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NEWSLETTER – JANUARY 2026

 

Ferryport News   –  January 2026

A warm welcome back and a Happy New Year to you all!

Ferryport Nursery applications 2026/2027 – These opened on the 5th January 2026 and will close on 31st January 2026. More information can be found on Fife Council’s website. Click on the following link to access the application form: https://www.fife.gov.uk/services/form-pages/apply-for-a-fife-council-nursery-place

Please apply early if you are new or wish to change to term time or an alternative AM/PM place.

Please speak to a member of staff if you have any queries/questions.

Primary 1 applications for August 2026 – These opened on Monday 5th January 2026 and will close at midnight on 15th March 2026. More information can be found on Fife Council’s website.

Burn’s Day 25th January 2026- Nursery will be celebrating Burns Day and in preparation for this we will be discussing Robert Burns and learning a Scottish poem. We will practice this regularly in nursery. The poem will  be posted on See Saw so you can practise with your child at home. A paper copy can be provided if preferred-please ask a member of staff. Children are welcome to wear something tartan on Friday 23rd January as part of our Burns Day celebrations. This completely optional.

In-Service day- The next in-service day will be Wednesday 11th February when nursery will be closed to all children – both term time and AM/PM children. This will be followed by 2 days holiday (12th & 13th Feb) for our term time children. Our AM/PM children should attend nursery as normal on these days. 

Sickness/Illness – A gentle reminder that if your child is unwell (e.g. Vomiting & Diarrhoea) the guidelines are 48 hours exclusion from nursery from the last time your child had a bout of sickness/diarrhoea e.g. if your child is sick/has diarrhoea at 11.00am it will be 48 hours from 11.00am before they can come back to nursery.

Lending Library – Our lending library is now set up in the front hall. Please take some time to choose a book with your child to take home and enjoy together. When borrowing a book, remember to sign it in and out using the record book provided. Thank you for your support and happy reading!

Parent/Carer Involvement -We value parental involvement and offer various opportunities for parents and carers to be involved in nursery life and their child’s nursery experience. There is a parents’ rota in the front hall where you can sign up to spend time in the nursery. This may include sharing a talent, hobby, or interest with the children, or simply spending time observing, playing  and enjoying what your child gets up to during their day. We have also introduced a sign‑up sheet in the front hall for parent/carer helpers to support us on our beach walks. If you are able to help, please add your name to the list. Many thanks for your continued support.

Winter Weather – Could all parents please ensure their child is appropriately dressed for the weather and that all clothing is clearly named. Thank you! 

Side Gates of Nursery – Could all parents/carers please make sure they bolt the side gates of the nursery, using the top bolts, when arriving/leaving the nursery.

Many Thanks.

The Nursery Team

Week Beginning 5th January 2026

Monday: On our first day back after the Christmas break we have been having fun playing together and catching up. We have enjoyed role play in the home corner and outside we have been checking the garden for safety and found ice on the ground, carefully putting it in the tough tray to explore so it didn’t smash “like glass”.

 

Tuesday: This morning we woke up to snow. We have wrapped up and warm and explored the snow covered garden. We brought some snow inside to see what would happen, exploring water in different forms.

 

Wednesday: Today some of us have been practicing our mark making skills making maps of where to go showing awareness of directions.

Thursday: Today we have been creative in the construction area with some of us building a stage and using various different shaped blocks to decorate it. Outside we have been exploring how the weather has been affecting things spotting icy spider webs. A few have been filling up different size and shaped containers with water to leave outside to see what happens to it.

Friday: Today we have enjoyed a wake up shake up with Danny Go getting our bodies moving.  Most of us have joined in with nursery rhymes learning about words which sound similar and listening  to stories.

 

Week Beginning 15/12/25

Monday

Today we have been busy rehearsing our Christmas songs in preparation for our performance for parents/carers at our Christmas party on Friday. We have been developing our counting, turn taking  and leadership skills whilst playing hide and seek in the garden.

