As we approach the end of the first term, we would like to highlight the importance of Physical Education (PE) and, in particular, the introduction of swimming for our Nursery and Reception children this term. Physical development is a key area of learning in the EYFS, and swimming offers a unique and highly valuable opportunity for children to develop essential physical skills in a supportive and enjoyable environment.
Swimming plays a vital role in helping young children build strength, coordination, and confidence in the water. It supports gross motor development, balance, and body awareness, while also teaching crucial early water-safety skills. Many of our children have already shown wonderful progress in their confidence and independence during their swimming sessions, and we look forward to seeing this continue as the year progresses.
PE and physical activity more broadly are equally significant for children’s overall development. Beyond the physical benefits, movement has a powerful impact on children’s cognitive, social, and emotional growth. Research highlights that regular physical activity enhances motor skills, supports brain development, and reinforces learning across academic subjects. Improved concentration, stronger memory, and positive classroom behaviour are all associated with children who are active on a regular basis.
In addition to these developmental benefits, PE and swimming help nurture key life skills. Through games, group activities, and shared challenges, children learn teamwork, resilience, communication, and problem-solving. These experiences build confidence, foster social connection, and help children develop a healthy sense of self-esteem. Physical activity also serves as an excellent outlet for managing stress and big emotions, contributing to strong emotional well-being.
We encourage parents to continue supporting physical development at home through simple and enjoyable activities, family walks, time in the playground, biking, dancing, or even short bursts of active play in the garden can make a meaningful difference.
Reception have stepped into Christmas this week, which fits perfectly with the cold weather arriving. We have been reading Stick Man and creating our own winter scenes, complete with our very own stick men. In maths, the children have been practicing their addition skills by working with small numbers. They particularly enjoyed using Numicon and Christmas baubles to support their learning. The children are all very excited about the Christmas season and thoroughly enjoyed decorating the Christmas tree together. They had lots of fun deciding where each decoration should go, and the discussions were fantastic to listen to. It was also wonderful to see all the children in their Christmas jumpers today as they enjoyed Winter Wonderland.
The festive season has begun in Nursery! We started the week by decorating our class Christmas tree, which created a wonderful sense of community. The children have also been busy rehearsing our Snowman Song with actions, and they are very excited for next week’s performance. In the creative area, the children have been using simple shapes like triangles and circles to make their own snowmen and Christmas trees—great practice for their fine motor skills. We’ve also enjoyed reading winter-themed stories, helping the children learn new words and imagine their own chilly adventures.
This week in Pre-Nursery, we celebrated the start of winter by talking about Christmas. The children have been very excited to explore our festive books, Norman the Slug Who Saved Christmas and Llama Llama Holiday Drama, both of which highlight the spirit of giving and link beautifully to our Kindness Week from last week. We have also begun creating holiday crafts using the colours red, green, and white. It has been a joyful and creative week as we embrace the festive season together!
Mr. Jack Rudd
PE Teacher
