Dear Families,

Almost inevitably, it’s Friday and we are at the end of another half-term!  Half way through the year exactly – and it has flown by.

This week has been a really good one!  I was so impressed with the Year 6 Maths Challenge yesterday, where we had teams from Coleham and 3 other 3-18 Trust primaries (St Martin’s, Much Wenlock and John Wilkinson).  There was a great spirit of competition, and not only did the competitors do well, but the audience of Coleham fans were excellent in their support and appreciation of all.  Not only that, but COLEHAM WON THE TROPHY! A win for Coleham, and a win for MATHS.  Thank you to Miss Featherston for organising such an epic event!

We are looking forward to finding out the House winners of the Love Spoon Bakery Love Letter competition, and our runners up got to have a peek at the displays and talk to My Shrewsbury magazine!

Well done also to KS1 for making and selling Valentine’s Day cards and sweets today!  They have been busy making merchandise as part of their enterprise efforts.

I hope everyone has a restful half-term break, even if the weather is dreadful: take care and make the most of a rest.

See you on the Monday 23rd Feb!

Tom Larkham

Headteacher

As always we will be celebrating World Book Week here at Coleham during the week commencing Monday 2nd March 2026. Throughout the week we will celebrating books, reading, poetry and story telling through visitors, authors and in true Coleham Style ‘a bit of dressing up’.

This year we will hosting our World Book Week dress up day on Friday 6th March – watch this space for more information.

Picture books as I’m sure you’ll agree are powerful educational and emotional tools that combine visual and textual narratives to boost literacy, foster empathy, and stimulate imagination in young readers. At Coleham Primary School we are keen to share high quality picture books across all year groups as we believe they serve as accessible entry points for complex themes, allowing children to explore emotions, understand different perspectives, and develop critical thinking skills.
Each month every year group across school is encouraged to explore a high quality Picture Book during weekly reading sessions. Each book has been carefully selected and recommended to us by one of our reading consultants John Murray. Once the text and imagery has been explored to it’s fullest, each class is encouraged to work on a project associated with the text through art, music, drama, dance and much more. Take a look at some Year 2 and Year 5 examples below.

You may recall from our previous newsletters that our Year 5 pupils are taking part in this years Bookfest Book Award, a nationally recognised reading initiative that delivers comprehensive support for teachers and children in developing reading for pleasure.

Just before the Christmas holidays, Year 5 were given multiple copies of each of the six shortlisted titles, with an aim to read as many as possible before casting their votes for their favourites.

We are pleased to share with you that both Lion and Leopard classes are thoroughly enjoying their books. Many children are already onto their 2nd or oven 3rd book. The children have very positive reviews about all the books so far. Year 5 are looking forward to creating some projects linking to the books for Art, English and Drama. These projects will be entered into the Bookfest competitions against other participating schools.

It’s fair to say our children are highly motivated and really enjoying the books so far. See below for some pupil voice:

Polly

“Doing Bookfest has been very good. I really liked reading a book called ‘The Wildlands’ because it has two girls that are sisters and they get lost and need to find their way home. SPOILER ALERT One of them isn’t really a sister! I just love the suspense.”

Olive

“It’s really fun, I’m on my third book. We are all really getting into it and at times it gets a bit competitive. It feels like everyone’s really motivated ad wants to read more. We’ve never done anything like this before”.

EYFS

Meet the planets and discover why Earth is so special in this heart-warming story about our solar system.
Somewhere in our vast universe floats a little blue dot. This dot is Earth and she is surrounded by lots of impressive planets – Saturn with his ice-crystal rings and 146 moons, fiery Mars with his huge storms and volcanoes, bright and beautiful Venus…
Earth feels small and insignificant, until the other planets tell her why she is the envy of them all. And then another little voice, very close by, has something important to say. A fun story that delivers lot of information about the planets in a way that is easy to understand.

KS1

Blast off on a tour around our amazing solar system!
How fast does the Earth spin?
Why don’t we all float up into space?
What would happen if you tried to eat spaghetti on Mars?
Discover the answers in this fun-filled adventure through our solar system!

