By Miss Alarcon (Year 4 Teacher)

This term, our Year 4 Nessy spelling group at BGS has taken a hands-on approach that has quickly become a favourite among the girls. Messy Nessy is a multisensory way to explore spelling, bringing floury fingers, laughter and growing confidence to each session.

Spelling can feel routine when it relies on writing lists or memorising rules. By engaging the visual, auditory, tactile and kinaesthetic senses, the girls experience words in ways that stay with them long after the lesson ends.

In Messy Nessy, learning comes to life. Trays of flour are used to draw letter patterns, turning phonics practice into a sensory activity. Words written in whipped cream add a playful twist, while colourful memory prompts help tricky spellings stick.

There is a real sense of pride when a girl writes a word that once felt difficult and sees it appear clearly in soft swirls of cream.

Messy Nessy reflects the BGS belief that learning should be engaging, creative and supportive of every learner. By using all their senses, the girls build strong foundations in spelling while enjoying the process. Spelling does not always have to be tidy, and sometimes the best learning happens when you allow yourself to get a little messy.