Online Safety - Making Friends Online
As technology becomes increasingly embedded in young people’s lives, it’s common for them to form friendships entirely online. These connections can provide companionship and community — but they also bring potential dangers that parents and educators need to be aware of. From online grooming and privacy breaches to exposure to upsetting content, meeting people on the internet isn’t without risk. This guide explains the possible hazards of online friendships and gives parents and educators essential advice on helping children build safe, positive relationships online.
Year 1 English - Exploring The Great Outdoors Around School
Year 1 enjoyed exploring the great outdoors around school. They followed cryptic clues that led them to locations such as the tyres, the nursery garden and the carpark. This was a fantastic way for Year 1 students to learn and explore! They had a wonderful adventure!
Online Safety - Search Engines
Search engines are a routine part of everyday life, giving instant access to billions of web pages; however, this also increases the risk of children encountering harmful, untrustworthy, or illegal content. We’ve created this free guide – also available in podcast format – offering parents and educators quickfire information about the risks of search engines and practical steps that can be taken to safeguard children online.
Year 1 - Music - Singing Our Favourite Songs
For our last music lesson of the term, Year 1 sang their favourite songs from the term. They played their instruments and moved their bodies showing the different musical dynamics they have learnt.
Thank You for Joining Our First Reading Café!
Thank You for Joining Our First Reading Café! A huge thank you to everyone who came along to our very first Reading Café—it was such a lovely event! The children really enjoyed sharing stories and spending time reading with you. There was a wonderful buzz around the room as books were opened, imaginations sparked, and conversations flowed. It was a joy to see such enthusiasm for reading! We’re hoping to make this a regular event, and it would be fantastic to welcome even more of you next time. Keep an eye out for our summer term date—we’d love to see you there!
Sports for Champions Visit – Alisha Evanston (Tumbling)
We had an inspiring visit from professional tumbler Alisha Evanston as part of our Sports for Champions event! Alisha wowed the children with her amazing tumbling skills and even invited some brave volunteers—including a few teachers—for a fun handstand competition. She shared her journey as an athlete, showing videos of her performances, answering thoughtful questions from the children, and proudly showing her medals. The session was full of energy and excitement, and the children left feeling motivated and inspired to follow their own dreams. A huge thank you to Alisha for such a memorable experience!
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Easyfundraising
We’ve registered Darwen St James CE Primary Academy with #easyfundraising, which means over 8,000 retailers will now donate to us for FREE every time you use #easyfundraising to shop with them. These donations will help SO MUCH, so please sign up to support us – it’s completely FREE and doesn’t take long. https://www.easyfundraising.org.uk/support-a-good-cause/step-1/?char=379393&invite=6po80d&referral-campaign=c2s&utm_campaign=web-referral
Online Safety - Instagram
Instagram remains a go-to app for teens, with its endless stream of photos, videos, and ‘Stories’ keeping young users constantly connected. From influencer content to live broadcasts, the platform is packed with evolving features that can feel fun and engaging – but can also raise some serious concerns around screen time, online pressures and exposure to inappropriate content. We’ve created this free guide – also available in podcast format – offering parents and educators up-to-date knowledge on the risks and safety tips for this latest version of Instagram.
Year 1 - RE - Making An Easter Garden
To end our unit on Easter, Year 1 talked about the events of the Easter Story as we made an Easter garden together. The garden included crosses that they had made. We also planted daffodils beside the empty tomb to symbolise new life.
Year 1 Maths - Comparing Capacity
In Year 1, your child is learning about capacity – how much something can hold. This lesson focuses on comparing the capacity of different containers using terms like 'full,' 'empty,' 'more than,' 'less than,' and 'the same as.' We used hands-on activities to make learning fun and engaging, helping them develop practical skills and a solid understanding of measurement concepts. Get ready for some water play (and maybe a few spills!) as we explore the world of capacity.
Year 1 Design Technology - Painting Fabric
Year 1 enjoyed this fun and engaging activity which allowed them to explore colors, patterns, and textures while developing essential fine motor skills. Using child-friendly fabric paints, they transformed plain fabrics into unique masterpieces in readiness to make their mittens.
