Hands-On Learning Helps Young Children Settle Into School Life

 

Pottery wheels, paint-covered aprons, leaves and sticks and carefully shaped clay bowls are not always what people expect to see in a reception classroom,  but at The Firs School, creative, hands-on activities are playing an important role in helping young children settle into school life.

Since starting Reception last September, pupils have been taking part in practical activities such as pottery, forest sessions, music, art and collaborative projects, designed to build confidence, creativity, and fine motor skills. Teachers say these familiar, play-based experiences help children feel comfortable while gradually introducing more structured learning.

 

Many of the children began their early education at Fir Cones, the school’s on-site nursery, where creative exploration and independence form a key part of daily life. Continuing similar activities into Reception has helped maintain a sense of continuity for pupils as they adjust to the routines of school.

 

Staff explain that practical activities like pottery encourage concentration, patience and communication, while also giving children space to express themselves. Working with their hands helps pupils relax, talk naturally with classmates and develop confidence in a new setting.

 

“Creative tasks give children something familiar to hold on to as they move into Reception,” said Kathy Hague, Deputy Head at The Firs School and Fir Cones Manager. “They’re learning without even realising it and they’re enjoying being at school.”

 

As families begin thinking ahead to September, early years specialists increasingly emphasise the importance of gradual transitions and environments where children feel secure. Activities that blend creativity with learning can make the difference between children simply coping with school and genuinely thriving.

 

For pupils at The Firs, the school day includes all the usual national curriculum syllabus but also might include shaping clay, sharing ideas with friends or proudly taking home a finished piece of work which are small moments that help build confidence and a positive relationship with learning from the very start.