April 2024
Month in Pictures
Local Trips
Babies went on a little adventure in the Snapdragons minibus all the way to the town library, They loved choosing some books to read together and enjoyed exploring a new environment!
Chef’s Corner
This month is… Broccoli Pesto Pasta
Recipe:
400g Penne Pasta
250g Broccoli
1 clove of Garlic
Juice of half a lemon
5tbsp Olive oil
4tbsp Grated Parmesan
3tbsp Cream
5 Basil Leaves
Method:
Step 1: Boil pan of water before adding the pasta and cook according to the pack instructions. Meanwhile, bring a pan of salted water to the boil, add the Broccoli, and cook for 4 minutes then drain. Keep the drained water to one side.
Step 2: Blend together the broccoli, basil, garlic, olive oil, lemon juice, cream, and parmesan until it forms a paste. If a little thick use some of the drained water to dilute creating a sauce.
Step 3: Drain the pasta and return to the pan, stir in your broccoli pesto until all pasta is coated. Top with extra parmesan.
Serve and Enjoy.
Siblings Day
In Celebration of National Sibling’s Day our Babies invited their siblings to join them for a picnic tea. It was a lovely afternoon playing together and eating our pitta pizza and sweetcorn.
Our Panda children also invited their siblings in for a stay and play, showing them all around their room and taking part in biscuit decorating and face painting followed by a disco.
Dates for your Diary
Preschool Leavers Trip - Monday 1st and Friday 5th July
Pre-school leavers graduation - Saturday, August 3rd. Time to be confirmed for the morning.
Millie’s Mark
As part of our Millie’s Mark award, we were wondering if any parents with an expertise in either, healthcare, nutrition, or physical activity would like to come in and share any activities or knowledge with our children and staff. Please come and have a chat with Kim or Kayleigh if you are interested.
Millie’s Mark is a special endorsement for childcare providors that go above and beyond minimum requirments by having 100% of staff trained in paediatric first aid, and also ensuring that everything learned during the course is kept at the forefront of practitioners minds so that they are confident, ready and capable.
Read more about Millie’s Mark here: Millie's Mark | Inspiring Excellance in Paediatric First Aid (milliesmark.com)
Warm Weather
In hopes of the warm weather soon approaching, we kindly ask you start to provide suncream, sun hats and any other weather appropriate clothing. We are manifesting a warm, sunny summer with lots of outdoor fun
April Affirmations
Our Pre-school love their daily affirmations and would love to share them with you.
I am strong
I am kind
I am talented
I am so, so special and I can achieve anything
Nominate your Superstar
We love to hear from our families across Snapdragons about excellent service they have received. If someone at the nursery has impressed you, please fill in their details below and submit to the nursery. We run a rewards scheme for our teams and they can earn gifts by receiving nominations!
March 2024
We would like to wish all our families a Happy Easter! We hope you enjoy the long Easter Bank Holiday weekend, and we look forward to seeing you all again on Tuesday.
World Book Day
We celebrated World Book Day with the children on March 7th. We loved seeing the effort everyone put into their costumes! We spent time talking about our favourite books and shared them with our friends.
Babies Stay & Play
At the beginning of the month, Babies hosted a Stay & Play session, to celebrate Mother’s Day and International Women’s Day.
Across this month, we have taken inspiration from different events and festivities to enrich our play and learning.
Polar Bears combined “National Pie Day” and “National Plant Power Day”, to bake a mushroom and tofu pie, which they enjoyed eating at snack time. They didn’t leave “mush-room” for tea!
Flamingos also joined in with the “Plant Power Day” celebrations by making Sweet Potato Fries for their tea. They used their skills to practice chopping the potatoes, and discussed what vegetables needed to help them to grow.
In celebration of Ramadan, Babies explored a colourful tuff tray with moons and stars. Ramadan Mubarak!
Puffins and Babies have also been busy for “Science Week” Babies discovered what happened to water if you added some food colouring, mixing lots of different colours together.
Puffins have been learning about clouds and rain. They experimented making “clouds” in a jar, and watching some colourful raindrops drip down.
Chef’s Corner
Carrot Cake Traybake - This easy cake recipe is a great way to get the kids involved with some baking this Easter
Ingredients
200g carrots (peeled)
175g soft brown sugar
200g self-raising flour
1tsp bicarbonate of soda
2 tsp cinnamon
zest 1 orange
2 eggs
150ml sunflower oil
For the icing
50g softened butter
75g icing sugar
200g soft cheese
sprinkles, walnuts or your choice of topping (optional)
Method
Line an 18cm square tin with baking parchment. Turn the oven on to 180C/160C fan/gas 4.
Grate the carrots on the fine side of the grater, then tip them into a large bowl.
Sift the sugar, flour, bicarb and cinnamon on top of the carrot, then add the orange zest and mix everything around a bit.
Break the eggs into a bowl (scoop out any bits of shell), then add them to the bowl along with the oil. Mix everything together well.
Scoop the cake mix into your tin and level the top. Pop it in the oven for 30 minutes or until the cake is cooked. Cool.
To make the icing, mix the butter and icing sugar together, then stir in the soft cheese until smooth.
When the cake is cool, spread the top with the icing and cut into squares. Decorate with sprinkles, if you like.
Dates for your diaries
Panda’s Siblings Stay & Play - Thursday 11th April - 3.30pm-5pm
We would love to invite any Panda siblings along for some fun activities and snacks
Elmer Day - Wednesday 17th April - we invite you to celebrate the world of Elmer the Elephant with us - Wear your brightest clothes, mix and match patterns and go crazy!
Concept Photo Proofs due back - Friday 12th April
Nominate your Superstar
We love to hear from our families across Snapdragons about excellent service they have received. If someone at the nursery has impressed you, please fill in their details below and submit to the nursery. We run a rewards scheme for our teams and they can earn gifts by receiving nominations!
March Mindfulness
“the simple practice of bringing a gentle, accepting attitude to the present moment”
Try these simple mindfulness ideas at home to help promote self awareness and a sense of calm
Kids Yoga
Nature walks/Outdoor Scavenger Hunt
Morning Affirmations - “I am kind”, “I am brave”, “I am strong”, “I can achieve anything”
Rainbow/Square breathing
Read stories about different emotions - “The Koala who could”, “The Colour Monster” “Tom Percival - Big Bright Feelings Collection”
Listen to music - “ I love my body”, “Gracie’s World-ABC”
Spring planting in the garden.
5 Senses Exercise - Guide them in noticing five things within their sight, four things they can feel, three things they hear, two things their nose can smell, and one they can taste.
Make worry dolls
Avon Fire & Rescue Service
Avon Fire & Rescue Service are encouraging everyone to use the new Online Home Fire Safety Check to keep your home safer from fire risk.
The Online Home Fire Safety Check gives you personalised fire safety advice unique to you and your home. The check takes approximately 15 minutes and helps you explore risks in your home – completing the check and following advice could help save lives.
February 2024
We have had a lovely February here at Snapdragons. The children have been enjoying spending time outside and seeing some of the spring flowers starting to bloom. There has also been lots of celebrations, with Valentines day, Lunar New Year and Pancake day too!
Bread-y, Steady Bake - for Bread Week
All the children had great fun getting involved in baking for National Bread week.
Babies had a go at making garlic bread, and took turns to mix the ingredients into a dough. It went down great with the tomato soup at tea!
Toddlers made some Sicilian Fennel rolls and Rosemary Foccacia. They all loved helping to mix the ingredients and eating the bread too!
Pre-school enjoyed picking the herbs they have been taking care off to make thier own thyme and rosemary bread.
Trips and Visits
We’ve had a really exciting month with lots of local trips and visitors to the Nursery.
Babies took the bus to Keynsham - they loved watching the cars while waiting for the bus to arrive, and then stopped to have a play with some friends at our Keynsham nursery.
Wessex Water came to visit and the children learnt all about uses of water and had fun with stories and rhymes.
WOOO WOOO - It’s the sound of the police! Avon and Somerset Police came to pay us a visit - but don’t worry, no one got arrested!
Chef’s Corner
Inspired by Bread week - here is Veronica’s Nonna’s recipie for homemade Sicilian Fennel Rolls
Ingredients
1 package (2-1/4 teaspoon) dry yeast
350ml warm water, divided.
1 tablespoon sugar
500g bread flour
2 teaspoons salt
2 teaspoons fennel seeds
Olive oil for brushing the rolls
Method
Sprinkle the yeast into 200ml of the warm water. Add the sugar. Allow to rest for 5-10 minutes until foamy.
In a large bowl, combine the flour, salt, and fennel seeds. Add the yeast mixture to the flour. Stir to combine the ingredients; add the remaining water if the mixture is too dry.
Transfer the mixture to a lightly floured surface. Knead to make a smooth dough. Form the dough into a ball. Transfer the dough to a greased bowl.
Cover the bowl with a kitchen towel. Allow the dough to rise for 1-1/2 to 2 hours or until almost double in size.Punch the dough down and divide it into 4 equal size pieces. Shape the pieces into a round roll. Place the rolls on a greased baking sheet. Cover the rolls with a kitchen towel and let them rise for 1 hour.
Preheat the oven to 200 degrees.
Brush the top of each roll with some olive oil. With a sharp knife, cut a cross into the top of each roll. Bake for 15 to 20 minutes, or until the rolls are golden brown. Remove from the oven and cool on the baking sheet.