Year 1 - History - Comparing Toys From The Past With Toys From The Present
Year 1 learned how to understand that things change over time, even the toys they play with. We explored how toys from the past are different from the toys we enjoy today, especially due to the development of new materials such as plastic. Year 1 explored basic historical concepts like 'past' and 'present' in a fun and relatable way by looking at toys.
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!
Phonics Screening Check
The Phonics Screening Check is a short assessment that takes place in Year 1 to check your child’s ability to read words using phonics. It helps teachers understand how well children are progressing with their early reading skills. During the check, your child will be asked to read 40 words—some real and some “nonsense” (pseudo words). These words are designed to test their ability to blend sounds together. The check is done one-on-one with a teacher in a relaxed and supportive environment. You can help your child at home by practicing phonics sounds, blending words together, and reading regularly. Encouraging them to spot sounds in books and playing simple word games can make a big difference! We will be hosting a parent session to provide more information about the Phonics Screening Check and how you can support your child at home. This will be a great opportunity to ask questions and see some of the strategies we use in school. If you have any questions, please speak to your child’s teacher—we’re here to support you and your child on their reading journey!
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.
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!
Year 1 - Maths - Measuring Using Centimeters
Year 1 used rulers to measure various objects around the classroom in centimeters. They were very careful to line up the object to 0 on the ruler and look at where the object ended to work out its length.
Year 1 - World Book Day - Decorating A Potato As Our Favourite Book Character
Year 1 enjoyed decorating their potatoes as their favourite story characters on World Book Day. What a creative class!
Year 1 - Science - Testing For Toughness
Year 1 carried out an investigation into toughness, aiming to identify which materials were strong and which were weak. As part of a fair test, they struck each material with a hammer and observed the results. They discovered that some materials, like plastic bottles, changed shape, while others, such as metal bowls, remained unchanged.
Exciting News – Walking Bus to School!
Exciting News – Walking Bus to School! We’re excited to announce that starting this Monday, we will be introducing a walking bus to school! Miss Meagher and Mrs. Adamson will be leading the walk, departing from school at 8:30 am and following a set route. For more details, please check the poster. We’d love for you to join us! Since this is our first time running the walking bus, next week will be a trial period. We may make some adjustments to timings or the route afterward, and we’ll keep you informed of any changes for the following week. Looking forward to seeing you there!
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.
Year 1 - Science - Testing Materials For Absorbency
Year 1 carried out a test to find out which materials were absorbent. They tested fabric, paper, tin foil and plastic. They found that both paper and fabric were absorbent.
Year 1 - PSHE - Our School Environment
Year 1 talked about our school environment. We discussed who looks after our environment including our own contributions. The children then drew their favourite part of school.
Year 1 - Maths - Comparing Length And Height
Year 1 started their unit on length and height by comparing objects in the classroom. They made sure that they compared two objects fairly by giving them the same starting point. They used the vocabulary of compare, longer and shorter.
Year 1 - P.E. - Target Skills
Year 1 enjoyed some target practice using a cone and a ball. They challenged themselves to hit the target 10 times and then make the task even harder by moving away from the target.
Year 1 - D.T - Joining Fabrics Using Running Stitch
Year 1 persevered with their stitching skills to join two pieces of fabric together. They threaded their needle and used their growth mindset to sew a running stitch. Well done, Year 1.
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Year 1 - Handwriting
Year 1 did some handwriting warm ups to the video 'Crocodile Snap'. Then they used their whiteboards and pens to write capital letters. Well done Year 1.
Craft Club - Creating Pancakes!
This week in craft club the children created their own pancakes. They carefully cut out their toppings of choice and stuck them onto their pancake. Sone children even created a pancake face!
Year 1 - Computing - Maze Explorers
Year 1 began a new Computing Unit called Maze Explorers. During this lesson the children used 2Go on Purple Mash to direct objects to a target.
Year 1 Phonics
Year 1 were learning the /air/ sound written as are as in share and ear as in bear. They read lots of words before writing them on their boards.
Year 1 - Textiles - Cutting Fabric
Year 1 had great fun looking at patterns for clothing. We noticed that a tailor would use a template to draw the pattern onto the fabric before cutting it out. We practised cutting fabric that had already had a pattern drawn on it. It was tricky, but we persevered, helped each other and succeeded.
