Our forsythia

Breakfast

At the moment, we have children arriving between 8am and 8.45am, which makes it difficult to serve before around 850am. It isn't a problem for us at all, but we want to let you know so that you can give your child a little something at home beforehand, if you think your child might need it. They can have breakfast here anyway so do what you think is best.

It is week 3 of our menus this week

Our day

Shaving foam

We had fun with the foam today. There were lots of fish hiding in there!

Our day so far...

Counting during play

Mmmmm, my lunch!

Thanks Eszme, I'll enjoy this.

Today so far!

Today's fun.

It is week 2 of our menus this week.

We are going to have a change around with the menus as you know, so don't forget, if there is anything you would like us to add, please let us know. 

We've been decorating!

Hope you and the children like it! X

Looking forward to seeing you all!

Mathematics

Feeding the ducks

We have been to feed the ducks and to see the horses on Robins Lane today.

Comments

Please could someone comment on this post and let me know how it worked?  A parent tried to comment earlier this week but for some reason it wouldn't work, so I just want to check if the blog is allowing comments from others.

Also, just to let you know that, when you receive the emails from each blog post, you are unable to reply to them as they are automated. 

Hope you all have a very happy Easter and that you enjoy the long bank holiday weekend.

xx

Week beginning 1st April is week 1 of our menus

Our springtime display

Our Easter chick cards 😃

Easter nest cakes

Decorated bunny biscuits

A really simple activity that the children love! Really good fun for a rainy day too!

It is week 3 of our menus this week

We are thinking of having a bit of a change to the menus so if you would like anything adding to it (something your child loves) then just let us know and we will try and include it. 

Making Easter cards

We talked about the shapes we used to make the chicken and talked about the texture of the feathers. Hope you all like your multi-coloured chicks! We think they're fab!

Training tonight

Chris and I are on a training course this evening.  The training is the first of four sessions centered around 2 year-olds, and the session tonight is covering child development. 

I forgot to ask...

Please could you text me to let me know that you are receiving emails from this blog, so that I know it works!  Thanks.

Emailing blog posts

I have just found out that I can automatically email blog posts to a certain number of email addresses.  I have added all of our parents' addresses so hopefully every time I post, you will get an email with details. 

Please do remember though that our blog does contain other pages with information that you may find interesting, and also links to other websites, so do have a look at the blog every now and then.

If you have any questions, please ask. :)

Plastic eggs

Great fun for transferring from basket to basket!

Week beginning 18th March is week 2 of our menus

Great fun with plastic eggs!

http://www.theimaginationtree.com/2012/03/fun-with-plastic-eggs.html

I'm off into town this morning to get some more from the £1 shop!

Maggie is 10 today xxxx

2013 daffodils

Our display

Thanks to those parents who sent in photos :)

Week beginning 4th March is week 3 of our menus

Painting daffodils

We painted daffodils yesterday and this morning. I will take a photo of all of the paintings once they're dry.

Raspberry jelly glitter playdoh

We made some of our quick playdoh recipe and mixed some raspberry jelly crystals with the boiling water. It smells delicious! We then added some glitter for added sparkle.

Moon and star collage

The children have been painting with yellow this week and today we have cut out moon and star shapes for them to stick on card. They all enjoyed using the glue and arranging their shapes. When we had finished, we held up the pictures and sang 'Twinkle Twinkle'.

Five currant buns

We made our own currant buns this morning. When they were ready we sang 'five currant buns', acting out the rhyme. We are now going to ice them with yellow icing to go with our 'yellow' theme.

Elizabeth Truss report

https://www.education.gov.uk/publications/eOrderingDownload/More%20Great%20Childcare%20v2.pdf

Have a read (with a cup of tea/coffee as it's quite long-winded!) 

Week 1 this week

Coloured snow

We used water mixed with good colouring to paint the snow. The colours mixed together to make beautiful patterns.

Melted snowmen biscuits

Music time

Doing the inset boards

Plans

I have emailed out our new 'general' plans and every child will have a copy of their own individual plans in their book bags. 

Headlice

Please check your child's hair regularly for signs (see our blog link).  This is something that we should all do regularly anyway as even young children can get them.  It just takes head to head contact to spread them. 

Week 1 this week

Playdoh birthday cakes

Merry Christmas everybody!

It's Christmas Eve!!!!!!!!! Only one more sleep to go!

It's Christmas Eve Eve! Only 2 more sleeps.....

3 more sleeps!

Slapped cheek virus (fifth disease)

Unfortunately William came home from school yesterday feeling a little out of sorts.  As the evening went on, his cheeks became redder and redder!

Today he has a slight temperature, a rash on his arms, a bit of a headache and a slight tummy ache, but on the whole he is ok. 

Its one of those viruses that you may not have heard of and may not even realise that your child has.  You may just presume that the red cheeks are due to temperature. 

