2 Year Olds

Welcome to our 2 Year Olds Explorers Room!

Miss Ainsley and Mrs Leightell are your Early Years Practitioners.

Week commencing - 15th July 2024

The children this week enjoyed exploring the small sorting equipment and sorted them by colour matching and placing them to the 6 different coloured spots - (primary & secondary).

 
The children during this time were developing their colour recognition and displayed counting-like behaviour, such as; making sounds, pointing or saying some number names in sequence and sometimes skipping numbers. Staff supported the children to match their counting words with objects and mainly did this by moving the small sorting equipment to one side of the spot once they had counted it.  As well as offering repeated experiences with the counting sequences in meaningful and varied contexts throughout the day.

Staff encouraged the children to make and arrange patterns with the small sorting equipment and used words like; ‘matching’ and ‘the same’. Also, staff encouraged the older children to order the small sorting equipment by variations in size as well as drawing the children’s attention to changes in amounts, using words such as; ‘lots’ and ‘more’.

The children also had fun posting objects into a box, staff lay put a selection of objects and asked the children which one they would like to post?  Staff encouraged the children to tell them which one they wanted to post before doing so. Some of the children pointed rather than using words and staff supported some of the children by giving them a choice, if necessary.  
 

Additionally the children actively participated in some collage, exploring the textures of the different materials by feeling them though touch, they were even getting stuck to their hands with being sticky from the glue they were using, which they children found amusing! 

Week Commencing Monday 1st July 2024 

This week we have looked at another ‘what’s in the bag’ music hub activity. Throughout the week we have explored various musical instruments, finding out what the instruments are, and what sounds can be made. The children enjoyed shaking, tapping, banging, patting and scraping to create different sounds. We looked loud and quiet, fast and slow when creating our sounds. We also placed the nursery rhyme finger puppets inside the music bag, the children were developing the skills throughout both activities to turn take, wait and share. Each time a finger puppet was randomly taken from the bag, the children would then decide which nursery rhyme matched the puppet. Everyone participated well throughout, following and carrying out instructions, while also sitting within a small group alongside their peers. 

We also had great fun when racing the cars down the ramp, and when throwing the ball into the basket. The children learned the concept of ‘ready, steady, go!’ Learning the skills to wait, and only release the car or throw the ball on the word ‘go!’ The boys and girls were also developing their gross motor skills, and also their coordination. The children also developed the skills to wait, turn take, and also to follow instructions throughout this activity. Once this activity was initially modelled by key staff, the children were then able to carry it on, within a small group alongside their peers. 

Week commencing Monday 24th June 2024 

This week we have been exploring making marks, we developed our fine motor skills when drawing freely using different motion techniques to create vertical, horizontal and circular marks. The children also developed the skills to give meaning to their marks, while also building key vocabulary and sentence building when talking about what they had drawn. Key staff observed the children saying “Mammy, and my daddy.” “Grandad, I will show my grandad, nana and Mammy.” 

The children have also demonstrated an interest in tower building when exploring the Duplo. Key staff facilitated this interest further by encouraging the children to build models and structures, to demonstrate that the Duplo has another purpose other than building a tower to be knocked down. Key staff modelled key vocabulary throughout, such as colour labelling, and 1-1 counting. The children were then able to independently create their own models, key staff observed the children creating a ‘robot’ while also saying “I made a robot.” “I made a ‘big’ robot, his head is green.”  

The boys and girls engaged well during a ‘what’s in the bag’ music hub activity. Each child had the opportunity to select a song spoon from within the bag, we then sang the song that matched the picture printed on the spoon. The children were developing the skills to turn take, share and wait throughout this activity, while also being able to sit within a small group and follow instructions. 

Week commencing - 17th June 2024

Since the children the children enjoyed painting when making cards for Father’s Day last week, we decided that this week we would offer them other mark making materials to explore, this included chalks and black paper, white boards, coloured marker pens and erasers, a variety of different textured collage materials and PVA glue and shaving foam with an array of different tools, such as; brushes and rollers.  All of the children engaged in some early mark-making and we observed that many of the children made rotational marks in the forms of circles, ovals and round scribbles!

