Celebrating Harvest and Creativity: October at Peaslake Free School

October has been filled with exciting activities and community spirit. As autumn settles in, our children have immersed themselves in both learning and giving, demonstrating the heart of our school values.

One of the highlights of this month was the harvest service held at St. Mark’s Church. It was a wonderful occasion where families came together to celebrate the season of abundance. We are incredibly grateful for the generous donations made to the local food bank. The children learned about the importance of sharing and helping others, which are vital lessons in empathy and kindness.

In the classroom, we have embraced a new approach to continuous provision, ensuring that every child has the opportunity to engage with their learning in meaningful ways. This innovative method allows students to explore, create, and inquire at their own pace, fostering independence and curiosity. The positive feedback from both children and staff has been encouraging, and we look forward to delving deeper into this approach in the coming months.

In Oak class, the focus this month has been on the fascinating world of plants. This topic has beautifully aligned with the autumn season, as children have explored the changing environment around them. They have also had the chance to express their creativity through autumn-inspired artwork, using natural materials to create lovely displays that celebrate the season. The vibrant colours and textures found in nature have served as perfect inspiration, allowing our young artists to connect their learning with the world outside.

The children in reception have been exploring tastes and textures, trying different fruit at snack time and scooping out pumpkins.

Hats and gloves have come out for our weekly Forest School sessions. There is no better environment for the children to really experience the change in seasons. The children enjoyed making branch circle medals and drilling conkers and playing the traditional game.