22 Street Lane Nursery - October 2021 Newsletter

Newsletter October

Play • Discovery • Growth

October Newsletter

Dear Parents and Carers, Autumn has arrived here at 22 Street Lane! We are enjoying seeing the leaves changing colour and getting wrapped up in our cosy coats to explore our ever-changing environment! We have lots of activities planned for this month around our autumn theme including autumn walks collecting the exciting treasures we can find such as pinecones, conkers and different coloured leaves. We will also be exploring the theme of ‘Seasons’ this month for our ‘Around The World In 30 Days’ where the children will have the opportunity to explore what Autumn looks like around the world as well as other seasons. It is also World Mental Health Day on Sunday 10th October so we will be looking at this as a nursery the week commencing 11th October where we will continue to allow the children to express and discuss their feelings through play, conversations and circle time as well as exploring different ways to boost our mental health. We will be ending the month with our annual Halloween Party and Pumpkin Competition which we hope to display at the front of the nursery for all families to see! We are also planning a Parent and Carer Stay and Play Halloween Messy Play Session for each room week commencing 25th October (Subject to Covid restrictions). To find out more, please read on...

October Newsletter STAFF NEWS We would like to introduce you to our two new qualified practitioners that have joined our Cygnets Team here at the nursery in September. Mohammed Akhlaq (Icks): I'm super excited to be joining the 22 Street Lane team and looking forward to creating amazing memories for myself while teaching the children basic life skills in a fun and playful manner. I feel play can be such a big part of everyone's life, especially in the early years, as it will not only stimulate the child's brain development, but also spark their creativity and imagination. Shelley Brash: I hold a Level 3 Qualified Practitioner in Early Years Education and have been working in nurseries since 2018. It's my belief that having the best start during their early years gives children the foundation to reach their fullest potential later on. I’m so excited to be working at 22 Street Lane Nursery, supporting children through these important first years along with the rest of the amazing team.

Upcoming Management Team Changes: We are really looking forward to welcoming back Alex Thornton, our Nursery Manager, who is coming back from maternity leave on Monday 11th October! Alex has been with the nursery since we first opened and is an amazing asset to the nursery with her knowledge and experience. She will be working Monday-Thursday alongside Shosh as Deputy Manager while Bec is on maternity leave. Bec Boxall, our Nursery Manager/Deputy Manager, will have her last day with us on Thursday 21st October before she starts her maternity leave. We are excited to hear Bec’s news and have her back next year as Deputy Manager. Shoshanna Hall will be covering Bec’s maternity leave and is already doing a fantastic job in the management team!

October Newsletter NEWS Nursery Pick Up Time: Please can we remind all parents and carers that the nursery closes at 6pm and that children need to be collected by that time or there will be a late fee charge. Mobile-Free Zone: Please can we kindly remind you that the nursery is a mobile-free zone. When collecting or dropping off your children, please can you make sure that your phone is not in use. The safety and protection of our children is paramount, and we ask everyone to please respect this rule.

Car Park Re-Opening and Other Changes: From Monday 4th October, the car park gates will be automatically open from 7:15-9am and 4-6pm. If you would like to drive into the car park between 9am and 4pm then you will need to drive up to the vehicle gate and use your fingerprint to enter the car park. At the same time, we will also be making further changes to how we operate at the nursery, as we lift some the restrictions we have continued to maintain. You can see our updated COVID-19 FAQs here: https://www.22streetlanenursery.co.uk/wp- content/uploads/2021/09/October-2021-Covid-Restrictions.pdf

Employee Recognition Award, September 2021

Please visit our website to place for vote for next month: https://www.22streetlanenursery.co.uk/employee-recognition-award-vote/ Thank you to all the parents who took the time to vote for the staff member they feel deserves the ‘Employee Recognition Award’. We believe our staff should be recognised for delivering outstanding care and education each and their continued hard work. We are delighted to announce that September’s award goes to… Joanna Sapeta, Swans Room

