An Enriching Week of Discovery
Enrichment Week 2025 has been full of non-stop adventuring, with some of our intrepid Year 6 pupils and staff still making their way back to the UK after a week in Spain. From Foundation to Year 6, there are many delighted but exhausted children heading to bed early tonight, and fingers crossed, a good number will sleep in a little later than normal tomorrow.
As I write this week’s blog, I can hear Year 2 taking part in a musical instrument carousel, and for many, this will be their first time playing a trumpet or a cello. Year 5 are beatboxing in the Hall and in the playground Year 1 are having a skipping masterclass in the sunshine. Year 3 have walked down to Hopefield Animal Sanctuary whilst Year 4 are getting dusty (not so muddy this time round as we’ve had little rain recently) at the Nuclear Races and our Year 6s are travelling home either from Spain or the Cotswolds, where they have spent the week.
School life is meant to be so many things, and yes, academic learning is our bread and butter, but children need to experience the world and stretch themselves beyond their comfort zones. So, temporarily we have set aside our class books in order to feel awe and wonder, to make memories with our friends and to be proud that we are overcoming fears.
And in that spirit (of tackling fears), earlier in the week our Foundation and Reception classes met a range of interesting creatures such as snakes, giant snails and yes, of course, very big hairy spiders. The children learned interesting facts about these creatures and had the chance to hold and stroke them, understanding the importance and responsibility of being calm and gentle.
In all of our Key Stage 2 trips/residentials this week, there have been physical challenges. Whether that was Year 3 pushing themselves at Ninja Warrior, Year 4s in Thriftwood, Year 5s at the Outdoor Centre in Bradwell or our Year 6 trips on climbing walls, paddle boards, kayaking and more. Learning to manage physical risk is an essential life skill that helps to develop critical thinking and decision-making skills. Yet more importantly, it gives us the confidence that we can handle physically strenuous situations and take care of ourselves in unpredictable terrains. This is part of the antidote to a society becoming increasingly anxious about unknown threats, as well as the decline in outdoor pursuits in favour of time in front of screens. At the Prep, we are explorers and adventurers. Giving the children lots of opportunities to be physically active in the wild outdoors is of fundamental importance.
There have also been two instances of time travel this week, with Year 4 becoming Vikings and Year 5 becoming Tudors. There were banquets, jesters, singing and amazing plaits! A little immersion into different eras to add a deeper understanding to what is otherwise restricted to textbooks and (more or less) realistic films.
There have been many more activities this week, too many to list here.
Needless to say, we are tumbling into the half term break, feeling invigorated but in need of some rest and recuperation.
Wishing you all a lovely long weekend, and we’ll be back in a week.
Alice Goodfellow
