All posts by Miss Baillie

Dyslexia Committee Update

The Dyslexia Committee has had a very productive term so far, with pupils exploring what dyslexia is, how it can affect learning, and how we can make our school environment more inclusive and supportive for everyone.

Understanding Dyslexia

We began by looking closely at what dyslexia actually is. Pupils learned that dyslexia is a difference in the way the brain processes language, particularly reading, spelling and writing. It is not related to intelligence, and many dyslexic learners think in creative, visual and problem‑solving ways.

We also discussed what dyslexia can feel like. Committee members explored real-life examples and shared how challenges with reading or remembering information might impact confidence, organisation or classroom tasks. This helped us build empathy and understanding across the group.

Strengths of Dyslexic Learners

A big focus has been celebrating the strengths that often come with dyslexia, including:

  • Creative thinking
  • Strong problem-solving skills
  • Big-picture thinking
  • Visual learning
  • Resilience and determination

We highlighted how these strengths are valuable in school and in future careers.

Famous Dyslexic Role Models

To help pupils see dyslexia in a positive light, we looked at celebrities and successful individuals with dyslexia. This included actors, athletes, entrepreneurs and authors who have spoken openly about their experiences. Their stories helped show that dyslexia can be a source of strength and innovation.

Dyslexia-Friendly Fonts

The committee explored which fonts are easier for dyslexic learners to read. We looked at:

  • Arial
  • Comic Sans
  • Verdana
  • Century Gothic
  • OpenDyslexic

We discussed why these fonts help — clearer letter shapes, wider spacing and simpler forms.

Supports We Use in School

We reviewed the supports already in place across the school, such as:

  • Coloured overlays
  • Reading rulers
  • Digital text-to-speech tools
  • Chunked instructions
  • Visual timetables
  • Dyslexia-friendly classroom displays
  • Access to laptops or tablets for writing tasks

The committee also began exploring other tools that might be helpful, including apps, browser extensions and additional assistive technologies.

Creative Projects

To raise awareness in a fun and memorable way, pupils have been working on raps and songs about dyslexia. These celebrate strengths, challenge misconceptions and help spread a positive message across the school.

Next Steps

Our next big goal is to present to each class and demonstrate how to use our dyslexia‑friendly reading pens. Committee members will explain what the pens do, who might benefit from them, and how they can support reading independence.

P7/6 Term 4 Update

We are excited to begin Term 4 in P7/6 — a busy, energetic term filled with learning, special events, and important transitions as we move towards the end of the school year.

P.E. and Sports Day Prep

Our regular P.E. days continue to be Tuesdays and Fridays. However, with Sports Day approaching, we may have additional practice sessions throughout the week. To help us make the most of our time outdoors, pupils should bring shoes suitable for being on the field every day.

Literacy: Recount Writing

This term in literacy, we are focusing on recount stories. Pupils will be learning how to retell real or imagined events in a clear, engaging way.

We are working on:

  • Using time connectives (e.g., first, after that, finally)
  • Writing in chronological order
  • Including personal thoughts and feelings to bring events to life
  • Developing strong openings and satisfying conclusions

By the end of the unit, pupils will be able to craft detailed recounts that show both what happened and why it mattered.

Maths: Fractions, Decimals, Percentages & Algebra

We are currently exploring fractions, decimals and percentages, focusing on how these three areas connect. Pupils are practising:

  • Converting between the three forms
  • Comparing and ordering values
  • Solving real-life problems involving discounts, proportions and sharing

Soon, we will be moving on to Algebra, where pupils will learn to:

  • Use symbols and letters to represent unknown numbers
  • Form and solve simple equations
  • Spot patterns and relationships
  • Understand algebra as a tool for problem-solving

Topic: The World Cup

Our topic this term is The World Cup. We will be exploring:

  • The history of the tournament
  • Countries involved and their cultures
  • Geography linked to host nations
  • Statistics, data handling and design tasks inspired by the event

This topic offers a brilliant mix of global learning, creativity and teamwork.

Trips and Special Events

We have lots to look forward to this term:

  • Transition Days Both P6 and P7 pupils will have opportunities to visit Girvan academy.
  • Flip Out A reward trip for our pupils.
  • Crawfordland Estate (P7) P7 pupils will enjoy a special visit as part of their final primary school experiences.
  • P7 Leavers Assembly Our P7s are already preparing for their Leavers Assembly — a chance to celebrate their achievements and look ahead to their next chapter!

