Pre-School-Literacy- Jolly Postman Letters
The children have been enjoying the story of the Jolly Postman and have used their imagination to write to a character in the book. The children used their mark making skills from write dance to create features on their letter and then thought about what they wanted to ask. We invited characters to come to a party, have tea at our nursery and go to the park.
Pre School-R.E-David And Goliath
Today in R.E we listened to the story of David and Goliath, We talked about being unkind like Goliath and brave like David, we also discussed where David got his strength from by praying to God. Outside we drew Goliath on the floor and used bean bags to throw at the giant.By focusing on the core themes and using engaging activities, the story of David and Goliath can be a valuable learning experience for EYFS children, this can also teach the children about overcoming Challenges like the story children can be brave like David, even small individuals can overcome big problems.
Pre-School- Maths- Give Me 1,2,3
In Pre-School the children have been developing their understanding with number recognition (1, 2, 3) and counting, one-to-one correspondence. The children used the post box to post the teddy bears into the post box, counting along the way. We rolled the dice to see how many bears we needed to post. The activity introduced the numbers 1, 2, and 3, and more when needed and counting the number of bears clearly. When the children reached their number of bears they had been asked for they worked together to see if they needed more or less to add in the post box.
Pre-School Science Paper Cup Telephones
Today in understanding the world we looked at different types of telephones and discussed what we use telephones for, some of the children said they play games on their parents mobile phones and some said they watch tv on them. We all looked at preschools telephone and phoned Mrs Murray to say hello and had a discussion around different types of telephones and why we might use them. Investigating paper cup telephones is a classic and engaging way to explore the principles of sound and vibration in a very fun way, This encourages children to use descriptive language to talk to their partners and promotes turn-taking and listening skills through the activity.
Pre-School- Geography-Recognising Local Landmarks In Our Community
When talking about our community in the small world area, the children talked about Darwen Tower and that they had been to the top. We talked about how we can see the tower from Pre-School and went to look outside. The children then decided to create the tower using the different building blocks in the construction area. The children worked together starting with the big blocks and building on top with the smaller blocks to make the point at the top. Other children joined the task and added paths and bridges so that people could get to the tower.
Pre School-Expressive Art And Design-Live painting Of Daffodils
In Preschool the children have been getting creative and painting live daffodils using fine and gross motor skills, This encourages the children to use all their senses: look closely at the daffodils, touch their petals and stems, and even smell them and allows children to express their own interpretations of the daffodils. This also allows children to develop their creativity and appreciation for the natural world.
The Benefits of Reading Every Day!
Reading with your child every day has a huge impact on their learning and development. It helps to build their vocabulary, improve their imagination, and develop a lifelong love of books. Just 10-15 minutes of reading each day can strengthen their confidence, comprehension skills, and ability to express themselves. Encouraging daily reading—whether it’s a bedtime story, sharing a book together, or letting them read aloud—helps to support their progress in school and beyond. Thank you for making reading a special part of their day!
Online Safety - Streamers
Livestreaming is now a major part of children’s entertainment, evolving from gamers sharing screens into a booming industry with diverse personalities. While watching streamers can be entertaining, it comes with no small number of risks for children, such as misinformation, negative influences, and inappropriate content. With over 2.5 million viewers on Twitch – the current most popular streaming platform – at any one time, this guide highlights the potential dangers associated with watching livestreams and the importance of staying informed. We’ve created this free guide – also available in podcast format – to provide parents and educators everything they need to know about streamers and how to keep children protected.
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Pre-School- Pre Writing - Fine Motor Skills
In Preschool, the children have been developing their fine motor skills by creating their own versions of Jasper’s Beanstalk. They carefully selected cereal hoops and placed them over a wooden stick, stacking them to build taller beanstalks. This activity encouraged precision, concentration, and coordination. Fine motor skills involve the small muscles of the hands, fingers, and wrists, enabling movements such as grasping small objects, manipulating tools, writing, and buttoning clothes. Additionally, this activity supported hand-eye coordination, helping children refine their control and dexterity in a fun and engaging way.
