HALF TERM NEXT WEEK

BACK ON MONDAY JUNE 3RD

JASPER'S BEAN & JACK & THE BEAN STALK

We went for a lovely spring walk on Monday . The children listened to the safety talk and held the ribbon well to the path with the gate - then they could run down the path exploring 'all things growing' and they did from butterflies, a tiny snail shell, to ants galore, to forest picnic and to  a 'man locked in a cage' ( -actually a man fixing a door behind a gate!).

The children explored music rhythm and dance through a variety of action songs and group activities. They especially enjoyed the action game " Baked Beans" responding to adult instruction and managing their bodies to create intended movements, they also were able to remember the words and actions to a song that became familiar to them throughout the week "We are going to plant a Bean". We also created sounds by tapping sticks together ,tapping out simple repeated rhythms , nursery rhymes, and this inspired some children to sing familiar songs as well as make up their own and confidently sing to the whole group.

We are all really enjoying the lovely warm sunny weather and love spending time outside enjoying water play and of course construction.  The children have also enjoyed eating snack outdoors and there has been a lot of association between the nice weather with holidays they have had. Lots of children loved playing in the water play, working together thinking of own ideas on how they could get the water to flow out the plastic tube, great communication and listening to each other’s ideas 

Impressive thinking and problem solving skills were observed this week when the Towerview children were constructing an obstacle course and play park uses plastic covered mats for slides, crates and planks to build seesaws and obstacle courses.

AT BROADWAY PLAYSCHOOL 

Here the children are really enjoying water play at the moment. They have also been involved in planting lettuces in the flowerbeds particularly enjoying watering them!

AT FOREST SCHOOL 
The children enjoyed the cover of the long cowslips at forest school for hiding in our game of “one two three where are you?”  There was also lots of cheerful participation in  the mud kitchen with milkshakes, soup and cakes on the menu. 

SO YOU MAY ASK - 'HOW DOES ALL THIS HELP MY CHILD LEARN ?'

THE CHARACTERISTICS OF EFFECTIVE LEARNING that over arch the EYFS 
PLAY & EXPLORING (is  one characteristic) 
As you can see from the above activities, this week, your child has had the opportunity to play and explore - to engage with the environment and other people. These opportunities are vital to early learning and helps them to develop skills such as noticing, studying and developing that curiosity and interest in living things. Engaging in the open ended activities offered helps them to develop focus. It supports them to challenge themselves and others and initiate ideas and offer solutions - all through their play and exploration. All the children have engaged in new experiences, had a go, taken risks, assessed how safe things are and shown a 'can do' attitude fundamental to learning. 

THE LITTLE RED HEN & THE THREE LITTLE PIGS !

At Broadway Playschool it was lovely seeing how well the little ones are settling now and how well they recall the three pigs and big bad wolfs refrain ! 

Thanks to Bob who came in to help the children at Towerview Playschool on Tuesday, plant runner beans and peas. He will be bringing them back in soon so the children can see how much they have grown. I was so impressed how much all the children showed an interest.   

We have been making  grass heads - looking forward to cutting their 'hair' ! 

Some of the children enjoyed and got involved in welly and hand mud printing. Along with some interesting role play using sticks to make a stick house and a large branch which acted as the 'bad wolf'. There was also lots of cooking going on in the mud kitchen from 'chocolate' leaves 'soup' to 'tea and cake'.

The children have enjoyed playing with small world play (-playmobile), playing independently and alongside others who are engaged in the same theme, engaging in imaginative role play based on their own first hand experiences. It is so nice to see how the older children are really getting into role play with each other and lovely to see them all coming into the setting happy and settled.

SO YOU MAY ASK - 'HOW DOES ALL THIS HELP MY CHILD LEARN ?'

THE CHARACTERISTICS OF EFFECTIVE LEARNING that over arch the EYFS 

ACTIVE LEARNING  ( one of the characteristics) 

They have been involved and concentrated - the children at whatever their age and stage have begun to develop focus through the activities offered . They have shown high levels of energy and interest and have paid attention to  how to look after their seeds and beans. They have been motivated to create 'worlds' with their friends and been proud of the results of their work. These characteristics of active learning will support their learning throughout their lives.

AFTER THE EASTER BREAK !

we were proud to see how well children remembered the routine and visual timetable after Easter break. They were keen to help clear flower beds in preparation for veg planting.

The children enjoyed listening to the story of 'Harry and the Hazelnut', setting up the display showing curiousty and interest in the features of objects and describing and talking about what they saw.They all joined in with the action nursery rhyme " I had a little hazel nut" listening to, and following the adults instruction and actions.What lovely hazel nut trees we grew into! 

We had lots of fun on Tuesday with each child planting and watering their own lettuce.  They are very keen to see them grow and eventually get to eat them. Funny how 22 children remember which one is theirs!!!! 

It was nice to see on Wednesday how the older children settled into the setting really easily even after 2 weeks off. Also how calmly and happily they were all playing together in different groups inside and out.

The Towerview Playschool children were so impressive  when we took them to watch willow fencing being made.  They walked so well and listened to adults to keep themselves safe.
The children enjoyed the bottom Forest School, exploring the foliage change. There was much excitement finding snails and watching  how they move about.

Nice to see the little ones at Broadway Playschool settle so well into play on their first week back. We were lucky enough with the weather to have water play outside which proved to be very popular.

CLOSED BANK HOLIDAY MONDAY 6TH MAY