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Edition 24

Directors NewsSparkwellWoodlandsSchool ClubLee MillChaddlewoodMike's Meal -Biscuits Montessori Information -Language and Cultural AreaParenting Advice - The Transitionto SchoolStaff NewsDates for your diaryApril News

As we come to the end of the academic year we areboth busy with University deadlines and Tracey is inthe middle of her placement at Sparkwell school.Having the opportunity to work alongside other earlyyears professionals enables us to grow and developas we share ideas and discuss early yearsdevelopments. It has also been lovely spending timewith children who used to attend our Sparkwellsetting although shocking that our first cohort havenow moved onto their secondary school education. Although the COVID risk is reducing we do need tobe vigilant as there are still cases and we want toavoid having to close any of our settings. If anyonein your family has a new cough, high temperatureor loss of taste/smell please isolate and book a PCRtest (lateral flow tests are only for when there areno symptoms) Please remember Hands. Face. Space. Fresh Air. Our function room at Lee Mill is now being usedby two groups Sweeny Toddlers on a Wednesdayhttps://www.facebook.com/sweeneytoddlers2018/ and Musical Movementhttps://www.facebook.com/lennismusicalmovement/ on a Friday. There is also an early dayssupport session available on a Tuesday fromSeptember. The room is available to hire for localgroups for activities or training and can also bebooked for family celebrations. It is completelyseparate from the nursery, which has its ownsecure door, and when nursery is in session anda group is in the building the kitchen door is alsosecured. This term we focus on preparing our eldestchildren for their transition to school, there willbe lots of positive discussions around whichschools the children will be going to, what theiruniform looks like, what they think they will bedoing at school and how exciting it will be. Thekey persons will be writing transition reports toshare with families and then with the schools sowe can celebrate the children’s learning anddevelopment and their interests. Tracey and Caroline

Throughout April we have explored planting, sensory play and exploring our Montessori resources morethroughout the nursery. Our focus has really been on sensory play, from birth to early childhood,children use their senses to explore and try to make sense of the world around them. They do this bytouching, tasting, smelling, seeing, moving and hearing. Children and even adults learn best and retain the most information when they engage their senses.Many of our favourite memories are associated with one or more of our senses: for instance, the smell ofa summer night campfire or a song you remember the lyrics to with a childhood friend. Now, when yournostrils and eardrums are stimulated with those familiar smells and sounds respectively, your braintriggers a flashback memory to those special times. Providing opportunities for children to actively use their senses as they explore their world through‘sensory play’ is crucial to brain development – it helps to build nerve connections in the brain’s pathways.This leads to a child’s ability to complete more complex learning tasks and supports cognitive growth,language development, gross motor skills, social interaction and problem solving skills. We will be welcoming May and hoping the warm weather continues, we will be exploring life cycles, underthe sea and much more throughout the month. Our composer of the month is John Williams and ourartist of the Month is George Seurat, this will encourage us to learn about France and America too. Wehave lots of ideas planned and cannot wait to share them with you. Charlotte

This month we have been learning about new life, in particular learning about the life cycles of frogsand butterflies. We have had some caterpillars delivered and we are all so excited to see they grow andhatch. The children are so excited they have even named them: Speedy, Henry, Sleepy, George andHenry! On Friday the 23rd of April we celebrated St Georges day, where we made scones and enjoyed a creamtea together, it was delicious! This week we are looking at how we can save the planet, and recycling too. Our circle times have beencentered around why we save the planet and how we recycle. The children have listened so well aboutrecycling, our classroom is spotless! Any bit of rubbish they may find goes straight in the bin or in ourrecycling boxes that we have. The recycling boxes are even more enticing as we spent some timedecorating them with the children!Hannah

This month we welcome lots of new starters. It’s always so lovely to see how welcoming thechildren I have here are to new faces and how quickly they help everyone feel settled andcomfortable. It makes me feel very proud! We have all enjoyed lots of drawing and painting this month, creating our own cupcake caseflowers and fork painting chicks. The children also love getting creative when we put down ablank sheet of paper to cover the table. They use paint and pens to express their inner artists! I hope everyone has had a lovely month and has been enjoying the dry weather like we have. Justa quick reminder, please give me a text on 07432672834 or log it on the Famly app if your childisn’t going to be attending breakfast or after school club. It really helps me out as I can’t alwaysfind teachers at the end of the day or get hold of parents on the phone. It’s really appreciated! Breakfast and After School ClubGemma