Year 1 Maths - Place Value To 50 - Making Numbers Using Tens And Ones
Year 1 have been learning all about numbers to 50. They used tens and ones equipment to make numbers such as 20, 35, and 47. They then practised checking their place value equipment to ensure it matched their number
Year 1 - Art And Design - Making Weather Sculptures
Year 1 used their weather sculpture designs from last week to make their creations. They selected a range of materials based on their learning about materials from this unit and made some wonderful seasonal trees, suns and clouds.
Year 1 - P.E - Team Building - Working As A Team
Year 1 used communication skills to work as a team to complete tasks in the hall.
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Year 1 - Computing/English - Algorithms.
Year 1 have been deepening their understanding of instructions. We looked at the importance of clear, precise language which would help the reader to understand what needed to be done. With this in mind, we partnered up and gave clear instructions for planting cress - we hope to see some results soon! This also helped to solidify our computing knowledge of algorithms, a digital step by step set of instructions.
year 1 - Aim High Morning.
On Thursday morning, Year 1 attended a wonderful fair in the hall called "Aim High". Each exciting stall was run by people from our community, ready to answer all of the questions about their booths we could possibly think of! Year 1 enjoyed learning their names in sign language, discovering how saving money benefits us in the future, brushing the giant teeth with the dentist, speaking to Rev Kev about his role as our priest and getting a chance to ride the pretend horse. The children were fully captivated by every opportunity and all came away from the experience beaming.
Year 1 - Science - Absorbency
This week in science, Year 1 have been exploring materials and their properties. We looked at materials that are absorbent and those which are not. Our experiment was very interesting and we found out that not only are plastic wallets non-absorbent, but they are also waterproof!
Year 1 - RE - Jesus Calms The Storm
In RE, Year 1 has been thinking about how Jesus was special. Today they acted out the story of Jesus calming the storm. They enjoyed pretending to be on a boat in a storm and thought about how the disciples would have felt. They then reflected on times that they have felt scared and what made them feel calm again.
Wake Up Wednesday - Health and Fitness Apps
Over time, more and more fitness apps have been finding their way into circulation. Usually free to download – at least initially – these apps claim to offer helpful advice and assistance in routine management to those looking to lead a healthier lifestyle. While these platforms can be useful, they do present several safety concerns. These issues become more significant when we consider that children and young people can use these apps to stay active – whether out of concern for their own health or for reasons of body image. Our free guide breaks down the risks of health and fitness apps and offers expert advice on how to address these concerns to safeguard younger users.
Year 1 - Art And Design - Sculpting Using Paper
Year 1 are exploring sculptures in their Art and Design lessons. This week we experimented with joining, folding and rolling paper in different ways to create various sculptures.
Year 1 - P.E. - Team Building
Year 1 have been learning team building skills during their P.E lessons this half term. This week they explored how they could manipulate the parachute in different ways by working together.
Year 1 - Computing - Following An Alogrithm
Year 1 are working on the unit Lego Builders. They are learning how precise instructions are essential for programming a computer. This week they followed a set of instructions to produce a coloured bird.
Spring Clubs!
Our spring clubs are now available to book via ParentPay. They are a great way for children to learn a new skill and to socialise with others. Please log on to your ParentPay account to book, if you need any help please contact the office.
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Online Safety - TikTok
With 22% of its billion-strong userbase being between the ages of 13 and 17, the popularity of TikTok among the younger generation is indisputable
Year 1 P.E. - Team Building - Working Together
Year 1 began a new unit of P.E this week called Team Building. The children enjoyed working in pairs to carry balls across the hall using different body parts and learning how to stand up back to back in pairs.
Year 1 - Art and Design - 3D Making - Exploring and Joining Materials
Year 1 explored various materials that they could use in their sculptures. They experimented with paper, sugar paper, tin foil, paper clips, lolly sticks, glue and cardboard to create a variety of sculptures.
Year 1 - RE - Epiphany
In Year 1, we have been learning about Epiphany and particularly about the Festival Of The Three Kings that is celebrated in Spain. The children learnt that in Spain they eat an Epiphany cake with a tiny figurine of Jesus or a king hidden inside, as well as a black bean. If they get the figurine in their slice of cake then they get to be king for the day. If they get the bean, they have to pay for the cake! We decided to all be kings and queens and made beautiful crowns to wear.
