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Nightingale Cottage

“How do you teach such a wide age range?”
It’s one of the questions parents ask us most – and honestly, it is tricky. But here’s how it works 👇

✨ Small class sizes
Our ratios depend on the group, but are typically around 1 adult to 4 pupils in English and maths. That changes everything.

📚 Targeted teaching
For English and maths, we split into smaller groups so teaching is precise and responsive.

🧠 Thoughtful differentiation
The right resources are key: manipulatives in maths, word banks and scaffolds in English, and plenty of hands-on support.

🎓 Deep subject expertise
We’re not only qualified teachers with years of experience – we’re subject specialists. We know our curricula inside out and our knowledge goes well beyond the school curriculum - up to degree level and beyond.(Truly – Nicola answering children’s science questions is something else...)

That expertise means we can adapt in the moment – revisiting a concept, changing direction, or extending learning where it’s ready to fly.

When you strip away long transitions, constant behaviour management and oversized classes, the depth of learning we cover in just two days is astonishing.

Human-scale education works. And it works brilliantly.

I have a feeling we’re only just getting started...

“How do you teach such a wide age range?”
It’s one of the questions parents ask us most – and honestly, it is tricky. But here’s how it works 👇

✨ Small class sizes
Our ratios depend on the group, but are typically around 1 adult to 4 pupils in English and maths. That changes everything.

📚 Targeted teaching
For English and maths, we split into smaller groups so teaching is precise and responsive.

🧠 Thoughtful differentiation
The right resources are key: manipulatives in maths, word banks and scaffolds in English, and plenty of hands-on support.

🎓 Deep subject expertise
We’re not only qualified teachers with years of experience – we’re subject specialists. We know our curricula inside out and our knowledge goes well beyond the school curriculum - up to degree level and beyond.(Truly – Nicola answering children’s science questions is something else...)

That expertise means we can adapt in the moment – revisiting a concept, changing direction, or extending learning where it’s ready to fly.

When you strip away long transitions, constant behaviour management and oversized classes, the depth of learning we cover in just two days is astonishing.

Human-scale education works. And it works brilliantly.

I have a feeling we’re only just getting started...

Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once we grow up.

Pablo Picasso

Every child is an artist. The problem is how to remain an artist once we grow up.

Pablo Picasso

We offer the following 11+ support:

⭐ Year 4 classes: Sundays, 9.30 am

⭐ 11 + Easter Camp: 7th, 8th, 9th, 10th April

⭐ Mock Assessment: 18th April

⭐ Summer Camp & Mocks: Dates TBC

⭐ Year 5 classes: booking now open for September.

👉Please message for more information!

We offer the following 11+ support:

⭐ Year 4 classes: Sundays, 9.30 am

⭐ 11 + Easter Camp: 7th, 8th, 9th, 10th April

⭐ Mock Assessment: 18th April

⭐ Summer Camp & Mocks: Dates TBC

⭐ Year 5 classes: booking now open for September.

👉Please message for more information!

Just came across these in my photo library 😍

SO ready for summer!

Just came across these in my photo library 😍

SO ready for summer!

One of those lessons where I could step back, listen and read… and just feel incredibly proud of how far they've all come.

Today’s focus was 'show, don’t tell' — showing the lighthouse keeper’s age without ever saying “he was old”. The results were thoughtful, vivid and full of quiet sophistication.

This is what grows from strong academic foundations, high expectations, and plenty of love and support ❤️

One of those lessons where I could step back, listen and read… and just feel incredibly proud of how far they've all come.

Today’s focus was 'show, don’t tell' — showing the lighthouse keeper’s age without ever saying “he was old”. The results were thoughtful, vivid and full of quiet sophistication.

This is what grows from strong academic foundations, high expectations, and plenty of love and support ❤️

This project took me a lot longer than usual to come up with…. Until I realised the answer has been sitting in front of me all along - a humble noughts and crosses board.

Every child who walks into the room, no matter their age, ends up playing with it. There’s something timeless about its simplicity and predictability.

So I decided we’d make our own.

From brainstorming themes, to designing the graphics and transferring them with carbon paper, to drilling the grooves with a Forstner bit - our children did it all!