Pre-School -P.E- Roll And Control
In P.E., Preschool children have been developing their ball skills, focusing on controlling the ball when rolling and catching. They practiced receiving the ball with their hands and learning to absorb its force to prevent it from bouncing away. These activities help develop key skills such as hand-eye coordination, timing, and proper hand positioning. When throwing, children worked on propelling the ball through the air with accuracy and control. In the early years, the focus is on building these fundamental skills—rolling, throwing, and catching—which form the foundation for more advanced physical development.
Family Easter Egg Competition
Dear Parents/Carers, Our annual Family Easter Egg Competition is almost here! This year’s theme is “All Things Easter”, so let your creativity shine! You could design your eggs based on: • Easter animals like chicks, bunnies, or lambs • Traditional Easter symbols such as crosses, baskets, or spring flowers • Fun Easter scenes like an egg hunt or a chocolate feast • Characters with an Easter twist—perhaps an “Egg Minion” or a “Bunny Superhero”! All entries should be clearly labelled with your child’s name and class and brought into school by Wednesday, 9th April. The winners will be announced during worship on Thursday, 10th April. Good luck—we’re egg-cited to see your fantastic creations!
Online Safety - Roblox
Whilst they can be a great way for friends to socialise, online games like Roblox that allow multiplayer gameplay with strangers are always fraught with a variety of dangers that can expose children to inappropriate or harmful content. Roblox enables people to play anonymously, which can often be something that attracts people to misuse the game and potentially put young people at risk of harm. In addition to interacting with random strangers across the world, other factors such as in-game purchases and potential scams can also pose a financial risk. It’s important that parents and educators remain aware of the risks associated with this popular title and how it can be used safely. This free guide – also available in podcast format – offers parents and educators expert advice on what can be done to ensure that young people have a safe and enjoyable experience with Roblox.
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Pre-School- PD-Fine Motor Skills
Physical Development-Fine Motor Skills - In this skill the children were working those tiny muscles in the hands and fingers that are needed for precise movements. Helping the children to get better at controlling their hand movements and coordinating them with what they see.
Preschool-Literacy-When I Grow Up
In Literacy we have been Talking about when we grow up and what job roles we would like to do, we have had police officers, firefighters, life guards and teachers. The children drew what they would like to be when they are older.
Pre-School-R.E-Shrove Tuesday-Making Pancakes
In R.E this week we have looked at Shrove Tuesday and Ash Wednesday, we discussed what we would give up for lent and why Christian’s do this. Pre-school have decided to give up the Nursery bikes for 40 days for Lent. Pre-school also enjoyed making and eating pancakes.
Pre-School-Understanding The world-People Who Help Us
This week we have been looking at people who help us in the Emergency services and PC Pickering Came to visit us! She talked to the children about her role as a police officer and what kind of things she does within her job role. The children were very engaged with PC Pickering and they got to try on some police uniform and look inside her police car! The children were very excited about this and PC Pickering even put on the blue flashing lights.
Pre-School-R.E- Easter Story
In R.E this week the children have begun to learn the Easter story. We listened to the story from the Bible and talked about what happened on Good Friday. The children discussed how Jesus may have been feeling and why this happened to him. We talked about how we mark this day today. The children then designed their own cross with different materials.
Pre-School-PSHE-Self Care
Pre-School have been learning how to look after themselves. We independently wash our hands for snack time and select a cup and plate for placing our snack on. The children have also been washing the babies in the wash tray, using the sponges to clean the babies and made lots of bubbles. We talked about why it is important to wash our bodies, to keep the germs away.
Pre-School-Expressive Arts and Design- Valentine's Craft
The children have been busy using different materials to create Valentine items. The children have used cutting techniques to cut foil and tissue paper to make paper flowers. Making cards for the people we love, writing their names into the card and designing the front cover. We have mixed coloured glue to make different marks and watched what happened to the colours.
