Weekly Roundup - 18 October 2024

Our topic this week has been Pets and Animals, always popular with the children! Bumbles have enjoyed a fun game where they fed their pretend pets, taking turns to roll the giant dice, count the spots and then scoop the correct amount of food into the animal's mouths. The children waited patiently for their turn and talked about the pets they have at home. This helped develop their mathematical and social skills in a fun and engaging way. The Honeys room have developed their creative skills by creating works of art using a variety of paints, pens and natural resources. Bumbles have also been busy making some wonderful pictures using leaves to go on our autumn display. Displaying children's artwork supports their self-esteem and provides a sense of accomplishment. It validates their creativity and effort, encouraging them to explore their ideas more freely. This recognition helps develop a positive self-image and builds confidence in expressing themselves. Additionally, when children's artwork is displayed, they feel valued and motivated to improve their skills. Remember, what your children create may not look like 'art' to you but it is their own work and should be celebrated.

The highlight this week has been our visiting veterinary nurses with Colin the cat! Colin has three legs and we heard about the importance of animal care and developing empathy for living creatures. Engaging with professionals in a hands-on way supports learning about health, hygiene, and safety around animals, and it can boost children's communication and listening skills through interactive discussions and questions. A very big thank you to Sarah and Emma (and their assistants!) for coming in and sharing their experiences of working in the profession.

We also celebrated National Nursery Practitioner Day on Thursday and treated the staff to some quality time out with food and gifts. The day is dedicated to recognising the hard work, dedication, and vital role nursery practitioners play in early childhood development. They provide nurturing care, emotional support, and foundational education during a critical stage in children's lives. The day offers an opportunity to express appreciation for their impact on both children and families, highlighting the positive difference they make in shaping young minds. It also raises awareness of the challenges they face, advocating for recognition within the early education sector. Our setting is lucky to have such supportive parents who appreciate the work that we do and we'd like to thank those that expressed their appreciation on our social media (and the biscuits and truffles that were gratefully received!). We love what we do and feel privileged to care for your children.

Our winners of the Healthy Lunchbox competition were DeeDee and Elsie P. Congratulations to you both and we hope you enjoy your fruit baskets!!🎉🎉

Next week our topic is Witches and Wizards, leading up to Halloween. Teaching young children about Halloween should be fun, simple, and age-appropriate. We'll focus on the festive and imaginative aspects of the event, like dressing up in costumes, decorating pumpkins and engaging in fun crafts. The staff are dressing up on Thursday and are encouraging the children to join them in wearing spooky outfits if they feel comfortable. 

We'll also be learning about Diwali and how this is celebrated around the world, and would like to invite our families to share their experiences by uploading pictures to Tapestry. If anyone would be interested in coming in and talking to the children about how they celebrate, please speak to your child's Key Worker and we can arrange a time for you to come in after the half term.

Just a reminder that this coming week we will be closed on Friday for staff training and will reopen on Monday 4th November, after the half term.

Have a lovely weekend.