By Lucy Beardsley, Head of Early Years
Every big journey begins with small, confident steps — and Sidcot School Early Years is where the magic begins. As our new term is now well underway, we have welcomed both new and old friends into our Reception cohort and it has been a joy to watch them settle so quickly. It has been wonderful to deepen existing relationships with our Pre-School children who have moved into Reception, as well as build positive relationships with our new children and their families. Last term, our Pre-School pupils spent time in their next classroom, learning about their new teacher and teaching space on Transfer Day. New pupils joined us for Taster Days as part of the Admissions process. Everyone came together for a Stay and Play with their families on the Friday before the start of term. These transitions are an important aspect of our tailored provision to ensure our littlest learners are prepared and excited for their next educational step.
At Sidcot Junior School, we believe in nurturing young minds through play, curiosity, and kindness. Our safe, engaging, and supportive environment helps children:
- Build strong social and emotional foundations
- Develop confidence and independence
- Explore creativity and problem-solving
- Learn through play, discovery and fun
To paint a picture, we believe that pupils learn best when we build their own interests into our teaching. One example of this was when our children wanted to make some potions during a forest school session, so we adapted our play and were able to introduce them to new scientific vocabulary and learn about measuring and pouring. When we came back to the classroom, we were able to talk about what colours were made when we mixed them, and even some mark-making/writing recipes. On another occasion, we welcomed one of our pupils who had come back from visiting family in Greece and wanted to teach us some phrases. This allowed us to reflect on our School’s international outlook and helped to build his confidence in public speaking.
When children feel secure, seen, and supported, they thrive.