April Newsletter 2024
Dear Families,
We hope this newsletter finds you well. The recent weather has certainly kept us on our toes. At Snapdragons, we love every season, and we can’t wait to see what spring has to offer.
We would like to take a moment to reflect on a couple of exciting learning events that took place at Horfield recently, as well as share some exciting news and important information.
Lunar New Year
Lunar New Year was a week filled with a vibrant time for our children as they delved into the rich tapestry of Chinese culture and tradition. From exploring authentic objects on our learning table to engaging circle times about the Chinese zodiac and captivating stories about dragons and dumplings. Every age group had the opportunity to participate in an array of exciting activities.
Out in the garden, our little adventurers embarked on dragon hunt games and performed an adorable parade with a magnificent dragon that they crafted themselves. There were also culinary adventures such as making spring rolls and dragon cookie baking.
However, what truly stood out was the sheer delight that filled the room when our children were given the opportunity to use chopsticks to eat their delicious noodles with (even our little babies joined in). It was very charming to see our children’s determination and witness their appreciation for other cultures.
British Science Week
British Science week was a week full of fun and exploration as the children participated in an array of activities that lead to discovery and it was thoroughly enjoyed by all.
Our little scientists had a blast creating their own volcanos, lava lamps and magic potions. It was a delight to see their excitement as they explored basic chemical reactions.
The children also got involved with creative activities, such as creating their own fossils with clay, string and cup telephones and exploring the world of colour and temperature.
Our science learning table proved to be a treasure trove of exploration, where the children got the chance to look at real fossils closely, as well as peer through a microscope to observe specimens.
We are so proud of our children for their hands-on learning and enthusiasm during this week of curiosity.
Exciting News
Author Visit
We have some exciting news! Local author, Will Hamilton-Davies will be visiting our older children on Friday 10th May. He will be sharing a reading of his book, 'The Shrew With The Flu' in addition to running some fun and engaging activities with the children. You can find out more about Will and also purchase a signed copy of his book on his website
https://willhdofficial.co.uk/
Chloe & Jess’s Charity Run
Our very own Head of Rooms, Chloe and Jess are embarking on a charity run for Cancer Research UK. They are dedicating their time and effort to raise funds for a good cause. We encourage you all to support them in reaching their target by digging deep and contributing whatever you can. Every donation, no matter how big or small, will make a significant difference.
https://fundraise.cancerresearchuk.org/team/jess-and-chloes-team-1
Dates To Remember
Concept Photography
This year, Concept Photography will be onsite for the following days to capture some beautiful portraits of our children. If your child does not attend nursery on the noted days, you are welcome to email our office to book a slot for you and your child to pop in so they can have their photo taken. (horfield@snapdragonsnursery.com)
Tuesday 14th May
Wednesday 15th May
Wednesday 16th October
Thursday 17th October
Pre-School Celebration (Deer Room)
This is for the attention of Deer room families only. This year’s Pre-school celebration ceremony will take place on Saturday at 2pm on 20th July. You will receive an email closer to the time with all details. Please make a note that we kindly request that each child can be accompanied by 2 adults only. Unfortunately, we can’t accommodate any siblings at this event. We thank you in advance for your understanding on this.
Spooky S’mores
This year’s Spooky S’mores event falls on the evening of Monday 28th October. A fantastic opportunity to bond with fellow families and soak up the Halloween spirit.
Polite Reminders
Below are some important reminders to contribute to the smooth running of our children’s days.
Pre-existing Injury Forms
I would like to emphasise the importance of informing us about any injuries your child may have incurred prior to their arrival at the nursery. It is imperative that you fill out a pre-existing injury form when you drop them off at nursery, even if the injury seems minor. This ensures that we are aware of any conditions and can provide appropriate care and attention as needed.
Nursery Spare Clothing
If your child has borrowed any clothes from the nursery, we kindly request that you return them at your earliest convenience. This helps us to ensure that all items are available for all children to use when needed.
Personal Toys
We kindly ask that you refrain from bringing toys from home. This helps prevent sharing difficulties among the children and reduces the risk of items being misplaced or damaged. However, we do encourage the use of comforters if your child requires one to feel safe and secure during their time at the nursery.
Water Bottles
Please remember to provide a named water bottle for your child, which should be taken home regularly for washing. This helps us maintain hygiene standards and ensures that your child stays hydrated throughout the day. Please note that we do provide additional drinking cups for each child during every mealtime.
Weather Appropriate Clothing & Labelling Items
As we enjoy outdoor activities regardless of the weather, please ensure that your child is appropriately dressed with true waterproof clothing and footwear. This ensures that they can fully participate in our outdoor adventures without any discomfort. When the weather becomes hotter in the not-too-distant future, we would also like you to provide your little one with a sun hat.
Additionally, I kindly request that you label all clothing, shoes and personal belongings. This simple act greatly assists us in maintaining order and preventing items from being misplaced or confused with others.
Sun Cream & Nappy Creams
As the sun becomes stronger, it is crucial to protect our children from harmful UV rays so please do go ahead and provide a labelled sun cream that can stay at nursery. In line with this, we also advise you to provide a labelled nappy cream for your child just in case they might need it.
Messy Play
As you may already know, messy play is an intergral part of our curriculum where we encourage our children to self express and explore the world around them in a hands-on way. In order to fully engage in messy play, we kindly ask that you do not send your child into nursery in their Sunday best clothes. Instead, we encourage comfortable attire that you don’t mind getting messy so they can fully immerse themselves into activities. Aprons are always available for use, however sometimes the act of putting on an apron can interrupt the flow of play. I want to reassure you that our staff will do their best to keep our children clean, however there will be times where they will prioritise the joy of learning over keeping clothes pristine.
Thank you for your attention on this newsletter. Your cooperation in these matters is greatly appreciated. Please remember, we are always here if you would like to discuss anything. We look forward to enjoying the sunny days ahead with your little ones. See you around the nursery.
Jojo, Jenny and Team Horfield
February Newsletter 2024
Dear Parents & Carers,
I hope this newsletter finds you well and that you’re enjoying February as much as we are. As always, I have some exciting information to share from our nursery and before I delve into the details, I do apologise in advance that it’s quite lengthy. I assure you that every word is important as we share lots of news and updates so here goes…
RSPB Bird Watch Week
In January, we had an exciting week celebrating RSPB Bird Watch week, engaging our little ones into the world of birds, feathers, nature and bird song. We were also very grateful to a member of the RSPB for kindly lending us some binoculars, bird feeders and lots of other learning resources for the nursery to use for the week. Each age group delved into various bird-themed activities, sparking curiosity and creativity in our children. Here's a glimpse of what they all got up to.
Babies
Our youngest adventurers had a blast by being introduced to the world of birds through feather painting, bird themed sensory play and bird stories. It was heartwarming to witness their wonder and delight as they interacted with these adorable activities. Through feather painting and bird themed sensory play, they explored different colours and textures whilst enhancing their creativity and fine motor skills development. They also listened to bird stories where they absorbed new sounds, words and rhythm.
Toddlers
Our little toddlers were busy explorers as they delved into the fascinating world of our bird friends. Through hands-on activities like using magnifying glasses to find mini birds and insects in tuff tray setups, they've honed their observation skills and developed an appreciation for nature. They were also engaging in sensory play opportunities with natural items, role play eggs and small world birds which provided tactile experiences. During our circle times, toddlers eagerly participated in learning about different bird species and enjoyed bird related stories, expanding their vocabulary and understanding of the world around them. During garden time, they adored exploring the binoculars, attempting to spot birds in their natural habitat.
