Image of Year 3 - PSHE - Learning About The Brain
24 Feb

Year 3 - PSHE - Learning About The Brain

A Special Visit from Harold and Friends! Year 3 had a very exciting visit from Coram Life Education. We were joined by their expert educator and, of course, the star of the show—Harold the Giraffe! The children took part in an interactive workshop called "Meet the Brain," which took them on a fascinating journey inside their own heads. Through fun activities and discussions, the class explored how the brain acts as the "control center" for the entire body.

Image of Year 3 - Safer Internet Day
24 Feb

Year 3 - Safer Internet Day

Year 3 have been absolute Internet Legends as we celebrated Safer Internet Day! Our young digital citizens spent the day exploring how to use the internet for good while keeping themselves and their friends safe. Through interactive games and group discussions, we tackled some big questions about life online.

Image of Year 5 Holy Communion Service
24 Feb

Year 5 Holy Communion Service

Year 5 Visit St James’ Church for Holy Communion On Tuesday morning, Year 5 visited our church for a special Holy Communion service. It was a wonderful opportunity for the class to gather in worship and reflection. During the service, we were incredibly proud of one of our brave class members who stood at the front to read from the Bible, specifically Exodus 35:21-22. Inspired by the teachings of Paul to the Corinthians—that God loves a cheerful giver—the children also shared heart-felt prayers they had written themselves about the importance of giving cheerfully. It was a moving morning for everyone involved, showcasing the class’s growing confidence and their thoughtful contributions to our church community.

Image of Year 2 Science: Grouping everyday materials based on properties and functions.
24 Feb

Year 2 Science: Grouping everyday materials based on properties and functions.

Year 2 Material Detectives! Our Year 2 scientists have been busy investigating Everyday Materials this week! The children put their thinking caps on to explore why objects are made from specific materials. We looked at why a plate could be made from plastic, paper and metal but a toy for a baby probably shouldn't be made from glass... What we achieved: Property Experts: We matched materials like wood, plastic, and metal to their uses based on their unique properties. Sorting Stars: We successfully grouped objects by their materials, properties of the materials and functions of the objects. Join in the fun! If you had to build a house out of something from your lunchbox, what would you choose and why? Let us know in the comments! #Year2Science #STEM #PrimaryScience #UKTeachers #MaterialWorld

Image of Nursery And Pre-School - PSHE - Valentine's Stay And Play
13 Feb

Nursery And Pre-School - PSHE - Valentine's Stay And Play

This week, Nursery and Preschool were delighted to host a special "Stay and Play" session, inviting the children's grown-ups into the setting to celebrate Valentine's Day together. The children took great pride in being "tour guides" for their visitors, showing their grown-ups their favorite areas to play and explaining their daily routines. This provided a wonderful boost to their confidence and communication skills as they shared their learning environment with their families. Throughout the session, the children engaged in various collaborative crafts, working side-by-side with their grown-ups to create Valentine-themed art. It was lovely to see the children interacting so positively with each other and their families, demonstrating their ability to share resources and work together on creative tasks. The morning was a beautiful celebration of the bonds between home and school, filled with happy faces and a wonderful sense of community.

Image of Nursery And Pre-School - PSHE - Valentine's Stay And Play
13 Feb

Nursery And Pre-School - PSHE - Valentine's Stay And Play

This week, Nursery and Preschool were delighted to host a special "Stay and Play" session, inviting the children's grown-ups into the setting to celebrate Valentine's Day together. The children took great pride in being "tour guides" for their visitors, showing their grown-ups their favorite areas to play and explaining their daily routines. This provided a wonderful boost to their confidence and communication skills as they shared their learning environment with their families. Throughout the session, the children engaged in various collaborative crafts, working side-by-side with their grown-ups to create Valentine-themed art. It was lovely to see the children interacting so positively with each other and their families, demonstrating their ability to share resources and work together on creative tasks. The morning was a beautiful celebration of the bonds between home and school, filled with happy faces and a wonderful sense of community.

