New Bridge Pathways Blog Post - 16.10.2026

The nights are getting darker, there is fog in the air, and ghostly figures are appearing around the area – Halloween is around the corner. 

All Hallows’ Eve (as it was originally known) was originally a time for people to remember the dead. Over the centuries, the day has evolved into a celebration of the supernatural and the macabre, with people carving pumpkins and dressing up as ghouls & ghosts. 

It got me thinking about how things change over time: a little change here, a slight amendment there and soon it looks different to how it started. 

Pathways started out just over three years ago, and we look different to when we opened. We still have the same underlying ethos of Creating Meaningful Futures, but with tweaks to the curriculum, the staffing structures and the premises development, over time, we have improved our daily offer to pupils.  

The small changes, or ‘marginal gains’, we have made at Pathways have combined to create a significant positive difference, and we continually look where we can get the extra 1% to improve what we do for our pupils and families.  

Enjoy your weekend 

Stay safe 

Mr Southerington  

This Week in Our Class CL2 & CL1

We have had a fantastic week of learning and exploring! 

📚 English 

This week, we visited our local library. The students enjoyed exploring the wide range of books and listening to stories. We talked about the importance of reading and how libraries can help us discover new books and develop a love of reading. The visit encouraged the students to choose books that interest them and helped build their confidence in using the library. 

🔢 Maths 

In Maths, we have been learning to recognise and identify numbers 0–10. The students have practised matching numbers to quantities, ordering numbers correctly, and counting with confidence. We have also begun learning about place value, exploring what numbers represent and using practical activities to help develop our understanding. 

⭐ We are very proud of all the students for their enthusiasm and hard work this week. We hope you have a wonderful weekend and find time to enjoy a good book together at home! 📖😊 

Mrs Palmer 

CL2 16.10.2026

CL3

Maths :- Adding Numbers to 50 

In CL3, students have been developing their addition skills by learning to add numbers up to 50 using the Flip It, Make It,  Build It method. This hand-on approach helps student to explore numbers, recognises number patterns and develop their understanding of addition in a fun and engaging way.  

Students have also been using the SplashLearn app to practice solving a wide range of addition problems. Students are really enjoying using this app and playing all the games that are reinforcing their mathematical skills.  

RSHE – Keeping Ourselves Healthy 

As part of our RSHE learning, students having been exploring different enjoyable ways of keeping themselves healthy and looking after our bodies. We discussed the benefits of regular exercise and how staying active can improve our physical health, boost our mood and support our overall wellbeing.  

Students enthusiastically participated in a Zumba session, enjoying the opportunity to move, dance and exercise together. These sessions encouraged students to get active, develop coordination and experience how excessive can be both enjoyable and beneficial.  

Miss Pilgrim 

CL3 16.10.2026

CL6

CL6 have been learning about the Zones of Regulation and how recognising our emotions can help us manage the way we feel. We have explored the different zones and discussed how our feelings, energy levels, and behaviours can change throughout the day. To support this learning, each pupil created an individualised regulation sheet to share with their classmates. These sheets help us understand what makes each person feel calm, safe, and supported when they are experiencing emotions linked to the Red Zone or feeling low in the Blue Zone. By learning about our own needs and those of others, we are developing greater self-awareness, empathy, and strategies to help ourselves and our friends regulate emotions positively. 

Mrs Iwaneczko 

CL6 - 16.10.2026

ICT: Exploring AI and Staying Safe Online

This half term in ICT, students have been learning how to stay safe online and exploring the exciting world of Artificial Intelligence (AI). 

We recapped key E-Safety topics, including keeping personal information private, staying safe online, recognising scam and phishing emails, and understanding the dangers of computer viruses. Students showed great awareness during discussions and activities. 

We also explored the pros and cons of AI, discussing how it can help people learn and create, as well as the risks of misinformation and unreliable content. To finish the topic, students took part in a fun quiz where they had to spot the difference between real photographs and AI-generated images. They were surprised by how realistic some of the AI images looked and enjoyed putting their detective skills to the test! 

Well done to all our students for their enthusiasm and thoughtful contributions throughout the topic! 💻🤖✨ 

Mrs Anwer