Category

Year 3

E-Safety Information – Instagram

3rd April 2025L Forster

Instagram remains one of the world’s most popular social media platforms, especially among teens – used by around 70% of 13 to 17-year-olds.

It may be one of the most familiar social media names around but features like AI-powered chatbots and Threads integration have added fresh challenges for families and schools to navigate From worrying livestreams to issues like social exclusion and fear of missing out, Instagram isn’t just about photos. As the platform evolves, so too must the conversations we have with young people about how they use it

Our latest #WakeUpWednesday guide outlines what these new features involve, the possible risks they bring and how to make the most of Instagram’s parental controls to keep children safe online.

Instagram remains a go-to app for teens, with its endless stream of photos, videos, and ‘Stories’ keeping young users constantly connected. From influencer content to live broadcasts, the platform is packed with evolving features that can feel fun and engaging – but can also raise some serious concerns around screen time, online pressures and exposure to inappropriate content.

We’ve created this free guide – also available in podcast format – offering parents and educators up-to-date knowledge on the risks and safety tips for this latest version of Instagram.

https://nationalcollege.com/

South Tyneside Libraries – Easter Activities

1st April 2025D Fawkes

Please find below links to the various activities South Tyneside Libraries are hosting over the Easter holidays.

Arts and crafts | The Word, National Centre for the Written Word, South Shields

Board Games | The Word, National Centre for the Written Word, South Shields

Dr Bike Sessions | The Word, National Centre for the Written Word, South Shields

Lego Time | The Word, National Centre for the Written Word, South Shields

Easter Fun in FabLab | The Word, National Centre for the Written Word, South Shields

Gardening Themed Craft Activities | The Word, National Centre for the Written Word, South Shields

Make Wildflower Seed Bombs with Williby Rocs – Earth Day | The Word, National Centre for the Written Word, South Shields

The Farmer and Clown by Flibbertigibbet Theatre | The Word, National Centre for the Written Word, South Shields

Interactive Storytelling with Kylie Dixon | The Word, National Centre for the Written Word, South Shields

OPAL UPDATE – ZONE 1!

31st March 2025Charlotte Kirkham

OPAL UPDATE-

OPAL is well underway at Harton and we have now introduced different zones for the children to explore.

Through play, children encounter, explore and make sense of the world and their place within it. Currently, the children have 9 zones to play in (with more zones to be added in the near future).

Here are some recent pictures of our children enjoying the OPAL activities in zone 1- The tranquil zone.

In Zone 1, the children can play with: chalks, buckets of water, paint brushes, big rolls of paper with colouring pencils and read books.

We have some lovely ideas planned for this zone including making bird feeders to hang from the trees and adding some relaxing tranquil music.

It has been wonderful to see so much; creativity, imagination, inspiration, communication and most importantly FUN happening!

E-Safety Information – Bluesky

26th March 2025L Forster

Bluesky social app is a microblogging social media platform that gained popularity after separating from Twitter in 2021. It’s more than doubled its user numbers in the past six months alone, from 14.5 million in October 2024 to 32 million at present. Since accounts must be public, this opens the door to potential trolling, cyberbullying and the spread of misinformation

We’ve created this free guide – also available in podcast format – offering parents and educators advice and guidance on the tools available to keep children safe while using the popular social media platform Bluesky.

Bluesky is a microblogging social media platform that gained popularity after separating from Twitter in 2021. Since accounts must be public, this opens the door to potential trolling, cyberbullying and the spread of misinformation.

We’ve created this free guide, offering parents and educators advice and guidance on the tools available to keep children safe while using the popular social media platform Bluesky.

https://nationalcollege.com/

3H in the Allotment

25th March 2025Sophie Hawkins

Y3H have been lucky to do some work with Kaye and Danielle in our allotment. We are really working hard on improving our outdoor spaces around school so that we can enjoy them throughout the year. Today we planted and watered seedlings, and drilled holes in signs ready to put up around the allotment. We had a great time!

Year 3 art club

24th March 2025ajennings

Year 3 had a fantastic first art club drawing their own self portraits. We looked at different artists and their interpretation of self portraits then children completed a portrait of themselves using mirrors and photographs to help them. They were encouraged to think about shading to enhance their drawings and add details. We finished the session with a gallery tour where they looked at the sketches and gave positive feedback to each other.

There are some very talented artists in year 3!

Arbeia and SSVLB Watch House

21st March 2025Sophie Hawkins

Year 3 recently explored Arbeia Roman Fort in South Shields, a key Roman supply base. They toured reconstructed barracks and the commanding officer’s house, engaging with ancient artefacts and trying Roman crafts. This hands-on experience brought history to life and deepened their understanding of Roman Britain. Next, the children visited the South Shields Volunteer Life Brigade (SSVLB), established in 1866. They learned about historic rescues, explored the watch house, and looked at the equipment the volunteers use when carrying out a rescue. This visit highlighted bravery, teamwork, and community service. We had a fantastic day!

E-Safety Information – Streamers

19th March 2025L Forster

You may already know that livestreaming plays a major role in children’s entertainment, with a wide range of personalities influencing young viewers in both positive and negative ways. While watching streamers can be fun, it also comes with significant risks, including misinformation, financial harms, and inappropriate content.

Popular streaming platform Twitch has over 2.5 million viewers at any given time, which is why it’s more important than ever to stay informed. This week’s guide , also available as a podcast , explores the potential dangers of livestreaming and offers essential insights to help you protect the children in your care.

Live Streaming is now a major part of children’s entertainment, evolving from gamers sharing screens into a booming industry with diverse personalities. While watching streamers can be entertaining, it comes with no small number of risks for children, such as misinformation, negative influences, and inappropriate content. With over 2.5 million viewers on Twitch – the current most popular streaming platform – at any one time, this guide highlights the potential dangers associated with watching livestreams and the importance of staying informed.

We’ve created this free guide – also available in podcast format – to provide parents and educators everything they need to know about streamers and how to keep children protected.

https://nationalcollege.com/

E-Safety Information – Roblox

12th March 2025L Forster

Online multiplayer games like Roblox are enjoyed by millions across the world and can be a great way for friends to socialise; however, they can also expose young people to variety of potential harms. Roblox is a multi-platform game that enables people to play anonymously, which can often be something that attracts people to misuse the game and put younger players at risk of harm.

In addition to interacting with random strangers across the world, it’s important to be aware of other risk factors, such as in-game purchases and potential scams that can put young people at risk financially. We’ve created this week’s free guide – also available in podcast format – offering parents and educators expert advice about what can be done to ensure that young people have a safe and enjoyable experience with Roblox.

Whilst they can be a great way for friends to socialise, online games like Roblox that allow multiplayer gameplay with strangers are always fraught with a variety of dangers that can expose children to inappropriate or harmful content. Roblox enables people to play anonymously, which can often be something that attracts people to misuse the game and potentially put young people at risk of harm.

In addition to interacting with random strangers across the world, other factors such as in-game purchases and potential scams can also pose a financial risk. It’s important that parents and educators remain aware of the risks associated with this popular title and how it can be used safely. This free guide – also available in podcast format – offers parents and educators expert advice on what can be done to ensure that young people have a safe and enjoyable experience with Roblox.

https://nationalcollege.com/