In Year 6, we no longer offer whole-cohort swimming lessons. Instead, we provide top-up swimming lessons for children who require additional support to meet the national expectations for primary school swimming.

These expectations are that pupils can:

• Swim competently, confidently and proficiently over a distance of at least 25 metres
• Use a range of strokes effectively (e.g., front crawl, backstroke, breaststroke)
• Demonstrate an understanding of safe self-rescue in different water-based situations

To help us identify which children would benefit from these top-up lessons, we kindly ask that you complete a short Microsoft Forms questionnaire. Please answer the questions as honestly and accurately as possible, as this information will support us in understanding your child’s current swimming ability. We will use your responses alongside school records from previous swimming assessments in Years 3, 4 and 5.

Please complete the form here:

Year 6 Swimming Questionnaire 2026-27 – Fill in form

Thank you for your support in ensuring we provide the right opportunities for our pupils.

As part of this term’s curriculum work on World War II, we have arranged for Year 6 to visit the Western Approaches HQ’s secret war tunnels in Liverpool on Monday 30^th November.   These secret tunnels were only re-discovered in recent years having been abandoned at the end of the war – a true time capsule for that significant time in our country’s history.  Following our visit to the tunnels we will walk to over to the Docklands area to explore some of the areas targeted during The Blitz. The coach will collect us from the Docklands area before returning to school.

In order for us to arrive at the tunnels on time, we will be setting off from school earlier than usual. The coach will leave school at 8:15am prompt, so children need to arrive at school by 8.00am. We will leave Liverpool at 3:00pm, and expect to arrive back at school around 5.00pm. If we encounter any significant delay on our return journey, we will do our best to keep you informed.

Your child will need to bring a packed lunch and plenty to drink for this trip.  Those pupils entitled to free school meals will be given a packed lunch by our school meals provider before departure. This will include a sandwich, a packet of crisps, desert and piece of fruit.  Children should wear school uniform and have a lightweight coat with them. There will be no time to visit the museum souvenir shop so no spending money is required.

The cost of the trip is £25.50, which includes transport and workshops.  Payment for this trip should be made via your child’s Arbor account prior to the date of the trip.

In case of an emergency or medical incident during the trip we ask that you check that your contact details are up-to-date on Arbor prior to the trip. Thank you for your assistance.

For many years, our Year 6 pupils have enjoyed taking part in a two-night residential visit. It has consistently been a highlight of their time at Coleham, providing a well-earned celebration of their hard work and achievements.  The children have fun with friends and create lasting memories together before embarking on the next chapter of their journey to secondary school.

Residential experiences provide children with a wealth of benefits. They help to build confidence and independence, encourage teamwork, and give children valuable opportunities to develop resilience and organisational skills away from home.  It is always wonderful to see the growth in confidence that children demonstrate during and after the trip.

We are delighted to confirm that this year’s Year 6 residential will take place at the Pioneer Centre, Cleobury Mortimer in Shropshire.  This is an Activity Centre accredited by the Adventure Activities Licensing Authority.

Children will depart from school on Monday 24^th May 2027 and return on Wednesday 26th May 2027 and be back for the end of the usual school day. Pupils will take part in activities over the three days, all designed to develop teamwork, problem-solving skills and confidence within a safe and supportive environment.

The total cost of the trip will be £260 per child, which includes transport, accommodation, meals, supervised activities with Activity Centre staff, evening entertainment, equipment and insurance. 

We fully appreciate that this is a significant cost for families and, with this in mind, we have created a payment schedule that allows the cost to be spread over the next eight months.  A deposit of £44.00 is required by 3rd January 2026 to secure your child’s place.  The remaining balance of £215.00 can be paid in six instalments of £36.00 due by Friday 14th May 2027. 

Please note that these instalments do not need to be paid on fixed dates.  Families are welcome to make payments at any time over the eight-month period, provided the full balance is cleared by 14th May 2027.  Our aim is to make the payment process as manageable and flexible as possible.

If the cost of the trip is causing concern, please do get in touch with me in confidence. We are keen for every child to have the opportunity to attend and would be very happy to discuss alternative payment arrangements with families where needed.

If your child feels a little anxious about staying away from home, please be reassured that this is completely normal. Our staff will spend time preparing the children beforehand and providing support throughout the experience. If you have any specific concerns about your child attending, please speak with their class teacher so that we can work together to ensure they feel happy and confident about the visit.

We hope that all children will be able to attend and will therefore assume participation unless the class teacher is informed otherwise.  Further information will be shared closer to the trip, and we will be happy to answer any questions that you or your child may have.

This residential visit is a fantastic opportunity for children to learn, grow and create lasting memories with their friends. We very much hope that every Year 6 pupil will be able to take part in this special experience.