Unfortunately there’s been a lot of illness over the last couple of weeks, but here’s a few of our finished games ❤️

This project took me a lot longer than usual to come up with…. Until I realised the answer has been sitting in front of me all along - a humble noughts and crosses board.

Every child who walks into the room, no matter their age, ends up playing with it. There’s something timeless about its simplicity and predictability.

So I decided we’d make our own.

From brainstorming themes, to designing the graphics and transferring them with carbon paper, to drilling the grooves with a Forstner bit - our children did it all!

Unfortunately there’s been a lot of illness over the last couple of weeks, but here’s a few of our finished games ❤️

Barney and I had such an enjoyable afternoon working with Anne at @dodhurstceramics on an inspiring new curriculum. Reason 101 why I love what I do!

The lessons we've had from local professionals have always been so invaluable- can't wait for the new collaborations we've got planned for 2026! 🎉

Barney and I had such an enjoyable afternoon working with Anne at @dodhurstceramics on an inspiring new curriculum. Reason 101 why I love what I do!

The lessons we've had from local professionals have always been so invaluable- can't wait for the new collaborations we've got planned for 2026! 🎉

Yesterday's engineering lesson was a masterclass in creativity and teamwork.

Nicola's challenge to build a structure out of newspaper and masking tape (that could house a person and withstand a sprinkling of water from a can!) had everyone motivated and engaged.

The pride and sense of achievement when they succeeded was wonderful to see, and testament to why engineering is such a valuable subject ❤️

Yesterday's engineering lesson was a masterclass in creativity and teamwork.

Nicola's challenge to build a structure out of newspaper and masking tape (that could house a person and withstand a sprinkling of water from a can!) had everyone motivated and engaged.

The pride and sense of achievement when they succeeded was wonderful to see, and testament to why engineering is such a valuable subject ❤️

One step closer to our woodwork / design technology project being complete. So impressed with how neat and even everyone’s drilling skills were today ❤️

Hopefully you can have a good guess at what we’ve been busy making… 🪚🪛🗜️🔨

One step closer to our woodwork / design technology project being complete. So impressed with how neat and even everyone’s drilling skills were today ❤️

Hopefully you can have a good guess at what we’ve been busy making… 🪚🪛🗜️🔨

Today, we played around with different colour combinations on our designs and discussed complimentary colours by introducing the colour wheel.

So proud of these designs and can’t wait to see them transferred onto wood next week 🤩

Today, we played around with different colour combinations on our designs and discussed complimentary colours by introducing the colour wheel.

So proud of these designs and can’t wait to see them transferred onto wood next week 🤩

I think it’s fair to say maths isn’t always the most popular…

But Nicola, our maths specialist, has SO many games up her sleeve that (quite literally!) have the children on the edge of their seats.

Today, we were reinforcing area and perimeter. I couldn’t stop smiling when I saw some of our more reluctant mathematicians fully engaged & having so much fun ❤️

I think it’s fair to say maths isn’t always the most popular…

But Nicola, our maths specialist, has SO many games up her sleeve that (quite literally!) have the children on the edge of their seats.

Today, we were reinforcing area and perimeter. I couldn’t stop smiling when I saw some of our more reluctant mathematicians fully engaged & having so much fun ❤️

Once again feeling very fortunate to have our very own in-house engineering teacher!

Our topic this term centres around strong shapes. Today we used split pins and card to investigate which shapes deform before improving with struts.

Engineering reinforces so many skills, including -

Researching
Evaluating
Teamwork
Problem solving
Resilience

Once again feeling very fortunate to have our very own in-house engineering teacher!

Our topic this term centres around strong shapes. Today we used split pins and card to investigate which shapes deform before improving with struts.

Engineering reinforces so many skills, including -

Researching
Evaluating
Teamwork
Problem solving
Resilience

From learning how to research and take notes, through to drafting, editing and publishing - I couldn’t be more proud of how these fantastic information texts worked out!

Today we thought about how layout and presentation helps the reader to make sense of what they’re reading and locate information quickly, before applying this in our own work ❤️👊

From learning how to research and take notes, through to drafting, editing and publishing - I couldn’t be more proud of how these fantastic information texts worked out!

