WHEN I stepped into the classroom to meet the children in Reception, I could feel excitement and joy race around the room.

I was greeted with a warm welcome and loud cheer from all the children. They were a confident bunch and eager to tell me all about what they had been up to at school.

The children told me they had written to the class fairy, Twinkle, and asked her to bring a real-life dinosaur to the school. Much to their surprise, their wish appeared to have come true.

When the children arrived at school the next day, a box had been delivered. However it had been ripped open and it seemed something had escaped.

Leo, aged 4, said: “T-T is our dinosaur. There was a dinosaur in the classroom and it walked all around the school. He went out of the gate and walked into the world. He is a good dinosaur and does not scare anybody.”

Lottie, aged 5, said: “We came in one morning to find a big mess in the classroom and there was glitter everywhere. We knew the creature had got out as there was paper everywhere.”

Reception teacher, Lisa Williams, told me she set up the dinosaur project to enable the children to come up with scenarios and allow their imaginations to be let loose.

Through letter writing to T-T, art work and drawing, the children have developed skills and learnt through having fun.

Mrs Williams said: “We were being detectives and explored the school grounds. The children had to investigate and find what had come out of the box. They found the dinosaurs footprints in the mud, bits of paper and wrappers. We went on a hunt around the school and the garden to find T-T.

“We did not plant any evidence around the school, we let the children discover bits around the premises and let them come up with ideas.”

Since T-T’s arrival, the children have been learning all about dinosaurs.

Speaking about the children, Mrs Williams said: “The children are delightful. We have a lovely group who are keen to learn. They have been engaged, especially about the topic dinosaurs.

“They have enjoyed writing to T-T and being contacted back. The children do not realise how many skills they have learnt – to them this experience has been about playing."

Would your school like to be featured on our In the Classroom page? Call 01905 742257 or email grace.walton@newsquest.co.uk