This week the children have been participating in Numeracy Week. They have been exploring 2D shapes with every day objects. We looked at big and small objects and also explored number recognition.

We have also been exploring different sensory materials. The children have been exploring wet and dry materials with the adults role modelling descriptive language for them. For example “slimey”, “soft”, “spikey”, “bumpy”.

We have continued to welcome and settle new children into our room this week. They have been exploring the environments of their new playroom and it’s outdoor area and some of them are experiencing the new routine at lunch time. We have also been playing out in the rain: splashing in the puddles and watering our pumpkin plant.

We have spent the first couple of weeks of the new term welcoming and getting to know the new children in the centre. We have loved spending time with our new friends and are happy to see our returning children back in the playroom after the summer break.

Here’s what we’ve been getting up to so far:

It’s the end term and lots of our children will be moving onto the big room and for others they will be taking a break until August. We’ve enjoyed watching all the children grow and develop into the little independent people they have become. Well done everyone! Here are some of the best bits of the year!

This week the children have been playing in the gym hall in the school. We have been climbing and balancing on the apparatus, using our risk assessment skills to walk along the ladder and climb the rungs safely.

We also had a fun pyjama day where we chilled out and read lots stories. Everyone looked so cosy!

This week we have been celebrating the end of term with a summer garden party. The children were jumping on the bouncy castle, played Hook-a-Duck, got their faces painted and participated in lots of other activities. K told us “Bouncy castle go up” when he spotted it in the garden. K told us “I got my face painted.” E told us “I didnay get a duck.”.

The children also got the opportunity to visit the sensory room lots this week. This room is filled with lots of toys which stimulate the senses with torches, light up toys, soft toys, textured balls and lots more.

The children have continued to enjoy the sunshine in the outdoors area this week. They have been responsibly looking after the plants by watering them with the hose; running around pretending to be monsters and getting really messy with sensory activities.

This week the children have been engaging in lots and lots of messy play. They have been exploring gloop (cornflour + water). K noted it was “sticky” and E thought it was “cold.” Messy play is a great way to role model a range of descriptive words which will extend your child’s vocabulary.

The children were also exploring the properties of different “wet” and “dry” materials by mixing them together. They used porridge oats, dry peas, chocolate powder, water, shaving foam and er gels. This was another opportunity to extend vocabulary with E describing her mixture as “shiney”. This activity is also great for strengthening coordination and fine motor skills with the mixing and the use of spoons moving the ingredients from bowl to bowl.

The children also painted with their fingers and sponge tools. Painting with fingers is an important way to show children that they can mark make and convey information without tradition tools, i.e pens, pencils and crayons.

The children has settled back into the playroom after their Easter break. We have been making the most of the weather by spending even more time outside in the garden. The children have been engaging in water play, mark making, sand play and lots of other activities in our outdoor area.

The children have been exploring paint this week also. The have been painting pictures with a paint brush and encouraged to tell an adult what it is. This is developing their awareness that mark making, drawing and, eventually, writing can convey information. The children also explored the paint using cardboard reels. They used the reels either by printing with the circular side or by rolling it on the paper.

“Me paint all day.” – L

”I paint!”  – K

This week in the willow room we have been exploring Easter through a range of activities. We have been hunting for eggs left for us by the Easter Bunny in the garden. We have been making Easter picture with collage materials and exploring textures with Easter themed sensory trays

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The children also took part in an Easter Bonnet Parade where they were asked to create Easter themed hats at home and bring them in. They were so excited to show the ladies their creations.