weather. 

In geography, we have been finding out about different deserts across the world. We used graphs and maps to compare the Mojave desert in California to the Atacama desert in Chile. Ask your children what they found out. 

In RE, we started our unit on Hinduism. This week we learnt about dharma and discovered lots of new vocabulary. 

Have a fantastic bank holiday weekend!

Miss Burton

We’ve had another exciting and enriching week in Year 3 and 4! Here's a round-up of what your children have been exploring and learning across the curriculum:

English – Exploring Imaginary Worlds and Figurative Language

This week, we’ve delved into texts set in imaginative and fantastical worlds. The children have enjoyed describing settings and characters using powerful figurative language, including similes and personification. Their creativity has truly shone as they painted vivid pictures with their words!

Maths – Perimeter and Fractions

In Maths, our Year 3s have begun learning about perimeter—they’ve measured the edges of shapes and are starting to calculate total lengths confidently. Meanwhile, Year 4 pupils have continued their work on fractions, deepening their understanding of equivalent fractions and learning how to place them on number lines.

Science – Marvellous Magnets

The children have been investigating magnets, discovering which materials are magnetic and learning about poles and magnetic forces. They were fascinated to find out how magnets can attract or repel without touching!

History – The Anglo-Saxon Invasion

In History, we’ve been asking: Why did the Anglo-Saxons invade Britain? The class explored reasons such as land, resources, and settlement opportunities. We’ve looked at maps and artefacts to understand how they travelled and where they settled.

PSHE – Setting Boundaries in Relationships

Our PSHE focus this week was on setting boundaries and understanding respectful relationships. The children discussed different types of relationships and practised how to express their feelings and needs in a healthy, confident way.

Computing – Sending Emails

A big moment this week in Computing as the children learned how to compose and send their own emails! They were introduced to email safety and etiquette and practised sending polite, purposeful messages.

PE – Agility, Balance and Coordination with Argyle Trust

We were thrilled to welcome a coach from the Argyle Trust for our first PE session together. The children played fast-paced games focused on improving agility, balance, and coordination—and they absolutely loved it!

RE – The Second Pillar of Islam

In RE, we explored the second pillar of Islam – Salah, the practice of prayer. Children discussed the importance of prayer in Muslim life and how it shows discipline, focus, and connection to faith.

Design & Technology – Designing Strong and Sturdy Castles

This week in DT, we looked at the key features of castles—moats, towers, battlements—and discussed what makes a castle strong and secure. The children then used this knowledge to begin designing their own impressive fortresses!

Reading Assembly – A Cat Called Waverly

In our KS2 reading assembly, we enjoyed the story of A Cat Called Waverly, which beautifully echoed our projected characteristics such as resilience, curiosity, and compassion. It sparked some wonderful discussions afterwards.

Thank you for your continued support. We’re so proud of the enthusiasm and effort the children bring to their learning each day.

The Summer Term has already started with an action packed week.

In English, we have been finishing our persuasive argument about who should appear on the next £10 banknote. Through the power of democracy, we chose as a class to focus on Queen Elizabeth 1. Ask your children what reasons they have decided to include her. 

In maths, we have been focusing on reasoning questions and we spent a few days looking at telling the time and timetables. 

In PE, we started our unit on football. The children were practicing their dribbling skills in the sunshine and we focused on tactical skills on whether to dribble or pass. 

Our new geography topic is 'Would you like to live in the desert?' Please see the knowledge web below. We started by looking at different biomes across the world and finding out what the main features of a desert are.

The week ended with Brunel day; what a fantastic day it was! We started by completing a reading comprehension all about him and then answering grammar questions focused on his life. After that, we learnt about on of his creations: Clifton Suspension Bridge in Bristol. We then practiced our drawing skills by creating a piece of art work which showed our talents in cross-hatching, stippling and shading. In the afternoon, we went down to Lantic Class and helped them to make trains in groups. I was overwhelmed by how mature the year 6 children were. They were brilliant role models and helped the young children extremely well. 

With SATs week fast approaching (12th -15th May), I will be holding a parents information evening on Wednesday next week (30th April) to explain all about it and answer any questions. I hope to see you all there.

Have a brilliant weekend!