Rising 3’s and Pre-School
Our biggest adventurers embarked on a learning journey that dived deep into the world of birds and nature. Through hands-on activities like crafting their own birds and nests with clay, play dough and natural objects, they explored and exercised their fine motor skills and creativity. Artistic opportunities such as feather collages and bird painting allowed them to express their imagination and explore colours. The children also had the opportunity to make their own bird feeders and learnt about the importance of providing food for birds. Through focused learning times, they embarked on a fascinating journey about different bird species with activities such as bird bingo, flashcards and stories which expanded their knowledge of bird identification. As part of our outdoor play, our children also carried out a ‘We’re going on a Bird Hunt Adventure’ armed with binoculars to spot our feathered friends.
Children’s Mental Health Week & National Story Telling Week
In January, we also celebrated Children's Mental Health Week, which coincided with National Storytelling Week. Our nursery embraced this opportunity to focus on the well-being of our little ones, combining it with the joy of storytelling. Our reception area transformed into a cozy corner filled with masses of beloved books, inviting children of all ages to immerse themselves into a story or two. Alongside captivating tales, we offered well-being breakfasts, soothing yoga activities, enriching local trips and lots of other activities all aimed at promoting the well-being of our children.
As always, we are immensely grateful to our dedicated team for facilitating these fantastic opportunities for our children.
Upcoming Events
World Book Day 2024
World Book Day falls on Thursday 7th March and it’s one of our favourite events of the year. This is a nationwide celebration of authors, illustrators and books. We invite your children to come dressed up as a book character of their choice for the day, whether it’s animals, classical fairy tale favourites, superheroes or princesses. We invite you and your child to be as imaginative as you like. This event promises to deliver a day of fun and literary adventures.
British Science Week
In March, we will spend an exciting week of exploration and discovery during British Science Week. And this is where we would like to reach out to our community for a little assistance. If any of our families work in schools or have connections to educational settings and would be willing to donate any child-friendly science-related items, we would be incredibly grateful. Whether it’s empty bottles, petri dishes, food colouring, pipettes, foil, science materials, beakers, weighing scales, magnifying glasses, goggles or even old science books. Every contribution helps to enrich our children's learning experiences.
Staffing Updates
Amy, our Administrator is sadly departing Team Horfield. She has found a new role that better suits her family routine. We’re so grateful for the warmth and dedication she has bought into our community, and we wish her all the best. Amy’s last day will be Wednesday 20th March.
Assessments
I wanted to take a moment to shed light on our assessment procedures and how they play a crucial role in your child's developmental journey.
It's essential to note that our Practitioners can only assess children based on what they observe during your child’s time at our nursery. It's quite common for Practitioners to make judgments regarding a child's development based on what they see during nursery life. However, it's also common for parents to sometimes disagree with certain statements made in the assessments. This discrepancy often arises because children are unique individuals who may behave differently in various environments. Please don't worry if you find yourself in this situation. As your child becomes more settled into the routine of nursery, Practitioners typically witness significant growth and progress in their development as your child becomes more comfortable.
When children initially join us, we conduct something called a baseline assessment to understand their current developmental stage. This is usually conducted once the child is settled and Practitioners have built up lots of knowledge about them. It's important to remember that children behave and learn differently in a nursery environment compared to their home. Therefore, if a practitioner mentions observations that differ from what you see at home, it's natural to have concerns. Rest assured, as your child adapts to the nursery environment and routine, their development will become more evident.
Around the age of two and a half to three years, we conduct a mandatory assessment known as the 2-year check, as required by the Early Years Foundation Stage. This assessment is a legal requirement and allows us to effectively monitor your child's progress.
Furthermore, please know that we only conduct assessments three times a year and we typically only assess children who we believe may benefit from one. This could be due to various factors such as learning English as an additional language, having additional needs or perhaps they may require support in a specific area of development. There are many factors considered for a Practitioner to carry out an assessment and rest assured we will only do one if we feel it’s necessary and beneficial for your child.
Assessments are an excellent way of monitoring a child's development and can help Practitioners implement interventions if necessary. We want to assure you that our goal is to work in partnership with you to ensure we are collectively supporting your child's growth and development. And please feel free to reach out to us if you have any questions or concerns regarding your child’s assessment or development. We are always committed to providing support to your child’s journey with us.
Date Reminders
Parent’s Evening
This year’s parent’s evenings will be on Tuesday 23rd April and Thursday 24th October. This will give you the opportunity for a 10 minute chat with your child’s Key Person to discuss their progress, development and any questions you may have. Please note that we don’t offer parent’s evening slots for children who have been with us less than two months.
Deer Room Pre-school Graduation
It may be a while away but you know it’s going to come fast. This year’s Pre-school graduation will take place on the afternoon of Saturday 20th July where we will celebrate the accomplishments of our Pre-school children as they take their next big step to primary school.
Friendly Reminders
Nappy Creams
Please provide nappy cream with your child’s name on it. This ensures we can attend to their needs effectively.
No mobile phones
We have noticed an increase in parents using mobile phones inside the nursery. Please be reminded that the use of mobiles is prohibited onsite. This policy is in place to safeguard our children. Please do not be offended if a staff member reminds you of this rule.
Pre-existing Injuries
If your child arrives with an injury such as a cut, bruise, bump or any other wounds, it's crucial that you fill out a pre-existing injury form the moment you drop them into the nursery. This helps us ensure proper care and documentation for your child's well-being.
End Of The Day Pick Up
Please ensure punctuality when picking up your child at the end of the day as late arrivals can disrupt our closing routine. Handovers will not be given to families who arrive after 6 p.m. as our staff need to finish promptly to return to their own families. If you wish to have time to chat with our practitioners, we encourage you to arrive early.
Thank you for your attention on this lengthy newsletter. If you have any questions or anything you’d like to discuss, feel free to reach out. We continue to look forward to providing the best care and education for your little ones.
See you around the nursery.
Jojo, Jenny and Team Horfield
November Newsletter 2023
Dear Parents & Carers,
I hope this newsletter finds you all well. As the season becomes crisp and cold, I’d like to share some exciting happenings and other important information from our Horfield nursery.
World Space Week
Read on to find out what cosmic journey your little ones embarked on...
Hedgehog Room- Babies
Our babies had a blast exploring the mysteries of space through play. They used their little hands to experience cosmic playdough along with other space themed sensory activities that enhanced their fine motor skills. They also got creative with crafting their own alien contact hats and delved into galaxy art play, sparking their creativity and imagination. The babies also engaged with songs about Zooming to the Moon and touch and feel books about astronauts, space buggys and stars, these activities allow our babies to develop a love for storytelling.
Squirrel Room & Otter Room- Toddlers
Our toddlers delved into some artistic teamwork by building a giant rocket together, this activity encouraged collaboration and helped develop their motor skills. They also explored cosmos face painting that allowed them to learn about celestial objects, as well as explore being imaginative. Toddlers also got involved in our culinary experience of baking space rock cookies where they explored basic cooking skills, as well as learnt about shapes, sizes, quantities and textures. Other exciting activities were alien scavenger hunts and space themed circle times about Blasting off to the Moon, as well as oodles of galaxy themed stories.