Year 1 - English - The Gigantic Turnip
Year 1 began their unit on The Gigantic Turnip. They watched time lapse videos of a turnip growing from a seed into a vegetable. They also looked closely at the front cover of the book and wrote their predictions for the story .
Year 1 - Art And Design - Looking At Sculptors And Their Work
Year 1 looked at the creations of several sculptors and discussed their work. They interpreted each piece of work for themselves. Later, Year 1 made sketches in their books that were inspired by what they had seen.
Year 1 - Making Christmas Calendars
Year 1 enjoyed making Christmas Calendars this week. We used a photograph of ourselves in our Christmas jumpers and decorated the calendar for our adults.
Year 1 - Christmas Dinner
Year 1 enjoyed eating Christmas Dinner with their friends. We all enjoyed our chicken and especially our Christmas cookies!
Year 1 - Art and Design - Using Water Soluble Felt Tips and Water To Enhance A Drawing.
Year 1 built on their drawings of shells from last week by using felt tips and water. They drew their shell in their books and then chose two complimentary colours. They used the felt tips to highlight dark and light on their shell and then applied water with a brush.
Year 1 - PSHE - Inside My Body
Year 1 learned all about the inside of their bodies this week in PSHE. We discussed where organs are located and how important they are for our bodies to function properly.
Year 1 - Nativity Rehearsal
Year 1 have been working hard practising their parts in our production of Lights, Camel, Action! On Tuesday we had our first dress rehearsal in front of the whole school! I'm sure you'll agree they all look fabulous in their costumes.
Year 1 - Computing - Creating A Pictogram
Year 1 collated data by rolling a dice 20 times. They then produced pictograms to represent the data.
Year 1 - English - Using Envoys To Communicate Facts
Year 1 consolidated their knowledge about Seasonal Weather by making posters. Later, they sent an envoy from each team to gather further facts about weather in each season. They practised oral rehearsal of facts during this activity ready for their writing later in the week.
Year 1 - English - Freeze Frames For The Story Zog
In English, Year 1 has been re-imagining the story of Zog. They have come up with new characters and settings, following the structure of Zog. Today they acted out some freeze frames in order to learn the order of the story.
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.
Year 1 - P.E. - Gymnastics
Year 1 enjoyed a Gymnastics lesson this week. They practised balancing on benches, climbing and completing sequences using a straddle, star or pike.
Year 1 - Art and Design - Looking Carefully and Drawing Accurately
Year 1 experienced looking very closely at objects and noticing the light and dark on images. They used pencil to draw using a continuous line and using criss cross movements to create shadow.
Year 1 - Science - How Do Daylight Hours Change With The Seasons?
Year 1 learned about how daylight hours change during the seasons. We learned that there are less daylight hours in Winter, and more daylight hours in Summer.
Year 1 Computing - Creating A Pictogram To Show How Year 1 Travel To School
Year 1 collected data from the class about the different ways in which we travel to school. We drew pictures to show our individual data and then created a pictogram to show the information visually. Later, we used our pictogram to talk about the number of children that travel in different ways.
Year 1 - Art And Design - Making Sketchbooks
Year 1 made sketchbooks as part of our unit on Drawing. We collected different types of paper and made sure they were about the same size. Then we folded each piece in half and stacked them. Finally, we added a cover of card and secured them using an elastic band.
Year 1 - English - Using Images To Retell A Story
Year 1 created a story map of 'Zog'. They then rehearsed retelling the story using a repetitive pattern and adding actions. They enjoyed performing the story for each other.
Year 1 Art and Design - Using Chalk To Develop Our Spiral Drawings
Year 1 enjoyed developing their spiral drawings with chalk and pastels.
Year 1 - Music - Tapping a Steady Beat
Year 1 enjoyed using percussion instruments to tap a steady beat to a variety of songs.
Year 1 - P.E - Dribbling
Year 1 enjoyed a Ball Skills lesson that taught dribbling skills. The children practised their dribbling around cones, then they played team games where they used their defence skills against the other team.
Fire Safety
A Home Office study has found that approximately 350 children are injured in accidental fires every year
Year 1 D.T. - Measuring Ingredients Using Non-Standard Measures.
Year 1 had great fun in D.T this week measuring dry ingredients such as cornflakes, oat flakes and flour. They used measuring spoons, cups and jars to practise their measuring.
