Head of School's message
As we continue through the summer term, I am mindful of the many national and international events that are taking place around the world. As a school community that prides itself on its diversity and celebration of different cultures, we recognise that some of these events may affect our children, families and staff in different ways.
Our school is enriched by the wonderful diversity of our community, with 24 different languages spoken and families who have connections across the globe. This diversity is one of our greatest strengths and helps children develop an understanding, appreciation and respect for others from an early age.
Each day, we support children to recognise and manage their emotions through our Zones of Regulation approach, while also teaching and modelling the language of kindness, compassion and friendship. These important skills help children develop empathy, understand different perspectives and build positive relationships with those around them.
At the heart of everything we do are our values of Safe, Confidence and Respect. We strive to ensure that every child feels safe, heard and valued, has the confidence to be themselves, and shows respect for others regardless of their background, beliefs or experiences. By working together as a community, we can continue to create an environment where everyone feels a sense of belonging and where our children learn the importance of caring for one another.
Dates coming up:
Thursday 18th June - The school photographer is coming in in to take class/group photographs. If your child does not usually attend on a Thursday but you would like them to attend for the photograph, please email the office to arrange. Details of how to order will follow in due course.
Friday 19th June & Monday 22nd June (Nursery Closed) - Inset & Occasional Days.
Monday 20th July - Leavers' picnic 11:30-1:00pm, all welcome (more information to follow)
Thursday 23rd July - 1pm finish for the Summer Holidays.
Friday 24th July to Tuesday 1st September (Nursery Closed) - Summer Holidays.
Reminders:
Now that the weather is getting warmer - it is imperative that every child has sun lotion applied before their session. They must also have a sun hat (labelled with their name) with them every day - even if the day starts a little cloudy. Please refer to the recently emailed Sun Safety procedure for further guidance.
Any adhoc Wraparound care bookings for July will need to be made before 30th June in order for all invoices to be issued and paid before the end of the Summer Term.
Join our nursery's social media pages to stay connected.
Book & Rhyme of the week
The next Structured Stories Book is "Lost and Found" by Oliver Jeffers.
Next week the story will move into the innovation phase of our Structured Storytelling programme, where the children will make changes to the original story such as characters, settings, or events while maintaining the structure and style of the original text. This will involve activities such as creating story maps and expressing their unique ideas through language, both written and spoken. This phase is essential in fostering a love for storytelling and a deeper understanding of narrative structures.
Our key vocabulary of the text is "South Pole", "Harbour", "Horn", "Delighted", "Realised" and "Search".
Please see below link to story;
The Rhyme of the week for next week is 'The Ants Go Marching'.
The rhyme supports counting in sequence, recognising and saying numbers, and developing an understanding of one more
Language of the week
We are lucky to have a rich and diverse community with lots of different languages. Do you speak Malayalam or English? Are you available next week on a Wednesday or Thursday? If your answer is YES, then we'd be delighted to have you reading a story in your home language to the children! They love a Secret Storyteller! We are flexible with the timing so please speak to us if you can come in another day/time.
Please look out for our next week's languages in the newsletter, it might be your home language next!
Learning at home
This term, we are learning about healthy eating in Nursery. At home, encourage your child to become a Healthy Eating Detective by going on a Rainbow Food Hunt!
Can your child find and try different coloured healthy foods throughout the week? For example:
🔴 Red – strawberries, tomatoes, peppers
🟡 Yellow – bananas, sweetcorn
🟢 Green – cucumber, peas, broccoli
🟠 Orange – carrots, oranges
🟣 Purple – grapes, blueberries
Talk together about:
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Which foods they like or dislike
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What foods help our bodies grow strong and healthy
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Different textures, colours, and tastes
Healthy me, Healthy world
The words we use when talking to children about food matter more than we may realise. Much of our language is inherited from our own childhoods and often comes from busy family routines and the best of intentions.
Phrases such as "finish everything on your plate", "that's a treat" or "you can have pudding if you eat your dinner" can seem harmless, but they may influence how children think and feel about food. Over time, children internalise the messages they hear and these can become the blueprint for their lifelong relationship with eating.
It is important to avoid labels such as "fussy", "greedy" or "good eater", as children can begin to see these as part of their identity. Instead, using neutral, non-judgemental language helps children listen to their own hunger and fullness cues, explore new foods without pressure and develop a positive relationship with eating.
Children thrive on predictability, so consistent routines around mealtimes and a calm, relaxed approach to food can help them feel safe, confident and willing to try new experiences at their own pace.
Success story of the week
On Monday, Nursery were extremely excited to be visited by Ark Farm. Despite the wet weather, this enriching experience allowed the children to get up close and personal with a range of animals, including sheep, goats, pigs, ducks, rabbits, the farm dog, and a wonderful donkey!
The children eagerly asked lots of thoughtful questions, such as “How does the donkey sleep?” and “What do the ducks eat?” This hands-on experience supported the children’s understanding of the world, encouraging them to explore, observe, and learn about animals and their habitats.
It also helped to build curiosity, confidence, and communication skills as the children engaged in meaningful discussions and discovered new things through first-hand experiences.
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All absences must be reported to the school either by leaving an absence message or emailing admin@heathlane.herts.sch.uk.
We politely ask that if you plan to take your child out during school time, you notify the Nursery office. For appointments, we ask where possible that these are not during the school day. If this is not avoidable, please kindly share the relevant information for this appointment in order for us to be able to authorise this.
Regular attendance at Nursery is very important, as it helps children build the foundational knowledge and skills they will need as they move through school. Establishing good attendance habits now supports a smoother transition into primary school and helps ensure children develop positive routines that will benefit them throughout their educational journey. Thank you for your continued support in helping your child attend regularly and on time.
