We hope this newsletter finds you well. It’s been two shakes of a bunny’s tail since we were last in touch, and we can hardly believe that autumn is upon us. Speaking of bunnies, a happy highlight from this year was when special guest Peter Rabbit visited the nursery at Easter. The children still chatter about the Easter egg hunt in the garden and the party games months later!
As the seasons change, we are spending more time outdoors exploring the changing trees and enjoying autumnal delights like blackberries, conkers, and acorns. Being in nature is a big part of our nursery day, as it’s wonderful for both movement and fresh air. As it turns colder, please remember to bring your child’s coat and wellies to nursery so that they stay toasty and dry.
Best wishes,
The Riverside Day Nursery Team
PSKeep up with the latest news by following us on Facebook and Instagram @theriversidedaynursery
With Halloween peeking at us from just around the corner, the children have been enjoying the build-up to spooky season.
Halloween is a wonderful time for getting crafty and mixing up ghoulish delights.
The older children have been trying their hand at pumpkin carving – making delicious pumpkin soup from the scooped-out parts – and playing gooey slime games. They’ve also had a ball bobbing for apples.
Our younger children have been playing spooktacular games likepin the spider on the weband rummaging for ugly bugs and beasties (we assure you they are toys!) in our Halloween-themed sensory play.
Don’t forget to dress up in your spookiest attire on Halloween,Friday 31st October.
Caring for babies and toddlers, we understand it is not unusual for little ones to turn their nose up at certain foods. Fussy eating is a normal phase that most children go through. If mealtimes are tricky, you’re not alone!
Here are some ideas to help:
Small is best– Tiny portions feel less overwhelming, and children can always ask for more.
Make it fun– Bright colours, interesting shapes, and ‘rainbow plates’ made up of different coloured foods make meals more appealing.
Eat together– Children are more likely to try something new if they see you enjoying it.
No pressure– It can take many tries before a child accepts a new food. Encourage tasting, but don’t force it.
Celebrate tiny wins– Celebrate even the smallest taste: “Well done for trying that pea!”
Offer little choices– “Would you like carrots or cucumber?” Small decisions help children feel in control.
Get them involved– Washing veggies, stirring a pot, or serving food helps spark interest in tasting it.
Keep a routine– Regular mealtimes (with limited snacks) help build a healthy appetite.
Switch off distractions– Toys and screens make it harder for children to focus on food.
Stay calm– Fussy phases are normal. With patience and positivity, most children grow out of them.
Our youngest members have been learning all about the oceans and the magical creatures they contain. Exploring the oceans is great for building curiosity as it’s full of fascinating wildlife. It also encourages children to understand from an early age that oceans and seas are living environments that need protecting.
As well as talking about and looking at pictures of the ocean, we’ve been introducing new words such asoctopus,jellyfish andwaves, helping to build language development and understanding.
To boost the children’s imagination, we set up lots of sea-themed play, including sensory trays with toy whales and dolphins that the babies could touch, and a mini sea life show.
The Snail and the Whale
At story time, we’ve been reading the classic tale ofThe Snail and the Whale, which sees a snail embark upon a world-wide journey, hitching a ride on the tail of a humpback whale. The babies especially love when the big grey-blue humpback whale appears, and the tiny snail hops aboard.
The babies loved fishing in our water world
Toddlers Discover Sea, Sand, and Insects
Over the last few weeks our intrepid toddlers have been learning more about the sea and the animal and plant life found there. They’ve especially enjoyed splashy water play like digging out sea creatures from giant ice cubes and getting hands-on with a gangly octopus.
Alongside exploring the sea, the toddlers have been looking at land-based creatures such as bugs and insects. We went outdoors to see what we could spot under rocks and leaves, and much to the children’s delight, we discovered woodlice and a ground beetle. Indoors, the toddlers used magnifying glasses to examine lifelike toy insects up close.