LKS2

The Universal Nature Park is a place of wonder and scientific adventure, but watch out – there are mysterious and nefarious plots afoot, and it’s not all fun and learning when the Universe is at stake… Hop on a hover-buggy to the centre of the Milky Way and catch a ride around the Universal Nature Park to learn some amazing facts about our galactic neighbourhood. Maybe you’ll spot some tricksy black holes trying to escape their enclosure, or perhaps you’ll get caught in a meteorite storm (don’t forget your comet-repellent umbrella!), and make sure you wrap up warm for the freezing end of the Universe! This colourful comic informs and explains some of the key tenets of cosmology in an engaging and accessible way, following a narrative and packing in fascinating facts and concepts along the way. Kids will emerge from this world with new-found knowledge about the nature of our Universe, and a thirst to learn and explore on their own.

UKS2

A brand-new, epic sci-fi action-adventure where friendship is tested to the limits from bestselling author Tọlá Okogwu. Perfect for 8+ fans of the Onyeka series, Star Wars and Marvel!
When a powerful group of aliens threaten Earth, a mysterious species called the Onni offers humanity hope. But there’s a catch. Ninety-one children from across the planet must first prove their worth by competing in a series of trials set on a distant planet.
For twelve-year-old Kola, who has long dreamed of going into space, it’s the chance of a lifetime. But once aboard the Onni mothership, Kola finds himself thrown into a misfit team of Champions.

Dear Parents and Carers,

EYFS

A hilarious and heartwarming picture book about sharing, big feelings, and learning how to speak up!

Packed with vibrant illustrations and laugh-out-loud moments, Bear is a delightful story that little readers will want to revisit again and again. Perfect for bedtime, storytime, or any time!

Bear is ready for the perfect day – blue skies, a cosy bench, his favourite book, a delicious cookie, and a bright balloon. Bliss!

But just as he settles in, Fox wants a spot on the bench. Then Wolf asks for a bite of cookie. Rabbit wants a turn with the book. And Elephant? Well, he has his eyes on that balloon…

Before Bear knows it, his peaceful day has turned into a chaotic whirlwind of sharing, and he’s about to explode! AAAAAARGH!

From the brilliant mind of author-illustrator Natalia Shaloshvili, Bear is a laugh-out-loud, beautifully illustrated story about learning to say what you really mean before your emotions take over.

For fans of Owl Babies and The Koala Who Could – this is a must-read for little readers learning about friendship, boundaries, and the power of their own voice!

KS1

What if your guide to the cosmos starts to lose his way?

Fascinated by her grandad, a famous astronomer, a little girl could listen to his star stories for hours. But one day he starts to forget the constellations and eventually he can’t even remember her name. Discover how love can reach across galaxies whether stars shine brightly or grow dim.

LKS2

A brand new collection of poetry by former Children’s Laureate Michael Rosen, author of We’re Going on a Bear Hunt, with illustrations by acclaimed artist Ed Vere.

What would it be like to live in the future? Or underwater? What would you do if you could go back in time? Or be a cat? Or a blood cell? What would happen if a monster ate every letter of the alphabet?

In this extraordinary collection of brand new poems, beloved writer and former Children’s Laureate Michael Rosen will make you laugh, make you smile, make you think, and take you out of this world.

Beautifully illustrated throughout by acclaimed artist Ed Vere, this is a book to treasure and share – a perfect introduction to poetry for readers of all ages.

UKS2

Alien Grimstink has travelled ninety thousand light years to annihilate all life on Earth.

13-year-old Layla Tenby has travelled half a mile to deliver leaflets for affordable fence panels.

But, when they swap places, Grimstink finds himself battling traffic wardens and the Subway sandwich ordering system, while Layla is zapped to a strange planet and left fighting for the future of the galaxy whether she wants to or not (spoiler: she does not want to). Is Reece, Layla’s annoying younger brother, key to the galaxy’s survival, or will his friendship with new bestie Grimstink lead them all to impending doom?

From black holes to shopping precincts; from mining satellites to old people’s homes; from quantum spaceships to the middle aisle of Aldi. Is this the end of all life on planet Earth…

…or the beginning of a beautiful friendship?

We are delighted to announce that this year our Year 5 pupils will be taking part in this years Bookfest Book Award, but what is Book Award I here you ask?

Book Award is a nationally recognised reading initiative that delivers comprehensive support for teachers and children in developing reading for pleasure. The basic idea – to find the fiction titles published in the last 12 months that Shropshire pupils aged 5-7 and 9-11 years love the most.

