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Explore numbers, developing an understanding that they represent quantities and use them to count, create sequences and describe order. Skill development supported by this resource include: Match numeral and quantity. Recognition of numerals 1-5. Make comparisons between quantities. Use some language of quantities, such as ‘more’ and ‘a lot’. Develop subitising skills. Number order. Use some number names accurately in play.

If a child is exhibiting a particular behaviour and you want to identify why it is occurring and what the child may be communicating, an ABC table can help. It is an observational tool, we have ours uploaded to sharepoint so that anyone can access it, and complete it on an iPad shortly after a behaviour occurred. Alternatively you can print it out and have it close at hand within the classroom. The antecedent is what happened just before the behaviour occurred. You may want to include factors such as the noise level in the classroom, how busy it was, temperature, proximity to others The behaviour is what occurred e.g. ‘child x’ knocked the books deliberately off the shelf. . The consequence is what happened immediately after the behaviour. This is both for the child that exhibited the behaviour and to those who were affect by it. It can also include the effect on the environment.

This inset day challenge was designed as a first step towards creating a directory of support for stakeholders within our school community. It aims to support staff, parents, children and those with SEND. Works best if you set time limits for each part of the challenge and give someone responsibility as timekeeper and someone to be note keeper. We did this by putting hula hoops on the floor and putting the post it notes from the first part of the challenge within them - One hoop for each group of stakeholders.

We share this on our sharepoint so that all members of the staff team can collaborate and contribute to planning.

Reluctant toilet user? This may help Description: “Toilet Time Tales,” a creative and engaging resource designed to make toilet training an exciting journey for both parents and children. This innovative story prompt combines imagination, visual aids, and the essential process of using the toilet to create a positive and interactive experience for your child. Key Features: Interactive Visual Prompts: “Toilet Time Tales” is packed with colourful and captivating images that spark your child’s imagination. Each image represents a unique element of a story, waiting to be woven together with your child’s creative input. From friendly wizards embarking on adventures to magical worlds waiting to be explored, these images transform the toilet space into a canvas for storytelling. Parent-Child Bonding: Toilet training can sometimes be a challenging phase for both parents and children. “Toilet Time Tales” brings you together with your child in a shared storytelling experience, fostering a sense of connection and cooperation. As you create stories together, your child’s anxieties about using the toilet can transform into moments of laughter and enjoyment. Empowerment and Choice: This resource empowers your child by allowing them to take an active role in the storytelling process. By giving them choices on characters, settings, and actions, you help them regain a sense of control over a potentially stressful situation. This newfound sense of agency can translate into increased confidence in using the toilet independently. Customizable Stories: The modular nature of “Toilet Time Tales” ensures that each session can be tailored to your child’s preferences. Whether they’re in the mood for a daring space odyssey or a magical underwater quest, the images can be rearranged to create countless story variations. This flexibility keeps the experience fresh and exciting, encouraging regular toilet use. Positive Reinforcement: As your child engages in storytelling during toilet breaks, they’ll associate these moments with fun and creativity. This positive reinforcement can alleviate any resistance or reluctance towards using the toilet, gradually transforming it from a chore to a fun part of their routine. How to Use: Begin Storytelling: Invite your child to select an image and start telling a story based on it. Encourage them to use their imagination to describe characters, settings, and events. Take Turns: As the story progresses, take turns adding new images and ideas to the narrative. This interactive exchange keeps both you and your child engaged and invested in the story. Celebrate Creativity: Embrace the unexpected twists and turns your child’s imagination brings to the story. Celebrate their creativity and enthusiasm, making each storytelling session a memorable experience. This resource empowers both parents and children to conquer toilet training challenges together through creativity, imagination, and a strong sense of connection.

An experiment I created as part of an Advent challenge but can be fun at any point in the festive season. I made these up as packs to send home to do at home as a family activity. Resources required: Balloon Tissue paper Angel outline Simply trace the outline of the angel onto the tissue paper and cut out. Blow up a balloon and rub vigorously on your hair to generate static electricity. Hold above your angel and watch it fly up to the balloon.

Suggestion slips which are made available to parents on open evening, cup-a-chat, drop in. They can also be filled in by pupils to collect a student voice.

Biologists use microscopes to see things that they can't see clearly with the naked eye. Microscopes are a fairly expensive piece of equipment and generally not very portable. In this practical you will convert smart phone/tablet to create a simple, portable digital microscope using cheap, easily accessible components. Then use it to explore and make observations about the microscopic details of everyday things. Keywords: science, microscopes, DIY, simple, fun activity, biology, STEM, STEM activity, STEM project, Science Club, STEM club.

Mini plenaries are a type of formative assessment and are a great way to review progress of learning during a lesson. It also allows pupils opportunities for self reflection. "Teachers have also begun to be more flexible in introducing effective ‘mini plenaries’ at critical points in a lesson to review progress, clarify misunderstandings and move the work forward (OFSTED Dec. 2003)". Just ask a pupil to select a card and in so doing will feel like they are taking responsibility for their own learning. Just print out 9 copies of page 1 of the PDF and return to the printer for double sided printing and then print out pages 2-10. It is best to print out the cards on thick paper/thin card. I have laminated my set for durability. There are five sets available from my TES shop, the only difference is the back design, the actually mini plenary suggestions are the same. This is the green backed design. Keywords: formative assessment, mini plenaries, plenary, assessment.

The theorist Piaget was the first person to define the term subitising as the ability to instantly recognise the number of objects in a small group without needing to count them. This simple game helps children to learn this key skill. Take the pattern for the number three on a dice, children can recognise that this represents the value of three even if they can’t read the number ‘3’. Children can also see numbers within numbers using dot patters. For example, they can see the numbers two and one within three. When we played this game, children took turns to choose a counter and match it to the number pattern. It proved to be very popular!

This craft activity is a delightful and engaging way to create a personalized Christmas keepsake while celebrating the growth of children. The Christmas Height Ribbon Bauble is versatile and suitable for use both at home and in schools, making it ideal for families and educators alike. Key Features: Personalized Keepsake: Each bauble contains a ribbon measured to the height of a child, serving as a meaningful and unique reminder of their growth. Creative Activity: Children can add their personal touch by decorating the bauble and label, fostering creativity and hands-on engagement. Easy to Implement: With simple materials like a plastic bauble, ribbon, and labels, this craft is easy to set up and execute. Educational Value: It encourages measuring skills, fine motor development, and artistic expression. Settings for Use: At Home: A heartwarming family activity to create memories and cherished ornaments for the Christmas tree. In Schools: A festive classroom project that combines creativity and learning, perfect for art lessons, Christmas celebrations, or end-of-term activities. This craft is a wonderful way to capture the magic of the season while creating a lasting memento to treasure for years to come.

In celebration of Science Week and in conjunction with our current theme of ‘Down on the Farm’ I have created a series of ten experiments which can be done in nursery school as an adult led activity.