If you have not already done so, please try logging onto the interactive Learning Diary portal using the information that was sent home.  Please inform a member of the nursery staff if you are unable to log in successfully.  You can also add any comments, questions or suggestions to our new Interactive Learning Diary wall display.  You will see this opposite the main nursery door.  Thank you.

The children have been creating their own stories in the puppet theatre and in the role play area this week.   They have been exploring characters and events in familiar stories and also creating their own stories based upon their own ideas and experiences.

The children have been investigating shapes in lots of different play contexts this week. They have been sorting shapes in the construction area, using shape cutters in the play dough area and hunting for buried shapes in the sand. The children have enjoyed being creative with shapes by making their own imaginative pictures using a variety of different shapes.

The recent curricular evening was a huge success.  For those of you that were unable to attend, please take a moment to look at the photographs below.  They show a variety of nursery activities in a range of contexts.  The parents that were present embarked on a treasure hunt to find examples of activities that met different curricular outcomes.  The feedback suggests that parents found this very helpful.

Parental treasure hunt responses:

Parental suggestions for how each activity relates to the curriculum will be uploaded on the blog soon.  This, along with collated parental feedback, will be displayed on the parental feedback wall on the nursery corridor at the end of this week.

Here are some key points that were discussed at the curricular evening:

• The nursery are now using an online learning journey for reporting and sharing learning with parents.  This replaces the report cards that have been sent home previously.  All parents have been issued with a password and username.  These will be in your child’s tray.  Please follow the instructions on the letter to activate your account.  The nursery staff will then approve your account before it becomes live.  You should try checking the Interactive learning diaries regularly and you could use it as a basis for conversations and learning at home.  These Interactive Learning Diaries are a fantastic new resource and we are all looking forward to using them!
• Parents should try, when possible, to read the information provided on the planning wall in nursery.  Parents are encouraged to offer their comments and suggestions using the sticky labels provided.
• The Scottish Curriculum focusses on numeracy, literacy and health and well-being.  At the curricular evening the parents spent some time searching for evidence of literacy or numeracy in the different nursery contexts.  This gave them some examples of how to extend learning at home.
• The parents present were shown various videos of their children engaged in different play contexts.  This was explicitly linked to the curriculum to help parents understand how the Scottish curriculum links to the different play contexts in nursery.
• All parents provided feedback about the curricular/interactive learning diary presentation – this will be displayed in nursery soon.
• Parents were reminded about the ‘look at me learning at home’ wall and invited to bring in evidence of learning at home.

Please click here to view the Curriculum for Excellence video that we did not have time to view at the Curricular evening.

You can also try accessing the Parentzone website for further curricular information.  Click here to access this website.

Here is the rolling snack menu for this term.  We will be starting this menu on Tuesday (Week 1).  This menu was created using the ideas suggested by children and parents.

The curriculum evening takes place tomorrow from 5.30pm until approximately 6.30pm. Please enter via the main school office door as the nursery doors will be locked.

We look forward to seeing those of you that can make it.

Thank you.

The children have been learning about traditional Chinese customs as part of our contiuing celebrations for Chinese New Year.  They experiemented with a range of art materials to create their own chinese dragons and lanterns.  You will see these displayed next to the blue/red sign in area.

They also created a wonderful Chinese dragon dance using a gigantic chinese dragon. Unfortunately, the videos are too large to upload onto this blog.  However, you will be able to see the videos on the Interactive learning diaries when the log in details are shared next week.

We have been enjoying different tastes and textures this week as part of our celebrations for Chinese New Year.  We have been tasting noodles with different Chinese sauces and trying prawn crackers.  The noodles were very popular this week and were subsequently given as suggestions by several children for the new snack menu.

As part of our Chinese New year celebrations the children have been learning about traditional dragon dances.  They watched a clip of a Chinese dragon dance and spoke about the things that they saw and enjoyed.  They then had a go at creating their own Chinese dragon dance.  Photographs and videos to follow.

Click here if you wish to watch it with your child.

Click here to view some lovely Chinese New Year videos sharing children’s celebrations which you could share with your child.  

Please ensure your collect the most recent letter from your child’s tray. It informs you of a curricular presentation for nursery parents on Thursday 18th February at 5.30pm.  We recommend that all of those who can attend try their best to do so.  The presentation will contain important information regarding the curriculum and the new online learning journey software we are using.

Apologies for the slight typo in the letter – to clarify this evening is only for nursery parents.