Pupil Council Update – Term 4

Our Pupil Council has continued to play an active and positive role within the school community, while also developing their leadership, organisational, and teamwork skills. They have successfully organised whole‑school events such as Children in Need, a Christmas Movie Night and Red Nose Day, all of which helped bring families and the wider community together and were very well attended.

Thanks to the generous support of families and our local community, fundraising efforts have been highly successful. More recently, the Pupil Council has launched a school tuck shop, providing pupils with valuable real‑life experiences such as handling money, managing stock levels, and taking responsibility for ensuring the shop runs smoothly.

As we move into our final term, the Pupil Council plans to introduce a suggestion box, allowing all pupils – outwith the council – to share their ideas and opinions. This initiative will further promote pupil voice and help ensure everyone has the opportunity to contribute to making Dailly Primary an even better place to learn and grow.

P7/6 Term 3

Welcome back to our P7/6 blog! Term 3 has been packed with exciting learning, new experiences, and lots of opportunities to challenge ourselves.

Our Weekly Routine

  • P.E. takes place on a Thursday and Friday.
  • Committees are every Wednesday afternoon.
  • Outdoor Learning happens every second Friday.

Literacy – Adventure Writing

This term, our focus in literacy is adventure writing. We’ve been learning how to:

  • Build exciting settings
  • Create brave, interesting characters
  • Develop tension and action
  • Use powerful vocabulary to make our stories vivid

Our writing focus includes adjectives, similes, metaphors, expanded noun phrases, fronted adverbials, and varied sentence openers to help our adventures feel dramatic and engaging.

Maths and Numeracy

We’ve been busy developing our numeracy skills this term.

Measure

We have learned how to:

  • Estimate and measure length, weight, and capacity
  • Convert between units
  • Use measuring tools accurately

Data Handling

We are now moving on to:

  • Collecting and organising data
  • Creating bar graphs, line graphs, and pie charts
  • Interpreting information and spotting patterns

We continue to use problem‑solving strategies, including bar models, to help us think logically and explain our reasoning.

Science – Plants

Our science topic this term is Plants. We’ve been exploring:

  • What plants need to grow
  • The structure and function of roots, stems, leaves, and flowers
  • Photosynthesis
  • How seeds are dispersed
  • Why plants are essential for life on Earth

Social Studies – Robert Burns

This term, we’ve had a big focus on Robert Burns. We learned about:

  • His life and legacy
  • His poetry and songs
  • Scottish traditions linked to Burns Night

A highlight of the term was our Burns Supper, where we performed poems, sang songs, and celebrated Scottish culture. We are now learning about the impact of tourism on Scotland and Europe as a whole.

Trips and Experiences

We’ve had an incredibly exciting term with two major outings:

Dolphin House Residential

We spent time at Dolphin House taking part in outdoor activities, team challenges, and confidence‑building experiences. It was a brilliant chance to work together and try new things.

Glasgow Science Centre

We also visited the Science Centre, where we explored hands‑on exhibits, learned more about the world around us, and deepened our curiosity about science and technology.

P7’s also have a trip to Dumfries House next week as part of their transition to Girvan Academy!

P7/6 Term 2 Update

Welcome back to our P7/6 blog! We’ve had a busy and exciting Term 2.

Our main literacy focus this term has been persuasive writing. We have been learning how to:

  • Use strong points and evidence

  • Include persuasive language and rhetorical questions

  • Structure our writing clearly

  • Share our opinions confidently and respectfully

We’ve enjoyed choosing topics we care about and learning how to write pieces that inform, convince, and persuade.

In maths, we have been working on time and money. We have been learning to:

  • Read and calculate using both 12-hour and 24-hour clocks

  • Work out time durations

  • Use real-life money skills such as budgeting, estimating costs, and calculating change

We’ve also continued building our problem-solving skills through a range of challenges and practical tasks.

This term, our Health and Wellbeing focus has been online safety and bullying. We have been learning how to keep ourselves safe when using the internet, how to recognise unsafe or unkind behaviour online, and what to do if we or others are affected. We also explored what bullying looks like, how it impacts people, and how we can all play a role in creating a respectful, supportive classroom community.

In P.E., we’ve continued developing our skills as young leaders by working on our Junior Coaching Award with Caitlin from Active Schools. We’ve been practising how to organise activities, explain rules clearly, and support younger pupils.

Our science topic this term has been Light and Fireworks. We’ve explored:

  • How light travels

  • The properties of shadows

  • How colours are made

  • The science behind fireworks and why we see different colours and patterns

It has been a bright and exciting topic with lots of opportunities for investigation.