Tuesday

Today whilst being creative with the playdough some children used their creations/characters to make up and tell their own stories . “This is a bear, he’s tired! We need a bed, let’s make a bed now”………..🧸🛏️. We had fun practising a variety of party games in readiness for our Christmas party. Outdoors we were developing our gross motor, turn taking, sharing skills whilst exploring the bikes and scooters. “This one’s hard to pedal!” “I can go fast on this one!” “I like this bike the best!”

Wednesday

Or Christmas stories very popular today with some children using the pictures in the book to retell the story whilst others were asking various stories to be read to them. We then discussed our favourites/not so favourites and why!
The dinosaurs were popular outdoors today with lots of children representing their ideas using role/imaginative play . “Roar! I’m hungry, I need food!” Creating opportunities to ask questions about what different dinosaurs eat, where they live etc. We then used a variety of resources to source this information.

Thursday

Today we made some reindeer dust to take home for Christmas Eve. We used teaspoons to measure out the ingredients into a bag before giving the bag a shake to mix the ingredients.
We have enjoyed exploring/using the cameras outdoors today capturing various photos of the environment. The children were curious and asking about the different buttons/functions on the camera.

Friday

Today we had our Christmas Party 🎅🎄🎉. We enjoyed some party food. We played a variety of party games, showed off our Christmas dance moves, listened to a Christmas story before performing our Christmas songs for our parents, grandparents, carers etc. We finished off the party with a visit from the man himself -Santa who gifted all children a present.

Week Beginning 8th December 2025

Well we are in full festive mode!
This week we have…..

Had a special visitor in nursery….Jamie the Jester!
We joined in magic tricks, sang and had lots of fun.

At the end of the session Jamie the Jester made us all balloon animals to take home.

Enjoyed our Christmas lunch today. Some of us had Christmas jumpers on and we had lots of festive activities throughout the day. From dancing to Christmas music, singing songs, Christmas craft and stories. We even had fun mark making in the foam!

We even celebrated a birthday today too! Thank you for sharing your cake with us MF!

Lots of outdoor play now that the storm has passed. We had an outdoor shop/cafe, bathing babies and even  more foam!

In the afternoon we practised some party games and dancing outside in the garden, we’re all ready for our Christmas party next week, even our Christmas songs are sounding fabulous. We can’t wait to show you all!

 

     

Some of us used paper plates, cotton balls, paint and glitter to create beautiful festive decorations. We selected all the items we needed and planned out what we were doing.

Next we added coloured paper and glitter to the water tray to see what would happen. We enjoyed watching the paper dissolve and going all squishy!

We read our story about “Pantosaurus” and talked about how we can keep our bodies safe.

Phew! What a busy week!

We can’t wait for all the Christmassy fun next week 😊

Week beginning 1st December 2025

Week Commencing Monday the 1st December 2025

It’s been a busy start to the week with lots of exploring in the garden, digging in the mud kitchen. Some children created a dinosaurs cafe adding ingredients that were found around the garden.  We found a caterpillar 🐛 whilst exploring thankfully it was saved from the Dino cafe. The block corner was popular where some children made a car wash, they added the small world dolls to extend the play.


 

 

 

Tuesday 2nd December

We put up our Christmas decorations today with all children being evolved, there was fantastic team work as they all helped put the decorations on the tree.  Some children helped to change our horse to a reindeer making antler’s & a sleigh full of presents to deliver. This sparked lots of imagination with them engaging in role play.

Wednesday the 3rd

We have been developing our writing skills by writing our letters to Santa & posting them in our special Santa post box. We have also been singing Christmas songs everyday which you will hear at our party day. In the garden the bikes have been popular, they chalked directions for others to follow.

Thursday 4th

Today we went to the school to watch the school nativity our nursery boys and girls watched & sang along if they knew the words. Back at the nursery water play has busy with lots of floating & sinking activities. The learning wall is still on going with light & dark being explored. At our dark box station shapes & shadows are explored.

Friday 5th

We have been developing our fine motor skills by building lego sculptures, some built buses & cars to take the penguins back to the zoo. In the house they have been role playing chefs where some soup & cakes have been baked. We are still practicing our songs everyday which you.

