22 Street Lane Nursery - May 2026 Newsletter

Nursery Newsletter May 2026 Play • Discovery • Growth

May Newsletter

Dear Parents and Carers, As always, a very big welcome to all our new families who have joined us at 22 Street Lane. The children have had a very busy month as Spring is in the air, and we have been spending lots more time outdoors and beginning to enjoy the sunshine. We celebrated lots of special days this month, including Vaisakhi, Easter (with our annual Easter bonnet parade), St George’s Day and Earth Day. The children have lots to look forward to during May, such as National Walking Month, Mental Health Awareness Week, our Grandparents Stay and Play events, National Share a Story Month, World Bee Day and Eid Al Adha towards the end of the month. We will also be having a special visit from the mobile farm, where the animals will come and stay in the Nursery garden for the day. To find out more, please read on...

May Newsletter STAFF NEWS

Welcome Paolo! “I’m excited to be joining 22 Street Lane Nursery and starting my new career in childcare. I’m passionate about supporting children’s learning and believe outdoor learning is just as important as indoor experiences. I want to create a welcoming and fun environment where children feel happy and confident. Although I sound very Yorkshire when I speak, I was originally born in France and have a French and Colombian background. I’d love the opportunity to introduce children to some basic French through songs and in a fun and natural way.”

Welcome Natalie! “I am really excited to start working as bank staff at 22 Street Lane Nursery. I am a Student Nurse with a genuine passion for caring for and supporting young children. Alongside my studies, I have gained valuable experience working as a private nanny, where I developed strong relationships with the children while supporting their daily routines, play, and early development. I am a kind, patient, and reliable person who enjoys creating a safe, nurturing, and engaging environment where children can feel confident and happy as they learn and grow.”

Congratulations to Nafeesa and Amina! We would also like to send our warmest congratulations to both Nafeesa and Amina, who have both welcomed the arrivals of beautiful baby girls this past month. We wish both of them, and their families, a joyful and memorable start as they settle into life with their new little ones. We look forward to meeting them both soon!

May Newsletter

NEWS

Country of the Month, May 2026: Spain Throughout April, we learnt all about England, which tied in with our St George’s Day celebrations! The children learnt lots of facts about our country, created their own versions of the flag, made their own shields, and ate a variety of traditional British foods. Throughout May, we will be exploring Spain as our Country of the Month, as many of our families have enjoyed holidays in Spain recently. We will be creating our own interpretations of the Spanish flag, sampling some of the local cuisine and having a go at Flamenco dancing! We will also be learning how to say ‘hello’ and ‘goodbye’ in Spanish, and our older children will be continuing their learning by practising counting up to 10. Did you know? The Spanish language is one of the most popular in the world and is spoken in many countries, such as Mexico and Argentina, due to the early influence of the Spanish Empire. If any parents have any resources that support our Country of the Month, we would be most grateful.

Upcoming Nursery Closure Dates We just wanted to remind parents that the Nursery will be closed on the following dates over the coming weeks: • May Day Bank Holiday: Monday 4th May • Spring Bank Holiday: Monday 25th May • Staff Training Day: Friday 5th June We hope all our 22 Street Lane children enjoy their days off, and we look forward to their return!

May Newsletter NEWS

Vaisakhi Festival Celebrations Vaisakhi is the Sikh New Year celebration. A joyous and vibrant event that also doubles as their Spring Harvest Festival. This is a time when Sikhs rejoice in the abundance of crops and pray for future good fortune! During these celebrations, the children got involved in lots of themed activities, including creating their own colourful Rangoli patterns, drawing their own interpretation of the Guru, learning some traditional Bhangra dancing, and exploring lots of themed tuff trays. The Swans children also enjoyed learning about the story of Vaisakhi and designed their own beautiful henna patterns.

