The selected focus was Food and Healthy eating. During that period, most areas of the curriculum were linked into this topic. The result was an imaginative and stimulating experience. Pupils enjoyed sketching, tasting and comparing a range of different foods. They especially loved linking in their Literacy work. There were some great food poems, recounts of visits and non-fiction food booklets. The many opportunities and new experiences enabled the children to apply their learning to their own lives.

Each of the different year groups choose a different aspect of food to study. In Reception, the focus was the farm. Pupils delighted in experiencing a farm visit to their adopted school farm. Year 1 looked at different foods from around the world and in Year 2, pupils investigated where our food comes from. Year 2 had a most interesting visit to Morrison’s bakery. Year 3 studied staple foods from India and Britain, whilst Year 4 considered the effect of salt in our diet. Year 5 & 6 investigated different food groups and healthy diets.

At the end of the week, the school held an open event for parents. Here, all year groups put up displays of their work. There was also the opportunity to enjoy a range of fruit and vegetable smoothies. A Halo representative came up to promote the range of activities they offer in Hereford.

During the week, several outside visitors came in to share their expertise. These included Joanne Roach (author of the Foodies books) and Fiona Bunting (adopted school farmer!).

Below are some photographs of the events that took place:-

It was a very busy day for the children as their schedule consisted of many activities including making healthy snacks with Joanne Roach, local author of the Foodies Books, participating in skipping sessions on the playground, and learning basic first aid skills in a Heart-Start session where they practiced how to place casualties in the recovery position.

The children were very enthusiastic about their activities and also enjoyed a road safety session where the Community Police and Road Safety Officer from Herefordshire Council came along and taught them how to cross the road safely and look out for dangers.

A 'Hands up for Max' session took place where children took part in hand washing hygiene and were able to create their own 'germ'!

Joe Roach had also set a competition prior to her visit where the children were asked to create a recipe using oranges in the format of a poster. The winners were - KS1 Emma Little, Year 3/4 Charlotte Hayes and Year 5/6 Thomas Bridges, who all won copies of her Foodie Books.

The morning was attended by Vanessa and Sally from the Healthy Schools Partnership, who enjoyed taking photos of the children during their activities and stayed to join them for a lovely school lunch and a natter.

Photo Gallery of the day

The pupils engaged in many activities covering healthy food, physical activity and emotional health and wellbeing. During assembly the children listened to some relaxing music which they all enjoyed and plan to do again as they felt it made a difference to how they felt during the day.

Each morning the children have introduced skipping as an activity before they go into school and have found this very invigorating and 'woke them up'. This is something they plan to incorporate on a daily basis (pictured below)

The school also had a visit from the school nurse, Julie Johnson who talked to the children on a range of subjects, particularly about the sugar content of foods which shocked everyone ! Do you know how many teaspoons of sugar is in a penguin biscuit? !!

WPC Vicky Turner talked to the children about keeping safe and the children responded by talking about keeping safe within school. This resulted in a number of anti-bullying posters being displayed around the school (pictured below).

Emotional literacy was at the forefront and the children undertook EQ assessments, used emotional diaries and talked about their own feelings in different situations. Once child is quoted to have said "I've learned this week that you can't be truly healthy without having healthy emotions".

Year 6 had been on a visit to the GymBus at Whitecross High School where they had a go on treadmills, steppers and rowing machines. They also had their pulse rate taken and took weight tests.

Below are some photos of the many activities that took place throughout the week:-