Starfish

Welcome to the Starfish Class Page

   Nursery and Reception - EYFS   

                                                                        Teacher -  Mrs Dalley                                                                                 

2024 - 2025

Early Writing

Get Squiggling is a fun and engaging video series that our Nursery children enjoy when they are ready as part of their early drawing activities. Each episode is based around a story and introduces simple shapes and lines to help children create their own pictures. Through drawing along with the characters, children develop their fine motor skills, creativity, and confidence with mark-making—all while having lots of fun!

Drawing Club is a fun structured activity for our Reception children. The sessions are designed to spark imagination and support their early writing skills. Each session is based on a well-loved story or theme, we have covered old favourites such as Mr Benn to more recent texts such as We're going on a Bear Hunt. The texts we choose give children the chance to explore new vocabulary, develop their storytelling abilities, and express their ideas through drawing and mark-making. It's a joyful way to build confidence, encourage curiosity, and nurture a love for literacy right from the start! Take a look at some of our pupils fantastic writing.....

Being Active

Our Early Years children have the freedom to choose outdoor play for much of the school day. Our well-equipped outdoor area encourages movement, exploration, and physical challenge every day. Being physically active supports the children’s physical health. It also boosts brain development and emotional wellbeing, helping children to feel happy, confident, and ready to learn. 

Exploring Dinosaurs

The children created their own erupting volcanoes as part of their investigations, bringing prehistoric landscapes to life. They also took their learning outdoors, using measuring skills to compare the sizes of different dinosaurs in the playground—discovering just how enormous some of these creatures really were! The children have also enjoyed naming the dinosaurs and drawing around their shadows outside.

Judaism Morning

During our exploration of Judaism, the children showed curiosity. They were given the opportunity to wear a kippah and expressed excitement when learning that it is a traditional item worn in Jewish culture. Children also made their own Star of David if they wanted to, using lolly pop sticks and demonstrating fine motor skills. 

Observing the Life Cycle of a Butterfly

The children have enjoyed observing the chrysalises and learning about the life cycle of a butterfly. Last week was very exciting as we released our 'Painted Lady' butterflies! The children gave them names and this inspired the children to take part in some amazing drawing and writing.  

Maths

Our pupils have been making AMAZING progress in understanding and manipulating shapes, patterns, and numbers. The children are identifying simple 2D and 3D shapes, creating and extending patterns, and developing their problem solving skills which involve counting and recognising numerals.  

Looking after our Planet

Reception pupils have been learning about rubbish and plastics that end up in the sea, they did some fantastic sorting and discussed the impact this has on the creatures within our oceans and our environment.

Exploring Homes

Starfish Class have been learning about where we live and the different types of houses we live in. We went on a village walk to spot the different types of houses. The children also worked in their groups to recognise landmarks on their maps and followed the arrows using vocabulary linked to directions. Amazing cross curricular learning!

Senses - Taste Test

The children laughed their way through the taste test, exploring how our taste buds taste different things that are sour, sweet, salty and bitter.We were so proud of the children for trying most items, as you can see from the photos the children were quite shocked by some of the tastes!

Keeping Ourselves Safe

We had our first visit to Corton Woods this year. Before we left, we discussed in detail what we need to do to keep ourselves safe, we looked at photos and explored them as a class. Then we set off (hoping to find a Gruffalo or a dragon). Unfortunately we didn't find either of those in the woods but we listened to our grown ups well and we had a fantastic time! 

 

Settling In

Look at how busy our Early Years children have been. Learning, creating and problem solving! We have welcomed some new children into our Early Years Class and we are delighted with how quickly they have settled and formed friendships.

2023 - 2024

Exploring Animals

We have enjoyed discussing our pets and how to care for them. We have looked at different animal habitats and identified some similarities and differences. 

We had a great time creating our own chameleons and used a mixture of resources to camouflage them around the school.
Can you spot them?

People Who Help Us

We enjoyed learning about the different jobs that people do in our community and all the ways that they help us. We had a visit from PCSO Justin Winn and learned about the job that the police do.

We loved trying on the uniforms and helmets he brought with him as well as using our fingerprints to make a key-ring.  

 

Maths

In Starfish Class we enjoy maths and have fun using our toys and equipment to explore number, shape, mass, pattern and capacity.

 

Music

We have been enjoying using the musical instruments and exploring the different sounds we can make.

The Lummi sticks are also great fun! We like using them to keep a beat and to perform actions.

 

Science Week 

The children in EYFS have been doing Science experiments.

We made predictions and investigated which objects would float and sink. We also found out about colour mixing and made our own secret potion which foamed and overflowed! 

Baking

We enjoyed working in teams to bake some delicious Christmas biscuits. We all helped to add the ingredients, mix them together and cut them into different shapes.

They were delicious!

RE

We have learned many different things in our RE lessons including the Creation story and the order that God created everything, how we can be kind to each other and look after the environment. 

 

We have also enjoyed drawing and making our own stained-glass windows. We regularly visit the Methodist Church for our Collective Worship. We have learned about Buddhism and had a mindfulness morning.

Special Days

We love special occasions in Starfish class. We have celebrated World Book Day, putting on our pyjamas and sharing stories.

We helped to raise money for Children in Need and Comic Relief by wearing bright colours and buying some delicious cakes.

 

PE

We have been learning to make lots of different shapes with our bodies in gymnastic lessons.

As well as practising them on the floor, we have used a range of equipment to explore.

Welcome back

 

Thank you to the adults that attended the EYFS Stay and Play session. The children loved having you in class so they could share their environment with you! 

September 2023 -What an absolute joy it has been welcoming back pupils and getting to know new children at our school. The children have settled in so well and made new friendships. They're smiling and happy. What a credit to their families!