Your browser version is outdated. We recommend that you update your browser to the latest version.
fareacrespreschool

Welcome to our Fareacres Weekly Blog

Posted 5/4/2018

This has been a busy week at both our nurseries.

Moving to ‘Big School’

At Fareacres, we have an understanding of the impact transition can have on a child’s learning and development. Transition can be a difficult time in a child’s life, however when it is managed effectively and in a positive manner, the results can be successful.

In the near future, our pre-school children will be making the transition into ‘Big school’. Parents will now have been told of their allocated school place and they can begin to make preparations. At Fareacres, we have been preparing the children for this move since September, when the applications were first submitted to the local authority. The children have been engaged in activities, circle times, had access to learning sacks, and have been introduced to behaviours that will be expected from them in school

There are home learning sacks regarding transition that can be taken home. This will provide the children with the opportunity to explore the contents of the sack with their parents and have an open dialogue about the upcoming transition.

Fareacres is the lead in a local community learning hub, in the Church End ward. The members are from a variety of Early Years providers, which include maintained schools, private schools, day nurseries, pre-schools and childminders. Our most recent meeting was held on the subject of transition. These hubs are a valuable resource and we gained information for transition which can help our children and parents.

One of the questions we asked the lead in a maintained school reception class, was ‘What can we do as a nursery to help the children move into reception successfully?’ The reply was that the children must be secure in their prime areas (Personal, social and emotional, communication and language and physical development). At Fareacres, we always keep a focus on the prime areas of learning, whilst also providing the opportunity for children to develop well within the specific areas (Literacy, Mathematics, Understanding the world, and expressive art and design).

Parents will be informed of plans moving forward to aid the transition. There will be documents which will be circulated, giving parents all information and also helpful hints. If there are any questions, please contact your child’s key person and they will be happy to help.

For further reading, please see the link below:

https://www.teachearlyyears.com/a-unique-child/view/supporting-transitions-in-the-early-years

 

Weekly Experiences

The children in Rainbow fish in South Woodford have been exploring cornflakes. The children have been using a variety of containers and spending time filling and emptying the containers. They have been exploring the different textures of the cornflakes and some children enjoyed this so much that they tried to eat the cornflakes!! This has helped to develop their fine motor skills and the ability to listen to instructions. 

Here is a comment made:

"Oh oh" - Amanda

 

In Gants Hill children have been looking at books. Due to the age of the children, there are many picture books available; these books help readers to develop an appreciation for art and writing. Reading is a stepping stone for children to become an enthusiastic learner and a confident reader, writer and speaker as the children get olderStories assist in the development of the children’s literacy skills and language development. 

Books GHBooks GH

Books GHBooks GH

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Books GHBooks GH 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The children in Stingrays in South Woodford have been making their footprints in paint exploring the texture with their toes. Foot prints are a brilliant opportunity for all. Children learn cause and effect, therefore when they see that their feet are making prints on the paper it can encourage walking. They learn tactile and sensory skills from touching the paint and feeling how the paint feels on their skin and in between their toes. The children have also developed language, because practitioners are guiding the children at all times and engaging them throughout the activity.

Here are some comments made by the children:
"It mine" - Clara
"Oh oh" - Alex
"There look" - Veeraj
"I do it" - Eshun

Feet Printing SWFeet Printing SW

 Foot Printing
Foot Printing Foot printing SWFoot printing SW

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In Gants Hill the children have been embracing the ‘transport’ topic and have been decorating their own buses. The children have used a number of materials to create their buses. The children used glue with red collage items and buttons for the children to use as wheels. This activity has helped the children to extend their fine motor skills and their hand eye coordination. 

Here are some comments made by the children:

“I have been on a bus” – Henry

“Buses have different numbers” - Asmi

“Red Bus” - Luke

Buses GHBuses GH

 Buses GHBuses GH

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The children in Sharks in South Woodford have been making shakers this has encouraged the children to explore sound by adding buttons into a bottle and decorating them individually. The children loved making lots of noise and exploring the different sounds the instruments made. The listening skills they are developing will assist them later with their ability to distinguish between the sounds in words when learning to read. The also used a variety of fine motor skills which strengthens and develops the muscles they will need in the future when learning to write.

Here are some comments made by the children:
"I'm putting lots in so its loud" - Jayce
"Oh no it won’t fit" - Saanvi
"Shake shake" - Armaan

Shakers SWShakers SW

Shakers SWShakers SW

Shakers SWShakers SW

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

In Gants Hill the children have been playing ‘Peek a boo’ This activity has so many benefits for the children, Fine-motor skills, Hand-eye coordination, and Gross Motor Skills are developed as they are bringing and removing their hads away from their eyes. Social interaction is very important here first this begins with the adult asking where is … ? And the children building the understanding to respond by removing their hands.

Peek A Boo GHPeek A Boo GH

Peek A Boo GHPeek A Boo GH

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Peek A Boo GHPeek A Boo GH

Peek A Boo GHPeek A Boo GH

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The children in Starfish in South Woodford have been talking about perception (close by and far away) the children have been using binoculars to help extend their learning.

Here are some comments made by the children:
"Looking at things" - Reva
"For looking at things far far away" - Mae
"Look out for stars and planets" - Rosie
"I look for bugs and the moon" - Andreas
"You see butterflies and crickets" - Kassie

Binoculars SWBinoculars SW

Binoculars SWBinoculars SW

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Binoculars SWBinoculars SW

Binoculars SWBinoculars SW

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Top 5 Children’s Quotes of the week:

  • ·         “Oh no, the car is going, my darling Vanishka” – Srinivasa
  • ·         "I can use the word box but I can only make a poem I can get in my box but can’t get out" – Libby
  • ·         “My mum wants ten children, she has ordered ten children” – Maliha
  • ·         "I have just been away did you miss me" – Chloe
  • ·         “My mummy is going to have twins soon” - Zayd

 

Activity of the Week:

The winner of activity of the week this week is Archana Loganathan (GH). Archana has planned a creative activity to encourage a child to write some letters from their own name. Archana has not used the traditional use of pen and paper, but has chosen to use moon sand and paintbrushes. This can motivate the children to actively participate, which in turn will increase the chances of successfully being able to achieve the aim of the activity. This type of activity is particularly good for boys, as they do not develop the fine motor skills required to write until later than girls and therefore shy away from writing. The extension for those that are able to write a few letters of their name will be to write their whole name, thus challenging the children further.

 

 Quote of the Week:

‘We cannot accomplish all that we need to do without working together’

-       Bill Richardson (American politician and author)

 

Thank you for taking a glimpse into our Fareacres Learning Community

Until next time...