School’s newsletter 24/25 – term3, newsletter 21

Hi All

Here is an overview of our last week of term at Nursery School:

Indoor focus – The children enjoyed experimenting with the ball drops that had been initiated using the large Numicon, guttering, tubes, and ramps. Many of the children have been engaged in mark-making, and it has been lovely to see so many masterpieces being created where the children are proud of their creations. One of our focuses this term has been around the children developing their fine motor skills and encouraging hand eye coordination. The children have been mastering how to use scissors, using tools, treading, using tweezers / pipettes / pegs within in their play. We also set up a small hospital following the children’s interests, this was a great chance for children to engage in role play, learn new vocabulary and discuss their own knowledge, understanding and experiences linked to hospitals / the human body.

Outdoor focus – The children have had lots of opportunities to practice and develop their aiming skills by throwing and catching balls / beanbags, and playing / making up their own aiming games. They have also enjoyed developing the smaller mud kitchen where they have been imaginative and creative within their play. There are many mark making opportunities available to the children outdoors such as large chalks, clipboards, paper, white boards and mark making tools. The large blocks have been used to create dinosaur and animal enclosures, the children created many different scenarios in their small world play. It has been lovely to watch them become more and more independent in their play this term.

Forest School – Our older children enjoyed having a fire and cooking some popcorn, we discussed the 3 elements of the fire and all the children remembered how to keep themselves safe around the fire. We sang a poem called ‘Popcorn’ while we were waiting for the popcorn to cook which went like this:

Popcorn, Popcorn, sizzling in the pan.
Shake it up, shake it up,
Bam, Bam, Bam.
Popcorn, Popcorn, now it’s getting hot.
Shake it up, shake it up,
Pop, Pop, Pop.

We then all enjoyed sampling the popcorn along with a warm chocolate around the fire 😊

Maths focus: Shape & Measure – During group times the children identified a range of shapes by exploring them and explaining which shape was which by discussing each shapes unique properties using mathematical terms / language. The children also explored measure by ordering different length socks from longest to shortest / shortest to longest. There were also many opportunities within provision to recall their learning of shape and measure which has been our mathematic focus this term. Next term we will be focusing on ‘number’.

Phonic focus: Body Percussion – During group times the children played one game called ‘Follow the sound’ where the adult began by producing a body percussion sound which was 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. We asked the children if they thought the sound stayed the same all the way around, what changed, did it get faster or slower etc. Another game we played was called ‘Listen to the music’ where we Introduced one musical instrument at a time. We then asked the children to perform an action when each instrument was being played (e.g. Clap, wave, jump). The children then took it in turns to be the leader where they had to decide which instrument to play indicating which action the children had to do / remember.

Library Trip – On the last day of term we took the last 2 groups of children to the library, the children had a great time it was so nice to be out and about in the community. Thank you to those of you that were able to come and help on the trip, I hope you enjoyed our little adventure.

Core Song – Goldilocks and the Three Bears

Poem – A Little House

I’m going to build a little house,
With windows big and bright,
And chimneys tall with curling smoke,
Drifting out of sight.
In winter when the snowflakes fall,
Or when I hear a storm,
I’ll go and sit in my little house,
Where I’ll be snug and warm.

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

Information / Reminders

* Library Books – If your child took a library book home that we took out on the nursery card if you could please return them after half term.

*Chipping Norton Theatre will be visiting on Monday the 24th of Feb in the morning and afternoon.

*Chipping Norton Theatre Trip – We are planning on taking the children to the theatre for a short visit on Monday the 3rd of March. The children will experience sitting in the auditorium, then will be invited to go on the stage where they will be read a book with lights and sound effects. To be able to do this we would need a considerable amount of parental helpers. We are planning two trips in the morning (if your child attends in the afternoon or does not attend nursery on a Monday you are welcome to join us for either trip). We are planning for the first group of children to leave at 9.45am (parents would need to arrive at 9.30 to go over risk assessment) and then the second group of children to leave at 10.45am (parent to arrive at 10.30 to go over risk assessment) once the first group is back. If we do not get enough helpers we may have to split the group and just take our older children this time (the ones leaving in the Summer) as our younger children will get to go next year. Please let me know if you are able to help and at which time, if you could help with both that would be amazing.

*Snack donations – Please continue to bring in your weekly snack contribution, any day of the week if fine. We welcome all fruit / salad and savoury snacks such as crackers, rice cakes and bread snacks.

*Termly voluntary £10 contributions are now due. You can make a cash donation at the office or pay directly into our bank account. I will confirm bank details next week. These donations go towards buying ingredients for cooking, playdough, sensory enhancements, woodwork essentials and extra snack if ever needed. Thank you in advance as these donations really do make a difference.

I hope you are all having a good half term and we look forward to seeing you all next week.

Kind regards,

Zoe 😊

 

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School’s newsletter 24/25 – term3, newsletter 20

Hi All

Here is an overview of our week at Nursery School:

Indoor focus – We have been exploring weight by weighing different objects and asking the children to identify which objects are heavier, lighter, and the same in weight. The children have been completing and making their own mazes which they have enjoyed. We have provided many opportunities for children to develop their cutting skills where they have persevered and succeeded in what they have set out to do. Some of the children have completed electric circuits, the children were keen to do this independently and went on to add switches to their circuits. At the playdough table the children have been measuring length by making caterpillars and comparing which is the longest, shortest and recognising if any were the same in length.