Badger Room & Deer Room- Rising 3’s and Preschool
Our bigger children of the nursery embarked on a comprehensive journey of learning. They dived into classic stories with props, like "Whatever Next," where a bear finds his own rocket and picnics on the moon. The use of props during story telling allows our children to have an interactive experience. They explored our solar system and soaked up key facts about each planet and they moved onto an artistic journey as they worked together to paint these stunning planets. The children also got involved in various space themed arts and crafts, where they crafted their own play dough aliens and rockets. These activities nurtured their imaginations and encouraged them to invent their own stories. They were also captivated by the story of "Man on the Moon," learning about the life of an astronaut, this added a real-world perspective to their space exploration adventures.
Each age group had a unique experience, ensuring not only did they have fun but also gained valuable skills during World Space Week. And to add to all the excitement, our awesome kitchen team (George & Natalie) served up an incredible galaxy themed menu which delighted our little astronauts. It was a joy to see our children so eager to explore and learn, and we can’t wait to do it all again next year. We are proud of our team for facilitating such an epic week of fun filled learning.
Black history Month
For October, our nursery embarked on a month of wonderful activities and learning experiences based on Black History Month. It was a time of exploration, creativity and celebration of African and African American culture.
Djembe Drumming & Dancing
Our children had a blast during their circle time sessions, which were centered around the rich traditions of African culture. They danced and drummed to the rhythmic beats of a Djembe drum, experiencing the joy of music and movement. The smiles on their faces as they explored the sounds of the drum were truly heartwarming. (Fun fact about Jenny our Deputy Manager, she has been drumming for 12 years and is currently in a band called Afon Sistema)
Black History Book Display
All age groups enjoyed our book display that had an array of age-appropriate books based on the theme of Black History Month. They were captivated by various classic tales such as ‘Handa’s surprise’ and ‘We’re going On A Lion Hunt’. Our book collection also introduced our children on historical figures such as Rosa Parks and Martin Luther King Jr and other influential individuals who made significant contributions to Black history.
Culinary Experiences
Following the storytelling sessions, children had the opportunity to get involved with the story by trying the exotic fruits that Handa carried on her journey. It was a fantastic opportunity for them to explore new flavors and expand their palates while connecting with the story's cultural context. In addition to our activities, the baking of Jamaican ginger cake was another hands-on experience that allowed the children to appreciate the culinary heritage of the Caribbean. And once again, our fabulous kitchen team whipped up a Black History Month themed menu that brought the richness of African and African-American cuisine to our tables. The children enjoyed delicious dishes inspired by various cultural traditions, further enhancing their understanding and appreciation of diverse foods.
These activities weren't just fun, they were educational experiences that provided a platform for children to learn about different cultures, traditions and history. By teaching them about diversity and the importance of celebrating it, we aim to foster a deep sense of understanding and inclusivity from a young age.
We are proud to be committed to fostering an environment where cultural diversity is celebrated, allowing our children to learn, grow and develop an appreciation for culture from around the world. As we reflect on the enriching experiences from our Black History Month, we would love for you to reach out to us and make suggestions of any ideas, cultural traditions or celebrations you would like us to deliver to our children. Your involvement will not only enhance our curriculum but also foster love and respect for different cultures among our children. We believe that celebrating diverse backgrounds is essential and your input would be much appreciated.
Reminders
Illness Policy
As we are now in the flu/cold season, please kindly remember our illness policy. If your child is unwell with symptoms such as a fever, heavy cough or they are generally poorly, we appreciate you keeping them at home for rest and recover. This will help maintain a healthy environment for our children and staff.
No Mobile Phones
To ensure the safety and privacy of all children, we kindly request that mobile phones not be used on-site. This policy is in place to uphold safeguarding measures and your cooperation in refraining from mobile phone use during your time at the nursery is greatly appreciated.
6pm Closure
A gentle reminder that our nursery closes promptly at 6pm. This ensures our dedicated practitioners have valuable time to be with their families too. If you require a handover, please aim to arrive with plenty of time before 6pm. Kindly note that handovers cannot be accommodated past 6pm to ensure a smooth transition for our staff to close their rooms. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation in respecting our closing hours.
Events
27th November Christmas Jumper and Clothing Swap
For the week commencing 27th November, we're excited to announce our Christmas jumper swap event. This initiative not only saves you money but also promotes sustainability by reusing jumpers. Here's how it works: Bring in gently used or outgrown Christmas jumpers or Christmas clothing and exchange them for another one. It's a fantastic way to refresh your child's festive wardrobe without spending extra money and contributes to reducing textile waste which benefits our planet.
29th November Spooky S’mores 5.30pm-7.00pm
Last call for our upcoming S'mores evening, a delightful family event filled with warmth and gooey treats. We still have a few remaining spaces available for families and children to join in the fun. Secure your spot by contacting us at horfield@snapdragonsnursery.com
Friday 8th December Preschool Nativity
FAO Preschool families, the countdown to our nativity is well on the way and the anticipation is building as we prepare to showcase our little stars on the stage, spreading love and joy with their adorable performances. By now you will have been made aware of your child’s performance time, if not, please speak to a member of staff in the office and they can assist you.
Monday 11th December Christmas Party
Get ready for some festive fun! You're cordially invited to join us for our Christmas Party on Monday 11th December starting at 3:00 PM then wrapping up the celebration by 4:30 PM. It's a delightful occasion filled with merriment, activities and festive cheer. Children attending nursery on this day will be part of our special festivities. However, we extend a warm welcome to children who don't usually attend on Mondays, provided they are accompanied by an adult. To secure your spot, please contact us on the above email address. Festive clothes and Christmas jumpers are encouraged.
Friday 15th December Christmas Lunch
Our scrumptious Christmas lunch will be served to the children on Friday 15th December, and it will be sure to fill their tummies with joy. And once again, festive clothes/ Christmas jumpers are encouraged.
Christmas Closure
And lastly, we would like to remind you of our Christmas closure dates. Children attending term time only will finish on Friday 15th December. All year-round children will finish on Friday 22nd December. Our nursery will reopen on Tuesday 2nd January.
As always, we thank you for entrusting us with your children’s early education. Over the next few weeks, we look forward to creating more memories as we enjoy the fun build up to Christmas and bring on the festive spirit. See you around the nursery.
Jojo, Jenny & Team Horfield
September Newsletter 2023
Dear Parents and carers,
We hope this newsletter finds you all well. As always, we have lots of exciting news and updates to share from our nursery.
Art Week Celebrations
Art week was a creative blast in each of our rooms. The children were so enthusiastic to discover their inner artists as they explored the work of some world-famous artists and engaged in a whole variety of creative and artistic experiences. Here's a glimpse of what each room has been up to…
Babies:
Our babies worked together and practiced their fine motor skills by using paint brushes to paint giant canvases that fostered their creativity and dexterity. They also had fun experimenting with colours and foam by using kitchen utensils as well as their little hands which enhanced their sensory experience.
Toddlers & Younger Toddlers:
Toddlers dived into the world of art by channelling their inner Picasso. They created masterpieces through face painting and moulded their imaginations with clay. There was lots of fun had and plentiful smiles as they let their creativity flow with spray bottle art.