Today we thought about how layout and presentation helps the reader to make sense of what they’re reading and locate information quickly, before applying this in our own work ❤️👊

Very proud of the beautiful key chains our children made today at Hearts & Hands ❤️🙌

Very proud of the beautiful key chains our children made today at Hearts & Hands ❤️🙌

Introducing our new UKS2 classroom - and perhaps the first in a greenhouse?!

The biggest thank you to the best partner in the world @olivermcccluskey for making all my crazy visions into a reality (although this one was your idea!). I promise we will stop taking the over our house and find our own building soon 👀

Bring on the KS1 classroom 🤪

#progressiveeducation #greenhouse

Introducing our new UKS2 classroom - and perhaps the first in a greenhouse?!

The biggest thank you to the best partner in the world @olivermcccluskey for making all my crazy visions into a reality (although this one was your idea!). I promise we will stop taking the over our house and find our own building soon 👀

Bring on the KS1 classroom 🤪

#progressiveeducation #greenhouse

A single page, endless possibilities.

Celebrating @nationalpoetryday with these beautiful blackout poems.

A single page, endless possibilities.

Celebrating @nationalpoetryday with these beautiful blackout poems.

Hearts & Hands is back by popular demand this October half term! 🍁🍂

Dates confirmed so far:
20th &21st October with the potential for Halloween special on the 31st!

Please see nightingale-cottage.com/holiday-clubs for further information or email nightingaleckent@gmail.com to book! ❤️🙌

Hearts & Hands is back by popular demand this October half term! 🍁🍂

Dates confirmed so far:
20th &21st October with the potential for Halloween special on the 31st!

Please see nightingale-cottage.com/holiday-clubs for further information or email nightingaleckent@gmail.com to book! ❤️🙌

Sunshine, smiles and the start of some pretty special friendships 🌞📚🌱

Sunshine, smiles and the start of some pretty special friendships 🌞📚🌱

I can’t quite express the feeling seeing my vision for Hearts & Hands become a reality... 🥲 Thank you @stokes.emma for joining me in this magical adventure.

We couldn’t have wished for a group of more creative, collaborative and curious children.

Here’s to October half term 2025… ❤️🙌

I can’t quite express the feeling seeing my vision for Hearts & Hands become a reality... 🥲 Thank you @stokes.emma for joining me in this magical adventure.

We couldn’t have wished for a group of more creative, collaborative and curious children.

Here’s to October half term 2025… ❤️🙌

Serving up Autumn 🍂🥦

#kentkidsactivities #sevenoaks #sevenoaksmums

Serving up Autumn 🍂🥦

#kentkidsactivities #sevenoaks #sevenoaksmums

I know a bank where the wild thyme blows,
Where oxlips and the nodding violet grows,
Quite overcanopied with luscious woodbine,
With sweet muskroses, and with eglantine.

Where better to explore A Midsummer Night’s Dream with our specialist drama teacher than our magical woods 🎭

I know a bank where the wild thyme blows,
Where oxlips and the nodding violet grows,
Quite overcanopied with luscious woodbine,
With sweet muskroses, and with eglantine.

Where better to explore A Midsummer Night’s Dream with our specialist drama teacher than our magical woods 🎭

Wander & Wonder

Wander & Wonder

Never knew how good campfire bread could taste!

Could have been something to do with the homemade plum jam … 🤤

#kentkidsactivities #sevenoaks #sevenoaksmums

Never knew how good campfire bread could taste!

Could have been something to do with the homemade plum jam … 🤤

#kentkidsactivities #sevenoaks #sevenoaksmums

Strong bodies, calm minds, happy hearts ♥️

We’re busy preparing for next week and looking forward to our mindful yoga mornings 🙂‍↕️ 🧘🏽‍♀️

#kentkidsactivities #sevenoaks #sevenoaksmums

Strong bodies, calm minds, happy hearts ♥️

We’re busy preparing for next week and looking forward to our mindful yoga mornings 🙂‍↕️ 🧘🏽‍♀️

#kentkidsactivities #sevenoaks #sevenoaksmums

Feeling very humbled by the feedback we’ve had for our new summer club, Hearts & Hands ❤️🙌

So far we’ve met 15 new faces and have been blown away by the children’s creativity, showcased in this beautiful woodland-themed chess set.