We have arranged a party for our Year 6 Leavers to mark the end of their time with us – a momentous milestone in their growing up and moving on. Following the success of previous years’ celebrations at the Trampoline Park in Harlescott we have arranged for this year’s Year 6 to attend the same venue.

The children will be leaving school around 12.15pm on Monday 20^th July and travelling by coach to the trampoline park where they will have a one-hour session on the trampolines followed by a meal and a drink. They should be back in time for normal end of day collection time, depending on the traffic they encounter on their return journey.

The cost of the event is £16.35 per child including transport, activity (which includes a pair of special trampolining  socks), pizza and a soft drink.  Payment for this trip should be made via your child’s Arbor account prior to the date of the trip.

In case of an emergency or medical incident during the trip we ask that you check that your contact details are up-to-date on Arbor prior to the trip. Thank you for your assistance.

We very much hope the children will have an enjoyable and memorable afternoon at Air Hop Trampoline Park.

Dear Parents/Guardians,

The SATs are now over and we just wanted to let you know how incredibly hard the children have worked last week! We are very proud of the resilience and effort shown by everyone and they should also feel incredibly proud of themselves.

As you know, the first week back after half term, we head to Pioneer for our two-night residential; everybody is excited and it feels perfectly timed after SATs.

Here is some final information so that you and your child can feel prepared on the morning of Monday 1st June:

Packing

Please use the KIT LIST to help with packing and do aim to let your child be as involved as possible in this process; it is important for your child to know what is in their bag as this will allow them to be independent during their stay.

Children will need to bring a packed lunch to school on Monday 1^st June and they will eat it at Pioneer on the first day.

Don’t forget to pack a water bottle and reading book – these may be useful to have in a smaller bag which can be kept with your child on the bus, along with their packed lunch.

Remember not to pack mobile phones, electronic devices and extra snacks or sweets.

Medication

It is vital that we have the correct information about any medication that your child will require while we are away. With this in mind, we would like any medication to be given to an adult (Mrs Morgan, Miss Featherston or Mrs Jeff) on Monday morning. Please put any medication in a container with your child’s name written clearly on the front along with clear instructions and dosage.

If your child has any specific allergies, please make sure we know about them.

If your child requires travel sickness tablets, please give them their tablet at home or send it into school for us to give before we head off. Remember to also include another tablet for the return journey.

Other bits to remember

Don’t forget a packed lunch on Monday 1st as our evening meal will be the first meal provided by Pioneer.

Please encourage your child to practise putting on a duvet cover and pillow case as that will be the first challenge set when we arrive.

The coach will leave school at approximately 10:15 on Monday morning. We will return at approximately 3:30 on Wednesday afternoon.

As ever, thank-you for your ongoing support in preparing your child for the trip.

Best wishes,

Mrs Morgan, Miss Featherston and the Year 6 team 😊

Get Ready to Ride: Bikeability Level 1/2 is Coming!

We are thrilled to announce that our school will be hosting Bikeability training for our Year 6 pupils from Monday 8^th to Thursday 11^th June. You might remember “cycling proficiency” from your own school days. Bikeability is the refreshed, 21st-century version, designed to give children the practical skills and confidence they need to enjoy cycling for life.

How the Level 1/2 Course Works

In Shropshire, we have successfully run a combined Level 1 and 2 course for many years. This model works exceptionally well because it allows children to master their equipment before putting those skills to the test in the real world. The training happens in two clear stages:

• Stage 1: The Essentials (Level 1) Riders start in a traffic-free environment, such as the school playground. Here, they learn to master bike control, balance, and signaling. It’s all about making sure they are steady and confident on two wheels.
• Stage 2: The Real World (Level 2) Once the basics are second nature, the training moves out onto local streets. This gives trainees a real-world cycling experience where they learn to make independent decisions, handle simple junctions, and understand road positioning.

No Bike? No Problem!

We believe that every child should have the chance to learn these life-saving skills, regardless of whether they own a bicycle.

If your child does not have access to a bike or a helmet, please do not worry. We can arrange for loaner bikes and helmets to be provided for the duration of the course at no extra cost. Just let the school office know, and we’ll make sure they’re ready to roll!

Why Take Part?

Cycling isn’t just great exercise; it’s a boost for a child’s independence and mental well-being. By completing the Level 1/2 course, pupils gain:

• Better spatial awareness and hazard perception.
• The ability to navigate their neighbourhood safely.
• A foundation for healthy, sustainable travel habits.

Equipment Check: If your child is bringing their own bike, please ensure it is roadworthy (working brakes and inflated tires) and that their helmet fits snugly.

How To Take Part?

To book your child on to the Bikeability training course please click on the link below and complete the online consent form:

https://consent.bikeability.org.uk/film-milk-lad

We can’t wait to see our pupils out on their bikes, building their confidence and having fun!