October Newsletter NEWS

Staff Training Day: Tuesday 2nd November: We would like to remind you again that we are holding our Staff Training Day on Tuesday 2nd November 2021, therefore, the nursery will be closed this day and reopen on Wednesday 3rd November at 7:30am. As a team, we will be trained in ‘Children’s Learning Through Movement’ by the Leeds City Council Learning Improvement Team. We will also be looking at important changes regarding safeguarding and the new EYFS curriculum and how we can continue to implement this at the nursery. We will end the day by hosting our annual staff awards to reward and recognise our staff for the hard work they put into the setting and children. Details will be given soon as to how you can vote for these awards.

‘Around The World In 30 Days - Nature’ (September): As a nursery, instead of exploring a 'Country of the Month' we are now visiting lots of countries throughout the month exploring a different theme, this will be called 'Around The World In 30 Days'. The focus for each month will be different and the aim is to explore a topic relating to different cultures around the world, with an emphasis on the many different nationalities we have within our 22 Street Lane family. For September, our focus has been on nature and the children have been learning all about the natural world. Thank you to those parents that posted some pictures of them exploring the world too, the children have enjoyed sharing these photos!

Rosh Hashanah Celebrations (6th-8th September): Rosh Hashanah week was another chance for the nursery to explore different festivals with the children. We enjoyed trying some delicious cooking from the kitchen as well as apple print painting and making cards to take home!

October Newsletter NEWS

New Classes at 22 Street Lane: The children have really enjoyed getting involved in our new classes this term! Our hope is to change the days the classes are on each term depending on availability in order that all children can access at least one class here with us at nursery. Here is a little bit about what they get up to... Rugby Tots (Every other Thursday): Our Cygnets and Swans have been doing brilliant listening in our Rugby Tot’s class. They have been practising holding and running with the rugby ball, jumping into hoops and over obstacles as well as teamwork skills! Science Tots (Every other Tuesday): Our Swans have been practising being little scientists! This last week they have been exploring colours and how they can change! They have been very focused and have enjoyed using pipettes and other equipment that they don’t normally use. Shake, Rattle & Boogie (Every Wednesday): Our Chicklets, Ducklings and Goslings have loved having a little Wednesday boogie! They have enjoyed meeting the Boogie Bear, playing instruments, shaking their pompoms and parachute play! Pyjama Drama (Fridays): Our Cygnets and Swans have also been enjoying our Pyjama Drama sessions. They take part in circle time, where they have to use their listening and imitation skills to do vocal warm-ups followed by exploring different instruments and sounds. She also encourages their imagination as they go on adventures with her pretend teddy bear!

October Newsletter NEWS Green Week (W/C Monday 20th September): We have loved taking part in The Great Big Green Week this month. The Cygnets and Swans have been litter picking, reading stories about the environment and how we can look after it better as well as talking about topics such as recycling which we encourage in the rooms. The younger rooms have been reading stories too as well as using recycled materials in messy play in order to look at how we can reuse what we already have in the nursery.

‘Around The World In 30 Days’ - Seasons: We are going to be looking at how seasons occur at different times of the year throughout the world, exploring what happens during each season and what changes the children can observe in our local area during Autumn. We will also be collecting Autumnal items and the children will be going on lots of Autumn Walks! There will be lots of activities for the children to participate in linked to the four seasons, including: messy play, focused tuff trays, creative activities and lots more!

Macmillan Bake Sale (Tuesday 28th September): Thank you to everyone who helped out with our Macmillan Bake Sale yesterday, whether it was providing some yummy treats for us to sell, or just showing up to support us. We're really pleased with all the support we received, as all the money is going towards Cancer Research. There was the option to give donations directly online, but we also raised an additional £116.17 on the day too!