We can’t wait to welcome more children next week!

Feeling very humbled by the feedback we’ve had for our new summer club, Hearts & Hands ❤️🙌

So far we’ve met 15 new faces and have been blown away by the children’s creativity, showcased in this beautiful woodland-themed chess set.

We can’t wait to welcome more children next week!

🎉 Exciting news! 🎉

Nightingale Cottage will be open two days a week (Mondays & Tuesdays) from September.

We start our day exploring key objectives in maths & English.

Our afternoons are 'topic' lessons. Here's what's in store for Autumn term!

🎉 Exciting news! 🎉

Nightingale Cottage will be open two days a week (Mondays & Tuesdays) from September.

We start our day exploring key objectives in maths & English.

Our afternoons are 'topic' lessons. Here's what's in store for Autumn term!

Hearts & Hands: A New Holiday Club

A magical sanctuary for children - centred around mindful moments, the creative arts and adventures in nature.

Our daily rhythm is slow and child-led, designed to spark the imagination while building emotional awareness and positive wellbeing.

Our offer includes:

📖 Storytelling, reading & reflective writing by the fire
🎨 Nature-inspired art and craft sessions
🧘 Gentle yoga & breathing techniques to nurture body and mind
🐞Wanders through the woods, forest bathing, gardening and outdoor play
🥁Journaling, drama, outdoor cooking and music

Visit https://www.nightingale-cottage.com/holiday-clubs for further information.

Hearts & Hands: A New Holiday Club

A magical sanctuary for children - centred around mindful moments, the creative arts and adventures in nature.

Our daily rhythm is slow and child-led, designed to spark the imagination while building emotional awareness and positive wellbeing.

Our offer includes:

📖 Storytelling, reading & reflective writing by the fire
🎨 Nature-inspired art and craft sessions
🧘 Gentle yoga & breathing techniques to nurture body and mind
🐞Wanders through the woods, forest bathing, gardening and outdoor play
🥁Journaling, drama, outdoor cooking and music

Visit https://www.nightingale-cottage.com/holiday-clubs for further information.

Such a fun engineering lesson - starting to design and test our own marble runs 🤩🤩

The brief: Design a run that slows down the marble as much as possible…

We started by researching and testing marble runs on the market, learning from their design before trailing our ideas.

At the end of today’s lesson, both team’s design failed as the marble either got stuck or fell off so it’s all to play for next week! 💥💥💪💪

Such a fun engineering lesson - starting to design and test our own marble runs 🤩🤩

The brief: Design a run that slows down the marble as much as possible…

We started by researching and testing marble runs on the market, learning from their design before trailing our ideas.

At the end of today’s lesson, both team’s design failed as the marble either got stuck or fell off so it’s all to play for next week! 💥💥💪💪

A slightly different Monday today.

28 miles from Land’s End, amidst the Atlantic Ocean, lies the Isles of Scilly and Five Islands Academy, Tresco – a school that inspires our provision at Nightingale Cottage.

Children arrive by boat or bike (often without shoes on!). It has just over 20 children, with pupils joining from neighbouring island, Bryher. St. Agnes takes the prize for smallest school – with just 6 children!

I was lucky enough to meet with the lead teacher on Tresco a few years back. It was obvious that they offer a truly unique curriculum – one shaped by their extraordinary environment and which contributes to the community and island life. For example, ‘Game of Drones’ set the school at the forefront of bee-based science – a project where children worked with community scientists to investigate whether male bees could cross the water, to solve the problem of inbreeding within individual islands.

Last night, I spoke with the Chair of Governors, who chatted proudly about their first ‘outstanding’ grade for personal development, and a school that nurtures curious, collaborative, creative, global learners, prepared for life on the islands or beyond.

We still have a way to go - but if we can bring a little of this Scilly magic back to Nightingale Cottage, then we’ll be on the way to crafting a curriculum just as rooted in place and purpose as the schools here ❤️

A slightly different Monday today.

28 miles from Land’s End, amidst the Atlantic Ocean, lies the Isles of Scilly and Five Islands Academy, Tresco – a school that inspires our provision at Nightingale Cottage.

