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Whilst in the garden Shai found a caterpillar. We put it in to a bug pot so our friends could have a look.

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The small world area had some added jungle animals! The new space is very popular.

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We decided that in time for the better and sunnier weather to revamp our small world area. We added some bark & large pebbles. This gives our children a larger space with various textures to develop their imagination and small world play. Feel free to have a look when dropping off!

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Ellie found lots of boxes, tubes, bottles and lids and together we stuck them on some cardboard. We worked on this over a few days, carefully decided where to place each piece. We even painted it at the end of the week. Look out for it hanging up in our garden area.

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Our new literacy story this week is Pig in the Pond. We spent the week at the art table creating our own pigs, ducks and geese. We used paint and mixed materials to stick.

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Some more friends creating animals for our story.

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We used some of our big arm muscles to dig in the sand. We used the large spades to scoop up the sand to fill up our buckets.

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We spent a few days working really hard on some new art pieces for the class room. We used some glue spreaders to put the glue on before carefully choosing what we wanted to stick. We had coloured rice, tissue paper, glitter and heart confetti.

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In the wet weather we found some worms. We placed them on a tray and used our magnifying glasses to have a closer look.

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As the morning continued more worms came on to the playground. The children were very curious and spent some time looking at them.

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This week we made flapjacks. We used spoons to mix the ingredients together and then used some icing to stick on our sprinkles.

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This week we made flapjacks. We used spoons to mix the ingredients together and then used some icing to stick on our sprinkles.

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We made the most of the rain and added lots of powder paint to the play ground. We used some brooms to push the colour around. 

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Azaiyah and Noah were trying really hard to make snips in some paper using scissors.

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When we make it the end of the climbing equipment we have been practising our jumping off.

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We were lucky enough to have some new climbing in our garden to develop our gross motor skills. The children have been trying really hard this week to make it across the climbing.

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Even the rain did not stop us for enjoying the garden on this wet Thursday morning. We encouraged the children to be independent and try to put on our own wellie boots before going out with the big brooms to create bubbles.

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Our focus story was Owl Babies!

We created some play dough owl with feathers and eyes!

On the art table we used paint and lots of different collage materials to make owls.

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We were looking after our babies in Oak & Willow class. We gave them a bath, bottle fed them and put them in bed for a sleep. We spoke about our families and if we had any babies that we helped look after at home.

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This week we helped clean out Zola our Giant African Land Snail. We gave her fresh soil and water and some apple and pear to eat. We took it in turns to hold Zola afterwards.

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We have had shaving foam, paint & cornflour in the tuff tray.

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We have had a busy week of lots of different materials in a tuff tray to explore. We had some tools to use but preferred to use our hands.

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During Literacy time this week we have been looking at signs for feelings we shared lots of story and used the ipod to practice our own faces. Sharvi's happy face and angry face and Simon's happy and sad.

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Download and complete your child's culture wheel on your phone, tablet or computer and then email to admin@pasturesway.nurseryluton.com where we will print it for you.

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Curriculum Days are days where we choose one area of development out of the 7 - We celebrate it by having all activities in the class room and garden link to goals from that specific area .

Parents and Carers are invited to join us on these days and see what the children are learning.

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Cultures and Celebrations Days are celebrated over the year where the children learn about many differences in the world from beliefs, traditions, clothing, food and music.

Learning about similarities and differences around the world.

On these days we also invite parents/carers in to see the learning and engage with learning.

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This term the children will be focusing on three different stories. this terms Theme Little Adventurers.

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This term the children will be focusing on three different stories. this terms Theme Little Discoverers.

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This term the children will be focusing on three different stories. this terms Theme Circle of Life.

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This term the children will be focusing on three different stories. this terms Theme Circle of Life.

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Each term the children will be focusing on learning these word. Through a rich curriculum - experiences/ activities throughout the nursery.

This term the children will be focusing on Rhythm/Rhyme/ Instruments.

This terms Theme A Whole New World.

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This term the children will be focusing on three different stories. this terms Little Explorers.

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Talking boxes

Is an intervention support EAL children and those children who would benefit from speech and language support.

We have been doing talking boxes at nursery for several years and the format has proved successful these groups aim to support children to learn English in a planned and progressive way.

The groups are held twice a week with both 2-3’s and 3-4’s joining together, with a maximum of six children in each group. The sessions run for five weeks each half term.

During this group we sing a Hello song, introduce activities, introduce book and character, have an attention activity, read the story and have another activity (related to key words), reward sticker and say Goodbye.

The programme is the same for both age groups the books and activities are simple this is because we are teaching the children the basic words.

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Lift Off To Language is a programme to support the development of children's communication and language within the Early Years environment.

