Starting school is an exciting and important step in children’s development. Research shows that good Early Years provision lays solid foundations for future learning and achievement.
At Dale Hall Community Primary School our aim is to work together with parents to meet the children’s development and learning needs whilst they are in our Reception classes. We are a Montessori and ‘Hygge in the Early Years’ inspired setting, which helps us to ensure our environment and provision is welcoming, safe, caring, stimulating and fun.
Our vastly experienced team ensure that we provide playful opportunities that are open ended and challenge children’s thinking. We facilitate learning by allowing our children to explore their own ideas and choose ways to do things for themselves. We encourage our children to persist, take risks, test their ideas, learn though trial and error and to enjoy the challenge of problem solving.
"Hygge (pronounced hue-guh) is a Danish word used when acknowledging a feeling or moment, ordinary or extraordinary as cosy, charming or special. Hygge is a feeling you cannot translate. It's about a space that promotes emotional well-being, togetherness and friendship" (thecuriosityapproach.com)
Assistant Headteacher (EYFS and KS1). Seahorse Class Teacher
Mrs Morris loves to be outside. You will often find her walking around the coast and countryside with her family. Mrs Morris has two little boys that keep her very busy... When at home, she is usually busy in the kitchen or playing with trains, planes and fire engines!
EYFS Phase Leader and Y1 Class teacher
Mrs Cattermole loves nature and going on adventures. She particularly enjoys cycling and has set herself the challenge of cycling 200 miles this year for charity. She is kept busy at home by her two daughters and often goes on family adventures in the countryside walking and cycling.
Class teacher - Seahorses
Mrs.Hines loves working at Dale Hall and has been a teacher here for 13 years now. She enjoys drawing, painting and making things. She loves spending time with her family where her three sons keep her very busy.
Class teacher - Starfish
Mrs Jenkins absolutely loves music. She sings and plays different instruments in her band. She is also a big football fan and loves Ipswich Town FC!
Nursery Nurse - Starfish
You will often find Mrs Clements in the kitchen baking delicious goodies such as brownies and cakes. She also likes to read lots and to spend time with her family and friends.
Teaching Assistant - Inclusion support
Teaching Assistant - EYFS and Inclusion support
If Miss Barker isn’t at the stables or spending time with her family, you will find her being creative with paints and craft.
Teaching Assistant -EYFS
Miss Patel loves exploring nature, the outdoors and camping, especially when it’s sunny. She also enjoys cooking lots of yummy food!
Cover supervisor
Mrs Eldred enjoys long river and country walks and spending time with her children. She is usually found in the Forest school area or having fun in EYFS.
Playdough is Brilliant!
Playdough is amazing for so many reasons. Not only is it a great way to develop the muscles in children's fingers as they squash, squeeze, roll, flatten, pinch, chop and pull it has so many other benefits too! Here is a really interesting article from the imagination tree, describing all of the benefits of playing with playdough.
https://theimaginationtree.com/benefits-of-playing-with-play-dough/
And here is a tried and tested recipe that must have been used hundreds of times over the last 34 years. So many little hands have enjoyed playing with the playdough from this recipe. Why don’t you give it a try?
Cooked dough (long lasting)
2 cups flour
2 cups water
2 tsp cream of tartar
2 tbs oil
1 cup salt
Food colouring
Cook all of the ingredients in a saucepan over a low heat. Keep mixing until the mixture leaves the sides of the pan. Sprinkle a little flour onto a board and knead well to finish.