Lately the children have been regularly opting to play on the indoor climbing frame, climbing up the stairs and coming down the ramp and vice versa, in which we have incorporated a climbing frame in our Outdoor Play Area.  The children seeked challenge and showed a can do attitude both with staff support and encouragement and also independently as they climbed the ladder, then the triangle ladder, before walking or sliding down the slide board/ramp before climbing over and down the ladder arch.  The children enjoyed this so much they repeated this pattern of play and each time, gained more confidence and by climbing, sliding and balancing the children have improved their gross motor movement, including muscle strength and coordination as well as cognitive development.  Additionally, the children later also had fun walking, crawling or shuffling along the small wooden seating benches.

Week Commencing Monday 10th June 2024 

This week key staff have worked alongside all of the children, while supporting the development of various skills. We have been developing the skills to sit within small groups alongside our friends, learning to turn take, share, wait, while also developing our fine motor skills. We developed these skills during a baking activity in preparation for Father’s Day. The children each had a turn at mixing, stirring and using the spoon to fill the cupcake cases with the cake mixture. We explored our senses throughout, when feeling the different ingredients, when smelling, and when tasting. Key staff modelled key vocabulary throughout, pointing to, and labelling the ingredients and tools needed to bake our cakes. 
 

The children are demonstrating a great interest in creative activities, and early mark making. Key staff facilitated this interest by supporting the children when creating Father’s Day cards. The boys and girls enjoyed using sponges to create different marks, some children dabbed and pressed, and some children used gentle stroke movements across the paper. Key staff modelled key vocabulary throughout, labelling the different colours and asking short simple questions. 
 

We have been developing our communication and language skills throughout the week, building upon vocabulary, learning new nouns, and verbs when participated in different activities. The children are developing the skills to follow and carry out simple instructions at a one and two word level. 
 

Week commencing - 3rd June 2024:

The children returned happily to the setting this week following the half term holiday and had lots of fun, exploring the different areas of play and the resources they have to offer. They playing alongside each other and some of the children also began to play cooperatively, engaging in some simple turn-taking turn and sharing whilst building with the foam bricks, Mega-Blocks, wooden train track and playing with the musical instruments.

The children also enjoyed exploring the play dough, manipulating the malleable material with both their hands and a variety of tools, including rollers and cutters.  In the water, they engaged in some pouring, filling and emptying using a variety of different shapes and sized containers. As well within the tuff-spot tray the children actively participated in some sensory exploration with shaving foam, along with paint and also cereals and the dinosaurs.

Additionally, the children played in the Heuristic Area with the various natural materials, used the method of trial and error to complete some peg puzzles and engaged in some small world play with the Dolls House.

Week Commencing Monday 20th May 

Another busy, fun filled week! 

The children have enjoyed participating in many activities this week, we have explored paint and colour, and also other ways of creating marks with the paint. The children had great fun using fruit and vegetables to create marks and print on to the paper. Key staff modelled key vocabulary throughout, supporting the children when developing their speech and language skills.  

The children have been developing their social skills when participating in a pizza making activity, they developed the skills to sit within a small group alongside their peers, turn take and share. We explored various ingredients together, and talked about our favourite pizza’s. The boys and girls explored their senses when tasting the pizza, and were able to express their likes and dislikes. We also developed the skills to listen and carry out simple instructions when creating the pizza. 

We have explored creating sound! The children enjoyed exploring the musical instruments, we explored shaking, banging, tapping and scraping. The boys and girls enjoyed sharing their experiences with their peers, while developing the skills to parallel play, turn take and share. 

Week commencing - 13th May 2024

This week, staff continued to work on with the children’s receptive language with regards to questions and instructions by using the Compare Bears with the younger children on following simple instructions containing on, in and under and then with the older children understanding instructions containing the words behind, in front and next to.  We also later did some sorting and matching using the sorting equipment and coloured spots! Additionally, for Maths this week, the children enjoyed exploring a range of different Shape Sorters to perceive shapes, the younger children used the method of trial whilst the older children began to show awareness of the shapes and their variations.  
 

