This week we have been experiencing Halloween in the playroom. We have been exploring pumpkins, made Halloween pictures, listened to spooky stories, dressed up in costumes and made Halloween biscuits!

“I’m a Paw Patrol!” – B

”Look a whi-wool!” – K

This week the children have started to work on their self service skills during lunch and snack time. Working on these skills will not only help our children to become more independent but will help them to select food according to their preference.

The children also got to explore the gym hall this week. The ran around the hall, avoiding crashing into one another and played with the balls, hoops and beanbags. Throwing objects like these is a good way for the children to develop  their gross motor skills and their coordination.

We have been busy working together to make some calming sensory bottles this week and enjoyed watching all the things moving around inside.

We helped make playdough and enjoyed choosing what colours and smells to add into it. Then used a variety of tools and cutters to explore it.

Lots of Autumn loose parts have been available for the children to explore in the Tuff tray and they have been using them to fill and empty from various containers.

Durring meals and snacks the children have been learning how to self serve their own food with some support where required, They have been loving the independence and choice they have while doing this.

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:

Our 2-3’s have been enjoying meeting lots of the 3 to 5 staff and playing with the children in the 3 to 5 room and Garden, as we are all together for the Holiday period.

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.