Diwali in the Nursery

In the Nursery we like to value and show an interest in all cultures and religions.  This week is Diwali and the children had an opportunity to create mehndi patterns.

A holiday treat in the Morning Nursery

A big thank you to Charlie Tyrell's mum for the holiday cakes for all of the morning class.

Nursery mark making on a larger scale

Early mark making is a sensory experience often on a larger scale. The children drove vehicles with pens attached to follow roads and make marks.

Mythical Maze Challenge

Every summer the libraries organise a reading promotion.Congratulations to Indie and Isabelle who have completed their Mythical Maze challenge. As a reward for reading their six books and providing a commentary, Indie and Isabelle received a certificate and a reading medal.

Nursery reading at home

The reading at home continues, we have had so much parental support. We have big piles of book reviews waiting  to go on our display.

Nursery tapping sticks

We use fun activities to promote mathematical development. One of the many maths concepts we address in the early years is 'Place Value'. Many of our children can count, reciting the numbers they have memorised, which is a fantastic skill to have.  However we also need to ensure that they understand 1 means 1, for example  the numeral 1 means 1 jump or 1 clap.

We begin working on this by counting claps or jumps and in today's instance we tapped sticks to represent different numbers.  Not only is this an educational activity, the children had great fun doing it!

Nursery Finger Gym

The children are loving the new activity....it's quite tricky though! They have to pick up the marbles with tweezers, strong finger muscles are essential.

Fundraising day for Brandina

A reminder that Thursday 23rd October will be a dressing up day. We ask that your child comes to school dressed as people who help us, doctors, nurses, fire fighters etc.
We are raising money for Brandina so a donation of 50p would be much appreciated.

 

 

Reception raffle winner

Congratulations to Violet who was the winner of the reception library raffle competition. All of the children's names were put into a box and one name was pulled out. Violet was the chosen one and she got to choose which book she would like. Violet choose the story "The biggest muddy puddle in the world."

Happy reading Violet!

Reception library competition winners

Congratulations to Ruben and Andreea who won the reception library colouring in competition launched by Miss Sparkes. They each won themselves their own copy of 'How to Catch a Star'. I can't wait to hear all about how I can catch a star!

Traditional African Dancing

As part of Black History month the children had an opportunity to learn an African dance. We had a vistor teaching us traditional moves such as 'the snake', 'hanging your washing out' and the 'chicken'. The children and even teachers thoughroughly enjoyed it. Videos of the children dancing will be posted shortly.

Reception Weekly Newsletter 20.10.14

Term: Autumn 1                        Date: 20.10.14

 

We have had a fantastic week, we have had a visit by an author and learnt an African Dance (please look on the facebook page to see all of the photos). Your child will be taking part in the following activities (Activities are subject to change, depending on the children’s interests):

Personal, Social and Emotional

• Continue to demonstrate friendly behaviour, initiating conversations and forming good relationships with peers and familiar adults.
• Responding to simple instructions and following rules.
• Learning to put away activities once they have finished playing with them.
• Aware of own feelings, and knows that some actions and words can hurt others' feelings.

Communication and Language

•  Sharing the story of ‘Little Red Hen’ – children to act out the story with props.
• To ask and answer ‘why’ and ‘how’ questions.
• Answering ‘why’ and ‘how’ questions.
• Communicating freely about own our homes and community.
• Question why things happen and gives explanation asks e.g. who, what, when, how

Physical Development

• Moulding animals out of dough
• Kneading the dough for our bread.
• Hall session: The children will continue to go out in small groups to work with our Sports Coach, Mr Portway. Please bring in PE kits as soon as possible.
• The children will continue to use the outside area –please send in wellies and a waterproof.
• Holds pencil near point between first two fingers and thumb and uses it with good control.
• Can copy some letters, e.g. letters from their name.