Year 1 P.E - Balancing and Throwing and Catching a Ball.
Year 1 warmed up by pretending to be turtles with shells on their backs to practise their balancing skills. Later they developed throwing and catching techniques in pairs.
Year 1 - English - Writing Facts About Mice.
Year 1 watched a clip that taught us some really interesting facts about mice. We discussed them and orally rehearsed them before writing them down in our small groups. Later, we presented our facts to the class.
Year 1 RE - Sukkot; The Jewish Harvest.
In RE, Year 1 have been learning all about Harvest. They have also been learning about the Jewish Harvest week called Sukkot. During Sukkot, they build a dwelling called a Sukkah and it is decorated with special plants and fruits. As a class we built our own Sukkah and some even got to sit in it!
Year 1 Music
Year 1 enjoyed composing their own music and following their score with percussion instruments. Later we recited our favourite nursery rhymes and played along.
Breakfast Club
In the Breakfast club we made brick towers bigger than a year 5 child and played Guess Who Games . We had lots of fun.
Year 1 Science, Hearing Investigation
Year 1 investigated the effect of distance on sound. We found that as we moved away from a sound, it got quieter.
Year 1 Maths Part Whole Model
Year 1 used counters to split each whole into two parts.
Year 1 International Day of Prayer
On International Women's Day Of Prayer, Year 1 talked about why we pray. We decided that we prayed to say thank you, to ask for something or to say sorry. The children said some prayers and then coloured in these beautiful crosses.
Year 1 - Science
Year one enjoyed exploring their sense of smell during today's science lesson. They were tasked with naming the smells of some well known household goods.
Year 1 Geography
During Geography this week, Year 1 explored the Reception area and later produced maps using symbols to represent the equipment they found.
Year 1 PSHE
During PSHE Year 1 explored their feelings. They expressed various emotions with their faces such as happy, sad, cross and worried.
Year 1 Science - Food Tasting
Year 1 tasted bitter, sweet, sour and salty foods this week in science to explore their sense of taste.
Year 1
Year 1 explored their sense of touch this week in Science.
Year 1 - Maths - Comparing the Amounts of Objects
Year 1 worked really hard in maths this week comparing amounts of objects and using the vocabulary less and more.
Year 1 Science - The Five Senses
Year 1 thought about what they would see, hear, feel and taste in a variety of locations. They learned to name the part of the body that provides each of the five senses.
Year 1 - DT - Tasting Porridge
Year 1 began their D.T unit on food by tasting different flavours of porridge. They tried apple and blueberry, plain and golden syrup. Yum, yum!
Year 1 - PE - Ball Skills
Year 1 enjoyed their P.E lesson learning ball skills. They developed skills in dribbling and controlling a variety of balls.
Year 1 PE lesson: Balancing and Stability
In their PE lesson Year 1 learnt about how they can balance and make themselves stable whilst jumping. They pretended to be frogs jumping on to lily pads and learnt that they could use their arms to balance themselves. Through bending their legs and swinging their arms they were also able to jump much further.
Year 1 - Our First Week Back!
The children have been enjoying various continuous provision activities during their first week in Year 1. Here you can see children drawing inspired by Van Gough, making minibeast legs and making creations using craft paper.
Year 1 - English - Writing Using Finger Spaces
Year 1 enjoyed learning key facts about mice and then writing them using spaces between words.
Year 1 - Science - Our Bodies
Year 1 enjoyed naming part of the human body in their Science lesson this week.
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.
Year 1 - Maths - Money
Year 1 have been learning about money this week. We have been finding amounts using 10p, 5p and 2p.
Year 1 R.E
Year 1 have been learning about the Hindu creation story. They made groups pictures of what they had learned.
Year 1 P.E.
Year 1 used all of the team working skills they have learned this half term to complete challenges in the hall using equipment.
Year 1 Geography - Capital Cities
Year 1 researched the capital cities of England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales using atlases.
Year 1 - Design Technology - Choosing Materials
Year 1 explored different materials that would be suitable for the different parts of their garage. They explored tubes, corrugated card and different sizes of boxes.
Year 1 - Science - Sorting Objects By Material
Year 1 sorting images according to different criteria. Some of us sorted into fabric, plastic or wood. others sorted into waterproof or not waterproof.