Schools will be given multiple copies of each of the six shortlisted titles, which will be kept by the school at the end of the project. Children read and vote for their favourite book from a shortlist of 6 books. Alongide this exciting project Bookfest Shropshire will be running competitions for the children to explore their thoughts about the books, so watch this space for more information on this in the New Year!

To wrap up the project pupils in Year 5 will be invited to attend an Awards Ceremony at Theatre Severn on 21^st April at 10am, where Bookfest leaders will reveal the winning author and hear and see the shortlisted authors on stage talking about their books. We look forward to sharing more about this over the next few months.

Whilst we are all about books here at Coleham, we also reognise that life is busy and amidst the juggle of daily routine, it can be hard to find time to sit and read a book together as a family or one-to-one with your child. It might be that you have a reluctant reader in your household too which can sometimes turn the juggle into a battleground.

So are Audio books helpful?

In a recent study, The National Literacy Trust highlighted many benefits of listening to audio (such as audio books and podcasts) including:

• Giving your child a wider access to different types of stories
• Help to create a more immersive experience
• Can inspire creativity
• A great way to encourage reluctant or less confident readers to grow a love of stories
• Offers an oasis of time to spend time together as a family
• Can help children to learn new things
• Great for on the go
• Can support wellbeing

Where to discover audio books

• Head to your local library
• Audible playlists for every mood – Discover a new favourite story or listen together to the classics as a family. The National Literacy Trust have partnered with Audible to bring you a wide range of fiction and non-fiction books narrated for your listening pleasure.
• Discover Stories Aloud in Nosy Crow books – Every Nosy Crow paperback picture book comes with a FREE audio reading, complete with sound effects and original music. Scan the QR code in the book and hear the story.
• BBC Sounds app – Did you know there are audiobooks available on the BBC Sounds app as well as radio and music? Dive into the section marked ‘Children’ to find lots of stories as well as podcasts.

Festive Audio book Recommendations

• The Snow Queen – Suitable for children aged 7 to 11.
• The Penguin Who Wanted to Find Out – Suitable for children aged 3 to 7.
• Hanukkah Bear – Suitable for children aged 4 to 8.
• Diary of a Christmas Elf – Suitable for children aged 6 to 10.
• A Boy Called Christmas – Suitable for children aged 7 to 10.
• Ladybird Stories for Diwali – Suitable for children aged 3 to 6.
• The Dark is Rising – Suitable for children aged 9 to 11.
• The Truth About Mrs Claus – Suitable for children aged 4 to 8.

Do you have a Bookworm in your house, smeone that loves reading and can never put a book down. Then ‘The Winter Mini Challenge’ might be for you.  Designed to tackle the holiday reading ‘dip’ The Winter Mini Challenge, aims to encourage children aged 4-11 to keep reading over the winter holidays. This year’s Winter Mini Challenge runs from 1st December 2025 to 20th February 2026.

To complete the Winter Mini Challenge, children must read three or more books of their choice. Fact books, story books, joke books, picture books, audio books and e-books all count. Children can then sign up on the dedicated website to log and review their reads and unlock their Winter Mini Challenge certificate.

Cost: Free

Hello everyone, Miss Harris here! Welcome to December’s edition of The Coleham Reading Newsletter. This month I am keen to share with you some further book recommendations, as well as telling you a little bit about what’s coming up in school.

Read on for more information about an exciting Reading Challenge this winter, and learn more about the benefits of Audiobooks.

As we approach the Christmas Holidays, we hope you and your child enjoy a well-earned rest and a enjoy the opportunity to invest some time in a new book. Who knows, Santa may even have some new exciting book titles making their way onto his sleigh and down the chimney this Christmas time. Whatever you do to celebrate, we all hope you have a fantastic time.

Dear Parents & Carers,

Dear Parents and Carers,

Please find attached the SEND newsletter from the Parent & Carer Council.

Non-Fiction November is an annual celebration that was created by the Federation of Children’s Book Groups. It aims to highlight the joy and value of factual reading for young readers and beyond. As our research demonstrates, providing pupils with the opportunity to read and explore non-fiction plays a vital role in helping them to learn about their world, as well as fostering reading for pleasure.

