NURSERY

What a whirlwind of fun and learning we've had over the past two weeks! We've truly thrown ourselves into our new topic, "Growing and Sowing," and the children have been absolutely captivated.

We've been busy little gardeners, learning all about seeds and how they grow. Our sunflower seeds are now planted, and the children are taking great pride in observing the cycle of growth. They're becoming responsible little caretakers, ensuring their sunflowers get just the right amount of water and sunlight. It's been wonderful to see their excitement as they watch their seedlings begin to sprout!

In Maths, we've been exploring the concept of height. We compared the heights of sunflowers, the teachers, and even ourselves, using terms like "taller than" and "shorter than." Our height hunt around the nursery was a big hit, with the children enthusiastically searching for objects that fit the criteria.

We've also been developing our subitising skills while playing skittles. The children have been fantastic at quickly recognising the number of skittles left standing, just by looking. Our numbered hoop races were another highlight, promoting healthy competition and celebrating each other's achievements. We loved seeing the children racing to place the correct number of balls into the hoops.

Of course, we couldn't forget Pancake Day! It was a day filled with delicious fun. We made pancakes, added our favourite toppings, and even had the opportunity to practice our pancake flipping skills. We also took the time to discuss the reason behind Pancake Day, learning about Lent and how pancakes were traditionally made to use up fresh ingredients before they went to waste.

We've been thoroughly enjoying the beautiful sunshine! It's been wonderful to spend so much time outdoors and observe the seasonal changes happening all around us. The children have been so happy to be outside and exploring.

We're looking forward to another exciting two weeks ahead, especially as we transition to a shoeless indoor environment. Please remember to send your child in with their slippers on Monday!

Thank you for your continued support. We're so proud of all the children's progress and enthusiasm.

RECEPTION

Spring has burst into life, and what a delightful first two weeks it's been in our EYFS classrooms! The warmth of the sun mirrors the enthusiasm of our reception learners who have wholeheartedly embraced our new topic: the fascinating life cycles of plants. Our classrooms have blossomed into vibrant flower shops and bustling farm shops, where children have immersed themselves in imaginative role-play, taking on the roles of florists and shop workers with gusto. It’s wonderful to see their creativity and social skills flourish in these engaging scenarios.

In our literacy sessions, we've been nurturing budding writers, focusing on descriptive language. The children have been crafting beautiful sentences to capture the essence of various flowers, painting vivid pictures with their words. Our "Understanding the World" strand has seen us delve into the sequential journey from seed to flower, with the children demonstrating impressive chronological understanding through their written explanations. We've been truly impressed by their ability to articulate the stages of growth.

Mathematics has been equally exciting! We began by exploring the properties of 2D shapes, followed by a fun-filled shape hunt around our environment. The children then showcased their creativity by designing and constructing shape pizzas, before transforming into mini chefs and creating real pizzas to enjoy. We even tackled the ever-contentious topic of fruit on pizza, with pineapple proving a popular choice! Our mathematical journey continued with exploring the composition of numbers up to 7, using the part-part-whole model to solidify their understanding.

This week, our culinary adventures continued with a fantastic Pancake Day celebration. The children enjoyed the full experience, from exploring ingredients and following a recipe to making the pancake mix. They then took turns frying and flipping, culminating in an exhilarating pancake flipping competition! The day ended on a sweet note, with children indulging in their delicious creations, topped with everything from classic sugar and syrup to fresh blueberries and strawberries. It was a wonderful, fun-filled day that combined learning and enjoyment perfectly.

The arrival of warmer weather has ushered in a period of delightful outdoor learning, and our EYFS children have been making the most of it! Our outdoor classroom has become a hub of activity, with the mud kitchen remaining a firm favourite. Collaborative play has flourished as children concocted ever more imaginative mud recipes, demonstrating their teamwork and creative thinking. Building on our indoor pizza adventures, the children voted to transform our outdoor space into a bustling pizza parlour delivery restaurant. This imaginative role-play area has seen budding chefs creating pizzas and delivery drivers whizzing around on bikes, ensuring prompt deliveries. The children’s enthusiasm for acting and storytelling has truly shone through.

Our outdoor stage has also undergone a transformation, becoming a vibrant dance studio. With music filling the air and a dance mat at the ready, the children have embraced the opportunity to express themselves through movement. The natural ribbon movement sticks have added an extra dimension to their choreography, and it's been wonderful to see them working together to create new and exciting dance routines. Their creativity and confidence have grown with each twirl and step, demonstrating the power of music and movement in fostering self-expression and teamwork.

We have witnessed incredible growth in their social skills, communication, and understanding of the world around them. It's been a truly rewarding start to the term, and we're filled with excitement for the many amazing fun and learning opportunities we have planned for the weeks to come. We look forward to sharing these adventures with you and continuing to nurture the curiosity and creativity of our wonderful EYFS learners.

EARLY YEARS