Science and Engineering

The Summer Term has already started with an action packed week of events running alongside the normal curriculum. These have included: a writer's workshop and a visit from the Royal Science institution delivering science in a memorable way for children, and adults, to remember. The week culminated into a whole day of learning about Isambard Kingdom Brunel. As you can see in the pictures, the children worked effectively in small groups to build a bridge which would bridge a 30 cm gap and hold the weight of a model vehicle. The children were amazing. They talked extensively about how they could strengthen their bridges by using triangular and cylindrical shapes. The element of surprise and achievement shows magnificently on their faces when they tested out their very own bridge structures. 

best wishes,

Mrs Swabey, Mr Parry and Mrs Walters.

What a Brilliant Brunel Day!

Today, the children at Brunel Primary and Nursery Academy have had a truly unforgettable time celebrating our very first Brunel Day — marking the month in which Isambard Kingdom Brunel was born and honoring the incredible legacy of the man who inspired the name of our school.

It was a fantastic day full of STEM and art, where creativity and curiosity came together. Our pupils learned all about Brunel’s life and the remarkable impact he had on engineering and design.

They had the chance to design and build bridges, create stunning artwork, and best of all, collaborate across year groups to build their very own trains! A huge shoutout to Jane in the kitchen, who added to the magic of the day with her delicious train-themed biscuits at lunchtime  — a big hit with everyone!

The day wrapped up with a joyful celebration of learning, showcasing all the amazing things the children had achieved together. Another incredible week at Brunel Primary and Nursery Academy — we’re so proud of our brilliant learners!

w/e 25.4.25

Welcome back! We hope you all had a restful and joyful Easter break. It’s been wonderful to see the children return full of energy and enthusiasm for the term ahead. They’ve settled beautifully back into their learning routines and have already made a fantastic start. Here’s what we’ve been up to this week:

English – Wow Words Galore!

In English, we’ve been diving into some exciting vocabulary work, focusing on Tier 2 ‘wow’ words to really boost our descriptive writing. These words help children to express themselves more precisely and powerfully. We’ve been exploring their meanings, using them in sentences, and discussing how they enhance our writing. You might hear some impressive new words popping up at home!

Maths – Multiplying the Fun!

Maths has been buzzing this week! We’ve been:

• Practising our times tables in fun and interactive ways,
• Exploring length, converting between units (like metres and centimetres),
• And continuing our work on fractions, developing our understanding of parts of a whole.

The children have shown great resilience and reasoning skills—brilliant work all round!

History – Illuminated Beginnings

Our new history topic is titled "How Hard Was It to Invade and Settle in Britain?" We launched it with a creative and engaging ‘Wow Starter’—exploring illuminated lettering, just like the early medieval manuscripts. The children were fascinated to learn about their history and significance and even had a go at designing their own!

RE – Exploring Muslim Festivals

In Religious Education, we began learning about Islamic festivals and their importance to Muslims around the world. We’ve started to look at the values behind these celebrations and how they are observed. The children have shown great respect and interest—ask them about what they’ve discovered so far!

PSHE – Building Positive Relationships

This week in PSHE, we’ve begun our focus on relationships. Through stories and discussion, we’ve explored themes such as kindness, empathy, and how to be a good friend. A thoughtful and reflective start to this important topic.

PE – Sprinting into Summer!

Our athletics unit kicked off with some energetic sprinting sessions! The children practised their starting positions, learned about technique, and gave it their all on the track. We’re very excited to welcome a coach from Argyle Community Trust starting next week to help us develop our skills even further.

Please remember: PE kits every Wednesday this term!

A Visit from the Royal Institution of Science!

One of the week’s biggest highlights was a special visit from the Royal Institution of Science! The children were wowed by exciting demonstrations and investigations linked to climate and global change. Not only were the experiments thrilling, but they also delivered important messages about looking after our planet. A truly inspiring experience!

This week and next we are welcoming new children to our Nursery family so everyone is busy helping them settle without their grown up, helping them to get used to a new environment and starting to making new friends.

Our new story for this half term is 'We're going on a lion hunt'!

We are secretly hoping that we don't find a lion, but you never know!

We'll be looking at the journey that the children take and the animals that they meet on the way as they hunt for a lion.

This book has a similar layout to another well known story; do you know what it is?