The children also enjoyed doing some painting, where staff encouraged them to talk about what they are doing and thinking, as well as what they are wearing e.g. an apron and what items they are going to use e.g. a paintbrush and how they look and feel etc.  Staff also spoke to the children about what colours they are choosing and the sort of patterns they are making e.g. “big circle, green line” as well who the paintings are possibly for e.g. family members. Some of the children mixed the colours together whilst others preferred not to and painted more recognisable marks and some of the children additionally enjoyed painting their hands to create handprints!

The children had great fun as well engaging in several types of sensory play within the tuff spot, including Cereal with Diggers and Dumper Trucks, Jelly play and also Shaving Foam and poster paint, where they mixed the primary colours together to make secondary colours just like they did with the paints earlier in the week but this time using large paintbrushes. The children used both their hands as well as tools and resources to actively participate in sensory exploration.
 

Additionally, the children enjoyed playing with the balloons in the School Hall, especially trying to keep them up in the air!

Week Commencing Monday 6th May 2024 

This week the children have explored a wide range of activities within the 2 year old setting, the boys and girls have particularly enjoyed the warmer weather and being outdoors a lot more. They have been developing their gross motor skills when riding the cars, bikes and scooters. Learning through trial and error when developing the skills to motion their feet and legs to move along. The children have also been developing their social skills when interacting with their peers, seeking them out to join in with their play to race each other, and when learning to turn take and share. They have also been developing their speech and language skills when communicating, using language such as “ready, steady, go!” And “1,2,3 go!” 
 

We have enjoyed sharing story books, again developing our social skills when sitting within a small group and learning to turn take, share and wait for their turn. The children enjoy taking turns to lift the flaps within the books while also labelling the pictures. Some children have enjoyed just exploring the pictures, and singing songs to match. Such as “3 little ducks” 

The children have explored colour this week, learning what the colours are and forming very simple AB patterns. Key staff modelled this, and supported the children throughout. The boys and girls were developing the skills to follow simple instructions when engaging in this adult lead activity. 
 

We have had great fun during sensory exploration activities, feeling the different textures, transporting, and filling and emptying. The children enjoyed a sneaky taste too 🤭. 

22nd April - 4th May 2024

Over the past couple of weeks, staff have been working with the children on following simple instructions, such as; stand up, sit down, wonderful walking, walk indoors, as well as incorporating it into tidy up time, some naming games, for example - pointing to various body parts and turn taking activities.  The turn taking activities included, rolling a ball or car back and forth to each other, as well as blowing bubbles and building towers.  Initially staff introduced the turn taking activities 1:1 before increasing the group size accordingly.

The children have also enjoyed story time, where the older children have been sharing the story of ‘Wow! said the Owl’ which is one of our core book texts and is part of our Long Term Plan.  The children have been repeating words and phrases from the familiar story as well as labelling the majority of the colours within the books. Additionally, the children joined in with some songs and rhymes as we made connections to the illustrations, such as; Twinkle Twinkle Little Star, I can sing a rainbow and Two Little Butterflies, which is a finger play/number rhyme that is part of our Maths - Learning Trajectories. Whilst the younger children have been enjoying engaging in shorter stories either with staff individually or in a small group and during this time they have been paying attention and responding to the illustrations or the words.   When singing, the children said some of the words in songs and rhymes as well as copying finger movements and other actions and gestures.