Conjunctivitis
Conjunctivitis is a common eye condition, particularly for children in Early Years settings. It can be caused by infection or allergy. Infectious conjunctivitis is contagious and spreads easily, particularly in nursery environments.
Children (and adults) with conjunctivitis may have sore, gritty eyes which can be watery and itchy. There will be pus and ‘sleepy’ discharge. NHS guidance is not to rub the eyes (which is obviously very tricky for our youngest children!)
Though the NHS suggests that there is no exclusion period for conjunctivitis we also take advice from the Department for Education. Therefore, if you child has the above symptoms we ask that they are seen by a doctor or pharmacist and given treatment for 24 hours prior to their return to nursery.
Treatment may be to keep eyes clean with cool boiled water and cotton wool or to rest a cool flannel over the eyes. Pharmacists can prescribe eye drops for children over two years of age but younger children will need to be seen by their GP if cool boiled water is not clearing the infection.
If your child is suffering from the above you should change all bedding and comforters (and anything else they may have wiped their face on) and please keep children home for at least 24 hours to protect the other children (and staff) in the settings. If eyes are not improving or their condition worsens we advise seeking further medical attention.
Please call 111 or seek further advice immediately if your child has pain in the eyes, changes to their vision, very red eyes or sensitivity to light as this could be indicative of a more serious eye infection.
We appreciate your support in keeping everyone safe and reducing the spread of infection.
Dates for your diaries
Babies - Stay & Play for International Women’s Day - Tuesday 5th March 3pm - 4.30pm
World Book Day - 7th March - We invite you to come dresed as your favourite character
Nominate your Superstar
We love to hear from our families across Snapdragons about excellent service they have received. If someone at the nursery has impressed you, please fill in their details below and submit to the nursery. We run a rewards scheme for our teams and they can earn gifts by receiving nominations!
February Funnies
Knock-knock. Who’s there? Atch Atch who? Bless you!
What’s red, juicy, and round? A lemon disguised as a strawberry!
What do you call cheese that’s not yours? Nacho cheese!
January 2024
Welcome Back
This feels a bit too late to say now but Happy New Year, I hope you all have had a lovely start to 2024. Thank you for all of your support and appreciation from 2023, we had a blast looking after your little ones.
We have had a busy January with visits to the care home, wild walks with Natalie, a visit from some Policemen and a bedtime story evening for our preschool children. Watch this space because we have lots more planned for the rest of this year.
Month in Pictures
Chefs Corner
Vegan Chilli
Ingredients
3 tbsp olive oil
2 sweet potatoes, peeled and cut into medium chunks
2 tsp smoked paprika
2 tsp ground cumin
1 onion, chopped
2 carrots, chopped
2 celery sticks, chopped
2 garlic cloves, crushed
1-2 tsp chilli powder (depending on how hot you like it)
1 tsp dried oregano
1 tbsp tomato purée
1 red pepper, cut into chunks
2 x 400g cans chopped tomatoes
400g can black beans, drained
400g can kidney beans, drained
sweetcorn, drained
Method
Heat the oven to 200C/180C fan/gas 6. Put the sweet potato in a roasting tin and drizzle over 1½ tbsp oil, 1 tsp smoked paprika and 1 tsp ground cumin. Give everything a good mix so that all the chunks are coated in spices, season with salt and pepper, then roast for 25 mins until cooked.
Meanwhile, heat the remaining oil in a large saucepan over a medium heat. Add the onion, carrot and celery. Cook for 8-10 mins, stirring occasionally until soft, then crush in the garlic and cook for 1 min more. Add the remaining dried spices and tomato purée. Give everything a good mix and cook for 1 min more.
Add the red pepper, chopped tomatoes and 200ml water. Bring the chilli to a boil, then simmer for 20 mins. Tip in the beans and sweetcorn and cook for another 10 mins before adding the sweet potato.
Serve with rice or jacket potatoes
A Big Thank-you!
As I’m sure you will remember, for our Christmas Tree this year, we created a “Wishing Tree” for the Jessie May Trust. We would like to say a huge thank-you to all those who generously donated gifts. Alongside many teddies, craft kits, and books, we also sent over £600 worth of vouchers!
The Jessie May Trust as a charity, provide specialist nursing care for terminally ill children in their own homes. They offer end of life care and bereavement support, as well as vital respite sessions and emotional support to those children’s families. This allows families to make the most of the precious time they have together and to create treasured family memories.
Since 1996, the charity has supported over 300 children and their families across Bristol, South Gloucestershire, North Somerset, Bath & North East Somerset, and Swindon & Wiltshire.
We will be supporting the Jessie May Trust throughout this year, with other fundraising events. If you are a local business and feel you may be able to provide raffle gifts for our planned summer festival, please do let us know!
Policy Reminders
Children’s Belongings
Children should not bring in any valuable or precious items, (e.g. toys, books, hair accessories) to nursery, as staff cannot be held responsible for any personal belongings being lost or damaged.
It is an essential component of educative play, that children are able to enjoy arts and craft activities with, for example, glue, paint, water etc.
Inevitably, children will transfer these materials to themselves and clothing. We will attempt as far as possible to purchase materials which are ‘washable’ but in practice not everything is washable off all clothing materials. Parents should therefore dress their children with this in mind.
Snapdragons will accept no liability for clothing damaged or lost, if unnamed, whilst the child is at nursery.
Measles- Know the Symptoms
Sarah Potter – Lead Paediatric Nurse, Children’s Emergency Department, Royal United Hospital, Bath
Measles is continuing to escalate in parts of the country, with new reports of outbreaks this month. So what should you be looking out for?
What are the symptoms?
• Measles starts much like any viral infection – high temperature, cough, runny nose and red eyes (conjunctivitis).
• Small spots may appear in the mouth and throat a few days later. They usually last a few days.
• The rash may appear 2 to 4 days after the onset of fever, and spreads from the head to the body over the next 3 to 4 days.
• The spots of the measles rash are sometimes raised and join together to form blotchy patches. They're not usually itchy.
• The rash looks brown or red on white skin. It may be harder to see on brown and black skin.
What happens if my child has measles?
There is no treatment for measles, treatment is all supportive. As it is a virus, antibiotics do not work.
You should contact your GP via phone if you think your child has measles.
Call 999 or go to A&E if your child:
• has blue lips
• pauses in breathing or starts grunting or working hard to breathe
• is pale, mottle and feels abnormally cold to touch
• is extremely agitated or confused or is very lethargic (difficult to wake)
• weak high pitched cry or can’t be settled
• has a fit (seizure)
• has a rash that doesn’t go away with pressure (the ‘glass test’)
• Is under 3 months old with a temperature more than 38°C or under 36°C (unless fever in the 48 hours following vaccinations and no other red features)
Ring you GP surgery or contact 111 if your child has any of the following:
• Breathing a bit faster than normal or working a bit harder to breathe
• Dry skin, lips or tongue
• Not had a wee or wet nappy in last 8 hours
• Poor feeding in babies (less than half of their usual amount)
• Irritable (unable to settle them with toys, TV, food or hugs even after their fever has come down)
• Is 3-6 months old with temperature 39°C or above (unless fever in the 48 hours following vaccinations and no other red or amber features)
• Temperature of 38°C or above for more than 5 days or shivering with fever (rigors)
• Temperature less than 36°C in those over 3 months
• Getting worse or you are worried about them
If none of the above features are present, make sure that your child stays well hydrated by offering them lots of fluids – you may need to give this little and often via syringe. Closely monitor them for any signs of deterioration by looking out for any red or amber features.
The MMR vaccine is the most effective way to prevent your child from getting measles – the first dose is given at 12 months, and the 2nd around 3 years, 4 months. After 2 doses of the MMR there is almost zero chance of becoming infected with measles.
For more advice and guidance, visit NHS Health Together www.what0-18.nhs.uk
Nominate your Superstar
We love to hear from our families across Snapdragons about excellent service they have received. If someone at the nursery has impressed you, please fill in their details below and submit to the nursery. We run a rewards scheme for our teams and they can earn gifts by receiving nominations!
December 2023
Firstly, we would like to wish all our families a very Merry Christmas! We have really enjoyed spending time with you all this year and have had some fabulous family events too! We wish you all the best for the New Year and look forward to welcoming you back on the 2nd January 2024.
Month in Pictures
Safety at Christmas
Sarah Potter –Lead Paediatric Nurse, Children’s Emergency Department, Royal United Hospital, Bath
With the festive season approaching, things get a little more merry and chaotic at home. Visitors come and go, and new toys, games and electronics enter our homes. And with this, the chances of your child swallowing something they shouldn’t increases.
The main things we worry about children swallowing are button batteries and super strong magnets. These items should always be stored securely out of the reach of children.
Button batteries are the flat round batteries that may be found in some children’s toys and some household electronics. If ingested there is a risk that they may cause severe internal burns which can be catastrophic. If you suspect your child has swallowed a button battery, are over 12 months of age and this will not delay you (i.e. you have some at home), you can give them a teaspoonful of honey before coming to A&E, which may coat the battery and delay the harmful reaction.
Super strong magnets are found in a large number of toys, particularly those aimed at old children, but also in fake jewellery and decorative items. If more than one magnet is swallowed, then there is a risk of damage to the bowel.
