A new school for Cornwall has celebrated its very first Christmas with a festive lantern parade and carol singing at the Eden Project.

Sky Primary and Eden Project Nursery, part of the Kernow Learning Trust, welcomed its first children in September of this year.

The establishment is a first for the home of the iconic Biomes, which already welcomes up to 50,000 school children and students onto the site every year to take part in a wealth of environmental education programmes.

Falmouth Packet: The children enjoyed their time with the elvesThe children enjoyed their time with the elves (Image: Supplied)

To mark the festive season, a group of friends and family of Sky Primary joined the nursery and reception year classes for a visit with Father Christmas and his elves before taking part in a lantern parade through the site, with lanterns made by Sky Primary’s own pupils.

The festivities then continued into the Mediterranean Biome, where the children were said to put on a charming Sing & Sparkle performance of Christmas carols before enjoying a hot chocolate and heading home.

Falmouth Packet: Meeting Father Christmas Meeting Father Christmas (Image: Supplied)

Bran Howell, Eden’s Education Specialist, said: “It’s been wonderful to host the first children to attend Sky Primary and Eden Project Nursery, not only for their first full term but to welcome them onto the site for an exclusive Christmas experience.

“We can’t wait to see what the New Year brings for our first cohort, and we look forward to seeing how they develop in their nature-based classrooms on the Eden Project site.”

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Sky Primary’s Headteacher, Emma Vyvyan, said: “This is a real benchmark moment for the school and the children. To have completed their very first term, and celebrate this with a wonderfully unique experience on the Eden Project site, is incredibly special.

Falmouth Packet: Singing Christmas Carols Singing Christmas Carols (Image: Supplied)

“Our growing school, the 21st school in our Trust, is currently comprised of 13 reception year children and nine nursery-age children.

"This is set to grow to up to 30 reception children in September 2023, with space for up to 15 nursery-age children able to join at any point in the year.

“When we move to our permanent home in the West Carclaze Garden Village, we will continue to grow and welcome 210 children across Reception to Year 6 and have facilities for up to 26 nursery-age children.”

Falmouth Packet: This little one enjoyed banging her drum This little one enjoyed banging her drum (Image: Supplied)

Sky Primary’s home on Eden’s Outer Estate is based around nature-inspired learning incorporated with national programmes of study.

The curriculum is based around the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) framework, prioritising learning beyond the classroom and connecting with the natural world to develop curiosity, enquiry and creativity.

Among the activities in their first term, the children learnt to make pumpkin soup, harvest and store the seeds to sow ready for next year’s crop and pay a visit to the Rainforest Biome to learn about the differences between the Cornish autumn and life in the rainforest.

Sky Primary is now accepting applications for September 2023 Reception class. Visit www.sky.kernowlearning.co.uk to find out more.