We have continued our Titanic topic in Social Studies. This term, we deepened our understanding of:

  • The passengers, crew, and different experiences on board

  • The events of the sinking

  • Morse Code and early communication

  • How the disaster led to important safety changes

A highlight was our school trip to the Maritime Museum in Irvine, where we took part in workshops, and learned even more about life at sea. It was a fantastic experience that helped bring our learning to life.

Dyslexia Friendly Committee

Our Dyslexia Friendly Committee is committed to making our school a place where all learners feel supported, understood, and able to thrive.

What is dyslexia?
Dyslexia is a specific learning difference that primarily affects reading, writing, and spelling. It has nothing to do with intelligence—many people with dyslexia are highly creative and think in unique, innovative ways. In fact, well-known figures such as Albert Einstein, Walt Disney and Richard Branson have all spoken about their experiences with dyslexia.

Our aims:

  • To raise awareness and understanding of dyslexia within the school community

  • To promote teaching practices that are inclusive and accessible

  • To provide resources and support for students, staff, and families

  • To celebrate the strengths and talents of those with dyslexia

By working together, we aim to ensure that our school is a truly dyslexia-friendly environment where every student can succeed.

P7/6 Term 1 Blog – What We’ve Been Up To!

Welcome to our P7/6 blog! We’re excited to share what we’ve been learning and enjoying so far this term. Our class teacher this year is Miss Baillie, and we have 20 pupils in our class. We’re also supported throughout the week by Mrs Eaglesham, Mrs Morrison, Mr Woods, Miss Mackay, and Mrs Robertson.

Our Weekly Routine

  • P.E. takes place every Tuesday and Thursday.
  • Committees take place every Wednesday afternoon.
  • Outdoor Learning happens every second Friday.
  • Every Tuesday, Caitlin from Active Schools visits to help us develop our coaching and leadership skills.

Learning About Our Rights

This term, we’ve been exploring the Rights of the Child and the important articles that protect and support young people. As a class, we selected Articles 2, 12, 13, 16, 19, 28, and 29 as the ones that matter most to us.

We’ve agreed that in our classroom, it’s important to:

  • Keep hands, feet, and unkind words to ourselves
  • Be fair and respectful to one another
  • Listen carefully and value everyone’s voice

House Captains

Everyone in our class had the opportunity to run for House Captain. We discussed the importance of being a positive role model, showing responsibility, and encouraging others in a supportive way.

Literacy – Talk for Writing

This term, our Talk for Writing text is the portal story ‘Elf Road’. We’ve been learning how to use descriptive language to really bring our writing to life.

So far, we have:

  • Created detailed story maps
  • Collected powerful and interesting vocabulary
  • Explored how to write strong openings and build suspense

Our focus is developing our use of adjectives, similes, metaphors, and expanded noun phrases to paint clear pictures in the reader’s mind.

Maths and Numeracy

In maths, we’ve been learning all about 2D and 3D shapes. We can now:

  • Identify and describe a range of 2D shapes including triangles, quadrilaterals, and polygons.
  • Recognise 3D shapes like cubes, pyramids, prisms, and spheres.
  • Talk about properties such as sides, angles, edges, vertices, and faces.
  • Explore symmetry and nets of 3D shapes.

We’ve also continued to develop our problem-solving skills using bar models and have been practising addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division strategies.

Science – Blue Planet

Our science topic this term is Blue Planet. We’ve been exploring:

  • The layers of the ocean.
  • How sea creatures adapt to their environments.
  • The impact of pollution and climate change on marine life.

We’ve been shocked by the amount of plastic waste in the ocean and are learning how we can all help protect our planet. It’s been a really eye-opening and inspiring topic.

Social Studies – The Titanic

In Social Studies, we’ve been learning all about the Titanic. We’ve discovered:

  • How it was built and why people believed it was unsinkable.
  • What life was like in first, second, and third class.
  • The events that led to its tragic sinking in April 1912.
  • Morse Code.

We’re about to study how the disaster led to major changes in safety regulations for ships. It has been fascinating to explore the real-life stories of people who were on board.

Classroom Rewards & Jobs

  1. The Star Jar – Every time we impress Miss Baillie as a whole class (with hard work, teamwork, or great behaviour), we earn a star. When the jar is full, we’ll get to choose a fun reward!
  2. Classroom Economy – We each have a class job and get “paid” every Friday if we complete our responsibilities well. We can also earn or lose money depending upon our actions. It is helping us learn about responsibility, budgeting, and teamwork.

P7/6 Term 4

Welcome to the P7/6 blog! We will be discussing what we plan to do this term.