Pre-School- PSHE- The Colour Monster
The children have been developing their understanding of their emotions this week to support Children's Mental Health Week. We listened to The Colour Monster story and worked through all the different feelings and why we might feel this way. The children created their own monster of how they were feeling and added them to a jar.
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Preschool-Literacy-Likes And Dislikes
Our story in Literacy is Handa's surprise, All the children were given the opportunity to try all the different fruits from Handa's basket, The children shared their views by showing a thumbs up for likes and a thumbs down for dislikes of the fruits.
Pre-School- Expressive Arts And Design- Wheels On The Bus
Out in the garden the children helped create a bus using the different materials we could find. Once the bus was ready the children climbed aboard and off we went to the zoo, park and Blackpool tower. We added some singing along the way, singing wheels on the bus as we went on our adventures.
Pre-School-Physical Development-P.E-Roll And Control
In our P.E session the children practised finding their own space, moving around safely and making sure that we don't bump into our friends.Then the children were given a ball and asked to roll and control the ball and when they heard Mrs Corbally shout" stop " the children had to pick up their ball without it rolling away.
Pre-School- Maths- Match, Talk, Push and Pull
In maths this week we have been exploring shapes. We looked at basic 2D shapes and then some 3D shapes looking at what happens if we put them together to make a different shape or could we create a picture or object with them. Children used the 2D shapes to make houses, faces and even dinosaurs while other children used the 3D shapes to make towers or rockets.
Pre-School- Physical Development- Scissor Control
The children used their scissors to cut around the fruit for Handa's Basket. The children learnt how to hold and position their fingers to move the scissors into the paper to cut. Some children made cuts into the fruit and others cut around them to then stick them in their baskets.
Pre-School- PD-Fine and Gross Motor Skills
The children take part in Write Dance to develop their fine and gross motor skills. Moving to music with the ribbons and making up and down movements building on muscle strength. The children move their body into position to hold their crayons to make the movements on to paper. Developing the skills they have just learnt through dancing.
Pre-School-Maths-Take and Give 1,2,3
In maths this week we have been filling Grandma's basket for Little Red Riding Hood to take it to her. The children selected their own fruit and vegetables and then counted them with 1:1 correspondance. We then asked the children to take one item out of each basket and as they did this they needed to count each item and then stop. We then moved to two and three items counting and stopping as we went. Children also counted in number sequence in this activity.
Pre-School-UTW-Science- Exploring Seasons
The children had so much fun exploring the snow. Experiencing what Winter is all about, snow, icicles and snowflakes. We went on a hunt to find all these objects and why we know it is Winter. The children talked about wearing warm clothes, hats, scarves and gloves to play out in and shorts are for summer time. We noticed that there are no leaves on the trees and that not many animals were around because they are hibernating this season.
Pre-School- PSHE-Keeping Us Safe
In our lesson today we discussed people who keep us safe and how they can help us. We looked at a few pictures of people in different roles, including parents, police officers, fire fighters, doctor/ nurses and teachers. We talked about how they can help us and keep us safe. We role played different roles, being a police officer helping someone if they got lost, a doctor and using the plasters and bandages to make you better. The children then used this knowledge to draw a person and list what they can do to help us.
EYFS- PSHE-Christmas Magic Show
We had a magical day for all the children in EYFS experiencing a Christmas Magic Show. We watched magic tricks, a puppet show and the children enjoyed joining in with all the different acts. We danced to music and then a special visitor arrived.....' SANTA'.
Pre-School- PSHE-Taking Turns and Sharing
We have been developing our taking turns and sharing skills this week. We have played a pairs game and needed to match the animals. The children had to wait their turn and watch what was happening when the other player took their turn. Children struggled at first to wait their turn and how to play the game but with some guidance we had lots of fun.
