Dear Parents and Carers of our Worcester Park and Kingston Nurseries,
We hope you all enjoyed the festive season and would like to wish you all a very Happy New Year. We would like to say a huge thank you to all the Parents, Carers, Grandparents and children who joined us for our Christmas Party at Goals, we truly did dance the afternoon away! The Pre-School’s Christmas nativity concert was fantastic, we all definitely needed our tissues. The children also created some brilliant arts and crafts, from their own pine cone Christmas trees to 3D reindeer cards. Our Pre-School Children also had so much fun receiving special calls from Santa to keep them posted on his journey towards Christmas!
As we enter into January, the children will be exploring the following topics over the next month.
January activities
Seasonal Changes- Winter
As we approach winter, the children will be observing the seasonal change and will be looking at what happens during this time. The children will be exploring a seasonal sensory tray and exploring winter stories. They will explore types of clothing and will be designing their own hats, scarves and gloves. Our Pre-School will be creating their own black and white pictures to resemble the darkness.
Winter Solstice
In the Northern Hemisphere, the December Solstice marks the longest night and the shortest day of the year. Meanwhile, in the Southern Hemisphere, they experience the longest day and the shortest night. Our practitioners will demonstrate the Winter Solstice to the children using torches to shine on the globe while it slowly spins to represent light and darkness. The children will then be creating their own light and dark world pictures.
Cold climate animals
During the second week of January the children will be focusing on cold climate animals. Our Little Stars will enjoy water play with water based animals and will be making winter animals with cotton wool and their footprints. The older children will enjoy using our world maps to locate cold climate countries, and will enjoy exploring where the animals live. They will enjoy exploring the ‘Artic’ in the builder’s tray. Our Pre-School will also be looking at icebergs and how they form.
ice week
To continue the theme of cold climate animals, during the third week of January we will begin to explore ‘Ice’.
The children will explore sensory ice play and will be making ice sculptures using gloves filled with water and animals, which are then frozen. Thechildren will explore watching the ice melt around the animals. The children will also enjoy ice painting and will be making their own igloos.
Puzzle week
To end January, the nursery will be celebrating ‘National Puzzle Week’. This is a great opportunity for the children to develop
their problem solving and reasoning skills, whilst building friendships at the same time. During this week the children will be completing different puzzles in groups, from shape puzzles to photo puzzles.
Parent Partnership – Reminders and Notable Dates:
Opening of the Nursery for 2018
We re-open for the New Year on Tuesday 2nd January, 2018 at 7.30am. Breakfast and Afterschool Club re-opens on Thursday 4th January, 2018.
The Opening of our third Nursery – Stoneleigh
We are all extremely proud to announce the grand opening of our new Stoneleigh setting on Monday 15th January, 2018.
Reminders
Parent Forum
Our first Parent Forum meeting of 2018 is being held on Monday 22nd January, 2018 from 7.00pm – 9.00pm at our Kingston Nursery. The proposed agenda will be sent out in the New Year. Please speak to your child’s room Parent Representative any initial agenda items.
Things to try at home this month
- Explore making ice balloons sculptures. Firstly ensure the balloon has a little air inside and stretch the balloon. Fill the balloon with water, tie a knot at the end of the balloon and freeze overnight. Once the balloon has frozen, cut the balloon open and see the amazing balloon sculpture.
- Practice completing puzzles at home, increasing the size of the puzzle pieces each time.
- Encourage your children to explore the World Map, looking at different countries.
