Investigation Hub and Discovery Hub at Deckham

When we returned after the bank holiday weekend, we were pleased to find that our seeds are growing into plants! The cress had grown a lot and at snack time this week the children used scissors to snip the cress before giving it a taste as their snack. We had mixed reactions to the cress! Well done to all of the children who gave it a try even though it was new to some of them.

Our beans and sunflowers also continue to grow. This week our core story was Sam Plants a Sunflower, which demonstrates the stages of growth that we hope to see in our own sunflowers.

Plan-do-review is a key part of our daily routine for our oldest children. This is adapted for our younger children who also make choices about where they would like to play during Nursery sessions and what resources they will use. We use real objects and visuals to help the children to plan and make choices about the activity they will undertake.

During planning time this week, some of the children expressed an interest in pretending to be “doctors”. In response to this interest, we provided the medical equipment kits for the children to access. They explored taking turns to use the equipment with their peers and developed language and role-play around this theme. Other children chose to develop this imaginative play in a different way, using other resources to represent things within their play, for example, using balls under their coats to pretend they had a “baby in our tummies” and were going to visit a doctor. When children have the opportunity to plan and lead their play, it gives them the time to explore their ideas creatively in their own ways.

Following a discussion about washing our cups and bowls after snack time, the children also showed a strong interest in helping with cleaning routines. In response, we created a washing-up area where the children practised washing with sponges, cloths and brushes before carefully drying the items afterwards. The experience was very popular and supported independence, responsibility and fine motor development — we hope the children continue practising their newly acquired skills at home!

Also this week, the children explored a nature-based, open-ended art experience using branches, leaves, paint and spray bottles filled with coloured water. As they sprayed, painted and experimented with the materials, they discovered cause-and-effect relationships — noticing how colours mixed, how different amounts of spray changed the patterns and how natural materials created unique prints and textures.

Open-ended experiences like this are an important part of our philosophy because they allow children to lead their own learning, make independent choices, think creatively and explore without a fixed outcome. This supports confidence, problem-solving, curiosity and meaningful hands-on learning through play.

Story of the week: Sam Plants a Sunflower

Song of the week: I’m a Little Seed

Sign of the week: Grow

Staff Training

Hayley and Laura have been undertaking ‘Emotion Coaching’ training. For our young children who can experience big feelings and emotions, this approach can support them. Through emotion coaching, adults empathise with children, talk to them about what those big feelings they are experiencing are e.g. sadness, frustration, and help children to problem solve to improve the situation.

Parents as Partners

This week we have had visiting Reception teachers to meet some of our children who will be moving on to Reception in September. We expect further visits from other schools in the coming weeks. It is a lovely opportunity for the teachers to find out about your child’s interests and for your child to begin to get to know their new teacher. We will continue to talk to the children about this exciting next step and support them all with their transition to school.

As our lost property area is becoming very full, could you please check the bin for any missing belongings over the next week. Any unclaimed items remaining after this time will be donated to charity.

We hope you have a wonderful weekend

The Nursery Team