Preschool:
Our new preschoolers embarked on an artistic journey through the works of Vincent van Gogh as well as other artists. They delved into the world of sunflowers, creating their own interpretations through drawing and painting. They also produced large scale drawings which sparked conversations about colours and artistic expressions.
We are incredibly proud of our little artists and the fantastic staff who facilitated these enriching experiences.
Chef of the Year
We are immensely proud to announce that our very own Chef, George has been nominated for the prestigious "Nursery Chef” award at this year’s NMT Nursery Awards. George has been a culinary wizard in our nursery kitchen, creating delicious and nutritious meals that our little ones adore. (Fun fact about George, he is also a professional Irish dancer!) Join us in cheering for him and wishing him the best of luck at the upcoming awards ceremony this November.
Upcoming Events
Charity Cake Sale
On Wednesday 20th September, we will be hosting a delightful cake sale to raise money for Bristol Children’s Charity. On this day, please head to the reception area and pick up a delicious treat and help us raise funds for this wonderful charity.
World Space Week
On Wednesday 4th to 10th October, we will be celebrating World Space Week. Our children will embark on a cosmic journey for the week to learn all about the mysteries of space. As part of the celebrations, on Wednesday 4th we would like to invite the children to dress up as astronauts, stars, planets, aliens or any space themed fancy dress. To complement this, our talented chef, George will prepare a space themed menu that will transport our children to the far reaches of the galaxy.
Halloween Party
More fancy-dress fun! (Fun fact about Jojo, Halloween is her favorite time of year!). Calling all little ghouls and goblins. Our spooktacular Halloween party will be held on Tuesday 31st October at 3pm. If your child doesn’t attend nursery on a Tuesday, they are welcome to come in and join in with the fun, providing they have an adult to accompany them for the event. Parents are also welcome to join in so if you would like to attend, please drop an email to our office to reserve a space: horfield@snapdragonsnusery.com
Reminders
Toys:
We kindly ask that you refrain from bringing personal toys into the nursery. Bringing toys from home can sometimes lead to misplacement and sharing difficulties. However, we do encourage the use of comforters or familiar items that provide comfort to your child during unsettled periods and sleep times.
Weather Appropriate Clothing:
As we transition into cooler and wet weather, please ensure that your child is dressed appropriately for the changing seasons. Labelling your child's clothing and belongings is essential to prevent mix-ups. Please note that we prefer true waterproof clothing for rainy days rather than shower-proof items to keep your child dry and comfortable during outdoor play.
Named Water Bottle:
Each child should have a water bottle with their name clearly visible. Hydration is essential, especially during active playtime, and having a personal water bottle helps us ensure that your child stays refreshed throughout the day. For mealtimes, your child will be provided with an additional cup/sippy cup for drinking.
Teething Gel/ Nappy Creams:
For our younger children who may be teething, please provide a labelled teething gel if needed and let the team know that it is in your child’s bag if needed. Additionally, if your child requires nappy cream, we do provide Sudocrem but you are welcome to provide your own with your child’s name clearly visible. Your child's comfort is our priority, and these items help us provide personalized care.
Staff Changes
Our beloved Baby Room Head, Cassie will be sadly departing our setting and her last day with us will be Thursday 19th October. Cassie has been an integral part of our Snapdragons family and we are sad to see her go, but we also celebrate as she embarks on a new journey in her life.
We're thrilled to introduce a couple of new faces to our nursery team. Paige and Kiane who is based in our Squirrel Toddler room and Ceren who is based in our Hedgehog Baby room. Please join us in giving them a warm welcome as they both settle into our nursery community.
That’s all for now. Stay tuned and we look forward to sharing more updates in our next newsletter. Thank you for being a part of our wonderful nursery community. Your support and involvement make all the difference. See you around the nursery!
Jojo, Jenny and Team Horfield
Welcome to 2021!
Welcome back!
We hope you had a lovely Christmas, despite the very odd and unsettling times. The children have settled back into nursery life here at Horfield and we are so excited to show you what we have been up to!
Snapdragons Sports Week
“This is so amazing. Can I share it on Instagram?”
The children have kept warm in the icy weather this month by taking part in Snapdragons’ sports week. Physical activity has countless health benefits for children. Not only does it improve a child’s overall health and fitness but it also benefits our mental health and cognitive development too. Here, at Horfield all our children (from our Baby room, right up to Pre-school) have been getting involved in a wide range of physical activities throughout the week. We even participated in Joe Wicks’ PE challenge. Pre-school impressed everyone here at Snapdragons and EVEN IMPRESSED JO! That’s right! Jo Wicks saw our workout video on Twitter, retweeted and asked if he could tag us on Instagram! A huge well done to everyone involved.
Check out our workout video here. https://twitter.com/horfieldsnap/status/1350016587445710848
Pre-school awards ceremony
Following on from sports week, the Pre-school children attended an awards ceremony to collect their medals.
EYFS - Personal, Social, Emotional Development - Welcomes and values praise for what they have done
We are Problem Solvers!
The children in our Younger Toddler room have been demonstrating their curiosity by exploring shape and space in their environment. They used measuring tapes, rulers and pencils to investigate shape and size.
EYFS - Mathematics: Shape Space & Measure:
Showing a ‘can do’ attitude
The children in our Older Toddler room showed great confidence when using their own ideas to create different structures and arrangements. The children demonstrated a 'can do' attitude when using their imaginations and making houses for bugs.
Experimenting…
The Pre-school room have shown an interest in experiments, so following our discussion about icy weather and noticing the ice melt away in the garden, we decided to carry out a salt crystal experiment to observe the crystals growing. First we poured some water and salt into a cup and then mixed it together. Next we attached a piece of string to a stick so that the string was sitting in the water. Then we placed the cup in a warm environment and waited patiently for the magic to happen…the children were fascinated to see how the salt crystals had grown, they looked closely to observe the change.
We have been busy!
The children in our Baby room have enjoyed making pictures using various resources. It is important to provide young children with these opportunities so that they can learn, play and enjoy the physical and sensory experiences.
EYFS - Physical Development- Holds pen or crayon using a whole hand grasp and makes random marks with different strokes.
The children have also been interested in singing nursery rhymes. Signing and Makaton are great ways of supporting your baby’s communication and language, children can recognise important words and use the sign to ‘talk’ before using speech. The children have demonstrated their listening and understanding skills by joining in with the signs and actions at song time!
EYFS - Communication and Language- Enjoys rhymes and demonstrates listening by trying to join in with the actions or vocalisations.
Christmas at Horfield!
Happy New Year from everyone at Snapdragons Horfield!
We hope you all had an enjoyable Christmas break. It has been so lovely to see the children return!
Have a look at what we have been up to during the month of December!
The children at Snapdragons had such an exciting month getting ready for Christmas! They enjoyed getting involved in all our wonderful Christmas activities from wrapping presents and baking through to performing our pre-school nativity and dressing up to raise money for the National Elf Service day!
Although things were a little different this year, we still made sure we felt the magic of Christmas here at Snapdragons!
Take a look at what we’ve been up to…
Santa Claus is coming to town!
The children were excited about the prospect of Father Christmas visiting their homes and we talked about the elves getting busy in the North Pole wrapping presents to load onto the sleigh. We decided to write letters to Father Christmas and wrap our own presents here in pre-school! The children chose their own wrapping paper and ribbons, they stayed extremely focused when using their fine motor skills to wrap up their gifts. They let loose their vivid imaginations on the subject of what to ask Father Christmas for and wrote letters to Father Christmas all the way in the North Pole!
