The property, Ellsbridge House, was previously the vetinerary teaching centre for Norton Radstock College and sits in 2.2 acres of grounds beside the A4 just outside Keynsham between Bristol and Bath. The nursery is due to open in September 2012.

As with all our other nurseries, Snapdragons Keynsham will provide fun and stimulating learning supported by qualified and caring staff. The gardens and additional buildings at the site also offer an exciting opportunity to expand our Forest School sessions and outdoor learning, including growing our own resources and caring for nursery pets.

 The nursery will create around 40 jobs and we have already begun actively seeking the high calibre staff that will allow us to maintain our existing exemplary standards. The new team will be supported by a team of Snapdragons colleagues who will share the expertise we have built up over the past 14 years. Additionally an on-site training centre will be established where professional development and training courses will be run by outside professionals and qualified Snapdragons Teachers for the staff from all of our nurseries.

We have some truly exciting plans that we know will benefit all the children, families and staff in Snapdragons and we really want you to be a part of it. Take a look at the plans and watch this space for more news 

In the crocodile room the children have been painting hearts to make bunting and decorations for the room ready for valentines day, this week they baked yummy chocolate cakes and had them for tea.  They have played with the sand and looked at animals, naming then and making the sounds.  They put on their all in one suits to join in with the snowball fight and then came back into the warm to make snowy pictures.

Wendy Crowe Deputy       Mon, Tues, Thurs and Fri 8 - 5,  Weds 8.00 - 1.30

On Tuesday 21st February between 9.30 and 11.30 we invite you to stay and play. Play with the children, get messy, read stories and generally join in with the fun.

We would love you to join us.

This will allow all of our Managers to concentrate their efforts on the day to day running of the nurseries and most importantly the children.

We do appreciate that this is a big change for many parents that have been with Snapdragons for a number of years but we are keen to delegate this growing responsibility to a team of professionals who are trained in this area.

For those of you who have signed up for our new e-billing service you will now have received your electronic bill which for the first time has been sent to you from our dedicated invoicing email address. Any invoicing queries or questions should be directed to this address where a team of accounts wizards will be waiting and happy to assist you.

The contact details for the Finance and Administration team is: accounts@snapdragonsnursery.com. At the present time we do not have a dedicated phone number for this team but this is currently being organised and in the mean time we are happy to call you back so that you can speak to someone directly if you provide a contact number at the time of enquiry.

Please ensure that all invoicing queries are sent via this method however your Nursery Manager will still be able to assist you with basic questions or account balances.

Any families that have not yet signed up for e-billing can do so by emailing the above address stating the name of their child and the nursery that they attend or by advising the Nursery Manager.

Thank you for your understanding and co-operation throughout this period of change.

The Active Kids Vouchers will be available from Sainsburys stores and petrol stations from 15th Feb.

Please help us by donating any vouchers you receive. Last year we managed to collect enough for some of the bigger items like scooters, which the children have really loved playing on.

Thank you for your support.

The Crocodile room children have also been out on lots of walks using their senses and talking about the cold and the frost.  They carried this theme on indoors, playing with coloured scented ice, "what does it feel like?" "What can you smell?".  This week's baking activity was chocolate cakes.....still none left for me!

In the Giraffe room the children have been mixing colours and painting in the style of Mark Rothko.  They have been dressing up in many guises using lots of different outfits.  The i-pad has been well used with the children playing the games and interacting with the stories.  Some of the children enjoyed a 'picnic' in the book corner, and the hairdressing salon has been very busy with Becky's restyle!

The scooters were taken out to the big playground, and the chinese dragon went out as well to play with the children!

In the Zebra Room After school Club there has been lots happening with plans being made for regular theme nights, these will include; board games, wii, messy play and cooking, please look out for the notices saying what is happening and when, any suggestions or ideas would be gladly received.

Wendy Crowe      Deputy      Mon, Tues, Thurs & Fri  9.15 - 6.15,  Weds 12.45 - 6.15

In the Zebra room the children have enjoyed junk modelling and creating collages with different materials.  Play dough, puzzles and outside play have also been very popular,  some of the staff were even treated to a meal in the home corner cafe!

The children in the Crocodile room have been very busy this week with finger and cotton bud painting. Their cooking activity this week was cherry scones - I really must check out next week and see if I can get something yummy to eat! They have made some sensory bottles using lots of glitter and decorated animal shapes for an animal display.  Plenty of time has been spent in the garden using the push/pull toys as well as practising throwing and catching, perhaps they are getting ready for the Olympics.

Wendy Crowe (Deputy Manager) Mon and Tues: Forest School Training, Wed: 12.45 - 6.15, Thursday and Friday: 9.15 - 6.15.