Pre-School-PD-Christmas Dough
The children have enjoyed taking part in our Christmas dough disco. Moving arms up in the air and low to the ground and all around. We splat, pinched and moulded our dough to make reindeers, snowmen and Christmas puddings. The children have developed their skills over the term and are building their muscles in their arms and fingers.
Pre-School-Our Nativity Performance
Pre-school and Nursery class Nativity performance.The children worked so hard to practise learning all the songs for our nativity.
Pre-School-Our Nativity Performance
Our Nativity Performance. The children worked really hard practicing and learning all the songs for our performance.
Pre-School-UTW-Investigating Frozen Penguins
This week we have been exploring all about penguins, we have learnt that penguins live in the south pole where it is cold and there is lots of ice around. We have then explored ice but our penguins were stuck inside and we discussed how we can get them out. We used our hands to warm up the ice and watched it melt to free the penguins.
Pre-School- Maths- Exploring Patterns
The children created different patterns with the building blocks. We worked out which colours were next in the sequence and continued to make the pattern.
Pre-School- UTW-Electricity
In Pre-School the children have been learning about Electricity. We explored where electricity comes from and how it works, what happens when it goes off and how we get it to come back on again. We found that items like torches and clocks run off batteries and the interactive board and light table need an electric source from the switches. We discussed safety and how we do not touch electric products unless we have been told it is safe to use.
Pre-School-Literacy-Penguin Making
The Pre-School children have been developing their fine motor skills this week. They have used the play dough to roll, press and shape into a penguin. The children rolled the body and splatted the dough to shape eyes, a nose or used the enhancements to create wings and feet. The children have been building up muscle strength in their fingers.
Should I Keep My Child Off School?
Lots of bugs and germs are spreading, and we know you want to do what is best for your child. Please see the NHS guidance below on keeping your child off school. If you are keeping your child at home, please contact the school office as soon as you can.
Pre-School- Physical Development - Fun in the Snow
Today in Pre-school the children have enjoyed fun in the snow. We made a mini snowman, we threw snowballs, laid in the snow to make snow angels using our arms moving them up and down and moving our legs in and out. We had lots of fun playing with our friends.
Pre-School-P.S.H.E- What Do Our Bodies Need?-Making Fruit Kebabs
Today Pre-school In P.S.H.E discussed what our bodies need to be healthy. The children told me that we need to eat lots of fruit and vegetables and drink only milk and water to keep our bodies healthy because pop and sweets have too much sugar in them. The children told me they need to exercise like running, jumping and doing our P.E lessons with Mrs Corbally.
Pre-school - Communication And Language.
The children Listened to our story We're Going On a Bear Hunt, acting out movements throughout the story representing under, over and through movements.
Pre-School - Expressive Arts And Design- Creating Bug Houses
The children are creating bug houses for the bugs to keep warm over winter, selecting from different materials to create their own bug house.
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Pre- School- P.E - To Move Safely Into A Space
In our P.E lesson we have used our imagination to be wizards, creating a magic wand and broom stick. The children moved around the room using the skills we have been learning over the last few weeks. We moved our bodies fast and slow to different movements, crawling, hopping, walking and running making sure to move around the room without bumping into our friends. The children learnt to stop on the spot when the wizard said freeze. We created a magic potion and the children threw in frogs and worms (hoops) to make the potion bubble, bubble, bubble POP!
Pre-School- Fine Motor Skills- Write Dance
Pre-School have been using their fine motor skills through the Write Dance program, using Ribbons and Chalk to make over and under arch movements.
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Pre-School-Maths-Joining In With Repeats
In Maths this week the children have been joining in with an arrangement of repeats such as singing nursery rhymes, If you're happy and you know it and five cheeky monkeys. The children also joined in with repeats of body percussion clap, jumps and a body movement of the children's choice.
Pre-School-U.T.W-Exploring The Environment
Today the children have enjoyed exploring our environment in Pre-School. The children have been developing their skills including gross and fine motor movements with our pumpkin picking. Using the tweezers to pull out the bugs and leaves in the water tray and creating bug houses in the Small World Area.