Year 1 - Sport for Champions
Year 1 enjoyed their visit from the Sports For Champions representative. This is Year 1 enjoying an energetic work out.
Year 1 Science - Testing Materials
Year 1 helped teddy to find some material to make a new umbrella. They tested each material to see if it was waterproof and then told teddy the results. Year 1 found that plastic and tin foil were waterproof, but that the best material for an umbrella was plastic.
English - Rat Facts
Year 1 have been learning facts about rats. These photos show us sharing our ideas and making fact posters.
Year 1 R.E. - Creation
Year 1 experienced creating new things during their first lesson on our unit of Creation.
Year 1 - P.E - Orienteering
Year 1 began their unit on orienteering with some team building and problem solving challenges.
Year 1 Science - Everyday Materials
Year 1 completed the task of sorting objects according to their material, whether they are waterproof or not and whether they are transparent or opaque.
Year 1 Science Day - Our Bodies
Year 1 investigated our bodies during Science Day. We discussed how we may all have the same body parts but that we are all different. We drew around each other and compared our outlines.
Year 1 Science Day The Science Show
Year 1 had lots of fun learning about pushes and pulls during the Science Show.
Phonics Screening Check - Parent Info
Please see attached the parental information regarding the Phonics Screening Check.
Year 1 Courageous Advocacy - Marcus Rashford
Year 1 talked about being brave and how to be brave to 'stick up' for someone else. They learned about the famous footballer Marcus Rashford. Marcus was a courageous advocate for children who do not have enough to eat. He wrote to the Prime Minister on behalf of all the children in the country to ask if they could have free school meals.
Year 1 Skills Builder - Art Gallery
Year 1 enjoyed developing their creative skills on Skills Builder Day. They looked for inspiration from famous artworks of the seaside, cityscapes, the countryside and abstract art. They then created their own mini gallery.
Year 1 Maths - Fraction Pizzas
Year 1 have been learning about halves and quarters. Today, they made some fraction pizzas, they decorated them with three different toppings to show one half and two quarters.
Year 1 - Guided Reading - Decoding
Year 1 enjoyed their guided reading session with their new book this week. The children read the new vocabulary from the text and enjoyed spotting these words as we read the book together.
Year 1 Picture News - Special Objects
Year 1 talked about the people who are special in their lives or a special time they have experienced. We discussed how simple objects can remind us of a person or an event. The children drew their special objects and shared their thoughts with the class.
St James Rainbows and Brownies
St James Rainbows and Brownies have spaces available. They meet each week at St James Over Darwen Church. Rainbows is for girls aged 4 - 7 and Brownies is for girls aged 7 - 9. The children earn different badges, they bake, craft, raise money and have lots of fun! Please contact Lisa on 07895023147 for more information.
Year 1 P.E - Throwing and Catching.
Year 1 enjoyed P.E outside this week. During this lesson they learned how to throw a short distance under arm and a longer distance using an overarm technique.
Year 1 Maths - FInding a 1/4 of a Shape.
Year 1 talked about how to cut sandwiches into quarters. We used paper templates to help us look closely at each alternative. Then, we prepared jam sandwiches for our classroom picnic, making sure that every sandwich was an equal quarter.
Ordering School Meals Via ParentPay
We have listened to your feedback regarding wanting to know what your child eats in school and we have now activated ParentPay meal ordering so that you can order what your child will eat in school (please note thaat this will be compulsory form September). Please familiarise yourself with this by logging on to your ParentPay account and selecting your child's meals with them at home. Dinners need to be ordered before 9am. Please message Miss Greenwood if you have any problems logging on, thank you.
Year 1 - History
In History, Year 1 are learning about Sir Francis Drake. The photographs show the children following the route of Sir Francis Drakes circumnavigation of the world on his galleon, The Golden Hinde.
Year 1 - Science - Melting Materials
Year 1 have been learning about the effects of heat on different materials. We exposed ice cubes, chocolate, sugar and wax to heat and recorded our findings.
Year 1 - Art and Design - Knotting and Winding
In Textiles, Year 1 have been experimenting with knotting and wrapping techniques. They practised knotting wool to a stick and then winding it around until the whole stick was covered.
Year 1 - PE - Jumping
Year 1 have been learning how to jump in P.E. They thought about how to use their arms and their legs to help them jump further.