Image of Nursery - Art - Valentine's Flowers
11 Feb

Nursery - Art - Valentine's Flowers

This week, the children in the nursery class have been busy creating beautiful vases of flowers as special Valentine’s gifts for someone they love. The project began with the children focusing on their mark-making skills to decorate their vases. Using a variety of tools, including dabbers and felt tips, they practiced their control and intentional design to make each vase unique and colorful. To create the flowers, the children engaged in a tactile sensory experience by painting their hands with bright red paint. They then carefully used handprints to represent the flowers growing from their vases. This activity was a wonderful way for the children to explore the properties of paint and see how they can use their own bodies to create art. The finished pieces are a lovely celebration of the children's creativity and the spirit of Valentine's Day!

Image of Year 2 - Science - Classifying Minibeasts
11 Feb

Year 2 - Science - Classifying Minibeasts

Have you ever wondered what truly separates a buzzy bee from a slimy snail? Our Year 2 explorers have been finding out this week as they dived headfirst into the wonderful world of minibeasts! Working in collaborative groups, the children turned into budding taxonomists, using their keen observational skills to sort and classify various creatures based on their physical features. From debating the number of legs on a centipede to identifying which insects boast a pair of wings, the classrooms were buzzing with scientific talk. By categorising their finds into groups like "legs vs. no legs" and "wings vs. no wings," the pupils haven't just learned about biology—they’ve mastered the art of logical thinking and teamwork.

Image of Year 5 - Aim High Day
11 Feb

Year 5 - Aim High Day

Aiming High: Year 5 Explore Future Careers Our Year 5 pupils had a brilliant time during our 'Aim High' morning, where the hall was buzzing with inspiration and curiosity. We were lucky enough to be joined by a fantastic range of professionals, including a DJ, an electrician, an accountant, and local PCSOs, as well as a face painter, a craft creator, dentists, and a professional sportsperson. The children threw themselves into the various hands-on experiences, gaining a real insight into the world of work and the diverse paths available to them. It was a wonderful opportunity to see our students dreaming big and discovering new passions—there was certainly plenty of fun had by all! If you could try out any job in the world for just one day, which one would you choose and why?

Image of Year 1 Geography UK Weather
10 Feb

Year 1 Geography UK Weather

Little Geographers in the Making! Our Year One explorers have been busy diving into the world of UK Weather this week! From identifying clouds to prepping for those classic British rainy days, these bright minds are learning how the world works around them—one forecast at a time. It’s all part of our mission: Nurturing Ambition and curiosity from the very start. Learning Focus: Geography & Local Environments Skills: Group collaboration and observation Current Mood: 100% chance of fun! ☔☀️ #DarwenStJames #YearOne #EarlyYearsLearning #UKWeather #LittleGeographers #NurturingAmbition #PrimaryEducation

Image of Year 1 PSHE This is my Place
10 Feb

Year 1 PSHE This is my Place

Our Year One children have been exploring the concept of belonging this week for Children’s Mental Health Week. By creating their own personal maps, they have been identifying the places where they feel safest, happiest, and most at home. At Darwen St James’, we believe that nurturing a sense of belonging is the first step toward helping every child flourish. When children know they have a place where they truly fit in, they have the confidence to grow and the ambition to reach their full potential. #DarwenStJames #ChildrensMentalHealthWeek #ThisIsMyPlace #Belonging #NurturingAmbition #YearOne

Image of Year 1 - Maths Fluency
10 Feb

Year 1 - Maths Fluency

Buzzing with Fluency! Our Year 1 stars at Darwen St James’ have been busy bees today, sharpening their number skills! We are focusing on developing fluency by combining hands-on learning with digital practice. From tactile counters to high-tech hits, the progress is amazing to watch. ???? Today’s Math Toolkit: White Rose Fluency Bee: Building those vital number foundations through active, structured play. NumBots: Leveling up our mental recall and subtraction/addition speed on the laptops! ???? Watch out, world—these mathematicians are becoming faster and more confident by the second!