At festive times there are often visiting family members who may have medications in their bags that may be harmful for children, or perhaps you’re staying with family who don’t usually lock their medications away. Always check with family members that medications are stored out of the reach of children, particularly any medications for the heart or blood pressure and antidepressants.
If your child has ingested something they shouldn’t, call 999 or got to A&E immediately if they have any of the following…
• Unconscious/lethargic
• Confused/agitated
• Has a fit/seizure
• Becomes pale, mottled or blue
• Choking/breathing difficulties
• Severe abdominal pain
• Difficulty swallowing
• Eye pain or redness
• Swallowed a button battery or magnets
Ring 111 or your GP surgery if your child has any of the following:
• Rash or skin irritation
• Vomiting/mild abdominal pain
• Headache
If the substance is:
• A medication
• The bottle/packet suggests seeking medical help or has any warning symbols
For more advice and guidance, visit NHS Healthier Together www.what0-18.nhs.uk
Sarah Potter – Lead Paediatric Nurse, Children’s Emergency Department, Royal United Hospital, Bath
Chef’s Corner
Bubble & Squeak
Ingredients
1 tbsp duck fat, goose fat or butter
4 rashers of streaky bacon, chopped
1 chopped garlic clove
1 onion, finely sliced
15-20 brussel sprouts sliced or left over boiled cabbage (or any left over veg will work)
400g leftover mashed, boiled or roast potatoes
Method
Melt 1tbsp duck fat, goose fat or butter in a non-stick pan. Allow it to get nice and hot, then add the streaky bacon. As it begins to brown, add the onion and garlic
Next add the brussel sprouts/cabbage/other green veg
Add the potaotes and push down the mixture so it covers the base of the pan
Allow the mixture to catch slightly on the bottom of the pan before flipping over.
Serve with a poached or fried egg for a great festive brunch
Nursery Request
We are on the hunt for some “loose parts” for play in Nursery please
Examples would be pine cones, shells, screw bottle tops, perfume bottles, spare crockery or kitchen utensils. If in doubt, send us an email. Many Thanks in Advance!
Christmas Fun!
What is the best Christmas present?
A broken drum, you can’t beat it!
What comes at the end of Christmas Day?
The letter “Y”!
What's a parent's favourite Christmas carol?
Silent Night
How long are an Elf’s legs?
Just long enough to reach the ground!
What do you call Rudolph with tinsel in his ears?
Anything you want, he can’t hear you!
What did the stamp say to the Christmas card?
Stick with me and we’ll go places!
November 2023
Pre-school Nativity
We absolutely loved being able to welcome some of our pre-school parents to the Nativity at the end of this month. The children all performed so well and we are all very proud of them!
Jessie May - Wishing Tree
This festive period we are partnering with the Jessie May foundation to bring a smile to faces of children with life-limiting and life-threatening conditions and their families. Jessie May provides vital emotional support, respite, end of life care and bereavement support to families throughout the South West. We would love your help to support this amazing charity and bring some joy and comfort to them over what can be a difficult time of year.
Instead of baubles, you will find gift tags hung on our Christmas Tree. We would love it if you could select a tag and purchase the gift labelled. If I can ask that we have these no later than Wednesday 20th December, Myself and Kayleigh will then ensure that these gifts are delivered to Jessie May before we close for Christmas.
Festive Recipes
If you fancy doing some baking over the coming weeks, this easy gingerbread dough is very forgiving if overworked. Why not try making some gingerbread stars to hang on the tree, or wrap up as gifts for loved ones.
Ingredients
100g salted butter
3 tbsp golden syrup
100g dark muscovardo sugar
½ tsp bicarbonate of soda
1 tbsp ground ginger
1 tsp ground cinnamon
225g plain flour
50g icing sugar
Method
Heat the butter, syrup and sugar together in a small pan until melted, stirring occasionally. Set aside to cool slightly.
Mix together the bicarb, ginger, cinnamon and flour in a large bowl. Pour in the buttery syrup mixture and stir to combine, then use your hands to bring together to form a dough. Add up to 1 tbsp of milk to combine if needed. The dough will be soft at this point, but it’ll firm up in the fridge.
Put the dough on a sheet of baking parchment, shape into a rectangle, and lay another sheet of parchment on top of it. Roll the dough out to a thickness of ½cm. Transfer to a baking sheet to keep it flat, leaving the parchment in place, then chill in the fridge for 1 hr.
Heat the oven to 190C/170C fan/gas 5 and line a large baking sheet with more baking parchment. Remove the dough from the fridge and cut out shapes using a cookie cutter. Don’t forget to poke a hole in your design if you want to hang them from the tree!
Place the shapes, spread apart, on the lined baking sheet, and bake for 10-12 mins. (Depending on the size of the cutters you use, they might need a few minutes more or less cooking in the oven). Leave to cool completely on the baking sheet.
Meanwhile, mix the icing sugar with 1-2 tbsp water – you want to create a consistency that’s thick and pipeable, and not too thin or it will run. Decorate the cooled biscuits with the icing using a piping bag with a thin nozzle
Illness and Exclusions
Unfortunately, we are reaching the time of year where coughs, colds and viruses are becoming more prevalent. Snapdragons values each child's health and we do everything we can to prevent infection when children are at nursery. Children are encouraged to wash their hands regularly and practice good hygiene and toys and equipment are regularly sterilised and cleaned by members of the Snapdragons team.
Unfortunately, despite our best efforts, some children will pick up illnesses, many of which are contagious even before they display symptoms. Because of this we enforce strict exclusion periods for children suffering from certain illnesses or symptoms to reduce risk of cross-infection within the nursery, both towards other children and our parents and employees. In order to keep everyone at nursery as healthy as possible, please could you familiarise yourselves with our illness and exclusion policies, which can be found on our website.
If a child has been given medication prior to attending nursery, parents should complete the ‘Preexisting Medication Form,’ providing details of the medication, including the time and dosage given. If a child has been given any fever reducing medication (i.e., Calpol, Paracetamol, Nurofen) they must stay home for at least four hours prior to their nursery session starting.
Dates for your Diaries
We are ready to fully embrace Christmas here at Snapdragons! The staff will be wearing their festive jumpers and outfits every day in December, and invite the children to join in if they would like. We will also be hosting our Christmas parties next week, and everyone is welcome to join us!
Toddlers: 5th December 3pm-5pm
Pre-school: 6th December 3pm-5pm
Babies: 7th December 3pm-5pm
Joke of the Month
What did the big traffic light say to the little traffic light? - Don’t look now, I’m changing!
Nominate your Superstar
We love to hear from our families across Snapdragons about excellent service they have received. If someone at the nursery has impressed you, please fill in their details below and submit to the nursery. We run a rewards scheme for our teams and they can earn gifts by receiving nominations!
October 2023
Month in Pictures
Chef’s Corner
Leek & Potato Soup with home-made Foccacia
Soup: Ingredients
50g butter
450g potatoes, peeled and cut into 1cm pieces (try Golden Wonders or Kerr Pinks)
1 small onion,cut the same size as the potatoes
450g sliced leeks
850ml-1.2litres/1.5-2pts chicken or vegetable stock
142ml carton on whipping cream
125ml full fat milk
Method
Melt 50g butter in a heavy saucepan. When it foams, add the potatoes, the onion and the leeks and toss them in the butter until they are well coated.
Season well with salt and freshly ground pepper and toss again. Put a disc of greaseproof paper on top of the vegetables to keep in the steam, then cover the pan with its lid.
Cook over a gentle heat for 10 mins, or until the vegetables are soft but not coloured.
Uncover the pan and discard the paper. Pour in the stock, bring to the boil and simmer until the vegetables are just cooked – about 5 minutes. Do not overcook or the soup will lose its fresh flavour.
Purée in a blender until silky smooth, in batches if necessary, then taste and adjust the seasoning. Return the soup to a clean pan and stir in three quarters of a 142ml carton of whipping cream and 125ml full-fat milk.
Reheat the soup to a gentle simmer (add some extra stock at this point if the soup is too thick for your liking), then pour into warmed bowls. Drizzle with the remaining cream and serve.
Focaccia - Ingredients
500g strong bread flour, plus extra for dusting
7g dried fast action yeast
2 tsp fine sea salt
5 tbsp olive oil plus extra for the tin and to serve
1 tsp flaky sea salt
¼ small bunch of rosemary, sprigs picked
Method
Tip the flour into a large mixing bowl. Mix the yeast into one side of the flour, and the fine salt into the other side. Then mix everything together, this initial separation prevents the salt from killing the yeast.
Make a well in the middle of the flour and add 2 tbsp oil and 350-400ml lukewarm water, adding it gradually until you have a slightly sticky dough (you may not need all the water). Sprinkle the work surface with flour and tip the dough onto it, scraping around the sides of the bowl. Knead for 5-10 mins until your dough is soft and less sticky. Put the dough into a clean bowl, cover with a tea towel and leave to prove for 1 hr until doubled in size.
Oil a rectangle, shallow tin (25 x 35cm). Tip the dough onto the work surface, then stretch it to fill the tin. Cover with a tea towel and leave to prove for another 35-45 mins.