Well, what an exciting and fun month we’ve all had at Lee Mill Nursery! We have certainly been busy! Thismonth we focused on learning about Africa, looking at globes and maps, as well as having a deep diveinto certain African traditions, dress and culture. It certainly has been a fascinating adventure and thechildren have all enjoyed learning!We have also had the opportunity to practice our fire drill this week! I have to say, we are all very proud ofthe children, they listened with great attention and focus and walked out of the building togetheralongside the adults. All the children followed the procedure very well, in a calm and attentive manner.Please can we ask, that every child comes to nursery with slippers, as in an event such as a fire drill, wewon’t have time to look for their shoes/boots.This week has been a very exciting one to say the least! The children and I have thoroughly enjoyed ourtime and had lots of giggles decorating our new sensory area! Most of the children had a good go atpainting the walls in black paint, there was lots of chatter, and it proved to be a great opportunity forcommunication and language development. The children were asking questions, exchanging ideas backand forth, extending their vocabulary and sharing an experience together. It was lovely to be a part ofthat process. In addition to creating a new sensory area, we are also currently updating our reading areasin both rooms, as well as enjoying the new furniture and the cosy den in the baby room. We are trying tomake the setting have a calm, homely atmosphere, which the children thrive in and enjoy. So if you oranyone you know have any plants you wouldn’t mind donating to the setting we would really appreciate it. Alina

This month I have been lucky to be able to purchase some new activities for the 18-month upwardschildren and will be displaying them on the ground floor once they arrive. These activities will encouragethose children to be independent and self-select their chosen activities. I will be able to show you picturesin the next newsletter once I have everything set up. The Babies have been looking at Insects, Flowers, and Nature over the last few weeks. They have spenttime outside looking for insects that might be hiding. As you will see from the pictures Chloe and Saishaset up a challenging activity outside for the babies to paint their own interpretation of a flower. Clipboardswere hung on pieces of strings and the children needed to work out how to hold the clipboard still andpaint at the same time. The 2-year-olds have been developing their fine and gross motor skills. They have been peeling andcutting their own fruit for snack time, using big and little spoons, tongs, and pipettes to transfer a varietyof items. Out in the garden they have been enjoying time on the slides, balancing beam, steppingstonesand bouncing on the space hoppers. The pre-school children have started their preparations for the transition to school. We have been talkingto them about going to school. They have been practising phonic sounds, practicing writing, andrecognising their names. Over the next couple of weeks, they will be learning more about Science andcompleting experiments. Tracy

With half term coming up, I thought it would be fun to have a recipe thatparents/carers can do with their children so this is a simple yet deliciousbiscuit recipe. Mix all dry ingredients with butter and knead to a nice dough. Chill in fridge for to firm up Roll out 1/4 inch thick and cut to desired shape. Cook the biscuits at 180°C for 12-15 minutes This recipe is very versatile, you can add any extra fillings or toppings that youwould like. You can even fill it, roll it up and cut into biscuits (a bit like a figroll). 260 grams plain flour 75 grams of butter 60 grams of sugar 3/4 tsp of baking powder Vanilla optional and to tasteBiscuitsMike's MealsIngredientsMethod

Play snap or pairsCreate pairing games using old calendars which usually have a large and a small pictureHave pictures cut from magazines to match to objects such as clothing or fruit.Have pictures of one type such as birds and ask your child to sort or categorise.Within the Montessori environment there are a variety of pairing activities to be found. These activities help language acquisition and visual discrimination skills. Many of these activities arehomemade rather than shop bought. We make them following children's interests so couldinclude dinosaurs, cars, birds etc. Pairing cards may be picture to picture or object to picture. Initially the pairings cards are of pictures only but they then can progress onto words as well,introducing the language for the parts of a bird, flower, motorcycle. The list for the nomenclatureactivities is endless. Children love new words and no word is too complicated, just think of all thedinosaur names the children can say with ease, often with better recall than adults. Ideas for home After pairing cars we have classification cards where pictures are organised or classified. Thismay be by objects you find in a certain room, colour, food type, animal type for example. It isimportant to discuss why pictures have been classified together as although the way a child hasclassified may appear incorrect to us there may be a reason. You may classify birds by colouryour child may by beak size, the discussions and reasoning can be amazing. Montessori InformationLanguage and Cultural Area ; Pairing/Classified Cards