Week Commencing Monday 15th April 2023 

Since returning back to the 2 Year Old setting after a lovely Easter break, the children have engaged in many child lead activities, while developing the confidence to explore the environment more independently and alongside their peers. 
The boys and girls have been developing their fine motor skills and hand eye coordination when exploring the sand and water. The children were doing this by using the spades to scoop up the sand, then pouring it into the nearby buckets. They enjoyed filling the buckets to the very top, patting the sand down then tipping over the bucket. They used a similar concept when exploring the water, scooping up the water with a jug, then pouring into another jug or bucket until it was full, so that they could then pour it back out. With support the children were developing their social skills, when playing alongside their friends, taking turns and sharing the resources. 
We observed different sounds this week, the children enjoyed using the wooden spoons and metal tins to create their own banging sounds. Key staff modelled different ways that sounds could be created, other than banging. Key staff demonstrated scraping the wooden spoons on the tins, some children were able to copy the different motions. We also explored the beaded sensory shakers, the children explored shaking them fast and slow to create different sounds. 
The children have enjoyed building towers and structures with the bricks, Duplo and stacking blocks. Some worked together alongside their friends, helping one another to stack them up. Some children preferred to play alone to achieve their own goal. 
We explored mark making, developing our fine motor skills and developing the confidence needed when trying something new. We explored the play dough, we looked a different ways the dough can be manipulated, and the different tools that could be used to enhance skill and play. 
key staff enjoyed taking a step back and observing the children’s play, stepping in when the children needed support and to model key vocabulary, and also extended their play by asking questions, such as what can you build next. 

Week beginning - 25th March 2024

This the week the children enjoyed a range of Easter related activities, in a run up to the end of term.  The children explored different materials both felt and foam as they engaged in collage to create an Easter card for their families.   The children also enjoyed playing with some small craft pieces, such as fluffy chicks, bunnies, spring animals and foam eggs with the play dough, some of the children began to engage in some brief small world play with them! As well the children made so Easter Nest Crispy Cakes, where they took turns to add and mix the ingredients together before spooning the mixture in the paper cake cases, they later enjoyed having one of the cakes they made a snack time and took another one home.  Additionally, the children took part in an Egg Hunt, in which they wore some novelty Easter Bunny Ear Glasses to find the eggs, in exchange for a yummy chocolate Easter treat to also take home! 

Week Commencing 18th March 2024 

This week we have focused on building and forming small sentences, the children enjoyed labelling various toys and resources which they could then post in a box. Key staff continuously modelled key vocabulary and small sentences when the children posted a toy in the box, such as ‘small blue car’ and ‘bumpy orange dinosaur’. We also tested the children’s memory, we asked the children if they could remember which toy they initially posted, and if they were then able to take it back out and place into the basket. This activity was carried out numerous times throughout the week, key staff observed that some children were able to sit within a small group while demonstrating the skills to turn take and follow instructions. They were also developing their language skills throughout. 
 

The children have demonstrated positive interactions throughout a colour sorting activity, we explored the different colours, labelled them and sorted various objects by colour. The boys and girls were able to chose a toy from the basket, identify the colour, and then place it on the correct coloured spot. The children demonstrated the skills to sit alongside their peers, turn take and share. They demonstrated good communication and language skills when using key vocabulary and follow instructions. 

Week commencing -  11th March 2024:

This week the children enjoyed painting using the paintbrushes and staff used this activity to build sentences, as they talked to them about what they are doing and thinking. Including, what they were wearing, e.g. an apron and what items they were going to use e.g. a paintbrush and how they look and feel.  Staff also talked to the children about the colours they chose and the marks or patterns they were making and encouraged both colour recognition and colour mixing. The children especially enjoyed painting their hands to create handprints and also the sensory tactile element!

We also promoted the children’s physical development through different activities both indoors and outdoors, in the School Hall they explored the benches and moved along them in different ways, including balancing, crawling and pulling themselves forward on their tummies using their upper body strength. Then outdoors the children enjoyed sitting on the wheeled toys, such as the ride along cars and tricycles, during this play the children used the large gross-motor leg muscles to move around and they were also able to change direction and are beginning to avoid obstacles in their path.

The children have throughly enjoyed building with the Duplo Lego Blocks and staff encouraged the children to make other creations not just towers, building horizontally as well as vertically. 

