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Dundela Infants' School and Nursery Unit, Belfast
Year 1 and Nursery Open Afternoons - Tuesday 2 December 2025 & Wednesday 14 January 2026 2.30pm-4.00pm Everyone Welcome!
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Thinking Skill and Personal Capabilities / Metacognition

Thinking Skills & Personal Capabilities include: 

  • Working with others
  • Being creative
  • Managing information
  • Problem solving 
  • Decision making & self management 

Thinking Skills are mental, cognitive and strategic processes we utilise when solving problems and making decisions. 

Thinking skills include:

  • theorising 
  • predicting 
  • memory recall 
  • thought organisation 

These are what we use when we solve problems, make decisions, organise events or process information. We all have these skills, but not everyone knows how to use them effectively. Developing effective thinking comes with time and at Dundela, we strive to encourage independent thinkers, who take risks within a safe, stimulating learning environment. 


Problem Solving

A process used to assess a problem and identify solutions.”

When you solve a problem you have a desired outcome in mind, but you are also faced with a challenge that could prevent that outcome being achieved. 
e.g. In the playground, a group of friends wish to play a different game. How are the children going to solve this issue?

Maths provides us with great opportunities to problem solve. 

Decision Making

”Decision making is about making choices” 

When making a decision, you will have multiple options to choose from. Decision making will not always include a problem. 
e.g. deciding on which fruit to bring for Fruity Friday break 

Keep an eye out here on how we are developing our Thinking Skills throughout all areas of the curriculum. 

 
11th Nov 2025
In Year 1, our pupils have been busy learning through play and fun activities! ...
 
 
 
 
22nd Oct 2025
We have had a busy term working very hard with Miss McMaster to ensure we are able...
 
 
 
 
8th May 2025
We always have fun learning with Miss McMaster. We love to word build using the...