Ducklings' First Day 🐥 🏫

Today marked a very special day for our Ducklings class, as they spent their first morning in school! Excitement filled the air as the children arrived, saying goodbye to their parents and loved ones at the gate. Dressed in their smart uniforms—blazers, caps for the boys and berets for the girls—they looked absolutely charming.

Once inside, the children found their pegs and carefully hung up their bookbags, caps and berets. With name labels on to help everyone get to know each other, we settled on the carpet in our new classroom. Mr O'Neon introduced the teachers and explained how we would take the register—giving the children the choice to either raise their hand or say a friendly "Good morning" when their name was called. He also pointed out where the toilet was, just in case anyone needed it.

After that, the real fun began! The children were invited to explore the classroom and its many toys and activities. Some stayed inside with Mrs Purver, getting creative in the ‘Make and Do’ area, making bracelets, drawings and some very sparkly crafts. Others headed straight to the train set with Miss Godden and built an epic track that stretched across the floor. A few preferred to sit on comfy cushions, chatting with new friends or familiar faces from their nursery settings.

Meanwhile, outside, Mr O'Neon and Mrs Giles led some of the Ducklings into the playground. There, the children enjoyed the water and sand play areas, or relaxed in our fantastic summerhouse lounge and kitchen, playing with dolls or unwinding on the sofa. The climbing frame and slide were a huge hit and the balance bikes and trikes proved to be very popular!

During our outdoor adventures, we had an unexpected visitor—a tired little bee! The children were so kind and gentle as we carefully rescued it, offering some fruit and a drink of water to help it regain its strength. It was a lovely moment of teamwork and compassion, as we watched the bee fly off after its little rest.

The children played beautifully together, showing kindness, sharing their toys, and making new friends. Before long, we had worked up quite an appetite! It was time for a snack break, so we headed inside to wash our hands and enjoy a delicious spread of melon slices, cheese, breadsticks, strawberries, and grapes, along with boxes of milk. To help everyone relax, we watched an episode of Peter Rabbit, especially as the rest of the school was outside enjoying their break—a big and busy playground can feel a little overwhelming when you’re so small!

After snack time, it was back to playing and exploring. Some of the Ducklings played hide and seek or tag in the playground, while others returned to their activities or created an epic marble run inside. The time flew by, and before we knew it, it was time to gather on the carpet for a lovely story. Mr O'Neon read Little Owl’s First Day at School, which everyone thoroughly enjoyed.

As the morning drew to a close, the children collected their bookbags, caps, and berets, ready to go home with their parents and loved ones. It was a fantastic first day, full of excitement and new experiences. We’re already looking forward to tomorrow and can’t wait to see all those happy little faces again as we continue our journey together!