Why non-fiction reading is important

In our research, more than half (56%) of children and young people told us that they read non-fiction. We also found that children and young people who read non-fiction are more engaged with environmental issues.

Overall, this report found that more children and young people who read non-fiction were motivated to read for educational purposes, to satisfy curiosities, to foster social connections and to support their mental well being.

Those who read non-fiction are more likely to want to take care of the environment compared with those who don’t read non-fiction (68% vs 49%).

Read the full report on Children and young people’s non-fiction reading.

https://literacytrust.org.uk/research-services/research-reports/children-and-young-peoples-non-fiction-reading-and-environmental-engagement/

Non-Fiction November 2025 Competition

We are delighted to announce the NNFN competition for this year. Children are invited to create a piece based on a historical event, person or place near where they live. The aim is to encourage investigating the local area and learning about the past. Children can draw, or create a model or piece of art accompanied by a brief description.

• The age group categories are 5-7, 8-10, 11-16.
• For the 5-7 Age group the maximum is 50 words
• For 8-10 the maximum is 100 words
• For 11-16 the maximum is 200 words.
• We encourage the entries to be as creative as possible.
• All entries must be received by 6th December 2025.

Please send entries by post to the address in the Terms and Conditions or by email to nnfn@fcbg.org.uk with an entry form. If the entry is extremely creative, such as a 3D Model or a larger piece of work, please do send in photos of the work with a description on how it was made.

https://fcbg.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/National-Nonfiction-November-Competition-Entry-Form-Individual-Entry.docx

EYFS

Empower little ones to be proud of where they come from with this beautifully illustrated celebration of food, family, and the magic of memories…

Tariq loves food, from delicious dinners with his big family to scrumptious surprises in his lunchbox at school.

But when he’s asked to bring in a special dish for his class picnic, Tariq begins to worry about how he’ll choose just one tasty favourite!

As his family inspire him with stories of their favourite foods, Tariq soon realises that choosing the perfect dish is about more than just how it tastes.

What special story would Tariq like his food to tell?

KS1

The narrator of this book will draw anything you want, but he can’t draw tigers! Except trying to draw them might be the only way to get better…
This book is magical. Whatever you think of, the narrator will draw it on the next page. There’s just one problem: they’re really bad at drawing tigers. Hilariously bad. So please, don’t think of tigers!
But of course, soon all you’ll be able to think of is tigers . . . so the narrator will draw them, more and more ridiculous as they go: a tiger in a mermaid outfit, one carrying a coffee and a briefcase, some just plain awful. But with practice, will they get better?

KS2

Enter an extraordinary magical adventure about family, fate and finding the courage to be truly yourself – perfect for fans of Nevermoor, Lemony Snicket and The Swifts.

‘An adventure overflowing with magic’ Beth Lincoln, author of The Swifts
‘A fantastic adventure’ The Times, Children’s Book of the Week
‘A wild feat of extraordinary imagination, fizzing with mystery, magic and humour’ Aisling Fowler, author of Fireborn

On her tenth birthday, Meticulous ‘Metty’ Jones receives her fate, as all children do, in the form of a magical tattoo on her hand. She hopes that her tattoo will reveal an exciting destiny: travel, discovery or adventure. What appears is a skull in the palm of a violet glove – Metty’s fate is to be a murderer.
When Metty’s father disappears in mysterious circumstances, Aunt Magnificent takes her to the glittering city of New London, filled with magic, wonder and enchantment. But when Metty hears rumours of a shadowy organisation known as the Black Moths, she begins to suspect they are connected to her own dark fate …

Miss Harris here! Introducing you to our brand new Reading Newsletter. At Coleham School, we want children to LOVE reading as soon as they begin school, therefore reading is at the heart of everything we do. It opens doors to imagination, knowledge, and lifelong learning and helps children to connect with the world around them. To celebrate and nurture this love of reading, we are excited to launch our brand-new Reading Newsletter!

Each month, pupils and parents will discover:

• Recommended Reads
• Top Tips for reading
• What’s happening in school
• And so much more!

We believe it is not enough to simply teach children to read; we have to give them something worth reading! Through this newsletter, we hope to share our knowledge of new and exciting book titles to spread the joy of reading, so every member of our school community recognises themselves as a reader!