Investigation Hub, Discovery Hub and Sensory Hub at Deckham

Yesterday, our nursery was filled with smiles, laughter and togetherness as we welcomed so many of our families for our Belonging Stay and Play. Thank you to everyone who was able to join us. It was such a privilege to watch parents and carers spending uninterrupted time playing, exploring and learning alongside their children. The warmth, joy and connection around nursery made the day incredibly special.

Throughout the environment, invitations to play were centred around our theme of belonging. Families painted a pebble to represent their child, with every pebble becoming part of our future ‘We All Belong’ display. Just like our nursery community, every pebble is unique, but together they create something even more beautiful, reminding us that every child has an important place at Bensham Grove.

Children and their grown-ups worked side by side at our outdoor collaborative mark-making station, creating a striking example of collaborative art where every mark made a unique contribution to the finished piece—another wonderful reminder that we all have something special to contribute. Nature continued to inspire learning as families searched for natural treasures to add to our outdoor tree display, created forest friends and worked together to build a collaborative mandala, developing creativity, communication, problem-solving and an appreciation of how individual contributions can come together to create something truly special.

Our Recipe for Belonging playdough invitation and worry dolls encouraged thoughtful conversations about friendship, kindness, emotions and caring for one another, while mindfulness mark making gave children and adults the opportunity to slow down, concentrate and enjoy the calming process of creating together. At the perfume-making station, children explored flowers, herbs and natural scents, developing their curiosity through sensory exploration, while our water investigation with citrus fruits and imaginative sand play sparked scientific thinking, creativity and collaborative play as children experimented, built, discovered and shared ideas.

It was wonderful to see the children so deeply engaged, showing fantastic perseverance, concentration and curiosity as they returned to activities, refined their ideas and proudly shared their achievements with the important adults in their lives. These meaningful experiences reflect the heart of the Early Years, where children learn through play, active exploration and positive relationships, building confidence, resilience and a genuine sense of belonging.

If you weren’t able to join us today, please don’t worry. Your children still enjoyed a fantastic day exploring every activity with their friends and staff, and there was a wonderful sense of belonging throughout nursery.

Thank you once again to everyone who joined us. Days like today remind us just how important strong partnerships between home and nursery are. Together, we create a place where every child feels safe, valued, included and knows that they truly belong.

Story of the Week: The Gingerbread Man

Song of the Week: Our favourite core songs

Sign of the Week: How are you?

Parents as Partners

Just a reminder of our Theraplay Parent Session on Monday 6th July. There is a sign up sheet in nursery or please feel free to send us a message if you would like to attend. Head to the Jungle Room in the Elgin Centre straight after drop off at 9am.

Thank you for your continued support.

Have a wonderful weekend!

The Nursery Team