Passover Celebrations Passover is a Jewish festival lasting eight days, which is linked to the biblical story of the Jewish people escaping from slavery in Egypt. During Passover, families hold a ‘seder’ night on the first and sometimes second night of Passover. A seder night is a religious service set around a dinner table, where everyone will eat, pray, sing, and read stories from a prayer book called a ‘Haggadah’. A number of traditional foods are also eaten during the festival, including Matzah (which is a type of unleavened bread/cracker), gefilte fish, and chicken soup. The children enjoyed learning all about Passover in April, and had a go at making their very own Matzah! They also listened to some traditional music and designed their own seder plates!

May Newsletter NEWS

Earth Day Celebrations! To celebrate Earth Day, the children at Nursery took part in a range of activities designed to help them learn about caring for our planet. They explored nature through gardening, recycling activities, and creative crafts using natural and reused materials. Some of our Cygnets also went on trips to Tropical World throughout the week, and they made some seed bombs to plant at home! We also enjoyed a very special visit from ZooLab, where the children had the opportunity to learn about and carefully observe a variety of fascinating creatures, including a tarantula and a snake. It was a wonderful hands-on experience that encouraged curiosity, respect for living creatures, and an early understanding of the importance of protecting our environment.

May Newsletter NEWS

Easter Bonnet Parade and Egg Hunt! On Thursday 2nd April, everyone had so much fun celebrating our annual Easter Bonnet Parade and Egg Hunt. The children brought in some wonderfully decorated bonnets and proudly showcased them in the garden, with lots of smiles and excitement all around. As part of our Easter celebrations, we were also delighted to receive a delivery of eggs from The Happy Chick Company, which the children loved watching hatch into little chicks. The children helped to look after the chicks and even had the opportunity to gently hold them, making it a truly special experience. Lots of Easter-themed activities also took place throughout the week, including themed tuff trays and baking some delicious Easter treats.

May Newsletter NEWS

Petting Farm Visit: Tuesday 5th May We are so excited for the petting farm to visit us again this year! The animals will spend the day in the nursery garden, where the children will have the opportunity to go out and visit them. They’ll even be able to pet and feed them if they’re feeling brave!

National Walking Month: W/C Monday 4th May To mark National Walking Month, the children will enjoy lots of opportunities to get moving and explore the world around them. Through local walks, outdoor play, and active games, they will develop their physical skills while learning about the importance of staying active and healthy. Walking together will also support communication and observation skills, as well as encourage curiosity and an appreciation of the natural environment, making it a fun and meaningful part of our EYFS learning.

Mental Health Awareness Week: W/C Monday 11th May This year, the week takes place from 11 to 17 May 2026, and the theme is ‘taking action!’ “We’re taking action to support good mental health. Even small actions can help us feel hopeful and less powerless. And while our individual actions matter, when we come together we are even more powerful.”

To support Mental Health Awareness Week, the children will be participating in lots of themed activities, such as talking about how they feel, and what makes them happy, sad, angry and excited. The children will also be participating in yoga sessions, practising their breathing techniques, and exploring a range of books linked to feelings and emotions. If you have any resources linked to Mental Health and Wellbeing, please feel free to bring these in for your child to share.

May Newsletter NEWS

National Share a Story Month: W/C Monday 18th May To celebrate National Share a Story Month, the children will enjoy listening to and sharing a wide range of stories throughout the month They will take part in story times, role play, and creative activities inspired by favourite books, helping to build their imagination, language, and love of reading.We will also encourage children to talk about stories at home and in nursery, supporting their confidence and communication skills.

World Bee Day: Wednesday 20th May To celebrate World Bee Day, the children will take part in a range of fun, age-appropriate activities to help them learn about the importance of bees and other pollinators. They will explore bee-themed stories, creative crafts, and simple planting activities, while talking about how bees help flowers grow and why we need to look after them.

Eid Al Adha: Wednesday 27th May To mark Eid al Adha on Wednesday 27th May (subject to moon sighting), the children will take part in a range of age appropriate activities to help them learn about this important festival. Through stories, role play, creative crafts, and discussion, they will explore key themes such as kindness, generosity, and caring for others. This will provide a valuable opportunity to learn about different cultures and traditions and to celebrate diversity within our nursery community!