On Friday we also celebrated the charitable event - Comic Relief, where we came to Nursery dressed in red clothing and we enjoyed engaging in some red water play, where we did some pouring, filling and emptying! 

Week commencing - 4th March 2024

This week we celebrated World Book Day, the children came to Nursery from Monday - Wednesday as themselves (readers), dressed as their favourite book character or in their Pyjamas ready for a bedtime story!  The children throughout the week, enjoyed looking at books independently as well as sharing stories with staff and they showed interest in the illustrations, including during our Reading Cafe that we held on Friday, where our parents and carers were invited along to explore our brand new core book collection! 
 

Again this week, following on from the children’s recent interest of mark making and how they have started to make marks intentionally. Staff offered a wide range of different materials and encouraged the children to make marks in different ways, including exploring paint using their fingers as well as brushes as they made their Mother’s Day Cards for their Mammies for this coming Sunday! 

The children enjoyed exploring the Stacking Cups and Blocks and as well as building towers, they used the method of trial and error to combine them by putting them inside of each other and them taking them out again. During this time, staff encouraged counting and the children developed counting-like behaviour, such as making sounds, pointing or saying some numbers in sequence and sometimes skipping numbers. Staff also encouraged to the children to compare the sizes of the Stacking Cup and Blocks by using gestures and language of both size and weight, such as; “bigger/little/smaller” and “heavy/light”.

Additionally, the children enjoyed visiting the Reception classroom to see the eggs and the baby chicks that have recently hatched as part of the Living Eggs programme, which offers the experience and observation of life cycles, growth and development.  It also encourages social interaction and promotes caring and nurturing skills.

Week Commencing Monday 26th February 2024 

Welcome back everyone, we hope that you all had a lovely relaxing break during the half term. 

Key staff are delighted with how well our newest 2 year olds have settled, the nursery environment is becoming more familiar to them, and they are beginning to understand that their grown ups will only be gone a short while. They are developing bonds with both key staff and their peers, while also developing the skills to explore the environment more confidently and independently. 

We have had another busy fun filled week! 

The children have particularly enjoyed exploring the duplo building blocks and construction blocks. Some children made structures by stacking them one on top of the other, they have also been developing their number knowledge when randomly counting the blocks as they were stacked. Other children enjoyed using their imaginations when playing, they were pretending that their blocks represented something other than a tower. Such as a house, or their grown ups.   

The children have been demonstrating a huge interest in marking making, exploring the crayons, pencils and chalk. Some children are developing the skills to give meaning to their marks, they are able to form short sentences, such as " my mammy" "my daddy" "a flower." Some children just wanted to draw freely, developing their hand eye co ordination and fine motor skills.  

We have had great fun exploring the play dough, to further develop our fine motor skills. The children have enjoyed rolling, patting, pinching and cutting while also using a variety of tools, such as cutters and rolling pins. Key staff worked alongside the children, modelling key vocabulary throughout while also asking what and who questions. 

We have explored the outdoor environment, developing our gross motor skills when running, jumping, dancing, hopping and kicking a large ball, the children also enjoyed playing on the bikes and cars. 

Week beginning - 12th February 2024:

This week following on from the children’s interests, we incorporated a ‘Hair Salon’ into the  role play area, the children enjoyed exploring the different hairdressing equipment and exploring the hairdressing modelling head.  The children then engaged in imaginative play and then took turns to play with both the staff and their peer’s hair.  Staff labelled the different hairdressing equipment, modelled how to use them as well as engaging in role play with the children and emphasised key vocabulary throughout.

The children also had great fun engaging in some music and movement, where they sang and danced along to a variety of songs and rhymes, including ones that were familiar to them as well as being introduced to some new ones! We also enhanced this further by adding and exploring other related resources, such as; a microphone, Pom-Poms, ribbons, scarves and musical instruments. 
 

The children this week enjoyed building towers using a variety of different resources, including the Sensory Illuminated Glow Roller Shakers, the Early Years Natural Building Block Set and the Duplo, where they built towers of 4+ by balancing and stacking them vertically one on top of the other. Staff encouraged the children to count their towers and that building towers and then them falling down and building them back up is all part of the fun!  
 