Our insect and creepy crawly tray
Talking About Emotions
We understand it’s tricky being a toddler: one minute you’re frustrated because a toy you’ve got your eye on is out of reach, the next you’re bouncing off the walls with excitement – it’s a rollercoaster! To help our toddlers understand different moods, we’ve been playing games about emotions with puppets and making expressive faces.
The toddlers loved chipping out sea creatures from the ice
How are you feeling?
Pre-schoolers Get School-Ready and Go Outdoors
Our pre-schoolers have been busy carving pumpkin faces and creating colourful artwork for Bonfire Night. They have also been spending time outdoors, visiting the local park and feeding the swans and ducks. This time of year, the leaves are changing colour and fluttering down from the trees. One of our favourite activities has been collecting our favourite ones – the bigger, the better – and making vibrant paintings to display around the nursery.
Our pre-schoolers are also doing an abundance of play-led activities in preparation for the next exciting step: starting school.
We’re often asked, “What should my child be able to do before they start?” The truth is they don’t need to know everything as they’ll learn and grow when they get there. However, our school-readiness programme is there to help the children gain early skills that will build their confidence.
Here are some of the skills we encourage:
Social and Emotional Skills
Being able to separate from parents for a little while, play alongside other children, and share toys.
Communication Skills
Using words to express feelings, and understanding and following simple instructions, such as asking for a drink or to go to the toilet. Joining in with games, songs, and story time.
Self-Help Skills
Using the toilet, washing hands, feeding themselves, and putting on coats or shoes.
Early Learning Skills
Showing curiosity about the world and enjoying stories and books. Recognising colours and shapes, and experimenting with mark-making such as scribbles, drawing, or in some cases, writing the letters of their name.
Physical Skills
Running, jumping, balancing, and using their hands for activities like building blocks, turning pages, and holding crayons.
It is important to remember every child is unique and develops at their own pace – pre-school is a place to learn these skills, not arrive already knowing them. The most important thing is that your child feels safe, cared for, and ready to explore!
We hope this newsletter finds you well and embracing the Christmas spirit!
It was lovely to see so many of you at our Carol Concerts. A highlight in our nursery calendar, I’m sure you’ll agree that the children performed and sang beautifully. Well done for learning the songs and making it such a special occasion.
The children are very excited for the festive period and were delighted when they arrived to see everything decorated for Christmas at the start of December. Our talented Christmas elves spent time transforming each room into a winter wonderland, including a good-enough-to-eat Gingerbread house with giant candy canes. They also created a fabulous outdoor grotto where Father Christmas regularly appears bearing gifts!
Positive Ofsted Inspection
We’re pleased to share that our recent Ofsted inspection resulted in a ‘Good’ rating. You may be aware that we previously achieved an ‘Outstanding’ verdict in 2019, however, as Ofsted’s standards and expectations continue to rise year-on-year, we’re extremely proud of our ‘Good’ rating and meeting their increasingly tough quality benchmarks.
The inspection praises the dedication and hard work of our team as well as the nurturing, high-quality learning environment we offer children.
Highlights include:
Our Nursery Environment
The nursery strives to offer the highest quality of education and care.
Children show immense excitement when they spot their friends entering the nursery.
Children settle quickly into the appealing learning opportunities that the dedicated staff provide for them.
Staff create a varied curriculum that builds on children’s natural curiosity and resilience.
Staff create a language-rich environment, where children’s babble, talk and singing are greatly valued.
Preparing Children for School
Staff prioritise children’s development to feel confident to do things for themselves. For example, at mealtimes children pour their own drinks from a jug and feed themselves with cutlery…giving them a true sense of responsibility.
Staff and Parent Relationship
Leaders and staff work remarkably well with parents. Their partnership effectively helps children settle quickly.
Parents appreciate the community feel, enhanced by organised family events, including the preschool children’s graduation ceremony.
Our SEND Provision
Children with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND) are progressing as well as other children. Staff swiftly identify gaps in children’s learning through their secure assessment processes.
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