May Newsletter Grandparent’s Stay and Play: Tuesday 19th - Wednesday 27th May We would like to invite someone special to attend our Grandparent’s Stay and Play which will be held on the following days for each room:

Tuesday 19th May Wednesday 20th May Thursday 21st May Tuesday 26th May Wednesday 27th May

Goslings

3-4pm 3-4pm 3-4pm 3-4pm 3-4pm

Swans

Cygnets Chicklets Ducklings

Spaces will be offered on a first come, first served basis. If you would like to attend please leave a comment on the Tapestry post for this event with your child’s name, the attendee’s name/s and the date of the Stay and Play session you would like to attend. Please note that we can only permit two grandparents per child.

May Newsletter

Swans Graduation Ceremony: Thursday 9th July

We’ve already started planning for this big day as it’s always such an exciting day in our annual calendar. So make sure to pop this very important date in your diary, as it’s not one to miss. Our Swans Graduation is always a special event, and we hope to make this year’s ceremony bigger and better than ever before, with tons of fun activities, big performances and yummy food. We’ll be looking back at the time our Swans spent at 22 Street Lane and wishing them lots of luck in Big School!

May Newsletter

Dish of the Month

Coconut Water, Pineapple and Mint Protein Smoothie (Vegan)

See our past selections on: 22streetlanenursery.co.uk/dish-of-the-month/

Ingredients • 1 litre of good-quality coconut water. • 1 bunch of mint. (Kale or spinach could be used instead here) • 1 large fresh pineapple, or 2 cups of frozen. • 1 banana. • 1 tablespoon of maple syrup. • 1 tablespoon of chia seeds. • Greek yoghurt, if required for extra protein (optional)

Method 1. Cut your pineapple into similarly sized pieces, then set aside. Wash your mint well. 2. Add the sliced banana, coconut water and chia seeds to the blender and any additional booster you would like. 3. Puree until smooth, adding more liquid if needed. 4. Lightly toast the coconut flakes in the oven for 5 minutes or in a pan, making sure they don’t burn. 5. Pour the smoothie into a glass and garnish with the toasted coconut on top.

May Newsletter

Chicklets Room News

In April, the Chicklet babies enjoyed a happy and engaging month filled with seasonal activities and new experiences. They began with Easter celebrations at the nursery, where they were delighted to meet baby chicks. The children showed wonderful gentleness and curiosity, watching closely and learning about the chicks with excitement. They also took part in Easter-themed activities such as decorating colourful eggs and enjoying a fun Easter Egg Hunt, which brought lots of laughter. The children celebrated Vaisakhi through a vibrant yellow and orange sensory rice tray, exploring textures and colours while calmly developing their fine motor skills. They have also started spending time in the new garden area, planting and caring for herbs and berries with support, helping to build early independence and an appreciation for the natural world. The babies have recently become involved in our new garden area, planting lots of lovely new flowers and caring for a variety of herbs and berries. They are beginning to take part in simple gardening activities such as placing small plants into the soil, watering with supervision, and observing how everything grows over time. This hands-on experience is helping them develop early independence as they make choices, try new tasks, and take pride in looking after living things. Next month, the Chicklets will be looking forward to celebrating our Grandparents’ Tea Party and taking part in activities that promote mental health and wellbeing.

