Head of School's message
What a lovely week we have had in nursery as we begin to celebrate the end of another successful year.
A huge thank you to Effie, who planned a fun-filled Splash and Dash on Thursday. The children had a fantastic time cooling off, being active and enjoying the water-based activities. We also welcomed the Vojo Bus on Friday, another exciting experience for the children.
Throughout all the excitement, our usual rhythm of the day has continued, with group snack times helping to provide children with familiar routines and opportunities to chat with their friends. Children have also continued exploring performance poetry during Structured Storytelling, as they prepare for our end-of-year picnic. We are looking forward to celebrating with families at our family picnic on Monday.
Finally, next week we say goodbye to Mel, our Early Years Practitioner in Woodpeckers, who is leaving to take up a role in a primary school closer to her home. Although Mel has only been with us for the past six months, she has made a positive contribution to our nursery and has been a valued member of the team. Thank you, Mel, for all your hard work, care and commitment to our children and families. We wish you every success and happiness in your new role.
Thank you to all staff for your continued hard work and dedication during this busy and exciting time of year.
Dates coming up:
Monday 20th July - End of year Picnic 12pm to 1:30pm, all welcome (please ensure that you complete and submit the online form)
Thursday 23rd July - 1pm finish for the Summer Holidays.
Friday 24th July to Tuesday 1st September (Nursery Closed) - Summer Holidays.
Reminders:
A number of parents have approached us to ask what gifts they can buy as end of term gifts for staff.
For those children and families leaving us the best gift you have given us is allowing us to be part of your child’s journey and helping them grow ready for their next chapter. We in no way expect nor request gifts. A card with a message is the most wonderful thing any of us can receive.
However, if this is your preference, we ask that gifts are purchased for the nursery and not for individuals, this could include pens, craft materials, pipe cleaners, pom poms, lolly sticks, glue, poster paint, coloured card, tissue paper etc. Such gifts then will benefit the next children who undertake adventures with us here.
If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to get in touch.
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 summer 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.
We’d be grateful for any outgrown, spare summer hats you can donate to help keep all children cool and protected during outdoor play.
Join our nursery's social media pages to stay connected.
Book & Rhyme of the week
The children have been busy learning rhymes and poems from 'A Great Big Cuddle: Poems for the Very Young' by Michael Rosen., exploring key vocabulary such as "author", "poet", "rhyme", "poem", "illustration", and "illustrator".
Each group has been practising these to share with you, and we’re looking forward to seeing some of you this Monday for our performance at the end-of-year picnic.
Please see below link to story;
A Great Big Cuddle | POEM | | Compilation | Kids' Poems and Stories With Michael Rosen
Secret Storyteller
Do you love reading stories and making surprises?
If the answer is yes, then here is your chance to become a Secret Storyteller!
Imagine the look of pure joy and pride on your child's face when you walk through the door as our secret guest. You can read a short book or tell a quick story in your home language, or in English.
How it works:
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📝 Sign up: Add your name to the list(s) located in the foyer and by the nursery entrance, and pick the time slot that suits you best.
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📖 Relax: We will do the rest! We can even help you find the perfect book.
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🤫 Shhh: Keep it a total secret so we don't ruin the surprise for the children!
No experience needed—just bring your voice, a smile, and a story.
Learning at home
With the warm weather continuing, why not go outside and create a nature sensory tray:
You will need:
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Leaves
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Grass
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Flowers
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Sticks
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Pebbles
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Pinecones (if available)
Activity:
Collect natural items from the garden or a walk and explore how they feel, smell and look.
Ask:
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Which feels rough?
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Which is soft?
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Which smells nice?
Healthy me, Healthy world
As we head into the summer holidays, remember that looking after your own wellbeing is just as important as keeping children entertained. Try not to put too much pressure on yourselves to fill every day with expensive outings or carefully planned activities. Some days will be full of adventures, while others might simply involve relaxing at home, reading stories together, building dens, watering plants, cooking a simple meal, exploring your local park or enjoying a walk in the fresh air. These quieter moments often become the memories children treasure most.
Summer is also a wonderful opportunity to support our Healthy Me, Healthy World theme. Spending time outdoors, noticing nature, growing flowers or vegetables, reducing waste through picnics with reusable containers, walking or cycling where possible, and encouraging healthy eating all help children develop positive habits for themselves and the world around them. Most importantly, take time to slow down, connect with one another and enjoy being together.
We wish all of our families a happy, healthy and restful summer break.
Success story of the week
The children had so much fun during our 'Splash and Dash', our very own water-themed version of Sports Day!
The children worked together in teams and took part in a variety of exciting activities, including 'Fill the Bucket Relay', where teamwork was key as they raced to be the first team to fill their container with water. In 'Soak the Adult', the children delighted in aiming and throwing soggy sponges at their teachers, while 'Fire, Fire!' saw them using hoses to put out pretend fires.
There were also balance bike races, made even more exciting by being squirted with water pistols, and 'Find the Treasure', where the children carefully excavated blocks of ice to discover hidden treasures inside.
The day was made even more special by surprise visits from a butterfly and a giant tomato! The nursery was filled with laughter, smiles and excitement as everyone enjoyed taking part in the fun activities and keeping cool in the warm weather.
We are certain that this memorable morning will be one that many of the children will remember for a long time to come.
All absences must be reported daily either by leaving an absence voice 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.