Outdoor focus – The children have been busy washing some of the toys / resources this week and thinking about the best methods to clean them – lots of warm bubbly water, cloths, sponges and brushes seem to be the best solution for getting them nice and clean. We have continued to measure objects by drawing around them and asking the children to predict which will be the longest / shortest in length before comparing them. In additional to this we had fun building a range towers using the blocks / loose parts and comparing them height. The children have enjoyed having stories outside and playing games such as ‘duck, duck goose’. The top of the garden has been very muddy so we have been encouraging the children to put on their wellies independently. They have been busy on the climbing frame, wooden obstacle courses and in up in the mud kitchen where we have seen lots of imaginative role play / scenarios.

Wow activity – The children have continued to use hammers / nails and screwdrivers / screws in woodwork sessions. The children followed safety instructions and wore safety glasses and gloves to keep themselves safe while using the tools. The children have loved using real tools and have developed their skills over the term. we will continue with woodwork sessions next term.

Forest School – This week groups C & D had fun making a rope bridge at Forest School, most children were willing to have a go and mastered how best to travel along the rope bridge safely to the other end. Lots of team work was seen and the groups came together to support and encourage one another to succeed. It was evident the children felt a sense of accomplishment and were proud of themselves for having a go.

All being well we aim to have a campfire next week at Forest School. For some of our younger children we may suggest they need more awareness and to be able to show us they are ready to participate in the campfire this time. Every week we include aspects of fire safety at Forest School but for some children this takes time to master. So, if they do not do this time hopefully they will be ready by the end of next term. If you have not seen or signed the risk assessment for ‘Fires at Forest School’ I will get you to do this next week so we know you are happy for your child to participate.

Maths focus: Measure – During group times, the children were challenged to identify capacity by matching words to pictures and building their own towers and comparing them to others.

Phonic focus: Body Percussion – This week we recapped on action songs where we actively encouraged the children to join in with the words and actions.

Core Song – 2D Shape Song

Poem – Spring Wind

When the spring wind blows,
In her gruff and growly way,
She’s saying keep your mittens on,
I’m blowing cold today.
But when the spring wind blows,
In her soft and gentle way,
She’s saying take your jumpers off,
I’m blowing warm today.

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

Information / Reminders

*If able would you take the time to look at the stars and moon with your child, we have been discussing light and dark and many children have said they have not seen the stars and the moon (I’m sure they have but just can’t remember). Our core book this week has been ‘Why is it Dark at Night?’ this book has generated many questions for some children which will continue to discuss and explore next week to help develop their understanding.

*Library Trip – The children who have not yet visited the library will be going on Friday the 14th either in the morning or afternoon. We ideally need one more parent helper in the morning and afternoon to ensure all the children can go this term. Please let me know if you can help and I will let you know the plan, timings etc. Thank you to everyone that came and helped with last weeks trip, we really do appreciate it and hoped you enjoyed it too. It really is great to get out in the community.

*Last day of term – Friday the 14th of February (normal time).

*Start of term 4 – Monday the 24th of February

Enjoy your weekend and we look forward to seeing you next week.

Kind regards,

Zoe 😊

 

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School’s Newsletter 24/25 – term 3, newsletter 19

Hi All,
Here is an overview of our week at Nursery School:

Indoor focus – We discussed how some people are celebrating the Chinese Lunar New Year this week and shared these clips to help with the children’s understanding of this celebration – https://www.bbc.co.uk/cbeebies/watch/chinese-new-year. We had lots of enhancements around the room to support the children’s interest in this celebration such as Chinese writing, pictures, a Chinese kitchen, and lantern making.

We have also been exploring and naming our emotions which links to our core book this week ‘The Colour Monster’. The children have also been busy comparing and measuring quantities in many different ways. They have been recognising and recalling 2D and 3D shapes within their play. We also added some loose parts to the home corner for the children to use in their play. Sally from the library came to see the children on Friday, they enjoyed listening to a story and joining in with some action songs with her. This links to our visit next week where the children will go in groups to the library as part of our big experience programme.

Outdoor focus – The children have been filling up and comparing measures in the water tray, threading pasta onto pipe cleaners and making bracelets, some children went on to paint their bracelets thinking about what they could differently. We enjoyed playing traditional games such as ‘hide & seek’ and ‘what’s the time Mr Wolf’. We also constructed shelters, obstacle courses, car ramps and mazes.

Wow activity – The children enjoyed tinkering with hammers and nails this week in woodwork. The children followed safety instructions and wore safety glasses and gloves on their non-hammering hand to keep themselves safe.

Forest School – Groups A & B had fun making a rope bridge at Forest School this week, most children were willing to have a go and mastered how best to travel along the rope bridge safely to the other end.

Maths focus: Measure – During group times the children used scales, where they measured and compared a range of items recognising which item was heavier, lighter or the same. We also measured the children using masking tape and compared, discussed who was the tallest, shortest or the same in height. Some of the children went on to measure the tape with objects to see how many blocks / gems tall they were.

Phonic focus: Body Percussion – This week we discussed and made opposite sounds we can make with our bodies such as loud & quiet, long & short, slow & fast sounds. Then we went on to explore the types of sound we can make we can make with our bodies such as clicking, stamping. Then finally we experimented with different types of movements we can do such as rocking, marching and skipping. This generated lots of lovely discussions about they different types of sounds they hear and can produce themselves.

Core Song – Twinkle Twinkle Little Star

Poem – Carrot Nose
A cute little snowman with a
long carrot nose.
Along came a rabbit and
what do you suppose?
That cute little rabbit,
looking for his lunch.
Ate the snowman’s carrot nose,
nibble, nibble, munch
– See if your child can remember this poem and the accompanying actions.

Information / Reminders
*Library Trip – We still need to 2 more additional parent helpers for Tuesday & Friday (pm) from 1.15 – 2.30 (approx.). If you can help please do let me know. Thank you to all of you who have already offered.
I hope you are having a lovely weekend and we look forward to seeing you tomorrow.

Kind regards,
Zoe

 

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