CHICKLETS ROOM

May Newsletter

Ducklings Room News

The Ducklings Room was full of excitement as the children explored a wide range of Easter-themed activities together. Easter tuff trays were beautifully set up with colourful materials, including shredded paper nests, pastel eggs, and a variety of sensory resources that encouraged the children to scoop, sort, and investigate. The Ducklings had great fun during the Easter Egg Hunt, eagerly searching high and low to discover hidden eggs around the room. Throughout April, the Ducklings took part in exciting baking activities, including making a delicious lemon loaf and a carrot cake. The children enjoyed exploring the ingredients, helping to squeeze fresh lemons and mix grated carrot into the cake batter. They took turns measuring, pouring, and stirring, building their fine motor skills and confidence as they followed simple instructions. For Earth Day, the Ducklings explored green and blue playdough to represent land and sea, alongside a collection of animals. They enjoyed placing the animals into different habitats while squishing and shaping the playdough, supporting imagination and fine motor development. The Ducklings also had fun celebrating St. George’s Day with a shaving foam activity inspired by the England flag. They loved squishing, swirling, and spreading the foam, exploring the red and white colours through exciting, messy play. We can’t wait to see what fun May has in store for our amazing Ducklings!

DUCKLINGS ROOM

May Newsletter

Goslings Room News

April has been another busy and exciting month in the Goslings Room, full of seasonal celebrations and hands-on learning. We had a wonderful time celebrating Easter and exploring spring, with the children especially excited to hold real chicks and take part in spring-themed activities, including planting and caring for our own flowers and herbs in the garden. We also marked Passover, Vaisakhi and Earth Day through a range of creative and sensory experiences. Throughout the month, we celebrated England and St. George’s Day with activities such as making our own flags and baking scones. The children have really enjoyed getting out and about this month, taking part in outings to spot signs of spring. We had a fantastic visit to Tropical World, where the children were very excited to spot butterflies, monkeys, fish and birds, talking about what they could see and hear along the way. Role play continued to be a big interest, with the children enjoying acting out getting on a bus and going to the shops. They have also loved our ‘Goslings Post Office’, dressing up, posting letters and using money to buy stamps, and working together to paint a large box red as our own post box. We are looking forward to May, when we will be taking part in activities for Mental Health Awareness Week, World Bee Day and Eid al-Adha, as well as welcoming our grandparents for a special Stay and Play session.

GOSLINGS ROOM

May Newsletter

Cygnets Room News

The Cygnets have enjoyed a busy and engaging April, taking part in a variety of exciting activities and celebrations. We began with our Easter Bonnet Parade and would like to thank all families for their effort and creativity. The children also enjoyed an Easter Egg Hunt with the Swans. A highlight of the month was visiting the chicks, where the children observed them hatching and had the opportunity to gently hold them. For Earth Day, the Cygnets learned about caring for the environment by making grass seed bombs and creating binoculars for bird watching. They also celebrated St. George’s Day through creative activities and imaginative play. Our trip to Tropical World was a particularly memorable experience. The children visited in small groups and had the opportunity to observe a wide variety of animals, including crocodiles, fish, beetles, meerkats, tortoises, and butterflies. They showed great curiosity as they explored the different environments and asked questions about the animals they saw. The children also thoroughly enjoyed exploring the maze and sharing a picnic together in the garden, making it a very special and enriching day.

CYGNETS ROOM

May Newsletter

Swans Room News

To start May, we continued celebrating Easter while caring for our chicks. The children enjoyed a wide range of fun crafts and activities, along with an exciting Easter Egg Hunt in the big garden and a lovely bonnet parade. In Swans, we also introduced a new class called “Science Tots,” which the children have really loved. Each week, they take part in a small experiment or activity. In our first session, we learned all about light and how it works. We are very excited to continue these sessions and discover even more. We have continued our phonics sessions throughout May, and the children have shown a great deal of interest. Each week, we focus on a new sound. During these sessions, we learn the Jolly Phonics song, play sound-based games, think of objects that begin with the sound, and take part in other fun activities. Afterwards, the children enjoy extending their learning in the finger gym area, where activities are set up to link with the sound of the week. Next month in Swans, we will be focusing on the children’s transition to school, as they will all know which school they will be attending. We will look closely at different school uniforms and explore pictures of the school buildings. We will also read stories about starting school and add school uniforms to our role-play area for the children to explore and wear.

