Weekly roundup 25 October 2024

Our "Magic, Witches, and Wizards" theme has been an enchanting way for children to explore creativity, build new skills, and engage in imaginative play. 

Using "magic ingredients," the children have been mixing potions and casting "spells." They've created their own magic wands, practicing their pincer grip (needed for pre-writing!) as they added stars, feathers, and other materials. They listened to stories and magical tales of friendly witches and wise wizards nurturing language development as they heard and repeated magical words and rhymes. Our favourites were "Ten little monsters”, “Keith the Cat with the Magic Hat” and “Funny bones".

The bumbles combined fresh herbs (thyme, rosemary, sage, oregano) to create a bubbly cauldron. 

We explored Halloween and lots of the children dressed up as interesting characters, encouraging their creativity and imagination through role play. They used a range of tools to scrape pumpkins, supporting sensory development and strengthening hand muscles. This tactile experience also lets children explore textures, building sensory awareness and comfort with new sensations. 

There were more activities to encourage hand-eye co-ordination and pre-writing skills this week. In Bumbles there was a fun mark making task involving cars and trains attached to pens and pencils to make various tracks across paper stuck to the table. Both rooms did some fruit painting using apples and forks to make some spooky pictures and the sand and water trays were used to hide bugs and creepy crawlies among leaves that children had to "pick out' using tongs and tweezers. 

All of the children learnt about Diwali and how this is celebrated. In Honeys, Sunita read some poems and brought in some Diva lamps for the children to explore with some making their own using clay and paint. The Bumbles made rangoli patterns and created some henna designs on paper and will continue with some more Diwali activities after the break.

When we return on Monday 4th November our first topic will be 'Space'. We'll continue to celebrate Diwali and look forward to seeing pictures of family celebrations. November 5th is Guy Fawkes night and the children will learn about the failed gunpowder plot of 1605 and why fireworks and bonfires are used to commemorate this day. 

After the break, the Bumbles room will be reintroducing the show and tell feature during sessions. Children are encouraged to bring something in from home that is linked to our topic/theme and should be small enough to keep in their tray or added to the interest basket. Please, no valuables and if possible, do name the item so it can be returned should it get lost.
As always, children that have a comfort object like a blanket, dummy or special item are very welcome to bring these in to Pre-School so they can be accessed in needed.

From the 4th November 2024 you can apply online for your child’s primary (reception) school place. To find out more about how to do this, visit www.essex.gov.uk/schools-and-learning/schools/admissions/admissions-september-2025. 

Have a great half term and enjoy the break!