OPAL: The Importance of Wheeled Play in the Playground

The Importance of Wheeled Play in the Playground


Wheeled play refers to any activity that involves the use of toys or equipment with wheels. This can include buggies, scooters, skateboards, and even toy cars. Wheeled play is an essential component of a child’s physical, social, cognitive, and emotional development. By incorporating wheeled play into our playtimes, we are providing them with invaluable skills that will benefit them for years to come.


The Benefits of Wheeled Play


1. Physical Development:
Wheeled play is a fantastic way to encourage physical activity in children. Activities like riding bikes or scooters help develop gross motor skills, increase balance and coordination, and build strength. Children engage large muscle groups, which improves their overall fitness and health. A fun ride around the playground can release pent-up energy and promote a more active lifestyle.


2. Social Skills:
Playing with wheeled toys often requires children to interact with their peers. Whether they are racing, taking turns, or simply sharing space, these interactions help children navigate social situations. The playground soon becomes a hub for developing friendship skills, as kids learn the importance of teamwork, cooperation, and even friendly competition.


3.Cognitive Development:
Wheeled play isn’t just about physical movement—there is a mental component involved too. Children need to assess their environment, navigate obstacles, and make quick decisions on how to manoeuvre . This type of play supports cognitive development by enhancing spatial awareness, problem-solving skills, and critical thinking.


4.Emotional Resilience:
Wheeled play teaches children how to manage risks and cope with failure. When a child gets up after a fall and tries again, they learn resilience and determination—skills that will serve them well throughout life.


5.Creativity and Imagination:
The playground is a canvas for imaginative play. Children can create their own games, invent make-believe scenarios, and explore new ways to use their wheeled toys. From pretending to be race car drivers to creating imaginary worlds, wheeled play fosters creativity in a way that structured play rarely can.


Donations: We would welcome any of the following donations to support our wheeled play:

Buggies, scooters, skateboards and toy cars.

Weekly Newsletter - Friday 15th November, 2024

Headtecher: Mrs L Nicholls

Dear Parents and Carers,

Part 1 Broadford News

Remembrance Day 2024

It has been a wonderful week in school and there have been lots of opportunities for pupils to participate in remembrance day activities. KS2 pupils met a former veteran and we are very grateful to Mr Squibb who came and spoke to our KS2 pupils about his experience in the Infantry. Our early years and KS1 pupils remembered a beautiful poem and lovely song for the occasion. If you haven’t visited the remembrance garden in the reception playground, please do so and send us your photos. 

Children in Need Day 

It has been a yellow, spotty day in school for Children in Need. Oor year 6 school council representatives taught us about the charities that Children in Need support and Joe Wicks challenged us to complete 1000 Bearpees! We are looking forward to sharing with you our total monies raised which will go towards the many wonderful charities supported by Children in Need. 

SEN Parent Groups
We have received some information about various parent groups across the borough particularly for SEND. PLease see the information attached to this email. 

Christmas at Broadford 

This week you would have received information regarding Christmas at Broadford and the PDF is attached to the email for your information. Please click on the icon for further details about all of the up and coming festive events. 

Reception Admissions September 2025

If your child is looking to join our school in Reception 2025, it is vital that your application is completed by 15th January 2025 or it is likely you miss out. Last year we had 310 applications for just 90 places. Even with a 3 form intake, we have more expressions of interest than we have places – YOU MUST APPLY! Attending our Nursery will have no impact on your application. Many parents mistakenly believe that a place in the Nursery = a place in Reception… it doesn’t!

Please see the London Borough of Havering website for further information on how to apply. 

Shared mailboxes and communication 

In these uncertain times, please remember that the main method of communication with your child’s class teacher is via the shared mailboxes. They are checked daily and can be used to ask questions, pass on information or check details:

nursery@broadford.havering.sch.uk

reception@broadford.havering.sch.uk

year1@broadford.havering.sch.uk
year2@broadford.havering.sch.uk 

year3@broadford.havering.sch.uk
year4@broadford.havering.sch.uk

year5@broadford.havering.sch.uk  

year6@broadford.havering.sch.uk  

Part 2 Broadford Information

Autumn 2 Term Dates - More dates to be added

Tuesday 19th November	Year 6 Cinema Trip
Wednesday 20th November	Year 3&4 boys football
Thursday 21st November	Spinebreakers Year 5 Waterstones Trip  M&M Productions - Beauty & the Beast
Monday 25th November	Rowan class - Tower of London trip  Prospective parents tour - 10.00 am  Year 6 Pupils Brentwood Prep School Maths Group
Tuesday 26th November	Flu vaccinations Year 4 cinema trip
Wednesday 27th November	Year 5&6 Sportshall athletics
Thursday 28th November	Year 5&6 Sportshall athletics Mulberry class - Tower of London visit Year 5 cinema trip
Friday 29th November	Pine class - Tower of London
Tuesday 3rd December	Year 4 trip to nativity project in Romford
Thursday 5th December	iRock concert 2.30 pm
Friday 13th December	Save the Children Christmas jumper day Father Christmas visiting  9am Parents Forum
Monday 16th December	KS1 Road safety show 10 am Prospective parents tour
Tuesday 17th December	Christmas discos
Thursday 19th December	Sponsored Santa Run
Friday 20th December	Christmas parties End of Autumn term

INSET Dates for 2024-2025

Day 1	Day 2	Day 3	Day 4	Day 5
2nd September	3rd September	4th November	21st July	22nd July

Havering school term dates 2024-2025

Autumn term: 

Monday 2 September to Friday 20 December 2024 

Spring term: 

Monday 6 January to Friday 4 April 2025 

Summer term:
Tuesday 22 April to Tuesday 22 July 2025

Havering Catering Services

Week beginning 18th November is week 3 on the Havering catering services menu. 