Heat the oven to 220C/200C fan/gas 7. Press your fingers into the dough to make dimples. Mix together 1½ tbsp olive oil, 1 tbsp water and the flaky salt and drizzle over the bread. Push sprigs of rosemary into the dimples in the dough.
Bake for 20 mins until golden. Whilst the bread is still hot, drizzle over 1-2 tbsp olive oil. Cut into squares and serve warm or cold with extra olive oil, if you like.
Help and Advice for Winter
Sarah Potter –Lead Paediatric Nurse, Children’s Emergency Department, Royal United Hospital, Bath
When should I worry about my child’s breathing?
As the winter approaches, the number of respiratory illness rises significantly.
This can be a very worrying time for parents, but when should you be concerned about your child’s breathing?
Most chest infections are caused by viruses and so do not usually need treatment with antibiotics, and most children do not need to see a medical practitioner and will get better by themselves.
It can be extremely scary if your child has any sort of breathing difficulty. Use your instincts; if your child appears well and their breathing difficulty improves after a short period of time, there is normally no need to worry.
Wheeze is extremely common in young children and is most often triggered by a viral infection. Most pre-school aged children with wheeze do not have asthma.
Children under 2 years of age with breathing difficulty may have bronchiolitis. This is an extremely common condition, caused by a viral infection. It usually starts as a runny nose and cough but their breathing may get worse over the next 2-3 days.
If your child is struggling to breathe, they need to be seen by a medical practitioner and may need treatment.
Call 999 or go to A&E if your child:
· has blue lips
· pauses in breathing or starts grunting
· a harsh breath noise as they breathe in
· too breathless to talk
· is pale, mottled and feels abnormally cold to touch
· is extremely agitated or confused or is very lethargic (difficult to wake)
Ring you GP surgery or contact 111 if your child
· Has laboured/rapid breathing or they are working harder to breathe (drawing in of the muscles below their ribs, between their ribs or at the neck)
· Seems dehydrated (sunken eyes, drowsy, not passed urine for 12 hours)
· Is drowsy or irritable especially if they remain this way despite their fever coming down
· Continues to have a fever of 38.0 or above for more than 5 days
· Is getting worse or you are worried
If none of the above features are present, make sure that your child stays well hydrated by offering them lots of fluids – you may need to give this little and often via syringe. Closely monitor them for any signs of deterioration by looking out for any of the above.
For more advice and guidance, visit NHS Health Together www.what0-18.nhs.uk
Community Notices
BOUNCY BEATS Toddler Dance Classes
For Little People Who Love To Dance💕
MULBERRY PARK HUB
Wednesday mornings
11:00-11:45 (Age 18 months-4 Years)
The children enjoy using their imaginations as they enter the wonderful world of DANCE. The classes teach the children about musicality and self-expression. They learn basic Ballet steps and postures whilst having fun! We go on a new adventure each week; The toy shop, Under the sea, The Magic Kingdom and many more.
Please see the website for more details or contact Fi if you would like to try a class.
0797 471 0706
The Curious Child baby and toddler group in Batheaston.
Every Thursday, we transform the beautiful Batheaston New Village Hall into a play space full of open-ended resources. Our play sessions are always very calm as the children are highly engaged in play. We have lots of vintage items and real-life curiosities for children to explore, our materials are mostly natural or recycled. For the grown ups, we provide a complimentary drink and cake. Tickets and further information are available via the website: www.thecuriouschild.co.uk.
Parents and carers can enjoy 20% off play sessions during October, November and December when using the code ‘Thursdays’.
(closed from October 19th - November 16th)
Nominate your Superstar
We love to hear from our families across Snapdragons about excellent service they have received. If someone at the nursery has impressed you, please fill in their details below and submit to the nursery. We run a rewards scheme for our teams and they can earn gifts by receiving nominations!
September 2023
Month is Pictures
Trash to Treasure
We love to add real and natural items to our environments. We would be grateful if you could help us by donating any items you no longer want or need. Some suggested items are:
Health, Hygiene and Illness
As we start to head towards the colder months we understand that the children may be getting more coughs and colds. Snapdragon’s nursery is commited to maintaining a healthy enviroment where children can learn and develop through play. To assist with this, all employees will endeavour to minimise the spread of infection to other children and practitioners by following our illness policy and procedures. I will attach a copy of this below for your records.
Chefs Corner
Vegetable Jalfrezi
Ingredients
2 tsp vegetable oil
2 medium onions, chopped
1 medium apple, cored and chopped
1 garlic clove, crushed
2 tbsp jalfrezi curry paste
1 carrot, sliced
1 green pepper, deseeded and chopped
400g can tomatoes, chopped
3 handfuls cauliflower, broken into florets
410g chickpeas in water, rinsed and drained
300ml reduced-salt vegetable or chicken stock
180g easy cook long grain brown rice
50g frozen peas
2 tbsp coriander, chopped (optional)
4 tbsp low-fat natural yoghurt, to serve
Method
Heat the vegtable oil in a large saucepan. Add the onions, apple and garlic and cook, stirring for 3-4mins. Stir in the curry paste and cook for a few seconds.
Add the carrot, pepper, tomatoes, cauliflower, chickpeas and stock. Simmer, partially covered, for 25-30mins, adding a little extra stock or water if needed. At the same time, cook the rice in a large saucepan of gently boiling water. It will take about 30mins.
Add the peas and coriander to the curry and heat for 2-3mins. Check the seasoning, adding little ground pepper if needed.
Serve the vegetable curry on warmed plates, with the rice, topping each portion with 1tbsp of low fat yoghurt.
Nativity Dates
(Sorry to mention it so early - But we know many of you will be wanting to get dates in your diaries!)
Our pre-school leavers will be staring in our annual Nativity on the 28th November. They will be split into 2 groups, with some performing in the morning and the rest in the afternoon. The pre-school rooms will soon be letting the children know their parts. They have been practising hard already and the halls have been filled with Christmas cheer!
If anyone is getting rid of any spare trousers, we would love to take them off your hands at nursery. We have had some generous donations recently of toys, books and clothes, but are slightly lacking when it comes to trousers. Thank-you in advance :)
Nominate your superstar
We love to hear from our families across Snapdragons about excellent service they have received. If someone at the nursery has impressed you, please fill in their details below and submit to the nursery. We run a rewards scheme for our teams and they can earn gifts by receiving nominations!
August 2023
Month in Pictures
Chef’s Corner
Turkey Stir-Fry
Ingredients
125g dried egg noodles, medium or fine
1 small orange, juiced
1 tbsp reduced-salt soy sauce
1tbsp cornflour
1 tbsp vegetable oil
350g skinless turkey breast, cut into strips
5 spring onions, thinly sliced
1 pepper, any colour, deseeded and thinly sliced
1 carrot, cut into thin strips
2 celery sticks, thinly sliced
1 handful mushrooms (cup or button), sliced
1 pinch ground black pepper
Method
Put the noodles into a heatproof bowl and cover with boiling water. Soak for 6 minutes or follow instructions on the packet (if you prefer, leave out the noodles and cook 150g long grain rice to serve with the stir-fry)
Next, mix together the orange juice, soy sauce and cornflour until smooth. Set to one side. Heat the oil in a wok or a very large frying pan.
Add the turkey and stir-fry briskly for 3-4 minutes. Add the spring onions, pepper, carrot, celery and mushrooms. Stir-fry over a high heat for another 3-4 minutes, until the turkey is cooked. The vegetables should remain crisp and crunchy (For a vegetarian version, replace the turkey with a 300g pack of firm tofu cut into chunks, or Quorn chicken-style pieces.
Give the orange juice mixture a good stir, then add it to the stir-fry and cook for a few moments until thickened. Drain the noodles well, then add them to the turkey mixture. Serve at once.
Healthy Eating at Snapdragons
At Snapdragons we believe it is essential to provide children with positive healthy eating experiences in order to promote their well-being. We also encourage and teach children to look at the benefits and long-term effects of a healthy and balanced diet. We aim to ensure that mealtimes are a relaxed, enjoyable experience.
Snapdragons mealtimes are set as follows:
07:30 - 09:30 - Breakfast
12:00 - Lunch (Babies may be served from 1145)
14:00 - Snack
16:00 - Tea
Snacks offered are varied and balanced and provide a range of cultural and nutritious experiences for the children. Milk or water is served with breakfast and snack and children are encouraged to help prepare and select from the breakfast and snack options available. Staff sit and eat with children and model talking and listening to each other, learning to respect each other's views and opinions, likes and dislikes.
Learning about and through Food
Learning about food is an important part of children’s learning and development and can be linked to all areas of the EYFS.
Personal, Social and Emotional Development
Mealtimes are an opportunity to taste different foods, overcome dislikes and learn how to share. Cooking activities are offered regularly and encourage teamwork and self-esteem.
Physical Development
Fine and gross motor skills are developed through using cutlery, helping to prepare food and taking part in gardening activities. Mealtimes give opportunity to discuss healthy food choices.
Literacy
Stories, factual books about food and recipe books are shared with the children and provide an opportunity to learn about ingredients, where food comes from
and how food can be used for special occasions. It provides a way of looking at food from other cultures. Activities include writing shopping lists and labels for gardening.
Can you help?