Children arrive by boat or bike (often without shoes on!). It has just over 20 children, with pupils joining from neighbouring island, Bryher. St. Agnes takes the prize for smallest school – with just 6 children!

I was lucky enough to meet with the lead teacher on Tresco a few years back. It was obvious that they offer a truly unique curriculum – one shaped by their extraordinary environment and which contributes to the community and island life. For example, ‘Game of Drones’ set the school at the forefront of bee-based science – a project where children worked with community scientists to investigate whether male bees could cross the water, to solve the problem of inbreeding within individual islands.

Last night, I spoke with the Chair of Governors, who chatted proudly about their first ‘outstanding’ grade for personal development, and a school that nurtures curious, collaborative, creative, global learners, prepared for life on the islands or beyond.

We still have a way to go - but if we can bring a little of this Scilly magic back to Nightingale Cottage, then we’ll be on the way to crafting a curriculum just as rooted in place and purpose as the schools here ❤️

Nicola is our wonderful science teacher at Nightingale Cottage. She has a masters in Materials Science from Oxford University and works part time as Head of Science in local private school!

We’ve been using force meters to find out which of our shoes had the greatest grip, and therefore the most force to move it, and investigating which of our magnets were the strongest 🧑‍🔬

Nicola is our wonderful science teacher at Nightingale Cottage. She has a masters in Materials Science from Oxford University and works part time as Head of Science in local private school!

We’ve been using force meters to find out which of our shoes had the greatest grip, and therefore the most force to move it, and investigating which of our magnets were the strongest 🧑‍🔬

Moments captured in an afternoon lesson in circus skills, and a more traditional lesson in maths!

Both equally valuable, both equally creative, both equally fun 🤩

Moments captured in an afternoon lesson in circus skills, and a more traditional lesson in maths!

Both equally valuable, both equally creative, both equally fun 🤩

Dipping our toes into the wonderful world of animation 🎥

Dipping our toes into the wonderful world of animation 🎥

Using our beautiful woodlands as a classroom for LKS2 English 🌳❤️

Using our beautiful woodlands as a classroom for LKS2 English 🌳❤️

Archimedes demonstrated how levers could move really heavy things, and even said that with a long enough lever and strong enough fulcrum, you could move the world!

Our first lesson in engineering put this to the test, making and testing different types of catapults by adjusting the length of the lever, as well as the size and position of the fulcrum.

#womenengineers

Archimedes demonstrated how levers could move really heavy things, and even said that with a long enough lever and strong enough fulcrum, you could move the world!

Our first lesson in engineering put this to the test, making and testing different types of catapults by adjusting the length of the lever, as well as the size and position of the fulcrum.

#womenengineers

One thing parents usually ask is what a typical day looks like at Nightingale Cottage.

I always feel like words can’t do it justice so here is a fleeting glimpse into our day:

1. We start with a settling in activity. This may be consolidation of a concept taught from a previous week, completion of any corrections or a task related to a theme. With Space Day coming up, we challenged the children to design their own planet. This led into an interesting discussion around what constitutes a planet - expertly answered by Nicola, our science whizz! Apparently, there’s a yearly meeting where experts get together to debate this 🪐

2 & 3. English and maths! We usually split the group into two to allow for taregeted teaching. With our current numbers, this means 2 teachers per 3 children! However, we still plan for regular investigative projects where we bring all the children together. Our projects are ‘real-world’ e.g. making and selling a product, bringing in key skills such as pricing and writing advertising copy.

4&5. We escaped into the woods for our reading & writing lesson, enjoying our lunch out there too. We are so lucky to be surrounded by such beautiful woodlands and make use of these as much as possible - for example, we worked with an audio artist to record a soundscape of the forest.

6. Our final lessons of the day are completely off curriculum and usually based on something the children have asked to explore, or a celebration (e.g Space Day). These are often led by a specialist teacher who shares their craft, thus offering our children a rich, broad and very interesting (!) curriculum ! Yesterday’s was a belated celebration of World Wildlife Day, learning how to cultivate edible mushrooms on recently felled logs (as you do !). A few of our girls expressed an interest in mushrooms after discovering a purple one in the woods 🤪

Next year, we aim to open up 2 days a week, adding science and engineering to our offer. We have also just been signed up by the Plaxtol Players (our local amateur dramatics society) to delve into the world of set, prop and costume design - giving our children the opportunity to get their work out into the world!