Literacy

• We will be continuing our daily phonics sessions, learning set 1 letters, focussing on Fred talk e.g. c-a-t = cat.
• We will be sending home a daily practise sheet for you to complete with your child.
• Listening to the story, ‘The Little Red Hen’ and recalling events.
• Children to sequence a set of photographs to show how to make bread the day after they have made bread. Emergent writing- writing captions to go with pictures.

Mathematics

• To match numeral and quantity correctly
• Reciting number in order to 10.
• Beginning to show an interest in number problems

Understanding of the World

• Children to work in small groups as a team to make bread, feeling the texture, noting changes and talking about how the bread rises.
• Drawing owl pictures on the computer using 2 simple

Expressive Arts and Design

• Engages in imaginative role-play based on own first-hand experiences.
• Making autumn shakers using rice, corn and beans.
• Children to learn the little red hen rap to perform.

Messages

• The children may bring in something related to our stories for Show and Tell on Friday.
• Please make sure your child has a spare change of clothes in school just in case they have any little accidents. The spare change of clothes does not have to be school uniform.
• There is no school this Friday 24th, as the staff have an INSET day, and then of course it is half term. We return to school on Monday 3rd November.
• We regularly update our EYFS blog. Please like our Broadford Primary Facebook page every time you see an EYFS blog. Feel free to make a comment on the children’s experiences.
• If you wish to contact a member of the EYFS staff please email them at eyfs@broadford.havering.sch.uk

Thank you for your constant support.

 

Nursery Weekly Newsletter 20.10.14

Term: Autumn 1 Date: 20.10.14

We have had a super week, we have been visited by an author and learnt an African Dance (please look on the Facebook page to see all of the photos). We hope we have given your children the opportunity to take part in new experiences and endeavour to continue to do this.

 

This week we will be carrying out many activities including painting, exploring ICT, sorting and categorising and much more. We will be reading ‘Not now Bernard’ and singing ‘Two Little Dickie Birds’ and ‘Three Blind Mice’.

Personal, Social and Emotional

• Growing sense of will and determination.
• Begins to learn some things are theirs some things are shared and some things belong to other people.
• Responds to a few appropriate boundaries, with encouragement and support.

Communication and Language

• Beginning to ask simple questions?
• Uses different types of every day words
• (Nouns, verbs and adjectives)
• Understands simple sentences.

Literacy

• Interest in books and rhymes and may have favourites.
• Early mark making through sensory activities ‘Dough Disco’ and ‘Finger Gym’.

Physical Development

•  Makes connections between their movement and the marks they make.
• Beginning to balance blocks to build a small tower.
• Shows awareness and uses the toilet when they have a bladder or bowel urge.

Mathematics

• Knows that some things exist, even when out of sight.
• Says some counting words randomly particularly during counting songs.
• Beginning to organise and categorise objects, especially when tidying up.

Understanding of the World

•  Anticipates repeated sounds, sights and actions, e.g when an adult demonstrates an action toy several times.
• Shows interest in toys with button, flaps and simple mechanisms and beginning to learn to operate them.
• Beginning to talk about people and things that are not present.

Expressive Arts and Design

• Makes connections between movements and the marks they make.
• Explores and experiments with a range of media through sensory exploration, and using whole body.
• Expresses self through physical action and sound.

Messages

•  A big thank you to the parent that returned the missing coat!
• A quick reminder that your parent consultation will take place this week. This will be a short session to let you know how your child is settling and to give you the opportunity ask any questions.
• We have had a few small toys go missing that the children have brought in from home. Please don’t allow your child to bring in toys from home. There is no need as you are aware we are extremely well resourced. Toys from home often get lost, broken or cause disagreements.
• There is no school this Friday 24th, as the staff have an INSET day, and then of course it is half term. We return to school on Monday 3rd November.
• We regularly update our EYFS blog. Please like our Broadford Primary Facebook page every time you see an EYFS blog. Feel free to make a comment on the children’s experiences.
• If you wish to contact a member of the EYFS staff please email them at eyfs@broadford.havering.sch.uk

Have a great half term.

