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.