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 

Pre-school have been looking at Chinese writingand looking at China and various places on their new giant map. They have been making and decorating special valentines biscuits for their loved ones and talking about their feelings. Pre-school were also very busy this morning having fun in the snow, making a snowman and having a cheeky snowball fight which was enjoyed by all.

Toddlers also made the most of exploring in the snow today, feeling the cold ice on their hands and watching it melt. They too, added, to the lovely smells that have been wafting through the nursery this week by making some very yummy chocolate brownies. Toddlers have also enjoyed creating some lovely glue and paint pictures which they loved- the messier the better!

Babies have not been left out this week, as they too have been busy making some cakes to take home. Many got messy with the flour and they all enjoyed having a good stir of the mixture. They have been collecting and looking at books in the quiet area and also enjoyed getting messy with glittery pictures.

Don't forget our annual Valentines day ball on Tuesday 14th February! Feel free to dress in your fancy clothes and get ready to dance, play games and join in with the fun.

Lizzy Stubbs (Manager): Monday- Friday 9am- 6pm

Katie Adams (Management support): Monday and Tuesday 8:30- 5pm

Jo Arlow (Management support): Wednesday and Thursday 8:45- 5:15

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.

Please could we remind you, on days like these, could you please provide your child with warm clothes such as a coat, hat, scarf and gloves etc so we can continue to play outside.

Many thanks. 

Pre-school are continuing to explore and discuss Chinese New year. They have drawn and decorated a golden dragon with various media. They have been describing and discussing what they know about dragons and fire. Some of the children have enjoyed creating fire paintings and collages. Many of the children have been requesting their favourite stories.....'Lion in the meadow' is very popular at the moment!

Toddlers have also been very creative this week and have been painting and making collages whilst discussing the concept of 'big' and 'small'. Role play and small world toys have taken a big part in their play this week such as the kitchen set, farm yard and the cars. Stories have also been popular with the toddlers this week, and alongside the favourite 'Gruffalo' stories, they have also enjoyed 'A squash and a squeeze'.

Babies have made the most of the crisp fresh air this week and wrapped up for a walk around the local area and enjoyed playing in the garden. They have enjoyed dancing and bubbles and have also been busy exploring the art and collage resources!

Lizzy Stubbs (Manager): Monday- Friday 9am- 6pm

Lorraine Pascoe (Deputy Manager): Monday- Thursday 8am-6pm

Jo Arlow (Manager support): Wednesday and Thursday 8:45- 5:15

Kayleigh will be here 8-5 on Monday

Jo will be here 8:45- 5:15 Tuesday and Wednesday

Lorraine will be here 8-6 Thursday and Friday

For any help, advice or queries please do not hesitate to speak to us.

Pre-School have started to make a large cardboard Chinese dragon which we painted on the floor with purple, blue and green colours. We've had lots of dragon stories and a dragon counting book. We have all joined in enthusiastically with our action rhyme 'We're the noisy dragons', where we enacted noisy, hungry, angry, flying, quiet, sleepy and dreaming dragons. We have also looked at Chinese writing.

Toddlers have enjoyed playing in their Gruffalo den made from fir branches, wooden sticks, fabric and netting. We have been playing hide and seek inside, looking at stories and building with the wooden blocks. We enjoyed making and playing with play dough. We have also been busy bubble painting and using glitter to decorate some valentines hearts.

Babies have really enjoyed walks around the local area this week. They have been to the library to look at the books and for a play in the park. Babies had a lovely music session with Lucy this week with musical instruments and bubbles.

Our illness policy is quite clear, that when a child has a vomiting or diarrhoea bug they are not to return to nursery until 48 hours after the last episode of illness. This also applies to our staff. This is common practice in schools as well and hopefully it will help stop passing it on.

Also our medication policy states clearly that ALL medication should be handed to staff and they will complete the forms required for us to adminster medication and store it correctly. This applies to nappy creams, teething gels and any other creams your child may use.

Children must have been on the medication for 24hrs previous to attending Nursery or have had it before, non prescribed medication can ONLY be given if a child attends a WHOLE day, not am, pm or part day only.  If you would like to see a copy of this policy then please ask, there are some in the reception for you to take as well.

Thank you for your co-operation with this policy, it makes nursery a healthy place for us all.