Baby room have been making biscuits!
The children in the baby room baked biscuits this month, they have enjoyed helping pour the ingredients and mixing with a spoon. We were very excited to see the finished result.
Look what we’ve made…
Pre-school made salt dough ornaments for their Christmas trees. The children carefully listened to the instructions and got to work; they enjoyed using the rolling pins to roll out their dough and then they chose a cutter to make their own Christmas ornament.
National Elf Service day
On Thursday 17th December Snapdragons Horfield celebrated National Elf Service day, the Snappy Team and all of our lovely families worked together to raise money for our local hospitals. We are extremely proud to say that we have reached our target of £500! We are still raising money on our Just Giving page, so please donate what you can and help us continue to raise money for such an amazing charity.
Here we are dressed up as Elves and our favourite Christmas characters spreading the Christmas cheer across the nursery!
https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/horfieldsnap?utm_source=Twitter&utm_medium=fundraising&utm_content=horfieldsnap&utm_campaign=pfp-tweet&utm_term=973bd4faa70d4ba783cc0a3957f54547
January 2020
Happy New Year!
Welcome to 2020!
We’ve kicked started the new year with focusing on our story of the month, The tiger who came to tea. The children have been getting up to all sorts of creative activities, storytelling, and recreating our own tea party in Toddlers!
Sunshine circles….In the January sun!
The Pre-school children had a lovely afternoon in the sun taking part in sunshine circles. Sunshine Circles is an interactive circle time that creates an atmosphere of fun, caring, acceptance and encouragement that leads to development in personal, social and emotional.
We also encourage the three rules of Sunshine Circles… No Hurts, Stick Together and Have Fun!
Forest School is underway! To start 2020 we have practiced using tools such as a bow saw and a drill to make medals. They also explored clay, charcoal and home made paints. Even rain didn’t stop us from great fun!
We’re Outstandingly GOOD!
A big round of applause and well deserved congratulations for our fantastic staff after our recent OFSTED inspection. The inspector was impressed and very complimentary, saying:
“Children flourish in this highly welcoming and nurturing nursery.”
“Staff value all the children as unique individuals. They have very high expectations and their enthusiasm to be there for the children is inspiring and infectious.”
“Babies are cherished and form close bonds with the calm and considerate staff who care for them. They enjoy the frequent cuddles and comfort they receive as and when needed.”
“Children are exceedingly curious and enthusiastic. They enjoy being outside and take part in fantastic outdoor experiences.”
“All children show an excellent attitude towards learning and their behaviour is exemplary.”
Overall the nursery was graded Good with Outstanding areas:
The quality of education: Good
Behaviour and attitudes: Outstanding
Personal development: Outstanding
Leadership and management: Good
Click below for OFSTED report:
December 2019
A very merry month of Christmas..
HO HO HO, OFF WE GO!
To start off December we thought it would be a great idea to spread some festive cheer at whitehall garden centre plus a visit to Shirehampton and Redland! The children had a busy morning exploring and taking in all the details of the fabulous decorations and displays throughout the garden centre. On our way to the exit we came across reindeers (real ones of course) the children were amazed and surprised that they even came to say hello!
Our adventure didn’t end at the garden centre, as on the way back to Horfield we stopped off at Shirehampton and Redland to present them with a festive hamper for all the hard working staff to wish them a very merry christmas from us all at Horfield!
A miracle in town!
“Our annual nativity plays in Preschool were fantastic all round. This year the play was ‘A miracle in Town.’
The children created a moving performance with wonderful singing and acting. A BIG round of applause to all the Pre-schoolers , and thank you to all the adults in attendance, you were a wonderful audience!”
Santa Claus is coming…. to Horfield!
We’ve had a special visitor from the north pole to join us for our Christmas parties, can you guess who it was?
We were all very excited to meet the man himself and to celebrate the festive period.
Silent night, Holy night..
All is calm, all is bright! The snappies Christmas carol night was a success, the staff put on a fantastic performance, followed with Niky’s solo which was a hit! we raised over £100 for the Marmalade Trust - a charity that tackles loneliness in Bristol. Thank you to all that was in attendance, we hope to see you for future events in 2020, watch this space.
All good in the Pud!
“Jamie Oliver retweeted us!
for our christmas lunch, the pre-schoolers done a fantastic job making over 90 yorkshire puddings from Jamie Oliver’s recipe book.
Jamie Oliver retweeted like and responded,
which made us all very excited!”
Books of the month - January 2020
The books of the month of January are the tiger who came to tea and poems for the very young.
Snappies superstars
Have you noticed a practitioner going above and beyond have you been impressed by a practitioners amazing story reading skills, does your child come home always talking about the same practitioner, do you love how well the team work together... Seen any of this going on? why not share this on our Snappies Superstar page and nominate an outstanding practitioner or team. Click on the big flashing star on any page of our website OR you can click below if you would like to vote now!
Meet and greet
If your child is transitioning to the next room, this is an opportunity for you to meet the staff and to be introduced to the room and a chance to explore the environment.
Babies moving to Younger Toddlers - Monday 27th January 2020 5-6pm
Younger Toddlers moving to Older Toddlers - Monday 3rd February 2020 5-6pm
Older Toddlers moving to Pre-School - Wednesday 5th February 2020 5-6pm
IMPORTANT INFORMATION
If your child has pre-existing medication before nursery, please complete the pre-existing medication form in your child’s base room then return it to the office once completed.
November 2019
Sparklers and Hot chocolate
Our sparklers and hot chocolate evening was a great success.
It was so lovely to see so many people join us to celebrate.
Thank you everyone for coming, we hope that you enjoyed it as much as we did
Throughout the nursery everyone has been having lots of fun raising money for BBC Children in Need.
The staff and the children have all been enjoying name the teddy, pajama day, superhero day, face painting, wearing spots for Pudsey and a yummy bake sale!
We have managed to raise over £200 for this fantastic cause. Thank you so much to everyone that joined in and donated.
Books of the month…
The books of the month for December are The Gruffalo’s Child and The Elves and the Shoemaker.
Snapdragons Christmas Carol Concert
Our lovely staff will be hosting a Christmas Carol Concert in aid of The Marmalade Trust. The Marmalade trust are a wonderful charity that are trying hard to tackle loneliness at Christmas.
Tickets are £2 each or £5 for a family ticket,hey can be purchased in the office.
We hope to see many of you there!
Dates for your diary…
Friday 6th December - Preschool Nativity. Please pay for the DVD/Video link from the office.
Monday 9th December - Younger toddler Christmas party.
Tuesday 10th December - Preschool Christmas party.
Thursday 12th December - Older toddler Christmas party.
Monday 16th December - Babies Christmas party.
Friday 20th December - Christmas lunch.
Notes…
With the weather becoming colder, can you please ensure that your child attends nursery with appropriate labelled cold weather clothing. Including winter coats, hats and gloves.
All DVD/Video links for the Nativity need to be paid for in the office ASAP. This will be cash only.
The photographs from Concept Photography are back. Please pop into the office and collect your photographs.
Snappy Superstars
Have you noticed a practitioner going above and beyond, have you been impressed by a practitioners amazing story reading skills, does your child come home always talking about the same practitioner, do you love how well the team work together... Seen any of this going on? why not share this on our Snappies Superstar page and nominate an outstanding practitioner or team. Click on the big flashing star on any page of our website.
