Despite the weather we have been learning about new life and the onset of Spring. The children are beginning to observe the changes in the environment and we are hoping that the weather will soon take a turn for the better. The children have created some amazing art that depicts new life. We focused on daffodils creating art using layering and also made picture of daffodils by bubble painting. These creations are on display in the school corridors.

Thank you to all for donating seeds. We are going to keep hold of them a little longer before planting as I think that any frost will kill them.

 Next week we are going to be exploring science in depth. Watch this SPACE.🌏👽

Have a great weekend and keep warm.

Mrs Robinson❆❅❆❅❆

❄❅❆

WE LOVE BOOKS

 We have had an exciting week with World Book Day to enjoy and celebrate. The children loved dressing up and we all enjoyed wearing our PJ's, it definitely created a nice relaxed environment for the day. Stories and books are such an integral part of foundation and everyday is about storytelling and adventure, as the children learn through play. We shared many of our favourite books this week and the children enjoyed sharing the ones they brought into school on Thursday. We discussed how books are created and explained the meaning of words such as author and illustrator. We are going to be sharing books with year 5 and 6 next week which we are all looking forward to. We will also be reading The Enormous Turnip which is one of my favourite stories. 

I hope you have a great weekend.

Mrs Robinson😁

 

Pancakes

 The children have come back full of enthusiasm. They have been asking me to make a salon for a while so we have combined the salon with the nail bar. Many people may think that this does not support gender balance but I can assure you that this role play area is equally accessed by all the children in the setting. We have observed the interactions in the area, focusing mainly on the children's communication and social skills. They have been amazing problem solving and sharing resources. The adults have supported the children in this area through questioning and most importantly suggestions. The children are supported in resolving problems during play and the adults have monitored this and only intervened when it moved the learning forward. We are so lucky to be able to watch the learning that can happen through a creative environment that is well resourced.

On Tuesday we celebrated Pancake Day. The children had a go at tossing the pancake up in the air which was lots of fun. They eventually got the opportunity to eat them and they were delicious.

Thursday, 2nd March is World Book Day. This year children do not have to dress up but can come to school in their pyjamas. However, if you have already purchased an outfit of a book character they can wear this instead. We would like all children to bring in their favourite book on the day.

Have a good weekend.

Mrs Robinson

The salon is back

 

On Tuesday it was safer internet day. We watched a short video about internet safety and have discussed how to stay safe online. The children had a good understanding of what to do if they see something online that upsets them or makes them feel uncomfortable. We discussed the meaning of the word internet and the use of the internet in our everyday lives.

During child initiated learning the children made electronic devices out of construction materials and drew houses with an internet box in them.

During child initiated play the children often look at the map and point to the places we have discussed during group sessions. We have continued learning about The World with the particular focus on our local area.

The children have created their own maps which show their journey from home to school.

We will extend this activity by discussing different ways of transport with the particular focus on the most sustainable methods. of transport. We will also learn to identify particular features on the map such as a river, a lake, a pond, a road, etc.

The hair salon is back!!!!!!!! 

The children have been asking for this role play area for a while so we have reinstated it to include the nail bar. As you will see from the photographs we have an amazing mix of boys, girls and different year groupsengaging with each other in really good play that helps them learn.

Next week is half term and I hope you all have a wonderful week.

Mrs Robinson 😊😊

Handa's Surprise

This week we have been using the World Map. After an adult directed activity, the children discussed their own experiences of other countries and places they know about. We looked at volcanoes and also the children were fascinated learning about wildfires. We learnt how the helicopters scoop the water up to put the fires out. We discussed other countries and the climate. The children were aware of the temperature changes around the world so we discussed the impact this can have. One child mentioned the fires so we discussed wildfires and the children learnt how they are put out. We also looked at volcanoes and which countries have volcanoes. The children talked about the floods in Potters Bar, under the bridge so we extended this by looking at news reports and why we thought it had happened. This topic will continue next week.

Our focus story for this week was 'Handa's Suprise'. The children have acted out the story and have had an opportunity to taste variety of fruit.

Have a great weekend.

Mrs Robinson

Chinese New Year

 We have a had a very Chinese week in the unit with lots of exciting activities relating to the Chinese New Year. The children have made Chinese dragons, prepared and eaten noodles using chop sticks, looked at China on our map and learnt about the Chinese Zodiac story. It has been a very busy week. The children have also tried to do some Chinese writing which was fantastic. We always enjoy this festival as the children love the dragon and enjoy making their own dragon dances.

Our taxi rank has been very busy with lots of customers needing lifts to the airport. The children are keen to put luggage in the cab so if you have any old small suitcases that you don't need, could we please have them for the children to play with.

Next week we are going to walk around the grounds and collect some natural resources to make art in the style of Andy Goldworthy. Watch this space!

BAGS BAGS BAGS

From Monday 30th January could you please make sure that your child does not bring  a bag into school. Unfortunately the bags are getting bigger and there is no room for the coats to fit on the pegs. I know their children like a back pack but it appears that the majority of them are empty. Please speak to me if you have any concerns about this. 

TAXI

 Thank goodness the rain has stopped, this has allowed us to do lots of outdoor learning. The ice has been very exciting and we have been experimenting with ice melting in areas where the sun was shinning and areas where it wasn't. We discussed the speed of the thaw and the reasons why. We have started looking at animal patterns and camouflage and the children have enjoyed describing the differences between the patterns. 

I am sure you have all noticed our new Taxi outside. The children have helped with the design and are eager to start playing with it. We are going to create a Taxi rank to encourage mark making outdoors. Please can you make sure your children do not play in it before and after school. 

We have run out of spare trousers for changing, it appears we have lost at least 20 pairs of trousers so if you have some at home can you please return them ASAP.

Have a great weekend.

Mrs Robinson:)

Welcome back

 Welcome back. It was so lovely to see the children this week full of enthusiasm and happy to be back. They have settled straight into their learning and have spent lots of time using construction resources. We have extended this with junk modeling, scissors and tape. We have had rockets, boats, cars and all sorts of vehicles. It has been an engineering department.  

We have created a new reading area which is an igloo with snow. The children have used the area well and are enjoying using their imaginations to feel the cold from the snow. 

It has been very wet this week, but it has not stopped us been outside. the children have continued to use the outside environment for learning. Unfortunately, this has meant that they have been a little wet. Please be reassured that we will change the children if they get very wet.

Next week we will be looking at animal prints and patterns.

I hope you all have a great weekend.

Mrs Robinson:)

Happy Christmas

 We would like to thank you all for the wonderful and generous gifts you have given us. We wish you all a Merry Christmas.

 We look forward to seeing you on Monday 9th January 2023.

 Best wishes from

 The foundation team.

🎅🎅🎅

Let it snow

 What a performance. The children really enjoyed singing for you this week and we hope that you enjoyed it too. It has been very busy and festive in foundation, and we have been making cards and enjoying lots of glitter and glue. I think they have definitely got into the Christmas spirit. We have been so lucky with the snow and the children have spent time outside making snow angels and snowmen. Only 3 school days left before we break for the holidays. We are all looking forward to a break and we hope that some of the awful bugs will disappear.

Please remember to collect your child at 2 o'clock on 21st December.

I hope you enjoy the photos.

I thought I would start with this one as this was Aris after he had been outside. He said he was warming his feet on the fire!

How amazing is that.