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November 2026 - Week 1

Remembrance Sunday

Livingstone families will have the chance to pay their respects to those who have died in conflicts around the world at Remembrance Day services across the borough this weekend.

The East Barnet Remembrance Day procession is scheduled to gather on Sunday 8th November at 10:15am at:

East Barnet Royal British Legion Club,

38 Brookhill Road,

East Barnet,

EN4 8SL

The parade leaves shortly after assembling to march down to the East Barnet Methodist Church War Memorial for the service starting at 10:30am.

Pupils wishing to lay the wreath on behalf of the school need to come with their parents/carers to meet Mrs Phelan at 10:00am at the British Legion Club. Full school uniform is required to take part in the laying of the wreath.


Maths Impact Meetings

If you can't tell your Numicon from your Dienes, or your Rekenrek from an Abacus, don't worry, you're not alone!

Come to our Maths Impact Sessions and find out all about maths at Livingstone. Put your thinking caps on, take up the challenge, and experience some of the exciting ways our children learn and enjoy mathematics. Sessions begin next week and dates for each class are listed in the Diary Dates above.


PTA Christmas Fair


TFL Travel for Life Silver Award

Amazing news, and a huge thank you to Mrs Speed for pulling together all the evidence and information needed to achieve Silver accreditation for our Travel Plan.

There are lots of fantastic activities taking place to promote active travel, including walking and scooting. Pupils are also learning about how their travel choices can have a positive impact on the environment by choosing sustainable options whenever possible.


Nursery

This week, the children have been exploring the exciting themes of Bonfire Night, fireworks, space and Diwali through a range of creative, sensory and learning experiences.

We began by sharing the story Whatever Next! and bringing it to life using props and role play. The children enjoyed talking about different characters, including Baby Bear, Mrs Bear and Owl, as we recreated the story.

We explored Bonfire Night through videos, pictures and sounds, listening carefully to the familiar noises of fireworks, such as bang, fizz, pop and crackle. The children shared their own experiences of fireworks and discussed the colours and patterns they had seen in the sky. We also talked about staying safe around fireworks and how loud noises can sometimes make people and animals feel.

Our creative activities were a real highlight! The children experimented with making firework patterns using glitter, coloured sand, paintbrushes and small loose parts. We created a large firework display painting using toothbrushes as a mark making tool, explored play dough with glitter and used shapes and wooden blocks to construct rockets. The children also developed their fine motor skills by threading beads onto numbered pipe cleaners.

Our space exploration continued as we looked at rockets, planets and how astronauts travel into space. We enjoyed counting backwards from 10 before shouting, "Blast off!"

Towards the end of the week, we explored Diwali, the Festival of Lights. We learnt about Rangoli patterns and why they are created as part of the celebrations. The children then took part in a colourful Skittles experiment, making predictions and watching as the colours dissolved and spread across the plate to create beautiful patterns. We practised counting, identifying colours and describing what we could see.

Talking Homework - Bonfire Night, Space and Diwali

This week, please spend some time talking with your child about our exciting activities.

Can they remember what fireworks look and sound like? Encourage them to use words such as bang, pop, fizz and crackle.

Talk about rockets and space. Can they count backwards from 10 before shouting "Blast off!"?

Finally, look at some colourful Rangoli patterns together and talk about the colours, shapes and patterns they can see.

Encourage your child to share their favourite activity from this week and tell you what they enjoyed most!

Have a lovely weekend!


Kingfisher Early Years and Bluebirds

Welcome back everyone! I hope you had an enjoyable and restful half term break.

We have had a great week embracing the autumnal changes in the environment, our sensory story this week in Bluebirds is The Leaf Thief. The children have been engaging nicely with the resources and completing word and sentence level work based on the text.

The core word this week has been: More and All Done. Please use everyday examples in the home.

In Fun with Food the children have made firework biscuits and fruit rockets.

In Kingfisher Early Years the sensory story is Whatever Next, the children have loved acting out the story and playing with the props.

We have also been to our pond area to enjoy the changing of the seasons.


Reception

We have had a lovely first week back! This week we have been learning about bonfire night, celebrations and fireworks. The children enjoyed cutting out different 2D shapes and using them to create their own rockets. We also drew colourful fireworks and had a go at writing our own firework sentences. We practised speaking in full sentences to describe the fireworks and had lots of fun using actions to make firework sounds such as pop, bang and whoosh!

In Maths we have been developing our number skills through rhymes, fun games and practical activities. The children played bingo using their fast eyes to recognise amounts on a dice without counting and practised showing numbers in different ways on their fingers. They have explored how we can rearrange cubes and objects into different positions and that the number stays the same even when they are arranged differently.

We have continued working hard in our phonics lessons, learning and practicing sounds and practising our letter formation. Please continue practising phonics at home using the books we have sent home. A little practice each day will really help.