We are pleased to be able to offer Lift Off To Language interventions here in Poppy Class for our children. We have Johanna Shore specifically trained to run these sessions for your children.

Lift Off To Language for 2s
Lift Off To Language for 2s is specifically designed for our younger children In our setting.

The second year in a child's life is extremely important as their language development continues to grow.

The children go from speaking 50 or more words at the age of 2, to at least 200 and as many as 1000 words by the time they reach 3.

Lift Off The Language sessions provide an opportunity to support language skills as well as supporting the children's attention and listening, social interactions and turn taking skills.

The sessions run once a week (Fridays). Each session is carefully planned for using a variety of props and activities suitable for our children. The sessions are approximately 20 minutes long.

Overview:

Each session begins by welcoming the children in the small circle with the trained member of staff. 'Billy the Bear' joins the children to role model listening and turn taking throughout the session.

First activity is 'Roll the Ball'. This is an attention activity to support children's listening skills and encourage them to join in. The children listen to their name and roll the ball back to 'Doug'. The children are also encouraged to join in singing or simply tapping their knees to the song.

Second activity is 'What's in the box?'. The children are encouraged to guess what they think is in the box. Objects are changed regularly when the children are able to identify each item without a visual clue.

Third activity is singing the children's favourite nursery rhymes with instruments. Each of the children has a turn in choosing a rhyme to sing (up to 3 children within the group chooses a rhyme, this rotates to ensure all of the children have a turn to choose a rhyme to sing).

We finish off with a big squeeze with our friend 'Doug' for doing amazing job at sitting, listening, watching and joining in.

"Communication is an essential life skill. It is the basis on which all children learn, achieve and make friends. It is vital to the development of childrens social and emotional wellbeing"
(Bercow report, 2008)

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Talking Takes Off aims to improve speech and communication in children from 0-5 years old in Luton.

Speech and language provide the solid foundations on which to build the best start in life.

They lead to vital skills which will guide children on a life long journey of socialising, learning and progress as well as helping them to achieve their full potential and wellbeing.

In Willow & Oak class staff members are trained in delivering this approach with the children. If staff have concerns about your child's speech and language development, then your child's key person will have an initial conversation with you about these concerns. A plan can then be put in place with targets specifically tailored to your child and their needs. This will be reviewed after 6 weeks and parents will then be invited back to discuss the outcome and next steps.

If you would like further information about Talking Takes Off, please ask to speak to Nimmi.

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Sign 4 Learning is a unique initiative that successfully uses signs taken from British Sign Language to support the understanding and use of new vocabulary in hearing children. It was written and trialled in Luton and has been showcased in National publications and National and European conferences, with training delivered both nationally and internationally.

The children learn simple signs to support their use of emotional language and be able to understand and name how they are feeling.

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In our class of busy children, it is important to have ground rules for safety purposes. We want our children to feel that their environment is safe in order for them to grow and succeed. Rules give the children clear expectations so that they can understand the boundaries.

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Our curriculum is based on exploration, experiences and investigation through play. Children are encouraged to follow their own ideas with real, natural resources and loose parts. Practitioners use a blend of teaching and scaffolding to encourage children to broaden, stretch and embed their learning. Children are supported to question, explore, experiment, develop hypotheses and test ideas, and reflect their learning. During a session we use a combination of adult led and child initiated teaching running parallel. This is underpinned by detailed long term and medium term plans of progression to guide our children towards our ‘RICCHER’ vision.

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We had so much fun this morning using our senses to explore the snow. We used our hands and tools to investigate!

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Recalling and sharing our story with friends!!!

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Brown bear, Brown bear, what do you see!

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Brown bear, Brown bear, what do you see!

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Using our gross motor skills to manoeuvre around the climbing equipment and sweep up the autumn leaves!!

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Using our gross motor skills to manoeuvre around the climbing equipment and sweep up the autumn leaves!!

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We’ve revamped our garden with a new building area, reading corner and small world exploring area!!

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We’ve revamped our garden with a new building area, reading corner and small world exploring area!!

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Having fun with the fallen autumn leaves!!

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Culture day dressing up and yummy foods from different cultures! 

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Culture day dressing up and yummy foods from different cultures! 

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We used our investigative skills to find out about pumpkins, conkers, leaves and woodland animals! 

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We had so much fun exploring our jungle room this week!

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Down in the jungle where oak and willow go!!!

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Down in the jungle where oak and willow go!!!

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Having fun making ice creams in the Autumn sun!!!

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Welcome to Oak and Willow team!    From left to right, back row: Freya, Tash, Ellie, Nimmi, Sam, Rajiha, Sarah. Front row: Becky and Steph.