October Newsletter The Curiosity Approach at 22 Street Lane

In this technological age, our society contains a multitude of distractions: iPads, computers, television and electronic toys. Together these can create an overabundance of sensory stimulation and a busy, hectic life that fills a child’s brain, overstimulated with that constant noise and endless activity. Do you wonder what the future of our littlest people looks like? We need to enhance their communication and literacy skills and develop their imagination in play through creating an environment of awe and wonder. The Curiosity Approach values time and space, and looks to empower children. Helping them to become the thinkers and doers of the future. Through uncluttered and beautiful environments, it is our aim to create a calm and tranquil environment in which children can be curious to investigate, discover and learn. To allow children time and space to tinker, explore and work at their own pace. Through a child-centred approach, we encourage the power of concentration in young children. We are passionate educators who are looking to empower our children for a successful and happy future through play, exploration and discovery. Setting them up with the skills for life!

Teaching our children through heart and soul is what we must aspire to do. Look closely at their faces, how incredible to witness such pure joy. There’s truly no better reward! “If you don’t love what you do, you won’t do it with much conviction or passion.” ~ Mia Hamm

Continuing our sharing of the A-Z of the Curiosity Approach, we are showcasing O & P this month:

Opportunities Outdoors - “The best classroom and the richest cupboard are roofed only by the sky” - Margaret McMillan. We must offer our children unhurried and plentiful outdoor experiences. No special equipment is ever needed here just the wonder of nature and all her gifts.

Process not Product - For our wonderful children it’s the process of learning that is to be enjoyed and savoured, not the end product. It is incredibly easy for children to enjoy the process because they haven’t yet been conditioned to value product over process.

October Newsletter NEWS Stay and Play Halloween Messy Play Session: W/C Monday 25th October: We’re planning a week of outdoor messy play sessions for each room (subject to Covid restrictions), where parents are invited to come and join in on the fun. This is a lovely chance for you to see a snippet of what we get up to at nursery as well as engaging in some fun messy play with your children.

Date

Time

Group Location

Monday 25 th October Tuesday 26 th October Wednesday 27 th October

10-11am Chicklets Baby Garden/Tipi

10-11am Swans 10-11am Cygnets

Outdoor Classroom

Small Playground/Swan’s Outdoor Classroom

Thursday 28 th October

10-11am Ducklings Baby Garden/Tipi

Friday 29 th October

10-11am Goslings

Baby Garden/Tipi

Our Annual Pumpkin Carving Competition: Thursday 28th October We will be holding our 22SLN pumpkin decorating/carving competition after our Halloween party. All children are welcome to bring in a decorated or carved pumpkin - the wackier the better! You can start bringing them in on Monday 25th, and we hope to be able to display the pumpkins at the front of nursery for all families to see in the evening. However, please make sure you take your pumpkin back home before the end of Friday 29th October, so you can put them out at home and continue celebrating over the weekend!

October Newsletter World Mental Health Week: W/C Monday 11 th October It’s World Mental Health Day on Sunday 10th October. As a nursery we value the importance of children feeling safe and secure in our environment in order that they feel able to express and communicate their emotions with practitioners. We will be particularly focusing on this during the week where we will encourage feeling sharing at circle times, reading stories that help children express and evaluate how they feel as well as exploring fun ways to boost our mental health such as; yoga, wake up shake up, exploring the great outdoors and talking about how to stay healthy!

October Newsletter Halloween Party and Dress Up: Thursday 28 th October On Thursday 28th October, we will be having our annual Halloween party where the children are welcome to dress up for the day. We will be celebrating with a spooky lunch and lots of messy play fun! If your child doesn’t come to nursery that day then they are welcome to dress up another day in the week, as we will be celebrating it all week.

October Newsletter

Dish of the Month

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

• 1½ tbsp sesame oil • 1 red onion, cut into thin wedges • 160g mangetout • 70g baby corn, halved • 2 baby pak choi, quartered • 3 spring onions, sliced • 1 large garlic clove, crushed • ½ tbsp mild curry powder • 4 tsp low-salt soy sauce • 300g ready-to-cook udon noodles • 1 tbsp of ginger, chopped

Method

1. Heat the oil in a non-stick pan or wok over a high heat. 2. Add the onions and fry for 5 minutes. 3. Stir in the mangetout, corn, pak choi and spring onions and cook for 5 more minutes. 4. Add the garlic, curry powder and soy sauce, then cook for another minute. 5. Add the udon noodles along with the ginger and reserved brine and stir in 2-3 tbsp of hot water until the noodles are heated through. 6. Divide between bowls and serve.