 

The Nursery Team

 

Two little dickie birds

Two little dickie birds sitting on a wall

One named Peter, one named Paul

Fly away Peter, fly away Paul

Come back Peter, come back Paul

 

Three blind mice

Three blind mice, three blind mice,

See how they run, see how they run,

They all ran after the farmer's wife,

Who cut off their tails with a carving knife,

Did you ever see such a thing in your life,

As three blind mice?

 

The Tiger came to tea again!

Of course the Tiger came back for the afternoon children, who all loved the experience as much as the morning children.

I can't believe Mrs Chisholm missed it all again!

New grass in the Early Years garden

Mr Drakes has put some new AstroTurf down for us in our outdoors area.  Previously our patch of grass would get a little muddy because of the weather and usage of it.  Now we have this wonderful new lawn to use as we wish. I'm sure there will be football and other fun activities taking place on it.  Don't worry we still have the mud kitchen next door for those mud lovers!

The Tiger did come to tea!

We have been reading the story "The Tiger who came to Tea" this week the children were really engaged in this story and joined in with the repeated refrains and actions. So you can imagine our surpise when we received a letter from a tiger who actually wanted to come to tea. He then arrived and  ate all our biscuits!

All was not lost, we found out some interesting facts and some of the children asked the Tiger questions.  We found out that tigers live in hot countries and use their tails for balance and to swat flies away.
Sadly Mrs Chisholm missed the visit because she had to do a job in the office but don't worry, the children explained to her exactly who had visited!

More Nursery African Dancing

Nursery African Dance Workshop

What an amazing few weeks we have had. Last week the Owl Man, this week a real author and then today an African Dance workshop. The children had a fantastic time learning a new dance.

Nursery Dough Disco

The Nursery children have really enjoyed taking part in 'Dough Disco'. This is a fun activity where the children move to music and do hand exercises to strengthen their finger muscles.

Nursery Reading at Home

Look at our reading at home display now!

We are so impressed with all of the reading taking place at home. We have a big pile of book reviews waiting to go up on our display.

Thank you for your support and encouragement with your childrens reading.

Questioning in Apple

We have been looking at the different types of questions we are asking each other everyday. Today we have been focussing on how and why questions. Whilst playing with the gloope the childen were practising their questioning skills.

"I wonder WHY it turns runny as soon as you pick it up?" Bobby

"If we add more water it would be even more gooey. WHY is that do you think?" Maisy

"WHY won't it stay in a ball?" Violet

"HOW do you get the gloope to stay in one place?" Leanne

Tomorrow we will be looking at what and where questions.

Our visit from Leigh Hobbs

Yesterday we had an Australian author visiting us - Leigh Hobbs.  Leigh shared with the children his illustrations of Old Tom and Mr Chicken and he took the childen through step by step instructions on how to draw these characters from his stories. He then shared an animation clip of his characters in action. The children thoughroughly enjoyed listening to Leigh and all sat brilliantly and remained focussed throughout.

 

 

Nursery Author Visit

We were so lucky this morning we had visit from a real life author. Leigh Hobbs is originally a teacher from Australia, he is now a world wide childrens author and illustrator. He talked to us about his characters and drew us some amazing pictures to keep.

Nursery mark making fun!

More mark making fun took place in the Nursery today. The children were introduced to 'Painting Pouches'. They had a great time making marks on these pouches using plastic worms!

We had all sorts of visitors at the writing table, some children who don't usually venture over came to explore the new resource. We love to see young, inquisitive minds.

Nursery Finger Gym

The children have had great fun exploring the new 'Finger Gym'.  These fun Finger Gym activities will help to boost the childrens fine motor skills. These skills involve movement of the tiny finger muscles in coordination with the eyes.  These skills are essential for many every day activities such as picking up small objects, using zips and buttons and control when writing.    

The aim of the new activity is to find and pick up the tiny beads from the tray of ribbons and strips of paper. Of course they need to beat the 1 minute sand timer.