Nursery learning- 4-7-25

 

Pirate Dress up day TUESDAY 8th JULY

To help us celebrate our current topic, we’re inviting all children to come to nursery dressed as pirates! Feel free to get creative with costumes—hats, stripes, eye patches, or even a cardboard parrot!

Old Uniform Donations

As we approach the end of the school year, we would be very grateful for any old uniform you no longer need. It doesn’t matter if items are stained, as these will be used as spares for the children.

We are particularly in need of clothing in sizes suitable for 3 to 4-year-olds. This includes:

• Boys’ trousers

• White T-shirts

• Pants and socks

• Shorts

• Girls’ summer dresses

• Winter skirts

• Tights, knickers, and socks

Even if your child is moving up to Reception, please do keep us in mind. If you come across any clothing your family no longer needs, feel free to drop it off, we’d really appreciate it!

Hot Weather Reminder

It’s going to be hot next week, especially from Wednesday onwards. Please make sure you apply sun cream to your child before they come to nursery, and ensure they bring a water bottle with them each day.

Thank you for helping us keep the children safe and comfortable in the sunshine!

Transition to reception 

A message for all of our AFTERNOON pre-school children 

   

On Thursday 10th July, the children will be meeting their new teachers. This is an exciting opportunity for them to explore their new environment, meet the new adults, and take part in some fun activities.

The session will be held from 9:00am to 11:00am. If your child usually attends in the afternoon, we would like to invite them to swap their session next Thursday to the morning, so they can be part of this valuable experience.

Please let the adult at the door know at drop-off if you are able to make this change. Please let us know by Tuesday 8th July. 

Book Bags- End of Term Reminder

Next week, we will be collecting back all books that have been loaned out by the nursery. Please make sure your child brings any borrowed books back in their book bag.

Children will not be bringing home any new books after this.

Don’t forget, you can visit your local library for free over the holidays to keep up those lovely reading habits!

Thank you for your continued support.

Enjoying Stories and Cloud Spotting

During the recent spell of hot weather, the children chose to take a break from their active play and enjoy some quieter time listening to stories. One of the books we shared was Little Cloud by Eric Carle, which the children found particularly engaging.

Inspired by the story, the children decided to try a bit of cloud watching themselves to see if they could spot any shapes or pictures in the sky. This sparked a lovely conversation about what they could imagine the clouds looked like. Although we moved into the shade, the sun was still very bright, which made it a little tricky to look up for long periods.

This activity supported the children’s communication and language development, as they listened attentively and talked about their ideas.

Active Maths Fun in Focus Group Time

During our focus group time this week, the children were learning to recognise numbers and understand the amounts they represent. We played an active maths game where the children listened carefully for a number being called, then had to find that number on the floor and stand on it.

Once everyone had found the correct number, they were shown a number flashcard and asked to carry out a specific action, such as clapping, jumping, or hopping, the same number of times. This encouraged lots of laughter and energy, and the children were fully engaged throughout the activity.

This game supported their mathematical development , particularly in number recognition and counting. It also encouraged their physical development through movement  and most importantly, the children had great fun while learning through play.

Sensory Play in the Tuff Tray

In the tuff tray this week, we set up a messy-themed exploration activity using shaving foam and food colouring. The children were eager to get stuck in straight away! Although paintbrushes were available, they were far more interested in using their hands, enjoying the sensory experience of squishing, swirling, and mixing the foam and colours. We also added some pirate-themed resources to spark conversation and imaginative role play.

This open-ended activity encouraged the children to explore texture, colour mixing, and imaginative storytelling.

Outdoor Adventures and Movement

As always, our garden equipment played a big role in supporting the children’s physical development and imagination. The open-ended nature of the resources encouraged exploration, problem-solving, and creativity. Nearly everything could be moved and manipulated by the children, which allowed them to build their own obstacle courses, dens, and imaginative structures.

Water and Paint Mark Making

This week, the children used water and paint to support their mark making activities. Some children chose to practise writing the letters in their names, while others explored making marks and began to assign meaning to their creations, an important early step in developing writing skills.

The children loved using water and paints in this creative way. It gave them the freedom to experiment with different tools, strokes, and colours, and helped build their confidence in early literacy.