PreSchool-U.T.W-Science-Exploring Our 5 Senses.
Preschool have been exploring their 5 senses. Using Mr Potato we discussed each of our senses as the children dressed Mr Potato's face/head with the senses. The children explained what we use our senses for, eyes for looking, ears for listening, mouth for tasting, nose for smelling and our hands to feel.
Fire Safety
A Home Office study has found that approximately 350 children are injured in accidental fires every year
Preschool-Literacy- The story Hug- Who Hugs Me? How does it feel?
In Literacy this week we have listened to our story Hug and discussed Who hugs me? How it makes us feel and How others might be feeling and responding according to their understanding of the other person’s needs and wants.
Pre-School-E.A.D Exploring Print with Wild Animals
The children used Wild Animal figures dipped them in paint and used them to make prints.
PreSchool-P.S.H.E-I Am Special
Today the children Had to secretly look inside the box and not tell their friends what they saw until the last child had looked inside, the children then discussed what they saw which was themselves in a mirror, We then talked about Why we are special and unique and what makes us special and what makes our families special.
Preschool-Worship-The Creation Story
In Worship with jack this week we have Looked at The Creation Story and discussed what we are Thankful for.
Preschool-Understanding The World -Science-Our 5 senses/Food Tasting
Today we discussed our 5 senses and talked about what things we use our senses for, The children also enjoyed using their senses to smell,touch,look and hear bubble bath then we used our mouths to taste some porridge and talked about how the bubble bath smelt,looked,sounded and felt and we discussed if we liked the taste of the porridge.
PreSchool-PSHE-Visitor-Toothbrushing
Today we had James The Dentist Visit us in Preschool and Reception class, James taught us the importance of brushing our teeth. James also showed the children how much sugar can be found in sweets and sugary drinks and discussed what a healthy snack should be.
Preschool- R.E-Creation with Jack The Bear
In R.E this week Jack the bear has taught Preschool all about God's Creation story, We looked at each day and what God created on that day.
Nursery And PreSchool - P.E - Gross Motor Skills
In PE this week Nursery and PreSchool have been working on their gross motor skills, exploring different ways to move their bodies! The children walked, ran, slithered, crawled and jumped around the hall. They also used their listening skills to stop and freeze when asked. We also worked on some colour recognition as the children were tasked to find specific coloured hoops between the different movements.
Preschool- Literacy- All About Me- Drawing Self Portraits and Hand Preference.
Our story this week is Marvellous Me - the children have been drawing/painting self portraits and showing their hand preferences and grip.
Maths-counting and Recognising numbers 1 to 5- PreSchool
This week in Maths we have been counting and trying to recognise some numerals 1 to 5, counting objects and match numbers and playing counting games on the interactive board.
Pre School-PSHE-All About Me
The children have been getting to know each other this week and have talked about their likes and dislikes. The children then created pic collage adding materials and pictures to show what we had talked about. The children explored the classroom and showed their interests throughout the week.
Pre School-Phyiscal Development-Outdoor Fun
The children have been exploring the outdoor provision and enjoyed playing with the water, making mud pies and drawing with the large chalks making gross motor movements.
What Parents and Educators Need to Know about Worry and Anxiety
At times, growing up can be a stressful experience. It’s not unheard of for young people to fret about things that could potentially go wrong in their lives – and what implications this would have for their life. In some situations, this can go beyond feeling uneasy about the future and become full-blown anxiety, which affects their mental, emotional and even physical wellbeing. While worry and anxiety can originate from many different places, it's immensely important for parents and educators to understand the effect this can have on youngsters – and how best to support them if they’re going through a difficult time. This guide provides insight into the ramifications of worry and anxiety, and how you can help children manage – and hopefully overcome – these challenges.