We have been contacted by a researcher for the University of Cambridge who is investigating the role of fish and seafood in the first 1000 days of life. She is looking for pregnant women and the parents/guardians of children under the age of 2 to fill out an online questionnaire that should take approximately 10 minutes. The link to the survey is as follows: https://cambridge.eu.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_4TUOeAVZk5jrStw
Reminders
As the weather is changeable at the moment, please could you make sure children arrive at nursery with anything they may need - be that sunhats or waterproof coats- or both!
Please can we ask that any items of clothing, comforters and water bottles are clearly labelled with your child’s name on, this helps us to keep a track of anything that belongs to your child.
There are some common forms, such as our Pre-existing Injuries form available on our website. We understand sometimes that the mornings can be a rush, so please feel free to print out and complete before you arrive if its easier.
Nominate your Superstar
We love to hear from our families across Snapdragons about excellent service they have received. If someone at the nursery has impressed you, please fill in their details below and submit to the nursery. We run a rewards scheme for our teams and they can earn gifts by receiving nominations!
July 2023
Warleigh Lodge Trip
At the end of last month our Pre-school leavers took our annual trip to Warleigh Lodge Farm. The children fed the chickens & goats, rolled down a bank, had a ride on a tractor and lots more. Here is a selection of pictures taken on the day. The link to the full gallery is here: Weston gallery — Snapdragons Nursery
Pre-School Graduation
It’s been a busy month for our pre-school leavers and the end of July saw our Pre-school Graduation. The rain couldn’t dampen the celebrations as we said a fond farewell to some of our children before they move onto their next chapter at school.
Toddler Stay & Play
This month we hosted a stay & play session with our toddler families. Thankfully the sun was shining and our toddlers had great fun showing off their garden and playing some games.
Chef’s Corner
Quorn Bolognaise
Ingredients
1tsp tomato puree
150ml veg stock (veg bouillon)
300g Quorn Mince
2 tbsp Olive Oil
1 onion, finely chopped
2 cloves of garlic, crushed
200g mushroom
400g tomato passata
2 carrots, finely chopped
pinch of chopped basil
Method
Pre-heat oil over a medium high heat, add the onion and carrot and cook for 2-3 minutes, stirring often. Add the garlic and mushrooms, cover and cook over a medium/high heat, stirring frequently for 3 minutes.
Increase the heat, add the Quorn mince, passata, tomato puree, and veg stock. Stir well, cover and cook for 8-10minutes. Finish with basil and season to tatse
Serve with pasta, rice or bulgar wheat.
Charity Fundraising
Some of our families have been raising money for local charities and would love your support. A group are going to walk 50km in the Chilterns to raise money for the Jessie May charity - read more about their story and how you can donate here: Rebekah Gabriel is fundraising for Jessie May (justgiving.com)
Stories and Rhymes for July
The Gruffalo
Where the Wild Things Are
Dear Zoo
5 Little Speckled Frogs
Jack & Jill went up the hill
Peter Pointer
Mr Peter Rabbit
Nominate your Superstar
We love to hear from our families across Snapdragons about excellent service they have received. If someone at the nursery has impressed you, please fill in their details below and submit to the nursery. We run a rewards scheme for our teams and they can earn gifts by receiving nominations!
June 2023
Photo Gallery
Pre-school Sports Day
We hosted a Pre-school sports day this month. The children had so much fun taking part in different races and some of the staff and parents got involved too!
Reminders
Please can we ask that any items of clothing, comforters and water bottles are clearly labelled with your child’s name on, this helps us to keep a track of anything that belongs to your child.
The children's health and safety is paramount to us and the car park can be a busy place, especially during some parts of the day. Please can we remind all parents that children should be supervised in the car park at all times to ensure they are kept safe and we ask that you do not leave your car running while waiting to ensure clean air for all our children.
There are some common forms, such as our Pre-existing Injuries form available on our website. We understand sometimes that the mornings can be a rush, so please feel free to print out and complete before you arrive if its easier.
Story & Rhymes
Jack & the Beanstalk
“Thats not my…”
Mary, Mary Quite Contrary
The Sun Has Got His Hat On
One, Two, Buckle My Shoe
I’m a Little Teapot
Chef’s Corner
Ingredients- Beef Meatballs
1 egg
500g of lean beef steak mince
2 garlic cloves- peeled and finely chopped
1tbls Olive oil
1 Onion - Chopped and Sautéed
1 piece of bread - crust removed and blended.
Tomato Sauce
2 cloves of garlic, peeled and finely chopped
2 tbls of olive oil
500g jar of chopped tomato
bunch of basil
4 medium carrots, chopped
3 shallots, peeled and chopped
1 celery stick, chopped finely
half teaspoon of oregano
Method
Add the beef mince into a large bowel with all the meatball ingredients. Mix well, shape into 16 portions, rolling out to form meatballs with your hands.
Add meatballs to a pre-heated pan of olive oil and fry for 15 minutes, turning regularly.
Whilst this is happening, fry off the shallots, celery, carrots, oregano and garlic in the olive oil in a separate pan.
When softened, add the chopped tomato and meatballs. Simmer on a low heat, stirring occasionally, adding a small amount of water if needed. Cooking for about 20 mins
Season to taste and serve, adding the basil.
Serving Suggestion
Serve with Spaghetti or pasta, bulgar wheat, mashed potato or sweet potato mash.
A little help..
One of our families has reached out and asked if anyone might be interested in a nanny-share whilst they wait for their child to begin nursery. They are based in the Widcombe area but also attend Weston so looking for someone in those areas. If this is something you may be interested in, please let us know in the office and we can let you know the details.
Nominate your Superstar
We love to hear from our families across Snapdragons about excellent service they have received. If someone at the nursery has impressed you, please fill in their details below and submit to the nursery. We run a rewards scheme for our teams and they can earn gifts by receiving nominations!
May 2023
We’ve had an amazing month this May with lots to celebrate!
Babies
Babies had loads of fun painting and mark-marking to make bunting for the Kings Coronation. They also enjoyed a Royal Tea-Party in the garden.
We welcomed families in for a Stay & Play so they could come in and see some of the things we get up to. The babies really enjoyed showing off the sunshine in their garden.
Toddlers and Pre-School
Our Toddler and Pre-school really enjoyed celebrating Art week and getting creative!
Toddlers experimented with making hammered flower prints on fabric. They explored the garden and collected flowers and plants. They used a range of tools to press out the colours and imprint them on material. They also enjoyed arranging some flowers into frames to brighten up the rooms.
Pre-school have been getting close to nature and enjoying some painting in the garden. They also had fun potting up some herbs and sharing them with the rest of the nursery.
Our New Friends…
As some of you may know, we have been looking after some duckling eggs in our Flamingo room. The children have been patiently waiting for them to hatch and a couple of weeks ago we welcomed 6 little ducklings! The children have all been fascinated by them and babies and toddlers have loved going down to visit.
Recipe Corner
Spinach and Mozzarella Tarts
These crisp pastry squares are perfect for al fresco dining!
Ingredients
2 teaspoons olive oil
2 garlic cloves, finely chopped
1 bunch spinach, trimmed
1 egg
1/3 cup grated parmesan
1 sheet frozen puff pastry, just thawed
6 baby bocconcini, halved (or torn mozzarella ball)
Method
Pre-heat oven to 220c or 200c fan. Line baking tray with baking paper
Heat oil in a large frying pan over a medium-high heat. Cook garlic for 30 seconds or until fragrant.
Add spinach and toss for 1-2 minutes or until wilted.
Season and place in strainer over a bowl to drain. Press down to extract most of the moisture. Place on a board and coarsely chop.
Place egg and parmesan in a small bowl and whisk with a fork until combined. Season
Cut pastry into 16 squares. Place on prepared tray.
With a small knife, score squares to form a 0.5cm border (without cutting all the way through)
Divide egg mixture between squares. Top with spinach and mozzarella
Bake for 12-15 minutes or until pastry is puffed and golden
Summer Ready
It looks like the sunshine is finally here (fingers crossed!)
As a gentle reminder, all children should be coming to nursery with a summer hat and suitable suncream that can be applied throughout the day. Each child must bring in their own labelled bottle into nursery to use whilst being here. Unfortunately, if your child does not have sun cream with them on a nursery day, we will not be able to take them outside as there is nothing to prevent them from burning. There was a concern with Nivia suncream last year but this has since been given the all clear by Allergy UK, so it is ok to bring this brand into nursery.
Nominate your Superstar
We love to hear from our families across Snapdragons about excellent service they have received. If someone at the nursery has impressed you, please fill in their details below and submit to the nursery. We run a rewards scheme for our teams and they can earn gifts by receiving nominations!
April 2023
This Months News
Our Babies have been having fun exploring the garden this month, they have also had fun with different textures of sand and paint.
The Toddlers had an exciting trip to the local shop! They enjoyed looking around and chose some yoghurt and fruit which they helped prepare for their afternoon snack.
Pre-school have been exploring letters and sounds. They had a lot of fun using instruments at the same time to play around with rhythm and sounds.
Recipe Corner
Carrot & Sultana drop scones
Ingredients
100g wholemeal/white self-raising flour
1 tsp ground mixed spice
1 large egg
80g grated carrot
4 tbsp plain yoghurt
100ml semi skimmed milk
30g sultanas or raisins
1 tsp vegetable oil
Method
Put the flour, mixed spice, egg, grated carrot, yoghurt and milk into a large mixing bowl and use a hand whisk or fork to mix together thoroughly.
