It was a busy day for the children in Year Five today as the year group took part in some training sessions hosted by representatives from the ‘Dementia Friends’ organisation. Throughout the day, each class from the year group worked with the trainers to learn about the condition which affects so many families across the country. They learnt the basic medical reasons behind the onset of the condition and the various ways in which dementia in its different forms can be identified. The training provided the children with strategies to help to interact with people living with the condition which enable them to feel safe and respected. Later in the year the year group will be able to use the knowledge gained when undertaking ‘AOK’ missions, acts of kindness, out in the community when the scheme is relaunched.

As the children in Year One used their outdoor area to develop their hula-hooping skills, the children in Oak took part in a bird nature walk in readiness for work on classification keys before beginning their sewing projects and practising running stitch on Binka. Upstairs, the children in Willow explored creating circuits using LEDs, copper tape and button batteries in preparation for their illuminated light boxes which they are making in DT.

It was a busy day for the children in the Foundation Stage as they were visited by a former Earls Hallian, Ms Taylor-Brown who was formally known as Mrs Bennett when she taught at the school for many years. Now working as Early Years and Childcare Improvement Manager for Southend, Ms Taylor-Brown came to see us in a professional capacity as part of a monitoring visit which all schools receive but it was lovely to see such a familiar face cast a glance over our lovely new starters enjoying their time in class. Once an Earls Hallian, always an Earls Hallian!