Nursery News Summer Term May 2014 Did You Know? The Weston Hall at Pre-Prep is available for hire for parties or other events. Please contact the Pre-Prep office (01284 385412) for more details.
WELCOME! A very warm welcome to our new children this term; Bunny CromptonBattersby, Jasmine Steady & Lily Wilson
LEARNING FOCUSES THIS HALF-TERM We’re Going On a Bear Hunt We played a Bear Hunt game with the parachute. We used language from the story to focus on positional language.
We made Bear Hunt collages sequencing events from the story. Children self-selected pictures and materials they needed to represent the story.
Bones Birthdays Antonia Mendola Bunny Crompton-Battersby Jonathan Zagni.
Stars of the Week
The children have been really fascinated to learn about our latest topic: bones. Mrs Bainbridge brought in some real animal x-rays. We looked at how our bodies are made and met Victoria the skeleton. We discussed the story ‘Funny Bones’ by Janet and Allan Ahlberg and afterwards made our own skeletons and discussed the different bones we have.
Jonathan Zagni Samuel Cobbold Lilly Bomberg Elsa Hall
Reminders We hope we have lovely weather next half term, so please make sure your child brings in a hat and sun cream. For those children going into the Reception class in September, they will be visiting Pre-Prep on Wednesdays after half term to get used to having lunch in the dining room. Mrs Suckling will also be visiting to allow the children to get to know her.
Life Cycles Kitty brought in tadpoles and we looked at the life cycle of frogs and caterpillars. We discussed growth and talked about babies and how they have to be looked after. The children enjoyed making life cycles and they played with babies in our role play area.
Leading up to half term we will be exploring zoos and animals. We will be looking at “Za Za’s Baby Brother” by Lucy Cousins, learning about zebras and making our own.
Summer Term
Musical Infants We are pleased to launch a new musical Parent, Baby and Toddler session with Jennifer Howells G.T.C.L., L.T.C.L. The sessions will run on Wednesday mornings during term-time 9-11am (9am-10am music and refreshments, followed by 10-11am play).
SOUND OF THE WEEK Every week we focus on a letter of the alphabet. The children enthusiastically bring in objects from home beginning with that letter. We have used photos of our sound table to make an alphabet frieze which is displayed in the garden.
We are extending our knowledge of letter sounds (phonemes) in our activities. Here are some examples:
Sessions will cost £5. We hope to see you there! Musical Infants is a class aimed at introducing children aged 1–4yrs to music and instruments by combining traditional children’s songs with the Kodaly Method and classical music. Using songs and games, children build their confidence and learn about musical pitch and rhythm whilst having lots of fun. There is a “Coffee break” half way through for a friendly chat with other parents. Please speak to one of our nursery staff for further information
W
We explored water and made wet tracks on the patio. We used finger paints and made ‘w’ patterns.
X
We looked at X-rays and, using a variety of materials, made collages copying x shapes. The children know that when we take registration on the computer an ‘x’ next to a name signifies absence and they can make an x with their fingers.
Y
We have great fun making our own flavoured yoghurts. We had turns trying out a yo-yo but it was really hard! We also had yum-yums at snack time – yummy!
Z
We will explore zoos, zebras and making patterns out of the letter “z” on paper and running zigzag paths in the garden. After half term we will be recapping many different sounds, looking at our pictures of all the sound tables we have made for the alphabet and focussing on handwriting formation.
Day Nurseries Recommendations If you and your child like our nursery, and we hope that you do, please take the time to recommend us on www.daynurseries.co.uk
Your feedback is invaluable to us.
Join us on our Bear Hunt Culford School Nursery Open Morning Saturday 7 June 10.00am
Parent, Baby and Toddler Welcome! We would like to welcome Amelia, Amelie, Finian, Luke, Tansy and Toby to our Friday morning group and Benjamin, David, Emily, Florence and Iris to our new Wednesday Musical Infants Group.
Now offered here at Culford. Babies love swimming! Babies have a real affinity with water, and because they’ve spent 9 months floating in the womb, being in warm water feels much more familiar to them than being on dry land. To find out more visit... www.waterbabies.co.uk
We now have a new soft play area in the dining hall, so enjoy a cup of coffee while your child has a play.
Dates for your diaries Musical Infants Group, Wednesdays 9 – 11am
Friday 6th June Swim Session (11am-12pm) Music and Craft session Saturday 7th June You are all welcome to attend our Nursery Open morning, where we will be taking ‘A Bear Hunt’ in the garden and the woods!
Friday 13th June Usborne Books, Music and Crafts
Anyone who would like further information about the school, please ask the Nursery staff or contact Admissions on 01284 385308
Friday 20th June Please come along for our annual Toddle Waddle charity walk in Culford park for the Meningitis Trust 10.30 – 11.30am.
Friday 27th June Swim Session (11am-12pm) Music and Craft session END OF TERM
Return on Friday 5 September
Culford School Nursery Bury St Edmunds Suffolk, IP28 6TX 01284 385415
Website These newsletters are available at www.culford.co.uk under the Nursery ‘Information for Parents’ section