Pet photos please

It's national pet month in April and we are making a display of all our pets. 

We would be grateful for any photos you have of your pets. We will return them at the end of the month. 

Also, we are taking a donation of pet food to the Easterleigh so if you would like to donate, please send tins/boxes to us. 

Thanks. 

I can sheets

We have some new sheets, named ‘I can…..’.  These sheets contain various statements about what your child can do.  When we have observed them here, we highlight the statement and date it (when possible).  If a statement isn’t highlighted it doesn’t mean your child can’t do it, it could mean that we haven’t observed it here.  Therefore, if you observe you child at home then please highlight the statement (you can asterisk it – no need to use highlighter pens) and ideally write something about it. 

The statements range from approximate ages of 20 months to 4 years (babies files will contain sheets from birth), so your child won’t be able to do all of the statements on each sheet.  They give us something to plan for though and for you to plan for at home too.  For instance, one statement says, “I can undo a zip” – this is perhaps something you could practise at home, as well as what we will do here. 

We are going to have a focus sheet every week/fortnight, where we will concentrate on that particular area of development.  If you bring your child’s file on their first day with us and we will return it to you on their last day, so that you can use it at home. 

Your child can be involved in their own file – they are more than welcome to colour in the pictures, or you could ask your child if they can do a certain task, i.e. Can you hop?

We are just trying these out; if we find they aren’t something that works for us then we will stop using them.  Please let us know what you think. 

We will complete what we can here from our existing assessment sheets, so we will start sending the files out after next week, or once we have managed to complete them. 

Flowers Galore

We ordered some flowers for Charlotte today as it was her first day in her new job. 

Kirsten's mum, Emma, has a florist shop in Bispham village and she did this absolutely beautiful bouquet for us.  If you need flowers for any occasion, we cannot recommend Flowers Galore highly enough. 

Melted chocolate surprises

We made something special for our mummies, using melted chocolate. 

Frogspawn

Our busy day

We did some chalking on the patio which led us to writing the number one. We could all do it. 

One of the children said she could write number 10, which she did, and then she wrote two 1s next to each other. I reminded the children that two ones next to each other is number eleven. 

We made biscuits this morning and then iced them this afternoon. We decorated them with sprinkles. We talked about shapes when we were using the cutters. 

Also this afternoon, we played with the sand, filling and emptying buckets, funnels, cups and wheel barrows. We made lots of sandcastles too! 

Gruffalo story time

Having a jigsaw day

Frog spawn

Look what I saw at the duck pond this morning when I was walking Maggie!  

We will take the children next week to have a look. 

Toys from home

If possible, please could you try and stop your child from bringing toys from home (unless they have a comfort item). 

We have had four items left here this week which children have forgotten and have now taken up residence under our stairs. 

Quite often, the children bring them and just leave them lying around anyway, and they sometimes cause disagreements between the children when they aren't willing to share (which is hard for a young child). It's just easier if they leave their own toys at home to play with there if you don't mind. :)

Hope you all have a great weekend. See you next week. 

Toys from home

If possible, please could you try and stop your child from bringing toys from home (unless they have a comfort item). 

We have had four items left here this week which children have forgotten and have now taken up residence under our stairs. 

Quite often, the children bring them and just leave them lying around anyway, and they sometimes cause disagreements between the children when they aren't willing to share (which is hard for a young child). It's just easier if they leave their own toys at home to play with there if you don't mind. :)

Hope you all have a great weekend. See you next week. 

Planting primulas

We went to B & Q this afternoon. The children chose some plants for our front garden. 

When we came home, we planted them and then watered them. 

Our new tree

We came home from our walk and decorated our tree with pink playdoh blossom. 

Morning walk.

We had a walk this morning, looking for blossom and leaves on the trees. We saw some pink and white blossom and also some catkins. 

We then went to feed the ducks, geese and swans. We saw some herons nesting in the trees. They were carrying sticks to make their nest. 

Happy birthday Maggie

The children made Maggie a birthday cake, using stones and sticks for the candles. We counted out 11 sticks as Maggie is 11 today. 

Our daffodils

Busy in the kitchen....

