By Mrs Schofield (Heads of Years 3 and 4)

Throughout the Junior School, we feel passionately about helping our pupils understand that learning isn’t always meant to feel easy. In fact, some of their most valuable learning happens when something feels tricky at first. This is why we place such importance on the Learning Pit, starting in Year 3. It gives our pupils a simple and reassuring way to understand those moments when they feel stuck, unsure or tempted to give up. 

We encourage them to see that making mistakes, asking questions, trying a different approach and accepting help are not signs that they cannot do something, they are all part of learning. At this age, children are beginning to become much more aware of their own strengths and challenges, so it is particularly important that we help them develop confidence and resilience alongside their academic skills. 

Our hope is that, when children encounter their own Learning Pit, they begin to think, “I can’t do this yet, but I know what I can try next.” We want every child in Years 3 and 4 and beyond to feel safe enough to take risks, brave enough to make mistakes and proud of the perseverance they show along the way. Visual representations help each learner reflect and think about where they are in a moment and use the tools they have been building to persevere and work their way out of the pit to success. 

In Year 3, the girls enjoyed acting out some of the different feelings they might experience to help build a giant display for everyone to use in their learning.