July 2019
Goodbye Preschool!
Thank you all so much for coming along to our preschool graduation. It was excellent fun and we hope that you all enjoyed yourselves as much as we did!
To watch our graduation video, follow the link below.
Goodbye and good luck in your new adventures at big school!
If you’re happy and you know it…
Clap your hands!
Babies have been having huge amounts of fun singing and dancing. They love to get their bodies moving!
Younger toddlers have been using the dinosaurs to explore a range of objects and textures. These include:
Rocks
Sand
Sticks
Rice
Shaving foam
Touch & Feel
Is it hard? Is it soft? Is it rough? Is it smooth?
Crafty Creations!
Older Toddlers had huge amounts of fun getting messy and creative with arts and crafts this month.
They were inspired by the books of the month, “The Gruffalo” & “Where the Wild Things are”, to create their own creatures using lots of different materials.
Books of the month…
Books of the month for August are We’re Going on a Bear Hunt & Hairy McClary.
Snappy Superstars
Have you noticed a practitioner going above and beyond, have you been impressed by a practitioners amazing story reading skills, does your child come home always talking about the same practitioner, do you love how well the team work together... Seen any of this going on? why not share this on our Snappies Superstar page and nominate an outstanding practitioner or team. Click on the big flashing star on any page of our website.
August 2019
Splish Splash!
Babies have been learning all about washing and cleaning.
They have made the most of the nice weather in the garden and taken the time to give their toys a good old clean.
They really enjoyed the bubbles, even if they did end up on their and the practitioners face!
Younger Toddlers were discovering lots of different fruits.
They really enjoyed feeling, smelling and tasting the fruit!
Smile!
Older Toddlers have been talking all about their morning routine. They have been showing off their great teeth brushing skills!
Pre-school have been embracing “Snapdragons forest” learning …
They have been putting their concentration and hand eye coordination to the test.
They especially liked the tools!
Books of the month…
September books of the month are The Very Hungry Caterpillar, The Gingerbread Man & Handa’s Surprise.
Introducing “Snapdragons Forest” Learning
Paulina is currently studying for her Level 3 in Forest school. Please keep a lookout for new and exciting outdoor learning projects!
Snappy Superstars
Have you noticed a practitioner going above and beyond, have you been impressed by a practitioners amazing story reading skills, does your child come home always talking about the same practitioner, do you love how well the team work together... Seen any of this going on? why not share this on our Snappies Superstar page and nominate an outstanding practitioner or team. Click on the big flashing star on any page of our website.
September 2019
Preschool and older toddlers really enjoyed their visit from Zoolab this month!
Everyone was intrigued by the different animals they were shown by the Ranger.
The children were taught all about:
Rats
Giant snails
Bearded Dragons
Spiders
Younger toddlers have been using their skills to independently chop their vegetables to help make spring rolls. Yummy!
Thank you to everyone who helped us with our Macmillan coffee morning.
We had a wonderful coffee and cake filled day and raised an amazing £212.80!
Is it a bird? Is it a plane? No! It’s Katie!
Katie bravely jumped from 10,000 ft in the air to raise money for The Wallace & Gromit Grand Appeal. Amazingly she managed to raise over £700! Thank you to everybody that donated to such a wonderful cause.
Congratulations…
Well done to Faith who has completed her Early Years Studies at University, and to Beth K who has been accepted onto Early Years Teacher Training.
Welcome…
We would like to wish a warm welcome to Chloe who will be joining us next month as an apprentice in our Baby room.
We would also like to welcome back Allayha who has been spending some time at our Redland branch, and also to Abi who has returned from her summer away!
…Goodbye
We are saying a fond farewell to Polly, who is moving on to a new nursery. Good luck in your new role!
Dates for your diary
10/10/2019 - Hello Yellow. Please join us wearing yellow for world mental health day.
17/10/2019 - Concept Photography will be here. Please feel free to bring in siblings for photographs.
24/10/2019 - Parents evening. Appointments can be made with your child’s key worker.
31/10/2019 - Halloween Parties. Each room will be hosting their own spooky halloween party. Fancy dress is more than welcome!
Books of the month
The books of the month for October are Meg And Mog, Owl babies, and Room On The Broom.
Snappy Superstars
Have you noticed a practitioner going above and beyond, have you been impressed by a practitioners amazing story reading skills, does your child come home always talking about the same practitioner, do you love how well the team work together... Seen any of this going on? why not share this on our Snappies Superstar page and nominate an outstanding practitioner or team. Click on the big flashing star on any page of our website.
October 2019
Spooktacular Halloween Fun!
Throughout the nursery we have been having lots and lots of fun over the Halloween period. The children have loved being creative and carving pumpkins!
Babies, Toddlers and Preschool have all been showing off their artistic skills. They have all made some wonderful decorations for their halloween parties.
There have also been lots of other amazing Halloween activities happening.
We have had lovely storytimes, experimental potion making and a creepy crawlies hunt.
Not to mention some fantastic costumes for our Halloween parties!
Thank you to everyone that joined in with our Hello Yellow day for World Mental Health Day.
This month we had a very special visit from Avon and Somerset Police.
The children were able to explore the inside of their van, see the flashing lights, hear the sirens and even try on the police hats!
Congratulations…
We would like to wish a very well done to Emma, Beth A and Nick who have all qualified to Level 3 this month!
Another huge congratulations to Nick.
Not only has he completed his Level 3 apprenticeship, he has won the“Early Years Apprentice of the Year” award from Lifetime learner achievement awards!
Goodbye…
Sadly we are saying goodbye to David this month. He is heading off on his travels to Australia before heading back to Spain. We wish you all the best with your future!
We would like to wish all the best to Georgia who is starting her maternity leave this month. Good luck with the new arrival and we hope to see you soon!
…Hello
Lisa will be joining us next month as lunch cover in our baby rooms. She has lots of experience and is looking forward to starting here with us at Snapdragons Horfield.
Books of the month
The Books of the month for November are Whatever Next and Goodnight moon.
Dates for your diary…
04/11/2019 - Please join us from 5-6pm for hot chocolate and sparklers.
11th - 15th November is Children in Need fundraising week. We have a range of fundraisers happening throughout the week. Please join in with as much as you can for an absolutely amazing charity.
11/11/2019 - Name the Teddy.
12/11/2019 - Pyjama day.
13/11/2019 - Face painting day.
14/11/2019 - Superhero day.
15/11/2019 - Wear spots and a bake sale.
Notes
We have now received the proofs back from Concept Photography, please pop into the office to collect them.
With the new term fast approaching, we are sending out funding forms for children eligible for funding. These will also be in the office for collection.
With the weather becoming colder, can you please ensure that your child attends nursery with appropriate labelled cold weather clothing. Including winter coats, hats and gloves.
Snappy Superstars
Have you noticed a practitioner going above and beyond, have you been impressed by a practitioners amazing story reading skills, does your child come home always talking about the same practitioner, do you love how well the team work together... Seen any of this going on? why not share this on our Snappies Superstar page and nominate an outstanding practitioner or team. Click on the big flashing star on any page of our website.
June 2019
Fun in the sun!
Our babies have been making the most of the wonderful weather that we have been having this month. They have really enjoyed taking trips to the park to play on the swings and slide.
