Hi All

Here is an overview of our week at Nursery School:

Indoor focus – We have continued with our term’s theme of Winter and Investigation, the children enjoyed doing another science experiment (Walking Water) with Marlena where some children helped to prepare the experiment, then watched in awe as the red water ‘walked’ up the paper towel and into the empty jars and stopped when it was level with the remaining red water in the middle jar. The children continued to be interested in shapes in the environment and were challenged to name shapes and to prove how they knew the shape name by giving explanations about the shapes properties. The children continued with creating cold pictures and collages. Some of the children enjoyed relaxing with cushions and blankets while listening to calming music, especially when coming in from the cold. This led on to having great discussions about the weather, season and how we feel if we get too cold. Some of the children are not independently choosing books and sharing them with one another. The home area is still popular where more and more independent role play is being seen. The children continue to be imaginative in their play and act out many scenarios throughout the day. The dinosaurs have also been a hit this week where the children have asked questions and shared their knowledge with others.

Outdoor focus – The children have been busy up in the mud kitchen, this week it was turned a ‘Pancake Cafe’ for the dinosaurs. The children used clay and natural ingredients to make some tasty treats for the dinosaurs. The windy weather created excitement and sensory experiences for the children. The children enjoyed playing ‘hide and seek’, creating with the large blocks, making a range of new obstacle courses, throwing and catching games and discovering new ways to make ball runs using loose parts available to them.

Wow activity – This week we started woodwork, we began by using nuts, bolts and tinkering blocks. By the end of the week some of the children were confidently using the nuts and bolts to attach the tinkering blocks to make their own creations. This activity was so good to develop the children’s hand, eye coordination and strengthen their fine motor skills. Their concentration, perseverance and determination was incredible.

Forest School – Groups C & D did Forest School this week. We had fun deciding how to build a shelter as a group and what materials to use. We modelled and encouraged the children to learn and use key vocabulary such as shelter, frame, rope, pegs, strong, tarpaulin & waterproof. For the next two weeks we continue to use ropes and make a rope bridge for the children to use. Then we hope to have a camp fire for the last session where we will cook popcorn.

Maths focus: Shape – This week the children used lolly sticks to create shapes and enjoyed playing shape bingo. The children were encouraged to talk about and explore the 2D shapes and mathematical vocabulary such as sides, corners, straight, flat etc.

Phonic focus: Body Percussion – We played a game called ‘Listen to the music’ where the children were Introduced to several musical instruments. They were then asked to think of an action to be assigned to each instrument (e.g. Clap, wave, jump). The children then took turns at being the leader and selected one of instruments to play and all the other children had to remember and do the correct action for the chosen instrument. Another game we played was called
‘Follow the sound’ where the adult produces a body percussion sound which is then ‘passed’ to the child sitting next to them such as clap, clap, clap. The sound was then passed around the circle until it is returned to the adult. The adult then asked the children some questions such as do you think the sound stayed the same all the way around? What changed? Did it get faster or slower?

Core Song – I Can Sing A Rainbow

Poem – I Can Build A Snowman

I can build a snowman,
I can build it high.
I can build a snowman,
Up into the sky.

– See if your child can remember this poem and the accompanying actions.

Information / Reminders

* Library visits – Sally from the library will be coming in this Friday (31st of Jan) to visit the children at nursery to talk about her job and our trip to the library, she will then read a book to them. Sally will come in the morning and afternoon. Then the following week we will go down to the library on Tues am, Tues pm and Fri pm, thank you to all of you who have offered to help with the trip and sorry to those of you who have offered to help on different days that we are unable to go, this is to do with the library not being able to accommodate us on those days and the days we have limited staff. To make these trips happen on a 1:2 ratio we need 3 more parents for Tuesday am (4th of Feb), 4 more parents for Tuesday pm (4th of Feb) and 2 more parents on Fri pm (7th of Feb). if we cannot get enough parent helpers we may have to extend the visits into the following week. . If you do not wish for your child to come on the trip or have any questions the please do let us know. Timings for the trips in the morning will be 9.45am – 11am (approx). and in the afternoon will be 1.15pm – 2.30pm (approx). I will send a separate memo to those of you who have offered to help to confirm your availability and details.