Additionally, the children creatively made a Valentine’s card for their family and decorated biscuits that they had a snack and took home for their loved ones! Then we also celebrated Shrove Tuesday and had Lana cakes and various toppings as a yummy treat at snack time! 

Week Commencing 5th February 2024 

We have all had another busy fun filled week of learning and exploring, the children have accessed a wide range of activities and learning through play opportunities. 
The boys and girls have demonstrated a huge interest in role play, especially with the babies/dolls. Key staff facilitated this interest by planning a changing and dressing activity. Key staff modelled how to gently handle the babies, while also modelling how to dress/undress the baby, and change a nappy. The children worked alongside their peers, maintained focus for a short period of time, while also demonstrating the skills to follow instructions. Key staff offered support throughout as some children found it a little ‘tricky’ when fastening the sticky parts of the nappy, however they demonstrated determination. Key staff modelled key vocabulary throughout this activity while also asking questions, offering time for the children to respond and to talk about any real life experiences that they may of had. 
 

We also explored the sensory shakers, we looked at the different colours when they lit up. Some children were able to label the colours through observation. We talked about the noise that they made when they were shook hard, fast and slow. The children enjoyed observing, shaking and rolling them, again key staff modelled key vocabulary and asked questions, such as what and who. The boys and girls previously made their own shakers using rice, pasta and lentils. They enjoyed observing a different form of shakers, playing alongside their peers, while also developing the skills to turn take and share. 
 

The children enjoyed a tasty treat this week, this was to coincide with Chinese New Year… The year of the Rat 🐀. The boys and girls expressed their likes and dislikes through a food tasting activity. They all had the opportunity to taste spring rolls, egg fried rice, egg noodles, prawn crackers and curry sauce. Key staff were pleasantly surprised to watch the children give everything a try, while being able to say what they did or didn’t like. The children demonstrated good hand eye co ordination and fine motor skills when using a fork to feed themselves. 
 

Week beginning - 29th January 2024:

This week we focused on children’s listening and attention, they enjoyed filling up some cups with dried rice, pasta and lentils before adding colourful cellophane to make shakers! The children then enjoyed making a noise with their shaker, staff playfully encouraged them to listen to the sounds and to also try and copy the sounds or very simple beats! We also incorporated them into our song time/singing too! 

This week we also engaged in some simple role play in to the water area, where the children had fun bathing the dolls, using the sponges.  We also added bubble bath, toy ducks and boats to the water.  During this time staff, modelled key related vocabulary and extended the children’s play by challenging them to wash different body parts of the dolls and the children also made the connection and spoke about their own bath times at home.  
 

This week we also have accessed the Sensory Room, the children had a relaxing and stimulating time in the Ball Pool, as well as exploring the step and sound discs, the large textured discs and the sensory bubble tube and pressing the buttons to change the colour of it! 
 

Additionally, the children playfully engaged with the play dough, where they explored the texture as well as manipulating the malleable material using both their hands and also tools, such as the rolling pins and cutters.  The children had fun exploring the toy garage, pushing the vehicles up and down the ramps and using the method of trial and error to operate the lift by turning the handle around.  

Week commencing Monday 22nd January 2024 

We have all had another fantastic week exploring and investigating. The children have participated in many activities to further develop their learning.
We explored the peg puzzles and shape sorter, some children were able to complete the puzzles through trial and error, others were able to complete the puzzles with support from key staff. They have been developing the skills to follow instructions and focus their attention for a short period of time.

The boys and girls have enjoyed exploring the Heuristic area, key staff worked alongside everyone to model key language, and to ask relevant questions about the different materials. Some children enjoyed sorting the different resources, transporting and stacking, while some enjoyed emptying them from one basket to another.

We also had great fun learning through sensory exploration, staff modelled key vocabulary while also asking questions to prompt the children when exploring the shaving foam. They enjoyed squashing it through their fingers, clapping it in their hands and smelling it. 
 

