Fine motor building

15th May 2026Elizabeth Frost

One day each week in Crew Frost, we spend time focusing on developing our fine motor skills through activities such as using scissors to cut along lines and around shapes. Cutting is an excellent skill to master in the Early Years, as it supports so many of the important skills children need as they begin their writing journey.

The children are learning how to separate and strengthen the muscles in their fingers and hands whilst carefully controlling the scissors. They are also developing their hand-eye coordination and problem-solving skills as they work out how to move the paper and scissors together whilst trying to stay on the lines. This takes a huge amount of concentration, control, and perseverance.

Alongside this, we have been practising our “ready to write” positioning by sitting with our tummy to the table and all six chair legs on the floor. Developing core strength, balance, and posture is a very important part of early writing development, helping children to gain the stability needed for mark making and pencil control in the future.

Although cutting may look simple, it is actually a very tricky skill that requires children to coordinate many different movements at the same time. We are so proud of the resilience, determination, and focus Crew Frost have shown whilst practising these important skills. Well done, Crew Frost — it is much harder than it looks!

Building up our stories

1st May 2026Elizabeth Frost

During our expedition “When the Sea Meets the Shore,” we have been exploring the story The Singing Mermaid. The children began by sharing their ideas and predictions, thinking carefully about where the mermaid might travel next and what adventures she might have along the way. This gave them the opportunity to express their own thoughts and build on each other’s ideas.

We then used these suggestions to create visual prompts, which were taken to the water tray to enhance our play. The children used these prompts to guide their storytelling, developing their vocabulary and deepening their understanding of “who,” “what,” and “where.” Through this, they created imaginative and detailed narratives, bringing the mermaid’s journey to life in their own unique ways.

This activity supported their communication and language development, as well as encouraging creativity and collaboration. It was also a lovely way to engage in meaningful, hands-on learning, especially in the warm weather.

Well done for working so hard, Crew Frost!

Coral Reef

30th April 2026Elizabeth Frost

During our expedition “When the Sea Meets the Shore,” the children have been learning all about coral reefs and how this environment differs from their own. They explored the wide range of colours and textures found in coral reef habitats and then applied this knowledge in our playdough area, where they created their own reef-inspired models.

This activity provided a great opportunity to develop fine motor skills, while also supporting language development as the children described their creations and shared ideas. It also helped build their understanding of boundaries, particularly when using food-based resources for creative purposes rather than for eating.

Well done, Crew Frost!

Building our own pier

30th April 2026Elizabeth Frost

During our expedition “When the Sea Meets the Shore,” the children thoroughly enjoyed learning about lighthouses and understanding the important role they play in keeping boats safe.

Inspired by this, Crew Frost used their imagination during provision time to create their own seaside scene. They built a pier using wooden blocks, added large diamond bricks as rocks, and carefully chose the perfect spot for their lighthouse. Their creativity didn’t stop there—The Snail and the Whale even made an appearance, swimming alongside mermaids in their imaginative world!

This was a wonderful opportunity for the children to develop their communication and understanding, as well as build on their storytelling skills. They worked collaboratively, sharing ideas and bringing their stories to life, supporting their next steps in developing rich and meaningful language.

Well done, Crew Frost!

Easter fun

23rd March 2026Elizabeth Frost

Last week in nursery, the children enjoyed a creative and engaging Easter-themed activity that supported several areas of their development.

The children began by developing their fine motor skills as they carefully cut out their own Easter egg shapes. They loved learning all about the oval shape! Activities like cutting help to strengthen the small muscles in their hands, which are essential for writing and their physical development.

Once their eggs were cut out, the children showed wonderful independence and confidence by taking ownership of their work and writing their own names. Writing their names helps children to give meaning to marks they make, while also fostering a sense of pride in their achievements.

The learning didn’t stop there! Many of the children were so engaged that they chose to extend the activity further. Using cotton buds and a range of colours, they explored creating two-part repeating patterns on their eggs an important early maths skill to master!

Using cotton buds also provided another opportunity to refine fine motor control, as the children carefully dipped and dabbed to create their designs. At the same time, they explored colour, creativity, and self-expression, supporting their development within Expressive Arts and Design.

We loved seeing the children so motivated, independent, and proud of their creations. It was a wonderful example of how a simple activity can support multiple areas of learning while allowing children to follow their own interests and ideas.

Well done, Crew Frost!

World Book Day Crew Frost

5th March 2026Elizabeth Frost

World Book Day was such a fun experience for the children. We loved seeing everyone in their wonderful costumes, and a big thank you to all the parents for spending the time and effort preparing the children’s fantastic outfits.

During our session today, the children enjoyed developing their cutting skills as they made their own Wizard of Oz puppets. They carefully used scissors and materials to create their characters, showing great focus and creativity.

The children also used their fine motor skills to draw pictures of Elphaba and Glinda, taking time to add their own details and colours. It was lovely to see their imagination come to life through their drawings and puppet creations.

What a wonderful day celebrating books and stories together.

Well done, Crew Frost!