* Packed lunches – We are a nut-free school, please do not send any nut products in your child’s lunchbox. We also would like to encourage healthy eating and would ask you to not to include any sweets, chocolate and to limit crisps. We suggest a healthy lunchbox would contain the following items:
– Starchy foods like bread, rice, potatoes or pasta
– Protein foods like meat, fish, eggs or beans
– A dairy item, like cheese or yogurt
– Vegetables or salad and a portion of fruit

* Illness – We have had quite a few children off this week with coughs, colds and temperatures. Please do keep your child at home if they have a temperature (over 37.5). For general coughs and colds if your child is generally okay in themselves then they are fine to come into Nursery. We have also had a couple of cases of conjunctivitis, please see the NHS guidelines for signs and symptoms and how to treat – https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/conjunctivitis/ 

* Lending Library – Please don’t forget we have a lending library at school. Your child can choose a book, we just ask that you to sign the book out and then back in once you return it. You can keep the book for as long as you wish.

I hope you have a nice weekend and we will see you next week.

Kind regards

Zoe

 

Hi All

Happy New Year and welcome back. I hope you all had a lovely break and are ready for the year ahead 😊

Our returning children have come back and it is like they have never been away, which is a really positive sign. This term we are welcoming eight new children to Nursery School, some of whom have had their first settling-in visits, these have gone well and will continue to happen this week. Our older children have been great at helping to settle the new children by showing them around and helping them with the routines in place.

Inside focus

This week some of the children enjoyed doing an experiment with Marlena where they placed yellow roses in different coloured pots of water to see what would happen. They were amazed when the roses changed colour, this allowed for children to be curious and ask questions to help deepen their understanding.

We introduced a ‘reading rocket tent’ in our book area which has gone down well with the children. The wrapping station has been transformed into a Chinese Kitchen where the children have engaged in role play and have been busy cooking and pretending to eat a range of foods.

Outside focus

Outside the children have building with the large blocks, concocting potions with ice, powder paint and other natural resources. We have some new bikes and helmets which the children have been keen to test out amongst many other learning opportunities.

This term

Our overarching theme will be ‘Winter & Investigation’. We will be introducing woodwork as our ‘Wow’ activity, our maths focus will be ‘Shape’ and phonics will be ‘Body Percussion’.

Please see our website to see the Medium term plans – https://www.ace-chipping-norton.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Medium-Term-Planning-2024-25-Term-3.pdf  and for our key curricular experiences and cultural capital – https://www.ace-chipping-norton.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Medium-Term-Planning-Term-34-2024-25-Key-Experiences-Cultural-Capital.pdf 

Information / Reminders

– Please do bring in your weekly snack donations if you can, any day of the week is fine to bring in your donation.

– Please name all items of clothing, if you have lost any items of clothing please do look on the table in the reception area (by back door), any items of clothing remaining at the end of the week will be placed in our spare clothes or donated.

– Focus Children: Please do look out for memos for when it is your child’s focus week, it is really helpful to get your viewpoints before the week and then your child’s key person will arrange a parental call for the following week to discuss how your child’s progress, this is also a good chance for you to ask any questions or discuss any worries you may have around your child’s development.

– Forest School groups will commence this week, please find updated lists. Your child will partake in Forest School once a fortnight, please ensure you child has sufficient layers on and a pair of wellies in school for forest school days. We have waterproof’s but you are welcome to bring in your own for your child to use.

– Applications for Primary School: If your child is due to start primary school in September 2025 you have until this Wednesday (January the 15th 2025) to apply. Please do ask if you need any help. Here is the link to the application page – https://www.oxfordshire.gov.uk/residents/schools/apply-school-place/reception-applications/make-application 

We all look forward to seeing you next week for a another busy and fun week.

Kind regards

Zoe