Week beginning - 15th January 2024

Last week the children showed an interest in animals but we observed that they were unsure of quite a few of the names of animals.  Children’s small world play is often based around a certain theme depending on their interests, in which we adapted our small world area to fit with this specific learning theme and used it to target this certain area of learning.  Small world play allows children to act out scenarios (scenes from real life, stories they have heard and/or from their imagination) in a miniature play scene, created with small figures and objects.

The children enjoyed exploring the wild/jungle animals in the tuff-spot tray and also the wooden farm blocks, as well as the sea creatures within the water tray. During their play, the children labelled some of the animals, making the noises of the animals or saying what the animals were doing.

The children this week also engaged in a creative printing activity where they took turns to put the toy animals into paint so that their feet were covered and then stomped them over the paper and looked at the different tracks created/left behind.

The children had fun looking at animal related books both independently and with staff, such as ‘Dear Zoo, Oh Dear’ and many more! Where they enjoyed looking at and labelling the illustrations as they lifted the flaps and felt the different textures of a variety of books. The children also actively participated in singing songs and rhymes about animals, ‘Old MacDonald had a Farm’ being a firm favourite! As well by using the animals puppets during story and singing offered an entertaining approach to introducing new concepts to the children.

Additionally, the children promoted their physical skills both fine and gross motor by completing the animal peg puzzles and taking turns on the Rocking Horse.

Week Commencing Monday 8th January 2024 

Happy New Year Everyone! 
We hope that you all had a well deserved rest and a lovely Christmas with family and friends. 
 

The 2 year old room has welcomed some new little faces into our setting at the start of the new term, they have all been amazing! Each child has settled brilliantly, they have enjoyed exploring all of the different areas while also demonstrating particular interests. The boys and girls have demonstrated an interest in filling and emptying when playing in the water, they have been developing their mark making skills when drawing freely, and they have loved making different sounds when exploring the musical instruments. Some children have demonstrated a particular interest in animals, we are going to further develop this interest over the coming weeks. 

🎄 Week Commencing 4th December 2023  🎄

Christmas Time….. 

WOW! What an amazing December it has been, we have all had a brilliant time preparing for Christmas 2023. 
The children have engaged in many different activities, such as creating their very own party hats, tree decorations, and reindeer dust. They explored mixing and stirring, while also exploring various creative materials. 
 

The children have participated in many other Christmas activities, such as a Santa Dash, we all had great fun running laps around the school. We invited the parents and carers into school to take part in a craft session, it was a lovely morning, and fantastic to see everyone join in. Santa came to visit 🎅 us all, he gave everyone a lovely story book to share at home with their loved ones. The children have laughed, played, danced and ran around… they have had such fun making memories with their friends.
 

Thank you everyone for your continued support! 
We hope you all have a fabulous Christmas, and we look forward to welcoming you back in the new year.

Mrs Leightell & Miss Ainsley  
 

Week beginning - 27th November 2023

Since the children enjoyed playing shops so much, we decided to continue to keep this in our role play area for longer, this activity promoted social skills, including cooperative play and turn taking as well as communication and language.  Staff this week extended the children’s learning by adding and using real items as well as encouraging them to collect the items in the order that they asked them for, this helps the children develop their memory for words which is vital for following longer instructions! 
 

Continuing with this, staff have been promoting the children’s auditory memory for understanding further by using familiar vocabulary so that children can follow simple instructions at two-word level. For example; sit down, stand up, line up, wonderful walking, come here, over there, tidy up, coat on, coat off etc.  

The children did so well last week exploring the peg puzzles, that this week staff introduced them to simple 2 piece jigsaw puzzles, where they had to match and connect together the pieces of the heads and tails of various animals.  
 

Additionally, we had to make the most of the wintery weather and play outside in the snow, it was so much fun, we enjoyed feeling the texture of the snow and ice and talking about them and how they felt as well as watching the snow melt! 

Week Commencing Monday 20th November