New resources

I've bought some new resources for Easter plus for other seasons/occasions. It was quite exciting opening the box when it arrived!  

Our fruit pancakes

Samba football goals 8ft x 4ft for sale

We at selling our football nets as William has bought himself some bigger ones. 

They are approx £60 to £70 new and we are selling them for £30. 

If anyone is interested please let us know. 

Why I love maths.......

http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/cbeebiesgrownups/posts/Maths-Month-Why-I-love-maths-Mr-Steer

Jungle Jims

I have just had this emailed to us from our Early years department:


Jungle Jim’s saving of £41.50!

Experience the UK’s ultimate indoor adventure playground in The Blackpool Tower for an amazing £6.50!
Enjoy a jungletastic saving of £41.50.
The pass includes 50% of Blackpool Tower Eye and Circus, but hurry, offer ends 31^st March 2014.
Claim yours today from the box office team at The Blackpool Tower
Terms and conditions apply
Please ask a member of the box office team at The Blackpool Tower. This offer is for FY and PR residents only (proof of residence and passport size photo required). Full terms and conditions are available from the box office at The Blackpool Tower. Height restrictions apply. Offer is only valid until 31.03.2014 50% of Blackpool Tower Eye and Circus is for pass holders plus up to 3 guests.

Shapes

We made biscuits using different shapes. We talked about a pentagon, oval, rectangle and octagon. 

When they're cooked we are going to ice and decorate them. 

Making Valentines treats

Large-scale painting

Painting with shapes

We did some paintings today using the biscuit cutters. The children stamped the cutters into the paints and made patterns. We talked about shapes and colours together. 

Today's lunch

Was pasta with a tomato and cheese sauce and chicken. 

Lunch today was

Sausages, mashed potato (with cauliflower mashed in) and peas. 

Postbox fun!

Yesterday the children painted a box with red paint, to make our own post box. 

Today we wrote letters and cards to lots of people, including mummy, daddy, Father  Christmas, Grandma and Minnie Mouse!  

Once written, the children posted them through the letter box. 

Lunches

Yesterday we made roast beef, mash, cauliflower and broccoli cheese, carrots, peas and sweet corn. 

Today it is stir fried chicken with peas and rice. 

Today's lunch

Was spaghetti bolognaise. 

Yellow playdoh

Today's lunch....

Toad in the hole, mashed potatoes, carrots, peas and green beans. 

Corned beef hash for lunch

It didn't go down too well, so we won't be making it again. It was worth a try though. :). 

Today's lunch

Was stir fried chicken, peas and rice. 

Using playdoh mats

Today's meal...............

Was fish fingers, chips, peas and carrots. 

New addition to our family

Meet Rupert.

He is a rescue cat from the RSPCA. He seems to be settling in ok. 

He isn't allowed outside for a few weeks so we need to make sure he doesn't escape through our front door!  

I'm sure you'll all meet him very soon. 

Sparkly snow dough

We made snow dough today, adding peppermint for that wintery smell, and glitter for sparkle. We made snowmen with the dough and used carrots for the noses and currants for eyes and buttons. 

Happy New Year!

We hope you have all had a fantastic Christmas and that you had a great night last night celebrating New Years Eve.  Best wishes to you all for 2014.

We know a couple of children have been poorly over Christmas with a tummy bug - really hope they are feeling better now or feel better soon!  Unfortunately Charlotte had a bug whilst in Disneyland, so she had to spend the first day in bed.  Lucky me caught if off her and was ill the day after we got back.  I was just pleased it wasn't on the day we were travelling back as it wouldn't have been great on the plane!!!! 

Chris has also not had a great time - he managed to get a 'slipped disc' and couldn't really move much at all over Christmas and the last few days, as it caused severe sciatica and he was in agony!  He has no idea when it happened (he has had a bad back for a while) but carrying a heavy ruck sack around in Disneyland seemed to aggravate it.  He is beginning to feel better now but won't be able to lift for a while. 

Alice and William (touch wood) have been ok :)

Thank you all so much for the lovely presents you kindly gave us for Christmas - we really appreciate them and have enjoyed eating, showering in and looking at them!

See you all very soon,

Lots of love Chris and Siobhan xx