This term, we have P.E. every Tuesday and Wednesday. Sports day is coming up on the 2nd June 2025 so we are currently working towards our sport championships. Please ensure your child has a full change of PE kit on these days, including t-shirt, shorts/trousers and shoes. No jewellery should be worn on PE days please. Outdoor learning is every 2nd Friday. We are going to be focusing on tidying up and improving the school grounds. We are also preparing for P7 Leavers assembly and Prize Giving on the 20th June 2025.

Spelling homework this term is given out on a Monday and is expected back in on a Thursday. Pupils also have access to Sumdog and EducationCity at home to complete maths activities. We are very fortunate to also access the library bus and children are encouraged to read their books at home and swap them on its next visit.

We have a very busy term as P7 begin their transition days up to academy and bump up day for the rest of the pupils staying at Dailly Primary. Last term, the P7’s were involved with the other small village schools to meet each other and complete team building activities every Thursday for 4 weeks. On the 20th May, Primary 6 all get to attend a sports event at Girvan Academy.

This term, we are going to be looking at debating/discussion techniques in literacy. Our first topic is ‘Should School Uniform be compulsory?’ Pupils are currently writing a piece of discussion text debating their argument. As you can imagine, there are some strong feelings!

In maths, we are focusing upon building our confidence with number. We are using a range of strategies to add, subtract, multiply, and divide. We enjoy problem solving and are working towards solving complex multi-step word problems.

We look forward to showcasing our hard work this term with you!

P5-7 Residential Trip to Lockerbie Manor

We have arrived safely at Lockerbie Manor and have settled into our lovely pods. We are very excited for the days ahead!!! 🤩🌟🪵💙

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1A764L1yCy/

We had a brilliant first day travelling to Lockerbie Manor yesterday. 🤩 We stopped at Dumfries and went to the park whilst trying to avoid the rain. ☔️ We then settled into our pods, participated in orienteering across the grounds of Lockerbie Manor. We then had dinner (cottage pie or chicken kiev) and then had a fun night rifle shooting and fencing! All lights were off by 10pm. 😁🌟💙

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1BdcCHoeb9/

Yesterday morning we enjoyed breakfast at 7:30am. 🍳🍞🥓 Then we participated in crate staking, axe throwing, raft building and the climbing wall. 🤩 All pupils embraced the weather and showed excellent teamwork skills. For dinner we had BBQ chicken or meatballs with either potato wedges, rice and corn. We had ice cream for dessert. 🍨 We then spent the evening abseiling in the dark! Then we headed back to our pods for showers, some free time and then lights out at 10pm. (Although some pods were sleeping well before this 🤣)

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Our final morning at Lockerbie Manor! This morning we packed our bags, had breakfast and then participated in Jacob’s ladder, fencing and rifle shooting. We then had our lunch and headed back home to Dailly. 🚌💙 Lots of fantastic memories made over the last few days. Extremely proud of our pupils for demonstrating resilience, teamwork and determination throughout their residential experience. They displayed their wonderful manners and kindness countless times this week.
Some items were left behind on the bus and can be collected from the school office on Monday. 😊
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/14y1jZ6K21/

P/6 Term 3

Welcome to the P7/6 blog! We will be discussing what we have already been up to this term and what we plan to do.

This term, we have P.E. every Tuesday and Friday. We have been focusing on our football skills with Caitlin. Some of us also go to the racquet sports after school club.

We are very excited because some of us are heading to Lockerbie Manor on Wednesday 19th February. We will be staying for two nights and will be participating in activities such as stand up paddle boarding, orienteering and fencing! Last Thursday, we completed our sponsored walk of Cornish Hill and Loch circuit. A huge thank you to our parent helpers who came along today and to everyone who has sponsored us! It is hugely appreciated. Total will be shared once all donations have been collected and counted.

This term, we have had a big focus on poetry, Scotland and Robert Burns. P6 were learning ‘Address to a Haggis;. P7 were learning an extract from ‘Tam O’Shanter’. We had a Burns Supper lunch in January. We have all participated in poetry, art and research project competitions related to Burns. We have also been learning about various cities in Scotland and Scottish inventors.

In maths, we are have been learning ‘time’. We have been converting between 12 and 24 hour time and practising using travel timetables. We have also been studying money – ensuring that we give the correct amount of change, budgeting, calculating profit and loss and even challenging ourselves by looking at exchange rates.

We are getting ready for our school show Robin and Sherwood Hoodies. We have auditioned for our roles, rehearsed our songs and have began learning our lines.

~ Written by P7/6 ~