Year 1 - Science - Classifying Objects According to Their Properties
Year 1 have been learning how to classify objects according to their properties.
Reception and Y1 - Guided Reading
Reception and Year 1 have been developing their early reading skills. They have been applying their phonetic knowledge to help them decode the words in the book and they have been working on improving their fluency when reading. The children have really enjoyed these interactive reading sessions and have used the Chromebooks to use the ebook feature, this has been a real hit too!
Year 1 - History - Sir Francis Drake
in History, Year 1 have been learning about Sir Francis Drake. In these photographs, the children are using the vocabulary they have learned about life aboard a galleon to produce posters.
Friends of DSJ
We are looking for new members of our Friends at Darwen St James group. The group was created to help raise funds for school by thinking of ideas and planning fundraisers throughout the year. Past events include; *Film night *Bingo night *Family evening *Summer Fair *Christmas Fair All the money we raise is used in school - we have developed the nurture room and we are currently renovating the library areas around school. If you would like to find our more or if you would like to volunteer, please speak to Miss Sears.
Year 1 - R.E - Baptism
Year 1 are learning about Baptism in R.E. In this lesson we were exploring different forms of Baptism ceremonies from around the world. We talked about the images and wrote down our thoughts and questions.
Year 1 - Textiles
Year 1 are learning about weaving in our Art unit of Textiles. In these photographs, the children are embellishing strips of fabric with pom poms, glitter and sticky shapes. In our next lesson, they will use these to weave a whole class piece of work.
Mrs Simms and Mrs Williamson - A New Adventure Awaits!
On Friday we say a sad farewell to Mrs Simms and Mrs Williamson as they leave us for pastures new. We would like to thank them for all of their hard work and dedication at Darwen St James. I am sure you will join us in wishing them luck for the future. Mrs Williamson and I would like to send a heartfelt thank you for all your support over the last 13 years whilst we have been at Darwen St James, however this Friday will be our last day in school as we both move on to new adventures. We would also like to thank the children for all their hard work and dedication over the years and we are sure they will continue to flourish throughout the years to come.
Free School Meals - Extended!
As you all are aware, we received funding last year and we were fortunate to be able to offer free school meals to all of our children. We thought that this would be run until the end of March, however we are thrilled to announce we are able to extend this to the 26th April. From 29th April children who are not on free school meals will have to pay for their lunch and there will be a slight increase in cost and the new charge will be £2.50 per day. Now is a good opportunity to look into seeing if your child will be eligible for free school meals if you haven't yet applied by visiting Blackburn with Darwen Borough Councils website here https://www.blackburn.gov.uk/schools-and-education/school-meals
Online Safety - What Parents and Educators Need to Know about Township
Potentially addictive online games are nothing new, but the specifics of this kind of media can vary enormously – and, as a consequence, the risks in each individual game are just as diverse. The city-builder Township is no exception: providing its legions of devotees with accessible, satisfying fun … but exposing them to potential hazards at the same time. However, any safeguarding issues that the game might have can (with a little knowhow) be neutralised – allowing young players to have some engrossing fun without adults needing to worry about children’s data, their money or their mental wellbeing. Our guide outlines how to help young gamers enjoy Township safely and responsibly.
Easter closure information
Easter closure information
Easter Competition Winners
A huge well done to the winners of this years Easter competition! Rev Kev and Miss Greenwood had the difficult decision of selecting 3 winners form each class. We had over 20 family entries too, which was great! Congratulations to those winners.
Online Safety - Wake up Wednesday - Clickbait
While scrolling online, you’ll almost inevitably have come across posts or links with headlines like “You Won’t Believe These 10 Crazy Facts about …”. Such lurid language – and the often-dubious nature of the content it promotes – has become something of a running joke on the internet. Yet while these articles are often laughed at by communities online, they can have an insidious side. Clickbait, as it’s known, can frequently function as part of a trap: intended to draw users in for the sake of advertising revenue or, in worse cases, masking an attempting to collect their personal information. This #WakeUpWednesday guide explores the various risks of clickbait and offers some top tips for evading the pitfalls of this controversial marketing technique.
Easter Egg Competition
This year our competition theme was the Paris Olympics and we have had some eggstrodinary entries! Well done ot every family that entered this years competiton, the judges have had an eggstremely dificult decision this year! The winners will be announced in our special Easter Worship tomorrow, you are all welcome to join us.