One thing parents usually ask is what a typical day looks like at Nightingale Cottage.

I always feel like words can’t do it justice so here is a fleeting glimpse into our day:

1. We start with a settling in activity. This may be consolidation of a concept taught from a previous week, completion of any corrections or a task related to a theme. With Space Day coming up, we challenged the children to design their own planet. This led into an interesting discussion around what constitutes a planet - expertly answered by Nicola, our science whizz! Apparently, there’s a yearly meeting where experts get together to debate this 🪐

2 & 3. English and maths! We usually split the group into two to allow for taregeted teaching. With our current numbers, this means 2 teachers per 3 children! However, we still plan for regular investigative projects where we bring all the children together. Our projects are ‘real-world’ e.g. making and selling a product, bringing in key skills such as pricing and writing advertising copy.

4&5. We escaped into the woods for our reading & writing lesson, enjoying our lunch out there too. We are so lucky to be surrounded by such beautiful woodlands and make use of these as much as possible - for example, we worked with an audio artist to record a soundscape of the forest.

6. Our final lessons of the day are completely off curriculum and usually based on something the children have asked to explore, or a celebration (e.g Space Day). These are often led by a specialist teacher who shares their craft, thus offering our children a rich, broad and very interesting (!) curriculum ! Yesterday’s was a belated celebration of World Wildlife Day, learning how to cultivate edible mushrooms on recently felled logs (as you do !). A few of our girls expressed an interest in mushrooms after discovering a purple one in the woods 🤪

Next year, we aim to open up 2 days a week, adding science and engineering to our offer. We have also just been signed up by the Plaxtol Players (our local amateur dramatics society) to delve into the world of set, prop and costume design - giving our children the opportunity to get their work out into the world!

We were very lucky to have the wonderful Ben, a local artist, come in and teach us how to use resin and UV to create door hangers.

Also very pleased that one of our children decided to use the sea glass I’d brought allll the way back from Watergate Bay! 🌊🐚

#holisticeducation #hybridlearning #homeeducation #reallifelearning #kent #sevenoaks #sevenoaksmums #tonbridge #tonbridgemums #progressiveeducation #morethanschool #outdoorlearning #alternativeeducation #pioneeringeducation

We were very lucky to have the wonderful Ben, a local artist, come in and teach us how to use resin and UV to create door hangers.

Also very pleased that one of our children decided to use the sea glass I’d brought allll the way back from Watergate Bay! 🌊🐚

#holisticeducation #hybridlearning #homeeducation #reallifelearning #kent #sevenoaks #sevenoaksmums #tonbridge #tonbridgemums #progressiveeducation #morethanschool #outdoorlearning #alternativeeducation #pioneeringeducation

A lesson in physics, learning about fire, resulted in us making our own Nightingale Cottage firelighters out of soya wax and fine wood chippings🔥🔥

#holisticeducation #hybridlearning #homeeducation #reallifelearning #kent #sevenoaks #sevenoaksmums #tonbridge #tonbridgemums #progressiveeducation #morethanschool #outdoorlearning #alternativeeducation #pioneeringeducation

A lesson in physics, learning about fire, resulted in us making our own Nightingale Cottage firelighters out of soya wax and fine wood chippings🔥🔥

#holisticeducation #hybridlearning #homeeducation #reallifelearning #kent #sevenoaks #sevenoaksmums #tonbridge #tonbridgemums #progressiveeducation #morethanschool #outdoorlearning #alternativeeducation #pioneeringeducation

I am feeling very fortunate to have found Nicola, who will be taking over the maths this summer 🎉

Nicola is Head of Science at a local independent school and uses her engineering masters from Oxford to teach the subject to pupils in KS2.🧪

We are busy working on a plan to offer science and engineering from September 2025 - exciting updates coming soon! 🤩

I am feeling very fortunate to have found Nicola, who will be taking over the maths this summer 🎉

Nicola is Head of Science at a local independent school and uses her engineering masters from Oxford to teach the subject to pupils in KS2.🧪

We are busy working on a plan to offer science and engineering from September 2025 - exciting updates coming soon! 🤩

The power of teamwork.