SWANS ROOM

May Newsletter

2026 Events Calendar *Dates subject to change - Please check the website for the latest calendar

Early Bank Holiday, Nursery Closed

Monday 4th

W/C Monday 4th

National Walking Month

W/C Monday 11th

Mental Health Awareness Week

W/C Monday 18th

Grandparents Stay & Play

May

W/C Monday 18th

National 'Share a Story' Month

Wednesday 20th

World Bee Day

Spring Bank Holiday, Nursery Closed

Monday 25th

Wednesday 27th

Eid Al Adha

W/C Monday 1st

National Children’s Gardening Week

Friday 5th

Team Training Day, Nursery Closed

W/C Monday 8th

Healthy Eating & G reat Big Green Week

Tuesday 9th

Bicycle Day - Bring your bike to Nursery Day!

June

W/C Monday 15th

Father’s Day Stay & Play

Monday 15th

Parents Evening - Chicklets, Goslings, Swans

W/C Monday 15th

National Picnic Week

Wednesday 24th

Parents Evening - Ducklings & Cygnets

W/C Monday 29th

Beach Party Week

May Newsletter

2026 Events Calendar *Dates subject to change - Please check the website for the latest calendar

Thursday 9th

Swans Graduation

July

Friday 31st

Yorkshire Day Celebrations

WC Monday 24th

Carnival Week

August

Summer Bank Holiday, Nursery Closed

Monday 31st

W/C Monday 7th

Rosh Hashanah

September

Friday 25th

Mid-Autumn Festival

Friday 25th

Macmillan Bake Sale

W/C Monday 5th

Black History Month

Friday 9th

World Mental Health Day

W/C Monday 19th & Monday 26th

October

Halloween Stay & Play

Team Training Day, Nursery Closed

Tuesday 27th

Friday 30th

Halloween Fancy Dress Day

May Newsletter

2026 Events Calendar *Dates subject to change - Please check the website for the latest calendar

W/C Monday 2nd

Diwali Celebrations

Thursday 5th

Bonfire Celebrations

Friday 6th

Remembrance Sunday

Monday 9th

Parents Evening - Chicklets, Goslings, Swans

Friday 13th

World Kindness Day

November

W/C Monday 16th

Road Safety Week

TBC

World Nursery Rhymes Week

Wednesday 18th

Parents Evening - Ducklings & Cygnets

Friday 20th

Children in Need

Thursday 26th

Thanksgiving

W/C Monday 7th

Chanukah

Thursday 10th

Christmas Jumper Day

TBC

Swans Christmas Nativity

December

W/C Monday 14th

Christmas Party Week

Tuesday 15th

22SLN Christmas Dinner Day

Christmas Eve, Nursery Closes at 12pm

Thursday 24th

May Newsletter

*ATTENTION* Important Information - Please Read Notice - Glass Door We would like to remind parents to close the glass door behind them for the safety of the children. Please make sure you don’t let anyone in behind you. Absence Please note that we are unable to swap days or offer an alternative day if your child is absent from nursery. We are now extremely busy, and it is impossible for us to do this for all children. This is stated in our terms and conditions. Thank you for your co-operation. Labels in Clothing To avoid items being lost, please can you ensure that your child’s uniform is clearly labelled including their coats, hats, scarves and wellies. If your child brings gloves to nursery, we strongly advise for these to be attached and threaded through their coat to avoid any gloves going missing. Car Park Please can we kindly ask that parents ensure they are only parking in a single car parking bay. As you are aware, we have very limited space, and it is very busy at peak times. Tax-Free Childcare Tax-free childcare accounts are also available and can lead to savings of up to £2000 per child per year. These accounts can also be used alongside funding. For more information, please visit: https://www.beststartinlife.gov.uk Drop Off and Collection Can we kindly remind you that we open at 7.30 am and close at 6.00 pm and any parents who pick up after this time will be charged a late fee.

CONTACT US 0333 043 22 22

www.22streetlanenursery.co.uk info@22streetlanenursery.co.uk