Year One - Guided Reading
In Guided Reading, we have been using our pointers to help us track our reading. We also used them to point to tricky words or graphemes too.
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Measles Guidance
Please see the latest guidance for measles.
BwD Family Hub Website
Fantastic news! Our website is live! The Start for Life Family Hub Website is the gateway to information of where services are, it details everything a family will need in those 1001 critical days and beyond. Our Family Hubs and Children Centres are our Single point of access to those start for life, wider services and family help. The Hubs and Children Centres are the physical places where a family can visit and speak to a trained staff member, face to face, who will provide them with straightforward information or advice on a wide range of family issues spanning the 0-19 (25 with SEND) age range and connect them appropriately to further services across that age range if they need more targeted or specialist support.
10 Top Tips for Parents and Educators: Encouraging Open Conversations at Home
Cultural and technological changes have made the experiences of today’s children vastly different to our own childhoods; it can be challenging to engage youngsters in open, honest conversation – especially about more sensitive topics. This, combined with many children’s instinct to avoid “rocking the boat”, can make it difficult to stay up to date with the goings on in their lives. However, it’s hugely important that trusted adults still offer an empathetic ear and feel able to encourage young people to open up about their day-to-day activities. This #WakeUpWednesday guide provides ten top tips for promoting open conversations with children – helping to make sure there’s someone they know they can turn to in times of need.
Year 1 - Maths - Numbers to 50
In maths we have been learning about numbers to 50. We looked at how to represent numbers using tens and ones. We used a 50 square and found different numbers based on their tens and ones. E.g. I am thinking of a number with 1 ten and 7 ones - The children then had to find and circle my number.
Year 1 - Computer Science - Coding
Year 1 enjoyed a great coding lesson in computing today. They made planes move along runways and take off by organising their code. Later they made scary ghosts and bats move across a haunted house!
Year 1 - Maths - Number Problems
We have been looking at missing number problems in maths today. We had a first, then and now story and the children had to work out how many frogs jumped in the pond. 3+_=8
Year 1 - Science - Planting Seeds
Year 1 had a great afternoon planting seeds and learning the names of common flowers.
Year 1 - Phonics - Popcorn Pop!
In phonics this morning, we played 'Popcorn Pop', reading words with the 'ea / e-e' digraph.
Year 1 - English - Ordering a Poem
In English this morning, the children thought about the shape of the poem and worked in pairs to put the poem in order.
Year 1 - World Book Day
Year 1 have had a great Book Day afternoon. We read Sloth in The Slow Lane and learned some key facts about sloths. Later, we made a sloth mask and some children did a collage.
Year 1 - English - When I am by Myself
We started our new unit in English today, a poem called 'When I am by Myself'. The children have been learning the shapes for the poem which will help them with the sequence when they are writing their own. We played a game called 'Show me'. After learning the names of the shapes, the children worked with a partner and matched them to the different parts of the poem.
Year 1 - PE - Athletics
In PE, the children have completed a relay race as part of their athletics unit.
Year 1 - Maths - Subtraction
In Maths today, we have been subtracting by counting backwards on a number line.
Year 1 - Little Red Riding Hood
Year 1 have been collecting vocabulary to use in their writing about Little Red Riding Hood. They focused on the characters and the woods. The children worked in pairs completing a 'Role on the wall' activity. For this, they had to think about how the wolf felt and what he looked like.
Year 1 - Funky Food
This week Year 1 started their new D.T unit of Funky Food. We started this unit by doing a survey of our favourite fruits and vegetables. The photographs show the children completing a tally chart as they asked their friends questions. Then Year 1 produced pictograms of what they found.
Online Safety - Self Regulation
As infants, we all rely completely on adults to help us resolve situations that are causing us to become upset or stressed. This is known as co-regulation. The next phase, once autonomy has begun to develop, is called self-regulation: this is when children start to become capable of exercising more control over their impulses and behaviour, and managing their own emotions. This vital developmental milestone, however, isn’t reached spontaneously. Learning to self-regulate requires sensitive guidance from trusted adults – simply talking with children about their thoughts and feelings, for instance, can ease the route to self-regulation. This #WakeUpWednesday guide has some expert tips for supporting children to reach this goal.
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