Pre School- Graduation 2024
The children have celebrated their Graduation this week. The children's parents came into nursery to celebrate this special occasion, remembering all the special experiences and progress they have made over the last few years. The children are ready for their new adventure to big school.
Pre School- UTW- Celebrations
We have had lots of fun at our Pre School party. We played party games, popping bubbles and catching balloons with our friends. The children enjoyed being together and sharing the experience of doing different activities for the day.
Pre School- Science- Magnets
The children have been developing their understanding of how the magnets work. Learning that there are two poles, one that will attract and one that will repel. The children watched as the magnets repelled and moved away from the other magnets without touching the other magnet. When they attracted the magnets stuck together and were hard to separate.
Pre School- Computing and Maths- Recognise Numbers
The children have had lots of fun this week developing their knowledge of numbers and counting 1 to 1 correspondence. The children added legs to the octopus and used different colours to add spots as they counted, recognising numbers as they go.
Pre School-PSHE-Taking Turns
The children have been developing their sharing and taking turn skills playing the game, Pizza, Pizza. Working in groups to collect the correct pieces to add to their board, but some pizza toppings had bugs on and they needed to go in the rubbish meaning that the children's boards did not get filled. We all supported each other until we all had a complete board of pizza.
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Pre School- P.E- Balancing
P.E- Balancing In Pre School we have been making great progress with our balancing skills. Climbing onto jumps and walking, crawling and balancing with no support along the beams. Some children balanced bean bags on their heads as they moved across the beams.
Pre School- Physical Development- Fine Motor Skills
This week the children have been busy developing their finger muscles, using the water bottles to spray coloured water on to the floor and paper in the garden. We have used the clear film to create patterns with fine and thick paint brushes and watch the colours mix. The children enjoyed using the sticks to hook the fish out of the water and count how many fish are in the rock pool.
Pre School- Literacy- Mark Making
Pre-School have been practicing their drawing skills, copying different marks and then using what they have learnt to draw an object and talk about what they have created. We had spiders, caterpillars, worms and faces, and the children were very pleased with their work.
Pre School- Computing-Making the Robot Move
The children have been shown how to use the robot truck. Using the buttons to move it forward, backwards and side to side. We used the cards to plan and give instructions to the robot and watched it move.
Pre School- Maths-Number Hunt
The children had a fantastic time searching the classroom for treasure maps with different numbers on. The number was written down on the board and the children went around the room finding them. At each number map the children had a number task to complete, jump 5 times, 7 hops and so on. The children then created their own map adding their own numbers on.
Pre School- Physical Development- Making Bubbles
The children have been learning how to make their own bubbles. We used water and liquid to make the mixture and then the hoops to make the bubbles. The children loved popping the bubbles with their fingers and watching them bounce up and down in the hoops. We tried to make them blow in the wind but they popped.
Pre School- Music- Rhyme Time
Today the children have enjoyed using the musical instruments to create loud and quiet sounds and singing different nursery rhymes to match the sounds they are making with the musical instruments. The children began by tapping quietly and then changing the sound when we move the instruments faster and louder.
Pre-School- UTW- Art- Colour Mixing
The children have been exploring colours, we used the three primary colours and watched what happens when the colours got mixed together. The children then went on to mix paint colours on their hands to watch the effects change in front of them.
Pre-School- Physical- Exploring The Outdoors
The children have been interested in finding different bugs in the garden. Together we created a digging area to see what we could find. Using different tools the children found beetles, snails, worms and slugs. The children created an area with the blocks to look at the creatures closer using the magnifying glass.
Pre-School- Literacy and Maths- Calendar
Everyday Pre- school children take part in Calendar time. In this short activity we learn the day, date, month and what letter sound they start with. The children learn to recognise their own name card and letter sound. We then count how many children are in our class and put them into groups, recognising which group has more or less.
Pre-School- Maths-Rocket Shapes
The children have used different materials and shapes to create Rockets. The children recognised squares, rectangles and triangles and we counted how many sides each shape had.
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