Newsletter December 2025

Ferryport News 

December 2025

 

Parents Chats – Thank you to everyone who signed up for our parent chats in November. Staff are always here should you have any queries/questions at any time.

Christmas Post Box – This will be available for children to bring their Christmas cards, for their nursery friends into nursery, and post in our post box. This completely optional. 📮

Thursday 4th December – Our nursery children have been invited to attend a rehearsal of this years Primary 1’s and 2’s Nativity called ‘A Bundle Of Joy’. ✨

Tuesday 9th December – Jamie the Jester will be joining us to entertain the children and bring lots of festive laughter to the nursery! 🤹‍♂️

Wednesday 10th December – Our term-time children will be enjoying their Christmas lunch today!
All children are welcome to wear a Christmas jumper or festive accessory if they wish. 🎄✨

Friday 19th December – We will be having our Christmas party today from 1.30pm to which ALL our children are invited to. Parents and carers are warmly invited to join us at 2:30 PM for some festive Christmas singing. We’re also hoping for a special visitor to make the occasion even more magical! 🎅

 Friday 19th December – Our term time children will finish for the Christmas holidays and will return on Monday 5th January 2026. 📅

 Tuesday 23rd December – Our 49-week children will finish for the Christmas holiday and will return on Monday 5th January 2026. 📅

Anyone with any queries/questions please speak to a member of staff. 😊

All staff at Ferryport Nursery would like to take this opportunity to thank all parents and carers for their continued support. We wish all our families a very Merry Christmas and all the best for a prosperous and healthy 2026!

 

 

Week Beginning 24th November 2025

Monday: Out in the garden today, sports have been the topic, discussing different types of sports, rules and safety. Inside, lots of role play at the blocks and exploring light and dark using the light box.

 

Tuesday: Today some of us have been exploring light and dark again using the light box and torches with different coloured slides and paper on the torches.

Wednesday : Today we have been learning about our rights, listening to a story and playing a game of putting our rights around the room such as our right to clean water, finding were we could access drinking water and putting up a sign.

Thursday: We have been out in the garden using loose parts to play a game of tic tac toe. Some of us were helping to clean the mud kitchen as it was very messy.

Friday: Today we have celebrated  St Andrews Day. Learning about why we celebrate it through a story on the smartboard. Then we tried some Scottish dancing developing our counting skills.

Week Beginning 17th November 2025

Monday

Today sees the start of Book Week Scotland. Today, from the choice of 3 books, all our children had the opportunity to vote for their favourite book which was then read at story time. All children were then encouraged to share their thoughts on the story 👍👎🤔.  Climbing and jumping activities both indoors and outdoors were popular with several children today. Some children demonstrating awareness of safety by risk assessing the bricks before climbing/jumping off them. Some children also demonstrating good turn taking skills. Samoa the elephant joined some children in the brick corner to make sure they were staying safe. 🐘

Tuesday

Today some of our children enjoyed exploring the mud kitchen. Some explored the different utensils experimenting with them by tapping to hear the different sounds they made. Others created ‘lunch’ using various pots, plates etc  to mix and pour.  Monetary themed games have been popular today developing children’s monetary awareness and creating lots of discussion/language around different coins etc.

Wednesday

Today some children asked if they could have some music on to dance to. They selected a cd before operating the cd player successfully- developing our use of technology. We had a visit from Janice, from the Community Gardens, to establish a willow den in our nursery garden. The children will be able to help weave the willow to create the finished den once the willow is growing and established. Some children created a dinosaur land in the tuff tray in the garden developing their role/imaginative play whilst also developing turn taking/sharing and language skills.

Thursday

Today the majority of our children enjoyed helping to create, experiment with, and explore a ‘light box’ using torches and coloured cellophane. Some children then used the box to represent, and share their ideas through role/imaginative play.  Having read/explored the storybook Dig Dig Dinosaurs some children joined in a dinsaur hunt/dig in our nursery garden. We found some dinosaur eggs which we then had to think about/ experiment with on how to reveal the dinosaur fossils/skeletons inside.