School dinners continue to be free to ALL primary aged pupils.
The new menu is attached to this email. 

Part 3 Pupil and Parent Responsibilities
At Broadford Primary pupils, parents and carers are expected to meet three key responsibilities

Pupil Job 1 - Come to school every day on time
Parent responsibility - Ensure that your child arrives for school on time, every day and ready to learn.

Weekly Attendance  Target 96%

KS1: 94% KS2: 96% Overall: 95%
Congratulations to Mulberry  and Larch who top the attendance table this week. 

Job 2 - Do your best in every lesson
Parent responsibility - Support your child’s learning at home.

E for Excellence Winners

These wonderful children have demonstrated excellence this week.

Nursery	Austin, Nellie and Adian	Ash	Olaf
Alder	Kameron	Cedar	Kylie
Apple	Evie	Cherry	Mohib
Aspen	Chloe	Elm	Aadya
Apricot	Kotryna	Maple	Ksenija
Beech	Emir	Willow	Dani
Walnut	Ethan	Almond	Peace
Mulberry	Antonina	Lime	Rosie
Pine	Rosie	Oak	Paige
Rowan	Elyssa	Birch	Aida
		Larch	Maxi
		Redwood	Azyaha

Learning Power Awards These are the key skills that our children will need to learn effectively in class and to be successful later in life.
Reciprocity These children have shown interdependence, collaborated effectively, listened to others, displayed empathy and have imitated effective  ideas and methods from others.	Afreenish, Keon, Esmee, Tommy, Yehor, Bernice, Osazemen, Isabella, Teddy, Vanessa, Anushri, Lily, Jacob, Oscar, Adalind
Reflectiveness  These pupils have planned carefully, revised ideas, identified key features and can talk about their learning.	Zarrar, Alfie, Elliot,Merlyn, Sahir, Mahdi, Athena, Lily-Mae, Max
Resilience These children have demonstrated perseverance, managed distractions, noticed patterns and been absorbed in their tasks.	Sofia, Mason, Emmalee,Leo, Jefflyn, Kezia, Ryan, Amber, Nathaniel, Olivia, Henry
Resourcefulness    These pupils have been curious about learning, made links between ideas, shown imagination, reasoned methodically and capitalised on resources.	Stefania, Amadea, Charlie, Edward, Ali, Cameron, Arya, Rosie, Batool, Emmy, Amira

 

Certificate of Presentation

The following children have been recognised for the beautifully presented work in their books. They clearly take pride in all that they do and are doing their best in every lesson. 

Ayaan, Elsie, Aryaan, Hussain, Melody, Aariz

Star Writers

These children have been awarded a star writer certificate and golden pencil in recognition of their excellent writing, use of powerful vocabulary and sophisticated writing  techniques. Teodor, 

Gabrielle, Andrew, Daniel, Teodor, Mateo, Harvey, Dunsin, Ashlean, Ronnie,Matthew, Hope, Khalifa, Asad, Zakariya, Lexi, Malik,  Afrahim, Lyra, Chloe 

I Made My Teacher Happy

These pupils have all made sure their teachers have a smile on their face this week.  

Kian, Summer, Chalva, Gabia, Danni, Umar, Adam, Isaac, Gabby, Ipsa, Abdullah, Aahan, Annie, Rio, Aisha, Parisa

105 Books to Read Before You Leave Broadford

These pupils have read five books and earned their Bronze certificate.  

Adalind, Natalia, Layla, Alice, Ronnie, Eden, 

These pupils have read 10 books and earned their Silver certificate. 

Matthew, Layla, Alice

These pupils have read all 15 books, earning their Gold certificate and completing their trackers. 

 Elyssa

Tracker Awards

		Prestige
Bronze certificate	Afreenish, Erikas, Brielle, Aadhvik, Adeyemi	Najhat
Silver Pencil	Edie, Araoluwa
Silver certificate	Lenny, Abrish, Bella
Gold Bookmark	Mason, Umar, Amelia< Batool, Anna, Nikita
Gold certificate		Karimah,
Platinum prize	Elsie, Lexi-Mae, Jimmy, HImanshi
Platinum certificate	Raffy,
Diamond prize	Callum, Rosie, Irfan,
Diamond certificate	Kindah
Star prize	Elyakim, Elise,	Shivanshi
Star certificate	Poppy

Job 3 - Be kind and polite to everyone you meet

Parent responsibility - Model politeness and kindness to everyone you meet.

Housepoints

Pupils are awarded housepoint for using kind words and actions and demonstrating good manners. These go towards their house teams weekly total but they are in competition with their  teachers (Dudley - orange house). If pupils do not demonstrate these behaviours then the teachers' house teams are awarded the house points instead. 

Farringdon  Red house	Chatteris Blue house	Dulverton Yellow house	Cricklade Green house	Dudley Orange house
569	480	578	531	285
Weekly Winner - Dulverton (Yellow House)

I hope you all have a great weekend.

Yours sincerely,

Mrs L Nicholls 

Headteacher