The children really enjoyed visiting the pond area this week exploring the outdoors and noticing the world around them.

Talking Homework - Next week we will be learning about Remembrance Day and why people wear poppies. At home, we would love you to talk about what it means to remember. Who are the special people in your life? How can we show someone that we care about them? You might also like to look out for red poppies when you are out. Have you spotted any? Where did you see them? There is nothing to bring in, just enjoy having a conversation together!

Achievement Awards

Kiana - For working really hard and always trying her best when practising phonics and during carpet time sessions.

Poppy- For being a caring friend and showing kindness towards others.

Well done to you both!


Year 1

In Maths, Year 1 have been developing their addition skills by adding numbers within 10 using a range of concrete resources and pictorial representations. They have also been making good progress with mental maths strategies. In Phonics, we have continued to follow the Read Write Inc scheme. Our foundation block this term has been History, and the children have thoroughly enjoyed learning about toys from the past. We explored how toys have changed over time, compared old and new toys, and discussed how children's lives were different in the past. Also, our Creative Curriculum timetable has changed slightly where we have music with a specialist teacher and she was very impressed with Year 1's enthusiasm!

Homework- pages 23 and 24.

Information

  • Class Trip on Tuesday to the Young V&A. Please bring in a packed lunch (preferably in a backpack so it is easier for them to carry). There is a gift shop if you would like to send your child with some spending money.
  • Please bring in three pictures of your child (baby, toddler, child) as soon as possible. This will be used to create a timeline of ourselves in History.

*We would like to invite you to our singing assembly on Thursday 26th November at 9am as we will be performing the songs we have learnt for the Infant Music Festival.

Achievement Awards

This week's certificates go to Sevana for her insightful contributions in History and excellent work and Edlir for his hard work focusing on his handwriting and recognising his sounds in Phonics.


Year 2

Year 2 were fantastic scientists this week, exploring if we can change the shape of some materials in our experiments. In English, we began reading A Squash and a Squeeze and identified nouns and verbs in the text. We found patterns in our maths lessons when we added and subtracted 10 and also used concrete resources when adding and subtracting two digit numbers.

Please remember to bring a packed lunch, ear comfortable shoes and a coat for our trip to the Barbican on Monday! We look forward to seeing you at our Maths Impact Meeting on Tuesday during Read with Me.

Homework

Maths p. 26 - 27 (28 is optional)

English p. 18 - 19

Achievement Awards

This week's achievement awards go to Thomas G and Emma for their excellent understanding and role-play during our learning about Mary Seacole as part of Black History Month.


Kingfisher 1

In Maths this week, the children have been exploring how to make and represent a variety of numbers using a range of practical resources, including Numicon, counters and Dienes. They have also been practising counting forwards and backwards from different starting numbers. The children enjoyed comparing groups by counting objects and using mathematical vocabulary such as equal to, more than, less than, fewer, most and least.

In English, we have been enjoying the story We're Going on a Bear Hunt. The children shared their favourite parts of the story before setting off on their very own bear hunt! Armed with magnifying glasses, they carefully searched for bears, making sure not to miss a thing. We also used Colourful Semantics to help us retell the story and brought it to life through imaginative role-play with a variety of sensory resources.

There has been lots of excitement, exploration and laughter throughout the week. Great fun was had by all, and we are so proud of the children's enthusiasm and wonderful learning!

Achievement Awards

This weeks award goes to Levi for completing his sticker chart.

Well done Levi!


Year 3

What a half term we have in store. The children found out their parts in our upcoming Christmas Show and were given their scripts to start learning - I, and they, would appreciate your help with this. There was also a change in our creative curriculum, we now have it on Wednesday mornings and we have swapped out French for Music with a specialised music teacher! The children showed great adaptability in responding to these changes.

Maths - In maths this week, we have looked at estimation and inverse, i.e ways to use our mathematical understanding to save us time by not doing complex calculations.

English - This week, we have started looking at persuasive writing using a personal favourite book of mine The Day the Crayons Quit by Drew Daywalt. We have been looking at the key features of this type of writing such as rhetorical questions to make the reader think. If you are finding yourself bombarded with rhetorical questions attempting to convince you that an untidy bedroom is also in your best interest, I can only apologise.

Computing - Do you know what a LotiBot is? If you don't, you probably will now. The children love these and have been applying their previously learnt knowledge on algorithms in order to make the LotiBot draw shapes. They have learnt the importance of clear, concise instructions and how to use trial and error and subsequently debug if something isn't working.

 

Homework

Homework is due the following Wednesday.