It has been music and mayhem for our younger toddlers. They have had enormous amounts of fun making their own shaker bottles as well as using household objects as instruments.
Magic beans…
Following on from our book of the month, Jack and the beanstalk, our older toddlers did some excellent story telling with each other. They used their toys to act out all the different parts of the story.
Preschool children put their building hats on this month. They got their hands dirty and put all their motor skills to the test to see what they could construct.
Congratulations…
We are very proud to announce that Polly, Aliyah and Molly have all now qualified to level 3.
Laura Daniels has completed her Early Years Foundation degree and Faith has graduated with BA Hons in Early Childhood Studies.
We would also like to wish a warm welcome back to Jess, who has recently returned back from maternity leave.
Books of the month…
July’s books of the month are Dear Zoo, The Gruffalo and Where the wild things are.
A polite reminder, please do not let your child bring toys in to the nursery. It is becoming increasingly difficult to keep them safe and unfortunately the staff will no longer be taking responsibility for lost items. We often find that staff are staying behind after closing hours to search for lost items, they all work incredibly hard throughout the day and we would like them to get home on time. We would appreciate your support and understanding with this.
Snappy Superstars
Have you noticed a practitioner going above and beyond, have you been impressed by a practitioners amazing story reading skills, does your child come home always talking about the same practitioner, do you love how well the team work together... Seen any of this going on? why not share this on our Snappies Superstar page and nominate an outstanding practitioner or team. Click on the big flashing star on any page of our website.
May 2019
Fun at the Farm
What a lovely time Preschool had on the Warleigh Lodge farm trip. The children enjoyed feeding the animals, and carefully collecting eggs from the chickens. The children had roly poly races down the hill and enjoyed a tractor ride to see more of the farm. To cool off after all the fun the children got to splash around in the stream.
Babies park trip
As we start to enter the summer months expect to hear more about our exciting outings. Babies had lots of fun at the park playing on the climbing frame and slide. They even took a trip to the recycling bank and help to recycle our bottles.
Following on from our story of the month Younger Toddlers made pictures of the Billy Goats Gruff. They used different collage materials to create textured pictures.
Pyjamarama
Booktrust is a charity to support families help develop a love of reading.
To raise awareness for the charity we held a pyjama party where the children enjoyed milk and stories before home time.
Thank you to everyone who donated money, we managed to raise £43.81!
Dates for your diary and other news…
Fathers, breakfast is on us! Friday 14th June, there will be croissants and coffee for any Dad’s dropping off children.
It’s coming up to that time where we say farewell to the Preschool children going to school. To celebrate we will be having a Graduation Party on Saturday 6th July at 10am - 1pm.
A polite reminder, please do not let your child bring toys in to the nursery. It is becoming increasingly difficult to keep them safe and unfortunately the staff will no longer be taking responsibility for lost items. We often find that staff are staying behind after closing hours to search for lost items, they all work incredibly hard throughout the day and we would like them to get home on time. We would appreciate your support and understanding with this.
Farewells..
We are really sad to announce that Charlotte our wonderful admin will no longer be with us. Charlotte is taking time out to travel and spend time with her family. She will be greatly missed and we wish her all the best in her new adventures.
Welcomes…
We would like to welcome Stevie who joins us as the new admin at Horfield. She has lots of customer service experience and is looking forward to meeting all the families and children. Be sure to say hello!
Lydia will be joining our Toddler team as a Level 2 practitioner. She enjoys messy play and making playdoh.
Kasey will be joining our Baby team as an apprentice. She enjoys cuddles and reading stories.
Book of the month…
June’s book of the month is Jack and the Beanstalk.
Theme of the month…
June’s theme of the month is Expressive Arts and Design.
Snappy Superstars
Have you noticed a practitioner going above and beyond, have you been impressed by a practitioners amazing story reading skills, does your child come home always talking about the same practitioner, do you love how well the team work together... Seen any of this going on? why not share this on our Snappies Superstar page and nominate an outstanding practitioner or team. Click on the big flashing star on any page of our website.
April 2019
I’ll huff and I’ll puff…
Following on from the story of the month Toddlers reenacted The Three Little Pigs building houses out of sticks and bricks, talking about which house is the strongest.
Easter at Horfield
The children celebrated Easter by taking part in a range of activities. Babies explored a sensory tray full of chicks and eggs whilst Toddlers played place the tail on the bunny.
Thank you to everyone that came to the Easter Tea, we hope you enjoyed it as much as we did. The children had lots of fun taking part in our Easter egg hunt and enjoyed having a visit from our special guest, the Easter Bunny. We were also very impressed with the children’s homemade Easter bonnets!
Budding Scientists
Preschool looked under the microscope at a variety of natural objects, describing what they could see up close.
Dates for your diary…
Concept Photograph will be coming to the nursery on Monday 24th June to take pictures of the children.
For the children that attend of Thursdays, we will be having a Pyjamarama party on 31st May from 6 - 6:30pm. Children can dress in their Pj’s and we will provide warm milk and bedtime stories.
Our school leavers Warleigh Lodge trip is fast approaching on week commencing 20th May. Please can you return any outstanding permission slips to the office as soon as possible.
Don’t forget that Parents Evening takes place on Monday 20th May from 6pm. If you haven’t signed up to speak with you child’s key worker, there is still time to do so. You can find available time slots on door of your child’s room.
Other news…
Staff Changes.
We see all staff changes as a positive development to the nursery as it gives the team a chance to share their skills and knowledge with others and bring new ideas to further support the children in our care. Staff changes will be taking place week commencing 6th May to support the children that are transitioning.
Beth H will be moving from Babies to Younger Toddlers to share her experience and support the Babies who are moving down to Youngers. Shannon will be moving from Olders to Younger Toddlers to share her skills and ideas. Emma from Older Toddlers to Babies to further her knowledge and understanding of child development. Niky will be moving to Older Toddlers to experience working with a slightly older age group. Tina from Youngers to Older Toddlers and is really excited for the new challenge.
If you have any questions regarding the staff changes, please do not hesitate to ask a member of the team or speak to Lucy or Harriet in the office.
Book of the month…
May’s book of the month is The Three Billy Goats Gruff
Theme of the month…
May’s theme of the month is Storytelling.
Snappy Superstars
Have you noticed a practitioner going above and beyond, have you been impressed by a practitioners amazing story reading skills, does your child come home always talking about the same practitioner, do you love how well the team work together... Seen any of this going on? why not share this on our Snappies Superstar page and nominate an outstanding practitioner or team. Click on the big flashing star on any page of our website.
March 2019
World Book Day
The Children celebrated World Book Day by dressing up as their favourite characters as well as bringing in their favourite story to share with their friends.
Red Nose Day
Thank you to everyone who helped us raise money for comic relief. We managed to raise an amazing £123.15!
Stop, look, listen.
We supported the children to understand road safety by organising fun activities. We looked at pedestrian crossings and spoke about what the colours on traffic lights mean. The children were also able to bring in their scooters and role play road safety.
An afternoon spent with mum
What a brilliant afternoon we had for our Mother’s Day afternoon tea. The children enjoyed sharing their favourite nursery activities and having tea with their mummys.
Dates for your diary…
Please join us for an Easter Afternoon Tea on Thursday 18th April at 3:30-5pm. We will be joined by a very special guest and their will be an Easter egg hunt as well as a Easter bonnet parade.
