8 minute read
Education
Education PRIMARY SCHOOL
PLAY SCHOOL NOTRE ECOLE PLAYGROUP LITTLE HANDS MVC VILLAGE COLLEGE U3A
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EDUCATION
Little Hands Karen 01763 260964
Melbourn Playgroup Claire Armstrong and Jennie Riggs 01763 223459 07842 151512
Notre Ecole Janet Whitton 261231
Primary School Headteacher Stephanie Wilcox 223457 U3A (Univ. of Third Age) Chairman Tony Garrick 01223 510201 Village College Principal Simon Holmes 223400
Melbourn Playgroup
As we write this we have just started the summer term and things are somewhat back to normal.
We continue to strive to keep our children, families and staff safe with extra cleaning, wearing masks at drop off and collection times along with the regular spraying of long-lasting anti-virus barrier by Touch Zone Clean. Staff also test twice a week with the lateral flow tests and we are very thankful that we haven’t had any cases of Covid to date. It has been lovely to see all the children back and to welcome new families.
Over the Easter holidays we painted a wall to make it into a blackboard, this has been enjoyed by lots of children in the garden room but it has also encouraged those children who don’t normally enjoy making to have a go.
We are developing a sensory and soft play area in our ocean room. To make the area feel darker we have painted the walls a dark blue, this is to help reduce the sensory overload for some of our children. Having a darker area can really make a difference to help calm a child who is having a difficult time processing what is happening around them.
The soft play has arrived and the children have already had lots of fun climbing and exploring. We are hoping that the rest of our equipment will be arriving soon so we are able to use the calming area. Currently we are only able to let the children who are in the ocean room use this but we are hoping, when restrictions on cleaning are reduced, to give the children in the garden room a chance to enjoy this area too.
Over the term we will be working with the reception teachers and teaching assistants to support the preschoolers transition to school. They are going to make weekly visits, initially outside, so the children can meet and get to recognise some of the faces that will be welcoming them in September. We are always working with the children to become ready for school. Some of the things that really help the children to be independent are dressing and undressing themselves, putting on their coats, going to the toilet and washing their hands along with being able to sit for circle time and listen and join in with stories and activities.
MOOS, our after school club, remained open for the children that were attending school, still working in the new bubble system that was set up in September. The children had fun entertaining each other, quite often performing ‘shows’ through the transparent screens, as well as, playing with our resources.
We were thrilled to be able to welcome back the majority of our MOOS children, at the beginning of March, and the rest since the Easter break. We are very impressed with how they have all settled back with us.
September – We are now booking sessions for next year. If you would like a place for your child please email Jennie – office@melbournplaygroup.org.uk.
We hope that by the time you are reading this you are able to spend time with your families without all the restrictions. Enjoy the summer Jennie, Claire and the team
Bumpkins Nursery
A Whaddon-based Nursery is celebrating 21 years of helping generations of children have fun and develop.
Bumpkins Nursery, situated at Leyhill Farm in Whaddon, has reached the milestone this month.
Set on a working farm, Bumpkins has an ethos where children can learn through play, have fun and explore the outdoors; fostering their talents and developing their personalities.
The introduction of ‘Nature Rangers’ has also seen an added dimension to the children’s enjoyment. Based on the Forest School ideology, Nature Rangers sessions support children’s development and also understanding of the natural world.
It allows children opportunities to be physically active in the fresh air, whatever the weather!
“It’s been a wonderful 21 years, although the most recent one has been the most challenging,” Mel Campany, Bumpkins Nursery Manager, said.
“However, all the staff have been fantastic with the Covid procedures, as have all our parents, while the children have continued to enjoy, play and learn with us here at Bumpkins.
“We are all excited and looking forward to another 21 years of success.”
Bumpkins offers funding in accordance with County Council’s guidance, for children from the term following their 3rd birthday. They also offer 2-year-old funding if requested by the Children’s Centre Team
Ofsted rated the Nursery as ‘Good’ in its most recent visit in 2016 and are currently recruiting. If you are interested in working in a children’s Nursery head over to Bumpkins’ website – www.bumpkinsnursery.co.uk.
Melbourn Primary School
Benjamin Franklin said, “Change is the only constant in life. One’s ability to adapt to those changes will determine your success in life.” As a society we have had to face many changes over the past year. The children and staff of Melbourn Primary School have had to adapt to much and in this they have excelled. None of us had been prepared for having to deliver or receive education at home, but I am immensely proud of what we have achieved together.
As I write this, the children have now been back in school for seven weeks and it is as if they have not been away. They have settled back into the familiar routines of school life with an enthusiasm and fondness for school and learning, possibly not seen from previous generations. They exude a tangible appreciation for being reunited with their friends and for once again having the support and instruction of their teachers.
We have plans in place to support those who need extra help due to time away from school. Teachers have carefully re-structured the curriculum to aid recovery. Our primary purpose is always to ensure that our children are emotionally able to access learning and this remains the same post lockdown. Our academic priorities are two-fold. In addition to closing any gaps that our children may now have in reading, writing and maths, we are also ensuring that they are once again able to enjoy the full range of curriculum subjects.
Our school priorities this year have included increasing our children’s skills in Design Technology and improving their outcomes in writing. Since re-opening, all of our children have made their own amazing picture books with moving parts, including linkages,
Moorlands Court
Local Community Services
ü Homecare – our fully trained carers visit you in your home. ü Sitting service – a visit from our experienced staff gives family carers time for themselves.
ü Day Centre – based at Moorlands
Court, with a friendly and sociable atmosphere and includes a tasty 2 course lunch.
ü Meals service – nutritious, hot lunchtime meal delivered to you. ü Housekeeping – we do those jobs which you can no longer manage, from cleaning and ironing, to bed changing and shopping.
To find out more, just call us at Moorlands Court on 01763 260564, or email : denise.taylor@chsgroup.org.uk
levers and sliders. Our teachers have been working hard to support children in developing their writing skills and we are already seeing the benefit. For example, children have produced detailed newspaper articles about a dragon, that was seen on our CCTV flying over our Forest School area, and an adventure story about a crow that ventures to the sun to save his other animal friends.
The physical health of our children is of utmost importance to us. Many of our children have been less active during lockdown so we are busy clocking up our ‘golden miles’ and enjoying class PE lessons again. The whole school took part in a skipping workshop where we were inspired by Pete Thompson, five times world record holder for skipping. Pete took every class through a fitness workout whilst simultaneously developing their skipping skills. It has been wonderful to see the children continuing their excitement for skipping in the playground during subsequent lunchtimes.
I am hugely appreciative of the highly skilled teaching team who have adapted to the many changes they have faced this year. Many of us had not heard of Zoom or Teams prior to March 2020, let alone known how to deliver education across such platforms. They excelled in their home learning provision. Now they have reverted back to teaching in school and we are determined to ensure that our curriculum continues to meet our children’s needs and we ‘make learning irresistible’ once again.
Children have always filled me with awe; they are amazing! As adults we need to recognise and celebrate their achievements at this time. They have shown their ability to not just adapt to change but to take lockdown and school closure completely in their stride and emerge from the pandemic with resilience and positivity. If “one’s ability to adapt to changes determines success in life”, then the children of Melbourn Primary School have a very bright future indeed. They have adapted to change admirably and I am hugely proud of them. Stephanie Wilcox (Headteacher Melbourn Primary School)
