Reception -Write Dance
Our Reception children have been enjoying Write Dance this week as part of developing their pre-writing skills. We’ve been focusing on big up-and-down movements to the song “The Grand Old Duke of York”, using our whole arms to make marks together on large paper. These activities help to strengthen gross motor skills, coordination, and control, all of which lay the foundations for confident writing later on. The children loved moving, singing, and creating marks as a group – lots of energy and enthusiasm!
Reception - Class Worship - Meeting Jack
This week Reception took part in their very first class worship. We were introduced to Jack through Roots and Fruits and met Hack the puppet, who will be helping us on our journey. We learned about creation and talked about the many wonderful things in our world. The children thought about how we can show thankfulness for these gifts and how we worship together in school. This was also a chance to begin exploring spirituality – noticing the beauty around us, feeling a sense of awe and wonder, and learning that worship is about more than words; it’s about how we connect with God and each other.
Year 3 - English - Getting To Know Paddington Bear
This term, we've been on an exciting adventure with a very special bear from deepest, darkest Peru... Paddington! Our class has been exploring a variety of images featuring everyone's favourite marmalade-loving bear. We've been using these pictures as a springboard for our writing, jotting down everything we know about Paddington, his adventures, and his friends. From his iconic duffle coat and red hat to his love of marmalade sandwiches, the children have been busy capturing their knowledge and ideas.
Pre-School-Continuous Provision-Exploring Our Environment
The Pre-school children have enjoyed getting to explore our environment around our nursery, exploring all areas inside and outdoors. We have also enjoyed playing and being creative with all our new friends that have joined us at Darwen st James.
Pre-School-Phonics-Singing With What's In The Bag
Pre-School have started our phonics this week while singing what's in the bag. Each child is given an opportunity to pick out a nursery rhyme from the bag for all to sing. Children loved to sit in a circle singing what's in the bag before a child is chosen to pick out one object for all to sing.
Nursery - PSHE - Looking After Our Teeth!
Our PSHE lesson this week focused on the importance of good dental hygiene. The children learned how to look after their teeth, with a particular emphasis on the introduction of toothbrushes and the correct way to brush. To help them understand the concept, we used a giant toothbrush and giant teeth to practice wiping away the germs. This hands-on activity helped the children develop a basic understanding before they tried brushing their own teeth. The children had a fantastic time brushing their own teeth while following along with the Hey Duggee Brush Your Teeth song. They enthusiastically copied the characters' movements, which made the activity both fun and educational. To promote good oral hygiene practices, Nursery class will be brushing their teeth together every day. This routine will reinforce what they've learned and help them establish a healthy habit for the future.
Autumn Term Clubs!
Dear Parents, We are delighted to announce our fantastic lineup of after-school clubs for the Autumn term! We've listened to your feedback, and we're so pleased to be able to offer a range of clubs that we believe will be both fun and rewarding for your children. After-school clubs are a wonderful way for students to explore new interests, learn a new skill, and make new friends. This term, we have a variety of options to choose from, including: Debating Club: A great opportunity for confident speakers and those who want to build their confidence to express themselves. Yoga Club: Perfect for all ages, this club focuses on helping children find calmness and balance while building strength and flexibility. Football Club: An exciting chance for students to improve their skills and play in a supportive team environment. Dance Club: A fun way to get creative and learn new routines and styles. Cross Stitch Club: A chance to learn a new, creative skill and design a cross-stitched bookmark. Junk Modelling: An imaginative club where children can turn everyday "junk" into something new and exciting. History Club: For those who love to research and learn about significant figures from around the past. Clubs will begin the week of September 15th and run until the week of November 24th. The cost for most clubs is £4.00 per week, which is £40.00 for the full 10-week term, with some clubs being free. Please take a look at the attached flyer for full details on each club, including the day, time, leader, and year groups. To sign up, please visit ParentPay. If you need any assistance with signing up or have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact the school office. We look forward to seeing your children get involved in these great activities!
This week in Reception – Phonics
This week in Reception – Phonics This week your little one will be starting their phonics journey. Phonics is the way we teach children to read and write by helping them recognise the sounds that letters make. We begin with the very basics and build up step by step so children can blend sounds together to read words and segment words to spell. Some key things to know: • Sounds, not letter names – At this stage, we focus on the sounds letters make (e.g. s = “sss”) rather than their names (“ess”). • Blending – Children learn to push sounds together to read simple words (for example, s-a-t becomes sat). • Segmenting – The opposite skill: breaking words into sounds to help with spelling (dog = d-o-g). • Daily practice – We revisit sounds regularly, and lots of repetition helps them stick. You can support at home by listening for sounds in words when you’re out and about, pointing out letters in books or signs, and encouraging your child to enjoy sharing stories with you. Please do let me know if you have any questions about phonics—I’m always happy to chat about how best to support your child.
Mental Health and Wellbeing - Recognising and Managing Stress
Stress is something we all experience – but for children and young people, it can feel especially overwhelming. This guide presents 10 simple, actionable strategies to help young people manage stress in a healthy and balanced manner. Whether it’s noticing early signs, encouraging open conversations, or modelling calm responses, there are plenty of ideas here to support positive change. Perfect for both school and home settings, the guide equips adults to identify subtle signals of stress and create safe spaces for pupils to open up. It also suggests mindful habits and healthy routines that can become part of daily life, promoting long-term emotional strength and mental wellbeing.
Pre-School- Physical Development- Wake and Shake
The children take part in wake and shake everyday. It is a good way to wake up our bodies and get ourselves ready for the day. The children move to different sounds and actions and our favourite is the wriggle dance. The children have been independent selecting the videos on the board and starting them for all of us to join.
Year 2 Communion
Our Year 2 children had a wonderful and meaningful Communion service. They actively participated, listening to important teachings like the Summary of the Law, which emphasizes loving God and your neighbor. The children received blessings and took communion, making it a very special day for them.
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