KS1’s Seaside Adventure at Chalkwell Beach

Our Year 1 and 2 children had a wonderful time at Chalkwell Beach this week. With the sun shining brightly, the day was perfect for adventure and exploration.

The children enjoyed hunting for seashells, spotting cheeky crabs, and paddling in the (very!) chilly sea. There were squeals of laughter, brave splashes, and even a few who dared to dive right in!

It was a magical day full of discovery, sunshine, and shared smiles between children, parents, and teachers. A special thank you to all the adults who helped make the trip such a memorable experience.

Ranelagh was filled with pride, joy, and remembrance as we marked the 80th anniversary of VE Day with a special celebration that brought our school community together.

The day began with a community breakfast, where children, staff, and guests enjoyed a traditional English breakfast together. This was followed by wartime songs and a variety of engaging, themed activities in the classrooms that helped our pupils understand the significance of this historic day.

We were honoured to welcome Councillor Charlene McLean and James Asser, Member of Parliament for West Ham and Beckton, who joined us in recognising the importance of remembering those who lived through and contributed to the events of World War II.

Throughout the day, the children took part in meaningful activities such as writing letters to veterans, designing posters, writing poems, and exploring key moments in history. Many children proudly wore traditional clothing representing their heritage and made beautiful flags, combining the Union Jack with flags from countries linked to their family backgrounds.

It was a wonderful celebration of remembrance, unity, and learning, and we are so proud of how thoughtfully and creatively the children took part.

Thank you to our community for your continued support in making events like these so special.

Classes G1 and G3 have been thoroughly enjoying their trips to Forest School, where they have been using natural resources to create beautiful forest art through painting and collage. As they explore the woodland, the children have been spotting the early signs of spring, from budding flowers to birdsong, and observing the wildlife around them. It has been a fantastic opportunity for them to connect with nature, unleash their creativity and learn about the changing seasons firsthand.

Last Friday, we had an amazing time celebrating World Book Day in a fun and active way! Along with enjoying our love for books, the whole school took part in a Danceathon in the playground, showing off our moves as part of the Just Dance movement. Every child joined in, dancing with their friends and teachers, showing off their moves, and enjoying the joy of movement. It was a wonderful way to bring the school community together and keep active while celebrating our love for books. A big thank you to everyone for making it such a special day!

Children at Ranelagh show Strictly Stars Dianne and Kai their Moves ( and maths and science learning at the same time )

TTLT is a Well Beacon Trust and our schools are always eager to showcase the magnificent things we do to make sure our children are happy and healthy. Each school’s curriculum ensures that physical and mental healthiness is essential. Each school showcases this in a different way : this is what makes our Trust so unique. 

You can imagine our absolute thrill when our schools were asked to be part of ‘Let’s Dance’ - a national campaign founded by Angela Rippon CBE to inspire everyone in Britain to embrace dance as a way to improve their health, connect with others and have fun. 

Ranelagh’s curriculum uses dance in all subjects. They use it as a tool to assess children’s knowledge and understanding . This allows inclusion for all. The children who find speaking and writing difficult can show their knowledge through dance interpretation . Children who find learning easy are challenged by applying and synthesising  their understanding through art forms. That’s the education bit , but ultimately  ‘Learning is Fun’ as many of the pupils at Ranelagh state.

Ranelagh was privileged to have the brilliant stars of Strictly Come Dancing visit the school and see this in all its glory. Dianne Buswell and Kai Widdrington watched with joy, then joined in as children in KS1 showed them the Number Bond Dance ( creating number shapes with their partners to make 10 ) and they watched in amazement as Year 5 showed their science knowledge of the planets and their understanding about the concepts of day and night through dance.This was all filmed for the BBC’s  One Show and aired on Friday 21st February 2025. 

The children and parents were so excited to see their children on the TV . Ranelagh and all the schools in the Trust  are delighted to be part of this wonderful campaign. Dancing can be used in all aspects of the school day and the Trust schools are testimony to this. Dancing makes children happier, healthier and makes learning fun.