Friday

Today we were enjoying exploring different technologies and how they work/ how they can help us. Continuing with our focus on Book Week Scotland we had a visit from some Primary 7, children from Tayport Primary, to read us The Gruffalo and The Gruffalos Child story. We had a discussion as to which on e we liked/disliked and gave our reasons why!

 

Week beginning 10th November 2025

Monday

This morning we had a story about Remembrance Day . Learning about the Poppy and the meaning of the Poppy.

Screenshot

We introduced our Antibullying fortnight with our odd socks day. We talked about our differences and had a focus on  being kind. We have introduced our kindness tree which will fill up with ‘kindness’ leaves which is recognising and celebrating child’s  acts of kindness.

Screenshot

 

TUESDAY

This morning all of the children visited the local war memorial to lay some remembrance crosses in the garden of remembrance.

Wednesday

Today there has been an interest in table top activities using blocks to create patterns and “towers.” Some have been using small world wild animals using natural resources of logs to explore playing at different heights.

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Thursday

This morning for anti bullying week we discussed being respectful towards others. This word was used throughout the day to explain to children how they have shown ‘respect’ to one another through sharing or kind words allowing them to understand the meaning.
This afternoon we have have been exploring light and dark finding and using dark spaces with torches. Whilst using descriptive language to describe brightness and relating to darkness to moon and the stars.

Friday

In Service day

Newsletter November 2025

 

PEEP – Thank you to those who have signed up to our current block of PEEP sessions. We hope you are enjoying them. There are still a few spaces in our Thursday morning sessions if anyone would like to join us. Please speak to a member of staff.

Book Bug – Our Book Bug sessions are continuing on Friday mornings and everyone is welcome to join us for stories, songs and rhymes. Please speak to a member of staff for further information.

Antibullying Fortnight – Week Beginning 10th November sees that start of our focus on antibullying. More details to follow.

Remembrance Day – Tuesday 11th November. As part of our learning around Remembrance Day, we will be talking with the children about why we observe this important occasion. If staffing allows, we hope to take a group of children to the local war memorial to attend the Remembrance Day service. We would greatly appreciate any parent volunteers who are available to help walk the children to and from the memorial. Your support would help make this a meaningful and safe experience for the children. If you’re able to assist, please let a member of staff know. Thank you!

In – Service Day– Friday 14th November. Nursery will be closed to all children on this day.

Children In Need – Thursday 13th November. As Friday 14th November is an in-service day, we will be marking Children in Need on Thursday 13th November instead. There will be a donation bucket available in the front hall for anyone who wishes to contribute. Donations are entirely optional. Children are also welcome to wear something spotty to help celebrate the day -again, this is completely optional.

Annual Toy Drive – Various locations across North East Fife are participating in this year’s event, including Tayport Primary School, which will run between 1st November – 30th November. Donations will be collected and distributed to children and families in need. We will be collecting for boys and girls aged between 0-18. Gifts must be new and unwrapped.

Nursery Times: – Just a wee reminder of our nursery session times:

AM Sessions: 8.00am – 12.40pm
Term Time Sessions: 9.00am – 3.00pm
We understand that families may need some flexibility, so drop-off and pick-up can take place any time after 8.00am and before 12.40pm, or after 9.00am and before 3.00pm, depending on your child’s session.

Sickness/Illness – Just a gentle reminder: if your child is unwell—particularly with vomiting or diarrhoea—the current guidelines are a 48-hour exclusion from nursery following the last bout of illness. This helps prevent the spread of infection and ensures all children can enjoy a safe and healthy environment. Also, when children are feeling poorly, they often find it difficult to cope with the busy nursery day. Keeping them at home to rest can really help with a quicker recovery.

Winter Weather – Could all parents please ensure their child is appropriately dressed for the weather and that all clothing is clearly named. Thank you.

Please visit our nursery website to access further information and our weekly blog.

The Nursery Team