Maths: P26 + P27 (P28 is optional)

English Comprehension: P22 + P23

(for the English Comprehension - if you want to write the answers for your child please make sure they are answering the questions verbally and that you write it exactly as they say it - thank you)

Brain Boosters

Thank you to everyone who has submitted these so far. I have enjoyed (and been ever so slightly jealous of) seeing a healthy salmon-based meal, listened to an informative conversation in French and seen some lovely creative artwork!

Please do encourage your child to complete these tasks!

Achievement Awards

This week, the achievement awards have gone to Rose and Mayia!

Rose - Taking a more proactive approach to her learning.

Mayia - Taking a real ownership over her role in our Christmas Show.

Well done :)


Year 4

Year 4 have started this busy half-term fantastically. In Maths, the children have been investigating multiplication and division using Numicon to underpin their understanding. In English, our new book is ‘The Iron Man’ and they are going to be writing a diary entry in role as Hogarth. This week, they have looked at a WAGOLL identifying our success criteria, acting out a scene and thinking about Hogarth’s thoughts and feeling.

In History, the children are learning about Ancient Greece and how they influenced our lives today.

Please check Arbor as you have received a letter about an upcoming trip. I hope to see you on Thursday 12th November for our Y4 Maths Impact meeting at 9am.

Homework

Maths – pages 27 and 28 and a times table sheet

Reading Comprehension – pages 16 and 17

Achievement Awards

This week, our achievement award’s go to Naz for her concentration and hard work in all lessons, and Xander for his excellent times table knowledge. Well done to you both!


Year 5

This week the Maths, the children learned about how to identify factors and multiples where they enjoyed using Numicon and playing games to help show their understanding.

We have started our writing on Floodland by doing drama about the book, studying the main characters and looking at a good example of a persuasive speech.

In RE, they learned about Hindu and Humanist beliefs on higher beings. They impressed me with their curiosity and questions about beliefs different to their own.

Homework due by Weds 11th November

Maths: pages 21 and 22 (factors and multiples)

Reading: pages 20 and 21 (The Lion and the Unicorn

Achievement Awards

This week’s awards go to Ethan B for his thoughtful insight into the characters in Floodland, and to Sami for being more motivated and focused. Well done, boys!


Year 6

This week in Maths, we have started our new topic on fractions. We have been exploring how to simplify fractions and identify equivalent fractions, developing our understanding of how fractions can be represented in different ways.

In English, we have started planning our next piece of writing: a balanced argument exploring the reasons for and against attending PGL. Drawing on our own experiences of the residential, we will be considering different viewpoints and developing arguments supported by reasons and evidence.

In the afternoons, we have started our new Science topic, Electricity. We have been revisiting our knowledge of electrical circuits and exploring how different components work together to make a circuit function.

Homework:

Maths: Arithmetic - pages 8 and 9

Reading: Set A: Test 4 - pages 11, 12 and 13

Achievement Awards

The week's achievement awards go to Yvette for her positive attitude to learning, and to Deni for always giving 100% effort. Well done!


Kingfisher 2

This week in English we have started our topic of Super heroes. We enjoyed role-playing, exploring comics and practised writing our own speech and thought bubbles.

In Maths, we have been looking at multiplication as repeated addition using different practical resources.

Some of our class also had the opportunity to go and play some Boccia. A great time was had by all!

Achievement Awards

This week's award goes to Arthur for great effort in his learning. Well done Arthur!


November

Monday 9th:

  • Year 2 London Symphony Orchestra Trip
  • Year 3 Maths IMPACT Meeting for Parents/Carers 9:00 - 9:45am

Tuesday 10th:

  • Year 1 Young V&A Museum Trip - All Day
  • Year 2 Maths IMPACT Meeting for Parents/Carers 9:00 - 9:45am

Wednesday 11th:

  • Years 5/6 T1 Rugby Festival Trip (selected pupils) - AM
  • KF1 Cinema Trip - AM
  • Years 5/6 Mixed League Football Match vs Whitings Hill 3:30 - 5:30pm AWAY

Thursday 12th:

  • Year 4 Maths IMPACT Meeting for Parents/Carers 9:00 - 9:45am
  • Years 5/6 Girls Football Competition (selected pupils) - PM

Friday 13th:

  • Non-uniform Day for contributions of Chocolate/Sweets
  • Year 5 Maths IMPACT Meeting for Parents/Carers 9:00 - 9:45am

Monday 16th:

  • Year 1 Maths IMPACT Meeting for Parents/Carers 9:00 - 9:45am
  • Year 6 Swimming begins - every morning for two weeks
  • Year 5/6 Netball Competition

Wednesday 18th:

  • Reception Maths IMPACT Meeting for Parents/Carers 9:00 - 9:45am

Friday 20th:

  • Year 6 Maths IMPACT Meeting for Parents/Carers 9:00 - 9:45am

For more dates, visit School Calendar 2026/27