Stir in the sultanas or raisins
Heat a non-stick frying pan over a medium heat. Add 2-3 drops of oil. Cook tablespoonfuls of the batter in batches, turning them over after 1-2 minutes to cook the other side. Make 8 drop scones altogether, adding a further 2-3drops of oil to the frying pan with each batch.
Keep in a food bag or airtight tin in a cool place for 2-3days.
Pre-school Leavers
We are fast approaching that time of year when our preschool children will be moving on to big school. We would really like it if you could share with us which schools your children have been accepted into, this is to help us support your children transition into school. It would also be great if you could let us know when your child’s last day might be, although we’ll be really sad to see them leave!
Term Dates
May Half Term - 29th May - 2nd June
Summer Term - For children who recieve early-years funding, the term will end on 14th July.
For children 0-3 who are not recieving funding, the term will end on 21st July.
Stories and Rhymes for April
Books
Rosie’s Walk
The Three Little Pigs
Elmer
Songs
The Grand Old Duke of York
Ring a Roses
Once I Caught a Fish Alive
This Little Piggy went to Market
Dates for your Diary
Babies Family Event - 18th May
Toddler Summer Party - 29th June
Preschool Sports Day - 7th June
Graduation - 22nd July
March 2023
Month in Pictures
World Book Day
We loved seeing all the fabulous World Book day costumes worn by both the children and staff on World Book Day! Can you spot any of your favourites?
The children also enjoyed taking part in some activities and re-telling some of thier favourite stories.
Out and About
Some of our Pre-school took a trip to a local care home to visit some of the residents. The children drew some pictures to take along with them. They had great fun singing some songs, dancing and making new friends.
Forest School
Nat, our Forest School Lead has been here this month and the children have really enjoyed getting out and spending time in nature. Pre-school have been designing a nature area in the garden and hoping some birds and bugs come to visit their new bug hotel! Babies have been exploring natural resources with playdough in the garden, and Toddlers have been roasting apples round the campfire.
Donations Request
As we will all be spending more time out in the garden in the coming months, we would love your help with some extra resources. We would love any donations of the following in safe, usable condition to enhance our play.
Cable Drums
Drain pipes, guttering off cuts
Flower pots
Wooden Logs
Kitchen utensils, including pots, pans, spatulas, whisks etc!
Seeds/plants
‘S’ hooks
Chef’s Corner
Mushroom, Pea & Sage Risotto
Ingredients
2 tbsp Olive Oil
1 medium onion (chopped)
2 cloves of garlic (chopped)
300g risotto rice
25g butter
100g of peas (cooked)
3 chopped sage leaves
1.5l veg stock
75g grated parmesan
5 or 6 chopped chestnut mushrooms
handful of spinach
Method
Heat up the oil in a pan, add the onion, sage and mushrooms. Fry on high heat for 5-6mins.
Add garlic and rice. Stir well to coat the rice in oil for a minute or two.
Now add a half cup of stock and stir regularly until it has absorbed into the rice. Carry on adding and stiring, adding a large splash of stock at a time.
Once all the rice is cooked, finish with the butter, spinach, parmesan and peas
Season to taste
Nominate your Superstar
We love to hear from our families across Snapdragons about excellent service they have received. If someone at the nursery has impressed you, please fill in their details below and submit to the nursery. We run a rewards scheme for our teams and they can earn gifts by receiving nominations!
Car Park
As you know the car park can get very busy and has been particularly difficult recently getting in and out of the car park at peak times. Can you ensure you are allowing cars to exit the car park before trying to enter and if there is a queue to get in rather than blocking the road could we suggest that you pop round the corner to the side roads that allow for 4 hour parking whilst you drop off. The peak times tend to be around 8.30am and 5.15pm if you have some flexibility to avoid these times that would be helpful as well. Thank you for your support and understanding.
February 2023
Month in Pictures
Wild Club
We are super excited to be running our Wild Club in Weston on Thursday 9th March. This has been really popular in some of our other sites and we look forward to welcoming some of our Weston families along.
This date is unfortunately full but we have had lots of interest and hope to be able to offer another date in the near future.
Admins
I am sure you have spotted some new faces in our office over the past few weeks, We are lucky enough to now have two admins who have taken on the role with us. Becky is familiar with the nursery as she has a little boy who attends as well as a daughter who previously did. Becky works Monday and Tuesday 8-6pm and Georgina (George) works Wednesday, Thursday and Friday 8-6pm. George has worked for Snapdragons for 7 years as a nursery nurse before deciding to take on this new challenge as the Nursery Admin.
Say a big hello next time your in.
World Book Day
We can’t wait to see all your lovely costumes and spend the day reading some of our favourite books together.
Introducing Poppy and Louie!!
We are delighted to let you all know that Lydia and Ben welcomed their twins Poppy and Louie into the world in January. The family are doing well and the twins have already popped into the nursery for some cuddles!
Chefs Corner
Chicken Stroganoff
Ingredients (Serves 4)
2 tbsp Olive Oil
4 chicken breasts chopped into chunks
1 onion finely chopped
4 crushed garlic cloves
1 tbsp sweet paprika
300ml chicken stock
2 tsp Dijon Mustard
300ml double cream
handful or curly parsley
300g of chestnut mushrooms
pinch of fresh Tarragon.
Method
Heat half the oil in a frying pan and fry the chicken over a medium-high heat, adding the Tarragon half-way through cooking. Stir frequently until golden brown. Season and transfer to a plate.
Heat remaining oil and lower heat to medium. Fry the onions and mushrooms for 6-8 mins until softened, then stir in the paprika and garlic. Fry for a minute until fragrant, then pour in the stock and add the mustard. Tip in the seasoned chicken and all the resting juices, and simmer for 5-6mins until reduced slightly and chicken is cooked through.
Over a low heat add the cream and stir in to form a creamy sauce, bringing to a simmer for a few minutes. Finish by sprinkling the fresh parsley over the top.
Serving Options
Potato Mash
Long grain rice
Pasta
Upcoming Dates
World Book Day - 2nd March
Wild Club - 9th March
Concept Photography - 15th and 16th March
Bath School of Ukulele
We were very lucky to have Lucy and Angelique visit us who came to run a ukulele workshop with our some of our preschool children. At Bath School of Ukulele they strongly believe that early introduction to music has huge benefits including boosting confidence, connection and self-esteem.
With funding from the Arts Council, they have been able to bring this to children in the local community and inspire both adults and children to continue their musical journey.
The children loved trying a new instrument and strumming along to the story, we were even gifted our very own Ukulele’s to keep practising. Keep an eye out for our progress.
To learn more about Lucy and Angelique’s Ukulele workshops check out their social media and website
Front Door
Thank you to all of you who are ensuring that the door is closed behind you. Can we politely ask though that this door is not forced closed, it has slow closing safety measures on to ensure that no children or adults fingers are caught in this.
We have had to fix this recently as this mechanism has broken due to force being applied to it
Nominate your Superstar
We love to hear from our families across Snapdragons about excellent service they have received. If someone at the nursery has impressed you, please fill in their details below and submit to the nursery. We run a rewards scheme for our teams and they can earn gifts by receiving nominations!
Tell us about your snappies superstar
November 2022
Spooky Spark
Our annual spooky spark event was a lovely event and we thank you for coming along and joining us for smores and more. We hope to have some more events in the New Year that we can invite you all too.
Chef’s Corner
Potato, cauliflower and broccoli bake
Ingredients:
400g New potatoes
1 large cauliflower
1 large head of Broccoli, cut into florets
1 Leek
500ml milk
50g butter
4 Tbsp flour
200g grated cheese
Salt and Pepper
Method
Pre heat the oven to 220C/200C Fan/ Gas mark 7
Cut new potatoes in half and boil in a pan until soft
Melt butter in pan and add your leeks, broccoli and cauliflower, cook this for around 5 minutes.
Add the flour to the cooled veg and stir, slowly adding the milk and stirring continuously until you have a nice sauce. Add half of the cheese and the cooked new potatoes. Add salt and pepper to taste.
Pour the mix into a baking dish, top with the other half of the cheese and bake in the oven for around 20 minutes or until golden on top.
Millie’s Mark
We are extremely proud to continue holding our Millie’s Mark award since achieving this status in February 2021 and continue to meet all of the criteria needed for this.
Many of you were very keen to take part in our offer of an online First Aid course last year and we are very pleased to be able to offer this out again to continue strengthening the knowledge and development of everyone around the children in our care.
The Parent Online course is all online and can be completed bit by bit in your own time. Snapdragons will subsidise the cost meaning we can offer it to you for £15 per person. This cost can be added to your nursery invoice.
If you are interested in completing the course please contact Hayley on hayley@snapdragonsnursery.com or speak to Kim, Lydia or Alex in the Weston office.
Stories and Rhymes for November
Stories
Whatever Next
Goodnight Moon
Rhymes
Ten fat sausages
The wheels on the bus
Teddy bear, teddy bear turn around
If you’re happy and you know it
Childcare Choices
It is no secret that the cost of living has soared over recent months and that this has had a negative impact on a lot of us.
But did you know there are lots of options available from the government that could save you money on your childcare costs. The Tax Free childcare scheme being one which gives eligible families up to £2,000 free per child towards childcare costs.