The nursery will be closed on Friday 19th April and Monday 22nd April. We will open as usual from Tuesday 23rd April.
We would love for you to share the fun of you Easter weekend with us! Please feel free to add any photos or observations from your weekend on your parentzone account. We look forward to seeing what the children have been up to!
Parents Evening will take place on Monday 20th May. We will be putting appointment lists on the door of your child’s room, where you can sign up to have a chat with your child’s key worker.
Preschool, school leavers:
It’s coming up to that time of year again where we prepare to say goodbye to some of our Preschoolers who will be starting at school in September. On the Tuesday 21st May or Thursday 23rd May we will be taking a trip to Warleigh Lodge, we will provide you with more details closer to the dates. Our Graduation Party will take place on Saturday 13th July 10am - 1pm, more details will be available for this closer to the time.
Changes to Rooms
Laura will now be working in the Baby Room as a room leader and Jo will be working in the Older Toddlers Room as a room leader until her maternity begins.
Book of the month…
April’s book of the month is The Three Little Pigs.
Theme of the month…
April’s theme of the month is Understanding the World
Snappy Superstars
Have you noticed a practitioner going above and beyond, have you been impressed by a practitioners amazing story reading skills, does your child come home always talking about the same practitioner, do you love how well the team work together... Seen any of this going on? why not share this on our Snappies Superstar page and nominate an outstanding practitioner or team. Click on the big flashing star on any page of our website.
We hope you all have a lovely Easter.
February 2019
Chinese New Year
Preschool set the role play area up as a Chinese restaurant and went out for lunch for Chinese New Year. They practised using chopsticks picking up pompoms.
Older Toddlers practised their knife cutting skills, chopping vegetables for homemade spring rolls. They then enjoyed them as a delicious healthy snack.
Goldilocks and the Three Bears
Following on from our story of the month Toddlers made big, medium and small bear masks.
Shape, space and measure.
Preschool explored the weight of things, using our large scales to measure water and natural objects.
Messy Babies
Babies got really messy exploring the texture of paint using their hands and feet.
Book of the month…
March’s book of the month is Chicken Licken.
Theme of the month…
March’s theme of the month is Expressive Arts and Design.
Dates for your diary…
Beep Beep Day - 18th March. We will be raising awareness on road safety, we will be exploring the road safety basics through fun activities.
Red Nose Day - From week commencing 11th March we will be raising money for Red Nose Day. Noses will go on sale from Monday, you can buy these from the office. On Monday it’s a dress in red day, bring your child dressed in red. On Tuesday it’s Wrong Nose Day, wear your red nose or pay £1 to have your child’s nose painted. On Thursday we will be selling tea, coffee and hot cross buns in the morning. You can also take part in our sweepstake for a chance to win £30, pop into the office and pay £2 to take part! There will also be various activities going on throughout the nursery please speak with a member of the team to find out more.
Mothers Day - Friday 29th March. Join us for a Mothers Afternoon Tea from 3:30 - 5pm
Keep us updated!
If your details have recently changed it is really important that you let us know. You can email in any changes or you can edit your information on parent zone.
Snappy Superstars
Have you noticed a practitioner going above and beyond, have you been impressed by a practitioners amazing story reading skills, does your child come home always talking about the same practitioner, do you love how well the team work together... Seen any of this going on? why not share this on our Snappies Superstar page and nominate an outstanding practitioner or team. Click on the big flashing star on any page of our website.
January 2019
Run run as fast as you can…
Following on from our book of the month the children enjoyed exploring the story, The Ginger Bread Man. We made gingerbread biscuits and reenacted the story.
Number hunt
Preschool went on a number hunt in the garden. They worked together to identify and find the hidden numbers.
Parklife
Babies had lots of fun on an outing to the park. They explored the crunchy leaves and played on the slide and swings.
Book of the month
Februarys book of the month is Goldilocks and the Three Bears.
Theme of the month
February’s theme of the month is Shape, space and measure.
Farewells
Sadly Zoe has decided not to return to Snapdragons after her maternity leave as she wants to spend more time with Baby Violet. We are all very saddened by the news but wish Zoe and family all the very best in the future.
Welcomes
We would like to give a warm welcome to Niamh, Jasmine and Maddison. Niamh joins us as a nursery practitioner in the Preschool room. Jasmine is currently studying Early Childhood Education at university and joins us for 2 days a week in the Older Toddler room. Maddison joins us straight from school as a Level 2 apprentice in our Baby room.
Other News…
Waiting List: As our nursery is in such high demand we would like to make you aware that we have had to put all registrations on hold. Registrations for our baby room are now on hold until September 2020.
Child illnesses: It’s that time of year where we get those lingering illnesses such as the common cold and high temperatures. We all know that children love to explore using their hands and mouths which is why the spread of illnesses is much higher in a nursery environment. We ensure that our nursery environment and toys are cleaned and sterilised regularly but we urge you to make a sensible choice when bringing your child to nursery when poorly. Please remember that you must supply your own Calpol if you want your child to have this at nursery.
Snappy Superstars
Have you noticed a practitioner going above and beyond, have you been impressed by a practitioners amazing story reading skills, does your child come home always talking about the same practitioner, do you love how well the team work together... Seen any of this going on? why not share this on our Snappies Superstar page and nominate an outstanding practitioner or team. Click on the big flashing star on any page of our website.
December 2018
Santa Claus is coming to town!!!
Santa came to visit all the children during the Christmas parties.
The children had lots of fun at the Christmas parties; meeting Santa, receiving a gift, getting stuck in with a variety of different activities and making some lovely Christmas crafts.
Cosmic Chloe is here to play!!!
The Preschool children enjoyed some party games and a magic show from Cosmic Chloe- they had a great time Elfing around.
Christmas Jumpers, tree decorating and Christmas dinner!
Over the last few weeks the children have enjoyed taking part on all the festivities, so much to do, so much fun to be had.
Come all Ye’ Faithful
Preschool and Older Toddlers took a trip to the Bristol cathedral to join in with the Toddler carol service. They sang along with the carols and listened carefully to the nativity story.
National Elf Service Day
Our cheeky little Elves helped to raise £221.70 towards the Above and Beyond charity.
The children and staff dressed up as Elves and had lots of fun Elfing around for the day. Including the raffle, Elf Station and Dressing up we managed to raise a total of £221.70. Huge thank you to every body who took part and made a donation.
Thank you to Tesco, Horfield Leisure Centre, DW Sports, Hobgoblin, Crafty Cow, Play Space, The Wellington and all others who donated wonderful prizes to our Raffle.
Book of the Month…
Januarys book of the month is ‘The Ginger Bread Man’
Theme of the Month…
Januarys theme of the month is ‘Outdoors’
Welcome…
We would like to give a warm welcome to Maddison, Jasmine and Niamh who join our wonderful team in January.
Maddison will join us in the baby room
Jasmine will be joining us as part time support staff
Niamh will be joining the Preschool team.
Gentle reminder: we are closed for Christmas. Our last day will be 24/12/18 and our first day back will be 02/01/19.
Snappies Superstars
Have you noticed a practitioner going above and beyond, have you been impressed by a practitioners amazing story reading skills, does your child come home always talking about the same practitioner, do you love how well the team work together... Seen any of this going on? why not share this on our Snappies Superstar page and nominate an outstanding practitioner or team. Click on the big flashing star on any page of our website.