Skip to content ↓
The Gateway Learning Community

The Gateway Learning Community

Latest News

Page 2

  • A Gift of Music: Family Heirloom Inspires Young Learners

    Published 10/08/25

    A wave of excitement and musical promise has swept through our reception classes, thanks to an incredibly generous donation from local resident, Mrs. Margaret Nathan. Mrs. Nathan, a long-time supporter of education, and loyal member of the Thames Opera Company, has gifted a beautiful family heirloom piano to our reception area, hoping to inspire a lifelong love of music in our youngest pupils.

    The elegant instrument, which has been cherished by generations of Mrs. Nathan’s family, now sits proudly in the reception space, already captivating the attention of curious little minds. "Music has always been a central part of my family's life, and this piano holds many treasured memories," shared Mrs. Nathan. "I believe every child deserves the chance to experience the joy of making music, and I truly hope this piano will be the first step on a wonderful musical journey for many of them."

    Her thoughtful donation provides an invaluable opportunity for our reception children to engage with a real instrument from an early age. It's a chance for them to explore sounds, develop an ear for melody, and perhaps even discover a hidden talent.

    We extend our sincere thanks to Mrs. Nathan for her remarkable generosity and for bringing such a special piece of her family's history into our school. We'd also like to express our gratitude to Move U Removals for kindly transporting the piano to our 

    school, ensuring it arrived safely and ready to inspire. This wonderful gift is sure to spark creativity and a passion for music in our children for years to come.

    Read More
  • Year 2 Zoo Adventure! ​​​​​​​

    Published 10/08/25

    Our Year 2 pupils had a wild and wonderful time on their trip to Colchester Zoo! As part of our science topic on habitats, the children took part in an engaging educational session where they explored different environments such as rainforests, deserts, and woodlands. Through hands-on activities with real animal 

    biofacts, they discovered how animals adapt to survive in their natural homes.

    After the session, we enjoyed exploring the zoo itself—meeting elephants, giraffes, lions, and even cheeky meerkats! The children were fascinated by the wide variety of animals and showed fantastic curiosity and behaviour throughout the day.

    Read More
  • Dentist Visit

    Published 10/08/25

    Our Year 3 and 4 students recently had a fantastic and informative trip to Elite Dental Studio in Tilbury for their annual dental check-ups! The wonderful team there not only provided thorough examinations but also led an engaging session on the importance of healthy teeth. We're so grateful to Elite Dental Studio for making the experience positive and educational for our pupils. Individual information regarding each child's check-up will be sent home to parents soon.

    Read More
  • Author Visit - Ian Brown

    Published 10/08/25

    On Tuesday 3rd June, Years 1 and 2 were visited by the author, Ian Brown. Ian is a London based author who has written a selection of books, including the ‘Hugg n Bugg’ adventures and the ‘Albert the Tortoise’ series. Ian delivered an assembly to the children and also read a couple of his stories. We had a lovely afternoon.

    Read More
  • Go Ape - Year 5

    Published 10/08/25

    Year 5 had a fantastic trip to Go Ape yesterday! The children engaged with tree climbing activities across 4 levels of difficulty to build their confidence and resilience, as well as some team building games/quizzes to develop their communication and critical thinking skills. 

    Both classes thoroughly enjoyed themselves, some saying it has been their best trip at TPA so far (even though the weather wasn’t quite on our side!).

    Read More
  • Outdoor Reading Area

    Published 10/08/25

    The pupils at TPA have been thoroughly enjoying their outdoor reading area. Taking advantage of the lovely weather, they’ve been selecting their favourite books to read outside. They’ve also written about these books to share what they’re about, encouraging others to discover and enjoy them too.

    Read More
  • Year 4 Chocolate Making Workshop

    Published 10/08/25

    Year 4 pupils were joined by their parents for a deliciously educational chocolate - making session. As part of their science topic on states of matter and reversible changes, the children applied their knowledge to melt chocolate and create their own custom bars.

    Each child began by selecting the type of chocolate they wanted to use—milk, dark, or white—and carefully observed the melting process, identifying it as a reversible change. Once melted, they poured the chocolate into moulds and personalised their creations with a selection of sweets, toppings, and other ingredients.

    Parents worked alongside the children, making the experience even more enjoyable and collaborative. Once complete, the chocolate bars were placed in the fridge to set.

    As a final touch, each student designed their own chocolate bar packaging using Canva, showcasing their creativity and digital design skills. The finished bars will be placed into these custom boxes, ready to be taken home and enjoyed.

    It was a fun-filled afternoon that combined science, creativity, and a whole lot of chocolate!

    Thank you to all parents that joined us.

    Read More
  • The GLC Parent Newsletter - Summer 1 2025

    Published 03/06/25

    Take a look at the wonderful things that have happened across the trust during Summer 1. 

    Read More
  • Nursery Trip to Barleylands

    Published 02/06/25

    🐓 Nursery children (Reception age) had a wonderful trip to Barleylands Farm Park for The Little Red Hen experience! 🌾

    On a chilly May day, the children got hands-on making their own bread using wheat grown right on the farm. They watched an impressive bird of prey in flight, enjoyed a bumpy tractor ride, and had the chance to touch and feed some friendly farm animals. 🐑🦅🚜

    After an action-packed day, there were a few sleepy heads on the bus ride home. A lovely day full of learning, laughter, and a little rest! 

    Read More
  • Year 4 Grangewaters Trip

    Published 02/06/25

    Year 4 pupils embarked on an exciting trip to Grangewaters Outdoor Education Centre, where they took part in a range of adventurous water-based activities. Blessed with perfect weather conditions, the children had the opportunity to try stand-up paddle boarding, canoeing, and kayaking—many for the very first time.

    The day was filled with laughter, teamwork, and new challenges, as pupils developed their confidence on the water while enjoying the natural surroundings. Staff praised the children for their enthusiasm and positive attitude throughout the day.

    Overall, it was a fantastic experience that provided memorable moments and helped to build resilience, cooperation, and a love for outdoor learning.

    Read More
  • Year 2 Alien Arrival!

    Published 02/06/25

    Year 2 blasted off on an out-of-this-world alien adventure! After a mysterious crash, there was an egg in a bush on the field. The children became space explorers, using their imagination and teamwork to investigate. They met a friendly alien. Our classroom was truly transformed into a galaxy far, far away! We helped Beena the alien learn English and read stories. Then we helped her escape so she could get home to her planet!

    Read More
  • Year 5 Road Safety

    Published 02/06/25

    The Year 5 children have been very lucky this half-term to have had the Road Safety workshop from SaferEssex come to Pioneer and complete some important pedestrian training.  The children engaged in a discussion about hazards and keeping themselves safe on the roads before going out in groups into the nearby street to put their knowledge into practice! The staff commented on how well the children behaved and how much they already knew!

    Read More

Page 2