Childcare Choices website provides useful information and helps find the right offer for your family. To find out more just follow the link below:
Upcoming Dates
Friday 18th November - Children In Need (Pyjama day and Bake Sale)
Thursday 24th November - Thanksgiving
Tuesday 6th December - Preschool Nativity 10.30am and 2.30pm (school leavers only)
Monday 12th December - Preschool Christmas party
Tuesday 13th December - Babies Christmas party
Wednesday 14th December - Toddler Christmas party
Christmas Closure Dates
We remain open as usual on Christmas Eve and will then be closed from December 24th 2022 through to January 2nd 2022. Reopening on January 3rd 2022.
We kindly ask that you could let us know if you have any holidays planned before the Christmas break so we can arrange our staffing needs accordingly.
Nominate your Superstar
We love to hear from our families across Snapdragons about excellent service they have received. If someone at the nursery has impressed you, please fill in their details below and submit to the nursery. We run a rewards scheme for our teams and they can earn gifts by receiving nominations!
October 2022
Photo Gallery
Autumn is by far my favourite season, with the cooler weather and the changes to the environment. This time of year is always full of exciting activities and events as well.
Over the past month our Babies have found their rhythm and shown us their dancing feet, who doesn’t love a little boogie. They have also been using different tools to make their own marks, from wax crayons to painting with leaves.
Toddlers just love being outdoors and are often found racing around the track on their bikes and scooters, this month some of them even managed a little trip to the Egg theater, what a treat.
Meanwhile in Preschool are older children have been exploring all of the different emotions that we may feel, using one of our favourite story books The Colour Monster. This has led us on to what makes us unique and special and to always be kind to others. Well done preschool such an important topic to explore.
Free Sleep help for tired Parents
We were recently contacted by a lovely lady called Gemma Farrar who is a certified baby and child sleep consultant working in the Bath, Swindon and Surrounding areas.
“I am passionate about maternal mental well being, breastfeeding and of course good quality sleep for everyone. I and open-minded to all aspects and styles of parenting with no judgement.
At the beginning of 2022 I become the owner of Bath and Swindon Little Dreams Consulting. I work gently with little ones and their families so that everyone can get on the road to better sleep. Little Dreams Consulting is an award winning sleep consultancy business and they have helped hundreds of families to lead more fruitful lives by teaching guardians how to get their little one's to get a better quality sleep
I would like to offer to do a free on-line sleep seminar for parents struggling with their little ones sleep. As we know sleep is vital for well being, behaviour and appetite as well as learning and socialising. I believe this offer would compliment your nursery. The seminar gives advice based on behavioural approaches to sleep. There is no sales element to it simply a chance for parents to learn about sleep and for people to know my name should they ever need help”
Link to Gemma’s website for any further information if you are interested
Dates for your Diary!
Parents evening - 19th October
We have parents evening booked in for Wednesday 19th October. The team will have booking sheets on the room doors. Some members of staff may be unavailable due to annual leave, but they are more than happy to set aside some time to chat with parents if needed!
Spooky Spark - 27th October
We will be having our annual Spooky Spark event on Thursday 27th October. It is from 6pm-7pm. We have will have fire, smores, hot chocolate and so much more!
Halloween - 31st October
Optional Halloween fancy dress
Pre-School Nativity - 6th December
Our Nativity is booked for Tuesday 6th December, we will have two showings one in the morning and one in the afternoon. The Pre-School team will confirm which Nativity your child is booked in for closer to the time.
Westonbirt
Pre-School have had an amazing time at Westonbirt through September to adventure and explore. The children have been climbing trees, tracked some squirrels and spotted deer, before then finding fungi and trying to catch all the falling leaves. We are hoping to get some more trips in before the cold weather comes in.
Concept Photography
Concept photography attended on Tuesday 4th and Wednesday 5th October, we have now received the proofs and will be sending them out this week.
If we can please have all proofs returned by 31st October 2022 that would be great.
Announcements
Jane is getting married on 11th November 2022
Lydia is pregnant and expecting twins in February 2022
Lucy is pregnant and due March 2022
I hope you will all join us in congratulating and wishing them all the best.
Staffing changes
We are very sad to be losing two of our long standing team members, Amy and Ayesha, who are moving on to further their careers. The will be hard to replace and i know that the children are really going to miss them. We are looking forward to welcoming some new staff to the Weston team, Kelly who was once a student with us and Claire has previously worked at Weston and is returning to us after moving back to the area, both will be joining us in the coming weeks and we look forward to introducing them to you.
It has been a busy couple of months and lots of the team have enjoyed taking some of their annual leave over the Summer, myself included. We hope this hasn’t caused too much disruption to your little ones time with us and as always please do not hesitate to get in touch if you have any queries, we are always on hand to help.
Pizza Party
Flamingos invited their Panda friends for a Pizza party. The children loved making their own muffin pizzas, spreading some fresh tomato passata and choosing from a variety of toppings before enjoying them for tea. Such a lovely idea.
Stories and Rhymes for October
Stories
Meg and Mog
Room on the Broom
Owl Babies
Rhymes
5 Little Men in a Flying Saucer
Miss Polly had a Dolly
Its raining, its pouring
Incy Wincy Spider
Chef’s Corner
Tuna and Tomato Bake
Ingredients:
1 Onion
1 Courgette
1 Carrot
1 Tin of Tuna
500ml Tomato Passata
1 Garlic Clove
200g Grated Cheese
400g Pasta
Method:
Finely dice the onion and garlic and grate the carrot and courgette. Add this to a pan with a little cooking oil.
Cook until vegetables are soft and then add your tuna and passata cooking on low for a further 10minutes.
In another pan add pasta to boiling water and once cooked mix with your tuna and tomato sauce together. Ensure mixed well.
Place into an oven proof dish and cover with your grated cheese, baking until cheese is melted or golden brown.
Serve and Enjoy
Day Nursery Reviews
If you would like to share your positive experiences, we would love for you to complete a review for us with day nurseries, we have lots of review cards at the nursery or alternatively you can go to, https://www.daynurseries.co.uk/submitreview
August 2022
Photo Gallery
Summer Time
I hope you have all enjoyed your summer holidays and the lovely weather we have had. We managed to stay cool at nursery with a lot of paddling pool and ice play and of course the occasional ice pop as a treat.
We have been very lucky to have our forest school lead Tim with us for the past month, the children love having him here and making the most of our beautiful outdoor surroundings. Most recently he has taken our preschoolers out on a walk to Weston Park where they foraged for some blackberries. Toddlers got to try out their sawing skills and babies have been painting with different leaves and fruits. Of course the best bit is making a fire and cooking fruits or pancakes.
Brain Building
The NSPCC have teamed up with vroom to offer science-based tips and tools to inspire families to turn shared, everyday moments into Brain Building Moments, using look, say, sing and play. They provide some easy tips and tricks to bring this in to your daily routines.
For more information just follow the link. Look, Say, Sing and Play
Nursery Exclusion Policy
8. Exclusion periods: The following is the Snapdragons policy for the period of exclusion from the nursery for children and adults due to illness. The management team takes responsibility for any variations in this policy. Whilst Public Health guidelines for Schools does not suggest exclusion for certain conditions such as conjunctivitis, slapped cheek or hand, foot and mouth, it should be appreciated that in a nursery setting such conditions can spread rapidly for children and staff, particularly as young children are dependent on the staff for their hygiene needs e.g. keeping the eye area clean. They can also be uncomfortable and painful conditions. Children should not be brought into nursery if parents believe they are generally unwell to minimise the risk of spreading infections. Disease & incubation period when infectious Period of exclusion of infection.
Millie’s Mark
Being part of Milie’s Mark is very important to us. For those of you unsure of what this is, it means that 100% of our staff are trained in Paediatric first aid therefore ensuring that we are prepared and confident to effectively manage any situations that may arise. To ensure that this is kept at the forefront of our practice we like to create scenarios that we may encounter. The children love role play and using their imaginations so what, we have lots of doctors and nurses kits that the children love to explore and help to make each other better and what better way than this for the team to use their knowledge to help teach our little ones.
We always love to have our families involved as well so, if any of you work within the medical profession and would like to come in and share your careers with the children or can just donate some resources that are appropriate and no longer needed, we would gladly welcome you.
Chef’s Corner.
This months recipe is…
Carrot Soup (serves 4 to 6)
Ingredients:
1 tbsp Olive oil
5 large carrots
1 large Spanish onion
1 potato
1 fennel head
tsp cumin seeds
2 cloves of garlic
2 sprigs of celery
1 tbsp veg stock (bouillion)
Optional: Chopped coriander
Method:
Sautee the diced onion, garlic and cumin seeds until the onion starts to brown.
Add all the diced vegetables to the pan and sautee for 3-4minutes
Cover the vegetables with boiling water, adding the vegetable stock and then place a lid on the pan.
Cook until all of the veg is soft before blending and seasoning to taste. Adding the chopped coriander if desired.
We would love for you to share your photos with us if you try any of our recipes.
Stories and Rhymes for September
Stories
Handa’s Surprise
The Very Hungry Caterpillar
The Gingerbread Man
Rhymes
Five Little Monkeys
Sing a Song of Sixpence
Baa Baa Black Sheep
Heads, Shoulders, Knees and Toes
Nominate your Superstar
We love to hear from our families across Snapdragons about excellent service they have received. If someone at the nursery has impressed you, please fill in their details below and submit to the nursery. We run a rewards scheme for our teams and they can earn gifts by receiving nominations!
