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April/May 2021 Edition
We would like to wish all our new parents joining us this term a warm welcome and our current parents also, hoping that you all had lovely break.
Important Information Regarding ParentZone.
A vulnerability was discovered during a recent penetration test on the ParentZone App in relation to screenshotting images. Connect, the company behind the ParentZone App have swiftly remedied this by removing the ability for parents to screenshot images whilst using android devices.
It is no longer possible to screenshot images that are uploaded to the App by anyone. We would like to remind all parents that when your child leaves the Pre-School Centre you are given a pen drive with all the images of your child captured whilst attending.
Flexible Benefits Reminder
If you are a member of staff not currently accessing the Flexible Benefits system for childcare costs, but are wishing to take advantage of the scheme, please contact us as soon as possible as work has begun on the 21/22 enrolment for childcare calculations.
Visit our website and follow us on twitter for all the latest news and updates from the Pre-School.
A Visit from Eden Bear
As part of the Eden Project North, a teddy bear named Eden Bear paid us a visit. Over 10 days the children took the bear exploring, showing Eden Bear around campus and the local area.
Baby Room
Spring has sprung in the Baby room. This term the babies have been exploring the Theta area. We have transformed this area into Spring by enhancing it with our woodland backdrop and pink blossom tree lights. In the area, we have many new objects for Spring Sensory exploration.
We have some real life photo’s depicting new life and nature, and have made some new sensory treasure blocks filled with mini eggs, chicks, feathers and flowers for the babies to explore.
To enhance this experience further we have a large tuff tray for the babies to explore and discover, which is filled with items such as straw, carrots and bonnets.
Creche 1
Over the last few weeks, we have been busy creating enchanting open-ended activities. This has encouraged the children to create their own ideas, play and engaged critical thinking and a willing to have a go attitude.
The children have extended their play and learning through these enriched experiences. We in turn have spent less time on paperwork/devices and more time playing and engaging with the children, observing their common play behaviours and developing new opportunities to help their individual interests and further their unique development.
Some of the activities the children have loved are; herbs suspended from the ceiling with one handed tools and equipment, Dinosaur spaghetti jungle, Treasure hidden in tissue boxes, Building dens with sensory lights inside, Painting with flowers, Scratch craft and lots and lots of sensory play.
Creche 2
The children in Crèche 2 have been enjoying exploring using different senses, our new interactive board includes different textures for the children to feel and explore. In our environment and enchantment activities, we have added new scents and smells using herbs and adding spices to malleable activities.
The children have enjoyed the new light table where they have been able to look at their reflection in mirrors, looking at different colour windows and shadows.
The book area has been enhanced by adding rugs and cushions where the children are able to sit comfortably to look at the books and explore new character puppets from some of our favourite books.
Nursery 1
When Nursery 1 children arrive at Pre-School, they were surprised to find a nest of eggs. The children tried to guess what might be inside then and then we have to wait all day for them to hatch!
While we waited we took the eggs into the forest to build some nests of our own and even pretended we were in eggs ourselves, moving and stretching our bodies to hatch out.
At the end of the day, we were surprised to find 3 freshly hatched dinosaurs!
Nursery 2
As always we have had a very busy time in Nursery 2. We have been exploring a variety of malleable experiences and enhancing the children’s play, development and learning by adding real tools and equipment for them to explore.
An adult was sat on the outskirts of the activity observing the children but allowing them to explore the tools for themselves, looking at and working out how to use them before the practitioner interacts with the child to show them how to use the tool correctly and effectively.,
We have also been focusing on some of our self-help skills and independence, such as feeding ourselves, finding our own coats and shoes and trying to put them on. We will continue with these self-help skills next term, it would be great if you could encourage them at home too!
Pre-School 1
In Pre-School 1 the children have enjoyed the introduction of phonics during play and by using specific activities.
We have explored the letter sounds ‘s’ ‘a’ and ‘t’. The children have especially enjoyed the phonics display, which features images following on from their interests to build awareness of the 3 letter sounds. We will continue to support the children’s phonetical knowledge through enjoyment of new activities and experiences.
Pre-School 2
Sometimes a cardboard box is all you need!
Pre-School 2 have been using different sizes and shapes cardboard boxes in their play. There are small, medium and large boxes, they are square, rectangle, cylinder and triangle shapes and long and thin.
The children have been using the boxes in lots of different imaginative ways from making ramps for their cars, pretending they are fire engines, to being a house for themselves or for people and animals. They made skis, and skateboards with them.
Pre-School 3
Pre-School 3 have been exploring the outdoors using their physical skills. We have been developing our den building skills, thinking of ideas of how to put things together, using good teamwork, negotiating skills and taking turns. The children have been using large gross motor movements for the larger construction building and the fine motor for those smaller finer details.
We have developed a quiet space/sensory area for the children to take some time out and observe their peers at play. This area is design so children can sit look at books, explore their senses with the different herbs and flowers we are growing.
Pre-School 3 have now created a space where they have made their very own growing area, to grow vegetables to eat, we are going to be planting potatoes, onions, runner beans, peas just name a few. What this space to what we will be growing next.
Invoice Dates
3rd May until 28th May 2021
31st May until 2nd July 2021
5th July until 30th July 2021
2nd August until 27th August 2021
Term Dates
8th April until 27th August 2021
Closed; 3rd May, 31st May and 30th August Bank Holidays
Undergraduate Dates
19th April until 25th June 2021