October Newsletter Chicklets Room News We have had a very busy September in the Chicklets Room and would like to welcome all our new families into the room. We have been settling all our new children into the room and learning about their interests. All our babies have settled into the room really well and have already built some strong bonds with staff members in the room. The children have enjoyed exploring the different messy play activities on offer to celebrate 'Nature' as our 'Around The World In 30 Days' theme. They have also shown a strong interest in the sand tray, where they have enjoyed feeling the texture of the sand and sprinkling it in their hands. The babies have also enjoyed exploring the new posting wall in the room, where they can pick up the different texture balls and post them through the different tunnels. The Chicklets have also shown an interest in music and nursery rhymes. We have been singing lots of songs and shaking the musical instruments, and some of our babies have been dancing to the music too! We are looking forward to getting to know the Chicklets more and to welcoming more children into the room in the next few weeks.

CHICKLETS ROOM

October Newsletter

Ducklings Room News

The Ducklings started off the month by celebrating Rosh Hashanah! To celebrate the Jewish festival, the Ducklings enjoyed tasting some sweet treats, such as apples and honey to represent a sweet new year ahead. The Ducklings also enjoyed getting involved in a messy play activities like mark-making with apples, where they dipped the apples in paint and stamped them on the paper while watching as they created marks! The Ducklings have also been exploring our new theme at nursery which is 'Around The World In 30 Days' this month, concentrating on 'Nature'! The children have been exploring different activities that have revolved around nature, such as exploring a playdough table filled with different natural resources such as leaves, pine cones, lavender, and basil! The Ducklings enjoyed using their malleable skills, as well as their imagination, to create their own natural playdough masterpiece! We also enjoyed using different senses by smelling the basil and the lavender. We have also been celebrating Green Week! We have been using lots of recycled materials in our activities and have enjoyed using these to paint, create and build with. We have also been reading different stories on how things ‘grow’. The Ducklings have had the opportunity to look after their own plants in the room and we have some baby cacti that are growing with us currently. The Ducklings have also been enjoying sessions from shake, rattle, and boogie! We have enjoyed singing along to all the different songs and using different musical instruments to join in with the sessions! The Ducklings have all done a brilliant job at settling into nursery life and building special relationships with the staff in the room!

DUCKLINGS ROOM

October Newsletter Goslings Room News

As we approach the end of our first month of our new Goslings settling in, we have had an exciting time getting to know the children and learning about their interests. It has been amazing to watch the children progress week-by-week, and we can certainly see the benefits of them enjoying their new room. This month has been busy with a wide range of fun activities as the children have been getting to grips with their new surroundings and getting to know their Key People. Throughout the month we have been celebrating 'Nature' as the theme for 'Around The World In 30 Days' where we decided to take a stroll to Roundhay Park in the hope that we would see some wildlife and other parts of nature. We spotted a waterfall on our walk and were very intrigued by the swans and their little goslings who came to see us by the lake. We also incorporated nature into our daily activities that included exploring natural materials. The Goslings really enjoyed their first baking session too, where they made gingerbread man biscuits. They demonstrated their listening and attention skills as they sat around the table and listened to the instructions. They did really well at taking it in turns to pour the ingredients into the bowl, help to mix the ingredients, roll out the dough and then use the cutter to create the biscuit shapes. As part of celebrating Green Week, the staff gathered many recyclable items for the children to explore. We have been painting items such as tins, egg boxes, tissue boxes and bubble wrap to using different sized plastic bottles in the water play to pour and empty. We have also explored a range of herbs where the children had the opportunity to use their senses to smell and touch.