I've taken a photo of William so you're able to recognise the virus.  Also, here is a link to the NHS site with more details:

http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/slapped-cheek-syndrome/Pages/Introduction.aspx

It isn't a bad virus and often children aren't really ill with it.  If your child does develop the illness then they are ok to attend as long as they are well.  If they have a temperature or are poorly in themselves, then they would need to stay at home (see our sickness policy). 

Hope this information has been useful to you and I will keep my fingers crossed that all of your children aren't ill, especially over Christmas! 

4 more sleeps :)

Christmas biscuits

The children iced some Christmas biscuits that Jake's mummy sent for all the children to decorate and share. 

5 more sleeps!!!!!!!!!!

6 more sleeps :)

7 more sleeps!

8 more sleeps!

Ho!  Ho!  Ho!

Helping children to flourish

A nice blog from Jeni Hooper (child psychologist).

http://whatchildrenneedtobehappy.wordpress.com/2012/12/10/helping-children-to-flourish-doing-something-every-day-to-boost-wellbeing/

Happy St. Nicklaus Day!

Eszme's mummy was born in Germany and they still have family living there.  They celebrate St Nicklaus Day, which is today, 6th December.  Eszme's mummy has made every child who attends today a little goodie bag to celebrate.  Thank you Tasha :)

I've copied some information for you from this website: http://www.examiner.com/article/german-culture-europeans-celebrate-st-nicholas-day-activities-pictures

German culture: The history of St. Nicholas Day
St. Nicholas Day (Nikolaus Tag) honors Sankt Nikolaus, a Greek Christian bishop from Myra, according to The Local. People knew the saint for his gifts and ability to work miracles, and today he is considered the patron saint of little children, sailors, merchants, teachers and students. Traditionally, December 6th is said to be a day that he performed a great many miracles, and German-speaking countries celebrate these miracles with the Nikolaus Tag celebration.
These days, Sankt Nikolaus shows up at people's doors as well as at traditionally German Christmas activities like the German Christmas markets. (See slide show)
He's making a list, checking it twice...
The idea that children could be naughty or nice and therefore earn a small treat from St. Nicholas stems from this German cultural tradition. In Germany, one of the St. Nicholas Day activities includes the tradition of children leaving their shoes out for Sankt Nikolaus. Good little children received treats in their shoes, and children who were not so good might have gotten a lecture from Knecht Ruprecht (Santa's helper) or even from one of the devils that accompanied St. Nicholas on his rounds. Today, many European countries kick off St. Nicholas Day activities with the Devil's Parade (see slide show). In this version of the legend, various devils walk along with the Saint to ensure that children have been good.
Where the German tradition of Nikolaus comes from
St. Nicholas with his long beard and warm red robes most likely was a combination of German religious tradition along with the pagan mythology involving Odin. Although Santa Claus is based on him, there's a different man that Germans know as Santa Claus, der Weinachtsmann.
The tradition of St. Nicholas is celebrated throughout Europe.

Brrrrrrrrr It's cold outside!

Goodness me it's cold out there!!

Not to worry, we've all been wrapped up!  We had a walk to the duck pond this afternoon.  We thought the ducks might be hungry with the lake being frozen.  They were!  On our way we found an icy puddle so we had a walk on it to explore how it felt.  It was very slippery!  We had a go at cracking the ice - it was great fun and very noisy :)

 



 Earlier this morning we did some painting as well as some Christmas crafting.  You'll all have to wait a little while though to see what the children have been making for Christmas....

Early Learning Centre 25% off toys!!

I received an email today with 25% off all toys until Wesnesday 5th December.

Use the code SANTA25 at the checkout. 

Happy shopping!

Poorly children

We have some poorly children at the moment, lots of horrible bugs doing the rounds.  We hope that you all get better very soon and will soon be well enough to come and play :) xxxxxxx

Week 1 this week

When Santa Got Stuck Up The Chimney

We have been singing this with the children and just wanted to remind you of the words, if you don't already know them!

 

When Santa got stuck up the chimney

He began to shout

You girls and boys

Won’t get any toys

If you don’t pull me out

My beard is black

There’s soot in my sack

My nose is tickling too

When Santa got stuck up the chimney

Atchoo! Atchoo! Atchoo!

 

 

Week 3 this week

Food for Talk

I have been on some training this evening all about the important benefits of sitting together as a family at meal times.  How it provides lots of learning opportunities for children and improves their social skills. 

I will be giving out leaflets from the course to everyone over the next week or so.  If you have any questions please don't hesitate to ask. 

Painting and water beads

Craft items and cakes

Just to let you know that Eszme's mum has set up a business selling lovely craft items and delicious cakes!

She is on Facebook on the following page, and I am sure she would appreciate a 'like' if you are on Facebook too. 

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10151355183003804&set=a.427967303803.217142.14622883803&type=1#!/Allthingsnice82

New plans have been emailed

Please check your inbox for our latest plans. 

Week 1 this week