July 2022
Preschool Graduation
The time just goes to quickly, it doesn’t feel that long ago that your preschool year started. It is always an amazing journey with you all, watching you grow and develop into such confident young people all ready for your next adventure. Thank you so much for attending our Graduation, it was lovely of you to join us and such a special day. We are so very proud of you.
Social Media and Marketing
"Hi! My name is Royce.
I am the new Social Media & Marketing Assistant for Snapdragons. I will be spending time at all of the nurseries capturing magical moments and, permissions allowing, sharing them on our media platforms for parents and guardians to see. So don’t be alarmed if your children ask you if you saw the man with the camera in the nursery garden, it’s just me.
To see these moments please follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. Or head over to our website for even more!"
Chefs Corner
As many of you are kind enough to compliment the meals that we provide for you, we thought it would be good to share some of our recipes with you.
This month is… Broccoli Pesto Pasta
Recipe:
400g Penne Pasta
250g Broccoli
1 clove of Garlic
Juice of half a lemon
5tbsp Olive oil
4tbsp Grated Parmesan
3tbsp Cream
5 Basil Leaves
Method:
Step 1: Boil pan of water before adding the pasta and cook according to the pack instructions. Meanwhile, bring a pan of salted water to the boil, add the Broccoli, and cook for 4 minutes then drain. Keep the drained water to one side.
Step2: Blend together the broccoli, basil, garlic, olive oil, lemon juice, cream, and parmesan until it forms a paste. If a little thick use some of the drained water to dilute creating a sauce.
Step 3: Drain the pasta and return to the pan, stir in your broccoli pesto until all pasta is coated. Top with extra parmesan.
Serve and Enjoy.
Rhymes and Stories for August
Rhymes
Ten in the Bed
Round and round the garden
The Okey Cokey
I had a little Turtle
Stories
We’re going on a Bear Hunt
Hairy McClary
Healthy eating on a budget
A local Bath dietician and Snapdragons parent has written a helpful guide with tips and suggestions for budget shopping and eating healthily on a budget. Have a read below. The article can also be found in The Bath and Wiltshire Parent magazine
With food prices spiralling, providing nutritious family meals within budget has never been more challenging. Dietitian, Gemma Besant shares her tips on how to shop smart without compromising on your family’s health
Savvy shopping
Plan your meals Planning your meals in advance means that during busy weeks you’re not rushing around the supermarket trying to think of what to eat!
Create a four-week meal plan Having a four-week cycle ensures you use up items that otherwise might have sat in the cupboard or fridge for months on end and helps to keep costs down. Lonely jar of pesto at the back of the fridge anyone?
Switch up the meal plan every few months to keep things seasonal and interesting.
Make a shopping list before each shop and stick to it, this helps you to avoid impulse purchases. Before you go shopping remember to check what you have already.
Check use by dates to avoid wasting food. Freeze what you can for later to keep it fresh.
Compare prices per 100g Larger amounts often cost less gram for gram, so buy these when you can afford to as it will save you money in the long-term. Products such as rice, potatoes, herbs, and spices are often more cost-effective to buy in bulk, as well as non-food items such a washing powder.
When you can, pop by your local shop or supermarket towards the end of the day to pick up deals on food near the end of its shelf life. Ideal for things that can be frozen like meat, fish, milk, cheese, and bread.
Don’t shop hungry You’re more likely to be tempted by unhealthy foods and spend more than you need to if you go shopping on an empty stomach.
Consider online shopping Some people find they are less likely to make impulse purchases if they shop online. If you’re a regular online shopper its worth investing in a delivery pass to bring down the cost of delivery.
Be cautious about products on offer, consider if you will use it or can store for later before being tempted by supermarket deals.
Switch to own brand products They often taste the same or even better as branded alternatives.
Frugal Foods
Healthy eating on a budget is becoming more and more challenging, however there are still some foods out there that are good for our bodies and our bank balances:
Tinned or dried beans (cannellini, borlotti, butter to name a few) and pulses such as chickpeas, and lentils are rich sources of plant protein and fibre. They’re great flavour carriers and can cost as little as 60p a tin. Add them to meals such as chilli con carne, spaghetti Bolognese or shepherd’s pie either as a meat alternative or to make a smaller pack of mince go further.
Go veggie a few days a week By having a few meat-free days each week you’re helping the planet and your wallet.
Vegetable stir-fries, curries and pasta dishes are a tasty, low-cost way of getting your 5-a-day.
Eggs are an inexpensive and versatile ingredient for numerous nutritious meals, omelettes, frittatas, shakshuka, huevos rancheros to name a few. Include lots of veggies to make a delicious, balanced and filling meal.
Wonky vegetables taste really good too!
Look for wonky or imperfect veg A 2.5kg bag of ‘wonky’ potatoes in Morrisons cost 89p, while a pack of ‘perfect’ potatoes was £1.50 but the taste and nutritional content will be the same.
Buy seasonally Fruits and vegetables in season are often priced more competitively and usually taste better too! See right for a handy list of fruits and vegetables in season in July and August.
Frozen fruits and vegetables are often cheaper and may even be more nutritious than fresh as they are frozen at the point of picking, preserving their nutrients. Additionally, they don’t go off meaning less potential for waste.
Useful websites for cooking on a budget
The blog by food activist and writer Jack Monroe has some great recipes to help your food budget go further. cookingonabootstrap.com
Supercook.com suggests recipes using whatever you have in the fridge/cupboards. Great on a day that you want to use up leftovers.
Love food, hate waste has recipes to make your food go further and tips on how to maximise shelf life
www.lovefoodhatewaste.com
Change 4 Life offers healthy family-friendly recipes that don’t cost a lot.
www.nhs.ukhealthier-families/recipes
Nominate your Superstar
We love to hear from our families across Snapdragons about excellent service they have received. If someone at the nursery has impressed you, please fill in their details below and submit to the nursery. We run a rewards scheme for our teams and they can earn gifts by receiving nominations!
May 2022
Photo Gallery
As the weather is starting to get warmer, we are spending more time outside enjoying the sun! Our babies went for a walk to Victoria Park at the beginning of the month, with more trips planned over the coming weeks.
Toddlers have enjoyed sensory play, exploring all things messy. Shaving foam is always a hit, but mix this with paint and it becomes even more exciting. I wonder what else they can create.
Meanwhile, down in our Preschool rooms the children have loved exploring new experiences. Learning all about our fabulous NHS for International Nurses day.
Jubilee Celebrations 2022
To celebrate her Majesty the Queen’s 70 years of service we are going to be having a street party with lots of games and crafts, along with some afternoon tea. We will also be dressing in red, white, and blue for the day.
This will all be taking place from 3pm until 4.30pm on Friday 3rd June 2022, please feel free to join us if you are able to.
School Leavers
If your child is leaving for school this September, please e-mail the office when your child’s last day at nursery will be.
Warleigh Lodge
We are planning our annual trip to Warleigh Lodge for our school leavers in June. The dates we are due to go are Tuesday 14th June and Friday 17th June.
We will hand out letters with more information, including the date your child has been given to go.
Dates for your diary
Half Term
The May half term starts on 30th May – 3rd June and will be back again on Monday 6th June.
Graduation & BBQ – Saturday 16th July
To celebrate our school leavers, we will be celebrating with a graduation ceremony and BBQ.
Rhymes and Stories for June
Stories
Jack and the Beanstalk
Jasper’s beanstalk
That’s not my….
Rhymes
One Two Buckle My Shoe
Mary, Mary Quite Contrary
The Sun Has Got His Hat On
I’m A Little Teapot
Sun cream Reminder
We would just like to remind you that we are unable to supply nursery sun cream any longer. Each child must bring in their own labelled bottle into nursery to use whilst being here. Unfortunately, if your child does not have sun cream with them on a nursery day, we will not be able to take them outside as there is nothing to prevent them from burning. If you can please send in a bottle to keep with them here for everyday use, we are more than happy to keep it or we can make sure this gets sent home with your child each day.
You may have seen the photo above around the nursery. These sun creams contain almond oil, so we ask that they are not applied to your child before bringing them into nursery. As we are a nut free nursery this brand can also not be supplied for us to use on your child throughout the day. If you have any further questions around our sun cream policy, please send us an email or pop into the office and we would be happy to clarify anything further for you.
Our policy around sun cream states: Applying sun cream
· Children should be sent to nursery with at least factor 30 sun cream.
· Staff should apply sun cream before taking the children outside and then 30 minutes after taking the children outside, but only when they are out long enough to burn. E.g. do not need to re sun cream if you are coming inside after 45 minutes.
· If children are outside for longer than two hours then sun cream should be reapplied.
· This process should be repeated in the afternoon.
· Children should be in the shade when the sun is strongest between 11am-3pm between the months of March and October. If you cannot make sure children stay in the shade, then they should remain indoors.
Day Nursery Reviews
If you would like to share your positive experiences, we would love for you to complete a review for us with day nurseries, we have lots of review cards at the nursery or alternatively you can go to, https://www.daynurseries.co.uk/submitreview