GOSLINGS ROOM

October Newsletter Cygnets Room News

This month the new Cygnets children have been exploring their new environment and getting to know the routine. Activities have been set out to follow the children’s interests, from creating a dinosaur world to making pretend ice cream. At the beginning of the month, we celebrated Rosh Hashanah. The Cygnets enjoyed printing with apples, as well as turning pine cones into apples using red paint. We have also enjoyed trying some dishes containing honey. For a snack, the Cygnets loved dipping some apple into honey, which tasted delicious. Our 'Around The World In 30 Days' topic started this month and we have been focusing on 'Nature'. The Cygnets have been exploring activities relating to animals, forests, mountains and rivers. The Cygnets got creative while making hedgehogs out of clay, then pushing sticks into the clay to create their spikes. While playing outside, the Cygnets helped to make a waterfall using loose parts and we used tubes to allow the water to flow down. Finally, to celebrate the start of Autumn, we have been using lots of natural materials to create some beautiful pictures. The Cygnets helped to make paintbrushes out of leaves and flowers, then enjoyed making pictures using mud as paint. We have also been exploring playdough with loose parts such as leaves and pine cones. The Cygnets have also worked as a group to create a large scale picture of an Autumn tree using the colours of Autumn as well as sticking leaves on that we collected from the garden.

CYGNETS ROOM

Swans Room News October Newsletter

The Swans have been very busy throughout September and have enjoyed learning about lots of exciting things. We began the month with all the children transitioning across to the Swans Room. The children have settled amazingly well and have been very excited to explore each of the areas within the room. The children are having so much fun in their new room and we look forward to a very fun and exciting year. The Swans have been enjoying their extracurricular activities over the last month. We have been taking part in French Classes, Rugby Tots, Pyjama Drama and Science Tots. The children have been learning lots of fun facts and have been very excited to take part in all of our fun activities. We look forward to starting Forest School at the beginning of October too. The children have also continued taking part in lots of other fun and exciting activities, with a particular emphasis this month on phonics and maths, as the Swans have been showing lots of interest in these areas. The children have been practising their sounds of the week and have been doing so well recognising letters as well as finding items that begin with the sound of the week too. The children are beginning to count past 20 using a variety of items and natural resources, and we have completed lots of cooking and baking tasks, encouraging the children to weigh out their own ingredients using the weighing scales. The Swans have had a fantastic and very busy month and are looking forward to lots more fun next month!

SWANS ROOM

October Newsletter

*ATTENTION* Important Information - Please Read

Car Park As you are aware, there are double yellow lines outside the nursery which have been put there for the safety of the children. Please can we ask that parents do not park on them, and also be mindful when parking on Park Lane that you do not park over the driveways of the residents there. Many of them are Key Workers who need immediate access from their homes when called out. There have been a few vehicles obstructing their driveways recently. High Temperatures and Fevers Please can we kindly remind parents that children cannot attend nursery if they have a high temperature (37.6 ° C). If a child develops a temperature whilst at nursery, parents will be called to collect them, as supported by our policies and procedures. Due to the guidance from National Health England, children who have a high temperature or a cough will be asked to have a Covid-19 test with a negative result required before returning to the setting. HMRC Additional Funding Code (3- & 4-year-olds - 30 hours) If you are eligible and in receipt of additional 3- & 4-year-old funding, look out for a prompt every three months from HMRC to reconfirm your details so that your eligibility can be re-assessed. If you do not do this, please note that we are unable to claim the funding on your behalf. 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.

October Newsletter Upcoming Events

W/C Monday 11 th October World Mental Health Week W/C Monday 25 th October Stay and Play Halloween Messy Play Week Thursday 28 th October Halloween Party and Fancy Dress Day Tuesday 2 nd November Team Training Day, Nursery CLOSED Thursday 4 th November Diwali Celebrations

Friday 5 th November Bonfire Night Activities

CONTACT US 0333 043 22 22

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