Happy @globalrecyclingday !

@rubbishsnooker #progressiveeducation

The power of teamwork.

Happy @globalrecyclingday !

@rubbishsnooker #progressiveeducation

A slightly belated celebration of @worldwildlifeday making our own bee hotels 🐝

#progressiveeducation

A slightly belated celebration of @worldwildlifeday making our own bee hotels 🐝

#progressiveeducation

We got our cosy library up and running again this week 📚

Having a second classroom means we can split the group when needed, helping us target different levels in subjects such as maths.

We got our cosy library up and running again this week 📚

Having a second classroom means we can split the group when needed, helping us target different levels in subjects such as maths.

🌞☀️An empty classroom because the sun finally came out ☀️🌞

One of the benefits of small classes is we can respond to the children’s right to fresh air and breaks without loss of learning time. Brains are reenergised and focus regained 💪

I had to include this FABULOUS model of our 🦷😀

🌞☀️An empty classroom because the sun finally came out ☀️🌞

One of the benefits of small classes is we can respond to the children’s right to fresh air and breaks without loss of learning time. Brains are reenergised and focus regained 💪

I had to include this FABULOUS model of our 🦷😀

This morning we had an appointment with Dr. Hannah, an NHS GP with an English degree from her pre-medicine days.

Dr. Hannah shared poems from her book, ‘Blood, Bones & Bladders’ (https://bloodbonesandbladders.co.uk), teaching us about the little characters in our blood, why our brain is so bossy, and what our spleen has in common with a vampire!

We then examined our heart rates before and after exercise, using a pulse oximeter and stethoscope.

This morning we had an appointment with Dr. Hannah, an NHS GP with an English degree from her pre-medicine days.

Dr. Hannah shared poems from her book, ‘Blood, Bones & Bladders’ (https://bloodbonesandbladders.co.uk), teaching us about the little characters in our blood, why our brain is so bossy, and what our spleen has in common with a vampire!

We then examined our heart rates before and after exercise, using a pulse oximeter and stethoscope.

A casual mention by @forbesmilburn about her time at St John Ambulance and pub quizz-worthy knowledge of all the bones of the body was the inspiration for this lesson. Next week, we have a doctor coming in to teach us about the blood and human organs through poetry, and thus a lovely topic on the human body is born!

Thanks to @mcdonaldsuk for your (granted, unknowing) donation of coffee stirrers and sauce pots.

A casual mention by @forbesmilburn about her time at St John Ambulance and pub quizz-worthy knowledge of all the bones of the body was the inspiration for this lesson. Next week, we have a doctor coming in to teach us about the blood and human organs through poetry, and thus a lovely topic on the human body is born!

Thanks to @mcdonaldsuk for your (granted, unknowing) donation of coffee stirrers and sauce pots.

Today, we welcomed Keval to our little community to help elevate our maths game! 💪 💪🤓🤓

Keval is a specialist maths & science teacher with over a decade of experience in teaching from early years all the way through to the end of Year 13, working in schools such as Harrow & Orley Farm School.

After graduating from UCL in Chemical Engineering in 2017, Keval worked in global medical education before running his own online tuition school during lockdown.

Keval is also a football coach & fully qualified swimming teacher where he works in a special needs school in London.

Today, we welcomed Keval to our little community to help elevate our maths game! 💪 💪🤓🤓

Keval is a specialist maths & science teacher with over a decade of experience in teaching from early years all the way through to the end of Year 13, working in schools such as Harrow & Orley Farm School.

After graduating from UCL in Chemical Engineering in 2017, Keval worked in global medical education before running his own online tuition school during lockdown.

Keval is also a football coach & fully qualified swimming teacher where he works in a special needs school in London.

It’s @internationalmountainday this week, so we learned about the features of mountains, with a Christmassy twist ! 😂

It’s @internationalmountainday this week, so we learned about the features of mountains, with a Christmassy twist ! 😂

Shining a spotlight on maths at Nightingale Cottage!

1+ 2. It was National Tree Week, so I challenged the children with the following problem: how would you measure the height of a tree using only a tape measure? (No ladders etc!)

