Image of Pre-School -Gross Motor Skills- Exploring outdoors
24 Sep

Pre-School -Gross Motor Skills- Exploring outdoors

In pre-school this week the children have really enjoyed exploring our outdoor provision, The children have been using lots of physical development skills especially gross motor, they have been climbing, riding the balance bikes, sliding down the slides, swinging on the tree swing, jumping in puddles and so much more.

Image of Reception - Phonics - Letter Formation
24 Sep

Reception - Phonics - Letter Formation

Look at these future readers and writers in action! Our Reception class is diving deep into phonics and letter formation, and it's clear they're having a blast. So many engaging activities help them build those crucial foundational skills with smiles all around. Love seeing learning come to life!

Image of Reception- Physical Development- Making marks
24 Sep

Reception- Physical Development- Making marks

Reception have been developing their gross motor skills this week. Painting with water onto the windows stretching up high to make large movements and then fine movements painting the fence. We added in the shapes we have been learning in Write Dance to develop all the muscles in our arms and fingers.

Image of Nursery - PSHE - Understanding Emotions
23 Sep

Nursery - PSHE - Understanding Emotions

During our PSHE focus, the children began to develop their understanding of two key emotions: happy and sad. We used the resources in our Regulation Station to support their learning and help them identify these feelings. The children had a hands-on experience creating happy and sad faces. They used mirrors to observe their own facial expressions, which helped them with the correct placement of features like a smile or a frown. They also used hand puppets to make comparisons, clearly showing a smiley face on one and a sad face on another. A key part of the lesson was using our Widgit prompts to explore what we can do when we feel these emotions. The children learned that when they feel happy, they can give a "thumbs up" or a "high five." And when they feel sad, they can ask for a cuddle or get a tissue. This activity helped the children not only identify their feelings but also learn healthy, positive ways to respond to them.

Image of Nursery - Maths - Capacity, Full And Empty
22 Sep

Nursery - Maths - Capacity, Full And Empty

In our maths lesson this week, the children engaged in a hands-on and sensory-rich exploration of capacity. Using a variety of different-sized jugs, along with water and pompoms, they had the opportunity to physically investigate a fundamental mathematical concept. The children enthusiastically scooped up both water and pompoms, which allowed them to learn through different textures. They quickly discovered that filling a jug with liquid was different from filling it with solid objects. As they worked, they were continuously testing their knowledge of full and empty. They had to decide when their jug was full and what to do when it was still empty.

Image of Reception Class - Toothbrushing
18 Sep

Reception Class - Toothbrushing

Hello Reception parents! ???? We're so excited to announce that we've started our toothbrushing initiative in class! This is a fantastic step in helping your little ones develop great oral hygiene habits right from the start. Our Brushing Routine ???? The children have been doing an amazing job learning their new routine. Each child has been allocated their own special toothbrush and they're learning to: Find their own brush: This helps them build independence and responsibility. Add their own toothpaste: We're teaching them how to use just a small, pea-sized amount. Brush their teeth: We're practicing the correct way to brush, covering all surfaces of their teeth. Put their brushes away: This is the final step in the routine, ensuring everything is clean and tidy for next time. This is more than just brushing; it's about developing independence and building a healthy habit that will last a lifetime. A massive thank you to AP Smilecare for generously providing all of our brushes and toothpaste! Their support has made this wonderful initiative possible. We're incredibly proud of how well the children are doing and look forward to seeing their confidence grow with each brushing session. Keep up the great work, everyone! ✨

Image of Reception Class - Phonics - Guided Reading
18 Sep

Reception Class - Phonics - Guided Reading

The Great Phonics Adventure Has Begun! ???? We're so excited to share that our Reception children have officially started their phonics journey, and they're already doing an incredible job! We're building the foundation for reading and writing, and the children have embraced every step with enthusiasm. This week, we've been exploring the story 'A Wet Walk'. The children have absolutely loved: Looking at the pictures and talking about what they can see. Discussing the characters and the journey they take. Practising their oral blending skills, which is a crucial first step in reading. It's wonderful to see them building confidence as they sound out words and put them together. The focus has been on listening to the sounds and blending them to hear the whole word. This skill is a super important building block for their future reading success. We're so proud of their hard work and can't wait to see their reading skills blossom! Keep up the amazing work, Reception! ✨

Image of Nursery - Literacy - Fine Motor Skills - Threading
17 Sep

Nursery - Literacy - Fine Motor Skills - Threading

During our fine motor activity this week, the children used wooden dowels and large beads to practice threading, which was a bit tricky at first. Many of the children found that the beads kept sliding off the bottom, but they didn't give up. Instead, they found a solution, learning to hold the dowel with one hand and carefully use the other to thread the beads on. This activity not only helped them develop their hand-eye coordination and concentration but also allowed them to use their problem-solving skills.

Image of Nursery - Expressive Art And Design - Imaginative Play
16 Sep

Nursery - Expressive Art And Design - Imaginative Play

In our Expressive Arts and Design lesson, the children had a wonderful time exploring our dressing-up basket, which was full of different costumes. Each child took a turn to choose an outfit, transforming into a variety of characters and people, from a police officer, firefighter, and builder to a doctor and chef. The children embraced their roles and acted out different scenarios. Some children took great care of the babies, taking their temperature and checking their heart beats, while others worked together to build structures with various resources. We also had a chef who had a wonderful time using their imagination to cook up some yummy dinner in the home corner. This activity provided a wonderful opportunity for the children to develop their creativity and imagination, while also exploring different roles and experiences in the world around them.

Image of Nursery - Music - What Sound Does The Instrument Make?
16 Sep

Nursery - Music - What Sound Does The Instrument Make?

In our recent music lesson, the children had a wonderful time exploring and experimenting with a variety of instruments. They were encouraged to investigate each one, learning about the different ways we can play them and listening carefully to the unique sounds they produce. The children enjoyed creating the different sounds. To help them further understand how to control the sound, they practiced mimicking movements to get a specific sound from the instruments. This interactive approach helped them develop their listening skills and their ability to follow instructions, all while creating some amazing music together!

Image of Pre-School-Understanding The World-Changes As We Grow
16 Sep

Pre-School-Understanding The World-Changes As We Grow

Last week in Understanding the World, I asked parents to send in a baby photo of their child. The children loved looking at their pictures and talking about how much they’ve changed since they were babies and what they look like now. This simple activity sparked so much learning: • Personal, Social and Emotional Development: Talking about their own baby photo helped the children build confidence and recognise how they’ve grown. • Physical Development: They could see how their bodies have changed – from not being able to walk to now being able to run, jump, and climb. • Understanding the World: The children explored the idea of change over time, learning that people and living things grow and develop as they get older. • Communication and Language: They enjoyed using descriptive words, asking questions, comparing their photos, and sharing their memories.

Image of Pre-school-Maths-Counting through song
16 Sep

Pre-school-Maths-Counting through song

In maths this week, we have been singing nursery rhymes such as Five Little Ducks, Five Speckled Frogs and Five Cheeky Monkeys. The children enjoyed acting them out as they sang. They also had the chance to practise recognising numbers 1 to 5 using flashcards.