Our Learning Characters
Children at Alverstoke Infants learn in many different ways: inside; outside; in class groups, small groups, or one to one with an adult. To help our younger children make sense of these concepts, we have developed our learning characters and given each one an animal character. We use these to encourage good learning behaviours in school and how to be a good learner, and children are praised when they display these.
Wise Owl
Self Awareness
Plans what to do
Uses previous knowledge
Learns from each experience
Understands how to learn
Curious Chameleon
Thinking Skills
Enjoys getting involved in learning
Can make changes to their work
Looks closely and notices patterns and links in learning
Kind Koala
Kind to others
Has good manners
Caring of others
Positive Penguin
Growth Mindset
Positive attitude
Believes they can improve
Enjoys a challenge
Team Ant
Collaboration and Relationships
Learns alone or with others
Listens thoughtfully to others
Learns by doing what others do
Works well with others
Tough Tortoise
Independence and Resilience
Perseveres at a task
Doesn’t give up
Doesn’t get distracted
Changes plan if things don’t work
Healthy Hippo
Takes care of self
Great attitude to exercise
Tries to eat healthily
How you can help at home
Talk to your child about the characters, what they represent and how these attributes are important for learning.
Reward your child’s efforts towards tasks rather than just when they get something right.
Help them to work together with you or siblings to achieve an end goal, for example lay the table together.
Teach your child how to take appropriate risks when outdoors e.g. exploring and climbing.
Play games that mean they don’t always end up the winner.
Defer gratification – make sure they can wait and are not given everything they want, straightaway.
Teach your child how to do things for themselves: get ready on time, tidy up their toys, choose their library books.
Listen and talk to your child about their ideas, and explore alternatives.
We hope that this initiative will continue to have a positive impact on learning in school.
We would love to hear your feedback, especially if the children are talking about the characters at home.