Little Hayes Nursery School has been busy welcoming children back for the new term, with both rooms settling beautifully into their learning environments.
Building Relationships and Settling In
Both the Oak Room and Willow Room have been resettling returning children while welcoming new children and their families to Little Hayes Nursery School. The children have been finding out which key groups they are in and where they meet, using visual registers, songs and games to learn the names of the children and adults in their groups.
Creating family boards has been a fantastic way for children to share their family photos and talk about the important people in their lives. Oak Room would also love to receive pictures of children’s pets to add to these displays. It has been amazing to see how well the children are settling, exploring their learning environments and finding out where everything belongs.
Discovering Autumn’s Treasures
The children have been exploring the garden and noticing seasonal changes as autumn arrives. Oak Room has been particularly excited about finding conkers, acorns and pine cones, using them in their learning in numerous creative ways. The children have been cooking with them in the mud kitchen, counting them, painting with them, making patterns with them and exploring their shape, texture and colour.
The children have been really excited to discover the shiny smooth conkers inside their spiky shells and seeing who has the largest conkers or the most conkers inside their shell. These natural materials have provided rich opportunities for mathematical thinking, creative expression and scientific observation.
Developing Independence
Oak Room children have been learning to be independent when putting on their coats, waterproof trousers and wellington boots. Many children have learnt the coat flip technique, demonstrating growing confidence in managing their own belongings and preparing themselves for outdoor learning.
Stories, Rhymes and Language Development
Both rooms are revisiting traditional nursery rhymes using books, puppets and props, with Oak Room also learning some new ones. The core books this term focus on personal, social and emotional development, exploring topics of feelings, separation, making friends and starting school.
Daily story times provide opportunities for children to develop their listening skills, and they will be learning to retell some of the stories using story maps and props. Each child has a book bag and the opportunity to borrow books every Wednesday to share at home, supporting language development and fostering a love of reading.
Preparing for All Weather Learning
As autumn progresses, children will continue to learn outdoors in all weathers. Families are reminded that children need a warm coat every day throughout autumn and winter, with wellington boots left on their outside peg and waterproof trousers proving very useful on rainy days.
Little Hayes Nursery School looks forward to continuing these engaging learning experiences throughout the term as children grow in confidence, independence and curiosity about the world around them.