Our May Fayre loomed on the horizon as I wrote the last feature for the magazine and the sun was shining. Despite the superb organisation from our fabulous PTA they were unable to prevent the rain clouds gathering. We waited until the very last minute whilst planning contingencies for the location of the stalls.

This involved sourcing many gazebos to create shelter and asking all staff to vacate the car park. Unfortunately we did have to postpone our crowning ceremony and dancing display due to the continuing rain. Despite the weather and our disappointment in curtailing the entertainment for this event we were extremely pleased with the support from parents and children who attended. As a result of their generosity a staggering £2054.78 was raised for school funds. It was especially pleasing to see our younger children walking confidently around the KS2 rooms with their parents, a sure sign of us getting used to being one Primary school. Fortunately the sun shone again over the days following this event and as a result we were able to reschedule the crowing ceremony and dancing for the last day of term, just squeezing into the last few days of May. We welcomed a great number of parents and the afternoon was a resounding success.

We are really looking forward to, and crossing fingers for, a beautiful day on 9 June which will allow our younger children in KS1 to parade in front of our June Rose Day King and Queen before showing off their dancing skills. We should have some wonderful snaps of this event to share with you in the July edition. Our children are dressing up for the day in costumes that they will also wear during the village carnival parade. If you attend this event then please do look out for us and see how many different minibeasts and animals from Earls Barton you can spot!

We are also looking forward to participating in other summer events in our wonderful village over the next few weeks. Our choirs are singing in the village festival on 7 June at the Methodist Church and we have had an assembly delivered by Roy Leighton and Carolyn Palot-Watts to encourage our older children to participate in the forthcoming literary festival. Roy has kindly agreed to work alongside our Year 5 children to support them in their writing of myths and legends. We are hoping they will be inspired and use this as a stimulus for their entries into the festival.

We continue to use the village as a stimulus for learning in as many ways and as frequently as we can. Our Foundation Stage children were out and about in the last week of term conducting a treasure hunt. They had to solve the riddles to find the treasure. The children managed to find the prize - a pirate teddy! Well done to zebra, crocodile and leopard classes for being so great at solving the puzzles and for their great behaviour. 

Keeping with our youngest children we must also praise those in zebra class for their confident performance when sharing their learning with their parents, teachers and friends in KS1 during a class assembly on the last Friday in May.

We love to showcase our children’s talents, whether it be during an assembly, a fundraising event or a sporting competition against local schools. In May four pupils from KS1 secured a place in the county final of the school sports gymnastics competition at the Diamond Gymnastics Centre. They had all worked hard prior to the competition to remember and perfect their routines. All of the girls had a brilliant time performing their floor, conditioning and vault routines and were a real credit to themselves and the school. To top it all off they came third!

At the same time a team of nine children from Year 5 & 6 represented our school in a kwik cricket tournament. It was a very hot day at Wollaston cricket ground where 12 schools battled through 3 games. 9 sixes were hit and several fours. Some great bowling, fielding and fantastic team work put us through to a third pool where we managed to win both games confidently, making us winners of that pool and coming 7th overall out of the 12 schools.

Year 6 meanwhile became entrepreneurs in order to raise funds that will help purchase their leavers’ hoodies in readiness for their forthcoming residential trip to Swanage. Children from across KS2 enjoyed spending their money on the varied stalls and games that were all arranged, advertised and manned by the children in Year 6. Collectively they raised £440, which was amazing! We know they will wear their hoodies with pride on their trip and treasure them well into adulthood.

We can truly say that EBPS is full to the brim of children learning, having fun, showcasing a whole host talents and building fond memories for the future!