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Two schoolchildren, one in a white shirt and one in a striped dress and white hat, stand closely together outdoors, reading a yellow paper. Other children in uniforms are gathered in the background.

Getting Back to Nature

It has been a wonderful wildlife themed week here in the Prep School. The sun is finally shining, and our pupils have been bustling with excitement, not least thanks to our younger year groups venturing out on trips to Colchester Zoo and Barleylands Farm. Seeing their wide-eyed wonder as they engage with the world around them always reinforces the importance of fostering in our children a deep and abiding appreciation for nature and the magnificent creatures we share our planet with. Over the last few weeks, as we celebrated the 100th birthday of Sir David Attenborough, a man who has done more than perhaps anyone to open our eyes to the natural world, it feels especially pertinent to reflect on how vital it is for the next generation to cherish and protect the animal kingdom.

I had the honour of accompanying our Year 1 children to Colchester Zoo on Monday. They were already excited, but then they saw the double decker coach that was taking us there! A very strong start. The trip was not just for the fun of going to the zoo, the Year 1 inquiry this half-term has been ‘People interact with, use and value local environments in different ways.’ and the trip included a taught session by zoo staff on farming practices around the world. Each child had their own favourite moments from the day, some loved seeing the otters being fed or the meerkats playing, but all learned about the importance of conservation and how we need to be thoughtful in the way we grow and harvest food.

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A group of schoolchildren wearing bright yellow vests and maroon rucksacks stand on a wooden bridge with a female adult, looking at a river surrounded by green trees.
A group of smiling young children in maroon uniforms and yellow safety vests pose playfully in front of a giraffe enclosure at a zoo. Lush greenery and animal signs are visible in the background.
A group of young children wearing matching maroon outfits and reflective yellow vests stand together indoors in front of a large window with an outdoor play area and trees visible behind them.
Six young children in yellow safety vests and school uniforms sit around a large world map on the floor, engaging with cards and objects placed on different continents. They are smiling and looking at the camera.
A group of schoolchildren in maroon uniforms and yellow reflective vests stand smiling on a wooden platform at a zoo, with giraffes and other animals visible in the background.
Five children in yellow safety vests and red rucksacks stand in front of a large aquarium, watching blue and yellow fish swim around a central coral structure. The children’s vests say “Brentwood Preparatory School.”.
A group of young students wearing maroon uniforms and yellow safety vests listen to a guide speaking on a wooden walkway surrounded by trees during an outdoor educational trip.
A group of young children in yellow safety vests and red uniforms sit in a row in front of a large metallic giraffe sculpture, with greenery and a cloudy blue sky in the background.

On Tuesday, our Reception children headed to Barleylands to get hands-on experience to support their inquiry unit theme ‘The journey of many products involves a process of change before we can enjoy them’. They learned about the origins of ingredients and made their own pizzas. Of course the day also had to include a tractor ride and getting to feed some of the animals. Experiential learning ensures children remember and apply the knowledge they are taught.

Two young children wearing high-visibility vests and maroon trousers are sitting next to each other on a bus, smiling. They both have seatbelts on and look ready for a journey.
Three young children in high-visibility vests stand in front of a wire fence at a farm, smiling. Behind the fence, signs are posted and an animal, possibly a cow or bison, grazes in the field.
A woman and three children in yellow Brentwood Preparatory School vests feed a sheep inside an enclosure at a farm or petting zoo. The children wear dark hooded jackets.
A young girl in a yellow safety vest smiles in front of an enclosure with a black sheep, while other children in vests stand nearby, inside a barn with straw on the ground.
Two young children wearing red polka dot aprons smile at the camera whilst making pizzas. They stand at a table with bowls of ingredients and small pizzas. Another child and an adult are in the background.
A smiling child in a red pinafore and school uniform prepares food at a table, placing toppings on dough with colourful bowls of ingredients in front of her.
A young boy in a neon yellow safety vest smiles at the camera whilst standing next to a grassy field, accompanied by another child also wearing a vest. A wooden fence and small building are visible in the background.
Four young children wearing high-visibility vests stand outside on a grassy area. Three face the camera and one looks away. Kangaroos can be seen in the background near a fence and trees.
Four young children in matching school uniforms and reflective yellow vests stand outside on a wet day. Two are smiling, one is flexing his arms playfully, and another looks serious. More children and adults walk ahead in the background.
A group of young children wearing yellow high-visibility vests and raincoats stand near a blue lorry trailer. Some smile and give thumbs up while others queue to board the trailer on a cloudy day.
Three young children wearing reflective yellow safety vests and rain jackets stand by a wooden fence at a farm. Two of them smile whilst one has a neutral expression. Ponies and farm structures are visible in the background.
A woman in a blue jacket and waistcoat feeds a brown cow through a metal fence while a group of children in raincoats and high-visibility vests watch on a cloudy day at a farm.
Three young children wearing red polka dot aprons hold a tray with three uncooked homemade pizzas, smiling in a classroom or kitchen setting with other children and colourful bowls in the background.

This week was also Heseltine’s House week, and Mr Blom and Ms Treadway prepared the Heseltine children superbly for their assembly which deliberately reinforced the messages from Sir David Attenborough’s quote “cherish the natural world, because you’re a part of it and you depend on it.’ The children taught us about foxes, parakeets, deers and toads and today the House Captains supported all the children in taking part in an environmentally themed scavenger hunt.

A group of children wearing sports kits gather around a table outdoors, some using laptops and others talking or eating snacks, with a brick wall and boxes visible in the background.
Two children lean over a blue table, focused on writing or drawing on paper and using tablets. The girl in an orange shirt writes intently, whilst the boy beside her, with blond curly hair, looks on. Other people are nearby.
Children in school uniforms use tablets and fill out papers at a blue table outdoors, supervised by adults. Some are standing whilst one girl leans over to write, and everyone is engaged in their activities.
A young girl in a striped school uniform writes on a sheet of paper at a blue desk, concentrating on her work.
A young girl with plaits writes on paper at an outdoor table with tablets, papers, and school supplies. Other children are around her, holding yellow sheets. It appears to be a school or community event on a sunny day.
A teacher helps a group of young pupils with an outdoor activity at a table, whilst other children play and interact in the background on a sunny day.
A group of young children in school uniforms stand together outside. One child in a yellow cap and shirt appears to be talking to the others, who are wearing striped uniforms. Trees and a building are in the background.
A group of school children in uniforms and hats gather round a blue table outdoors, holding yellow papers and interacting with an adult wearing a green shirt.
A teacher in glasses and a pink patterned blouse talks to a group of schoolgirls in striped uniforms and white hats outdoors. She is holding a notepad and pen whilst the students listen and hold papers.
Two schoolchildren, one in a white shirt and one in a striped dress and white hat, stand closely together outdoors, reading a yellow paper. Other children in uniforms are gathered in the background.
A group of young girls in striped school uniforms gather around a blue table outdoors, working together on an activity with paper and pencils.
A group of young girls in striped uniforms and hats gather outdoors around a table, with a woman in a yellow shirt holding papers and smiling at them. Trees and greenery are visible in the background.

And if that wasn’t enough of a spotlight on the natural world, it was also World Bee Day on Wednesday and our fabulous catering team dressed up in strippy bee outfits and prepared honeycomb and bee themed cup cakes.

Bringing together all these learning, and celebratory moments helps the children to make connections, to take their understanding to a deeper level and we can do it as a shared experience across the School.

Whatever your plans this bank holiday weekend, and I suspect some barbeques might be coming out, enjoy the natural world and all the wonder around us.

Best wishes,
Alice Goodfellow

 

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