January Newsletter
Message from our accounts team:
We are receiving an increasing amount of payments via Tax Free Childcare accounts for the incorrect child or grouped together to pay for multiple children’s invoices. Please note for tax purposes we are only meant to receive TFC payments from each individual child’s TFC account, therefore if you have siblings at Snapdragon’s we would require a TFC payment from each individual child’s tax free childcare account to pay for each invoice. If you pay via banks transfer it would also be helpful if you make individual payments for each child you have at Snapdragon’s with a payment reference of the child’s name to make it clearly identifiable when the payments come through to us.
Nominate a Star!
Whatever Is there a staff member that you would like to be acknowledged for all their hard work this year or someone who you would just like to thank? At Snapdragons we run a reward scheme for our employees, nominations from parents mean stars for the staff that can go towards a range of different rewards and prizes which can include sweet treats, hampers, meal vouchers and even a trip to the spa, so if you would like to reward the staff remember to fill in the online form sharing your lovely words. Snappies Superstar — Snapdragons Nursery it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.
February Events!
17th - Pancake Day Pancakes!!
20th - Chinese New Year Menu
Potty Training Support - https://startingreception.co.uk/potty-training/
Hedgehogs
This month, Hedgehogs have been busy exploring and investigating colours. The babies have loved discovering what happens when we mix different colours together, watching with excitement as new colours appear before their eyes. They have also been exploring how different textures can be created through a variety of sensory activities, encouraging curiosity and hands-on learning. In the Hedgehog Room, we have been focusing on developing a love of stories and books. The babies have enjoyed exploring a range of textured books, feeling different materials and turning the pages independently. They have also spent special time listening to practitioners read stories, supporting early communication skills and nurturing a lifelong love of reading.
Squirrels
This month, Squirrels have been focusing on their wellbeing, exploring how to identify and understand different emotions and learning positive ways to express how they feel. They enjoyed taking time for self-care with a relaxing spa and sensory session, helping them to recognise the importance of looking after their minds and bodies. As part of our healthy eating activities, Squirrels taste-tested a variety of fruits and vegetables. They practised cutting skills safely and discussed different tastes and textures, discovering which foods they enjoyed and which ones were new to them. It was fantastic to see everyone being brave and trying something different! In January, our learning was also inspired by oceans. The children created their own ocean-themed tuff tray, using their imaginations to design underwater worlds. They enjoyed finding and naming different animals that live in the sea and explored textures we might discover at the beach, from smooth shells to rough sand.
Otters
This month, Otter Room have been busy exploring the wonderful world of animals. During Bird Week, the children got creative making their own beautiful bird collages, using a variety of materials and developing their fine motor skills. They also used different tools to “rescue” worms from the mud, strengthening their hand–eye coordination while learning about what birds like to eat. Outdoors, the children enjoyed spotting and identifying birds in our environment, encouraging observation skills and curiosity about nature. The Otters also investigated different materials as they worked together to build an igloo. They used gloop ice cubes as bricks and were fascinated to see what happened as the gloop began to melt. This hands-on experience sparked lots of discussion about temperature and changes in materials. To extend their learning about animals, the children explored mark making by discovering the different footprints animals have. They compared patterns, shapes and sizes, developing both their creativity and early understanding of the natural world.
Badgers
This month, Badger Room have been working hard to develop their maths skills. The children have loved using giant dominoes to recognise and match different numbers, while also practising turn-taking and teamwork with their friends. They even created their own number-based games, showing great confidence and creativity in their learning. Badger Room also went on an exciting imaginary “holiday” around the world! The children made their own passports and visited different countries, where they learned about animals, cultures and how people travel across the globe. It was wonderful to see their curiosity grow as they explored new places and experiences. Alongside this, the children have been investigating their emotions. They have been learning to recognise how they feel and developing strategies to support their self-regulation, helping them to manage big feelings in positive ways.
Deers
This month, dinosaurs stomped into Deer Room! The children explored how dinosaurs used to live and even set up their very own “Dino Café” to investigate what dinosaurs might have eaten. They built their own dinosaur lands using a range of 2D shapes, developing their creativity while strengthening their understanding of early maths concepts. Deer Room also enjoyed making their own breadsticks for snack time, carefully following instructions and taking pride in preparing their own food. As part of our “All About Me” topic, the children shared and read their favourite stories with one another, helping to build confidence and communication skills. They explored their emotions through the story of The Colour Monster, creating coloured handprints to represent different feelings and making their own marks to show each emotion. The children also discovered something that makes each of us unique — our fingerprints! They had lots of fun examining the different patterns and noticing how no two are the same.