One way of doing this is to bend over and look at the tree between your legs. When you can see the top of the tree, you’re in the right spot! Measure back to the trunk and you’ve found the height. Real-life trigonometry - a creative introduction for our older pupils! We then used the drone to see who was most accurate. Next week, we will calculate the amount of carbon dioxide our trees can store, based on their type, width and height.

3. Some of you may recognise the game synonymous with univeristy that gave me the idea for this fun way of reinforcing our times tables! 🤪 🍻

4. Addition pyramids! Adding a time limit meant both speed and accuracy were vital. A well-aimed rubber was ready to knock down an unsuspecting pyramid at any moment… Children used rounding as a method to quickly recalculate answers and rebuild their pyramids ➕

4 + 5.💰 Not much greater motivation than money, money, money! Our Christmas decoration enterprise project has inspired an endless amount of maths problems. Pricing decorations and coming up with sensible offers, quick mental maths totting up sales for customers, calculating revenue and profit, discussing the fact that the use of our card reader means SumUp will charge 5% on all sales, & agreeing on percentage to donate to charity. The list is endless!

We’re on the hunt for a maths teacher who can teach years 3-8 - please spread the word ! 👀

Shining a spotlight on maths at Nightingale Cottage!

1+ 2. It was National Tree Week, so I challenged the children with the following problem: how would you measure the height of a tree using only a tape measure? (No ladders etc!)

One way of doing this is to bend over and look at the tree between your legs. When you can see the top of the tree, you’re in the right spot! Measure back to the trunk and you’ve found the height. Real-life trigonometry - a creative introduction for our older pupils! We then used the drone to see who was most accurate. Next week, we will calculate the amount of carbon dioxide our trees can store, based on their type, width and height.

3. Some of you may recognise the game synonymous with univeristy that gave me the idea for this fun way of reinforcing our times tables! 🤪 🍻

4. Addition pyramids! Adding a time limit meant both speed and accuracy were vital. A well-aimed rubber was ready to knock down an unsuspecting pyramid at any moment… Children used rounding as a method to quickly recalculate answers and rebuild their pyramids ➕

4 + 5.💰 Not much greater motivation than money, money, money! Our Christmas decoration enterprise project has inspired an endless amount of maths problems. Pricing decorations and coming up with sensible offers, quick mental maths totting up sales for customers, calculating revenue and profit, discussing the fact that the use of our card reader means SumUp will charge 5% on all sales, & agreeing on percentage to donate to charity. The list is endless!

We’re on the hunt for a maths teacher who can teach years 3-8 - please spread the word ! 👀

🎅🎄Handmade, festive decorations for your home, made with love 🎄🎅

1 pack of 3 : £5
2 packs of 3 : £8
3 packs of 3 : £10

Perfect gifts for loved ones ❤️

Please message to place your order - limited stock!

Celebrate your decorations in their new home by tagging us @nightingale_cottage_shipbourne 🤩

*The children have worked very hard to make these decorations, price, photograph and write the above advert as part of their enterprise project 😊*

🎅🎄Handmade, festive decorations for your home, made with love 🎄🎅

1 pack of 3 : £5
2 packs of 3 : £8
3 packs of 3 : £10

Perfect gifts for loved ones ❤️

Please message to place your order - limited stock!

Celebrate your decorations in their new home by tagging us @nightingale_cottage_shipbourne 🤩

*The children have worked very hard to make these decorations, price, photograph and write the above advert as part of their enterprise project 😊*

🎶Our very own soundscape - created by recording sounds from our wander through the woods, experimenting with percussion instruments and writing poetry. I’d recommend a listen if you’re looking for a way to unwind, it’s very relaxing!🎶

A huge thanks to audio artist, Jack, whose expertise made this possible. We have sent a press kit to a few radio stations, so hopefully our work will be heard by a few more 👂 !

🎶Our very own soundscape - created by recording sounds from our wander through the woods, experimenting with percussion instruments and writing poetry. I’d recommend a listen if you’re looking for a way to unwind, it’s very relaxing!🎶

A huge thanks to audio artist, Jack, whose expertise made this possible. We have sent a press kit to a few radio stations, so hopefully our work will be heard by a few more 👂 !

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@nightingale_cottage_shipbourne

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