Please take a moment to read the latest nursery newsletter.  Hard copies are available in nursery if you would prefer.  Thank you.

We are in the process of creating a new rolling snack menu to be implemented in mid to late February.  The children have thoroughly enjoyed the snacks provided on the current menu and have had lots of opportunities to be involved in preparing and cooking snack.

Please add your suggestions by either replying to this post or by writing them on the sheet provided on the nursery whiteboard.  Please remember that we are unable to provide nuts or any items that are high in sugar, salt or saturated fat.

Thank you.

Oscar was very eager to share and talk about a library book that he had taken home about size. This prompted a small groups of boys to begin comparing the height and length of models that they have made.  This is an ongoing interest.  Rulers, tape measures and numberlines  have been provided to enable the children to extend their play in addition to a vartiety of construction materials.

You can support this new interest at home by encouraging your children to use words like bigger, smaller, longer and shortest when they are playing.  You could also provide measuring tapes, rulers etc for them to use when engaged in supervised play.  The height chart in the nursery corridor is also available for you to use with your child at  nursery drop off and collection.  There is a whiteboard pen provided next to the chart for you to write your child’s name adjacent to their height on the measuring chart.

The children have been showing a strong interest in using natural materials when playing outdoors.  To build upon this interest natural materials have been provided in the construction area.  The children have enjoyed making pictures using these materials and problem solving when trying to fit them together.  Many of them have also been telling very imaginative stories about the pictures and models they have made.

The use of natural materials is a wonderful opportunity for children to develop their imagination and their problem solving skills.  Transfering a stick or leaf into an aeroplane, horse, slide etc requires the development of higher order thinking skills.

If your child shows an interest in this at home please take photographs for us to display on our ‘Look at me learning at home’ wall.   We would love to have some updated photos, pictures etc for this wall.

The children helped to set up a Chinese restaurant in the role-play area this week.  They shared their ideas of what they thought should go into a restaurant and helped to create some resources.  They are learning to explore different cultures in the lead up to the celebration of Chinese New Year.  They are also developing their skills in sharing resources, communicating their ideas and sharing their experiences.  There has been some fantastic dramatic play – which is clearly evidenced in the superb photographs below.

Next week we will focus further on a mini Chinese New Year topic and you will be able to see evidence of this on the interactive planning wall in nursery.  As always, please feel free to offer your own comments either by replying to this post or by adding a sticky on the interactive planning wall.  Thank you.