--- title: "Pre-School- Literacy - Gross Motor Skills" url: "https://darwenstjames.co.uk/news/2025-04-07-pre-school-literacy-gross-motor-skills" school: "Darwen St James’ C of E Primary Academy" --- # Pre-School- Literacy - Gross Motor Skills ![](https://files.schudio.com/darwen-st-james-c-of-e-primary-academy/images/news/Collage_2025-04-03_15_39_39.jpg) 7 April 2025 In Literacy, the children designed their own baby chicks using a variety of paint colours and shaped marks. They practised large, sweeping movements—stretching their arms and using Write Dance techniques—to help build upper body strength. Linking to their previous learning on the life cycle of a chick, the children carefully considered the features their chick would need, such as the shape of its body, beak, and webbed feet. ![](https://darwen-st-james-c-of-e-primary-academy.schudio.com/images/news/Collage_2025-04-03_15_39_39.jpg) [Early Years Foundation Stage](https://darwenstjames.co.uk/news/tag/early-years-foundation-stage) [English](https://darwenstjames.co.uk/news/tag/english) [Pre School](https://darwenstjames.co.uk/news/tag/pre-school) [![](https://files.schudio.com/darwen-st-james-c-of-e-primary-academy/imagecache/100x100c/news/Collage_2025-04-03_11_17_28.jpg)](https://darwenstjames.co.uk/news/2025-04-03-nursery-p-e-sleeping-bunnies) Previous ### [Nursery - P.E - Sleeping Bunnies!](https://darwenstjames.co.uk/news/2025-04-03-nursery-p-e-sleeping-bunnies) [![](https://files.schudio.com/darwen-st-james-c-of-e-primary-academy/imagecache/100x100c/news/IMG_2248.jpeg)](https://darwenstjames.co.uk/news/2025-04-08-sports-for-champions-visit-alisha-evanston-tumbling) Next ### [Sports for Champions Visit – Alisha Evanston (Tumbling)](https://darwenstjames.co.uk/news/2025-04-08-sports-for-champions-visit-alisha-evanston-tumbling) ### Academy Life - [News](https://darwenstjames.co.uk/news) - [Events](https://darwenstjames.co.uk/events) - [Clubs](https://darwenstjames.co.uk/academy-life/basc) - [School Council](https://darwenstjames.co.uk/academy-life/school-council) - [Attendance](https://darwenstjames.co.uk/academy-life/attendance) - [Charities and Fundrasing](https://darwenstjames.co.uk/academy-life/charities-and-fundraising) - ![School Games Gold](https://files.schudio.com/darwen-st-james-c-of-e-primary-academy/images/partners/Gold_Logo_25-26(1).png) - ![Healthy school](https://files.schudio.com/darwen-st-james-c-of-e-primary-academy/images/partners/healthy_school.png) - ![Picture News](https://files.schudio.com/darwen-st-james-c-of-e-primary-academy/images/partners/6_Years_of_Picture_News.png) - ![AP smilestar](https://files.schudio.com/darwen-st-james-c-of-e-primary-academy/images/partners/Screenshot_2026-07-27_10.26.27.png) ##### Location St James Crescent Darwen Lancashire BB3 0EY ##### Contact Us 01254 703260 ##### Stay Connected - [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/Darwenstjames) - [Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/darwenstjames/) © Copyright 2021–2026 Darwen St James’ C of E Primary Academy School & Trust Websites by [ ![Schudio logo](https://darwenstjames.co.uk/img/logo/light.png) ](https://www.schudio.com/)