Nursery
Before Christmas, the children showed a huge interest in the large wooden bricks. They like to build structures and houses and get inside. One day they built a boat and used smaller planks as oars as the sang, 'row the boat'. This term, we have moved the space to allow the children more floor area to become more creative with their buildings. Alongside this level of inquiry, we will be exploring the traditional story of The 3 Little Pigs. There are story sheets for you to take home in the lobby. Please help yourself and take one home to share with your child. Our book library loan is set up in the lobby too. Please feel free to take a book home, share with your child and return it to the box. We really hope you enjoy this with your children.
We will go to the school hall for dance and have stories in the school library on Wednesdays.
Plus, we will continue to go up to Forest on Thursdays so remember your wellies, hats and gloves until the weather starts to change!
Learning Together sessions are the first Wednesday of every month. We look forward to you coming along and sharing learning with your children. However, we have a welcoming slow start to every session which enables you to settle your child and get an idea of what they are interested in at nursery.
We are looking forward to lots of fun and learning with your children over the next few weeks. Don't forget to check the website, Facebook and the Dojo page for the latest updates.
Early in the morning and late at night, the nursery has a little bit of Christmas magic about it. We recognise the importance of a beautiful environment for our children and today it was just a little bit special...
The children have been very interested in comparing the weight of these pumpkins. This learning provocation introduced the scales to the children and has been capturing their interest all week.
The nursery is set up and ready for the term ahead. We spend time considering what the children are interested in and what they need. You will see that we have relocated the role play a to make it bigger. Also, we have added the construction to the cars to extend the children's thinking and mapping. The environment is inviting and ready.
What a lovely send off for our Nursery children who are leaving us to start school! We had a wonderful party in the forest with party cream tea and we showed our families all our forest school activities and songs. We then presented each child with a parting gift from their key person. We are very happy that so many of our children are carrying on at Woodfield and we wish all of our children well as they start in their new schools. What an important and special time for them all.
The nursery team would like to take this opportunity to thank all the families for their incredible support during their time with us and for joining us for the special party. It has been a pleasure to watch your children grow. Stay in touch...
By this time of year, our oldest child are becoming highly skilled at colour mixing and producing the colours they need. They are increasingly in control of their fine motor movements and choose the thickness of their brush for maximum effect. With a reference of a vase of beautifully pastel shaded flowers as inspiration, the children have created some beautiful pieces.
Well, we just can't get enough of gardening. So much interest. The children are totally engaged in weeding, planting, watering and caring for our vegetables and flowers. This week, we will be planting our sunflower and herb seeds.
Even our very youngest children love to make marks. Anywhere they go, they, there are opportunities and time to get really busy. Totally concentrated. Good balance and the second stage of pencil grip. We love noticing the children deeply involved in their learning like this.
Our children have brought their findings at forest school and the beauty of the blossoming tree into the nursery and have been exploring some transitional art using blossom and camellias from the gardens. They have made some beautiful creations.
Don't forget that our book borrowing has started in the nursery.Sharing a book together is so important for young children's development.
Borrow one, bring it back and swap for a new one. Enjoy!
The children are thinking about spring time in the nursery. We are getting ready to celebrate Mother's Day and all the people who care for us. We will be having a cream tea for our final Stay and Play this term. We hope you can come.
Our story is about Rosie the Hen who goes on a walk around the farm, but will that fox catch her? Story sheets are in the lobby for you to take home.
Spring has sprung this week in the nursery. The children have really enjoyed their outside play. Even though they can go out whatever the weather, they have loved the sunshine this week.
Even with this cold weather, we have wrapped up warm and put on our waterproofs because we just can't get enough of this sensory, whole body water play!
The children have been fascinated exploring these open ended resources. Lots of counting, ordering and grouping. Lots of mathematical talk and cooperative play happening in the Seedlings this week. The children spent a long time and their concentration was amazing!
Following the children's interest in baking and the ongoing popularity of the playdough table, we have been considering the story of the Gingerbread Man.
This links with last term's learning about the Billy Goats and finding ways to cross the river.
Some learning provocations have been set up for the children to discover next week. This is alongside our usual natural, open ended provision.
Why not take one of our story sheets home and learn about that cheeky Gingerbread Man.
'Run, run, as fast as you can. You can't catch me, I'm the Gingerbread Man!'
Children are taking any chance to read a book in the nursery this week. Getting cosy and sharing the experience together.
After a charitable delivery of woodchip and logs from Burrator Heritage site, we have developed a natural outside story nook.
With references to the forest school fire pit, we have made a place to share and retell stories in small groups. We just can't get enough of these early reading skills and sharing stories together.
At nursery, we like to allow children to children to engage in calculated risky play that challenges their bodies and builds their resilience. The role of the adult is crucial in allowing children to access this type of play safely and still enable children to take part.
We are learning how to play safely in the forest. We are managing our risks and challenging ourselves in our learning.
The children have been very busy exploring how to make a bridge to get across the grass. We have linked their fascination with the story of the Billy Goats Gruff. There are story sheets in the lobby for you to take home. Trip trap, trip trap, over the rickety bridge!
The nursery children have lots of opportunity for mark making. Their developmental stages are assessed and the children have lots of practice to develop their pencil grip.