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!

Interventions

15th May 2026Elizabeth Frost

During our choosing time, Crew Frost have been developing their early mathematical skills through a range of practical, hands-on interventions linked to the EYFS Development Matters guidance. This week, the children have focused on recognising, extending, and creating their own two-part patterns, as well as organising and comparing objects by size from biggest to smallest.

The children showed great curiosity and engagement as they explored pattern and shape through play. They were encouraged to use mathematical language to describe what they could see, including words such as pointy, corners, sides, stripy, and edges. This supported the children in talking about and exploring shapes and patterns around them.

These activities help to build strong foundations within the Mathematics area of learning, particularly in noticing patterns, comparing size, and developing spatial reasoning. Crew Frost have worked incredibly hard to explain their thinking, solve problems, and apply their learning independently during provision.

We are so proud of the progress Crew Frost are making as they continue to grow in confidence and prepare for their transition into Reception. Well done, Crew Frost!

Working Hard to Get Smart in Maths

7th May 2026Laura Godley

Crew Godley have been working hard in maths, developing their understanding of how to calculate percentages of amounts. In particular, Sharni-Mae has shown great determination and focus, approaching each challenge with a positive attitude and growing in confidence when applying her skills to solve problems. Well done, Crew – keep up the fantastic work!

Exploring Thousandths as Fractions

27th April 2026Laura Godley

Crew Godley have been working incredibly hard to deepen their understanding of how numbers can be represented in different ways – particularly focusing on thousands expressed as fractions.

To support their learning, we used a range of manipulative to physically explore how a whole can be divided into equal parts and how those parts relate to thousandths. We investigated how one whole can be partitioned into 1,000 equal parts and what this looks like when represented as fractions. Through discussion and collaboration we were able to recognise patterns and simplify these fractions, linking their understanding to equivalent fractions and decimal forms.

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Mastering Number in F2

24th April 2026Sarah Mcglone

During maths this week, we have been looking at using our subitising skills in increasingly complex arrangements. We looked at arrangements of 6 and how we can use our knowledge of number bonds to 6, and our skills of subitising to 5, to help us to identify the number represented. We worked together to decide whether an arrangement was 6 or not 6, and then we used counters to replicate the pattern, before explaining how we knew the pattern showed 6, by identifying known patterns within.

Ready for F2.

20th April 2026Elizabeth Frost

During the Summer term, we place a strong focus on supporting our nursery children to develop their independence and resilience as they prepare for their transition into Reception. These are key aspects of the Early Years Foundation Stage, particularly within Personal, Social and Emotional Development and Physical Development.

Throughout the year, we have been working hard to strengthen the children’s fine motor skills, and this term we have introduced a focused activity known as “apron entry.” During this activity, each child is given their own clipboard and a shortened pencil, which helps to support correct grip and control.

The children are encouraged to draw an object, letter or shape from the board, with a particular focus in this session on creating circles of their own chosen size and quantity. This open-ended approach allows the children to explore their creativity while also developing important early writing skills.

It was fantastic to see the children’s growing ability to concentrate, as well as their confidence in using an effective pencil grip and forming recognisable shapes. These small but significant steps are helping to build the foundations for future writing.

Well done, Crew Frost—keep up the great work!

Maths Mastery in Action: Celebrating a Term of Learning with Blooket! 🎉

26th March 2026Charlotte Newman

This week, Miss Newman’s maths group wrapped up the spring term in an engaging and rewarding way – by completing a fun and interactive Blooket quiz designed to consolidate all the knowledge they’ve built over the past few months.

Throughout the term, the group has worked incredibly hard, developing their understanding across a range of mathematical topics. From problem-solving strategies to key arithmetic skills, every lesson has contributed to their growing confidence and ability.

The children showed great resilience when tackling challenging questions and celebrated each other’s successes along the way.

Well done to everyone in Miss Newman’s group for a brilliant spring term – your hard work is truly paying off! We look forward to continuing this journey of learning and growth in the summer term.

Keep up the great work! 🌟