There is often discussion around this time of year of 'school readiness' and are children going to be ready forschool? When children leave our setting to attend school they will still be following the Early Years FoundationStage curriculum (EYFS).We will have spent time supporting children's development in all seven areas of theEYFS; personal, social emotional, physical, language and communication, literacy, expressive arts and design,understanding the world and mathematics.At Little Orchard we follow a ‘social pedagogic’ approach that stresses a broader preparation for life beyondjust a school-based curriculum. This means we are not only concerned with a child's academic developmentbut also their holistic development. We encourage our children to be sociable with adults and their peers. Tohave the confidence to express their needs, opinions and learning. To be independent with life skills such asdressing oneself, being able to toilet by oneself (including wiping bottom), able to use cutlery and wipe theirown nose. We help the children learn how to stay safe, how to risk assess when playing, how to line up andleave the building in a safe manner if there is an emergency. We encourage empathy towards others, and anunderstanding of how we have to look after our natural environment, for example, by recycling, and wateringplants. Through our environment and careful planning we hope to have encouraged a love of learning andchildren who are keen to learn more. Children who are able to learn independently, from an adult or peer. Ouraim is for our children to have persistence, attention, creativity, initiative, curiosity and problem solving skillsready for school. The Transition to School

At Chaddlewood we have welcomed two new members of staff to our team. Helen who is workingpart time and Sarah who is full time. Both ladies have settled in so well and have brought a newdimension to our wonderful team. They come with a wealth of childcare experience and knowledgeand are already proving to be an asset. Each month we have a staff meeting where we have a safeguarding scenario to discuss, reflect onthe last month and plan for the next. We also have a training section which this month haspredominantly focused on the importance of storytelling and the didactic method http://dialogic-reading.blogspot.com. We have been learning how to support children’s literacy and language skillsthough an interactive approach, even with the youngest children in the settings. The approachencourages asking simple questions and then following up with expanded questions. CAR C-comment and wait. A- ask a question and wait. R – respond by adding more. Training in our staffmeetings is so important as it enables us to refresh our knowledge and grow as a team. I started working at Little Orchard Sparkwell inSeptember last year and started my level 3qualification of which I hope to complete at the endof this Summer.I've enjoyed every day here and enjoy working in mybase room with the babies but do spend a lot oftime with all the over 2's as well. I love seeing thechildren grow and develop and being part of theirjourney.Outside of nursery I enjoy going to the beach andsocialising with my friends. I love to be outdoors buthave been restricted throughout the Covid situationas many of us have. I am very much looking forwardto 'normal' times to resume the things I enjoy doingthe most. Staff News Featured staff member - Jazmin

Spring Term 4th January-1st April Half term - Monday 15th February Bank Holiday 2nd April and 5th April Summer Term 19 April-27th July (Chaddlewood 16th July) Half Term - Monday 31st May Bank Holiday 3rd May and 31st May Autumn Term 6th September - 17th DecemberHalf term - Monday 25th October We are closed for all Bank Holidays and for approx a week at Christmas.Stretched funding at Chaddlewood does not cover the weeks beginning 5th April and23rd August.. Would you like to order a jumper, T shirt or bag for your child in purple with our logo on? These can be found via our online shop here Dates For Your DiariesLee Mill - Alina: leemill@littleorchardmontessori.co.uk Tel: 01752 893498 Term Dates for Devon/PlymouthContact DetailsJumper/ T Shirt PurchasesPlease contact managers direct regarding changes to sessions, extra days andholiday notice:Sparkwell- Charlotte: sparkwell@littleorchardmontessori.co.uk  Tel: 01752 837883Woodlands -Hannah:woodlands@littleorchardmontessori.co.uk Tel: 01752 658567Director Caroline:caroline.lucas@littleorchardmontessori.co.ukEmily:Invoice queries:admin@littleorchardmontessori.co.uk Chaddlewood - Tracy : chaddlewood@littleorchardmontessori.co.uk Tel: 01752 202193